Fibroblast activation protein and its prognostic significance in correlation with vascular endothelial growth factor in pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Fibroblast activation protein (FAP), a selective protein for tumor stromal fibroblasts, is expressed in >90% of human epithelial carcinomas. A characteristic feature of pancreatic cancer is an extensive fibrotic or desmoplastic reaction surrounding the primary tumor. The present study aimed to evaluate the expression levels of FAP and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and determine their correlation in pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Possible infection diagnosed by videocapsule endoscopy in an immunocompetent patient with devastating diarrhea.

is an endemic parasitic infection of tropical areas, but it is rare in Europe. Most infected immunocompetent patients are asymptomatic, but may present with abdominal pain and diarrhea even several years after acquiring the infection. However, in immunocompromized patients, hyperinfection syndrome has a high mortality rate.

Two cameras detect more lesions in the small-bowel than one.

Aim: To explore the feasibility of dual camera capsule (DCC) small-bowel (SB) imaging and to examine if two cameras complement each other to detect more SB lesions.

Methods: Forty-one eligible, consecutive patients underwent DCC SB imaging. Two experienced investigators examined the videos and compared the total number of detected lesions to the number of lesions detected by each camera separately.

Bleeding lesions within reach of conventional endoscopy in capsule endoscopy examinations for obscure gastrointestinal bleeding: is repeating endoscopy economically feasible?

Background: Most tertiary gastroenterology centers currently offer an open-access capsule endoscopy (CE) service, including patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding. However, CE may identify lesions missed by conventional endoscopy.

Aims: To determine the incidence of bleeding lesions missed by the preceding gastroscopy/colonoscopy that were revealed by CE and compare potential differences in the rate of identifying such lesions in patients that we investigated as opposed to those investigated elsewhere.

High intestinal and systemic levels of decoy receptor 3 (DcR3) and its ligand TL1A in active ulcerative colitis.

Decoy receptor-3 (DcR3) is a member of the TNF receptor superfamily of proteins, which has been implicated in anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory pathways, via binding to TL1A, LIGHT and Fas-L. The role of the TL1A/DcR3 ligand/receptor pair in ulcerative colitis (UC) has not been studied. We investigated the systemic (peripheral blood) and local (large intestine) expression of DcR3 and TL1A in 64 patients with UC and 56 healthy controls.

Subsite-specific differences of estrogen receptor beta expression in the normal colonic epithelium: implications for carcinogenesis and colorectal cancer epidemiology.

Objective: This study aimed at investigating whether a differential estrogen receptor beta (ER-beta) expression between the colonic subsites could correspond to a modification in proliferation, apoptosis, and adhesion of the normal colonocytes.

Methods: ER-beta, Ki-67, Bcl-2, and E-cadherin expressions were investigated immunohistochemically, in normal epithelium biopsies from the ascending and the descending colon of 53 individuals, who underwent colonoscopy for the investigation of anemia and in whom no local pathology was identified.

Results: ER-beta immunoreactivity has been shown to be stronger at the superficial epithelium than the crypts' base, the difference being important only for the ascending colon.

Contribution of nuclear morphometry by confocal laser scanning microscopy to the diagnosis of malignant bile duct strictures.

Objective: To determine the clinical utility of nuclear morphometry by confocal laser scanning microscopy for the diagnosis of malignant biliary strictures.

Study Design: The study included 51 patients with bile duct strictures who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Based on the initial workup, 6 patients were diagnosed with benign strictures, and 12 patients had malignant strictures, while in the remaining 33 cases the diagnoses were inconsistent, due mainly to inadequate samples.

PillCam Colon capsule endoscopy does not always complement incomplete colonoscopy.

Background: There are no data on the role of PillCam Colon capsule (PCC) endoscopy for examination of the colon in incomplete colonoscopy cases.

Objective: To evaluate whether PCC endoscopy can complete colon examination after failure of conventional colonoscopy to visualize the cecum.

Setting: Three tertiary centers.

Is there a role for second-look capsule endoscopy in patients with obscure GI bleeding after a nondiagnostic first test?

Background: Long-term follow-up data on patients with obscure GI bleeding subjected to capsule endoscopy (CE) are missing.

Objective: Our purpose was to follow up patients with a nondiagnostic test and determine whether a second-look CE would be beneficial.

Patients: We enrolled 293 subjects.

Insulinlike growth factor I receptor and estrogen receptor beta expressions are inversely correlated in colorectal neoplasms and affected by the insulin resistance syndrome.

The present study aimed at evaluating the modulation of insulin-like growth factor I receptor (IGF-IR) and estrogen receptor beta (ER-beta) expression and their correlation during tumorigenesis of sporadic colorectal cancer, with particular interest in the insulin resistance syndrome. In a series of 100 individuals (54 men and 46 women; mean age, 67.3 +/- 9.

Impact of capsule endoscopy in obscure small-bowel bleeding: defining strict diagnostic criteria for a favorable outcome.

Background: The most frequent indication for capsule endoscopy is to diagnose the cause of obscure GI bleeding. The objective of the study was to determine the impact of capsule endoscopy on the outcome of patients with GI bleeding of obscure origin.

Methods: Ninety-six patients (53 men, 43 women; mean [standard deviation] age, 60.

Somatostatin inhibits gastric acid secretion more effectively than pantoprazole in patients with peptic ulcer bleeding: a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

Objective: Gastric acid inhibition is beneficial in the management of peptic ulcer bleeding (PUB). The aim of this double-blind study was to test whether somatostatin (SST) increases intragastric pH in PUB as compared with pantoprazole (PAN) and placebo (PLA).

Material And Methods: Eligible patients were randomized to receive SST (500 microg/h+250 microg bolus), or PAN (8 mg/h+80 mg bolus) or PLA (normal saline) i.

Bowel preparation increases the diagnostic yield of capsule endoscopy: a prospective, randomized, controlled study.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the value of small-bowel preparation for patients undergoing capsule endoscopy.

Methods: The study design was prospective, randomized, and controlled. Eighty patients referred for capsule endoscopy were randomized into two equal groups.