Efficacy and Safety of Lubiprostone in Patients with Chronic Constipation

Aims  

The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy and safety of lubiprostone in adults with chronic constipation.     

New PRSS1 and common CFTR mutations in a child with acute recurrent pancreatitis,could be considered an "Hereditary" form of pancreatitis ?

Background  

acute recurrent pancreatitis is a complex multigenic disease, the diagnosis is even more difficult when this disease develops in a child.     

Steroid administration for ischemic complications after radiofrequency ablation: A retrospective study

Aim

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of steroids on ischemic complications after radiofrequency ablation.

Methods

A total of 58 patients with ischemic complications were divided into two groups according to corticosteroid use or non-use.

Results

A total of 13 patients who were administered steroids had a shorter duration of fever than those who were not administered steroids (median 6.0 vs. 2.0 days; p < 0.001). Linear regression analysis showed that steroid administration was associated with a reduction of 3.9 days in the duration of fever (p = 0.008).

Conclusions

Steroid administration for ischemic complications after radiofrequency ablation may reduce the risk of fatal outcomes by blocking systemic inflammatory reactions.     

The Clinical Significance of Jejunal Diverticular Disease Diagnosed by Double-Balloon Enteroscopy for Obscure Gastrointestinal Bleeding

Background  

Jejunal diverticular disease is a rare cause of gastrointestinal bleeding. The reported incidence of this disease is low in the studies of double-balloon enteroscopy.     

Association between age and synchronous liver metastasis in female colorectal cancer patients

Purpose  

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between age and synchronous liver metastasis in female colorectal cancer patients.     

Effectiveness of the polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine among HIV-infected persons in Brazil: a case control study

Background  

Polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine is recommended for use in HIV-infected adults in Brazil but there is uncertainty about its effectiveness in this patient population.     

Wireless Capsule Endoscopy in Enteropathy Induced by Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs in Pigs

Aim  

The aim of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic yield of capsule endoscopy in nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-induced enteropathy in pigs.     

PDCD4 expression inversely correlated with miR-21 levels in gastric cancers

Purpose  

The specific aim of this study was to investigate whether the PDCD4 gene is involved in the development and progression of gastric cancer.     

Trends in Quality of Care and Barriers to Improvement in the Indian Health Service

BACKGROUND  

Although Native Americans experience substantial disparities in health outcomes, little information is available regarding healthcare delivery for this population.     

Ovarian morphology and prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome in Japanese women with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Aims/Introduction

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a heterogeneous disorder including polycystic ovary morphology (PCOM), ovulatory dysfunction and hyperandrogenism. PCOS is frequently associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus; however, it is unknown whether PCOM and PCOS are prevalent in Japanese patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. The purpose of our study was to determine the frequency of PCOM and PCOS in women with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Materials and Methods

We evaluated clinical, hormonal and ovarian ultrasound data from 21 type 1 diabetes mellitus patients whose average glycated hemoglobin levels were 7.9 ± 1.5%.

Results

Ultrasound identified PCOM in 11 patients (52.4%) and these patients also had higher levels of the androgen dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA‐S) than those without PCOM (P < 0.05). Of the patients with PCOM, five presented menstrual irregularities (45.5%) and three met the Japanese criteria for PCOS (27.2%); whereas all patients without PCOM had a normal menstrual cycle (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Japanese premenopausal women with type 1 diabetes mellitus had a high frequency of PCOM as well as PCOS. This is the first research of this area carried out in an Asian population.     

The clinical analysis of 34 cases of intestinal tuberculosis in China's big city hospitals

Aims  

Intestinal tuberculosis is not uncommon in developing countries. The diagnosis of this disease is quite difficult. The purpose of our research was to recall the clinical, colonoscopic, and histopathological features of this disease.     

Role of surgical resection in colorectal lung metastases: analysis of 137 patients

Purpose  

The aim of this study is to investigate clinicopathologic characteristics and to identify prognostic factors in patients undergoing pulmonary metastasectomy for colorectal carcinoma.     

Effects of comorbid substance use disorders on outcomes in a Housing First intervention for homeless people with mental illness

Background and Aims

Evidence supports the effectiveness of Housing First (HF) programmes for people who are experiencing homelessness and mental illness; however, questions remain about its use in people with comorbid substance use disorders (SUD). The aim of this project was to test whether SUD modifies the effectiveness of an HF intervention.

Design

Secondary analysis of data from a randomized controlled trial of HF versus treatment‐as‐usual (TAU) with 24‐month follow‐up, comparing those with and without SUD at trial entry.

Setting

Vancouver, Toronto, Winnipeg, Moncton and Montreal, Canada.

