Submucosal injection of platelet-rich plasma in endoscopic resection of large sessile lesions.

Aim: To prospectively evaluate the efficacy of submucosal injection of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on endoscopic resection of large sessile lesions.

Methods: Eleven patients were submitted to endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) with prior injection of PRP, obtained at the time of endoscopy. Patients were followed during 1 mo.

Comparative study of electrical and rheological properties of different solutions used in endoscopic mucosal resection.

Background And Aim: The study of electrical and rheological properties of solutions to carry out endoscopic resection procedures could determinate the best candidate. An ex vivo study with porcine stomachs was conducted to analyze electrical resistivity (R) and rheological properties (temperature, viscosity, height and lasting of the cushion) of different substances used in these techniques.

Methods: Tested solutions were: 0.

Endoscopic shielding technique with a newly developed hydrogel to prevent thermal injury in two experimental models.

Background And Aim: A newly developed hydrogel, applied through the endoscope as an endoscopic shielding technique (EndoSTech), is aimed to prevent deep thermal injury and to accelerate the healing process of colonic induced ulcers after therapeutic endoscopy.

Methods: Lesions were performed in rats (n = 24) and pigs (n = 8). Rats were randomized to receive EndoSTech (eight rats each) with: saline (control), hyaluronic acid and product.

Fecal Calprotectin Levels Are Closely Correlated with the Absence of Relevant Mucosal Lesions in Postoperative Crohn's Disease.

Background: Fecal calprotectin (FC) is the best noninvasive biomarker of disease activity in inflammatory bowel disease. Its correlation with endoscopic mucosal lesions could save inconvenient, expensive, and repeated endoscopic examinations in particular clinical settings.

Patients And Methods: To assess the correlation between FC and the existence and severity of endoscopic postoperative recurrence (POR), a group of clinically stable outpatients with Crohn's disease for whom an ileocolonoscopy was routinely planned to assess POR were invited to collect a stool sample before starting bowel cleansing to measure FC.

Efficacy of platelet-rich plasma as a shielding technique after endoscopic mucosal resection in rat and porcine models.

Background And Study Aims: The aims were to assess the efficacy of endoscopic application of Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to prevent delayed perforation and to induce mucosal healing after endoscopic resections.

Patients And Methods: Colonic induced lesions were performed in rats (n = 16) and pigs (n = 4). Animals were randomized to receive onto the lesions saline (control) or PRP.

Single oral dose of maraviroc does not prevent ex-vivo HIV infection of rectal mucosa in HIV-1 negative human volunteers.

Objective: Maraviroc (MVC) is a potential candidate for 'on demand' preexposure prophylaxis. In the present study, we evaluated the efficacy of a single oral dose of MVC to prevent ex-vivo HIV-1 infection of rectal tissue in humans.

Design And Methods: Eight HIV-1-negative healthy volunteers received a single oral dose of MVC (300 or 600 mg), and two additional volunteers received tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/emtricitabine (TDF/FTC, 300/200 mg) for 10 days.

Improving the quality of colonoscopy bowel preparation using a smart phone application: a randomized trial.

Background And Aim: Getting ready for a colonoscopy is difficult and involves many steps. Information given to patients is very important for adherence to treatment. We created a novel smart phone application (SPA) aimed to increase bowel preparation quality and patient satisfaction.

Addition of mesalazine for subclinical post-surgical endoscopic recurrence of Crohn's disease despite preventive thiopurine therapy: A case-control study.

Background And Aim: Thiopurines prevent Crohn's disease (CD) endoscopic recurrence (ER) at least in 50% of patients 1 year after surgery. This study aimed to evaluate the value of adding mesalazine in patients with subclinical ER despite preventive thiopurine therapy.

Methods: Crohn's disease patients with ileocecal resection treated with thiopurines for postsurgical recurrence prevention in whom mesalazine was added (cases) to treat ER without clinical recurrence (CR) were identified and compared with those in whom no treatment was added to thiopurines (controls).

Biodegradable stents in gastrointestinal endoscopy.

Biodegradable stents (BDSs) are an attractive option to avoid ongoing dilation or surgery in patients with benign stenoses of the small and large intestines. The experience with the currently the only BDS for endoscopic placement, made of Poly-dioxanone, have shown promising results. However some aspects should be improved as are the fact that BDSs lose their radial force over time due to the degradable material, and that can cause stent-induced mucosal or parenchymal injury.

Microperforation of the colon: animal model in rats to reproduce mucosal thermal damage.

Background: The aim of the present study was to develop a rat model of colonic microperforation secondary to thermal injury for future studies to assess new treatments.

Methods: Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were used in this study. Hot biopsy forceps were used for all treatments.

Intensification of a raltegravir-based regimen with maraviroc in early HIV-1 infection.

Background: Latent HIV-1-infected cells generated early in the infection are responsible for viral persistence, and we hypothesized that addition of maraviroc to triple therapy in patients recently infected with HIV-1 could accelerate decay of the viral reservoir.

