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Background. Optimal bowel preparation is one of the most important factors affecting the quality of colonoscopy. Several patient-related factors are known to influence the quality of bowel cleansing but randomized trials in this area are lacking. We aimed to compare an individualized bowel prep strategy based on patient characteristics to a standard preparation regimen.

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Helicobacter Pylori-associated gastritis, atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia are premalignant conditions. Elaborating an assessment and selection protocol of patients with high risk would determine more frequent detection of early gastric cancer. Narrow band imaging and magnifying chromoendoscopy are two new endoscopic techniques which provide a good detection rate of premalignant lesions and early gastric carcinomas, thus indirectly increasing the survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colorectal cancer is one of the most frequent cancers from over the world (1). Colonoscopy is for a very long time accepted as the most efficacy method for colorectal diagnosis and prevention. Neoplasic colonic lesions are polipoid type and non-polypoid type. Japanese classification of superficial colonic lesions (0 type) is unanimity accepted. Colonic polyps are easy to recognize. Endoscopic resection of polyps is necessary for correct diagnosis and treatment. Non-polypoid tumors are, sometimes difficult to recognize. Laterally spreading tumors typically extend laterally and circumferentially rather than vertically along the colonic wall and the frequency of invasive carcinoma is lower than for polypoid lesions of similar size. Depressed type has a high risk of malignancy even at small size. Magnification chromoendoscopy, narrow-band imaging and confocal endoscopy can improve the detection of colonic lesions and differentiating between malign and benign. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aims: Identifying the risk factors for extraintestinal manifestations (EIMs) in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) may optimize the therapeutic decision. We aimed to assess the prevalence of EIMs in IBD patients in Romania and to determine the risk factors. Methods: We analyzed 2,626 patients registered in the Romanian IBD Prospect National Registry. We performed a descriptive cross-sectional study to assess the point prevalence of EIMs, calculating global prevalence and analyzing the different types of EIMs and their respective frequencies were carried out. Demographic and clinical risk factors were researched as possible predictors for EIMs development, based on the results of the univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: The overall point prevalence of EIMs was 16.3%. A significantly higher frequency of EIMs in Crohn's disease (CD) was noted in comparison to ulcerative colitis (UC) and IBD unclassified (IBDU) (23.2% vs 11.3% and 16.3%, respectively, p<0.001). The most frequent type of EIM was peripheral arthropathy (8.3%), significantly associated with CD (p<0.001). Univariate analysis highlighted the significant independent common predictive risk factors for EIMs, in both CD and UC patients: female gender, patient's urban area of origin, anemia, hypoalbuminemia, and high level of C-reactive protein (CRP), while significant independent IBD phenotype-related risk factors were ileocolonic location and concomitant involvement of upper gastrointestinal tract for CD, non-smoker status and both moderate and severe disease activity for UC (p<0.05). Multivariate analysis determined that female CD patients with moderate or severe disease activity, with other than isolated ileal disease, and female UC patients with moderate or severe extensive colitis are the most likely to develop EIMs. Conclusions: IBD patients are experiencing EIMs in a large proportion, with higher rates for CD. As EIMs negatively affect patient outcomes, foreseeing the risk by identifying independent and associated predictive factors could be a first step to optimal work-up and treatment [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aims: Literature data suggest that HCV genotype-1b is present in 93-99% of the Romanian patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). We present the genotyping tests recently performed on patients with HCV and advanced fibrosis eligible for the Direct-Acting Antiviral (DAA) therapy, as well as the prevalence of these cases across Romania. Methods: The genotyping method was performed on 7,421 HCV patients with advanced fibrosis. The detection method was automatic real time PCR platform M2000 (Abbott). Every subject was introduced into a database including age, sex, county and address. Results: Genotype 1b was almost exclusively present: 7,392/7,421 (99.6%). Genotype 1b patients were 19.6% from Bucharest, 49% were males, with a median age of 60 years. Genotype non-1b was encountered in 29/7,421 subjects (0.4%), 62% were males, 69% from Bucharest and the median age was 52 years. Most of the subjects (75%) were in the 6th and 7th age decade. The prevalence of these cases varied significantly across Romanian counties: the highest was in Bucharest (61.3/105), Bihor (47/105), Iasi (46/105) and Constanţa (43/105), and the lowest in Ilfov (2.8/105), Harghita (3.7/105), Covasna (5.4/105) and Maramureş, Romania (8.8/105) (p<0.001). Conclusions: Genotype 1b is encountered in 99.6% of patients with chronic hepatitis C and advanced fibrosis from Romania. The presence of genotypes non-1b is more common in Bucharest, in males and at a younger age. There are significant differences regarding the distribution of these cases across Romania: the highest rates are in Bucharest, Bihor, Iasi and Constanta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sports selection, followed by sports orientation, tends to start from increasingly early ages, individually, based on the sports branch in question and the following selection criteria: genetic, morphological, functional, neuropsychological, biochemical. These criteria can be correctly assessed only by a close collaboration between the physician, coach and physical trainer, as well as including a good knowledge of scientific assessment criteria. First of all, a detailed general anamnesis is made, to which an initial, as well as periodic, sports medical anamnesis will be added. This is followed by the somatometric examination, which comprises the clinical, aesthetic, anthropometric and somatometric exams. The somatoscopic exam and the one assessing individual physical qualities complete the medical sports assessment. All these must be performed in order to achieve a complete and complex sports medical picture and to reach the final goal of scientifically based medical sports orientation for the individual, as well as to obtain performance at the highest levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented in response to articles on the clinical efficiency of peroral endoscopic myotomy procedure for achalasia in the previous issues .

