Biodegradable stents for the treatment of benign stenoses of the small and large intestines.

Biodegradable stents, which are made of various synthetic polymers, such as polylactide or polyglycolide, or co-polymers, such as polydioxanone, can be used for the treatment of benign refractory stenoses of the gastrointestinal tract. Here we report 11 patients (median age 41) with stenosing Crohn's disease of the small and/or large intestine. Endoscopic insertion of a biodegradable stent was successful at the first attempt in all patients except one. Subsequent follow-up was for a mean of 16 months, median 17 months, range 12-29 months. Early stent migration (between 2 days and 8 weeks) was seen in three patients. Mucosal overgrowth (epithelial hyperplasia) was not observed in any of the patients during the follow-up period. The high rate of early stent migration might be solved by appropriate tailoring and further improvements in the design of the biodegradable stents. Proof of long-term efficacy and safety requires further studies.

[Epidemiology of Helicobacter pylori infection]. / Epidemiologie Helicobacter pylori.

Helicobacter pylori (Hp) is the most common chronic bacterial infection in humans worldwide. The prevalence of Hp infection is high in developing countries (80-90%) and lower in developed countries (10-30%). In vast majority of infected individuals, the infection is acquired early in life. The risk of Hp infection is related to low socio-economic status and living conditions at early childhood (density of housing, overcrowding, number of siblings, sharing a bed, and lack of running water, low education of parents). Smoking is a risk factor of Hp infection in adults. In developed countries including the Czech Republic, the overall prevalence of Hp infection has fallen dramatically over recent decades. This decrease can be explained mostly by the relatively favourable and improving socio-economic conditions. However, it is necessary to consider also the fundamental determinants of "modern times" that could cause gradual disappearing of Hp from the human "microbiome".

[Motility disorders and gastric emptying in diabetes mellitus. Current diagnostics and treatment]. / Poruchy motility a evakuace zaludku u diabetika. Soucasné moznosti diagnostiky a lécby.

Autonomic neuropathy of the gastrointestinal tract is a common complication of diabetes mellitus. However, it is seldom recognised properly as it is rarely considered. In some patients, it might be asymptomatic or hardly compensatable diabetes can be the only one sign. There are non-invasive diagnostic methods to assess gastric emptying rate (13C-octanoic acid breath test) or myoelectric activity of the stomach (electrogastrography). The principle treatment comprises optimal control of diabetes and use of prokinetics.

[Double-balloon enteroscopy]. / Dvojbalónová enteroskopie, její moznosti a alternativy.

Double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) is a new technique, firstly published in 2001 by Yamamoto, inventor of this unexceptionable method. DBE allows complete visualisation, biopsy, and treatment in the small bowel. The procedure is safe and useful. The DBE has a potential to be a standard of enteroscopy by replacing conventional push enteroscopy. DBE together with the capsule endoscopy are the essential modalities for the management of small intestinal diseases.

Confocal laser endomicroscopy in experimental pigs. Methods of ex vivo imaging.

BACKGROUND: Confocal laser scanning endomicroscopy (CLSE) enables online in vivo cellular surface and subsurface imaging of normal and pathological tissue at high resolution and magnification. The aim of this study was to work out a method of ex vivo in vitro CLSE in experimental pigs and to compare CLSE images with those of "classic" histology. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Five mature female pigs entered the study. CLSE on an ex vivo in vitro basis was started 10 minutes after pharmacological euthanasia and carried out for 30 minutes. Fluorescein was administrated i.v. as a fluorescence substance. RESULTS: CLSE was successful in all tissue samples of all animals (the oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, large bowel). We have succeeded to obtain high quality images within the first 30 minutes that means 40 minutes after the euthanasia of experimental animals. CLSE images corresponded well with those of haematoxylin-eosin staining. CONCLUSIONS: CLSE on an ex vivo in vitro basis in experimental pigs is feasible.

