Effect of acuity level and patient characteristics on bowel preparation quality: a retrospective cohort study of inpatient colonoscopies.

Background And Aims: Colonoscopy is the primary method to detect mucosal abnormalities in the colon, rectum, and terminal ileum. Inadequate bowel preparation is a common problem and can impede successful visualization during colonoscopy. Although studies identified hospitalization as a predictor of inadequate bowel preparation, acuity of care vary greatly within this patient population.

Real-world experience with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 monotherapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer : A retrospective Austrian multicenter study.

Objective: As real-world data regarding immunotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer are lacking for Austria, we conducted a retrospective study in six hospitals to present data from real-world practice.

Methods: Patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer were stratified into two groups, either patients with first-line pembrolizumab monotherapy (cohort 1) or patients with second-line nivolumab, pembrolizumab or atezolizumab monotherapy (cohort 2). Primary outcome measures were objective response rate and overall survival.

The first report of atovaquone/proguanil-induced vanishing bile duct syndrome: Case report and mini-review.

The combination of Atovaquone and Proguanil (Malarone™) has been widely used for treatment and prevention of Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Transient elevation of liver enzymes is a recognized side effect of the medication. The association of Vanishing bile duct syndrome (VBDS) with the use of Atovaqoune/Proguanil was not previously reported.

Tracking mesenchymal stem cell contributions to regeneration in an immunocompetent cartilage regeneration model.

It is currently controversially discussed whether mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) facilitate cartilage regeneration in vivo by a progenitor- or a nonprogenitor-mediated mechanism. Here, we describe a potentially novel unbiased in vivo cell tracking system based on transgenic donor and corresponding immunocompetent marker-tolerant recipient mouse and rat lines in inbred genetic backgrounds. Tolerance of recipients was achieved by transgenic expression of an immunologically neutral but physicochemically distinguishable variant of the marker human placental alkaline phosphatase (ALPP).

Management of malignant pleural mesothelioma - part 3 : Data from the Austrian Mesothelioma Interest Group (AMIG) database.

Background: Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare but aggressive tumor originating from the pleural cavity with a strong link to previous asbestos exposure. In order to determine the demographics, diagnostics, therapeutic strategies, and prognosis of MPM patients in Austria, the Austrian Mesothelioma Interest Group (AMIG) was founded in 2011. In this report the data from the AMIG MPM database collected to date are reported.

Management of malignant pleural mesothelioma-part 2: therapeutic approaches : Consensus of the Austrian Mesothelioma Interest Group (AMIG).

Treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) depends on performance status of the patient, tumor stage, and histological differentiation. Chemotherapy (CHT) can be administered as first- and second-line treatment in unresectable MPM or as neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment before or after surgery. A combination of an antifolate and platinum-based CHT is the only approved standard of care.

β1 Integrins Mediate Attachment of Mesenchymal Stem Cells to Cartilage Lesions.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) may have great potential for cell-based therapies of osteoarthritis. However, after injection in the joint, only few cells adhere to defective articular cartilage and contribute to cartilage regeneration. Little is known about the molecular mechanisms of MSC attachment to defective articular cartilage.

Human placental alkaline phosphatase as a tracking marker for bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.

Currently, adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are being evaluated for a wide variety of therapeutic approaches. It has been suggested that MSCs possess regenerative properties when implanted or injected into damaged tissue. However, the efficacy of MSCs in several of the proposed treatments is still controversial.

Endoscopic sclerotherapy for the treatment of weight regain after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: outcomes, complications, and predictors of response in 575 procedures.

Background: Weight regain after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is common. Endoscopic sclerotherapy is increasingly used to treat this weight regain.

Objectives: To report safety, outcomes, durability, and predictors of response to sclerotherapy in a large prospective cohort.

Endoscopic management of gastrogastric fistulae does not increase complications at bariatric revision surgery.

Background: Gastrogastric fistula (GGF) is a challenging complication of primary obesity surgery that often leads to revision surgery. The impact of prior endoscopic intervention on subsequent surgical revisional outcomes remains unknown. We present the largest series of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass GGF with subsequent surgical revision of fistulae to date.

Economic impact of extracolonic findings at computed tomographic colonography.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of extracolonic findings at computed tomographic colonography (CTC) and estimate the cost of the workup of newly discovered potentially significant lesions.

Subjects And Methods: An electronic information system was used to review all patient data before and after the CTC in a mixed cohort of 376 patients. Extracolonic findings were categorized into the CT Colonography Reporting and Data System classification.

Tobacco use is associated with accelerated clinical recurrence of Crohn's disease after surgically induced remission.

Goals: To study the association between tobacco exposure and postoperative clinical recurrence in Crohn's disease patients and quantify the time to clinical relapse following surgical resection.

Background: It is well accepted that cigarette smoking has a negative impact on postoperative course in Crohn's disease. However, the effect of smoking to hasten clinical recurrence has not been clearly delineated.

Dioxins and dibenzofurans in adipose tissue of US Vietnam veterans and controls.

The primary reason for concern about the adverse effects of exposure to Agent Orange is attributable to its toxic contaminant, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) or dioxin. We studied adipose tissues from 36 Vietnam veterans, a similar group of 79 non-Vietnam veterans, and 80 civilians; the tissue specimens were selected from the 8,000 archived tissues collected from the non-institutionalized general population by the US Environmental Protection Agency. The geometric mean (+/- standard deviation) dioxin levels in adipose tissue for Vietnam veterans, non-Vietnam veterans, and civilian controls were 11.

Dependence of maximal sniff generated mouth and transdiaphragmatic pressures on lung volume.

The maximal sniff generated mouth and transdiaphragmatic pressures of six healthy volunteers (three women and three men) were measured at various lung volumes between residual volume and 95% of total lung capacity. At residual volume the mean (SD) maximum transdiaphragmatic pressure was 163 (18) cm H2O (1 cm H2O = 0.0981 kPa).

Detection of antigen-specific antibodies on lung tissue in a patient with hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

A patient with hypersensitivity pneumonitis showed positive Ouchterlony's immunodiffusion tests against pigeon faecal extract, Cephalosporium and Pullularia antigens. Deposits of immunoglobulins-IgG and IgM antibodies-were detected in a subendothelial position in arterial and venous vessels and on alveolar macrophages in the lung tissue. The IgG deposits in blood vessels belonged to IgG1, IgG2 and IgG3 subclasses and the absorbed IgG on alveolar macrophages to all IgG subclasses.