Adhesion properties of polyimide coated stacks: An in-depth analysis of the cross-sectional nanoindentation method.

Adhesion at the interface between dissimilar materials in the semiconductor industry is an important topic, but reliable quantitative methods for strongly adhesive or highly plastic layers are hardly available. This study aims to investigate the suitability of the cross-sectional nanoindentation (CSN) method for determination of the critical energy release rate of thin film stacks in the presence of a polyimide layer as a representative structure for such a case. For this purpose, the adhesion of a deliberately weakened Si/SiO interface in a Si/SiO/Al/SiN/polyimide stack is examined by systematic variation of the experimental parameters.

Effect of essential phospholipids on hepatic steatosis in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus and/or hyperlipidemia and/or obesity: study protocol of a randomized, double-blind, phase IV clinical trial.

Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a predominant chronic liver condition globally and is strongly associated with obesity, diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia. Essential phospholipids (EPL) are recommended as supportive treatment for managing liver conditions, including MASLD or metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, cirrhosis, and viral hepatitis. While efficacy of EPL as an adjunctive therapy in MASLD treatment has been established earlier, certain aspects of its usage such as the impact of standard-of-care parameters, effect of EPL on quality of life (QoL) and change in symptoms evaluation in patients with MASLD remain unexplored.

The prospective validation of a scoring system to assess mucosal cleanliness during EGD.

Background And Aims: Cleanliness of the mucosa of the upper GI (UGI) tract is critical for performing a high-quality EGD. The aim of this study was to validate a recently developed UGI cleanliness scale (the Polprep: Effective Assessment of Cleanliness in Esophagogastroduodenoscopy [PEACE] system) in the detection of clinically significant lesions (CSLs) in the UGI tract.

Methods: Patients who underwent a complete diagnostic EGD were prospectively enrolled from August 2021 to October 2022.

Performance of biliary stents in malignant biliary strictures.

Introduction: Endoscopic stenting is a commonly applied method of treatment in patients with malignant biliary strictures. It involves the use of self‑expandable metal stents (SEMSs) or plastic stents (PSs).

Objectives: The aim of the study was to compare the effectiveness of SEMSs and PSs in the endoscopic drainage of malignant strictures of the biliary tree and its sequels for future optimalization of this treatment method.

Guidelines for the management of ulcerative colitis. Recommendations of the Polish Society of Gastroenterology and the Polish National Consultant in Gastroenterology.

This paper is an update of the diagnostic and therapeutic recommendations of the National Consultant for Gastroenterology and the Polish Society of Gastroenterology from 2013. It contains 49 recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment, both pharmacological and surgical, of ulcerative colitis in adults. The guidelines were developed by a group of experts appointed by the Polish Society of Gastroenterology and the National Consultant in the field of Gastroenterology.

Potential benefits of one‑time gastroscopy in search for precancerous conditions.

Introduction: Precancerous conditions for esophageal (EA) and gastric adenocarcinoma (GA) are Barrett's esophagus (BE) and atrophic gastritis (AG), respectively. Their surveillance is crucial for the detection of early lesions.

Objectives: The study aimed to assess whether one‑timeesophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) in search for precancerous conditions would be effective in the population with low‑to‑moderate esophageal and gastric cancer risk.

Heterotopic Gastric Mucosa in the Proximal Esophagus: Prospective Study and Systematic Review on Relationships with Endoscopic Findings and Clinical Data.

Cervical inlet patches (CIP) are common endoscopic findings with uncertain pathogenesis and clinical significance. We aimed to perform a systematic review and prospective study of clinical data and endoscopic findings related to CIP. It was a prospective single-center study conducted between 10/01/2017 and 9/01/2018.

Impact of tumor size and location on endoscopic ultrasound-guided sampling of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors: A recursive partitioning analysis.

Background: Current guidelines provide weak recommendations to treat small (<2 cm) non-functional pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors with low Ki-67 proliferation index either by resection or clinical follow-up. However, there is a lack of consensus regarding the minimal size of pNET, which allows EUS-guided biopsy with high enough diagnostic accuracy for stratification.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective, bicentric analysis of patients who had undergone EUS-guided pNET sampling in two tertiary care Endoscopy Units in Germany and Poland.

The relation of esophagogastroduodenoscopy time and novel upper gastrointestinal quality measures.

Objectives: Various measures of esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) quality have been proposed so far and the examination time was one of the first. The aim of the study was to compare the procedure time with novel novel quality measures - composite detection rate (CDR) and endoscopist biopsy rate (EBR).

Methods: It was prospective observational study.

The role of endoscopic and demographic features in the diagnosis of gastric precancerous conditions.

Introduction: The diagnosis of atrophic gastritis (AG) and intestinal metaplasia (IM) is a crucial screening and surveillance strategy for gastric adenocarcinoma.

Objectives: The main objective was to assess the performance of endoscopic diagnosis of gastric precancerous conditions in a real‑life scenario.

