Thermal expansion feedback for wave-front shaping.

Focusing inside scattering media is a challenging task with a variety of applications in biomedicine. State of the art methods mostly require invasive feedback inside or behind the sample, limiting practical use. We present a technique for dynamic control and focusing inside scattering media that combines two powerful methods: optical coherence tomography (OCT) and wave-front shaping (WFS).

Impact of demographic and clinical parameters on video capsule transit time.

Background: Small bowel (SB) capsule endoscopy (CE) studies provide data on both gastric and SB transit times (GTT and SBTT, respectively).

Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the influence of demographic and clinical parameters on the GTT and SBTT. Transit times for two generations of capsules (Pillcam SB2 and SB3) were also compared.

Randomized clinical study: Partially hydrolyzed guar gum (PHGG) versus placebo in the treatment of patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

Background: The treatment of Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is still challenging. Partially hydrolyzed guar gum (PHGG) is a known prebiotic fiber. To assess the effects of PHGG on clinical symptoms of IBS patients in a prospective randomized double blind placebo-controlled study.

Daily consumption of red grape cell powder in a dietary dose improves cardiovascular parameters: a double blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study.

Consumption of polyphenol-rich food and food ingredient such as grape and grape products improved various cardiovascular parameters. In this study, we investigate the effect of dietary daily consumption of red grape cell powder (RGC) on blood pressure (BP) and flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) as well as on oxidative stress in 50 subjects with prehypertension and mild hypertension. The subjects were randomized into groups that consumed 200, 400 mg RGC or placebo daily for 12 weeks.

Increased calcium absorption from synthetic stable amorphous calcium carbonate: double-blind randomized crossover clinical trial in postmenopausal women.

Calcium supplementation is a widely recognized strategy for achieving adequate calcium intake. We designed this blinded, randomized, crossover interventional trial to compare the bioavailability of a new stable synthetic amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) with that of crystalline calcium carbonate (CCC) using the dual stable isotope technique. The study was conducted in the Unit of Clinical Nutrition, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Israel.

Sequential capsule endoscopy of the small bowel for follow-up of patients with known Crohn's disease.

Background And Aims: The aim of this study was to perform sequential small bowel (SB) capsule endoscopy (CE) studies in patients with known active Crohn's disease (CD) during different treatments, to characterize the changes in the SB mucosa over time, and to correlate the CE findings with clinical and laboratory parameters of inflammation.

Methods: Consecutive patients with known moderately active CD were prospectively recruited. After proven patency with Agile capsule, CE studies were performed at baseline and after 4, 12 and 24 weeks.

Real-time resilient focusing through a bending multimode fiber.

Multimode optical fibers are attractive for biomedical and sensing applications because they possess a small cross section and can bend over small radii of curvature. However, mode phase-velocity dispersion and random mode coupling change with bending, temperature, and other perturbations, producing scrambling interference among propagating modes; hence preventing its use for focusing or imaging. To tackle this problem we introduce a system capable of re-focusing light through a multimode fiber in 37ms, one order of magnitude faster than demonstrated in previous reports.

Ensure preparation and capsule endoscopy: a two-center prospective study.

Aim: To compare small bowel (SB) cleanliness and capsule endoscopy (CE) image quality following Ensure(®), polyethylene glycol (PEG) and standard preparations.

Methods: A preparation protocol for CE that is both efficacious and acceptable to patients remains elusive. Considering the physiological function of the SB as a site for the digestion and absorption of food and not as a stool reservoir, preparation consisting of a liquid, fiber-free formula ingested one day before a CE study might have an advantage over other kinds of preparations.

Effect of levan supplement in orange juice on weight, gastrointestinal symptoms and metabolic profile of healthy subjects: results of an 8-week clinical trial.

Levan is a commonly used dietary fiber of the fructans group. Its impact on health remains undetermined. This double blind controlled study aimed to investigate the effect of 8 weeks' daily consumption of 500 mL of natural orange juice enriched with 11.

"Trap" the diagnosis: a man with recurrent episodes of febrile peritonitis, not just familial Mediterranean fever.

Monogenic periodic fever syndromes are characterized by recurrent episodes of fever, accompanied by localized inflammatory manifestations. Among them, familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is the most studied and is by far the most prevalent periodic fever syndrome in Israel. We present a diagnostic workup of a patient suffering from a periodic fever syndrome, initially thought to be FMF and characterized by attacks of fever, severe abdominal pain, a migratory erythematous rash and conjunctivitis.

Validation of the Capsule Endoscopy Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CECDAI or Niv score): a multicenter prospective study.

Background And Study Aims: The Capsule Endoscopy Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CECDAI or Niv score) was devised to measure mucosal disease activity using video capsule endoscopy (VCE). The aim of the current study was to prospectively validate the use of the scoring system in daily practice.

