Antidepressants and gastrointestinal symptoms in the general Dutch adult population.

Background: Gastrointestinal symptoms are frequently reported adverse effects of antidepressants, but antidepressants are also a treatment modality in functional gastrointestinal disorders. We aimed to assess the association between antidepressant use and gastrointestinal symptoms in the general adult population.

Methods: We assessed gastrointestinal symptoms, medication use, and comorbidity through structured questionnaires in randomly selected individuals.

[Colorectal cancer screening in the Netherlands: which faecal occult blood test?].

The Dutch Ministry of Health has instructed the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) to prepare a national screening programme for colorectal cancer. The RIVM put the immunochemical faecal occult blood test (iFOBT) for the programme out to public tender, after which a panel of experts recommended the FOB Gold test. This is surprising since previous studies favoured the OC Sensor test and the FOB Gold test has never been used in the Netherlands.

Similar fecal immunochemical test results in screening and referral colorectal cancer.

Aim: To improve the interpretation of fecal immunochemical test (FIT) results in colorectal cancer (CRC) cases from screening and referral cohorts.

Methods: In this comparative observational study, two prospective cohorts of CRC cases were compared. The first cohort was obtained from 10 322 average risk subjects invited for CRC screening with FIT, of which, only subjects with a positive FIT were referred for colonoscopy.

[Endoscopic removal of large colonic lipomas].

Lipomas are benign tumours that are sometimes found in the colon, where they may cause symptoms through constriction and blood loss. Until recently, surgical removal of large lipomas was the therapy of choice, because of the danger of bleeding and perforation during endoscopy. The endoloop (PolyLoop, Olympus Medical Systems Corp.

Identification of NSAID users at risk for gastrointestinal complications: a systematic review of current guidelines and consensus agreements.

NSAIDs are among the most often used drugs worldwide. Numerous NSAID users are at risk for developing gastrointestinal complications. The purpose of this review was to identify and stratify risk factors for gastrointestinal complications in NSAID users documented in guidelines and consensus agreements, and to collect recommendations regarding over-the-counter (OTC) NSAID use.

Polymorphisms in gene encoding TRPV1-receptor involved in pain perception are unrelated to chronic pancreatitis.

Background: The major clinical feature in chronic pancreatitis is pain, but the genetic basis of pancreatic pain in chronic pancreatitis is poorly understood. The transient receptor potential vanilloid receptor 1 (TRPV1) gene has been associated with pain perception, and genetic variations in TRPV1 may modify the presence and phenotype of chronic pancreatitis. The aim of our study was to investigate the genetic variation of TRPV1 in Dutch patients with chronic pancreatitis and healthy controls.

Mutational analysis of the gene encoding the zymogen granule membrane glycoprotein 2 (GP2) in patients with chronic pancreatitis.

Objectives: Premature activation of pancreatic digestive enzymes is considered as a major factor in the pathogenesis of pancreatitis. Genetic alterations of different pancreatic zymogens or their inhibitors have been associated with chronic pancreatitis (CP).

Methods: We sequenced all 12 GP2 exons in 380 German CP patients and in 182 German control subjects.

[Dutch patients with hereditary pancreatitis; high mutation frequency, relatively little pain].

Objective: To assess genetic, clinical and morphological characteristics of hereditary pancreatitis, a rare type of chronic pancreatitis with an early onset of symptoms, which is, among others, caused by mutations in the PRSS1 gene.

Design: Observational cohort study.

Method: The study population consisted of 496 patients (27,375 person-years) who were referred to Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre for molecular diagnosis of hereditary pancreatitis during period 2000 to 2007.

Genetic polymorphisms in UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A6 are not associated with NSAIDs-related peptic ulcer haemorrhage.

UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A6 (UGT1A6) is involved in metabolizing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Genotype variation in UGT1A6 may influence the metabolism of NSAIDs and we studied whether this might modulate the gastrointestinal toxicity of NSAIDs. UGT1A6 genotypes of 114 patients with peptic ulcer haemorrhage were compared with those of two subsets of controls: 158 cardiology patients using similar amounts of NSAIDs and 140 healthy controls, hardly using NSAIDs.

[Colorectal cancer screening: immunological test for faecal occult blood preferred].

