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Background and study aims Telemedicine has progressed significantly in recent years, with newer, more integrated information technology systems improving healthcare delivery. The development of the world's first cloud-based capsule platform could allow safe and timely virtual analysis of videos from a network of linked hospital centers. We aimed to assess the efficacy of Medtronic's PillCam Remote Reader System. Methods PillCam remote reader technical data were collected from the capsule endoscopy (CE) database over 8 months. User-reported performance was collect using an online survey. Outcomes included overall procedure success, video-upload/report-download rates and speeds, encryption/decryption rates, and user/reader satisfaction. Results Data from 377 studies encompassing seven different readers was collected (318 small bowel capsules, 59 colon capsules). Overall procedure success was 100% (all videos reported). Two upload delays occurred (< 24 hours). There were no encryption/decryption errors. Seven of seven respondents felt it easy to access and use vs one of seve for the old system. Six of seven respondents felt department efficiency increased. Benefits included off-site reading and multisite-conferences. Issues included offsite difficulty accessing other hospital systems. Conclusions PillCam remote reader is a reliable, secure, and effective capsule analysis platform and should be incorporated into any CE service development plan., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).)

Background and study aims Capsule endoscopy is a time-consuming procedure with a significance error rate. Artificial intelligence (AI) can potentially reduce reading time significantly by reducing the number of images that need human review. An OMOM Artificial Intelligence-enabled small bowel capsule has been recently trained and validated for small bowel capsule endoscopy video review. This study aimed to assess its performance in a real-world setting in comparison with standard reading methods. Patients and methods In this single-center retrospective study, 40 patient studies performed using the OMOM capsule were analyzed first with standard reading methods and later using AI-assisted reading. Reading time, pathology identified, intestinal landmark identification and bowel preparation assessment (Brotz Score) were compared. Results Overall diagnosis correlated 100% between the two reading methods. In a per-lesion analysis, 1293 images of significant lesions were identified combining standard and AI-assisted reading methods. AI-assisted reading captured 1268 (98.1%, 95% CI 97.15-98.7) of these findings while standard reading mode captured 1114 (86.2%, 95% confidence interval 84.2-87.9), P < 0.001. Mean reading time went from 29.7 minutes with standard reading to 2.3 minutes with AI-assisted reading ( P < 0.001), for an average time saving of 27.4 minutes per study. Time of first cecal image showed a wide discrepancy between AI and standard reading of 99.2 minutes (r = 0.085, P = 0.68). Bowel cleansing evaluation agreed in 97.4% (r = 0.805 P < 0.001). Conclusions AI-assisted reading has shown significant time savings without reducing sensitivity in this study. Limitations remain in the evaluation of other indicators., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).)

Background: Parenting self-efficacy has been linked to positive parent and child outcomes however, little research exists on factors that influence parenting self-efficacy among pregnant women with substance use disorders., Objectives: This study explored substance use severity, social support, and family empowerment as predictors of parenting self-efficacy among pregnant women (N = 71) entering SUD treatment., Methods: The study used a quantitative cross-sectional design., Results: Statistically significant positive correlations emerged between social support and parenting self-efficacy as well as family empowerment and parenting self-efficacy. Family empowerment and social support were also correlated. A backward elimination regression analysis revealed family empowerment to be the strongest predictor of parenting self-efficacy. No relationships were found among substance use severity and the study variables., Conclusions: When promoting parenting self-efficacy, both social support and family empowerment are important domains to consider for treatment planning and resource development among pregnant women with substance use disorders.

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is the transplantation of microbial gut contents from a healthy individual into the gastrointestinal tract of a person with a disease, with a view to increasing the recipient's gut microbial diversity and bacterial richness and restoring microbial homeostasis. FMT has been proven to be a safe and effective treatment for Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) and it is now a recommended treatment for recurrent or refractory infection. FMT is not currently recommended for use outside of CDI due to concerns regarding outcome and safety; however, several case series and randomized controlled trials have described its use in a research environment for a few gastrointestinal conditions related to intestinal dysbiosis including ulcerative colitis (UC), Crohn's disease (CD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The most successful reports of the clinical efficacy of FMT in gastrointestinal conditions outside of CDI have been in treating UC. We summarize the current literature regarding the use of FMT in UC, including methodology, clinical efficacy and safety concerns, and identify pitfalls and areas for future development. We also describe the available evidence to date on the use of FMT in CD, IBS and other conditions related to intestinal dysbiosi., (Copyright 2018 Clarivate Analytics.)

