Face-to-face interviews versus Internet surveys: Comparison of two data collection methods in the Rome foundation global epidemiology study: Implications for population-based research.

Background And Aims: The Rome Foundation Global Epidemiology Study (RFGES) assessed the prevalence, burden, and associated factors of Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction (DGBI) in 33 countries around the world. Achieving worldwide sampling necessitated use of two different surveying methods: In-person household interviews (9 countries) and Internet surveys (26 countries). Two countries, China and Turkey, were surveyed with both methods.

The epidemiology and impact of disorders of gut-brain interaction in Canada: Results from the Rome Foundation Global Epidemiologic Study.

Background: Using data from the Rome Foundation Global Epidemiology Study examining prevalence of disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI) in 33 countries, this study explored the prevalence of all 22 disorders in Canada. It examined differences related to geography and sociodemographic factors, health impact and compared these findings to other countries.

Methods: The Rome Foundation survey was conducted through the Internet, targeting 2000 Canadian participants.

Crohn's Disease after Proctocolectomy and IPAA for Ulcerative Colitis.

Background: Proctocolectomy with IPAA is considered curative for ulcerative colitis. However, signs of Crohn's disease can develop postoperatively in some cases.

Objective: Our aim was to document the postoperative diagnosis of Crohn's disease, to identify potential preoperative predictive factors, and to review the evolution of patients on treatment.

Worldwide Prevalence and Burden of Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders, Results of Rome Foundation Global Study.

Background & Aims: Although functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs), now called disorders of gut-brain interaction, have major economic effects on health care systems and adversely affect quality of life, little is known about their global prevalence and distribution. We investigated the prevalence of and factors associated with 22 FGIDs, in 33 countries on 6 continents.

Methods: Data were collected via the Internet in 24 countries, personal interviews in 7 countries, and both in 2 countries, using the Rome IV diagnostic questionnaire, Rome III irritable bowel syndrome questions, and 80 items to identify variables associated with FGIDs.

Proposal for low-noise heralded single photons from cascaded downconversion.

Heralded single photon sources are often implemented using spontaneous parametric downconversion, but their quality can be restricted by optical loss, double pair emission and detector dark counts. Here, we propose a scheme using cascaded downconversion that would improve the performance of such sources by providing a second trigger signal to herald the presence of a single photon, thereby reducing the effects of detector dark counts. Our calculations show that for a setup with fixed detectors, an improved heralded second-order correlation function g can be achieved with cascaded downconversion given sufficient efficiency for the second downconversion, even for equal single-photon production rates.

Sirolimus in Refractory Cronkhite-Canada Syndrome and Focus on Standard Treatment.

Cronkhite-Canada syndrome is a rare syndrome consisting of extensive gastrointestinal polyposis and ectodermal changes including cutaneous hyperpigmentation, alopecia, and onychodystrophy. We report the case of a 45-year-old Caucasian male patient who failed multiple treatments over 2 years including steroids, azathioprine, adalimumab, and cyclosporine. He had recurrent and prolonged hospitalizations because of diarrhea, abdominal pain, weight loss, and malnutrition.

Diagnosis of Zollinger-Ellison syndrome in the era of PPIs, faulty gastrin assays, sensitive imaging and limited access to acid secretory testing.

In recent years the diagnosis of Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES) has become increasingly controversial with several new approaches and criteria proposed, differing from the classical biochemical criterion of inappropriate hypergastrinemia (i.e., hypergastrinemia in the presence of hyperchlorhydria) (Table 1).

Biologics in inflammatory bowel disease: what are the data?

Background: Over the last decade, biologics have gained an important place for the treatment of moderate to severe inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and many randomized control trials have evaluated their efficacy.

Aim: The goal of this review is to analyze the results of these trials and to highlight the evidence and indications emerging from these studies for their implementation in the management of IBD patients.

Methods: A PubMed search was realized to screen high-quality clinical trials studying biologic agents currently available in clinics for the treatment of IBD.

Plasma leptin concentrations and esophageal hypomotility in obese patients.

Background: Although esophageal hypomotility is prevalent in obese patients, its cause remains unknown. Leptin, a hormone derived from adipose tissue, may be involved in this phenomenon because it has been shown to decrease gastric and intestinal motility in animals. It has been hypothesized that elevated plasma leptin concentration is a risk factor for esophageal dysmotility in obese patients.

The effect of medial release of the distal patellar tendon insertion on lateral patella translation and residual insertion strength: a cadaveric study.

Patellar tendon avulsion is a risk with difficult exposure in a stiff knee, patella baja or previous tibial osteotomy. We sought to define a safe amount of release of the patellar tendon insertion for such cases. Eleven pairs of fresh frozen cadaveric lower limb specimens were acquired and randomized to either intact or partial release of the distal tibial insertion.

Thicker posterior insula is associated with disease duration in women with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) whereas thicker orbitofrontal cortex predicts reduced pain inhibition in both IBS patients and controls.

Unlabelled: Patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are affected by chronic abdominal pain and show decreased pain inhibition. Moreover, they exhibit differences in brain morphology compared with healthy volunteers. The aim of this study was to examine whether decreased pain inhibition is associated with altered brain morphology in IBS patients.

