Faecal calprotectin in patients with suspected colorectal cancer: a diagnostic accuracy study.

Background: NICE guidance exists for the use of faecal calprotectin (FC) when irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease are suspected. Often, however, colorectal cancer is considered within the differential. Should FC have a high diagnostic accuracy for colorectal cancer, it may be applicable as a primary care screening test for all patients with lower gastrointestinal symptoms.

Multiple vascular and enteric fistulas into an anal pouch.

We present a case of an 87-year-old female who presented 3 months following an emergency Hartmann's procedure for perforated diverticulum with per rectum bleed. She was found to have a false aneurysm in the iliac artery communicating with her rectal stump. This was treated successfully with intravascular coiling; however, she re-presented 2 years later complaining of passing stool per rectum and decreased colostomy output.

The phagocytic capacity of neurones.

Phagocytosis is defined as the ingestion of particulates over 0.5 microm in diameter and is associated with cells of the immune system such as macrophages or monocytes. Neurones are not generally recognized to be phagocytic.