Impact of age over 75 years on outcomes after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Background: The risks associated with pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) in elderly patients continue to be debated. The aim of our study was to assess the incidence of death and postoperative complications following PD and identify the risk factors in patients >75 y.

Study Design: All patients who underwent PD between January 2000 and September 2009 were analyzed retrospectively.

Can we shorten the small-bowel capsule reading time with the "Quick-view" image detection system?

Background: The mean small-bowel capsule reading time is about 60 min, and shortening this reading time is a major aim.

Aim: To evaluate the efficiency of the "Quick-view" detection algorithm.

Methods: Multicentre prospective comparative study.

Removal of transanastomotic pancreatic stent tubes after pancreaticoduodenectomy: a new role for double-balloon enteroscopy.

Background: Endoscopic interventions are usually very challenging in patients with anatomic changes caused by earlier GI surgery. The recent development of the double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) system creates an opportunity to reach the biliary tract and the pancreatic duct in postsurgical conditions.

Objective: To report a further application of DBE in surgical patients; namely, extraction of pancreatic stents placed in pancreaticojejunal anastomosis during pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Asymptomatic bronchial aspiration of a video capsule.

Aspiration is a rare complication of video-capsule endoscopy. We report a case of asymptomatic aspiration of the capsule in a 90-year-old man. The diagnosis was obtained by the images taken by the capsule.

Capsule endoscopy and bowel preparation with oral sodium phosphate: a prospective randomized controlled trial.

Background: Capsule endoscopy (CE) is the first procedure to explore the small bowel in obscure GI bleeding (OGB).

Objective: To evaluate the role of bowel preparation with oral sodium phosphate (NaP) in this indication.

Design: A prospective multicenter, controlled, randomized, blind study.

RBC 6-TGN and hematological parameters in patients with Crohn's disease treated by azathioprine.

Objective: The immunosuppressive properties of azathioprine (AZA) are mediated by intracellular metabolism of 6-MP into its active metabolites 6-thiguanine nucleotide (6-TGN) and 6-methylmercaptopurine (6-MMP). The aims of this study were to correlate red blood cell (RBC) 6-TGN and hematological parameters and their change in adult patients with Crohn's disease (CD) treated by AZA and to determine independent factors enabling determination of RBC 6-TGN.

Methods: RBC 6-TGN concentration was determined with high performance liquid chromography (HLPC) performed on 74 hepa-rinized blood samples from 32 patients.

Anorectal physiology in solitary ulcer syndrome: a case-matched series.

Purpose: Solitary ulcer syndrome is a rare condition characterized by inflammation and chronic ulcer of the rectal wall in patients suffering from outlet constipation. Despite similar surgical options (rectopexy, anterior resection), solitary ulcer syndrome may differ from overt rectal prolapse with regard to symptoms and pathogenesis. The present work analyzed differences between these conditions in a case-control physiology study.

Does the "Suspected Blood Indicator" improve the detection of bleeding lesions by capsule endoscopy?

Background: The "Suspected Blood Indicator" (SBI), a feature included in the software for interpretation of capsule endoscopy (CE), is designed to facilitate detection of bleeding lesions in the small bowel. This study evaluated the sensitivity and the specificity of the SBI in patients who underwent CE for obscure GI bleeding (OGIB).

Methods: CE recordings from patients with OGIB recruited in 7 centers were read by experts blinded to the red SBI tags.

NOD2/CARD15 gene polymorphisms in Crohn's disease: a genotype- phenotype analysis.

Objectives: Three recently identified NOD2/CARD15 mutations have been described associated with an increased susceptibility Crohn's disease (CD). Our aim was to examine the potential association of these NOD2 mutations with CD and different subsets of CD phenotypes in our population.

Methods: Two hundred and five well-defined CD patients from north-western France and 95 ethnically matched healthy controls were genotyped for mutations R702W, G908R and Leu1007insC by DNA sequencing.

Stimulation of peripheral blood and intestinal mucosa cells by synthetic CpG oligodeoxynucleotides.

The breakdown of tolerance to autologous bacterial flora has been implicated as a major factor contributing to the initiation and perpetuation of chronic inflammation in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). To test whether bacterial DNA is at the origin of inflammation in IBD, we have examined the response of lamina propria (LPMC) or peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMC) and purified T cells from IBD patients and control patients to stimulations with a set of oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) characterized by the presence or absence of cytosine-guanosine dinucleotides (CpG) and/or 3' poly-guanosine (poly-G) extension. Furthermore we have evaluated the costimulatory activities of these ODNs on T cells activated via CD2 or CD3 pathway.

[Selective COX-2 inhibitor-associated colitis: two case reports].

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) reduce prostaglandin synthesis by inhibiting cyclo-oxygenase 1 (COX-1) and/or cyclo-oxygenase 2 (COX-2). Different groups of NSAIDs, defined by their action on either COX-1 or COX-2, have been developed. Whether intestinal toxicity of preferential or selective COX-2 inhibitors is reduced compared with that of standard NSAIDs is controversial.