Post endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography cholecystitis: The incidence and risk factors analysis.

Background: For decades, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) has been widely performed as a diagnostic and therapeutic procedure for biliary and pancreatic diseases. Complications of ERCP include pancreatitis, hemorrhage, perforation, cholangitis, and cholecystitis. There are few studies that focus on the incidence of post-ERCP cholecystitis and its potential risk factors.

Endoscopic papillary balloon dilatation less than three minutes for biliary stone removal increases the risk of post-ERCP pancreatitis.

Objectives: The adequate duration for EPBD was unclear. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effect of balloon dilatation duration of EPBD on the occurrence of PEP.

Methods: One hundred and ninety-eight patients with common bile duct (CBD) stone treated by EPBD were retrospectively recruited.

Cholecystectomy decreased the recurrent cholangitis after clearance of bile duct stones by ERCP in patients with gallstone-related cholangitis.

Background: This study assessed whether cholecystectomy can decrease recurrent cholangitis and all-cause mortality in patients who received endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with sphincterotomy and successful clearance of bile duct (BD) stones after gallstone-related cholangitis.

Methods: We analyzed data from the National Health Insurance research database of Taiwan. Patients who had gallstone-related cholangitis and underwent successful endoscopic clearance of BD stones were eligible for enrollment.

Clopidogrel inhibits angiogenesis of gastric ulcer healing via downregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2.

Background/purpose: Although clopidogrel does not cause gastric mucosal injury, it does not prevent peptic ulcer recurrence in high-risk patients. We explored whether clopidogrel delays gastric ulcer healing via inhibiting angiogenesis and to elucidate the possible mechanisms.

Methods: Gastric ulcers were induced in Sprague Dawley rats, and ulcer healing and angiogenesis of ulcer margin were compared between clopidogrel-treated rats and controls.

Elevated serum dopamine increases while coffee consumption decreases the occurrence of reddish streaks in the intact stomach.

Background And Aim: Reddish streaks in an intact stomach are an endoscopic feature of duodenogastric reflux. This study aimed to identify which factors are associated with gastric reddish streaks and thus help prevent mucosal damage from duodenogastric reflux.

Methods: Demographic data, personal habits, stressful life events, and psychological distress were compared between subjects with only gastric reddish streaks and those with normal mucosa who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy as part of a self-paid physical checkup.

Risk factors for upper gastrointestinal bleeding in coronary artery disease patients receiving both aspirin and clopidogrel.

Background: Dual therapy (aspirin and clopidogrel) increases the risk of upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB). Acute coronary syndrome (ACS), a critical ill condition, may increase the risk of UGIB due to stress-related mucosal disease and the impact of receiving dual antiplatelet agents. We identified risk factors of UGIB in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) receiving dual therapy.

Additional corpus biopsy enhances the detection of Helicobacter pylori infection in a background of gastritis with atrophy.

Background: The best sites for biopsy-based tests to evaluate H. pylori infection in gastritis with atrophy are not well known. This study aimed to evaluate the site and sensitivity of biopsy-based tests in terms of degree of gastritis with atrophy.

The role of cholecystokinin 1 receptor in prolactin inhibited gastric emptying of male rat.

Background/aims: Prolactin (PRL) is essential for the lactating mammals, while cholecystokinin (CCK) does inhibit gastric emptying (GE). Present study attempted to determine whether both peptides interacted on the male rat GE, particularly the role of putative CCK1 receptor.

Methods: Acute hyperprolactinemia of male rats was induced by the intraperitoneal injection of ovine PRL (oPRL) in several divided doses 15 minutes before motility study.

The evaluation of otilonium bromide treatment in asian patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

Background/aims: Antispasmodics including otilonium bromide (OB) are recommended to treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). However, reports about OB experience in Asia is sparse. The purpose of present study was to provide the efficacy of OB in treating Asian IBS patients.

The current prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome in Asia.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has been one of the commonly presented gastrointestinal disorders. It is of interest how commonly it presents in the society. Western studies indicated that most population-based IBS prevalences range 10%-15%.

