Introduction: The 6-thioguanine nucleotide (6-TGN) level, may be used to estimate dose-adequacy of azathioprine (AZA) therapy. 6-TGN test is not commercially available. The aim of the study was to determine whether a blood cell changes correlate also with the dose of AZA and may serve as a predictor of the dose adequacy (for MCV > 6 fl).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPortal vein thrombosis (PVT) is a partial or complete thrombotic occlusion of the portal vein and is rare in noncirrhotic patients. 78 adult patients with noncirrhotic acute PVT without known malignity were evaluated. Patients with initial CRP level 61-149 mg/l were excluded.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGastrointestinal motility disorders are reflected in clinical medicine not only in the form of functional disorders but also as primary organic units or secondary manifestations of other diseases and physicochemical effects. Recent sophisticated diagnostic methods and basic research in the field of digestive tract motility have shown significant development. However, causal treatment of prokinetic motility disorders is still marginalized.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground & Aims: The optimal duration of bowel preparation has only been assessed for polyethylene glycol (PEG). The aim of the study was to determine the intervals for achieving a satisfactory quality/tolerability of the preparation using PEG/ascorbic acid (PEGA) and sodium picosulphate/magnesium citrate (SPMC), and to compare them with 4L of PEG.
Methods: A randomized, endoscopist-blinded, multicentre study.
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy and tolerability of polyethylene glycol (PEG) to sodium picosulfate/magnesium citrate (SPMC) and low-volume polyethylene glycol/ascorbic acid (PEGA) in a single- or split-dose regimen for colonoscopy bowel preparation.
Methods: This was a prospective, randomized, endoscopist-blinded, multicentre study. Outpatients received either PEG or SPMC or PEGA in a single or a split dose before the colonoscopy.
Introduction: The good and safe bowel cleansing is key to the success of coloscopy. The standard preparation involves 4 l polyethylene glycol (PEG). Now the combination of PEG and ascorbic acid (PEGA) of half the volume is available.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The aim of this study was to monitor oropharyngeal bacterial colonization in patients indicated for percutaneous endoscopic gastronomy (PEG).
Methods: Oropharyngeal swabs were obtained from patients prior to PEG placement. A development of peristomal infection was evaluated.
Background: Treatment or prevention of a benign biliary tree stricture is an unresolved problem. A novel self-expandable biodegradable polydioxanon biliary stent in a porcine model was studied.
Materials And Methods: This new stent was used in 23 pigs.
Introduction: Cholecystectomy (CCX) represents the crucial procedure in preventing relapses of biliary acute pancreatitis (BAP). Endoscopic papilosphincterotomy (EPST) represent an acceptable alternative in patients unsuitable for surgery. Current guidelines recommend patients with mild BAP to undergo CCX in 2 maximally 4 weeks following discharge from the hospital, ideally during the same hospital stay.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDue to its high incidence and mortality rates, the colorectal carcinoma represents a crucial medical issue. However, when it is detected in early stage there is high rate of successful treatment. Thats why, early stage cancer screening programmes were introduced into the clinical practice.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMotility plays a fundamental role in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Prokinetic agents are thus an important treatment modality in patients with functional and certain organ diseases with underlying functional modifications. Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease is frequently associated with a disorder ofoesophageal motility, an alteration of gastric evacuation may manifest as an atypical dyspeptic complaint.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIrritable bowel syndrome is a frequent functional disorder of gastrointestinal tract. Its high incidence represents an important socioeconomic concern. The diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome is indirect and requires exclusion of an organic lesion within as well as outside the gastrointestinal tract.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Thorac Cardiovasc Surg
February 2012
Objective: This study was undertaken to evaluate safety and biocompatibility of a novel biodegradable polydioxanone stent in a rabbit tracheal model. Metallic and silicone stents represent standard therapeutic approaches for hollow organ stenosis, although complications have been reported repeatedly. Biodegradable stents could reduce the risks associated with this procedure while still achieving the purpose of maintaining lumen patency.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe development of new knowledge in medicine is associated with periodical changes in frequency with which certain "interesting" diseases are being diagnosed. Their frequency might be determined by accessibility of information as well as, to a certain extent, by "popularity" of these conditions within the society.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPresently, gastroesophageal reflux disease is defined as a disorder where reflux of the stomach content is bothersome and/or brings about complications. The state when macroscopically detectable erosions of mucosa are present is known as erosive reflux disease and the term non-erosive reflux disease is used for the condition with no macroscopic erosions. Reflux oesophagitis is a frequent sign of the disease.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInjection of botulinum toxin (BT) and pneumatic dilatation are available methods in nonsurgical treatment of achalasia. Authors anticipate beneficial effect of prior BT injection on the success of pneumatic dilatation and duration of its effect. There are no long-term data available to assess efficacy of combined treatment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Achalasia is an uncommon illness affecting 1 per 100,000 patients a year. It encompasses a rare, primary motor disorder of the distal esophagus.
Methods: Over the period 1998-2006, 115 patients underwent various treatments for achalasia; the subgroup of seniors consisted of 26 patients.
Introduction: The etiology of esophageal achalasia is still largely unknown. Inflammatory response to an initial stimulus on the level of genetic and/or immune predisposition may be the underlying cause of the disease. The final result is progressive disappearance of ganglion cells in the myenteric plexus and motility disorder.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAim: To determine the prevalence of delayed gastric emptying (GE) in older patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Methods: One hundred and forty seven patients with Type 2 diabetes, of whom 140 had been hospitalised, mean age 62.3 +/- 8.
Lower dyspeptic syndrome is a bowel disease manifesting namely with pain or sensation of abdominal discomfort and bowel movement problems (changes in the frequency and stool consistency). Symptoms include sensation of intraabdominal pressure and fullness, diarrhoea (with or without pain), sensation of incomplete defecation, constipation or bowel movement problems (with or without pain), irregular stool, collywobbles and bowel content flow (borborygia with spasms), meteorism, flatulency. Prevalence of the Irritable Bowel Syndrome in the European population is estimated to be 5 to 25 %.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground/aims: Persistent postoperative dysphagia diminishes the good effect of laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery. An excessive increase of the intraoperative lower esophageal sphincter pressure (LESp) is supposed to be related to the persistent postoperative dysphagia and its knowledge could lead to the modification of the surgical technique followed by improved clinical outcomes. This study aims to describe the relation between the intraoperative LESp increase and the incidence of postoperative dysphagia and to find whether a combination of intraoperative manometry and mechanical calibration of the wrap is able to decrease the incidence of the persistent postoperative dysphagia.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOesophageal achalasia is a rare disorder. For patients in good overall condition, surgical management--myotomy--is one of the treatment options. This study describes the technique of laparoscopic myotomy sured by partial antireflux cuff.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe author describes the clinical picture of chronic pancreatitis, incl. less commonly used clinical examinations.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUnlabelled: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the most common diseases affecting upper gastrointestinal tract. It is a chronic disease, whith stadily growing incidence and prevalence in west countries during last 30 years. GERD is caused by pathologic gastroesophageal reflux (GER).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAn incidence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in population is continuously increasing. A probable etiology, except anatomical changes (such as hiatus hernia, transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation etc.), can also include a change in life style For diagnostic purposes upper endoscopy and in unclear cases esophageal pH-metry is used.
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