Background: There are some studies which have reported a higher diagnosis probability for PC if the DM occurred within the past 2-3 years. Information on the clinical profile of pancreatic cancer (PC) associated with diabetes mellitus (DM) is limited. The aim of the study was to compare clinic-morphological features in patients with new onset DM and PC and long lasting DM and PC, in order to detect new factors or markers which can help in early diagnosis of PC., Methods: This study included 76 patients with pancreatic cancer admitted between 2000-2009 in the 4th Medical Clinic Cluj-Napoca; in group A 56 patients with PC and new onset of DM (< 24 months duration) were included and in group B 20 patients with PC and long standing diabetes (> 60 months duration) were included. We compared the demographic, clinical, biochemical and morphological characteristics of new onset or long lasting DM and pancreatic cancer., Results: New onset DM was more prevalent (74% vs. 26%, p < .05) than long lasting DM among patients with PC. The patients with long lasting DM had a greater frequency of urban environment (100% vs. 55.6% p = .02), a higher body mass index (BMI)(32.1 SD 8.4 vs. 29.9 SD 6.7 kg/m2, p = .05), higher fasting blood glucose levels (182 mg/dL vs. 134 mg/dL, p = .008) and urinary ketone bodies (60% vs. 10.7%, p = .002) compared with those with new-onset DM and PC. There was no statistical difference regarding gender, median age, blood group, location and staging of tumours, long and hard alcohol and cigarettes consumption, between group A and B., Conclusions: New onset DM was more significantly frequent than long lasting DM in patients with PC. New onset diabetes DM associated with PC is frequent, mild and non-decompensated. In patients with PC and long lasting DM, the metabolic status and diabetes are imbalanced.

Aims: Colonoscopy screening reduces colorectal cancer-related mortality and incidence. However, many patients are reluctant to undergo colonoscopy or return for follow-up because of the investigation's cumbersome and unpleasant nature. We aimed to identify patient-related factors significantly influencing comfort and quality of colonoscopy analyzing responses to a self-administered validated questionnaire., Methods: Patients undergoing colonoscopy under sedation in two high-volume endoscopy units were invited to answer a short prevalidated questionnaire regarding preprocedure anxiety, satisfaction with information provided, most worrisome aspect of the procedure and knowledge of the benefits of colonoscopy. Self-reported comfort during colonoscopy as graded on a 10 point visual analog scale was the main variable considered. Univariate analysis identified factors possibly associated with a higher degree of comfort during colonoscopy that were then tested through multivariate logistical regression., Results: 452 questionnaires were returned. Most patients reported an acceptable degree of discomfort during colonoscopy but 70.2% of the respondents considered the information provided prior to the procedure to be insufficient. On multivariate analysis older age, higher degree of satisfaction with information provided (p = 0.04), lower preprocedure anxiety levels (p < 0.01) and endoscopy center (p < 0.01) were shown to correlate with increased comfort during colonoscopy. Education level, previous colonoscopy, gender and bowel prep quality did not influence patient comfort., Conclusions: Patient comfort during colonoscopy is dependent on satisfaction with the information provided before the procedure. Higher availability of the physician and better interaction with the patient might decrease patient perceived burden of colonoscopy and lead to higher return rates in the screening and surveillance setting.

Primary gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin lymphoma accounts for 13-18% of all malignant tumours of small bowel and only 1 % of large bowel tumours (1). Multiple lymphomatous polyposis is a rare entity, characterized by the presence of multiple lymphomatous polyps along the gut (2). Majority of cases with gastrointestinal primary lymphoma are classified histologically as "mantle cell" lymphomas. A 59 year old patient was admitted to our clinic for fatigue and rectal bleeding. Endoscopic examination of the colon revealed an infiltrative-exulcerative lesion of the terminal ileon, a polypoid mass on ileocecal valve and multiple polyps over the entire colon and rectum. Gastroscopy revealed polyps into the duodenal bulb. Histopathological and immunohistochemical studies on biopsy specimens from colon and duodenum confirmed gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin lymphoma, probably "mantle cell" lymphoma. Because she was in an advanced stage she received only cytostatic treatment. A clinical, endoscopical and histopathological follow up at 3, 6 and 12 months was performed.