Rebamipide has the potential to reduce the intensity of NSAID-induced small intestinal injury: a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial evaluated by capsule endoscopy.

Background: A study reported that rebamipide was effective at reducing short-term nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-induced enteropathy. The purpose of this study was to re-evaluate the effect of the co-administration of rebamipide on small intestinal injuries induced by short-term NSAID treatment.

Methods: Eighty healthy male volunteers were randomly assigned to two study groups: a control group (N = 40), which received NSAID (diclofenac sodium, 75 mg/day) and omeprazole (20 mg/day) treatment along with a placebo; and a rebamipide group, which received NSAID, omeprazole and rebamipide (300 mg/day).

[Carcinoma of the small intestine diagnosed by double balloon endoscopy].

There are no specific symptoms of patients with carcinoma of the small intestine. Therefore, it is difficult to diagnose in the early stage by imaging modalities such as radiological enteroclysis, computed tomography, and classical endoscopy. However, double balloon endoscopy makes it possible to diagnose the carcinoma of the entire small bowel by taking tissue samples for pathological assessment.

Prevention of traditional NSAID-induced small intestinal injury: recent preliminary studies using capsule endoscopy.

Capsule endoscopy and balloon endoscopy, advanced modalities that now allow for full investigation of the entire small intestine, have revealed that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can cause a variety of abnormalities in the small intestine. Traditional NSAIDs can induce small intestinal injuries in over 50% of patients. Several studies have shown that the preventive effect of proton pump inhibitors does not extend to the small intestine, suggesting that concomitant therapy may be required to prevent small intestinal side effects associated with traditional NSAIDs use.

Distribution of small intestinal mucosal injuries as a result of NSAID administration.

Background: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) induce small intestinal mucosal injuries. The concentrations of NSAIDs, bile acids and intestinal flora may differ in the proximal and distal parts of the small intestine. This study aimed to analyse types and distributions of NSAID-induced small intestinal injuries.

Heregulin-induced VEGF expression via the ErbB3 signaling pathway in colon cancer.

Background/aims: Heregulin (HRG/NRG) ligation to erbB3/4 promotes their respective heterodimerization with erbB2, and consequent erbB2 tyrosine phosphorylation. Although HRG has been shown to be expressed in a variety of cancer tissues, its expression and role in colon cancer have yet to be clarified. We therefore examined the link between the expression of these erbB receptors, and the relationship between HRG and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in colon cancer.

Microsomal prostaglandin E synthase protein levels correlate with prognosis in colorectal cancer patients.

The aim of this study is to investigate the expression of three prostaglandin E synthase (PGES) isomers in colorectal cancer (CRC) tissue and to evaluate their relationship to clinicopathological factors and patient prognosis. Microsomal PGES (mPGES)-1, mPGES-2, cytosolic PGES (cPGES) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 protein expression were analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. The localization of each PGES and COX-2 protein was examined by immunohistochemistry in 155 surgical resections and correlated to clinicopathological factors and patient prognosis.

Prevention of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced small-intestinal injury by prostaglandin: a pilot randomized controlled trial evaluated by capsule endoscopy.

Background: There is no known preventive agent against nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) induced small-intestinal injury.

Objective: To evaluate by capsule endoscopy whether coadministration of prostaglandin (PG) can prevent small-intestinal damage induced by short-term NSAID treatment.

Design: Single-blind, randomized, controlled trial.

A randomized controlled trial on the efficacy of synbiotic versus probiotic or prebiotic treatment to improve the quality of life in patients with ulcerative colitis.

Objective: Studies suggest that synbiotic therapy could prove more effective in the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) than therapies limited to probiotics or prebiotics. This study compared the effect of each of these therapies in the treatment of UC.

Methods: One hundred twenty outpatients with UC were randomly sorted into three groups of 40 patients each for probiotic, prebiotic, or synbiotic therapy.

[Primary small intestinal malignant tumors].

Small intestinal primary adenocarcinomas, carcinoids, gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) were cleared up inadequately because it was hard to examine for small intestine by modalities in the 20th century. Obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB) is often caused by these tumors. In future, these tumors will be more diagnosed in patients with OGIB by new modalities such as capsule endoscopy and double balloon endoscopy.

Diagnostic yield of double-balloon endoscopy in patients with obscure GI bleeding.

Background: Double-balloon endoscopy (DBE) is a new method that allows visualization, tissue sampling, and therapeutic intervention of a variety of pathologies throughout the small-intestinal tract.

Objective: In the present study, we evaluated the diagnostic yield of DBE and its impact on the final diagnosis, treatment, and clinical outcome of patients with obscure GI bleeding (OGIB).

Design And Setting: A hospital-based cross-sectional, follow-up study.

High dose probiotic and prebiotic cotherapy for remission induction of active Crohn's disease.

Background: Clinical trials of probiotic treatment for Crohn's disease (CD) have yielded conflicting results. This study assessed the clinical usefulness of combined probiotic and prebiotic therapy in the treatment of active CD.

Method: Ten active CD outpatients without history of operation for CD were enrolled.

Helicobacter pylori infection increases the risk of colorectal adenoma and adenocarcinoma, especially in women.

Background: Recent reports suggest that Helicobacter pylori infection can potentially increase the risk of colorectal cancer. The purpose of this study was to assess the association between H. pylori infection and the risk of colorectal adenoma and adenocarcinoma, and to evaluate any differences on the basis of sex.

Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and the risk of colorectal adenoma in menopausal women.

Background/aims: It has been reported that alcohol intake and folate deficiency are associated with an increased risk of colorectal adenomas and carcinomas. Mean corpuscular volume is increased under these conditions. We have reported that the mean corpuscular volume was higher in patients with adenoma than without adenoma in middle-aged men.