Objectives: The aims of this study were to investigate the value of interventional endoscopy in patients with strictures of the common bile duct (CBD) caused by chronic pancreatitis (CP), and to define the subset of patients who may be at risk for failure of endoscopic intervention, in a prospective follow-up study., Methods: A total of 61 patients with symptomatic CBD strictures caused by alcoholic CP were treated by endoscopic stent insertion for 1 yr with scheduled stent changes every 3 months. After the treatment period, all patients entered a follow-up program., Results: Initial endoscopic drainage was successful in all cases, with complete resolution of obstructive jaundice. After 1 yr from the initial stent insertion, in 19 patients (31.1%) the obstruction was resolved, and stents were removed without any need of additional procedures. During a median follow-up of 40 months (range 18-66 months), 16 patients had no recurrence of symptomatic CBD stricture (long term success rate 26.2%). Of 45 patients who needed definitive therapy, 12 patients (19.7%) were treated with repeated plastic stent insertion and three (4.9%) with insertion of a metal stent, and 30 patients (49.2%) underwent surgery. Among the variables tested, calcification of the pancreatic head was the only factor that was found to be of prognostic value. Of 39 patients with calcification of the pancreatic head, only three (7.7%) were successfully treated by a 1-yr period of plastic stent therapy, whereas in 13 of 22 patients (59.1%) without calcification, this treatment was successful (p<0.001)., Conclusions: Endoscopic drainage of biliary obstruction provides excellent short term but only moderate long term results. Patients without calcifications of the pancreatic head benefit from biliary stenting. Patients with calcifications were identified to have a 17-fold (95% CI=4-74) increased risk of failure of a 12 month course of endoscopic stenting.

Background: The incidence of adenocarcinoma of the proximal stomach (cardia) is increasing. The pathophysiological processes underlying this trend are unclear. Normal cell turnover depends on cell proliferation being in balance with programmed cell death or apoptosis. It has been well documented that excessive proliferation potentiates the effects of any carcinogen that targets DNA. It is therefore accepted that excessive proliferation is a risk factor for subsequent neoplasia development., Aims: To compare apoptosis and proliferation in normal cardia tissue, carditis, and cardia intestinal metaplasia, and to determine the effect of Helicobacter pylori infection and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease., Methods: Biopsies from the cardia were obtained from consecutive dyspeptic patients and asymptomatic controls at the time of gastroscopy. Samples were assessed histologically and classified as normal, carditis, or cardia tissue with intestinal metaplasia. All samples were then examined, employing immunohistochemical techniques, for the presence of proliferating and apoptotic cells., Results: A total of 76 histological specimens were examined. There was a statistical significant difference in the proliferation index between controls and both carditis and cardia intestinal metaplasia, and also between carditis and cardia intestinal metaplasia. In contrast, there was a significant increase in the apoptotic index for carditis compared with controls, while that of intestinal metaplasia did not differ from controls. As a result, comparison of the apoptotic/proliferation ratios for each group revealed that, for both carditis and cardia intestinal metaplasia, the apoptotic index/proliferation index ratio is reduced significantly compared with controls, but as a result of different mechanisms., Conclusion: This study demonstrates that individuals with carditis and cardia intestinal metaplasia have alterations in epithelial cell kinetics. In particular, it shows that there is a persistent imbalance between proliferation and apoptosis, which may represent malignant potential.

Background: The relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease is complicated. Evidence does not support a causal link. There have been reports, which have implicated successful eradication of Helicobacter pylori, in patients with a duodenal ulcer, with the subsequent development of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. However, eradication of Helicobacter pylori in these patients with improvement in their condition and a return to normal lifestyle, weight gain and discontinuation of antacids may unmask pre-existing gastro-oesophageal reflux disease., Aims: To determine the true prevalence of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease in patients with Helicobacter pylori-related duodenal ulceration., Method: Dyspeptic patients undergoing endoscopy were prospectively screened for the presence of a duodenal ulcer. Concomitant oesophagitis, when present, was recorded. All subjects with a Helicobacter pylori-related duodenal ulcer without endoscopic evidence of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease were invited to undergo a 24-hr ambulatory oesophageal pH assessment prior to receiving treatment., Results: A total of 97 patients with a duodenal ulcer were identified and 83.5% were Helicobacter pylori positive. Overall, 27.8% had associated endoscopic evidence of oesophagitis, 70% grade I-II and 30% grade III-IV. Of those without evidence of oesophagitis at endoscopy, 68% underwent a 24-hr pH assessment. An additional 17% were identified by this means as having gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. Overall, 44% of symptomatic subjects with Helicobacter pylori and a duodenal ulcer were found to have coexistent gastro-oesophageal reflux disease., Conclusion: Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease is frequently found to coexist with Helicobacter pylori-related duodenal ulcer. In addition, almost 20% of symptomatic patients without endoscopic evidence of oesophagitis will have an abnormal oesophageal pH exposure. It is plausible that the development of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease following successful eradication of Helicobacter pylori represents unmasking of existing disease rather than de novo development.