Immunoglobulin G antibody against Helicobacter pylori is an accurate test for atrophic gastritis.

Background: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is the most commonly used serologic test for Helicobacter pylori. This study aimed to investigate the effects of age and atrophic gastritis on the diagnostic accuracy of an immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody test against H. pylori in adults.

Incidence and possible risk factors for clinical upper gastrointestinal events in patients taking selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors: A prospective, observational, cohort study in Taiwan.

Background: Use of selective cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitors is associated with a better gastrointestinal (GI) safety profile than use of other NSAIDs. However, the risk factors for clinical upper GI events (symptomatic ulcers and ulcer complications) in COX-2 inhibitor users have been rarely evaluated in the past.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the annual incidence of and identify the risk factors for clinical upper GI events in chronic COX-2 inhibitor (celecoxib and etoricoxib) users.

Gastric reddish streaks in the intact stomach: endoscopic feature of reactive gastropathy.

The pathogenesis of reddish streaks in the intact stomach is unclear. Sixty-three functional dyspeptic patients with gastric reddish streaks were recruited for the study. Fifty-five patients (group I) had only reddish streaks while nine patients (group II) had additional lesions such as reddish patches or spots randomly scattered throughout the stomach.

Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in duodenal ulcer and gastro-duodenal ulcer diseases in Taiwan.

Background And Aim: The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori-negative duodenal ulcer (DU) is increasing in Western countries but is rare in Japan. We aimed to examine the prevalence of H. pylori infection and the characteristics in DU and gastro-duodenal ulcer (GDU) diseases in Taiwan.

Dexamethasone inhibits tumor necrosis factor-alpha-stimulated gastric epithelial cell migration.

Background: Cell migration (restitution) occurs in the early phase of gastric ulcer healing. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha is overexpressed at the ulcer margin and plays a physiologic role in gastric ulcer healing. Dexamethasone, which is a potent corticosteroid, delays rat gastric ulcer healing.

Psychosocial-spiritual factors in patients with functional dyspepsia: a comparative study with normal individuals having the same endoscopic features.

Objectives: The aim of the study is to identify factors that are associated with dyspeptic symptoms in patients with functional dyspepsia (FD) in a multivariate context.

Methods: Demographic data, personal habits, stressful life events, and psychological distress were compared between functional dyspeptic patients with gastric reddish streaks and asymptomatic counterparts who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy as part of a self-paid physical check-up.

Results: There were 93 patients in the symptomatic group and 67 patients in the asymptomatic group.

Gastric mucosal injury in systemic lupus erythematosus patients receiving pulse methylprednisolone therapy.

Aims: Whether glucocorticoids induce gastric mucosal injury remains uncertain. We investigated whether very high-dose steroids caused gastric mucosal injury in systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) patients and evaluated the possible risk factors for mucosal injury.

Methods: In this prospective paired study, 67 SLE patients who had received pulse methylprednisolone therapy were enrolled.

Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography and drainage is an effective rescue therapy for biliary complications in liver transplant recipients who fail endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

Background: We attempted to evaluate both the factors that predispose a patient to biliary complications after liver transplantation and the results of percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography and drainage (PTCD) for the management of those complications.

Methods: This study retrospectively reviewed the cases of 81 patients who received liver transplants at Taipei Veterans General Hospital between February 2003 and June 2008. Biliary complications were diagnosed on the basis of clinical findings, laboratory data, and the results of imaging studies.

Clinical characteristics of Helicobacter pylori-negative duodenal ulcer disease.

Background/aims: Previous data on H. pylori-negative duodenal ulcer (DU) are limited due to different exclusion criteria adopted. In this study we attempted to clarify the characteristics of H.

Can computed tomography with coronal reconstruction improve the diagnosis of choledocholithiasis?

Background And Aim: Many technical developments of computed tomography (CT) made in recent years have improved imaging quality. However, the diagnostic efficacy of CT with coronal reconstruction for choledocholithiasis remains uncertain. This study aimed to investigate if CT with coronal reconstruction can aid in the diagnosis of choledocholithiasis.