Emerging inflammatory bowel disease demographics, phenotype, and treatment in South Asia, South-East Asia, and Middle East: Preliminary findings from the Inflammatory Bowel Disease-Emerging Nations' Consortium.

Background And Aim: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is emerging in the newly industrialized countries of South Asia, South-East Asia, and the Middle East, yet epidemiological data are scarce.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of IBD demographics, disease phenotype, and treatment across 38 centers in 15 countries of South Asia, South-East Asia, and Middle East. Intergroup comparisons included gross national income (GNI) per capita.

Clinical characteristics and quality of life among Sri Lankan patients with chronic pancreatitis.

Objective: We aimed to describe the clinical characteristics of chronic pancreatitis (CP) and patient quality of life (QOL) in a resource-limited setting.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study including patients with clinical and radiological features of CP. We collected clinical data and assessed QOL using the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire.

Genetic associations of inflammatory bowel disease in a South Asian population.

Aim: To estimate prevalence and phenotypic associations of selected inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)-associated genetic variants among Sri Lankan patients.

Methods: A case study of histologically confirmed ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn's disease (CD) patients with ≥ 1 year disease duration, who were compared to unrelated, gender-matched, healthy individuals as controls, was conducted at four major centers in Sri Lanka. Phenotypic data of the cases were obtained and all participants were genotyped for 16 selected genetic variants: :, :, :, :, /:, :, :, :, :, /:, :, :, :, :, , , , :, , , and :.

Novel risk factors for primary prevention of oesophageal carcinoma: a case-control study from Sri Lanka.

Background: Oesophageal carcinoma (OC) is one of the leading cancers in Sri Lanka. Its increasing incidence despite the implementation of various preventive activities addressing the conventional risk factors indicates the possibility of the existence of novel, country-specific risk factors. Thus, the identification of novel risk factors of OC specific to Sri Lanka is crucial for implementation of primary prevention activities.