In patients taking warfarin, pooled RR for true positive FOBT was 1.559 (95% CI 1.349–1.801, P < 0.0001). The

results of our meta-analysis RG 7204 demonstrate that in patients taking ASA, there is a decrease in the positive predictive value (PPV) of g-FOBT but no significant difference in the PPV of i-FOBT compared with control subjects for detecting significant neoplasia. In patients taking warfarin, the PPV of FOBT was increased for detection of colorectal cancer compared with control subjects. “
“Background and Aims:  External pancreatic fistulas (EPFs) are a therapeutic challenge. The present study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of endoscopic transpapillary nasopancreatic drainage (NPD) in patients with EPF. Methods:  Over 12 years, 23 patients (19 males) with EPF underwent attempted endoscopic transpapillary NPD. The end points were fistula closure with healing of pancreatic duct disruption on nasopancreatogram, or need for surgery. Results:  All 23 patients had persistent drain output (>50 mL/day) for >6 weeks. The mean output volume of the fistula was 223 mL (range: 60 mL to 750 mL). Sixteen patients had partial and seven patients had complete pancreatic duct disruption. The NPD could be successfully placed in 21/23 (91.3%)

patients. Disruption was bridged in 15 of 16 patients with partial duct disruption. AZD1208 purchase EPF healed in 2–8 weeks of placement of NPD in all of the patients with partial duct disruption that was bridged and there was no recurrence at a mean follow-up of 38 months. The EPF resolved in only 2/6 (33%) patients with complete duct disruption. Conclusions:  External pancreatic fistulas developing following percutaneous

drainage of pancreatic fluid collections or surgical necrosectomy can Tobramycin be effectively treated by transpapillary nasopancreatic drain placement especially when there is partial ductal disruption and the disruption can be bridged. “
“Aim:  The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of super-elderly hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients aged 80 years or more who underwent hepatectomy and to clarify whether elderly patients with HCC benefit from hepatectomy. Methods:  Between March 1992 and December 2008, 278 patients who underwent curative hepatectomy for HCC were investigated. Super-elderly patients were defined as those aged 80 years or more. Clinicopathological data and outcomes after hepatectomy were compared between super-elderly and non-super-elderly groups. Results:  Preoperative parameters, such as biochemical examinations, and liver function tests in the non-super-elderly group were comparable with those of the super-elderly group (n = 11). Exceptionally, albumin level in the super-elderly group was lower than that in the non-super-elderly group (P = 0.03). Surgical data and the prevalence of postoperative complications did not differ significantly between the two groups. No mortality was observed in the super-elderly and non-super-elderly group.