Colonoscopy-controlled intra-individual comparisons to screen relevant neoplasia: faecal immunochemical test vs. guaiac-based faecal occult blood test.

Background: Guaiac-based faecal occult blood tests (g-FOBTs) are most commonly used in colorectal cancer (CRC) screening programmes. Faecal immunochemical tests (FITs) are thought to be superior.

Aim: To compare performance of a g-FOBT and a quantitative FIT for detection of CRCs and advanced adenomas in a colonoscopy-controlled population.

Clinical presentations and predisposing factors of cholelithiasis and sludge in children.

Background: In contrast to adults, little is known about the epidemiology and the best therapeutic regimen for cholelithiasis and sludge in children.

Methods: Eighty-two children with cholelithiasis detected by ultrasonography were studied from 0 to 18 years of age with regard to cause, symptomatology, and treatment outcome. Seventy-five children with sludge within the same age group were studied as well.

Factors predicting relapse during maintenance treatment with famotidine in patients with healed reflux esophagitis. Dutch Esophagitis Study Group.

Little is known about possible predictive factors influencing the relapse rate in patients with healed reflux esophagitis during maintenance therapy with histamine2 (H2)-receptor antagonists. Therefore, the efficacy of famotidine 20 mg twice daily was evaluated in an open-label prospective study in 317 patients who had experienced healing of erosive reflux esophagitis after treatment with famotidine; 259 patients completed the study and were assessable according to study protocol. The cumulative endoscopic relapse rates at 4, 8, and 12 months were 20%, 30%, and 36%, respectively, according to the per-protocol analysis.

[Upper digestive tract hemorrhage; an assessment in the Amsterdam region].

Objective: To inventory diagnostic and therapeutic strategies and the value of endoscopy in upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage in Amsterdam and environs.

Design: Descriptive.

Setting: Eight hospitals in and around Amsterdam.

Efficacy of famotidine 20 mg twice a day versus 40 mg twice a day in the treatment of erosive or ulcerative reflux esophagitis.

Two different doses of famotidine (20 mg twice a day versus 40 mg twice a day) were evaluated in a double-blind, randomized multicenter study in 474 symptomatic patients with erosive ulcerative reflux esophagitis. A total of 238 patients were treated with famotidine 20 mg and 236 patients with 40 mg at breakfast and dinner-time. Relief of symptoms was significant in all patients after six and 12 weeks and not different in both treatment groups.

Famotidine in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Famotidine, a potent and long-acting H2-receptor antagonist, has been evaluated in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). From intraesophageal pH monitoring and clinical studies, b.i.

Acute treatment of reflux oesophagitis: a multicentre study to compare 150 mg ranitidine twice daily with 300 mg ranitidine at bedtime.

A randomized, double-blind, clinical trial was undertaken to compare 150 mg ranitidine b.d. with 300 mg ranitidine nocte in the treatment of reflux oesophagitis.

Sucralfate versus cimetidine in reflux esophagitis. A single-blind multicenter study.

A single-blind randomized multicenter study was performed in 42 patients with endoscopically documented reflux esophagitis. Patients were randomly given 400 mg cimetidine q.i.

Treatment of instrumental oesophageal perforation.

Results of a conservative approach in the treatment of instrumental oesophageal perforation were evaluated in 54 patients. The perforations occurred either during introduction of/or manipulation with fibre-endoscopes (six), during dilatation procedures with metal olives (five), mercury bougies (six) or during pneumodilatation (two) in 19 patients without malignancy and during an intubation procedure of a plastic prosthesis in 35 patients with an inoperable malignant oesophageal narrowing. In the majority of patients (94.

Treatment of reflux oesophagitis with ranitidine.

The efficacy of ranitidine was evaluated using a two-staged trial in patients with endoscopically moderate or severe reflux oesophagitis. The results of a six week double blind placebo controlled trial (stage I) in 36 patients shows that ranitidine (150 mg bd) is superior to placebo in the acute treatment with significant symptomatic improvement concerning heartburn and regurgitation, and in healing or improvement of endoscopic lesions. Prolonged treatment with ranitidine for another six weeks (stage II) proved to be effective in more resistant cases.

Results of conservative treatment of benign esophageal strictures: a follow-up study in 100 patients.

The results of a conservative treatment of benign esophageal strictures (68 peptic, 21 postsurgical, 2 caustic stenoses, 8 Schatzki rings, 1 esophageal web) were evaluated in 100 patients. Treatment consisted of dilatation either with Eder-Puestove olives or with mercury bougies up to 18-20 mm, or with both. In addition, all patients received antireflux therapy when indicated.

Effect of long-term treatment with cimetidine and antacids in Barrett's oesophagus.

The effect of a long-term treatment (one to two years) with cimetidine (1.6 g per day) and an antacid (Regla pH) was evaluated in nine patients with a Barrett's oesophagus. The results showed that such long-term treatment had a beneficial effect on the symptoms and endoscopic signs of oesophagitis and on the healing of a Barrett's ulcer, but did not result in a regression of the squamocolumnar junction back towards the cardia.

Follow-up of blood donors positive for hepatitis B surface antigen.

From 1973 to 1977 in Amsterdam the incidence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in blood donations from new donors was 0.224 and from known donors 0.034%.

Value of colonoscopy in the detection of sigmoid malignancy in patients with diverticular disease.

Sixty patients with diverticular disease, referred because a barium enema examination could not exclude a co-existing malignanty, were studied in a retrospective manner, to find out the contribution of colonoscopy in the diagnosis of sigmoid carcinoma in such patients. All X-ray studies were blindly reviewed and divided in two categories: a) diverticular disease with malignancy or strong suspicion for malignancy and b) diverticular disease without suspicion for malignancy. The accuracy of the endoscopical examination was evaluated by a follow-up study with a range of 3 months-3 years.