Participants

A total of 2154 participants recruited from 2009 to 2013 and randomized to HF versus TAU (67% male, mean age 40.8 ± 11.2, 25% ethno‐cultural minority). All were homeless and had a mental disorder at baseline; 35% reported symptoms consistent with SUD.

Intervention

Housing paired with Intensive Case Management or Assertive Community Treatment.

Measurements

Primary outcomes were days housed and community functioning. Secondary outcomes were general and health‐related quality of life and mental health symptoms. Predictors were SUD status crossed with intervention group (HF versus TAU).

Findings

People with SUD in both the HF and TAU groups spent less time in stable housing, but the effect of HF did not vary by SUD status [odds ratio (OR) = 1.17, 95% confidence interval (CI) = ?0.77, 1.76]. Similarly, there was no difference between those with and without SUD in the effect of HF (over TAU) on community functioning (b = 0.75, 95% CI = ?0.36, 1.87), quality of life (b = ?1.27, 95% CI = ?4.17, 1.63), health‐related quality of life (b = ?0.01, 95% CI = ?0.03, 0.02) or mental health symptoms (b = 0.43, 95% CI = ?0.99, 1.86).

Conclusions

Housing First programs in Canada are equally effective in people with and without comorbid substance use disorder (SUD). Overall, the intervention appears to be able to engage people with SUD and is reasonably successful at housing them, without housing being contingent upon abstinence or treatment.     

The effects of tacrolimus on colonic anastomotic healing in rats

Aim  

The aim of this experimental study is to investigate the effects of tacrolimus on colonic anastomotic healing after subcutaneous administration.     

Cannabidiol reverses attentional bias to cigarette cues in a human experimental model of tobacco withdrawal

Background and Aims

Cannabidiol (CBD), a non‐intoxicating cannabinoid found in cannabis, may be a promising novel smoking cessation treatment due to its anxiolytic properties, minimal side effects and research showing that it may modify drug cue salience. We used an experimental medicine approach with dependent cigarette smokers to investigate if (1) overnight nicotine abstinence, compared with satiety, will produce greater attentional bias (AB), higher pleasantness ratings of cigarette‐related stimuli and increased craving and withdrawal; and (2) CBD in comparison to placebo, would attenuate AB, pleasantness of cigarette‐related stimuli, craving and withdrawal and not produce any side effects.

Design

Randomized, double‐blind cross‐over study with a fixed satiated session followed by two overnight abstinent sessions.

Setting

UK laboratory.

Participants

Thirty non‐treatment‐seeking, dependent cigarette smokers recruited from the community.

Intervention and comparator

800 mg oral CBD, or matched placebo (PBO) in a counterbalanced order

Measurements

AB to pictorial tobacco cues was recorded using a visual probe task and an explicit rating task. Withdrawal, craving, side effects, heart rate and blood pressure were assessed repeatedly.

Findings

When participants received PBO, tobacco abstinence increased AB (P = 0.001, d = 0.789) compared with satiety. However, CBD reversed this effect, such that automatic AB was directed away from cigarette cues (P = 0.007, d = 0.704) and no longer differed from satiety (P = 0.82). Compared with PBO, CBD also reduced explicit pleasantness of cigarette images (P = 0.011; d = 0.514). Craving (Bayes factor = 7.08) and withdrawal (Bayes factor = 6.95) were unaffected by CBD, but greater in abstinence compared with satiety. Systolic blood pressure decreased under CBD during abstinence.

Conclusions

A single 800‐mg oral dose of cannabidiol reduced the salience and pleasantness of cigarette cues, compared with placebo, after overnight cigarette abstinence in dependent smokers. Cannabidiol did not influence tobacco craving or withdrawal or any subjectively rated side effects.     

No evidence of enteroviruses in the intestine of patients with type 1 diabetes

Aims/hypothesis  

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the gut mucosa is a reservoir for enterovirus persistence in patients with type 1 diabetes.     

RUNX3 expression is lost in glioma and its restoration causes drastic suppression of tumor invasion and migration

Purpose  

The aim of this study is to investigate whether the expression of RUNX3 is related to the development of glioma, and the role of RUNX3 in glioma cells growth, invasion and migration.     

Diurnal variability of C-reactive protein in obstructive sleep apnea

Objective  

The objective of this study is to examine the diurnal variability of C-reactive protein (CRP) in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).     

Dysglycaemia and 90 day and 1 year risks of death or readmission in patients hospitalised for community-acquired pneumonia

Aims/hypothesis  

The aim of this study was to investigate whether dysglycaemia at admission is associated with adverse events at 90 days or 1 year in a population-based cohort of patients hospitalised with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).