Endoscopic ultrasound in the diagnosis of pancreatic intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms.

Pancreatic cystic lesions are increasingly recognised due to the widespread use of different imaging modalities. Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) of the pancreas represent a common, but also heterogeneous group of cystic tumors with a significant malignant potential. These neoplasms must be differentiated from other cystic tumors and properly classified into their different types, main-duct IPMNs vs branch-duct IPMNs.

Does endoscopic treatment for early oesophageal cancers give equivalent oncological outcomes as compared with oesophagectomy? Best evidence topic (BET).

A best evidence topic was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was whether endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) for early oesophageal cancer gives equivalent oncological outcomes as compared to oesophagectomy. A total of 340 papers were found using the reported searches of which 7 represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question.

Does Heller's myotomy provide superior clinical outcome in comparison to botulinum toxin injection for treatment of achalasia?: Best evidence topic (BET).

A best evidence topic was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was whether Heller's myotomy provides superior results in comparison to botulinum toxin injection (BoTx) for treatment of achalasia. A total of 119 papers were retrieved using the reported searches of which 5 represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question.

Is rheumatoid arthritis a disease that starts in the intestine? A pilot study comparing an elemental diet with oral prednisolone.

Objectives: This pilot study aimed to determine if an elemental diet could be used to treat patients with active rheumatoid arthritis and to compare its effect to that of oral prednisolone.

Methods: Thirty patients with active rheumatoid arthritis were randomly allocated to 2 weeks of treatment with an elemental diet (n = 21) or oral prednisolone 15 mg/day (n = 9). Assessments of duration of early morning stiffness (EMS), pain on a 10 cm visual analog scale (VAS), the Ritchie articular index (RAI), swollen joint score, the Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire, global patient and physician assessment, body weight, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) and haemoglobin, were made at 0, 2, 4 and 6 weeks.