In 2003, the European Commission advised the Member States to start colorectal cancer screening. More than 12 million Europeans have been tested to date, not only by means of faecal occult blood testing but often also by opportunistic endoscopy. Nearly all of the screening programmes concerned were opportunistic in nature.

Cyclooxygenase-2 polymorphisms and the risk of esophageal adeno- or squamous cell carcinoma.

Aim: To determine whether -1195 A-->G and/or -765 G-->C polymorphisms in Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) may have a risk modifying effect on the development of esophageal carcinoma in a Dutch Caucasian population.

Methods: Two study groups were recruited, 252 patients with esophageal carcinoma and 240 healthy controls, matched for race, age, gender and recruiting area. DNA was isolated from whole blood and used for genotyping.

Arteriovenous fistulae as an alternative to central venous catheters for delivery of long-term home parenteral nutrition.

Background & Aims: The success of home parenteral nutrition (HPN) programs is compromised by complications of central venous catheters (CVCs), such as occlusions and bloodstream infections. We performed a retrospective analysis of complication rates of arteriovenous fistulae versus CVCs in patients on long-term HPN.

Methods: Data were collected from 127 consecutive patients who received HPN between January 2000 and October 2006, comprising 344 access years of CVCs and 194 access years of arteriovenous fistulae.

The role of epoxide hydrolase Y113H gene variant in pancreatic diseases.

Objectives: Chronic pancreatitis (CP) and pancreatic adenocarcinoma (pCA) are associated with risk factors such as alcohol intake and tobacco smoking. Microsomal epoxide hydrolase (EPHX1) is a phase II detoxifying enzyme capable of tobacco-borne toxicant inactivation. We studied the role of the EPHX1 c.

Effect of genetic polymorphisms in UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A6 (UGT1A6) on acetylsalicylic acid metabolism in healthy female volunteers.

Objective: To compare plasma concentrations of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and its metabolites between genetic polymorphisms in the gene encoding for UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A6 (UGT1A6), an enzyme involved in ASA metabolism.

Methods: Five UGT1A6*1 and 4 UGT1A6*2 homozygote females were given 320 mg ASA once daily for 8 days. During the first and last day of treatment, several blood samples were taken over a 10-hour time period and analyzed for plasma levels of ASA and its main metabolites salicylic acid (SA) and salicyluric acid (SUA), using a validated HPLC method.

Effect and cost-effectiveness of step-up versus step-down treatment with antacids, H2-receptor antagonists, and proton pump inhibitors in patients with new onset dyspepsia (DIAMOND study): a primary-care-based randomised controlled trial.

Background: Substantial physician workload and high costs are associated with the treatment of dyspepsia in primary health care. Despite the availability of consensus statements and guidelines, the most cost-effective empirical strategy for initial management of the condition remains to be determined. We compared step-up and step-down treatment strategies for initial management of patients with new onset dyspepsia in primary care.

Divergent roles of SPINK1 and PRSS2 variants in tropical calcific pancreatitis.

Background/aims: Tropical calcific pancreatitis (TCP) refers to a type of idiopathic pancreatitis prevalent in Asia. The trypsin inhibitor (SPINK1) N34S variant partially explains the genetic susceptibility to TCP. As anionic trypsinogen (PRSS2) G191R protects against chronic pancreatitis in Europeans, we investigated whether this variant protects from TCP in Indians.

Functional dyspepsia: not all roads seem to lead to rome.

Background: The Rome criteria have been introduced to create order in the heterogeneity of functional dyspepsia. The applicability of these symptom-based classification systems remains controversial.

Goal: To evaluate the successive Rome criteria for functional dyspepsia in a large pool of patients with endoscopically verified functional dyspepsia.

Gastrointestinal involvement is frequent in Myotonic Dystrophy type 2.

The phenotype of DM2 shows similarities as well as differences to that of Myotonic Dystrophy type 1 (DM1). Gastrointestinal dysfunction is common in DM1 and 25% of the patients consider this to be the most disabling consequence of the disease. Little is known about gastrointestinal involvement in Myotonic Dystrophy type 2 (DM2).

Prognostic value of free plasma homocysteine levels in patients hospitalized with acute coronary syndrome.

Elevated total plasma homocysteine is an established risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Experimental evidence suggests that non-protein-bound free homocysteine is particularly hazardous to the vascular endothelium. This study evaluates the predictive role of free plasma homocysteine levels on cardiovascular endpoints in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).