Methods: Patients recently infected (<24 weeks) by chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5)-using HIV-1 were randomized to a raltegravir + tenofovir/emtricitabine regimen (control arm, n = 15) or the same regimen intensified with maraviroc (+MVC arm, n = 15). Plasma viral load, cell-associated HIV-1 DNA (total, integrated, and episomal), and activation/inflammation markers were measured longitudinally.

Predictive factors of radiation dose in ERCP: a prospective study in 2 tertiary centers.

Background: The use of fluoroscopy to aid endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) places both the patient and the endoscopy staff at the risk of radiation-induced injury. Previous reports have demonstrated a linear relationship between radiation dose and fluoroscopy duration.

Aim: To identify predictive factors of fluoroscopy time and radiation exposure to patients undergoing ERCP by using pulsed fluoroscopy.

Addition of metronidazole to azathioprine for the prevention of postoperative recurrence of Crohn's disease: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Endoscopic recurrence occurs in up to 80% of patients with Crohn's disease 1 year after intestinal resection. Imidazole antibiotics, thiopurines, and particularly their combination have proven efficacy in preventing endoscopic recurrence. The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy of the addition of metronidazole (for 3 months after the surgical treatment) to azathioprine for the prevention of postsurgical endoscopic recurrence.

Colonoscopy in rats: An endoscopic, histological and tomographic study.

Aim: To describe colon anatomy with colonoscopy and computed tomography (CT) to develop a rat model for future studies of therapeutic colonoscopy.

Methods: Eighteen male Sprague-Dawley rats, on average 400-420 g, underwent total colonoscopy, CT and histological examination. Colonoscopy was performed after bowel preparation with a baby upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with an outer diameter of 6.

Determination of the ideal preparation for colonoscopy in a rat model.

Background: Quality bowel preparation is essential to examine the entire colon adequately. No trials comparing different purgative regimens are available in animal models. The aim was to compare 5 methods for bowel cleansing to develop a rat model to study therapeutic colonoscopy.

[Preparation for colonoscopy: types of scales and cleaning products].

Adequate bowel preparation is essential before a colonoscopy, allowing us to make a proper examination of the entire mucosa. The ideal method of colon cleansing should be fast, safe, and get a proper cleaning with minimal discomfort for the patient. Today we have a wide variety of colon cleansing products, information sometimes becomes confused.

[Endoscopic management of luminal stenosis in inflammatory bowel disease].

Luminal stenosis is frequent in Crohn's disease (CD) due to transmural involvement. Before any endoscopic treatment, the presence of neoplastic stenosis should always be excluded. Endoscopic balloon dilatation has been used in several series to treat benign stenosis, mainly in CD with involvement of the distal ileon, colon or surgical anastomosis, with success rates of 51% to 85%, although recurrence is high.

Long-term outcome of patients with distal ulcerative colitis and inflammation of the appendiceal orifice.

Background And Aims: Skip inflammation of the appendiceal orifice has been described in distal UC (UC-IAO) but long-term clinical outcomes are poorly established. Our aim was to evaluate the long-term clinical outcomes of UC-IAO as compared to classic distal UC.

Methods: Patients with UC-IAO were identified from the local IBD database.

Radiation dose to patients during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is an important tool for the diagnosis and treatment of the hepatobiliary system. The use of fluoroscopy to aid ERCP places both the patient and the endoscopy staff at risk of radiation-induced injury. Radiation dose to patients during ERCP depends on many factors, and the endoscopist cannot control some variables, such as patient size, procedure type, or fluoroscopic equipment used.

Idiopathic myointimal hyperplasia of mesenteric veins and pneumatosis intestinalis: a previously unreported association.

Idiopathic myointimal hyperplasia of mesenteric veins is a very rare disease occurring in young male patients, with no more than eight cases reported in the world literature. It causes venous ischemia in the sigmoid colon and rectum that clinically resembles inflammatory bowel disease. Pneumatosis intestinalis is also a rare condition usually associated to a wide range of diseases including bowel ischemia.

High-definition colonoscopy and risk factors for recurrence of advanced adenomas in patients with a personal history of polyps.

Background And Aims: Postpolypectomy surveillance is one of the most common reasons for performing colonoscopy. Our purpose was to assess characteristics of basal adenomas related to the recurrence of advanced adenomas, and to compare the patterns observed in recurrent adenomas with the use of conventional colonoscopy (CC) (1995-1998 period) or high-definition colonoscopy (HDC) (2005-2008 period).

Methods: Analyses were based on 612 patients with recurrent adenomas (n=306) or no adenomas (control group; n=306), with at least two follow-up colonoscopies.

[Appropriateness of colonoscopy indications according to the new EPAGE II criteria].

Introduction: The appropriateness criteria for colonoscopy developed by a European expert panel (EPAGE), published in 1999, were revised this year (EPAGE II), but have not yet been evaluated.

Objectives: (1) To analyze colonoscopies performed at our hospital, and (2) to evaluate the appropriateness of the new EPAGE II criteria.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 700 colonoscopies (48% males, mean age 58 years).