Improvement of lumbar bone mass after infliximab therapy in Crohn's disease patients.

Background: Patients with Crohn's disease (CD) have a high risk of developing osteoporosis, but the mechanisms underlying bone mass loss are unclear. Elevated proinflammatory cytokines, such as tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha), have been implicated in the pathogenesis of bone resorption.

Aim: To assess whether suppression of TNFalpha with infliximab treatment has a beneficial effect on lumbar bone mass.

13C urea breath test for (Helicobacter pylori): evaluation of 10-minute breath collection.

Aim: To determine whether a shortened (13)C urea breath test ((13)C UBT) (breath collection time of 10 min) is as reliable as the standard assay (30 min).

Methods: Two hundred ninety-seven patients (mean +/- SD: 53+/-16 years, 57% female) completed a (13)C UBT. Breath samples were obtained at baseline and at 5 min intervals up to 30 min.

13C urea breath test for (Helicobacter pylori): determination of the optimal cut-off point in a Canadian community population.

Aim: To determine the test characteristics and the optimal cut-off point for the (13)C urea breath test ((13)C UBT) in a Canadian community laboratory setting.

Methods: Of 2232 patients (mean age +/- SD: 51+/-21 years, 56% female) who completed a (13)C UBT, 1209 were tested to evaluate the primary diagnosis of (Helicobacter pylori) infection and 1023 were tested for confirmation of eradication following treatment. Cluster analysis was performed on the (13)C UBT data to determine the optimal cut-off point and the risk of false-positive and false-negative results.