Measurement of expired (13)CO2 after rectally administering [1-(13)C]-butyrate in active and quiescent UC appears to be a promising and reliable method for evaluating disease activity and metabolic changes associated with amelioration of inflammation.

Discrepant outcomes of Helicobacter pylori eradication in patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura have been reported. Here patients with dyspepsia and no other complications underwent gastroendoscopic examination and evaluation for Helicobacter pylori infection. Helicobacter pylori-infected patients with gastritis and gastric ulcer received eradication therapy: lansoprazole (60 mg/day), clarithromycin (400 mg/day), and amoxicillin (1500 mg/day) for 1 week. Lansoprazole 30 mg/day was administrated additional 7 weeks. Peripheral platelets were counted before treatment, 8 weeks after initiation of therapy, and at follow-up periods. Platelet counts in patients with both gastritis and gastric ulcer were evaluated with reference to the presence of Helicobacter pylori infection. Eighty-seven patients with gastritis and 35 of those with gastric ulcer underwent successful eradication therapy. Peripheral platelet counts in patients with gastritis decreased from 235+/-55 to 228+/-58 (10(3)/microL) (p=0.0337), and those with gastric ulcer decreased from 248+/-60 to 232+/-48 (10(3)/microL) (p=0.020) 8 weeks after initiation of therapy. Non-eradicated patients did not show such a tendency. Helicobacter pylori eradication reduced peripheral platelet counts in patients with gastritis and gastric ulcer. Amelioration of thrombocytopenia by eradicating Helicobacter pylori appears to involve mechanisms specific to idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Summary Background Gastro‐oesophageal flap valve (GEFV) grade correlated with endoscopic reflux oesophagitis (RE) prevalence. Aim To investigate relationships among gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms, RE and/or non‐erosive reflux disease (NERD) and GEFV grades in subjects undergoing endoscopy. Methods We enrolled 1305 subjects from whom endoscopic results and the results of a self‐administered questionnaire (QUEST) were available. Subjects were evaluated for GERD symptoms (QUEST score), GEFV grade, RE and gastric mucosal atrophy. Results Total GERD prevalence, including symptomatic GERD (QUEST score ≥ 4) and/or RE, was 27%. RE grade and prevalence increased with GEFV grade. QUEST scores and GEFV grades showed a positive correlation. NERD prevalence was 14% and increased with GEFV grade, but the relationship was weaker than that between RE and GEFV. Comparing RE‐negative subjects by GEFV grade, GERD symptoms were noted in 10%, 19%, 36% and 52% with GEFV grades I, II, III and IV, respectively. Neither type of gastric mucosal atrophy correlated with GEFV grade. Conclusions Total GERD, NERD and RE prevalences increased with GEFV grade. Subjects with high GEFV grades often complain of GERD symptoms, even without RE. Our findings suggest that endoscopic GEFV evaluation provides a useful clinical index for diagnosing GERD.

As gastric neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) is a rapidly growing cancer, most cases are diagnosed at advanced stages. We herein report a 74-year-old woman with an early-stage gastric NEC whose history included endoscopic submucosal dissection treatment for three early-stage gastric cancer lesions five years prior to the current presentation. We also describe the changes observed over time. An endoscopic examination during follow-up revealed an NEC (measuring 6 mm) in the gastric vestibule, for which distal gastrectomy was performed. Four months before surgery, the carcinoma exhibited specific morphological changes and lymphovascular invasion (despite the tumor being stage 1), suggesting a high-grade NEC.

To evaluate the influence of Helicobacter pylori and sex difference on peripheral platelet counts, dyspeptic patients without immunohaematologic disorders were evaluated. H. pylori infection was verified with the rapid urease test and serum anti-H. pylori IgG antibody. Platelet counts were analysed with a reference to H. pylori infection and sex difference. Among H. pylori-eradicated patients, changes in platelet counts were separately evaluated. Totally, 655 patients were enrolled: 340 patients were infected with H. pylori and 178 patients received eradication therapy, with a success rate of 88.2% (157/178). Females with H. pylori infection definitely manifested elevated platelet counts (infected vs. uninfected 244 ± 57 vs. 219 ± 54 × 10⁹/l; p < 0.0001). H. pylori eradication reduced peripheral platelets by 8 weeks, 5–6 months, 1, 2 and ≧3 years after eradication in females from 248 ± 54 to 237 ± 49, 237 ± 54, 229 ± 48, 238 ± 61 and 232 ± 50 × 10⁹/l (p = 0.0003, 0.0182, 0.0041, 0.0398 and 0.0289), respectively. In males, the reduction was verified by 8 weeks, 1 year and ≧3 years from 226 ± 52 to 217 ± 47, 214 ± 44 and 200 ± 49 × 10⁹/l (p = 0.0464, 0.0164 and 0.0016), respectively. In conclusion, H. pylori infection upregulates platelet counts mainly in females, and eradication reduced peripheral platelets in both sexes. Females appeared more susceptible to H. pylori infection than males with regard to upregulation of platelet counts.