Search results for " Digestive System"
showing 10 items of 125 documents
Insulin resistance is a risk factor for esophageal varices in hepatitis C virus cirrhosis
2008
Indirect methods to predict the presence of esophageal varices (EV) in patients with cirrhosis are not sensitive enough to be used as a surrogate for endoscopy. We tested the effectiveness of liver stiffness measurement (LSM) by transient elastography and the presence of insulin resistance (IR), a marker associated with fibrosis progression, in the noninvasive prediction of portal hypertension. One hundred four consecutive patients with newly diagnosed Child A hepatitis C virus (HCV) cirrhosis underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy to search for EV. Clinical, anthropometric, biochemical, ultrasonographic, and metabolic features, including IR by the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA), a…
Oesophagogastroduodenoscopy in patients with cirrhosis: Extending the range of detection beyond portal hypertension
2010
Background: Oesophagogastroduodenoscopy is currently recommended for the screening of varices in cirrhosis. In addition to the assessment of varices, oesophagogastroduodenoscopy can detect conditions that, while unrelated to portal hypertension, may require treatment. Aims: We evaluated in a large cohort of cirrhotic patients the prevalence of upper digestive findings other than oesophagogastric varices, the associations between upper gastrointestinal findings, portal hypertension and features of cirrhosis, and the incidence of new lesions in the course of a surveillance program. Methods: Analysis of the records of 611 consecutive cirrhotic patients undergoing oesophagogastroduodenoscopy fo…
Treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with probiotics. An etiopathogenic approach at last?
2009
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most common functional digestive disorder, and may affect 11-20% of the adult population in industrialized countries. In accordance with Rome III criteria (2006) IBS involves abdominal pain and bowel habit disturbance, which are not explained by structural or biochemical abnormalities. Several hypotheses attempt to account for the pathophysiology of IBS, but the etiology still remains uncertain or obscure, perhaps multifactorial. Abnormalities in colonic microflora have recently been suggested in such patients, as has abnormal small-intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), or in particular a significant reduction in the amount of intraluminal Bifidobacter…
Sequential boost in neoadjuvant irradiation for T3N0-1 rectal cancer: long-term results from a single-center experience.
2016
Purpose To evaluate the influence of radiation dose on tumor regression grade (TRG) and sphincter preservation rate in a series of cT3N0-1 rectal cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CT-RT) with or without a sequential radiation boost. Materials and methods Between May 2002 and September 2013, 116 cases were eligible for retrospective evaluation. Radiotherapy was delivered for a total dose of 45 Gy (no boost arm) or 50.4 Gy (boost arm). TRG was evaluated with the Dworak scale. Results Median follow-up was 62 months (range, 12-138 months). The 5-year overall survival and local control rates were 72% and 93%, respectively. Fifty-five patients (47%) were treated with a s…
Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis masked by kidney failure in a male infant with a contiguous gene deletion syndrome at Xp22.31 involving the steroid sul…
2022
Abstract Background Contiguous gene deletion syndrome at Xp22.3 resulting in nullisomy in males or Turner syndrome patients typically encompasses the steroid sulfatase gene (STS) and contiguously located other genes expanding the phenotype. In large deletions, that encompass also the Kallmann syndrome 1 gene (KAL1), occasionally infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS) and congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) have been reported. Patient presentation We report on a male newborn with family history in maternal uncle of renal abnormalities and short stature still without ichthyosiform dermatosis. The baby presented CAKUT with kidney failure and progressive vomitin…
Unexplained chronic liver disease in Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study
2018
Background Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is assumed to be the major cause of chronic liver disease (CLD) in sub-Saharan Africa. The contribution of other aetiological causes of CLD is less well documented and hence opportunities to modulate other potential risk factors are being lost. The aims of this study were to explore the aetiological spectrum of CLD in eastern Ethiopia and to identify plausible underlying risk factors for its development. Methods A cross-sectional study was undertaken between April 2015 and April 2016 in two public hospitals in Harar, eastern Ethiopia. The study population comprised of consenting adults with clinical and radiological evidence of chronic liver dise…
Gastric stromal tumor - a rare cause of an upper gastrointestinal bleeding
2001
Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are rare neoplasms arising from connective tissue elements of the gastrointestinal wall. They show a great heterogeneity with respect to their histogenetic, morphologic and prognostic characteristics. GISTs are known with myoid, neural or mixed features of differentiation. Clinical findings are gastrointestinal bleeding, abdominal pain and weight loss. We report on the case of a 50-year-old male patient who presented with melena and acute anemia (hemoglobin 10.5 g/dl). Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed a broad-based, centrally ulcerated polypoid formation of 3 cm in the gastric corpus as the cause of the upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Multiple end…
Inflammation and Aortic Pulse Wave Velocity: A Multicenter Longitudinal Study in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease
2019
Background Inflammatory bowel disease ( IBD ) is characterized by a low prevalence of traditional risk factors, an increased aortic pulse‐wave velocity ( aPWV ), and an excess of cardiovascular events. We have previously hypothesized that the cardiovascular risk excess reported in these patients could be explained by chronic inflammation. Here, we tested the hypothesis that chronic inflammation is responsible for the increased aPWV previously reported in IBD patients and that anti‐TNFa (anti‐tumor necrosis factor‐alpha) therapy reduce aPWV in these patients. Methods and Results This was a multicenter longitudinal study. We enrolled 334 patients: 82 patients with ulcerative colitis, 85 pati…
High-definition endoscopy with i-Scan and Lugol’s solution for more precise detection of mucosal breaks in patients with reflux symptoms
2009
BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease are subdivided into non-erosive (NERD) and erosive reflux disease (ERD). The newly available EPKi processor enables high-definition resolution above HDTV standard (HD+). The aim of the study was to test the efficacy of HD+ esophagogastroduodenoscopy alone and in conjunction with i-Scan (newly developed postprocessing digital filter) and chromoendoscopy (Lugol’s solution) for differentiation of reflux patients. METHODS: The distal esophagus of patients with heartburn was inspected with three imaging modalities. HD+ was followed by i-Scan and 15-mL Lugol’s solution (1.5 %). The esophagus was evaluated for mucosal breaks …
A pharmacokinetic approach to model-guided design of infliximab schedules in ulcerative colitis patients
2015
Background: Infliximab, an anti-tumour necrosis factor approved for treatment of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, is administered at predefined interdose-intervals. On insufficient response or loss of response, treatment can be intensified. The lack or loss of response is likely related to complex pharmacokinetics of infliximab. Aims: To explore optimal dosing strategies of infliximab in treatment-naïve patients with ulcerative colitis through predictive Monte Carlo simulations based on a validated population PK model. Methods: A population of 2,000 treatment-naïve patients was generated by Montecarlo simulation. Six dosing strategies for maintenance therapy were simulated on this po…