Patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders spend less time in tertiary care when managed by a single clinician: results of a multicentre audit in South Australia.

Background And Aims: Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) impact quality of life and represent a significant burden on healthcare services. Guidelines recommend an early, positive diagnosis to reduce harmful over-investigation in FGID patients. The aim of this multicentre study was to evaluate FGID management against current guidelines.

Reduced gastrointestinal-related hospitalisation costs following rescheduling of over-the-counter codeine-containing compound analgesics in Australia: results of a single hospital audit in South Australia.

Background: Codeine-containing compound analgesics (CCCAs) are associated with dependence and, when taken in excess, significant risks of harm. A previous audit showed significant costs related to admissions for gastrointestinal (GI) complications of CCCA. Based on this and other evidence of harm, the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration changed CCCAs to prescription only in 2018.

Improved Survival of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients Diagnosed with a Dedicated Screening Programme-a Propensity Score Adjusted Analysis.

Aim: To assess the overall survival (OS) in those with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) diagnosed within a programmatic, centrally co-ordinated, regional screening programme.

Methods: A retrospective cohort analysis of consecutive HCC patients diagnosed between 2004 and 2013. Patients were followed up till death or end of study period (30 April 2015).

Involvement of the NO-cGMP-K(ATP) channel pathway in the mesenteric lymphatic pump dysfunction observed in the guinea pig model of TNBS-induced ileitis.

Mesenteric lymphatic vessels actively transport lymph, immune cells, fat, and other macromolecules from the intestine via a rhythmical contraction-relaxation process called lymphatic pumping. We have previously demonstrated that mesenteric lymphatic pumping was compromised in the guinea pig model of 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced ileitis, corroborating clinical and experimental observations of a dilated and/or obstructed phenotype of these vessels in inflammatory bowel disease. Many mediators released during the inflammatory process have been shown to alter lymphatic contractile activity.

Mechanisms of VIP-induced inhibition of the lymphatic vessel pump.

Lymphatic vessels serve as a route by which interstitial fluid, protein and other macromolecules are returned to the blood circulation and immune cells and antigens gain access to lymph nodes. Lymph flow is an active process promoted by rhythmical contraction-relaxation events occurring in the collecting lymphatic vessels. This lymphatic pumping is an intrinsic property of the lymphatic muscles in the vessel wall and consequent to action potentials.