Diagnosing sucrase-isomaltase deficiency: a comparison of a C-sucrose breath test and a duodenal enzyme assay.

Background: Reduced activity of the sucrase-isomaltase (SI) enzyme can cause gastrointestinal symptoms. Biochemical measurement of SI activity in small intestinal biopsies is presently considered the gold standard for the diagnosis of SI deficiency, but this invasive test is not suitable as a routine diagnostic tool.

Aim: To evaluate a C-sucrose-breath test (CSBT) as a diagnostic tool for SI deficiency in an adult population.

Plasma cytokine levels in patients with chronic alcohol overconsumption: Relations to gut microbiota markers and clinical correlates.

Background: Alcohol-related morbidity may involve changes in the gut microbiota and immune dysregulation. We have previously demonstrated alterations in gut microbiota composition and functions in patients with alcohol overconsumption, and now aimed to investigate possible associations between cytokine levels, gut microbiota, and clinical symptoms.

Methods: We included hospital inpatients with a history of chronic alcohol overconsumption.

Characterization of gut microbiota composition and functions in patients with chronic alcohol overconsumption.

Excessive alcohol intake can alter the gut microbiota, which may underlie the pathophysiology of alcohol-related diseases. We examined gut microbiota composition and functions in patients with alcohol overconsumption for >10 years, compared to a control group of patients with a history of no or low alcohol intake. Faecal microbiota composition was assessed by 16S rRNA sequencing.

Fecal Calprotectin: A Reliable Predictor of Mucosal Healing after Treatment for Active Ulcerative Colitis.

Objectives: Mucosal healing has become the new goal of treatment in ulcerative colitis. Fecal calprotectin has been demonstrated to differentiate between mucosal inflammation and mucosal healing. With this project, we investigated whether a reduction in f-calprotectin to <250 g/g after medical treatment for active ulcerative colitis could predict mucosal healing.

Chronic alcohol overconsumption may alter gut microbial metabolism: a retrospective study of 719 C-D-xylose breath test results.

: Alterations of gut microbiota composition or function may participate in the pathophysiology of several diseases. We aimed to explore the effect of chronic alcohol overconsumption on gut microbial metabolism, as assessed by evaluating C-D-xylose breath test results. : We investigated all C-D-xylose breath tests performed at Lovisenberg Diaconal Hospital during the years 2005 to 2011, using patient files for diagnosing the patients into one of three patient categories: alcohol overconsumption, coeliac disease and functional bowel disorder.

Clinical importance of faecal calprotectin variability in inflammatory bowel disease: intra-individual variability and standardisation of sampling procedure.

Objective: Faecal (f-) calprotectin is a biomarker of intestinal inflammation. Previous studies have described intra-individual day-to-day variability of this biomarker in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and morning samples have been suggested for standardisation purposes. With this project, we investigated if day-to-day variability differed from diurnal variability.

Prediction of endoscopic disease activity in ulcerative colitis by two different assays for fecal calprotectin.

Background And Aims: As mucosal healing is the goal of treatment in inflammatory bowel disease, defining a fecal [f-] calprotectin cut-off level for mucosal healing is crucial. Previous studies have presented different cut-off levels. The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of two f-calprotectin assays to differentiate mucosal healing from inflammation in ulcerative colitis.

Small intestinal malabsorption in chronic alcoholism: a retrospective study of alcoholic patients by the ¹⁴C-D-xylose breath test.

Objective: The ¹⁴C-D-xylose breath test was used at Ullevål University Hospital in the period from 1986 TO 1995 for malabsorption testing. The objective of this retrospective study was to reveal whether patients with chronic alcoholism may have intestinal malabsorption.

Materials And Methods: The consecutive ¹⁴C-D-xylose breath test database was reviewed and patients with the diagnosis of chronic alcoholism were identified.

Follow-up of coeliac disease with the novel one-hour 13C-sorbitol breath test versus the H2-sorbitol breath test.

Background: We recently developed a (13)C-sorbitol breath test ((13)C-SBT) as an alternative to the H(2)-sorbitol breath test (H(2)-SBT) for coeliac disease. In this study we compared the diagnostic properties of the H(2)-SBT and the (13)C-SBT in follow-up of coeliac disease.

Material And Methods: Twenty-seven coeliac patients on a gluten-free diet (GFD) performed the breath tests.

Reduced ¹³C-D-xylose absorption in alcoholics is more likely caused by alterations in small intestinal mucosa than delayed gastric emptying.

Objective: Alterations of the small intestinal absorptive surface are a probable cause of D-xylose malabsorption in chronic alcoholism. Delayed gastric emptying, however, may influence the (13)C-D-xylose breath test, which is used to study intestinal function in alcoholics. The aim of this study was to measure gastric emptying in alcoholics to elucidate whether retention of the test meal could explain the malabsorptive pattern of the (13)C-D-xylose breath test observed in alcoholics.

Intestinal malabsorption of D-xylose: comparison of test modalities in patients with celiac disease.

Objective: The aim of the study was to compare three different D-xylose test modalities for small intestinal malabsorption, using patients with celiac disease and healthy persons as experimental models.

Material And Methods: Ninety-one untreated celiac patients, 98 treated celiac patients, and 43 healthy subjects performed the (13)C-D-xylose breath test. 1-h plasma D-xylose levels were measured in 48 untreated patients, 41 treated patients and 41 healthy controls.

Small intestinal malabsorption in chronic alcoholism determined by 13C-D-xylose breath test and microscopic examination of the duodenal mucosa.

Objective: Diarrhea, weight loss and osteoporosis are prominent symptoms and clinical signs of alcoholism. One of several possible factors causing this clinical picture is small intestinal damage leading to malabsorption. The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate small intestinal absorption in alcoholics using the (13)C-D-xylose breath test, and to relate the breath test results to morphological findings of the duodenal mucosa.

A novel one-hour 13C-sorbitol breath test versus the H2-sorbitol breath test for assessment of coeliac disease.

Objective: The H(2)-sorbitol breath test (H(2)-SBT) has previously been suggested as a screening tool for coeliac disease. We developed an alternative (13)C-sorbitol breath test ((13)C-SBT). The aim of the study was to compare the diagnostic properties of the H(2)-SBT and the (13)C-SBT in a clinical setting.

13C-xylose and 14C-xylose breath tests for the diagnosis of coeliac disease.

Objectives: Xylose absorption testing has traditionally involved measurement of serum xylose and/or measurement of excreted xylose in urine. However, by enriching xylose with a 13C- or 14C-isotope, absorption of an oral xylose load will be reflected in the time-dependent pattern of 13CO2 or 14CO2 exhaled in breath. Our objectives were to evaluate the diagnostic properties of 13C-xylose and 14C-xylose breath tests in coeliac disease, and to develop a diagnostic breath test index.