[Are changes in the blood count clinically useful marker of azathioprine dose?].

Introduction: The 6-thioguanine nucleotide (6-TGN) level, may be used to estimate dose-adequacy of azathioprine (AZA) therapy. 6-TGN test is not commercially available. The aim of the study was to determine whether a blood cell changes correlate also with the dose of AZA and may serve as a predictor of the dose adequacy (for MCV > 6 fl).

Vitamin D levels in IBD: a randomised trial of weight-based versus fixed dose vitamin D supplementation.

Body weight is one of the factors affecting blood levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD). The aim of this study was to establish whether a vitamin D (vitD) weight-based dosing is more appropriate to a fixed daily dose in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This was an open label randomised trial.

Acute portal vein thrombosis in noncirrhotic patients - different prognoses based on presence of inflammatory markers: a long-term multicenter retrospective analysis.

Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is a partial or complete thrombotic occlusion of the portal vein and is rare in noncirrhotic patients. 78 adult patients with noncirrhotic acute PVT without known malignity were evaluated. Patients with initial CRP level 61-149 mg/l were excluded.

[Vitamin D supplementation dose needs to be higher in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: interventional study].

Introduction: Vitamin D (vitD) is a substance with an immunomodulatory effect. Its insufficiency has negative impact also on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) where it is often present. The recommended daily intake for general population is 600 UI/day (units/day).

Adherence, risk factors of non-adherence and patient's preferred treatment strategy of mesalazine in ulcerative colitis: multicentric observational study.

Objectives: Compliance to therapy is a key factor in the efficacy of treatment in clinical practice. The aim of our study was to evaluate the rate of compliance with mesalazine in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), to examine risk factors of noncompliance and especially find ways on how adherence can be improved.

Materials And Methods: A total of 198 outpatients with UC completed two anonymous questionnaires including information on basic demographics, details of patient´s disease and the use of mesalazine medication and quality of life.

The optimal bowel preparation intervals before colonoscopy: A randomized study comparing polyethylene glycol and low-volume solutions.

Background & Aims: The optimal duration of bowel preparation has only been assessed for polyethylene glycol (PEG). The aim of the study was to determine the intervals for achieving a satisfactory quality/tolerability of the preparation using PEG/ascorbic acid (PEGA) and sodium picosulphate/magnesium citrate (SPMC), and to compare them with 4L of PEG.

Methods: A randomized, endoscopist-blinded, multicentre study.

A head-to-head comparison of 4-L polyethylene glycol and low-volume solutions before colonoscopy: which is the best? A multicentre, randomized trial.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy and tolerability of polyethylene glycol (PEG) to sodium picosulfate/magnesium citrate (SPMC) and low-volume polyethylene glycol/ascorbic acid (PEGA) in a single- or split-dose regimen for colonoscopy bowel preparation.

Methods: This was a prospective, randomized, endoscopist-blinded, multicentre study. Outpatients received either PEG or SPMC or PEGA in a single or a split dose before the colonoscopy.

[Effective bowel preparation before coloscopy - low-volume PEG in the divided dose regimen].

Introduction: The good and safe bowel cleansing is key to the success of coloscopy. The standard preparation involves 4 l polyethylene glycol (PEG). Now the combination of PEG and ascorbic acid (PEGA) of half the volume is available.

Clinical monitoring: infliximab biosimilar CT-P13 in the treatment of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

Objective: The infliximab biosimilar CT-P13 (Remsima(®), Inflectra(®)) was approved in Europe for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) based on extrapolation of data from patients with rheumatic disease. Because there are limited published reports on clinical outcomes for IBD patients treated with CT-P13, we monitored responses to induction treatment with this biosimilar in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC) in centres across the Czech Republic.

Material And Methods: Fifty-two patients with CD (n = 30) or UC (n = 22) were treated with 5 mg/kg CT-P13 for up to 14 weeks.

Expression of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 is deregulated in colon carcinoma.

Although the effects of glucocorticoids on proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis are well known, and steroid hormones have been identified to play a role in pathogenesis and the development of various cancers, limited data are available regarding the relationship between the local metabolism of glucocorticoids and colorectal adenocarcinoma (CRC) formation. Glucocorticoid metabolism is determined by 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases type 1 and 2 (11HSD1, 11HSD2), which increase the local concentration of cortisol due to the reduction of cortisone, or decrease this concentration due to the oxidation of cortisol. The objective of this study was to evaluate the extent of 11HSD1 and 11HSD2 mRNA in pre-malignant colorectal polyps and in CRC.

Multiple adenomatous duodenal polyposis.

Multiple duodenal polyps are a relatively rare finding, usually co-occurrent with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP).We report a patient with multiple duodenal adenomas and a negative examination for FAP: multiple flat polyps were detected endoscopically in a 37-year-old male patient, extending from the apex of the bulb to the end of the descending part of the duodenum. In terms of histology, they were tubular adenomas with moderate dysplasia.

Poorly differentiated endocrine carcinoma and intraductal papillary-mucinous neoplasm of the pancreas: Description of an unusual case.

Neuroendocrine tumors and intraductal papillary-mucinous neoplasms constitute histologically distinctive but relatively rare entities among pancreatic tumors. Collision of these tumors is extremely rare and causes several diagnostic problems regarding the histopathologic differential diagnosis of other pancreatic epithelial tumors. The question of whether the neoplastic populations originate from common progenitor cell or whether they represent only a fortuitous association has not been sufficiently explained.

Natalizumab for active Crohn's disease.

Background: In chronic inflammatory conditions such as Crohn's disease, the migration of leukocytes from the circulation into the parenchyma and their activation within inflammatory sites are mediated in part by alpha4 integrins.

Methods: We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of the alpha4 integrin-specific humanized monoclonal antibody natalizumab in 248 patients with moderate-to-severe Crohn's disease. Patients were randomly assigned to receive one of four treatments: two infusions of placebo; one infusion of 3 mg of natalizumab per kilogram of body weight, followed by placebo; two infusions of 3 mg of natalizumab per kilogram; or two infusions of 6 mg of natalizumab per kilogram.