Ustekinumab: a novel therapeutic option in Crohn's disease.

INTRODUCTION: Although anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) agents have caused a paradigm shift in the management of moderate-to-severe Crohn's, they are sometimes associated with diminished or absent response in a considerable proportion of patients. Hence agents targeting pathways other than TNF are needed. Ustekinumab is a monoclonal antibody directed against the p40 subunit of IL-12 and 23. AREAS COVERED: This manuscript summarises the available evidence on the efficacy and safety of Ustekinumab in Crohn's disease through data available from randomised controlled trials and compassionate use programs across the world. EXPERT OPINION: Current literature strongly supports the fact that ustekinumab is clinically efficacious and reasonably safe for induction and maintenance of remission in moderate-to-severe Crohn's disease.

Biparietal/transverse abdominal diameter ratio ≤ 1: potential marker for open spina bifida at 11-13-week scan.

OBJECTIVE: In the first trimester of pregnancy, a biparietal diameter (BPD) below the 5(th) percentile is a simple marker that enables the prenatal detection of half of all cases of open spina bifida. We hypothesized that relating the BPD measurement to the transverse abdominal diameter (TAD) might be another simple and effective screening method. In this study we assessed the performance of using the BPD/TAD ratio during the first trimester of pregnancy in screening for open spina bifida. METHODS: A total of 20,551 first-trimester ultrasound scans (11-13 weeks' gestation), performed between 2000 and 2013, were analyzed retrospectively; there were 26 cases of open spina bifida and 17,665 unaffected pregnancies with a crown-rump length of 45-84 mm and a record of both BPD and TAD measurements. RESULTS: The mean (± SD) BPD/TAD ratio was 1.00 ± 0.06 for fetuses with spina bifida and 1.13 ± 0.06 for those without (P < 0.0001). A BPD ≤ 5(th) percentile enabled the prenatal detection of 46.2% of spina bifida cases, while a BPD/TAD ratio of ≤ 1.00 detected 69.2%. If we considered cases in which either BPD was ≤ 5(th) percentile or BPD/TAD ratio was ≤ 1, we identified 76.9% of cases. In the latter case, the false-positive rate was 5.1%, while that for using a combination of both BPD ≤ 5th percentile and BPD/TAD ratio ≤ 1 was 0.6%, with a sensitivity of 38.5%. The positive predictive value of using a combination of BPD ≤ 5th percentile and BPD/TAD ratio ≤ 1 for detecting spina bifida was 8.5%. CONCLUSIONS: Between 11 and 13 weeks' gestation, relating BPD to TAD improves considerably the diagnostic performance of using BPD measurement alone in screening for open spina bifida. Screening using this marker is simple and applicable to a large population.

Clinical profile and outcome of chronic pancreatitis in children.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the etiology, presentation, complications and management of chronic pancreatitis in children. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. SETTING: Gastroenterology department at Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore, India between January 2005 and December 2010. PARTICIPANTS: 99 Children (>18 yrs) diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis based on clinical and imaging features. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Etiology, clinical presentation, complications and management of chronic pancreatitis in children. RESULTS: Of 3887 children who attended the Gastroenterology department, 99(2.5%) had chronic pancreatitis, of which 60 (60.6%) were males. In 95(95.9%) patients no definite cause was detected and they were labeled as Idiopathic chronic pancreatitis. All patients had abdominal pain, while 9(9.1%) had diabetes mellitus. Of the 22 children tested for stool fat, 10(45.5%) had steatorrhea. Pancreatic calcification was seen in 69 (69.7%). 68 (71.6%) patients with idiopathic chronic pancreatitis had calcification. Calcific idiopathic chronic pancreatitis was more frequent in males (67.6% vs. 48.1%, P=0.07), and was more commonly associated with diabetes mellitus (13.2% vs. none, P=0.047) and steatorrhea (61.5% vs. 16.7%, P=0.069). Pseudocyst (17.1%) and ascites (9.1%) were the most common complications. All children were treated with pancreatic enzyme supplements for pain relief. 57 patients were followed up. With enzyme supplementation, pain relief was present in 32 (56.1%) patients. Of those who did not improve, 10 underwent endotherapy and 15 underwent surgery. Follow up of 8 patients who underwent endotherapy, showed that 5 (62.5%) had relief. Follow up of 11 patients who underwent surgery showed that only 3 (27%) had pain relief. There was no death. CONCLUSIONS: Idiopathic chronic pancreatitis is the predominant form of chronic pancreatitis in children and adolescents. It can present with or without calcification. The calcific variety is an aggressive disease characterized by early morphological and functional damage to the pancreas.

[Specimen radiography assessment of surgical margins status in subclinical breast carcinoma: a diagnostic study]. / Évaluation radiographique du statut des marges de résection dans le carcinome in situ du sein: une étude diagnostique.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the accuracy of specimen radiography in evaluating the surgical margins of impalpable breast carcinoma. DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective study from June 2009 to June 2010 in Orleans Hospital Center. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study involved patients with impalpable in situ breast carcinoma diagnosed by mammography. Only patients with larger in situ carcinoma than invasive carcinoma were included. Patients underwent a breast conserving surgery after preoperative localization of the lesion. PRIMARY ENDPOINT: Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of the specimen radiography are determined by correlation between radiologic and histologic margins. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The following results were obtained from 46 patients: 36 DCIS cases (78%), six DCIS with IDC cases (13%), two LCIS cases (4%) and two biopsy suggested DCIS (4%). A radiologic margin of 2mm (by analogy with the histological margins) results in a NPV of 73%. NPV, sensibility and specificity were respectively 79, 60 and 74% for a radiologic margin of 5mm. The measure or inter-rater reliability found a moderate agreement (kappa: 0.62). The systematic review on this topic found only eight articles (small samples and only two prospective studies). We could not make any recommendations from the literature review on a threshold to define excision margin status. CONCLUSION: The specimen radiography is a useful tool to assess margins of impalpable breast carcinoma. However, further studies are necessary as this point to determine a threshold for those radiologic margins.