Benign biliary strictures treated with biodegradable stents in patients with surgically altered anatomy using double balloon enteroscopy.

Objectives: Surgically altered anatomy complicates endoscopical procedures of pancreatobiliary tree. Biliary or hepaticojejunal anastomosis strictures have been managed using percutaneous transhepatic or double balloon enteroscopy (DBE) techniques with multiple plastic stents, or fully covered self-expandable metal stents. We report the first seven cases with surgically altered anatomy treated with biodegradable stents with DBE.

Short interferon and ribavirin treatment for HCV genotype 2 or 3 infection: NORDynamIC trial and real-life experience.

Objective: Interferon-free therapy for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is costly, and therefore patients with advanced fibrosis are prioritized. Although coupled with considerable side effects, a large proportion of genotype 2/3 infected patients achieve a sustained virological response (SVR) following interferon-based therapy. The present study evaluates experimental clinical trial and verifying real-life data with the aim of identifying patients with a high likelihood of favorable outcome following short interferon-based treatment.

[Liver disease and hemostasis--evaluation of bleeding risk].

In severe liver disease, simultaneous abnormalities in procoagulant and anticoagulant pathways seem to maintain the hemostatic balance, provided that the platelet level is sufficient. Common coagulation screening tests such as INR fail to measure the concomitant anticoagulant deficiencies and fibrinolytic abnormalities, and do not predict bleeding in patients with compensated liver disease undergoing invasive procedures. Thus, specific INR cut-off levels and prophylactic use of fresh-frozen plasma are discouraged.

Fecal calprotectin and S100A12 have low utility in prediction of small bowel Crohn's disease detected by wireless capsule endoscopy.

Objective: Data on fecal calprotectin and S100A12 in predicting wireless capsule endoscopy (WCE) findings in suspicion of Crohn's disease (CD) are scarce. Our aim was to study the role of calprotectin and S100A12 in predicting inflammatory lesions of small bowel in patients undergoing WCE.

Material And Methods: 84 patients undergoing WCE (77 for suspicion of CD and 7 CD patients for evaluation of disease extent) were prospectively recruited.

Capsule endoscopy in pediatric patients: technique and results in our first 100 consecutive children.

Objective: Capsule endoscopy (CE) offers noninvasive methods to assess small bowel pathology but only limited data are available on the feasibility, safety, and findings in children. In this study, we report our results of 100 consecutive CE in children.

Material And Methods: Single center retrospective study.

Endoscopic evaluation of Crohn's disease activity: comparison of the CDEIS and the SES-CD.

Background: Few data exist of prospective parallel scoring of the validated endoscopic scores in Crohn's disease (CD), Crohn's Disease Index of Severity (CDEIS), and Simple Endoscopic Score for Crohn's Disease (SES-CD).

Methods: Both the CDEIS and the SES-D were scored immediately after each endoscopy of 86 CD patients referred for ileocolonoscopy in a cross-sectional study. Furthermore, after CD therapy, 32 CD patients underwent a follow-up endoscopy with scoring of the CDEIS and SES-CD.

Faecal calprotectin and lactoferrin are reliable surrogate markers of endoscopic response during Crohn's disease treatment.

Objective: Serial monitoring data for faecal calprotectin and lactoferrin during Crohn's disease (CD) therapy are scarce. The aim of this research was to study the behaviour of faecal biomarkers during CD therapy.

Material And Methods: Adult CD patients (n = 19) needing therapy enhancement were prospectively recruited.

Three-generation familial visceral myopathy with alpha-actin-positive inclusion bodies in intestinal smooth muscle.

We report the clinical and histopathologic findings of a family with 7 affected members in 3 generations suffering from autosomal dominant visceral myopathy. All patients presented with chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction affecting especially the entire small bowel. Histologic abnormalities involved intestinal smooth muscle, with degeneration and fibrosis of the muscularis propria.

Fecal calprotectin, lactoferrin, and endoscopic disease activity in monitoring anti-TNF-alpha therapy for Crohn's disease.

Background: Fecal calprotectin and lactoferrin are promising noninvasive biomarkers for intestinal inflammation. In Crohn's disease (CD), during anti-TNF-alpha (TNF-alpha) treatment, the clinical significance of these markers has, however, been insufficiently explored.

Methods: Among CD patients receiving anti-TNF-alpha therapy we assessed the role of fecal calprotectin and lactoferrin as surrogate markers for mucosal healing.

Crohn's disease activity assessed by fecal calprotectin and lactoferrin: correlation with Crohn's disease activity index and endoscopic findings.

Background: Correlation of endoscopic Crohn's disease activity with fecal calprotectin and lactoferrin is insufficiently studied. We evaluated the clinical significance of these neutrofil-derived proteins in assessment of Crohn's disease activity by comparing them with endoscopic disease activity and with Crohn's disease activity index (CDAI) and serum CRP.

Methods: A total of 77 CD patients underwent one or more ileocolonoscopies (n = 106) with scoring of Crohn's disease index of severity (CDEIS).

Budesonide combined with UDCA to improve liver histology in primary biliary cirrhosis: a three-year randomized trial.

Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is a safe medical therapy for primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), but its effect on liver histology remains uncertain. Budesonide is a glucocorticoid with high receptor activity and high first-pass metabolism in liver. We evaluated the combination of budesonide and UDCA on liver histology and compared this with UDCA alone in a 3-year prospective, randomized, open multicenter study.

Metronidazole and ursodeoxycholic acid for primary sclerosing cholangitis: a randomized placebo-controlled trial.

No effective medical therapy is currently available for primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) improves liver enzymes, but its effect on liver histology is controversial. Metronidazole (MTZ) prevents PSC-like liver damage in animal models and reduces intestinal permeability.

Eradication of Helicobacter pylori improves the healing rate and reduces the relapse rate of nonbleeding ulcers in patients with bleeding peptic ulcer.

Objective: A causal relationship between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and peptic ulcer complications remains obscure. The aim of this study was to determine the importance of H.