Irish data on the safety and efficacy of vedolizumab in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.

This study reviews the safety and efficacy of treatment with vedolizumab for patients with inflammatory bowel disease across 9 Irish hospitals. It generates valuable and timely real-world data on treatment outcomes to add to the existing evidence base. Our population represents a refractory cohort with most patients previously exposed to at least one anti-TNFa agent and expressing an inflammatory phenotype.

R0 Resection Margin, A New Quality Measure in the Era of National Bowel Screening?

Aims To determine the completeness of polyp resection (i.e. achieving an R0 margin) and its relation with Endoscopists, histopathologist, size, location and technique of polypectomy in an NSS cohort.

Lithium in the Natural Waters of the South East of Ireland.

The South East of Ireland (County Carlow) contains a deposit of the valuable lithium-bearing mineral spodumene (LiAl(SiO₃)₂). This resource has recently attracted interest and abstractive mining in the area is a possibility for the future. The open cast mining of this resource could represent a potential hazard in the form of metalliferous pollution to local water.

Ecopiling: a combined phytoremediation and passive biopiling system for remediating hydrocarbon impacted soils at field scale.

Biopiling is an ex situ bioremediation technology that has been extensively used for remediating a wide range of petrochemical contaminants in soils. Biopiling involves the assembling of contaminated soils into piles and stimulating the biodegrading activity of microbial populations by creating near optimum growth conditions. Phytoremediation is another very successful bioremediation technique and involves the use of plants and their associated microbiomes to degrade, sequester or bio-accumulate pollutants from contaminated soil and water.

Band ligation of gastric antral vascular ectasia is a safe and effective endoscopic treatment.

Background And Aim: Gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE) or 'watermelon stomach' is a rare and often misdiagnosed cause of occult upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Treatment includes conservative measures such as transfusion and endoscopic therapy. A recent report suggests that endoscopic band ligation (EBL) offers an effective alternative treatment.

Plasma cytokine profiles in females with irritable bowel syndrome and extra-intestinal co-morbidity.

Objectives: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional disorder that is associated with a number of extra-intestinal co-morbidities and a pro-inflammatory profile. This study was designed to examine the cytokine profile among a group of IBS patients with the extra-intestinal co-morbidities fibromyalgia, premenstrual dysmorphic disorder, and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Methods: In all, 100 female IBS patients with these co-morbidities, 21 IBS subjects without co-morbidity ("pure" IBS; Rome II), and 54 age-matched female controls took part in the study.

Irritable bowel syndrome-type symptoms in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a real association or reflection of occult inflammation?

Objectives: Do gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in apparent remission reflect the coexistence of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or subclinical inflammation? The aims of this study were as follows: (i) to prospectively determine the prevalence of IBS symptoms in IBD patients in remission; and (ii) to determine whether IBS symptoms correlate with levels of fecal calprotectin.

Methods: Remission was defined by physician assessment: Crohn's disease (CD) activity index View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Mycobacterium avium subsp. Paratuberculosis (MAP) as a modifying factor in Crohn's disease.

Background: Crohn's disease (CD) is a multifactorial syndrome with genetic and environmental contributions. Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) has been frequently isolated from mucosal tissues of patients with CD but the cellular immune response to this bacterium has been poorly described. Our aim was to examine the influence of MAP on T-cell proliferation and cytokine responses in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Dyspepsia.

Purpose Of Review: This review critically evaluates the current status of dyspepsia and, in particular, recent advances in epidemiology, pathophysiology and management. The very definition of dyspepsia and of functional dyspepsia, in particular, continues to generate controversy; the Rome III redefinition of functional dyspepsia remains to be proven to be of clinical value. Overlap with gastroesophageal reflux and irritable bowel syndrome further complicate clinical definitions.

Symptomatic stent cast.

Biliary stent occlusion is a major complication of endoscopic stent insertion and results in repeat procedures. Various theories as to the etiology have been proposed, the most frequently studied is the attachment of gram negative bacteria within the stent. Several studies have shown prolongation of stent patency with antibiotic prophylaxis.

