Inter-endoscopist variation in polyp and neoplasia pick-up rates in flexible sigmoidoscopy screening for colorectal cancer.

Background: The Norwegian Colorectal Cancer Prevention study is an ongoing flexible sigmoidoscopy (FS) screening trial for colorectal cancer. Twenty-one thousand average-risk individuals, aged 50-64 years, living in two separate areas in Norway were randomly drawn from the Population Registry and invited to once-only screening flexible sigmoidoscopy. Examinations were performed over 3 years, at 2 centres, by 8 different endoscopists, using the same type of equipment.

Continuous evaluation of patient satisfaction in endoscopy centres.

Background: A randomized sample of 14,000 men and women, aged 55-64 years, resident in the City of Oslo and Telemark County, were drawn from the population registry to be offered a flexible sigmoidoscopy (FS) screening examination. A questionnaire was designed to modify routines and evaluate patient satisfaction.

Methods: Consecutive participants (4956) were given a questionnaire immediately after the FS to be filled in and returned by mail on the following day.

Continuous intravenous infusion of omeprazole in elderly patients with peptic ulcer bleeding. Results of a placebo-controlled multicenter study.

Background: Does profound acid inhibition by continuous infusion of omeprazole for 72 h reduce further bleeding in elderly patients with peptic ulcer bleeding (PUB)?

Methods: Three hundred and thirty-three patients > or = 60 years old with PUB were randomized to omeprazole (80 mg + mg/h) or placebo as continuous infusion for 72 h. From day 4 to 21 all patients received 20 mg omeprazole orally once daily.

Results: When evaluated on day 3, the primary variable 'overall outcome' (based on an ordinal ranking scale; see Study variables) (P = 0.

A comparison between omeprazole-based triple therapy and bismuth-based triple therapy for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection: a prospective randomized 1-yr follow-up study.

Objectives: To compare the efficacy and side effects of standard bismuth triple therapy with those of omeprazole-based triple therapy in patients with Helicobacter pylori infection and duodenal ulcer disease.

Methods: One hundred patients were prospectively recruited and randomized to receive either bismuth subnitrate 75 mg q.i.

A double-blind placebo-controlled trial with loperamide in irritable bowel syndrome.

Background: Loperamide has a relaxing effect on localized and segmental large-bowel spasms. On the basis of previously observed effects on pain and stool habits in patients with diarrhoea, the present trial intended to examine the regulating effect in an unselected cohort of patients with the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The symptoms in IBS are dependent on variations in motility initiated by different mechanisms.