Genetic variants of transferrin in cystic fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: Genetic polymorphism of serum transferrin (Tf) was studied in order to differentiate between protein genetic variants and congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG), further focusing on unusual findings. METHODS: Screening of Tf hypoglycosylation was carried out by isoelectric focusing with direct immunofixation and Coomassie blue staining in 100 healthy controls and a group of 1247 patients with various symptoms and diagnoses. RESULTS: Of the seven different genotypes detected, a significantly higher (p = 0.004) frequency of Tf C1C2 was found among 92 patients with cystic fibrosis; only the most severe DF508 mutation (in either homozygous or heterozygous form) was regularly present in the carriers of this Tf genotype, in contrast to those with the Tf C1C1 variant. CONCLUSIONS: Association of Tf C2 allele with various malfunctions has been noticed before, but is so far unresolved. This is the a report on increased frequency of Tf C1C2 genotype found in cystic fibrosis. Analysis of larger samples and independent confirmation of our results are needed.

[The influence of inflammatory bowel disease on the period of conceiving]. / Vliv idiopatického strevního zánetu na interval potrebný pro pocetí pacientek.

INTRODUCTION: Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) influence women fertility in many ways. OBJECTIVE: We tried to determine the influence of the inflammatory bowel disease on conceiving. The date of the diagnosis, localisation, form and activity at time of conception were involved. DESIGN: Retrospective study. METHODS: We assessed data from 81 patients with inflammatory bowel disease. 56 patients were diagnosed before conceiving (41 with CD, 15 with UC), 25 patients were diagnosed after pregnancy (14 with CD, 11 with UC). We assessed the period of conceiving (in months) depends on previous abdominal operation, localisation, form and activity of the disease at time of conception. The data were obtained from the questionnaire and hospital cards. RESULTS: The previous abdominal operation, the diagnosis, localisation, and the form of the disease did not influence the period necessary to conceive in patient with inflammatory bowel disease. The anoperineal localisation and activity of Crohn's disease at the time of conception extended the period necessary to conceive. CONCLUSION: Fertility of the patients with Crohn's disease depends on the activity of the disease at time of conception and anoperineal involvement. Previous abdominal operation does not influence the fertility.

[Decrease of the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in the Czech Republic]. / Pokles prevalence infekce Helicobacter pylori v Ceské republice.

Helicobacter pylori (Hp) is the most common chronic bacterial infection in humans. Hp has been demonstrated worldwide and in individuals of all ages. The overall prevalence of Hp infection has fallen dramatically in the Czech Republic over recent 15 years (from 70% in 1993 to 35% in 2006). This decrease can be explained mostly by the relatively favourable and improving socioeconomic conditions after the fall of communist regime. However, it is necessary to consider also the fundamental determinants of "modern times" that could cause gradual disappearing of Hp from the human "microbiome".

Hiatal hernia and Barrett's oesophagus impact on symptoms occurrence and complications.

UNLABELLED: The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of sliding hiatal hernia over the Barrett's oesophagus, including symptoms rate and complications. METHODS: A total of 520 (4.6%) cases of Barrett's oesophagus were found out of 18.276 upper gastrointestinal endoscopies, performed in 11.276 patients at a single tertiary centre in a period from 1994 to 2004. RESULTS: Sliding hiatal hernia was found in 58% of patients with Barrett's oesophagus, more frequently in men (60%). The association between hernia and some complications of Barrett's oesophagus was significant (94% of Barrett's ulcer, 77% of low-grade dysplasia with p < 0.01). However, there was no significant association with adenocarcinoma (54%; p > 0.05). The other complications of Barrett's oesophagus (i.e. bleeding, stenosis, high-grade dysplasia) were identified in small number (less than 10), so they were not evaluated statistically. Association between the presence of hiatal hernia and occurrence of symptoms (reflux symptoms, dysphagia, odynophagia, dyspeptic and other symptoms) was significant with p < 0.01. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that sliding hiatal hernia may play a significant role as a pathophysiologic factor in Barrett's oesophagus. Complications rate of Barrett's oesophagus were not equally frequent in particular cases with hiatal hernia. The occurrence of symptoms is getting more pronounced in those with sliding hiatal hernia.

