World journal of gastroenterology : WJG
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World J. Gastroenterol. · Dec 2013
Alanine aminotransferase normalization at week 8 predicts viral response during hepatitis C treatment.
To investigate alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and sustained virological response (SVR) in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) during peginterferon-ribavirin treatment. ⋯ Normalization of ALT at 8 wk may predict viral response during peginterferon-ribavirin treatment in genotype-1 CHC patients especially without RVR.
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The incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) is on the rise, and the prognosis for patients with recurrent or metastatic disease is extremely poor. Although chemotherapy and radiation therapy can improve survival rates, it is imperative to integrate alternative strategies such as immunotherapy to improve outcomes for patients with advanced CRC. In this review, we will discuss the effect of immunotherapy for inducing cytotoxic T lymphocytes and the major immunotherapeutic approaches for CRC that are currently in clinical trials, including peptide vaccines, dendritic cell-based cancer vaccines, whole tumor cell vaccines, viral vector-based cancer vaccines, adoptive cell transfer therapy, antibody-based cancer immunotherapy, and cytokine therapy. The possibility of combination therapies will also be discussed along with the challenges presented by tumor escape mechanisms.
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World J. Gastroenterol. · Dec 2013
ReviewCognitive-behavioral therapy for the management of irritable bowel syndrome.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder, reported to be found in 5%-20% of the general population. Its management accounts for up to 25% of a gastroenterologist's workload in the outpatient department, and the main symptoms are abdominal pain, bloating, and altered bowel habits. ⋯ This review discusses CBT for the management of IBS. CBT has proved to be effective in alleviating the physical and psychological symptoms of IBS and has thus been recommended as a treatment option for the syndrome.
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World J. Gastroenterol. · Dec 2013
Clostridium difficile-associated disease: adherence with current guidelines at a tertiary medical center.
To assess adherence with the the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA)/ the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) guidelines for management of Clostridium difficile (C. difficile)-associated disease (CDAD) at a tertiary medical center. ⋯ Overall adherence with the SHEA/IDSA guidelines for management of CDAD at a tertiary medical center was poor; this was most pronounced in severe, severe-complicated and recurrent cases. Educational interventions aimed at improving guideline adherence are warranted.
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World J. Gastroenterol. · Dec 2013
Observational StudyPreoperative biliary drainage in patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma undergoing major hepatectomy.
To investigate the effect of preoperative biliary drainage (PBD) in jaundiced patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HCCA) undergoing major liver resections. ⋯ Overall postoperative morbidity and mortality rates after major liver resection are not improved by PBD in HCCA patients with jaundice. Preoperative TBIL > 170 μmol/L, Bismuth-Corlette classification and extended liver resection are independent risk factors linked to postoperative complications.