Patients And Methods: A total of 2099 gastroscopies with biopsy to evaluate gastritis performed in 3 endoscopic centers from March 2018 to October 2019 were retrospectively analyzed.

Guidelines for the management of patients with Crohn's disease. Recommendations of the Polish Society of Gastroenterology and the Polish National Consultant in Gastroenterology.

This paper is an update of the diagnostic and therapeutic recommendations of the National Consultant for Gastroenterology and the Polish Society of Gastroenterology from 2012. It contains 46 recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment, both pharmacological and surgical, of Crohn's disease in adults. The guidelines were developed by a group of experts appointed by the Polish Society of Gastroenterology and the National Consultant in the field of Gastroenterology.

Performance of plastic stents used for benign and malignant biliary strictures: experience of a single high‑volume endoscopy unit.

Introduction: Endoscopic plastic biliary stenting has been used for more than 30 years as a temporary or definitive treatment of benign and malignant neoplasms. These stents are commonly available, inexpensive, and easy to implant.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the duration of plastic stent patency, to assess complications associated with stent use, and to determine the optimal timing of stent replacement depending on the indication for biliary stenting.

Healthcare practitioners' diagnostic and treatment practice patterns of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in Poland: a cross-sectional survey.

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) awareness is low. NAFLD diagnosis and management by gastroenterologists (GEs) and general practitioners (GPs) in Poland were evaluated.

Methods: RESTORE was an observational, noninterventional, retrospective cross-sectional survey performed among GEs and GPs with at least 3 years' experience.

Scoring system assessing mucosal visibility of upper gastrointestinal tract: The POLPREP scale.

Background And Aim: The proper visibility of mucosa during esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) is crucial for the detection of early upper gastrointestinal tract lesions. In contrast to colonoscopy, no validated scoring system for the assessment of upper gastrointestinal mucosal cleanliness has been developed so far. The aim of the study was to create and validate standardized grading system (POLPREP) to assess the mucosal cleanliness during EGD.

Composite detection rate as an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy quality measure correlating with detection of neoplasia.

Background: Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) is commonly used diagnostic method with no widely accepted quality measure. We assessed quality indicator-composite detection rate (CDR)-consisting of detection of at least one of the following: cervical inlet patch, gastric polyp and post-ulcer duodenal bulb deformation. The aim of the study was to validate CDR according to detection rate of upper gastrointestinal neoplasms (UGN).

Influence of narrow-band imaging (NBI) and enhanced operator's attention during esophagus inspection on cervical inlet patches detection.

Purpose: Heterotopic gastric mucosa in the upper esophagus (cervical inlet patches - CIP) may be easily missed during esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) due to low awareness of this usually, but not invariably, benign lesion. Narrow-band imaging (NBI) emphasizes contrast between normal esophageal mucosa and CIP. The purpose of this study was to investigate how NBI use and enhanced attention of operator during inspection of upper esophagus impacts cervical inlet patch detection rate (CIPDR).

Analysis of Point Shear Wave Elastography and Biochemical Markers for the Detection of Liver Fibrosis.

This work focuses on the possibility of using the point shear wave elastography (pSWE) method for detecting biochemical markers in diffuse liver diseases. Additionally, this study addresses the issue of the influence of ultrasound factors on the pSWE quality indicators of the obtained measurements. A pSWE examination was performed on 139 patients (69 female and 70 male) diagnosed with diffuse liver disease.

Influence of COVID-19 Pandemic on Endoscopic Procedures in Two European Large-Capacity Endoscopy Units: "Keep Calm, Keep Safe and Scope on?".

Background: The COVID-19-pandemic poses challenges to the medical system and especially to endoscopic staff and patients. National, European and International societies provided recommendations on how to safely perform endoscopic procedures during the current pandemic. Until now, the effect of the current pandemic on tertiary endoscopy centers has not been reported.

A Rare Mutation in The Gene Associated with Neurological Manifestations in Familial Hypobetalipoproteinemia.

Clinical phenotypes of familial hypobetalipoproteinemia (FHBL) are related to a number of defective apolipoprotein B () alleles. Fatty liver disease is a typical manifestation, but serious neurological symptoms can appear. In this study, genetic analysis of the gene and ophthalmological diagnostics were performed for family members with FHBL.

Mucosal miR-3677 is over-expressed in cirrhotic patients with gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE).

Introduction: Gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE) is a rare vasculopathy that associates several diseases, most commonly liver cirrhosis. It usually presents as an occult gastrointestinal bleeding leading to profound iron deficiency anemia. We hypothesized that GAVE is local mucosal pathology dependent on genetic mechanisms, and the purpose of the study was to characterize miRNAs expression in gastric tissue of patients with cirrhosis and GAVE.

Pharmacological and dietary factors in prevention of colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most prevalent neoplasm worldwide and fourth most frequent reason of cancer-related death throughout the world. About 70% of malignant tumors are related to lifestyle and environmental factors, and better knowledge of their significance might reduce the prevalence of CRC. The cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitory and other direct and indirect pathways of aspirin are translated to inhibition proliferation and enhanced apoptosis of cancer cells.