Search

Background: The aim of this study was to review early and late results of strictureplasty for patients affected by Crohn's disease.Methods: We reviewed 103 patients with obstructive Crohn's disease undergoing 293 strictureplasties (Heineke-Mikulicz, 235; Finney, 22; Jaboulay, 35; side-to-side isoperistaltic strictureplasty, 1). Mean age at surgery was 31.4 years. Forty-four patients had at least one previous surgery, and synchronous other surgical procedures were performed in 62 patients. For 41 patients with strictureplasty alone, 154 strictureplasties were done. The site and number of strictures treated by strictureplasty were as follows: duodenum (2), small intestine (265), ileocecal region (6), colon (4), recurrence at previous anastomosis (11), and recurrence at previous strictureplasty (5). The mean number of structureplasties per patient was 2.8. Reoperation has been used as the definitive endpoint for recurrence, and the long-term outcome of strictureplasty was examined.Results: There was no operative mortality. Septic complications related to strictureplasty developed in 4 patients and reoperation was needed in 2 patients (1.9%). Mean duration of follow-up was 80.3 months. For all patients, the 5- and 10-year reoperation rate was 45.0% and 61.9%, respectively. Forty-five patients (43.7%) required further operation for recurrence, of whom 21 patients (20.4%) had recurrence at the site of strictureplasty, which was restricture in 14 patients and perforating disease in 7 patients. Perforating disease for recurrence was more frequent at the site treated by the Finney or Jabouley procedure compared with Heineke-Mikulicz.Conclusions: It is considered that, in the long term, strictureplasty is safe and useful for preserving the intestine in the surgical treatment of Crohn's disease if strictures are carefully selected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We aimed to elucidate the incidence and natural course of abdominal abscess complicating Crohn's disease (CD). Methods: Of 352 patients with CD who were observed at our hospital between 1985 and October 2001, we studied 35 patients (9.9%) with abscesses in the mid-abdominal region (the abdominal wall, peritoneal cavity, retroperitoneum, and subphrenic region). Results: The cumulative incidence of complication with an abscess was 9% and 25%, respectively, 10 and 20 years after CD onset. Of the 35 CD patients with abscess, 60% had had surgery by the time of the present study. The age when the abscess developed was 30.1 +/- 8.1 years, and the duration of illness from the onset of CD until development of an abscess was 10.8 +/- 6.3 years (range, 0-29 years). The location of involvement was: abdominal wall, n = 14 (40%); peritoneal cavity, n = 10 (29%); retroperitoneum or iliopsoas, n = 9 (26%); and subphrenic region, n = 2 (6%). In terms of location of abscess, it occurred most often on the right side (65.7%). Almost all abscesses occurred near the site of an anastomosis. Diseased segments of the bowel responsible for abscess formation were categorized radiographically as showing mild stenosis (6.5%), intermediate stenosis and/or simple fistula (41.9%), and severe stenosis and/or multiple fistulas (51.6%). Conservative treatment (including drainage of abscess) alone was effective in 7 patients (20%) and surgery was needed in 28 patients (80%). During the 5.3-year follow-up after treatment for the abdominal abscess, 9 of the 35 patients (26%) had recurrence of an abscess, mostly within 3 years. Conclusions: Abscess formation was noted in about 10% of patients with CD, with 46% of abscesses occurring in a diseased bowel segment near an anastomotic site. Of the diseased bowel segments responsible for abscess formation, half had neither severe stenosis nor multiple fistulas. Almost all patients underwent surgery for the abscess, and, in more than a quarter of the patients, there was recurrence within a few years after surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Although insecticide-treated bed nets are effective tools, use often does not follow ownership. House structure and space arrangements may make the attempt to use bed nets difficult, especially for school age children. The objectives of this study were to explore whether an individual's sleeping arrangements and house structure affect bed net use in villages along Lake Victoria in western Kenya. Methods Sleeping arrangements of residents were directly observed for use of a bed net, use of a bed, and location. House size, number and types of rooms, bed availability, and residents' ages were estimated. The family heads and mothers were asked about the reason for not using bed nets. Individual bed net use was examined against age and sleeping arrangement. Net use at the household level was examined against four variables: bed availability, bed net availability, house size, and number of rooms. Results Bed net use by children between five and 15 years of age was lower than that among the other age classes. However, age was dropped from the final model, and sleeping arrangement was significantly associated with net use. Net use was significantly associated with bed availability, number of rooms and their interaction. Conclusion Net use was affected by sleeping arrangement and availability of suitable locations for hanging nets, in addition to net availability. Most residents had likely not realized that sleeping arrangement was a factor in net use. The ease of hanging a net is particularly important for children.

Abstract Background It is uncertain whether smoking is related to colorectal cancer risk. Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1, glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) are important enzymes in the metabolism of tobacco carcinogens, and functional genetic polymorphisms are known for these enzymes. We investigated the relation of cigarette smoking and related genetic polymorphisms to colorectal cancer risk, with special reference to the interaction between smoking and genetic polymorphism. Methods We used data from the Fukuoka Colorectal Cancer Study, a population-based case-control study, including 685 cases and 778 controls who gave informed consent to genetic analysis. Interview was conducted to assess lifestyle factors, and DNA was extracted from buffy coat. Results In comparison with lifelong nonsmokers, the odds ratios (OR) of colorectal cancer for CYP1A1*2A or CYP1A1*2C and GSTT1 polymorphisms was associated with a decreased risk of colorectal cancer, showing a nearly statistically significant (Pinteraction = 0.06) or significant interaction (Pinteraction = 0.02). The composite genotypes of these two polymorphisms, however, showed no measurable interaction with cigarette smoking in relation to colorectal cancer risk. Conclusions Cigarette smoking may be associated with increased risk of rectal cancer, but not of colon cancer. The observed interactions between CYP1A1 and GSTT1 polymorphisms warrant further confirmation.