Association between sustained virological response and clinical outcomes in patients with hepatitis C infection and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Sustained viral response (SVR) improves survival for patients with hepatitis C (HCV) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after curative treatment; however, the benefit of SVR in those with active HCC with a significant competing risk of mortality is unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the association between SVR and outcomes in patients with active HCC.

Methods: The authors performed a multicenter, retrospective cohort study including consecutive adults with HCV cirrhosis and treatment-naive HCC diagnosed between 2014 and 2018.

Impact of Tilt-Down Positioning Compared With Left Lateral Positioning on Ease of Colonoscope Insertion During Colonoscopy.

Goals: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of tilt-down (TD) versus left lateral (LL) positioning in speed and ease of colonoscope insertion in women with risk factors for difficult colonoscopy.

Background: Risk factors for difficult colonoscopy in women include pelvic surgery, diverticulosis, and thin body habitus.

Study: Female patients with body mass index (BMI) under 25, diverticulosis and history of pelvic surgery were randomized to TD or LL positioning.

Osteochondral Autologous Transplantation.

Osteochondral autologous transplantation (OAT) is a treatment strategy for small and medium sized focal articular cartilage defects in the knee. This article reviews the indications, surgical techniques, outcomes, and limitations of OAT for the management of symptomatic chondral and osteochondral lesions in the knee joint.

Rosacea is associated with Helicobacter pylori: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Rosacea is a common skin disease characterized by facial erythema, telangiectasia, papules and pustules. Helicobacter pylori infection has been suggested to play a role in the etiopathogenesis of rosacea.

Objective: To systematically review and meta-analyse the relationship between rosacea and infection with Helicobacter pylori.

Rosacea and gastrointestinal disorders: a population-based cohort study.

Background: Rosacea is a common inflammatory facial skin condition. Recent genetic and epidemiological studies have suggested pathogenic links between rosacea and gastrointestinal disorders, but data are limited.

Objectives: The objective was to investigate the association between rosacea and coeliac disease (CeD), Crohn disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC), Helicobacter pylori infection (HPI), small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), respectively.

Resect and discard approach to colon polyps: real-world applicability among academic and community gastroenterologists.

Background: "Resect and discard" (RD) is a new paradigm for management of diminutive polyps.

Aim: To compare concordance of surveillance interval recommendations and diagnostic performance between RD and standard of care in a hospital outpatient department with both academic and community gastroenterologists.

Methods: Prospective, observational study conducted at a single outpatient endoscopy center over 12 months.

Patient preferences for CT colonography, conventional colonoscopy, and bowel preparation.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine patient pre-examination expectations and postexamination appraisals for CT colonography, conventional colonoscopy and bowel preparation.

Methods: Prospective evaluation of 120 patients at defined risk for colorectal neoplasia was performed with CT colonography followed by colonoscopy on the same day. Subjects were stratified by age and sex (67 women and 53 men) and were randomized to receive either manual air (n = 61) or CO(2) (n = 59) insufflation during CT colonography.

CT colonography: multiobserver diagnostic performance.

Purpose: To prospectively evaluate multiobserver diagnostic performance and reader agreement for colorectal polyp detection in a well-characterized cohort of patients with increased number of polyps, compared with an average-risk patient, with colonoscopy as the reference standard.

Materials And Methods: A cohort of 70 patients suspected of having polyps was examined with spiral computed tomographic (CT) colonography, with colonoscopy performed the same day. After air insufflation per rectum, supine and prone images were obtained with single-detector row CT (5-mm collimation, 8-mm table increment, 2-mm reconstruction interval).

Colonic chicken skin mucosa: an endoscopic and histological abnormality adjacent to colonic neoplasms.

Objectives: We recently described an endoscopic finding of pale yellow-speckled mucosa adjacent to colonic neoplasms. This resembled the appearance of chicken skin and was named chicken skin mucosa (CSM). CSM differs from previously reported gastrointestinal xanthelasmas in that this entity always occurs in association with colonic neoplasms.

Long-term safety of India ink tattoos in the colon.

Background: When the India ink tattoo is used as a guide for follow-up examinations, the tattoo may remain in the colon for the remainder of that patient's life. This raises the question of the long-term safety of India ink tattoos. The long-term clinical and histologic consequences of the tattoo have not been studied in a large group of patients.

Quantification of distinct molecular species of platelet activating factor in ulcerative colitis.

The aim of this study was to characterize the synthesis and metabolism of platelet activating factor (PAF, 1-O-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) by colonic mucosa from patients with ulcerative colitis and healthy individuals. Tissue was obtained by endoscopic biopsy and by scraping the mucosa from surgical resections. Tissue was assayed for the various molecular species of PAF and its biologically inactive metabolite lyso-PAF using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.

Bowel wall thickening: differentiation of inflammation from ischemia with color Doppler and duplex US.

Purpose: To determine whether ultrasonography (US) can be used to differentiate inflammatory from ischemic bowel wall thickening.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-five patients (aged 23-96 years) with inflammatory or ischemic bowel wall thickening underwent US. Thickness was recorded, echotexture categorized, color Doppler flow graded, presence of intramural arterial signal recorded, and resistive index calculated.

Temporary loss of limb function secondary to soft tissue calcification in a patient with rhabdomyolysis-induced acute renal failure.

A case of unusually severe soft tissue calcification with temporary loss of limb function in a patient with rhabdomyolysis-induced acute renal failure (ARF) is described. A large dose of intravenous (IV) calcium was administered early in the hospital course to treat hypocalcemia, and hemodialysis, when initiated, was with a 1.75-mmol/L calcium dialysate.

Rupture of the flexor hallucis longus tendon: case report.

A case of acute rupture of the flexor hallucis longus tendon is described. This occurrence is rare and has only been reported in connection with other lesions. A gliding tendon is apparently not essential to obtain good functional results in such a case of rupture or laceration.