The influence of the surveillance time interval on the risk of advanced neoplasia after non-advanced adenoma removal.

Objectives: To investigate the incidence of advanced neoplasia (colorectal cancer or advanced adenoma) at surveillance colonoscopy following removal of non-advanced adenoma; to determine whether the time interval before surveillance colonoscopy influences the likelihood of advanced neoplasia.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting, Participants: Patients enrolled in a South Australian surveillance colonoscopy program with findings of non-advanced adenoma during 1999-2016 who subsequently underwent surveillance colonoscopy.

Prodromal Signs and Symptoms of Chronic Pancreatitis: A Systematic Review.

Goal: We aimed to extract the percent of signs and symptoms at the time of diagnosis from published studies and to pool these using meta-analytic techniques.

Background: Delayed or misdiagnosis of chronic pancreatitis may occur because the signs and symptoms are nonspecific and varied.

Study: We performed a systematic review of studies reporting the signs and symptoms of chronic pancreatitis at diagnosis.

Older age, symptoms, or anemia: Which factors increase colorectal cancer risk with a positive fecal immunochemical test?

Background And Aim: Fecal immunochemical tests (FIT) are used to screen asymptomatic individuals aged 50-74 years for colorectal cancer (CRC) within the Australian screening program. Gastrointestinal symptoms or iron deficiency anemia (IDA) may also drive primary care physicians to request a FIT. This study aimed to examine factors that may increase neoplasia risk associated with a positive FIT, specifically age, gastrointestinal symptoms, or IDA.

Gastric inlet patches: symptomatic or silent?

Purpose Of Review: The purpose of this review is to assess recent literature on the clinical relevance of the gastric inlet patch with particular focus on endoscopic diagnosis and treatment, the relationship of the inlet patch to laryngopharyngeal reflux disease and the association of proximal esophageal adenocarcinoma with inlet patch.

Recent Findings: Recent studies suggest endoscopic diagnosis of inlet patch increases with endoscopist awareness (up to 10-fold) and when using enhanced imaging techniques such as narrow band imaging (up to three-fold). The literature remains mixed on the association of inlet patch with laryngopharyngeal symptoms or globus sensation.

Transfusion strategies in upper gastrointestinal bleeding management: a review of South Australian hospital practice.

Background: Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) is a common cause of hospital admission and red cell transfusion is frequently required. A large single-centre randomised study from 2013 showed that a restrictive transfusion strategy in UGIB management was associated with better outcomes compared to a liberal strategy. Subsequently multiple international guidelines favour a restrictive transfusion strategy.

Efficacy and Safety of Mycophenolate Mofetil in Patients With Autoimmune Hepatitis and Suboptimal Outcomes After Standard Therapy.

Background & Aims: Little is known about outcomes of patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) who have a suboptimal outcome to standard therapy and are then given mycophenolate mofetil as rescue therapy. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of mycophenolate mofetil in patients failed by or intolerant to corticosteroids, with or without azathioprine.

Methods: We performed a retrospective study of 105 patients with AIH who received mycophenolate mofetil therapy after an inadequate response or intolerance to standard therapy (98% received combination therapy with corticosteroids plus thiopurines).