Urgent Versus Standard Colonoscopy for Management of Acute Lower Gastrointestinal Bleeding: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Background: Acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB) is a common indication for hospitalization. However, the optimum timing of colonoscopy following patient presentation remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the effect of urgent versus standard colonoscopy timing on management of acute LGIB.

The Benefit of Fentanyl in Effective Sedation and Quality of Upper Endoscopy: A Double-Blinded Randomized Trial of Fentanyl Added to Midazolam Versus Midazolam Alone for Sedation.

Aims: Our goals were to compare the effect of adding fentanyl to midazolam in a double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial and determine if fentanyl enhances sedation, increases adverse events or effects time of the procedure or discharge.

Methods: Patients 18 to 65 years scheduled for outpatient upper endoscopy were eligible for the study. Patients were randomized to receive either 100 mcg/2 mL of Fentanyl or 2 mL of placebo IV with a double-blinded protocol.

Resident Survey on Gastroenterology Training in Canada.

Background: Gastroenterology training in Canada is guided by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Resident perspectives on training and the degree of heterogeneity across training programs have not been previously surveyed.

Aim: This study aims to evaluate the current Canadian adult gastroenterology training experience from a resident perspective and provide insight into the heterogeneity among training programs.

Prophylactic PPI help reduce marginal ulcers after gastric bypass surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies.

Background: Marginal ulceration after gastric bypass surgery is a recognized complication and has been reported in 1-16% of patients. There is evidence that acidity may play a role in the disease pathophysiology and it is a common practice for bariatric surgeons to begin a prophylactic course of proton pump inhibitors (PPI), postoperatively.

Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register were searched using the most comprehensive timeline for each database up to January 2012.

Optimum duration of regimens for Helicobacter pylori eradication.

Background: The optimal duration for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication therapy is controversial, with recommendations ranging from 7 to 14 days. Several systematic reviews have attempted to address this issue but have given conflicting results and limited their analysis to proton pump inhibitor (PPI), two antibiotics (PPI triple) therapy.

Epidemiology and risk factors for bloodstream infections in a home parenteral nutrition program.

Background: An increasing number of patients with intestinal failure are receiving home parenteral nutrition (HPN). Associated complications include bloodstream infections (BSIs), but data on rates and risk factors for HPN-related BSIs are scarce.

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of patients enrolled in the regional HPN program between 2001 and 2008.

Safety of esophagogastroduodenoscopy within 30 days of myocardial infarction: a retrospective cohort study from a Canadian tertiary centre.

Background: Patients who experience myocardial infarction (MI) are at risk of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding complications. Endoscopic evaluation may lead to cardiopulmonary complications. Guidelines and studies regarding the safety of endoscopy in this population are limited.

Efficacy of oral vs. topical, or combined oral and topical 5-aminosalicylates, in Ulcerative Colitis: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: Efficacy of 5-aminosalicylic acids (5-ASAs) in ulcerative colitis (UC) has been studied previously in meta-analyses. However, no recent meta-analysis has studied the relative efficacies of differing routes of administration.

Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane central register of controlled trials were searched (through May 2011).

Efficacy of topical 5-aminosalicylates in preventing relapse of quiescent ulcerative colitis: a meta-analysis.

Background & Aims: Topical 5-aminosalicylates (5-ASAs) such as mesalamine are effective in inducing remission in patients with mild to moderately active ulcerative colitis (UC). However, there has been no meta-analysis of their efficacy in preventing relapse of quiescent UC.

Methods: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane central register of controlled trials through July 2011 for randomized controlled trials comparing the effects of topical 5-ASAs with placebo in adults with quiescent UC.

Once-daily dosing vs. conventional dosing schedule of mesalamine and relapse of quiescent ulcerative colitis: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: Maintenance therapy with 5-aminosalicylates (5-ASAs) is recommended in patients with quiescent ulcerative colitis (UC), but compliance rates are low. Once-daily dosing may improve adherence, but impact on the relapse of disease activity is unclear as no previous meta-analysis has studied this issue.

Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane central register of controlled trials were searched (through April 2011).

Efficacy of 5-aminosalicylates in Crohn's disease: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract. Evidence for treatment with 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) drugs is conflicting. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to examine this issue.

Efficacy of 5-aminosalicylates in ulcerative colitis: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: The efficacy of 5-aminosalicylic acids (5-ASAs) in ulcerative colitis (UC) has been studied previously in meta-analyses. However, several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have been published recently, and no previous meta-analysis has studied the effect of 5-ASA dosage used.

Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane central register of controlled trials were searched (through December 2010).

Antibiotic therapy in inflammatory bowel disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The etiology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is unknown but may relate to an unidentified bacterial pathogen or an immunological reaction to gut microbiota. Antibiotics have therefore been proposed as a therapy for Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) to induce remission in active disease to prevent relapse. Current data are conflicting and we therefore conducted a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating antibiotics in IBD.

Efficacy of immunosuppressive therapy for inflammatory bowel disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: There remains controversy regarding the efficacy of thiopurine analogs (azathioprine (AZA) and 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP)), methotrexate (MTX), and cyclosporine for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We performed an updated systematic review of the literature to clarify the efficacy of immunosuppressive therapy at inducing remission and preventing relapse in ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD).

Methods: Only parallel group randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were considered eligible.

Efficacy of biological therapies in inflammatory bowel disease: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) are inflammatory disorders of the gastrointestinal tract of unknown etiology. Evidence for treatment of the condition with biological therapies exists, but no systematic review and meta-analysis has examined this issue in its entirety.

Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane central register of controlled trials were searched (through to December 2010).

Glucocorticosteroid therapy in inflammatory bowel disease: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: The use of glucocorticosteroids to treat both Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) is widespread, but no systematic review and meta-analysis has examined the issue of efficacy of these agents in its entirety.

Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane central register of controlled trials were searched (through December 2010). Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) recruiting adults with active or quiescent CD comparing standard glucocorticosteroids or budesonide with placebo or each other, or comparing standard glucocorticosteroids with placebo in active UC, were eligible.

5-aminosalicylates prevent relapse of Crohn's disease after surgically induced remission: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: Evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for the use of 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) drugs in Crohn's disease (CD) in remission after a surgical resection is conflicting. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs to examine this issue.

Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane central register of controlled trials were searched (through April 2010).