Journal of digestive diseases
-
This meta-analysis aimed to compare the diagnostic accuracy of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) and fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) or FDG-PET/computed tomography (CT) in evaluating and predicting pathological response to preoperative neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT) in patients with rectal cancer. ⋯ DW-MRI is superior to FDG-PET or FDG-PET/CT in predicting and evaluating pathological responses to preoperative NCRT in patients with rectal cancer. However, its relatively low specificity and PPV limit its application in clinic, making it currently inappropriate to monitor such patients, especially those with mucinous-type rectal adenocarcinomas.
-
Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is an increasingly common and severe international health problem. Customary treatment of this infection, usually with antibiotics, is often ineffective and its recurrence is common. ⋯ Practical methods for the administration of the transplantation have been described. This review summarizes the current reported experiences with fecal microbiota transplantation in the treatment for CDI.
-
To investigate the outcomes of Chinese Han patients who underwent peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) for achalasia. ⋯ POEM is an effective approach for treating achalasia, which can relieve the symptoms of achalasia by improving esophageal emptying and lowering LES pressure.
-
The aims of this study were to clarify the kinetics of intestinal barrier function impairment in sodium taurocholate-induced severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) models and to explore an appropriate concentration of sodium taurocholate and a suitable time point for further study. ⋯ Based on the success rate of the model, the mortality and the impairment of intestinal barrier function, we conclude that 24 h after a retrograde injection of 2.5% sodium taurocholate may be the most appropriate time point to study intestinal barrier injury in SAP rats.