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Fatigue in Cirrhosis: Is Transplant the Answer?

Guidelines on genetic evaluation and management of Lynch syndrome: A consensus statement by the U.S. Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer

Keeping cool in acute liver failure: Rationale for the use of mild hypothermia

Objective. Monitoring active ulcerative colitis (UC) is essential for making correct and timely treatment decisions. The current monitoring is based on symptom scores and biochemical markers, among which the role of fecal calprotectin (FC) is debated. The aims were to assess the development in FC during steroid treatment and to compare FC with symptom scores and biochemical markers. Material and methods. A prospective observational study, including 16 patients with active UC requiring high-dose steroid treatment. FC, C-reactive protein (CRP), leukocytes, hemoglobin, albumin, and simple clinical colitis activity index (SCCAI) were assessed before the initiation of treatment, as well as on days 2, 6, 13, and 27. The one-year follow-up data were retrospectively obtained. Results. All patients had significant decreasing levels of FC (–1014 mg/kg, p = 0.0061), CRP (–10 mmol/l, p = 0.0313), and SCCAI (–3, p = 0.0002) during the first 4 days. After 27 days, the FC had decreased to 216 mg/kg (p = 0.002). A significant correlation between the changes in CRP and SCCAI was found (rs = 0.65, p = 0.03) but not between FC and CRP or SCCAI. Overall, significant correlations between absolute levels of FC, CRP, and SCCAI were found. Levels of FC on day 0 and day 4 were not predictive of sustained clinical remission at 1-year follow up. Conclusions.FC, CRP, and SCCAI seem to be reliable markers of treatment response during steroid treatment. High initial levels of FC and a subsequent rapid reduction during steroid treatment were identified. FC levels were not found to be predictive of disease prognosis after one year.

Combined alcoholic and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis: The role of oxidized low-density lipoproteins

Effects of Helicobacter pylori and Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs on Peptic Ulcer Disease: A Systematic Review

Rett Syndrome and MeCP2: Linking Epigenetics and Neuronal Function

Background and study aim: We aimed to evaluate the validity and accuracy of the faecal calprotectin in differentiating patients with IBD from those with IBS and in the assessment of the severity of intestinal mucosal inflammation in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) which may facilitate in the prognosis and follow. Patients and Methods: We studied 60 Patients who came to endoscopy unit with lower gastroenterological symptoms. Patients with history of infections, malignancy, gastrointestinal surgery, pregnancy, alcohol abuse or taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were excluded from study. All patients subjected to thorough medical history, simple clinical colitis activity index was determined with a score ˃ 4 indicate active UC, complete blood picture, liver, kidney function tests, ESR, CRP, ANCA were done, a stool sample for FC levels determined by a highly sensitive enzymelinked immunosorbent assay and total colonoscopy with histological examination of intestinal mucosa biopsy were done. The patients divided into 2 groups. Group A: patients with UC, group B: patients with manifestation of irritable bowel syndrome as a control group. Results: There was a high significant difference between individuals with no pathological activity and other degree of mucosal inflammation as regard simple clinical colitis activity index, endoscopic appearance and faecal calprotectin (p = 0.000). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of faecal calprotectin in diagnosis of UC were 93.5%, 89.7%, 90.6%, and 92.9% respectively. The positive predictive value and negative predictive value of simple clinical colitis activity index for diagnosis of UC were 76.5% and 80.8% respectively. The positive predictive value and negative predictive value of endoscopic appearance for diagnosis of UC were 100%, and 85.3% respectively. There was a high significant difference and positive correlation between faecal calprotectin, score of colonic pathological activity, endoscopic appearance and simple clinical colitis activity index. Conclusion: Faecal calprotectin is highly useful for the diagnosis and disease monitoring of patients with UC as it is easy, non invasive, reliable tool

Ischemic cholangiopathy

Anaesthesia and myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion injury

Living donor liver transplantation

Genetics of Schizophrenia and the New Millennium: Progress and Pitfalls

Redux: Do Little Bellyachers Grow up to Become Big Bellyachers?

Stem cell gene transfer—efficacy and safety in large animal studies