Comparison of high-resolution magnification narrow-band imaging and white-light endoscopy in the prediction of histology in Barrett's oesophagus.

Objective: To evaluate whether there is any appreciable difference in imaging characteristics between high-resolution magnification white-light endoscopy (WLE-Z) and narrow-band imaging (NBI-Z) in Barrett's oesophagus (BE) and if this translates into superior prediction of histology.

Material And Methods: This was a prospective single-centre study involving 21 patients (75 areas, corresponding NBI-Z and WLE-Z images) with BE. Mucosal patterns (pit pattern and microvascular morphology) were evaluated for their image quality on a visual analogue scale (VAS) of 1-10 by five expert endoscopists.

'Nipped in the Budd': hepatic venous outflow obstruction in evolution.

Hepatic venous thrombosis (Budd-Chiari) in evolution is a rare phenomenon and carries a high morbidity and mortality. We describe the case of a 39-year-old Bangladeshi lady who presented with severe abdominal pain secondary to a perforated duodenal ulcer and during her hospital admission developed an asymptomatic Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS). Our report highlights the important role of an inflammatory focus, and how this process with an associated reactive thrombocytosis may act as a trigger for the development of BCS in an individual with predisposing risk factors.

Host anti-microbial response to Helicobacter pylori infection.

beta-Defensin peptides are known to be potent anti-bacterials with a wide spectrum of activity. They, therefore, represent an important aspect of innate immunity. In the present study, we have extended our understanding of the regulation of the beta-defensins in response to Helicobacter pylori (H.