Biomedical subjects

F Rodríguez-Moranta

Publications and source records attributed to F Rodríguez-Moranta.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

The European panel on the appropriateness of gastrointestinal endoscopy guidelines colonoscopy in an open-access endoscopy unit: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: The demand for gastrointestinal endoscopy is increasing in most developed countries, resulting in an important rise in overall costs and waiting lists for endoscopic procedures. Therefore, adherence to appropriate indications for these procedures is essential for the rational use of finite resources in an open-access system. AIM: To assess indications and appropriateness of colonoscopy according to the European Panel on the Appropriateness of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (EPAGE) criteria. METHODS: From May to June 2004, all consecutive patients referred to our Unit for open-access colonoscopy were considered for inclusion in this prospective study. Appropriateness of each colonoscopy was established according to the EPAGE criteria. In order to evaluate whether appropriateness of use correlated with the diagnostic yield of colonoscopy, relevant endoscopic findings were also recorded. RESULTS: A total of 350 consecutive patients were included in the study. In 38 of them, the colonoscopy indication was not listed in the EPAGE guidelines and, consequently, they were not evaluated. In the remaining 312 patients, the indication for the procedure was considered inappropriate in 73 (23%) patients. Both referring doctor characteristics (specialty and health care setting) and patient data (age) correlated with appropriateness of endoscopy. The diagnostic yield was significantly higher for appropriate colonoscopies (42%) than in those judged inappropriate (21%) (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A noteworthy proportion of patients referred for colonoscopy to an open-access endoscopy unit are considered inappropriate because of their indication, with significant differences among specialties. These results suggest that implementation of validated guidelines for its appropriate use could improve this situation and, considering the correlation between appropriateness and diagnostic yield, even contribute to improve the prognosis of patients with colorectal diseases.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Mechanisms of colon cancer prevention with and beyond COX-2 inhibition.

Colorectal cancer is the most common cancer in Western countries and the second leading cause of cancer-related death. Sporadic lesions represent 75-80% of all colorectal cancer, whereas 20-25% are in younger individuals or in patients with a family history of cancer, suggesting a heritable susceptibility. Persons with germline alterations in cancer-promoting genes, such as those with familial adenomatous polyposis and hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer, stand to benefit significantly from chemopreventive interventions, along with those who had already developed any colorectal neoplasia (either adenoma or carcinoma). Among the most promising approaches to chemoprevention is the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, including both selective and non-selective cyclooxigenase-2 inhibitors. Although the present article is mainly focused on these drugs and their mechanisms of action, other strategies with potential involvement in colorectal cancer chemoprevention such as peroxisome proliferator activated receptor ligands, epithelial growth factor receptor blockers, calcium, vitamin D, folate, and DNA methyltransferase inhibitors are also reviewed.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Clinical usefulness of KRAS mutational analysis in the diagnosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma by means of endosonography-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy.

AIM: To establish the usefulness of KRAS mutational analysis in the diagnosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma by comparing this technique with conventional cytology in aspirates obtained by endosonography-guided fine-needle aspiration. METHODS: All consecutive patients with pancreatic focal lesions undergoing endosonography-guided fine-needle aspiration were included. Samples were obtained with the concurrence of an attendant cytopathologist. Detection of codon-12 KRAS mutations was performed by the restriction fragment length polymorphism-polymerase chain reaction method. The effectiveness of conventional cytology, KRAS mutational analysis and their combination was established with respect to the definitive diagnosis. A cost-effectiveness analysis was also performed. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients had pancreatic adenocarcinoma and 24 patients had other lesions. A total of 136 samples was obtained. In patients in whom specimens were adequate (93% for cytology; 100% for mutational analysis), the specificity of both techniques was 100%, whereas the sensitivity favoured cytology (97% vs. 73%). When inadequate samples were considered as misdiagnosed, a combination of both techniques reached the highest overall accuracy (cytology, 91%; mutational analysis, 84%; combination of both, 98%). CONCLUSIONS: Cytology from aspirates obtained by endosonography-guided fine-needle aspiration is the most precise single technique for the diagnosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. However, when adequate specimens are not available to reach a cytological diagnosis, the addition of KRAS mutational analysis represents the best strategy.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Virtual colonoscopy].

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Clinical Trials as Topic↗