Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The diagnostic value of stool DNA (sDNA) testing for colorectal neoplasms remains controversial. To compensate for the lack of large-scale unbiased population studies, a meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the diagnostic value of sDNA testing for multiple markers of colorectal cancer (CRC) and advanced adenoma. METHODS: The PubMed, Science Direct, Biosis Review, Cochrane Library and Embase databases were systematically searched in January 2012 without time restriction...

OBJECTIVE: To assess patient and parent satisfaction with a primarily nurse- and dietitian-led celiac disease clinic in a tertiary pediatric centre. METHODS: An online survey was sent to families and patients attending the Stollery Children's Hospital's Multidisciplinary Pediatric Celiac Clinic (Edmonton, Alberta) since 2007. The survey focused on clinic attendance, satisfaction with clinic structure, processes, and education and preference for alternatives to the current process...

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (EES) is not commonly used by gastroenterologists to evaluate swallowing in patients with dysphagia. OBJECTIVE: To use transnasal endoscopy to identify factors predicting successful or failed swallowing of pureed foods in elderly patients with dysphagia. METHODS: EES of pureed foods was performed by a gastroenterologist using a small-calibre transnasal endoscope. Factors related to successful versus unsuccessful swallowing of pureed foods were analyzed with regard to age, comorbid diseases, swallowing activity, saliva pooling, vallecular residues, pharyngeal residues and airway penetration⁄aspiration...

BACKGROUND: In an era of increasingly shortened admissions, data regarding predictors of early rebleeding among patients with nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (NVUGIB) exhibiting high-risk stigmata (HRS) having undergone endoscopic hemostasis are lacking. OBJECTIVES: To determine predictors of early rebleeding, defined as rebleeding before completion of recommended 72 h intravenous proton pump inhibitor infusion postendoscopic hemostasis. METHODS: Data from a national registry of patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding (the REASON registry) were accessed...

BACKGROUND: Celiac disease can present with mild or nongastrointestinal symptoms, and may escape timely recognition. The treatment of celiac disease involves a gluten-free diet, which is complex and challenging. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate clinical features and symptom recovery on a gluten-free diet in a Canadian adult celiac population. METHODS: All adult members (n=10,693) of the two national celiac support organizations, the Canadian Celiac Association and Fondation québécoise de la maladie coeliaque, were surveyed using a questionnaire...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

BACKGROUND: Autoimmune hepatitis may have cholestatic features that are outside the classical phenotype and that resemble findings in other immune-mediated liver diseases. These cholestatic phenotypes have been designated 'overlap syndromes'. OBJECTIVES: To recognize the overlap syndromes in adults and manage them appropriately. METHODS: The MEDLINE database was reviewed for published experiences from 1984 to 2013. RESULTS: Patients with autoimmune hepatitis may exhibit features of primary biliary cirrhosis (7% to 13%), primary sclerosing cholangitis (6% to 11%) or a cholestatic syndrome without other diagnostic features (5% to 11%)...

BACKGROUND: Traditional therapy with pegylated interferon and ribavirin combined with the new protease inhibitors boceprevir or telaprevir has demonstrated improved outcomes in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients. Prevalence data regarding pre-existing drug-resistant variants to these two new virus inhibitors in the Canadian population are not available. OBJECTIVE: To detect pre-existing mutations conferring resistance to boceprevir and⁄or telaprevir in Canadian patients infected with HCV genotype 1a...

BACKGROUND: The long-term natural history of early stage colon cancer and the outcome of long-term colonoscopic surveillance in routine specialist clinical practice after removal of the incident cancers have not been fully defined. In the present long-term evaluation up to 25 years, metachronous neoplasia, including both advanced adenomas and carcinomas, was defined. METHODS: All early stage colorectal cancer patients evaluated consecutively from a single clinical practice underwent follow-up colonoscopic evaluations after removal of the incident cancer and clearing of neoplastic disease...

BACKGROUND: Serological studies suggest that celiac disease may be present in approximately 0.5% to 1% of the North American population. Screening data based on small intestinal biopsy performed during routine endoscopic evaluations are not available. METHODS: Patients referred between January 1982 and December 2011 for evaluation of gastrointestinal symptoms and requiring elective investigative upper endoscopic evaluation underwent duodenal biopsies to determine whether changes of adult celiac disease were present...

Postprandial reactive hypoglycemia, early satiety and diarrhea are well-recognized side effects following full or partial gastrectomy or gastric bypass. It has only recently been realized, however, that patients with normal gastric anatomy may experience similar symptoms and signs due to primary accelerated gastric emptying (Middleton syndrome). In previous case studies, patients responded well to the use of dietary modification (frequent small-volume meals) alone. The authors describe two patients with this syndrome who continued to experience symptoms of reactive postprandial hypoglycemia despite dietary intervention but became asymptomatic following the addition of the alpha-glucosidase inhibitor acarbose...

BACKGROUND: Traditional seven-day proton pump inhibitor triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication has recently shown disappointing results outside of Canada. Prolonging therapy may be associated with poorer compliance and, hence, may not have a better outcome in a real-world setting. OBJECTIVE: To compare the outcomes of seven- and 14-day triple therapy for first-line treatment of H pylori infection in an effectiveness setting in Canada. METHODS: A total of 314 consecutive treatment-naive, adult H pylori-infected patients were allocated to either a seven- or 14-day triple therapy regimen, with a subgroup of 172 consecutive patients quasi-randomized to treatment according to date of visit...

BACKGROUND: Sorafenib, an oral multityrosine kinase inhibitor, has been approved for treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). British Columbia (BC) was the first province in Canada to provide drug coverage for sorafenib. OBJECTIVE: To review the BC experience with sorafenib to assess its effectiveness and tolerance in a 'real-world' clinical setting. METHODS: A retrospective clinic chart review identified 99 patients referred to the BC Cancer Agency from 2008 to 2010 with a diagnosis of HCC who qualified for treatment with sorafenib...

BACKGROUND: Many patients referred for an elevated serum ferritin level <1000 µg⁄L are advised that they likely have iron overload and hemochromatosis. AIMS: To determine the prevalence of HFE mutations in the hemochromatosis gene for 11 serum ferritin concentration intervals from 200 µg⁄L to 1000 µg⁄L in Caucasian participants in a primary care, population-based study. METHODS: The Hemochromatosis and Iron Overload Screening study screened 99,711 participants for serum ferritin levels, transferrin saturation and genetic testing for the C282Y and H63D mutations of the HFE gene...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

BACKGROUND: The high recurrence rate of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after potentially curative treatment determines the long-term prognosis. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of adjuvant therapies in patients with HCC who have undergone hepatic resection, transplantation or locoregional ablation therapy. METHODS: Several databases were searched to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) fulfilling the predefined selection criteria...

BACKGROUND: High-quality processes to ensure infection prevention and control in the delivery of safe endoscopy services are essential. In 2010, the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology (CAG) developed a Canadian guideline for the reprocessing of flexible gastrointestinal endoscopy equipment. METHODS: The CAG Endoscopy Committee carefully reviewed the 2010 guidelines and prepared an executive summary. RESULTS: Key elements relevant to infection prevention and control for flexible gastrointestinal endoscopy were highlighted for each of the recommendations included in the 2010 document...

BACKGROUND: Open-access (OA) colonoscopy may increase efficiency and decrease wait times; however, because the patient is seen for the first time at the endoscopy appointment, previous processes, such as information about the procedure, preparation and appropriate triage, may be suboptimal. OBJECTIVE: To identify factors associated with OA colonoscopy and to determine the relationship between OA colonoscopy and an important quality measure, incomplete colonoscopy...