Is narrow-band imaging a useful tool in screening colonoscopy performed by an experienced endoscopist? A prospective randomised study on 533 patients.

Introduction: The detection of adenomas is the basic goal for colorectal cancer screening programs; therefore, every possibility to improve the adenoma detection rate is valuable.

Aim: To answer the question of whether narrow-band imaging (NBI) can enhance detection quality in screening for colonoscopy.

Material And Methods: A group of 533 patients (202 men: 331 women; average age: 56.

Cogan's Syndrome in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease--A Case Series.

Background: Cogan's syndrome (CSy) is a very rare autoimmune disorder, mainly affecting the inner ear and the eye, and is associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Methods: This was a European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation (ECCO) retrospective observational study, performed as part of the CONFER project. A call to all ECCO members was made to report concomitant CSy and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) cases.

A microRNA-based test improves endoscopic ultrasound-guided cytologic diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

Background & Aims: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) in combination with cytopathology is the optimal method for diagnosis and staging of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and other pancreatic lesions. Its clinical utility, however, can be limited by high rates of indeterminate or false-negative results. We aimed to develop and validate a microRNA (miRNA)-based test to improve preoperative detection of PDAC.

[Estimation of appropriateness of colonoscopy using RAND/UCLA method].

Multicenter European trials estimating appropriateness of colonoscopy are one of the hot topics in gastroenterology. The aim of the study was the estimation of appropriateness of colonoscopy and usefulness of panel experts criteria (elaborated according to RAND/UCLA method) in Department of Gastroenterology of Medical University of Silesia in Katowice and other gastroenterology centers throughout Europe. The trial was conducted between January 1st 2001 and May 30th 2001 in 18 centers in 9 European countries.

[Comparison of technical aspects of colonoscopy in various gastroenterologic centres].

There are ongoing multicenter European trials analyzing, among other factors, technical aspects of colonoscopy in various countries. The aim of the study was to compare the techniques of preparation and performance of colonoscopy in the Department of Gastroenterology at Medical University of Silesia in Katowice and other gastroenterology centers throughout Europe. The trial was conducted between January 1st 2001 and May 30th 2001 in 18 centers in 9 European countries.

[Evaluation of probability of bile duct stone presence by using of non-invasive procedures].

Precise evaluation of bile duct stones presence in particular moment, performed using the most non-invasive method, is important for the planning of optimal treatment. Not only simple imaging procedures (like conventional transabdominal ultrasound--US) but also more sophisticated imaging methods (CT or MRI) are frequently useless. The "gold standards" of bile duct stones diagnosis are still endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with endoscopic sphincterotomy and surgical choledochotomy.

[Digestive tract hemorrhage and recurrent ileus. Peutz-Jeghers syndrome-case report].

Authors describe a case of 24 years old woman with recurrent lower GI bleeding and mechanical obstruction. Crohn's disease was diagnosed at the beginning. It was impossible to treat the patient's profound anemia with blood transfusions due to her religion believes.