Vitamin D deficiency in a European inflammatory bowel disease inception cohort: an Epi-IBD study.

Background: Serum vitamin D level is commonly low in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Although there is a growing body of evidence that links low vitamin D level to certain aspects of IBD such as disease activity and quality of life, data on its prevalence and how it varies across disease phenotype, smoking status and treatment groups are still missing.

Materials And Methods: Patients diagnosed with IBD between 2010 and 2011 were recruited.

Occurrence of Anaemia in the First Year of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in a European Population-based Inception Cohort-An ECCO-EpiCom Study.

Background And Aims: Anaemia is an important complication of inflammatory bowel disease [IBD]. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of anaemia and the practice of anaemia screening during the first year following diagnosis, in a European prospective population-based inception cohort.

Methods: Newly diagnosed IBD patients were included and followed prospectively for 1 year in 29 European and one Australian centre.

Evaluation of Dietary Habits in the Study of Pancreatic Cancer.

Background: Pancreatic cancer is serious and rapidly progressing condition. Little is known about the role of diet in etiology of pancreatic cancer. The study focused on the role of selected dietary factors related to pancreatic cancer.

[A multifactor epidemiological analysis of risk factors for pancreatic cancer in women].

Study Objective: A multifactor analysis of risk factors for pancreas cancer in women.

Material And Methods: A case-control study was conducted in three centres in the Czech Republic (Olomouc, Ostrava, and České Budějovice) in 2006-2009. In total, 226 women (129 pancreas cancer cases, 97 controls) were included in the study.

Costs and resource utilization for diagnosis and treatment during the initial year in a European inflammatory bowel disease inception cohort: an ECCO-EpiCom Study.

Background: No direct comparison of health care cost in patients with inflammatory bowel disease across the European continent exists. The aim of this study was to assess the costs of investigations and treatment for diagnostics and during the first year after diagnosis in Europe.

Methods: The EpiCom cohort is a prospective population-based inception cohort of unselected inflammatory bowel disease patients from 31 Western and Eastern European centers.

Is physical activity a protective factor against pancreatic cancer?

Objectives: The objective of the study was to analyze an association between selected factors and pancreatic cancer, assuming that knowing the etiology would help influence the incidence of this severe type of cancer through primary prevention. In addition to age, gender, BMI and education, the analysis aimed at assessing occupational and leisure-time physical activities with respect to pancreatic cancer.

Background: In numerous studies, physical activity is reported to be a protective factor against pancreatic cancer.

Physical activity and risk of pancreatic cancer in a central European multicenter case-control study.

Purpose: Findings from epidemiological studies examining physical activity in relation to pancreatic cancer risk have suggested decreased risks for physical activity; however, the results are inconsistent.

Methods: The association between occupational and leisure-time physical activity and risk of pancreatic cancer was examined among 826 pancreatic cancer cases and 930 age-, sex- and center-matched controls from a large multicenter central European study in Czech Republic and Slovakia recruited between 2004 and 2012. Data on physical activity including type and dose (frequency, intensity, and duration) were examined using multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models.

Health-related quality of life improves during one year of medical and surgical treatment in a European population-based inception cohort of patients with inflammatory bowel disease--an ECCO-EpiCom study.

Background & Aims: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is impaired in patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). The aim was prospectively to assess and validate the pattern of HRQoL in an unselected, population-based inception cohort of IBD patients from Eastern and Western Europe.

Methods: The EpiCom inception cohort consists of 1560 IBD patients from 31 European centres covering a background population of approximately 10.

Health care and patients' education in a European inflammatory bowel disease inception cohort: an ECCO-EpiCom study.

Background And Aims: The EpiCom study and inception cohort was initiated in 2010 in 31 centers from 14 Western and 8 Eastern European countries, covering a 10.1million person background population. Our aim was to investigate whether there is a difference between Eastern and Western Europe in health care and education of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Environmental factors in a population-based inception cohort of inflammatory bowel disease patients in Europe--an ECCO-EpiCom study.

Background And Aims: The incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increasing in Eastern Europe possibly due to changes in environmental factors towards a more "westernised" standard of living. The aim of this study was to investigate differences in exposure to environmental factors prior to diagnosis in Eastern and Western European IBD patients.