Intraoperative enteroscopy: ten years' experience at a single tertiary center.

BACKGROUND AND METHODS: Intraoperative enteroscopy is an invasive technique for small bowel investigation. It enables us to investigate the entire small intestine and to treat pathological findings by endoscopic or surgical means at the same time. The investigation is invasive and that is why the proper indication is mandatory. RESULTS: Forty-one intraoperative enteroscopies were performed at our center within a 10-year period. The procedure was diagnostic in 37/41 patients (90.2%); in 3 patients no pathology was found, and in 1 patient we found only previously diagnosed celiac disease. The investigation was therapeutic in 35/41 (85.4%) patients; 2 patients with small bowel ulcers did not require any intraoperative therapy. The pathological findings were arteriovenous malformations (found in 12 patients), small bowel NSAID-induced or Crohn's ulcers (8 patients)--ulcerations and arteriovenous malformations were simultaneously found in three patients; carcinoid of the small intestine (5 patients); Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (5 patients); bleeding polyps (2 gastrointestinal stromal tumors, 1 paraganglioma, and 1 lipoma--in 4 patients); Rendu-Osler-Weber disease (2 patients); multiple cavernous hemangiomas in blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome (1 patient); Henoch-Schönlein purpura (1 patient); aortoenteral fistula (1 patient); and retrograde intussusception of Meckel's diverticulum (1 patient). In five patients with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, 6-22 hamartomas (median of 18 per session) were removed by means of endoscopic polypectomy during intraoperative enteroscopy. There were no major procedure-related complications in our series. CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative enteroscopy is accepted as the ultimate diagnostic procedure for complete investigation of the small bowel. Despite the introduction of double-balloon enteroscopy into clinical practice, intraoperative enteroscopy will be reserved for those cases where double-balloon enteroscopy cannot be performed or fails to investigate the entire small intestine, especially to prevent excessive bowel resection.

[Significance of serum antibodies ANCA, ASCA, ABBA in diagnostics of idiopathic intestinal inflammations]. / Význam sérových protilátek ANCA, ASCA, ABBA u idiopatických strevních zánetu.

BACKGROUND: Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis still remain a heterogeneous group of diseases with an unclear aetiology. Serologic methods play important role in their diagnosing though there is still not an ideal marker. We tried to determine the importance of serological testing of ASCA IgA, IgG, ANCA, ABBA antibodies in patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: ASCA IgG, ASCA IgA; ANCA, ABBA antibodies and C-reactive protein were detected by indirect fluorescence assay. ASCA IgA, ASCA IgG, ABBA, ANCA were examined in 40 patients (28 Crohn's disease, 12 ulcerative colitis, 32 health controls). Specificity of ASCA IgA, IgG in CD patients was high (both 96.2%), specificity ANCA in UC 100%. ABBA antibodies had low sensitivity and specificity in both diseases. Combination of ASCA, ANCA, ABBA makes the specificity higher. CONCLUSIONS: We showed the importance of combination ASCA, ANCA with ABBA antibodies to improve the serological diagnosing of IBD.

[Mean platelet volume (MPV) in Crohn's disease patients]. / Strední objem trombocytu u nemocných s Crohnovou chorobou.

BACKGROUND: Platelets are involved in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammation. Thrombocyte count and platelet volume are considered as a useful activity marker of inflammatory bowel disease. The aim of the study was to compare the yield of mean platelet volume with clinical and other laboratory markers of activity in Crohn's disease (CD). METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 56 patients with CD were investigated at time of evident clinical relapse and remission (29 males and 27 females, aged 19-68 years, mean 34.5, median 31.5 years). Complete blood count, C- reactive proteins were measured. Disease activity was assed by the Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI). Patients were checked at least twice (120 analyses were carried out in total). Thrombocytosis (above 350xl09/L) was found in 32/61 (52 %) patients with clinical relapse and in 7/59 (12 %) patients with clinical remission (mean 400.7x10(9)/1; 95%CI: 361.1-440.3x10(9)/1; or as the case may be mean 278.6xl0(9)/1; 95% CI: 256.8-300.4x10(9)/1). The mean platelet volume decreased (under 7.8 fL) in 19/61 (31 %) patients with clinical relapse and in 8/59 (13.5 %) with clinical remission (mean 8.333 fl; 95% CI: 7.935-8.731 fl; or as the case may be mean 9.200 fl; 95% CI: 8.824-9.576 fl). Total platelet count, CDAI and C- reactive protein were significantly increased (p<0.0001) and mean platelet volume was statistically significantly reduced (p=0.003) during clinical relapse compared with clinical remission. CONCLUSIONS: Decreased mean platelet corpuscular volume is an independent laboratory marker of clinical disease activity. However, on the basis of our study, its predictive value is inferior compared to the total platelet count, serum concentration of C- reactive protein and Crohn's disease activity index.