Functional dyspepsia and nonerosive reflux disease: clinical interactions and their implications.

Functional dyspepsia or nonulcer dyspepsia, and nonerosive reflux disease (NERD) or endoscopy-negative reflux disease, are common reasons for referral to a gastroenterologist. Although there is much confusion with regard to definition, recent research would suggest that these 2 conditions are linked and may represent components in the spectrum of the same disease entity, in terms of both symptoms and pathophysiology. Several theories have been proposed regarding the etiology of these disorders, including acid exposure, visceral hypersensitivity, impaired fundal accommodation, delayed gastric emptying, and Helicobacter pylori infection.

Helicobacter pylori: prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in clinical isolates.

This study aims to determine the in vitro susceptibility of Helicobacter pylori to clarithromycin, metronidazole, amoxycillin and tetracycline, the four antibiotics commonly used in eradication therapies. These data are used to evaluate the efficacy of current empiric treatment of H. pylori infection in the Southern Region of Ireland.

Functional dyspepsia and non-erosive reflux disease. A review.

Functional, or non-ulcer, dyspepsia (FD) and non-erosive reflux disease (NERD), or endoscopy negative reflux disease are common reasons for referral to both the primary care physician and the gastroenterologist. Their aetiology remains largely obscure but both clinical and basic research have revealed much to suggest that these two disease entities are inextricably linked and may represent part of the same disease process. Several theories have been proposed to explain the pathophysiology of functional dyspepsia, including visceral hypersensitivity, delayed gastric emptying, impaired gastric fundus accommodation, Helicobacter pylori infection and psychosocial factors.

Functional dyspepsia: the role of visceral hypersensitivity in its pathogenesis.

Functional, or non-ulcer, dyspepsia (FD) is one of the most common reasons for referral to gastroenterologists. It is associated with significant morbidity and impaired quality of life. Many authorities believe that functional dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome represent part of the spectrum of the same disease process.

Comparison of three stool antigen assays with the 13C- urea breath test for the primary diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection and monitoring treatment outcome.

Background: The urea breath test (UBT) is the gold-standard non-invasive test for the detection of Helicobacter pylori infection, however, the lack of availability of the UBT due to the high cost of the test, and in particular the need for expensive analytical instrumentation, limits the usefulness of this method. Stool antigen assays may offer an alternative non-invasive method for the diagnosis of infection.

Objective: To compare the accuracy of three stool antigen assays (HpSA, IDEIA HpStAR, and ImmunoCard STAT) against the UBT for the primary diagnosis of H.

Medial meatal fibrosis: the University of Western Ontario experience.

Medial meatal fibrosis is an uncommon but surgically treatable cause of conductive hearing loss. A review of 10 years experience with this entity at The University of Western Ontario revealed a total of 15 cases involving nine patients. Each of them was treated by one of four otologists.

A simplified approach to otoplasty.

Outstanding or protruding ears are relatively common in the pediatric otolaryngology population. We propose a method of otoplasty that is simple to use and provides safe and predictable results. The technique of otoplasty is outlined in detail with emphasis on creation of a desired antehelical fold with the use of modified Mustarde sutures as well as modifications of the lobule and the need for conchal set-back.

Pressure, flow and resistance characteristics of the pediatric Storz-Hopkins bronchoscopes.

Poiseuille's law describes the relationship between pressure and the flow of a gas or liquid of known viscosity through a conduit of known length and radius. In clinical bronchoscopy, resistance varies directly with changes in viscosity of the inspired gas and the length of the bronchoscope. According to Poiseuille's law, resistance varies inversely to the fourth power of the radius of the bronchoscope.

Use of the modified barium swallow in the rehabilitation of the swallowing mechanism.

Swallowing is a rapid, dynamic and complex process. Surgical treatment of head and neck malignancies produces significant alterations in the swallowing mechanism. The modified barium swallow allows assessment of these physiologic and anatomic derangements in the postoperative patient.