Pitfalls in diagnostic gastrin measurements.

Background: Gastrin measurements are performed primarily for the diagnosis of gastrin-producing tumors, gastrinomas, which cause the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES). Gastrin circulates as several bioactive peptides, however, and the peptide pattern in gastrinoma patients often deviates from normal. Therefore, it is necessary to measure all forms of gastrin.

Decreased pain inhibition in irritable bowel syndrome depends on altered descending modulation and higher-order brain processes.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder involving abdominal pain and bowel dysfunction. IBS pain symptoms have been hypothesized to depend on peripheral and central mechanisms, but the pathophysiology is still unclear. The aim of the present study was to assess the contribution of cerebral and cerebrospinal processes to pain inhibition deficits in IBS.

The Zollinger-Ellison syndrome: dangers and consequences of interrupting antisecretory treatment.

Background & Aims: Patients with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES) are treated by proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) to protect them from severe and potentially lethal peptic complications related to massive gastric acid hypersecretion. We report here on the dangerous consequences of interrupting PPI therapy.

Methods: We describe 2 ZES patients in whom interruption of PPI treatment for diagnostic evaluation generated severe health complications.

The Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and mismeasurement of gastrin.

Background & Aims: Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES) is characterized by hypersecretion of gastric acid, severe peptic ulcerations in the upper small intestine, and diarrhea. It is usually diagnosed by measuring increased levels of gastrin in plasma.

Methods: We examined the accuracy of commercial kits to measure gastrin (7 radioimmunoassays and 5 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays), using plasma from 40 patients suspected or known to have ZES.

Biomechanical analysis of lateral pin placements for pediatric supracondylar humerus fractures.

Aim: Several clinical studies have shown that lateral pinning alone is of equal stability to crossed pins in the treatment of supracondylar fractures. The aim of this study was to compare the stability of parallel and varied divergent lateral pin configurations to provide an easily reproducible technique for optimal pin placement.

Methods: Twelve third-generation synthetic composite humeri were osteotomized at the level of the coronoid and olecranon fossae to simulate a humeral supracondylar fracture.

The effect of posterior capsular tightening on peak subacromial contact pressure during simulated active abduction in the scapular plane.

Hypothesis: Our hypothesis was that tightening of the posterior capsule would lead to increased subacromial pressure and increased superior translation during active abduction in the scapular plane.

Background: Subacromial impingement syndrome is a painful condition that occurs during overhead activities as the rotator cuff is compressed in the subacromial space. Unrecognized secondary causes of subacromial impingement may lead to treatment failure.

Widespread hypersensitivity is related to altered pain inhibition processes in irritable bowel syndrome.

The mechanisms of chronic pain in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) have been widely investigated but remain unclear. The present study investigated the relation between visceral hypersensitivity, cutaneous thermal sensitivity, and central pain mechanisms. Rectal sensitivity was assessed with a barostat, and forearm and calf sensitivity with a contact thermode.

The potential of ghrelin as a prokinetic.

Ghrelin is a 28 amino-acid peptide discovered in 1999. It is synthesized mainly in endocrine cells of the gastric mucosa and secreted into the blood. Physiological contributions of the peptide in human include probably regulation of growth hormone and of appetite.

Genipin cross-linked fibrin hydrogels for in vitro human articular cartilage tissue-engineered regeneration.

Our objective was to examine the potential of a genipin cross-linked human fibrin hydrogel system as a scaffold for articular cartilage tissue engineering. Human articular chondrocytes were incorporated into modified human fibrin gels and evaluated for mechanical properties, cell viability, gene expression, extracellular matrix production and subcutaneous biodegradation. Genipin, a naturally occurring compound used in the treatment of inflammation, was used as a cross-linker.

Fibrin sealants from fresh or fresh/frozen plasma as scaffolds for in vitro articular cartilage regeneration.

Our objective was to evaluate human CryoSeal fibrin glue derived from single units of plasma as scaffolds for articular cartilage tissue engineering. Human articular chondrocytes were encapsulated into genipin cross-linked fibrin glue derived from individual units of fresh or frozen plasma using the CryoSeal fibrin sealant (FS) system. The constructs were cultured for up to 7 weeks in vitro under low (5%) or normal (21%) oxygen.

Twin pregnancy experimental model for transvaginal ultrasound-guided twin reduction in mares.

Multiple pregnancies are still an important cause of noninfectious abortion, stillbirth, neonatal mortality, and significant delays in reproductive performance in mares. Despite new management techniques, reduction in multiple pregnancies is an ongoing preoccupation and challenge for the equine veterinarian. The aim of the present study was to establish a twin pregnancy experimental model in the mare to study the effectiveness of a transvaginal ultrasound-guided embryonic vesicle injection.

Use of an internet "viral" marketing software platform in health promotion.

Background: Health-related websites have become a common tool for public health authorities to inform the general public of their health promotion information and programs. However, building traffic in the cluttered health Internet universe is becoming increasingly complex, costly, and challenging for governmental health promotion websites. In 2006, the Canadian Health Network (CHN), a cooperative program made up of the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and some 20 health non-governmental organizations (NGOs), was looking for an affordable marketing tool for the promotion of its website and contents to specific populations.