Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in reducing psychological distress and improving sleep in patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: study protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial (MindIBD).

Background: Many patients with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD) suffer from psychological distress, fatigue and sleep disturbances, which are associated with reduced quality of life (QoL) and increased societal costs. Only limited psychosocial treatment options are available. As Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) has demonstrated to improve psychological distress, QoL and sleep in other populations, MBCT might also be effective in patients with IBD.

Accuracy of upper endoscopies with random biopsies to identify patients with gastric premalignant lesions who can safely be exempt from surveillance.

Introduction: Guidelines recommend endoscopy with biopsies to stratify patients with gastric premalignant lesions (GPL) to high and low progression risk. High-risk patients are recommended to undergo surveillance. We aimed to assess the accuracy of guideline recommendations to identify low-risk patients, who can safely be discharged from surveillance.

Low value of second-look endoscopy for detecting residual colorectal cancer after endoscopic removal.

Background And Aims: Endoscopic resection is often feasible for submucosal invasive colorectal cancers (T1 CRCs) and usually judged as complete. If histology casts doubt on the radicality of resection margins, adjuvant surgical resection is advised, although residual intramural cancer is found in only 5% to 15% of patients. We assessed the sensitivity of biopsy specimens from the resection area for residual intramural cancer as a potential tool to estimate the preoperative risk of residual intramural cancer in patients without risk factors for lymph node metastasis (LNM).

Surveillance of premalignant gastric lesions: a multicentre prospective cohort study from low incidence regions.

Objective: International guidelines recommend endoscopic surveillance of premalignant gastric lesions. However, the diagnostic yield and preventive effect require further study. We therefore aimed to assess the incidence of neoplastic progression and to assess the ability of various tests to identify patients most at risk for progression.

Increased cancer risk in a large population-based cohort of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis: follow-up for up to 36 years.

Background And Aims: The natural history of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) has so far mainly been studied in tertiary referral centres. The aim of the present investigation was to describe the natural history of PBC in a large population-based cohort in order to identify risk factors for development of malignancies and disease progression.

Methods: Four independent hospital databases were searched in 44 hospitals in a geographically defined area, after which all medical records were evaluated on site.

Rising incidence and prevalence of primary biliary cirrhosis: a large population-based study.

Background & Aims: Large population-based studies are much needed to accurately establish the epidemiology of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). We aimed to collect all PBC patients in a geographically defined area to evaluate the epidemiology of PBC and examine the possible association of PBC with smoking, age at menarche, age at first pregnancy and number of pregnancies.

Methods: All PBC patients between 2000 and 2008 were identified in a geographically defined area of the Netherlands, comprising 50% of the Dutch population.

[Severe vitamin D deficiency and hypocalcaemia after bariatric surgery].

A 60-year-old man was referred to the accident and emergency department because of muscle cramps and retrosternal pain. Laboratory tests revealed severe vitamin D deficiency and hypocalcaemia. The patient had undergone bariatric surgery several years previously.

Open-access upper gastrointestinal endoscopy a decade after the introduction of proton pump inhibitors and helicobacter pylori eradication: a shift in endoscopic findings.

Background/aim: Over the past 15 years, there were considerable changes in factors associated with the development and treatment of upper gastrointestinal symptoms, of which the introduction of proton pump inhibitors and Helicobacter pylori eradication in guidelines for treatment of patients with dyspepsia are the most prominent: findings at open-access upper gastrointestinal endoscopy have not been evaluated properly ever since. This study aims to compare the current prevalence of upper gastrointestinal endoscopic findings to the prevalence 15 years ago.

Methods: Data about endoscopic findings of consecutive patients for the first time referred for open-access upper gastrointestinal endoscopy between January 2002 and December 2004 was collected from medical files.

Alexithymia is associated with gastrointestinal symptoms, but does not predict endoscopy outcome in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms.

Background: Alexithymia, where a person has difficulty in distinguishing between emotions and bodily sensations, is considered to be a character trait and a vulnerability factor for various psychosomatic disorders. Assessing alexithymia in patients with gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms before endoscopy might therefore be useful in selecting patients who are more prone to functional GI disorders.

Goal: To determine whether alexithymia might be a useful factor in predicting GI endoscopy outcomes.

Predominant symptom behavior in patients with persistent dyspepsia during treatment.

Background: Grouping of patients based on a predominant dyspeptic symptom is frequently employed in management strategies for dyspepsia. Such subdivision, however, suggests that dyspeptic symptom patterns are constant over time.

Objective: To investigate the behavior of symptoms over time and to study the effects of diagnostic procedures and treatment on the pattern and severity of dyspeptic symptoms.