Sublingual therapy for cobalamin deficiency as an alternative to oral and parenteral cobalamin supplementation.

Effectiveness of sublingual cobalamin-replacement therapy was studied in 18 people with cobalamin deficiency. Administration was efficacious and convenient, and compliance was high.

Comparison of two bowel preparations for colonoscopy: sodium picosulphate with magnesium citrate versus sulphate-free polyethylene glycol lavage solution.

OBJECTIVES: Adequate preparation of the bowel is essential for accurate colonoscopic examination. We compared colonic preparation with sodium picosulphate plus magnesium citrate (SPS-Mg) with sulphate-free polyethylene glycol electrolyte lavage (PEG-EL) solution before colonoscopy, for quality of bowel cleansing, patient discomfort, and side effects. METHODS: Sixty-eight consecutive patients were randomly assigned to receive either 3 sachets of SPS-Mg (16.5 g each) (n = 39) or 3 L of PEG-EL (n = 29) on the day before colonoscopy. Shortly before the procedure each patient was interviewed to determine the degree of discomfort (1 = none or mild, 2 = moderate, 3 = severe) and side effects. The quality of bowel cleansing was graded by a gastroenterologist who was unaware of the method of preparation (from 1 = poor to 4 = excellent). RESULTS: Of the 29 PEG-EL patients, four (14%) did not complete the preparation because of side effects. The degree of discomfort was significantly greater with PEG-EL (mean score, 2.3 +/- 0.7) than with SPS-Mg (mean score, 1.4 +/- 0.5; p < 0.01). Nausea and vomiting were significantly more common in the PEG-EL group (38% vs 13%; p < 0.05). Using intention-to-treat analysis, bowel cleansing proved to be significantly better with SPS-Mg than with PEG-EL (mean score +/- SD, 3.05 +/- 0.9 and 2.57 +/- 1.0, respectively; p = 0.036). CONCLUSIONS: Colonic preparation with SPS-Mg is better tolerated, associated with significantly fewer side effects, and results in higher quality bowel cleansing than preparation with PEG-EL.

Helicobacter pylori infection and blood groups.

OBJECTIVES: Bacterial attachment is a prerequisite for colonization of the gastric epithelial surface. Recently, it was demonstrated that the receptor for Helicobacter pylori is the blood group antigen Lewis b, which is exposed only in blood group O. We prospectively examined the prevalence of blood groups in H. pylori-positive and -negative patients. To avoid a genetic bias, we compared blood group prevalence of our patients with the general population of Israel. METHODS: In the 187 consecutive patients we studied, in addition to regular upper endoscopy, H. pylori status and blood group. Exposure to H. pylori was diagnosed when the results of two or more of three methods were found to be positive. RESULTS: Exposure was found in 123 patients and 64 negative. The groups were similar in average age and origin, and no significant difference was demonstrated for blood group. Blood group distribution between any given origin was not significantly different in our patients and in a sample of 182,701 blood donors. CONCLUSIONS: Positivity for H. pylori was not associated with blood group O. Our observation does not support the conclusion that the receptor for H. pylori in the gastric mucosa is the blood group antigen Lewis b.

Ultrastructural abnormalities in endoscopically and histologically normal and involved colon in ulcerative colitis.

Twenty colonoscopies (eight complete or almost complete; 12 short) were carried out on 15 patients with ulcerative colitis with the aim of comparing the endoscopic aspects with the light and electron microscopic features in biopsies taken from multiple sites. Patients with severe attacks were examined without prior preparation (two examinations). When the attack was mild to moderate (11 examinations), or the patient was in remission (seven examinations), two saline enemas were given up to 1 h before examination. There was a favorable correlation between the endoscopic and light microscopic features in 94.7% of the biopsies (total number of biopsies, 76). The electron microscope findings greatly exceeded those observed by light microscope and indicated that the major abnormality resides within the colonic epithelial cells. Distinctive ultrastructural changes were present both in apparently uninvolved (endoscopically and histologically) parts of colon and in inactive stages of ulcerative colitis. These findings suggest that colonic mucosal involvement may be universal, persist during clinical remission, and precede the light microscopic findings. They also support the importance of maintenance therapy.

A comparison of metronidazole and sulfasalazine in the maintenance of remission in patients with ulcerative colitis.

In a double-blind, randomized trial, we tested the effectiveness of metronidazole (0.6 g/day) against sulfasalazine (2 g/day) in the maintenance of remission in patients with ulcerative colitis. The patients were in remission for 1-11 months at entry to trial, which lasted for 12 months. Forty patients entered the trial and 33 completed it. Metronidazole was found to be slightly more effective than sulfasalazine, a difference statistically significant only at 12 months. Six patients also completed a crossover trial. Remission was maintained for 12 months in 3 patients by metronidazole and in none of the 6 by sulfasalazine. No significant side effects were noted, and in particular, no paresthesias were reported. This trial, as well as our previous one, suggests that metronidazole may be useful in the maintenance of remission in patients with ulcerative colitis, but that it is ineffective in the therapy of the acute attack.

Induction of esophageal injuries by doxycycline and other pills. A frequent but preventable occurrence.

Many specialists and general physicians remain unaware of the potential for and pathogenesis of drug-induced esophageal ulcerations. To promote a greater awareness of the importance of this problem, we have reviewed the literature, particularly in regard to the mechanisms of action and the clinical and therapeutic implications of these chemical injuries to the esophagus. There can be no doubt that the frequency of occurrence of drug-induced esophageal ulceration far exceeds that reflected in the reported cases appearing in the medical literature. Nor can we deny that much of the responsibility for this situation lies in the failure of the prescribing physician to educate his patients (and himself!) in the art of taking potentially harmful pills and capsules, particularly tetracycline, doxycycline, potassium chloride, and quinidine preparations. Although most such drug injuries are self-limited events, there have been a number of fatalities reported and at the very least they involve acute discomfort.

Barrett's mucosa of distal esophagus with concomitant isolated Crohn's disease and intramucosal adenocarcinoma. Report of a case and analysis of the literature.

The presence in the esophagus of three distinct entities--Barrett's mucosa, Crohn's disease, and adenocarcinoma--is a very rare finding. In a 60-year-old man with a long history of heartburn and recently developed dysphagia, narrowing of the distal esophagus was found to be related to the presence of Barrett's mucosa. A short time later repeated endoscopy revealed adenocarcinoma in this area. The patient underwent esophagogastrectomy and died a few days after surgery. Findings in the surgical specimen and upon autopsy were consistent with isolated Crohn's disease of the distal esophagus as well as with intramucosal adenocarcinoma. Analysis of the data available in the literature reveals that Crohn's disease of the esophagus, although rare, clearly possesses some definite characteristics of its own. It is suggested that the presence of these three features in a single patient constitutes no more than a chance coexistence.