Pharmacological prophylaxis versus pancreatic duct stenting plus pharmacological prophylaxis for prevention of post-ERCP pancreatitis in high risk patients: a randomized trial.

Background: Acute pancreatitis is a serious complication of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). The aim of this noninferiority study was to evaluate the effectiveness of pancreatic duct (PD) stenting plus pharmacological prophylaxis vs. pharmacological prophylaxis alone in the prevention of post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) in high risk patients.

A randomized trial of rectal indomethacin and sublingual nitrates to prevent post-ERCP pancreatitis.

Objectives: Acute pancreatitis is the most common adverse event of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Recent data suggest that indomethacin can reduce the risk of post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) in high-risk individuals. However, whether the combination of indomethacin and sublingual nitrates is superior to indomethacin alone is unknown.

The effect of adding gentamicin to contrast media for prevention of cholangitis after biliary stenting for non-calculous biliary obstruction, a randomized controlled trial.

Aim: Cholangitis is the most common infectious complication of ERCP. In vitro studies showed that addition of aminoglycosides to contrast medium was effective in reducing cholangitis but the results of clinical trials are conflicting. We studied the effect of adding gentamicin to contrast medium in reducing the rate of post-ERCP cholangitis in patients with non-calculous obstructive jaundice.

Diagnostic accuracy of endoscopic ultrasonography in patients with inconclusive magnetic resonance imaging diagnosis of biliopancreatic abnormalities.

Aim: To determine the sensitivity and specificity of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) in patients with inconclusive magnetic resonance imaging/magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRI/MRCP) in pancreatobiliary abnormalities.

Methods: During 10 months, patients with pancreatobiliary diseases referred to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) because of inconclusive MRI/MRCP diagnosis were scheduled to undergo endoscopic ultrasonography. Patients were divided into four major groups: patients with (i) resectable periampullary neoplasms who were referred to a surgeon, (ii) unresectable periampullary cancer who underwent ERCP for biliary stenting, (iii) bile duct stone who were referred to ERCP for stone extraction, and (iv) normal pancreatobiliary tract.

Sequential metronidazole-furazolidone or clarithromycin-furazolidone compared to clarithromycin-based quadruple regimens for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori in peptic ulcer disease: a double-blind randomized controlled trial.

Background: Furazolidone is a much cheaper drug with a very low resistance against Helicobacter pylori compared to clarithromycin. We aim to evaluate safety and efficacy of a sequential furazolidone-based regimen versus clarithromycin-based therapy in H. pylori eradication for ulcer disease.

Comparison of colonic transit time between patients with constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome and functional constipation.

Background/aim: Functional constipation (FC) and constipation-predominant IBS (C-IBS) are two main subtypes of constipation. Using radio-opaque markers is an easy and cost effective method to measure colonic transit time (CTT). We designed this study to compare the CTT between these two groups of constipated patients.

Long-term follow-up of common bile duct diameter after endoscopic sphincterotomy in patients with common bile duct stones.

Background And Aims: To determine the time to normalization of common bile duct (CBD) diameter after endoscopic sphincterotomy and stone extraction in patients with choledocholithiasis.

Methods: Patients with CBD dilation due to choledocholithiasis were enrolled. CBD diameter was measured by transabdominal ultrasonography before, and repeated after one, three, six and twelve months after endoscopic sphincterotomy and stone extraction, until normalization of CBD diameter.

Coeliac disease in autoimmune liver disease: a cross-sectional study and a systematic review.

Background: Several studies have reported an association between coeliac disease and autoimmune liver disease, but there is little information on the prevalence of coeliac disease in certain autoimmune liver diseases, particularly from non-European, non-American countries.

Aims: To investigate prevalence of coeliac disease in autoimmune liver disease in Iran and to summarize previous literature.

Methods: We investigated prevalence of coeliac disease among 100 autoimmune liver disease patients and compared it with the prevalence in healthy individuals.

Needle-knife fistulotomy versus standard method for cannulation of common bile duct: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography with endoscopic sphincterotomy has become widely available for the treatment of pancreatobiliary diseases; however, it has mortality and complications. The aim of this study was to compare the success rates and complications of two different methods of common bile duct cannulation.

Methods: From June 2003 though February 2004, patients who were candidates for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and/or endoscopic sphincterotomy were randomly divided into two groups: standard cannulation (group A) and suprapapillary needle-knife fistulotomy (group B).

Furazolidone-based, metronidazole-based, or a combination regimen for eradication of Helicobacter pylori in peptic ulcer disease.

Background: Furazolidone has been effective against Helicobacter pylori in Iran, with no resistance, but with intolerable side effects in the second week. One-week regimens have not been useful here. We compared the efficacy and side effect profiles of three anti-H.

Indomethacin may reduce the incidence and severity of acute pancreatitis after ERCP.

Objectives: Acute pancreatitis is the most common complication of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Many medications have been used to prevent this complication. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of rectally administered indomethacin for the prevention of post-ERCP pancreatitis.

Peptic ulcer bleeding: is Helicobacter pylori a risk factor in an endemic area?

Background/objective: A high prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection has been reported in Iran. Although the importance of H. pylori in the induction of peptic ulcer disease is clearly defined, only few studies have addressed its role in bleeding from peptic ulcers.

Probucol in the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis: an open-labeled study.

Goals: To evaluate the effects of probucol, an agent with strong antioxidant properties, in reversing biochemical changes in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

Background: There is currently no well-established medical treatment of NASH. It is believed that oxidative stress plays a major role in hepatic damage in these patients.