The Effectiveness and Safety of First-Line Thioguanine in Thiopurine-Naïve Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients.

Background: Currently thioguanine is solely used as treatment for inflammatory bowel disease after azathioprine and/or mercaptopurine failure. This study aimed to determine the safety, effectiveness, and 12-month drug survival of thioguanine in thiopurine-naïve patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed in thiopurine-naïve patients with inflammatory bowel disease treated with thioguanine as first thiopurine derivate.

Measurement of nitric oxide-related amino acids in serum and plasma: effects of blood clotting and type of anticoagulant.

Background: Analysis of circulatory amino acids is performed in diverse fields of research, but very often without justification or even specification of specimen type. We investigated the impact of coagulation and anticoagulants on amino acid concentrations, with emphasis on amino acids involved in nitric oxide metabolism.

Methods: Plasma, using either heparin or EDTA as anticoagulant, and serum were collected from 23 apparently healthy subjects.

Malabsorption and nutritional balance in the ICU: fecal weight as a biomarker: a prospective observational pilot study.

Introduction: Malabsorption, which is frequently underdiagnosed in critically ill patients, is clinically relevant with regard to nutritional balance and nutritional management. We aimed to validate the diagnostic accuracy of fecal weight as a biomarker for fecal loss and additionally to assess fecal macronutrient contents and intestinal absorption capacity in ICU patients.

Methods: This was an observational pilot study in a tertiary mixed medical-surgical ICU in hemodynamically stable adult ICU patients, without clinically evident gastrointestinal malfunction.

Poor diagnostic accuracy of a single fasting plasma citrulline concentration to assess intestinal energy absorption capacity.

Objectives: Our aim was to explore the diagnostic value of fasting citrulline concentrations to detect decreased intestinal energy absorption in patients with recently diagnosed celiac disease (CeD), refractory celiac disease (RCeD), and short bowel syndrome (SBS). Decreased intestinal energy absorption is regarded a marker of intestinal failure.

Methods: Fasting plasma citrulline concentrations were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in a prospective study of 30 consecutive adult patients (15 CeD, 9 RCeD, and 16 SBS) and 21 healthy subjects.

Self-expanding metal stents for the treatment of intrathoracic esophageal anastomotic leaks following esophagectomy.

Intrathoracic anastomotic leakage following resection for esophageal malignancy is associated with significant morbidity and mortality rates. Recently, therapy consisted mainly of surgical reexploration and conservative treatment using nasogastric and perianastomotic drainage. This case report shows the feasibility of using fully covered metal esophageal stents to close the anastomotic defect in three patients with esophagectomy for cancer.