Methods: This was a multicenter, double-blind, prospective, controlled study of VCE videos from 62 consecutive patients with isolated small-bowel Crohn's disease.

Breakfast improves cognitive function in cirrhotic patients with cognitive impairment.

Background: Cognitive disturbances are relatively common in patients with liver disease. High protein load precipitates hepatic encephalopathy in cirrhotic patients. Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) is a prevalent neurocognitive complication of cirrhosis.

Tube feeding with a diabetes-specific feed for 12 weeks improves glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes patients.

Background And Aims: Assess longer-term (12 weeks) effects of a diabetes-specific feed on postprandial glucose response, glycaemic control (HbA1c), lipid profile, (pre)-albumin, clinical course and tolerance in diabetic patients.

Methods: In this randomized, controlled, double-blind, parallel group study 25 type 2 diabetic patients on tube feeding were included. Patients received a soy-protein based, multi-fibre diabetes-specific feed or isocaloric, fibre-containing standard feed for 12 weeks, while continuing on their anti-diabetic medication.

Post-pyloric feeding.

Postpyloric feeding is an important and promising alternative to parenteral nutrition. The indications for this kind of feeding are increasing and include a variety of clinical conditions, such as gastroparesis, acute pancreatitis, gastric outlet stenosis, hyperemesis (including gravida), recurrent aspiration, tracheoesophageal fistula and stenosis in gastroenterostomy. This review discusses the differences between pre- and postpyloric feeding, indications and contraindications, advantages and disadvantages, and provides an overview of the techniques of placement of various postpyloric devices.

Do patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) have increased energy needs?

Background And Aims: Nutritional status is a prognostic factor for survival in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. We investigated the contribution of some of the components contributing to resting energy expenditure (REE) in order to determine whether potentially higher energy needs should be considered for these patients.

Methods: Thirty three ALS patients and 33 age- and gender-matched healthy controls participated.

Effect of erythromycin on image quality and transit time of capsule endoscopy: a two-center study.

Aim: To compare the effect of oral erythromycin vs no preparation with prokinetics on the transit time and the image quality of capsule endoscopy (CE) in evaluating small bowel (SB) pathology.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective, blinded (to the type of preparation) review of 100 CE studies, 50 with no preparation with prokinetics from one medical center (Group A) and 50 from another center with administration of a single dose of 200 mg oral erythromycin 1 h prior to CE (Group B). Gastric, SB and total transit times were calculated, the presence of bile in the duodenum was scored, as was cleanliness within the proximal, middle and distal intestine.

Low-dose heparin for the prevention of post-ERCP pancreatitis: a randomized placebo-controlled trial.

Background: As suggested by observational and animal studies, heparin has antiinflammatory effects that could prevent acute post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) pancreatitis. Low-molecular-weight heparin did not reduce the incidence of post-ERCP pancreatitis in a controlled study. The current study aimed to determine whether prophylactic administration of low-dose unfractionated heparin, which has potentially more antiinflammatory capability, can prevent acute post-ERCP pancreatitis.

Macroamylasemia as the first manifestation of celiac disease.

Macroamylasemia is a biochemical disorder characterized by an elevated serum amylase activity resulting from the circulation of a macromolecular complex of amylase with a serum component, often an immunoglobulin. The increased molecular weight of this complex prevents the normal renal excretion of the enzyme. A few cases of celiac patients with macroamylasemia have been published in whom the biochemical disorder disappeared after treatment with a gluten-free diet.

Malabsorption is a major contributor to underweight in Crohn's disease patients in remission.

Objective: Undernutrition has been reported in 65-75% of patients with Crohn's disease. The present study aimed at identifying the relative contribution of malnutrition-causing factors in patients with Crohn's disease in remission.

Methods: Sixteen patients with Crohn's disease (age 19-57 y) in remission (Crohn's Activity Disease Index < 150) were included in the study.

Catalytic amounts of fructose may improve glucose tolerance in subjects with uncontrolled non-insulin-dependent diabetes.

Background: It was suggested that acute ingestion of small amounts of fructose can improve glucose homeostasis.

Aim: To study the effect of a long-term tri-daily supplementation of catalytic amounts of fructose on glucose tolerance of subjects with type 2 diabetes (NIDDM).

Methods: A double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Microsatellite instability in multiple nonfamilial malignancies.

Development of multiple tumors of different histopathologic types may suggest a profound generalized genetic defect, such as malfunction of DNA mismatch repair (MMR) mechanism. Defects in this mechanism are best reflected in microsatellite instability (MSI). We aimed to determine the role of MSI in a group of patients with dual malignancies and compared the data with that of patients with a single malignancy.