Colorectal polyps in young adults: a retrospective review of colonoscopy data from Toowoomba and the Darling Downs.

Background: Polyps are the predominant precursors of colorectal cancer. In the past three decades, the incidence and mortality rates of colorectal cancer have been increasing in adults younger than 50 years.

Aims: The aim of this clinical audit was to evaluate the prevalence, characteristics and clinical associations of polyps in adults aged 18-49 years presenting to an established private gastroenterology clinic in the Toowoomba Darling Downs region.

Video capsule endoscopy in patients with iron deficiency anaemia: experience at a regional Australian service.

Objective: The objective of this study was to identify the diagnostic performance of video capsule endoscopy (VCE) among patients presenting with iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) and negative bidirectional endoscopy to a gasteroendoscopy practice in regional Australia. The secondary objectives were to identify the distribution of findings and factors predictive of positive findings in a regional setting.

Results: In total 123 procedures were included in the study.

Comparison of faecal microbiota in Blastocystis-positive and Blastocystis-negative irritable bowel syndrome patients.

Background: We investigated whether the carriage of Blastocystis in IBS patients was associated with differences in the faecal microbiota. Forty patients with diarrhoea-predominant IBS (26 Blastocystis-positive and 14 Blastocystis-negative) and 57 healthy controls (HC) (42 Blastocystis-positive and 15 Blastocystis-negative) submitted faecal samples for metataxonomic analysis of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene. Differences in the relative abundance of bacteria in these IBS and HC groups were evaluated from phylum to genus level.

Blastocystis specific serum immunoglobulin in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) versus healthy controls.

Background: Blastocystis species are common enteric human parasites and carriage has been linked to Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), particularly diarrhoea-predominant IBS. The spectrum of immune reactivity to Blastocystis proteins has been reported previously in symptomatic patients. We investigated differences in serum immunoglobulin profiles between patients with IBS, both positive and negative for Blastocystis carriage, and healthy controls (HC).

Features of Blastocystis spp. in xenic culture revealed by deconvolutional microscopy.

Blastocystis spp. are common human enteric parasites with complex morphology and have been reported to cause irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Deconvolutional microscopy with time-lapse imaging and fluorescent spectroscopy of xenic cultures of Blastocystis spp.

Clinical pilot study: efficacy of triple antibiotic therapy in Blastocystis positive irritable bowel syndrome patients.

Background: Blastocystis species are common human enteric parasites. Carriage has been linked to Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Treatment of Blastocystis spp.

Coeliac patients are undiagnosed at routine upper endoscopy.

Background And Aims: Two out of three patients with Coeliac Disease (CD) in Australia are undiagnosed. This prospective clinical audit aimed to determine how many CD patients would be undiagnosed if duodenal biopsy had only been performed if the mucosa looked abnormal or the patient presented with typical CD symptoms.

Methods: All eligible patients presenting for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (OGD) in a regional center from 2004-2009 underwent prospective analysis of presenting symptoms and duodenal biopsy.

Eradication of Blastocystis carriage with antimicrobials: reality or delusion?

Metronidazole constitutes a mainstay in the antimicrobial therapy of intestinal protozoa, and is also traditionally considered first-line therapy in cases where there is a requirement to treat Blastocystis, a common protist of disputable clinical significance. Many compounds have been used in attempts to eradicate the parasite, and an accumulating body of data indicates that successful antimicrobial eradication of Blastocystis is far from straightforward. This review focuses on some issues that prevent us from reaching a clear understanding of how to eradicate Blastocystis based on chemotherapeutic intervention, by focusing on conflicting reports on the efficacy of metronidazole and other compounds and study design and data limitations.