European journal of gastroenterology & hepatology
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Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol · Nov 1996
ReviewManagement of Clostridium difficile infection and other antibiotic-associated diarrhoeas.
Most cases of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea are due to Clostridium difficile or are enigmatic. Patients with C. difficile-associated disease are more likely to have colitis, severe disease and nosocomial acquisition. The preferred diagnostic test is a C. difficile toxin assay using a tissue culture assay or enzyme immunoassay. ⋯ Response rates approach 100%; the major complication is relapse. Major complications include toxic megacolon, devastating diarrhoea, pseudomembranous colitis and hypoalbuminemia. Antibiotic-associated diarrhoea with negative tests for C. difficile toxin is usually dose-related and responds to antibiotic withdrawal.
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Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol · Oct 1996
The Glasgow Dyspepsia Severity Score--a tool for the global measurement of dyspepsia.
There is currently no reliable tool for providing a global measurement of the severity of dyspepsia in patients with a variety of upper gastrointestinal disorders. We have designed a questionnaire which records frequency of symptoms, effect on routine activities, time off work, frequency of medical consultations, clinical investigations and use of over-the-counter and prescribed medications. The objective of the paper was to assess this questionnaire with respect to reproducibility, validity, responsiveness and performance time. ⋯ This new questionnaire for assessing the severity of dyspepsia is highly reproducible and has high validity and responsiveness. In addition, it is simple and rapid to perform. It provides a valuable tool for assessing the response to treatment in patients with dyspepsia.
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Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol · Mar 1996
Clinical TrialDo patients with sphincter of Oddi dysfunction benefit from endoscopic sphincterotomy? A 5-year prospective trial.
To assess the incidence of elevated sphincter of Oddi baseline pressure and the response to endoscopic sphincterotomy in patients with suspected sphincter of Oddi dysfunction. ⋯ Disregarding a lack of difference in the incidence of abnormal sphincter of Oddi baseline pressure between type II and type III SOD, the Geenen-Hogan classification helps to predict the clinical outcome after endoscopic sphincterotomy.
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Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol · Aug 1995
Comparative StudyRelationship between Helicobacter pylori infection, atrophic gastritis and gastric carcinoma in a Japanese population.
To evaluate the possible relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and gastric carcinoma, and its precursor lesion, intestinal metaplasia, in a Japanese population. ⋯ These results suggest that H. pylori infection is associated with the development of gastric cancer by providing a suitable environment for carcinogenesis of the gastric mucosa, such as gastric atrophy and intestinal metaplasia.
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Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol · Jan 1995
Comparative StudyAir enema radiology compared with leukocyte scintigraphy for imaging inflammation in active ulcerative colitis.
To compare air enema radiology with a leukocyte scintigraphy technique using technetium-99m-hexamethyl propylene amine oxime-labelled leukocytes for imaging colonic inflammation in ulcerative colitis. ⋯ In patients with active ulcerative colitis, air enema radiology underestimates the extent of inflammation because this investigation shows secondary patho-anatomical changes, while leukocyte scintigraphy visualizes the acute cellular infiltrate. In patients with more severe inflammation, there is excellent agreement between the two methods.