Between 1996 and 1997, we conducted a multicentre study to assess the effect of combination therapy of interferon (IFN) + ribavirin on chronic hepatitis C genotype 4. Ninety-seven patients were enrolled. Sixty-eight patients (47 male and 21 female) were non-responders to previous therapy with IFN (Group I). Twenty-nine patients (19 male and 10 female) were new (Group II). Following treatment with IFN, 23% in Group I and 9% in Group II had a sustained biochemical response. Only 12% in Group I and 5% in Group II achieved a sustained virological response. Virus load was found to be the major factor determining response, followed by histology grading and staging. Like HCV genotype 1, HCV genotype 4 seems to have a poor response to therapy.

Pancreatic cancer carries a poor prognosis and given insidious symptoms has often metastasized at the time of presentation. Common sites of metastasis involve liver, lungs, regional lymph nodes, or peritoneum. Colonic metastasis is rare, with only a few previous descriptions in the literature. We report a case of a 91-year-old woman with presumed pancreatic adenocarcinoma based on pathology and imaging, with colonic metastasis presenting as colonic obstruction.

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INTRODUCTION: The Michigan CRC Screening Quality Improvement Project (CRC-QIP) is a multi-center, 4-phase project to improve adherence with recommending 10-year intervals after normal screening colonoscopies. Per guidelines, target is 90% adherence with recommended intervals. METHODS: Inclusion criteria: In order to minimize possible confounders, patients were limited to: (a) average-risk, 50–75 year olds; (b) colonoscopy performed in 2017; (c) sole indication-CRC screening; (d) no biopsy, polypectomy, or any abnormal findings on procedure report. Study Setting: In order to minimize confounders when stratifying for specialty and type of practice, only medical centers with (a) GI fellowship program; (b) Hospital-based “open” endoscopy unit (i.e., utilized by private practice gastroenterologists (GIs), colorectal surgeons, and general surgeons). Primary Outcome: Adherence to guideline-consistent intervals defined as repeat colonoscopy in 10 years or discontinue CRC screening due to patient's age when bowel preparation is adequate or <1 year if bowel preparation is inadequate. Primary analysis is frequency of adherence based on endoscopist specialty after adjusting for multiple confounders, including procedure-related factors (e.g., withdrawal time), and endoscopist-related factors (e.g., yrs in practice, solo vs group practice, colonoscopies performed per yr). Hierarchical logistic regression model was used with adherence as the dependent variable with random intercepts for endoscopist performing procedure to account for correlation between endoscopist and site as fixed effects. RESULTS: Among 1,694 eligible patients, mean age was 58.7 ± 6.5, 43% male, and 68% African-American. Adherence was better for academic gastroenterologists with or without GI fellows vs private practice GIs or academic general surgeons (P = 0.04). The latter two groups were adherent in <40% of patients (Table 1). Adherence was significantly better with good/excellent bowel preps compared to all other bowel prep categories (P < 0.05), and patients with poor, fair, or no documentation of prep were adherent <50% (Table 2). CONCLUSION: In this project, adherence did not meet guideline-specified target of 90% among private practice GIs and general surgeons. Phase 2 will include additional analysis to identify factors associated with non-adherence and a mixed methods qualitative study to identify appropriate interventions to improve performance.