[Examination of gastric emptying rate by means of 13C-octanoic acid breath test. Methods of the test for adults and results of the investigation of healthy volunteers]. / Stanovení rychlosti evakuace zaludku pomoci dechového testu s 13C-oktanovou kyselinou. Metodika testu pro dospelé a výsledky vysetrení zdravých dobrovolníku.

BACKGROUND: 13C-octanoic acid breath test (13C-OABT) is a simple, safe and non-invasive technique for measuring gastric emptying. However, the method has not been standardized yet. Aim of the study was to work up, introduce and evaluate our own method of the 13C-OABT for adults. METHODS AND RESULTS: Ten healthy volunteers entered the study (5 men, 5 women, mean age 32 years, 50 % Helicobacter pylori positive). Standard test meals (with 100 mg 13C-sodium octanoate) were used three times within 3 weeks. The same solid meal (1,178 kJ) for Tests 1 and 2 contained scrambled egg (+ 3 g oil), white bread (40 g), butter (10 g) and distilled water (200 ml). Semi-solid meal (1,020 kJ) for Test 3 contained milk pudding (200 g) and distilled water (200 ml). Duplicate breath samples were obtained before and every 15 minutes after eating the test meal during 255 minutes. Altogether 1,080 breath samples were analysed twice (isotope ratio mass spectrometry, AP2003 Analytical Precision, UK). To assess the half-life of elimination (t1/2 E), we modelled the process of elimination with the incomplete gamma-function, which has a convenient form for the empiric plotting of breath test data. Mean t1/2E was 136+/-10 minutes (Test 1), 134+/-14 (Test 2) and 123+/-16 minutes (Test 3). Clinical reproducibility of 13C-OABT in particular persons was 98.2% (18 breath samples series), 90.8 % (15 samples) and 87.1% (9 breath samples series). There was a significant correlation between Test 1 and Test 2 results (r=0.887, p<0.0001). Mean difference of duplicate breath sample analysis was 1.460 % (in 540 pairs), mean baseline one-day analysis difference was 0.0982 (99.9274% accuracy). In healthy volunteers, normal range of t1/2E is 110-160 minutes for solids and 91-155 minutes for semisolid test meal. Using our own computed mean time of intermediate metabolism of 13C-octanoic acid (76.5+/-7.5 minutes), gastric emptying half-time is 33.5-83.5 minutes for solids and 14.5-78.5 minutes for semisolid test meal in healthy volunteers. CONCLUSIONS: The 13C-OABT is accurate non-invasive method for gastric emptying measurement.

Use of electrogastrography in preclinical studies of cholinergic and anticholinergic agents in experimental pigs.

Electrogastrography (EGG) is a non-invasive method for the assessment of gastric myoelectrical activity. Porcine EGG is comparable with human one. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of atropine and neostigmine on the EGG in experimental pigs. Adult female pigs were administrated atropine (1.5 mg i.m., n=6) and neostigmine (0.5 mg i.m., n=6) after the baseline EGG, followed by a 90-min trial recording (MMS, Enschede, the Netherlands). Running spectral analysis was used for the evaluation. The results were expressed as dominant frequency of slow waves and EGG power (areas of amplitudes). Neostigmine increased continuously the dominant frequency and decreased significantly the EGG power. Atropine did not change the dominant frequency significantly. However, atropine increased significantly the EGG power (areas of amplitudes) from basal values to the maximum at the 10-20-min interval. After that period, the areas of amplitudes decreased significantly to the lowest values at the 60-90-min interval. In conclusion, cholinergic and anticholinergic agents affect differently EGG in experimental pigs.

[Effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents on the gastrointestinal tract]. / Ucinky nesteroidních antiflogistik na gastrointestinální trakt.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) belong to the most commonly used drugs worldwide. NSAIDs can cause serious side effects to the gastrointestinal tract. During NSAIDs treatment 10-12% patients suffer from dyspepsia. Up to 1% patients develop severe gastrointestinal complications (ulcer, bleeding, perforation). Any part of gastrointestinal tract could be affected. In oesophagus, NSAIDs can cause oesophagitis of fibrous stricture. NSAID gastropathy can be detected in 40% patients chronically treated with NSAIDs. NSAIDs toxic injury to small and large bowel is frequent but only seldom properly recognised. Serious hepatic lesions are rare. There is no fully reliable and sure prophylaxis or treatment of NSAIDs impairment of to the gastrointestinal tract. Rate of side effects can be reduced by reasonable prescriptions and by primary and secondary prophylaxis. Low rate of side effects is associated with the use of pro-drugs (compound is metabolised to an active substance after absorption from the gastrointestinal tract). New promising drugs were developed with dual action (5-lipoxygenase- and COX-inhibition) and NSAID releasing NO (nitronaproxen, nitrophenac). Specific COX-2 inhibitors (coxibes) provide comparable anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect but the risk of serious side effects to the gastrointestinal tract is significantly lower (when compared with non-specific NSAIDs). Beside harmful effects, NSAIDs are powerful tool in chemoprevention of colorectal cancer.

[Diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori with the 13C-labeled urea breath test: study methodology]. / Diagnostika Helicobacter pylori pomocí dechového testu s ureou znacenou prirozeným izotopem uhlíku 13C: metodika vysetrení.

Helicobacter pylori is one of the most common causes of chronic bacterial infection in humans, and it is associated with many diseases of the upper gastrointestinal tract. The 13C urea breath test (13C-UBT) is a simple, non-invasive and global test for Helicobacter pylori detection. The test reflects the hydrolysis of 13C-labelled urea by Helicobacter pylori urease. The 13C-UBT is the gold standard test for Helicobacter pylori infection. Since the original description (in 1987) several modifications of 13C-UBT have been published to simplify and optimise the test. However, neither Standardised European Protocol nor Standard US Protocol were accepted. This paper gives the methodology of the 13C-UBT based on eur own study and on the review of the literature.

[Epithelioid hemangiosarcoma of the thyroid gland]. / Epiteloidní hemangiosarkom stítné zlázy.

Authors present a case of epithelioid haemangiosarcoma of the thyroid gland in a 54-year-old female with a history of eufunctional nodular goitre. The patient was treated by total thyroidectomy with extirpation of cervical lymph nodes and by subsequent chemotherapy. The tumour behaved highly aggressively with early generalization and unusual way of metastatic spread into the wall of the stomach and duodenum. The patient died 3 months after the surgery due to therapeutically unmanageable bleeding into the GIT. The clinico-pathological aspects of the case are discussed.

[Intraoperative enteroscopy--personal experience from 1995 to 2002]. / Intraoperacní enteroskopie--vlastní zkusenosti z období 1995-2002.

Authors present their experience with the intraoperative enteroscopy method--an invasive technique of small bowel examination. It is performed under narcosis at an operating theatre (i.e. in co-operation with surgeon and anaesthesiologist). The endoscopy-performing physician becomes one of the members of the operating team. The advantage of the method is the possibility to examine of the whole small intestine and to solve immediately the pathological findings by endoscopic or surgical intervention. The examination is invasive and the correct indication is mandatory. Authors report their results of 18 intraoperative panendoscopies of small intestine.