Use of standardised assessment forms in referrals to hepatology outpatient services: implications for accurate triaging of patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Objectives: To determine the spectrum of disease among non-urgent referrals to a tertiary hospital hepatology outpatient clinic, assess the adequacy of referral information in terms of risk stratification and determine whether a specifically designed referral template altered urgency for specialist assessment.

Methods: A snapshot of the waiting list of a hepatology clinic at a tertiary hospital was taken from the scheduling database. Information was retrieved from referrals and attached investigations.

Comparison of serum, salivary, and rapid whole blood diagnostic tests for Helicobacter pylori and their validation against endoscopy based tests.

Background: A rapid, reliable, and accurate test for the diagnosis of infection with Helicobacter pylori is needed for screening dyspeptic patients before referral for endoscopy.

Aim: To compare a new rapid whole blood test (Helisal rapid blood, Cortecs), two serum enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs; Helico-G, Shield and Helisal serum, Cortecs), and a salivary assay (Helisal saliva, Cortecs), with slide biopsy urease, 13C-urea breath test, and histology.

Methods: Three hundred and three consecutive dyspeptic patients attending for gastroscopy underwent two antral biopsies for histology, and one for rapid slide biopsy urease test for assessment of H pylori status.

Helicobacter pylori eradication in a clinical setting: success rates and the effect on the quality of life in peptic ulcer.

Background: Helicobacter pylori eradication for peptic ulcer has been widely taken up. Evidence for the efficacy of different regimens is often derived from small series in clinical trials but there is little reporting of everyday practice with unselected patients. Freedom from ulcer relapse has been demonstrated, but not whether this equates with clinical success.

Mucosal glucosamine synthetase activity in inflammatory bowel disease.

Abnormalities in colonic glycoprotein synthesis have been implicated in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Glucosamine synthetase is the rate-limiting step in the biosynthesis of gastrointestinal glycoprotein and has been measured in control subjects (N = 23) and patients with ulcerative colitis (N = 26) or Crohn's disease of the colon (N = 20) classified according to the macroscopic status of the rectum. Glucosamine synthetase activity was relatively constant around the normal colon but lower levels were found in the terminal ileum.

Faecal diversion for Crohn's colitis: a model to study the role of the faecal stream in the inflammatory process.

The high incidence of clinical remission after faecal diversion for Crohn's colitis suggests the faecal stream may play a part in the inflammatory mechanism. The effect of faecal diversion (n = 22) and restoration of intestinal continuity (n = 10) was assessed in patients with Crohn's colitis and compared with controls. Faecal diversion produced significant improvement in the disease activity index mean (SEM) (before 176 (9); after 114 (9), p < 0.