The Gastropack Access System as a Model to Access Gastroenterology Services for Gastroscopy Appropriateness in Patients with Upper Gastrointestinal Symptoms: A Comparison with the Open Access System.

Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) appropriateness in Open-Access System (OAS) is a relevant issue. The Gastropack Access System (GAS) is a new system to access gastroenterological services, based on the partnership between Gastroenterologists and GPs. This study aims to evaluate if GAS is superior to OAS in terms of EGDS appropriateness.

The clinical utility of a comprehensive psychosomatic assessment in the program for colorectal cancer prevention: a cross-sectional study.

Few studies have investigated psychosocial characteristics and lifestyle behaviors of participants at programs for secondary prevention of colorectal cancer (CRC). This study aimed, through a comprehensive psychosomatic assessment based on clinimetric principles, to evaluate psychosocial characteristics and lifestyle behaviors in participants at CRC secondary prevention program, and to investigate the associations between these variables and endoscopic outcomes. In this cross-sectional study, the first 150 consecutive asymptomatic participants at the CRC prevention program who resulted positive to fecal occult blood test (FOBT) and were thus referred to colonoscopy, underwent a psychosomatic assessment including psychiatric diagnoses (DSM-5), psychosomatic syndromes (DCPR-R), psychological distress, psychological well-being and lifestyle behaviors.

Evaluation of Clensia, a new low-volume PEG bowel preparation in colonoscopy: Multicentre randomized controlled trial versus 4L PEG.

Background: Success of colonoscopy is linked to the adequacy of bowel cleansing. Polyethylene glycol 4L (PEG 4L) solutions are widely used for colonic cleansing but with limitations concerning tolerability and acceptability.

Aim: To demonstrate the equivalence of a new low-volume PEG containing citrates and simeticone (Clensia) versus a standard PEG 4L.

Performance of the forward-view echoendoscope for pancreaticobiliary examination in patients with status post-upper gastrointestinal surgery.

Background And Objectives: Failures of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) imaging of the head of the pancreas (HOP) and the common bile duct (CBD) have been reported in up to 50% of patients with status postsurgery (e.g., Billroth II and Roux-en-Y).

Contrast Harmonic-Endoscopic Ultrasound Is Useful to Identify Neoplastic Features of Pancreatic Cysts (With Videos).

Objectives: To evaluate the potential role of contrast harmonic endoscopic ultrasound (CH-EUS) in the differential diagnosis of pancreatic cysts and detection of malignancy.

Methods: Patients who underwent CH-EUS for evaluation of cyst wall, septae, and solid components of pancreatic cysts were included. The findings were compared to fine needle aspiration and surgery.

Forward-view Endoscopic Ultrasound: A Systematic Review of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Applications.

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) and therapeutic procedures have been performed by a curved linear array (CLA) echoendoscope since the early 1990's. This particular echoendoscope, allowing real time visualization of aspiration needles and of other devices, has substantially remained unchanged since its introduction to the market. In a context of rapidly expanding indications for EUS-guided procedures, a dedicated forward view (FV) echoendoscope has been developed and tested under different clinical conditions.

Meta-analysis of randomized trials comparing endoscopic stenting and surgical decompression for colorectal cancer obstruction.

Purpose: Surgical decompression is the traditional treatment for acute colorectal cancer obstruction. In recent years, colorectal stenting has been used to relieve the obstruction. This study used meta-analytic techniques to compare colonic stenting versus surgical decompression for colorectal cancer obstruction.

Colorectal stenting as a bridge to surgery reduces morbidity and mortality in left-sided malignant obstruction: a predictive risk score-based comparative study.

Background: The Physiological and Operative Severity Score for the enUmeration of Mortality and morbidity model, and its Portsmouth and colorectal modifications are used to predict postoperative mortality and morbidity after colorectal surgery.

Aims: To compare stent placement as a bridge to surgery vs. emergency surgical resection in patients with acute left-sided colorectal cancer obstruction using P-POSSUM and CR-POSSUM.

Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis.

Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis (PCI) is a rare condition that may be associated with a variety of diseases. The presenting clinical picture may be very heterogeneous and represent a challenge for the clinician. In the present paper we describe both a common and an uncommon clinical presentation of PCI and review the pertaining literature.

A comparison of uncovered metal stents for the palliation of patients with malignant biliary obstruction: nitinol vs. stainless steel.

Background: Various types of self-expandable metal stents have been introduced for the palliation of malignant biliary obstruction.

Aims: To compare the outcomes of WallFlex™ and Wallstent™ uncovered biliary self-expandable metal stents (SEMSs) for the palliation of patients with malignant biliary obstruction.

Methods: Between October 2008 and December 2009, all SEMSs placed for malignant biliary obstruction were WallFlex™: all patients palliated were included in the study.

[The association between Helicobacter pylori and gastric cancer: the role of infection's eradication. Recent advances].

The association between Helicobacter pylori and gastric cancer has been firmly established. Eradication of H. pylori seems to modestly reduce gastric cancer risk as well as to induce regression of preneoplastic lesions.

Does stent placement for advanced colon cancer increase the risk of perforation during bevacizumab-based therapy?

Background & Aims: Data on the safety of bevacizumab-based therapies for patients carrying a self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS) for occlusive colon cancer are lacking. We report 2 cases of colon perforation observed in our case series of patients with SEMS for occlusive colon cancer.

Methods: Patients with occlusive symptoms caused by colon cancer received a colonic stent under endoscopic and radiologic guidance.

Meta-analysis: can Helicobacter pylori eradication treatment reduce the risk for gastric cancer?

Background: Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with gastric cancer, but the effect of eradication treatment on gastric cancer risk is not well defined.

Purpose: To determine whether H. pylori eradication treatment can reduce the risk for gastric cancer.

Can a wire-guided cannulation technique increase bile duct cannulation rate and prevent post-ERCP pancreatitis?: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Objectives: The most common technique used to achieve primary deep biliary cannulation is the standard contrast-assisted method. To increase the success rate and reduce the risk of complications, a wire-guided cannulation strategy has been proposed. Prospective studies provided conflicting results as to whether the wire-guided cannulation technique increases the cannulation rate and reduces post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (post-ERCP) pancreatitis risk compared with the standard method.

Effects of probiotics for the prevention and treatment of radiation-induced diarrhea.

Background And Aims: Probiotic supplementation seems to provide beneficial effects in the prevention and treatment of radiation-induced diarrhea. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the efficacy of probiotic supplementation for prevention and treatment of radiation-induced diarrhea.

Methods: Two reviewers independently searched PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar and on-line clinical trials registers (up to January 2009) for randomized controlled trials that evaluated the efficacy of probiotic supplementation for the prevention and treatment of radiation-induced diarrhea.

Side-viewing endoscope for colonic self-expandable metal stenting in patients with malignant colonic obstruction.

Malignant colon obstruction is a medical emergency and endoscopic decompression, achieved by self-expandable metal stent placement, has been broadly used for both palliation in patients with advanced, nonresectable carcinoma and as a bridge to surgery in those patients with resectable disease. We propose stent insertion assisted by a side-viewing endoscope, in sharply angulated and remarkably stenotic lesions located at the distal sigmoid. Endoscopists should consider, at least for lesions situated in the distal colon, the insertion of a side-viewing endoscope for stenting of technically difficult cases of malignant intestinal obstruction.