Estimation of physiological exercise thresholds based on dynamical correlation properties of heart rate variability.

Aerobic and anaerobic thresholds of the three-zone exercise model are often used to evaluate the exercise intensity and optimize the training load. Conventionally, these thresholds are derived from the respiratory gas exchange or blood lactate concentration measurements. Here, we introduce and validate a computational method based on the RR interval (RRI) dynamics of the heart rate (HR) measurement, which enables a simple, yet reasonably accurate estimation of both metabolic thresholds.

Characterization of inflammatory bowel disease management by vedolizumab and concomitant treatments in real-life clinical practice.

Limited data is available on vedolizumab combination therapies in real-world clinical practice. Here, we evaluated the concomitant corticosteroid, immunosuppressive, and 5-aminosalicylic acid utilization of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients treated with vedolizumab in a nationwide, retrospective, non-interventional, multi-centre chart review study. All adult patients from 27 Finnish gastroenterology centres with a diagnosis of Crohn's disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC) who had at least one vedolizumab infusion since it's availability in Finland were included in the study.

High treatment persistence rate and significant endoscopic healing among real-life patients treated with vedolizumab - a Finnish Nationwide Inflammatory Bowel Disease Cohort Study (FINVEDO).

Objectives: The efficacy and tolerability of vedolizumab in the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) has been demonstrated in an extensive GEMINI clinical trial programme. Clinical trials represent highly selected patient populations and, therefore, it is important to demonstrate effectiveness in real-life clinical practice. We set out to assess real-world treatment outcomes of vedolizumab in a nationwide cohort of treatment refractory Finnish Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) patients.

Initiation of robot-assisted radical prostatectomies in Finland: Impact on centralization and quality of care.

Objective The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of introduction of robot-assisted prostate surgery and its quality measures in Finland from 2008 to 2012. Materials and methods Registry data were collected for time trends and national distribution of prostate cancer surgery in Finland, while preoperative, operative and follow-up data were collected for quality measures. Results The number and proportion of robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomies (RALPs) increased rapidly and they accounted for 68% of all radical prostatectomies in 2012.

Epididymitis caused by coxsackievirus A6 in association with hand, foot, and mouth disease.

Coxsackievirus A6 (CV-A6) caused hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) with a unique manifestation of epididymitis. The patient underwent operation due to suspicion of testicular torsion. Epididymitis was diagnosed by ultrasound examination.

Does fecal calprotectin predict short-term relapse after stopping TNFα-blocking agents in inflammatory bowel disease patients in deep remission?

Background And Aims: This prospective multicenter study examined whether elevated fecal calprotec tin (FC) concentrations after stopping TNFα-blocking therapy can predict clinical or endoscopic relapse. In addition, we evaluated the impact of histological remission on the relapse risk.

Methods: We enrolled inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients who were in clinical, endoscopic, and FC-based (< 100 μg/g) remission after a minimum 11 months of TNFα-blocking therapy.

Outcome after discontinuation of TNFα-blocking therapy in patients with inflammatory bowel disease in deep remission.

Background: Few data are available on the disease course in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in deep remission after discontinuing tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα)-blocking therapy. In this prospective multicenter study, we evaluated the relapse rate, predictive factors, and the response to retreatment after discontinuation of TNFα-blocking therapy in patients with IBD in deep remission.

Methods: We recruited 52 patients (17 Crohn's disease, 30 ulcerative colitis, and 5 IBD unclassified) in clinical, endoscopic, and fecal calprotectin-based (<100 μg/g) remission after at least 1 year of TNFα-blocking therapy.

Achievement of deep remission during scheduled maintenance therapy with TNFα-blocking agents in IBD.

Background And Aims: Deep remission, meaning clinical remission with mucosal healing (MH), with anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) agents is a new target for therapy in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Our aim was to study how often patients on TNF-α blocking therapy actually achieve deep remission.

Methods: The total of 252 IBD patients retrospectively included (183 Crohn's disease (CD), 62 ulcerative colitis (CU) or 7 inflammatory bowel disease unclassified-type colitis (IBDU)) received TNFα-antagonists (177 infliximab, 75 adalimumab) for at least 11 months and underwent ileocolonoscopy.

[Proctocolectomy and ileoanal anastomosis as a treatment of ulcerative colitis].

Proctocolectomy and ileoanal anastomosis as a treatment of ulcerative colitis Sphincter-saving proctocolectomy, construction of ileal pouch (J pouch) and associated ileoanal anastomosis constitute an established surgical procedure in the treatment of patients having ulcerative colitis. The procedure has been found to improve the condition: the patient is usually relieved of medications and possible associated adverse effects, the cancer risk associated with the disease is minimized and the quality of life will improve. The most common complication is inflammation of the ileal pouch, developing in half of the patients.

The impact of salient advertisements on reading and attention on web pages.

Human vision is sensitive to salient features such as motion. Therefore, animation and onset of advertisements on Websites may attract visual attention and disrupt reading. We conducted three eye tracking experiments with authentic Web pages to assess whether (a) ads are efficiently ignored, (b) ads attract overt visual attention and disrupt reading, or (c) ads are covertly attended with distraction showing up indirectly in the reading performance.

Factors associated with disease activity of pouchitis after surgery for ulcerative colitis.

Background: Pouchitis occurs in 20% to 59% of patients operated on for ulcerative colitis. Several risk factors have been identified for the development of pouchitis. This study was undertaken to assess the incidence of pouchitis at least 5 years after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis, and to evaluate possible predictive factors for inflammation activity.

Factors associated with ileal mucosal morphology and inflammation in patients with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis.

Purpose: Pouchitis has been associated with abnormal bacterial flora responding to antibiotics. Dietary factors may play a role in modifying the qualitative and quantitative components of the microflora. We evaluated interactions between nutritional factors, fecal and mucosal bacterial flora, and mucosal morphology in patients with a history of pouchitis compared with patients with optimal outcome at least five years after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis.

Effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG on ileal pouch inflammation and microbial flora.

Background: Preliminary trials of probiotics in preventing recurrent chronic pouchitis have been encouraging.

Aim: To investigate the efficacy of Lactobacillus GG supplementation as primary therapy for ileal pouch inflammation, and its effect on the microbial flora.

Methods: Twenty patients, with a previous history of pouchitis and endoscopic inflammation, were recruited for a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of Lactobacillus GG supplementation (10 LGG, 10 placebo) in two gelatine capsules [(0.

Risk of osteopenia after proctocolectomy and ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis.

Background: The aim of our study was to evaluate the influence of pouchitis and villous atrophy on bone mineral density and metabolism at least 5 years after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis (UC).

Methods: Eighty-eight subjects with a J-pouch operated on between 1985 and 1994, and 20 ulcerative colitis subjects with a conventional ileostomy were enrolled. Endoscopy was performed and spine and femoral neck bone mineral densities measured.

Long term metabolic consequences of ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis.

Objectives: Chronic inflammation in the ileal pouch is the most significant late complication after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA). It leads to changes in mucosal morphology, with consequent decreased vitamin B12, bile acid and cholesterol absorption documented. The aims of this study were to evaluate long term metabolic consequences at least 5 yr after IPAA and the influence of pouchitis on pouch histology and on bile acid, lipid, and vitamin B12, A, E, and D metabolism.