Methods: The EpiCom cohort is a population-based, prospective inception cohort of 1560 unselected IBD patients from 31 European countries covering a background population of 10.

Initial disease course and treatment in an inflammatory bowel disease inception cohort in Europe: the ECCO-EpiCom cohort.

Background: The EpiCom cohort is a prospective, population-based, inception cohort of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients from 31 European centers covering a background population of 10.1 million. The aim of this study was to assess the 1-year outcome in the EpiCom cohort.

[Pancreatic cancer and lifestyle factors].

Background: Pancreatic cancer is a serious cancer with unfavorable prognosis. Due to differences in the incidence of pancreatic cancer in different regions, it is clear that factors associated with lifestyle play an important role in the etiology. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of selected lifestyle factors in relation to pancreatic cancer.

Pregnancy and newborn outcome of mothers with inflammatory bowel diseases exposed to anti-TNF-α therapy during pregnancy: three-center study.

Objective: Substantial number of women with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) conceives while on anti-TNF-α therapy. The aim was to assess the safety and efficacy of anti-TNF-α treatment during pregnancy and to analyze relationship of neonatal and maternal anti-TNF-α levels at delivery with gestational age at the last exposure.

Material And Methods: Women with IBD exposed to anti-TNF-α therapy during pregnancy were included.

East-West gradient in the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease in Europe: the ECCO-EpiCom inception cohort.

Objective: The incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increasing in Eastern Europe. The reasons for these changes remain unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate whether an East-West gradient in the incidence of IBD in Europe exists.

Mucosal improvement in patients with moderate to severe postoperative endoscopic recurrence of Crohn's disease and azathioprine metabolite levels.

Background: The value of azathioprine metabolites (6-thioguanine nucleotides [6-TGN]) in monitoring clinical treatment response is still controversially discussed. Data regarding thiopurine metabolite levels and endoscopic improvement are lacking.

Methods: Data were analyzed post hoc from a 1-year, multicenter, double-blind, double-dummy, randomized trial comparing azathioprine 2.

Construction and validation of a web-based epidemiological database for inflammatory bowel diseases in Europe An EpiCom study.

Background: The EpiCom-study investigates a possible East-West-gradient in Europe in the incidence of IBD and the association with environmental factors. A secured web-based database is used to facilitate and centralize data registration.

Aim: To construct and validate a web-based inception cohort database available in both English and Russian language.

Body mass index and body size in early adulthood and risk of pancreatic cancer in a central European multicenter case-control study.

The relationship between two measures of excess body weight, body mass index (BMI) and body size score, and risk of pancreatic cancer was examined among 574 pancreatic cancer cases and 596 frequency-matched controls from the Czech Republic and Slovakia enrolled between 2004 and 2009. Analyses using multivariable logistic regression showed an increased risk of pancreatic cancer associated with elevated quartiles of BMI at ages 20 [fourth quartile: odds ratio (OR) = 1.79, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.

Azathioprine versus mesalazine for prevention of postoperative clinical recurrence in patients with Crohn's disease with endoscopic recurrence: efficacy and safety results of a randomised, double-blind, double-dummy, multicentre trial.

Objective: The aim of the study was to compare azathioprine versus mesalazine tablets for the prevention of clinical recurrence in patients with postoperative Crohn's disease (CD) with moderate or severe endoscopic recurrence.

Methods: This was a 1 year, double-blind, double-dummy, randomised study which took place in 21 gastroenterology centres in Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany and Israel. The study participants were 78 adults with CD who had undergone resection with ileocolonic anastomosis in the preceding 6-24 months without subsequent clinical recurrence and with a Crohn's disease activity index (CDAI) score <200, but with moderate or severe endoscopic recurrence.

[Pancreas cancer epidemiology].

Pancreas cancer is characterized by a rapid and fatal outcome. It is a non-communicable disease showing increasing incidence mainly in Europe, North America and Japan. In the Czech Republic, the incidence of pancreas cancer has more than tripled over the last 50 years.

Efficacy of praziquantel treatment of schistosomiasis in a non-endemic country: a follow-up of parasitological, clinical and immunological parameters.

Schistosomiasis patients were immigrants to Czechoslovakia from Angola and Yemen. Most of them had light or moderate infections and felt subjectively healthy. They received treatment with praziquantel (two doses with a total of 40 mg/kg) and were followed up for several years.