Clinical Research Directory

Optical Diagnosis With vs. Without Three-Dimensional Imaging for Small and Diminutive Colorectal Polyps

This study investigated whether adding a three-dimensional (3D) imaging view during colonoscopy helps doctors classify small colon polyps more accurately than standard colonoscopy without 3D. Polyps are small growths in the colon that may develop into cancer over time. When doctors remove polyps, they often examine them closely during the procedure to judge how likely they are to be precancerous-a process called optical diagnosis. In this study, two approaches to optical diagnosis were compared: diagnosis using standard colonoscopy without 3D, and diagnosis using the same colonoscopy with additional 3D imaging. Both groups used the same classification systems (JNET and WASP) to identify polyp type; the only difference was whether 3D imaging was used. The main question was whether adding 3D improves the agreement between the doctor's diagnosis during colonoscopy and the final laboratory diagnosis of the removed polyp. The study also collected safety information. Participants were randomly assigned to one of the two groups, like flipping a coin. Regardless of group, all participants underwent an initial colonoscopy to detect polyps, a second colonoscopy to remove polyps and perform optical diagnosis, and a follow-up period of up to 30 days to monitor for side effects. The study included adults with at least one colon polyp smaller than 10 mm that did not require a more advanced type of removal called ESD.

Effects of Berberine on the Human Gut Microbiome

Berberine hydrochloride is a conventional component in Chinese medicine. In recent years, anticancer activity of berberine hydrochloride have been explored. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of berberine hydrochloride on the human gut microbiome.

Pilot Study of a National Screening Programme for Bowel Cancer in Norway

The Norwegian government has funded a pilot study of a national colorectal cancer screening programme. This implies initiation of a screening pilot in the catchment area for two hospitals in Norway. The target population is average risk men and women at age 50-74 years. The programme is designed as a comparative effectiveness programme evaluating acceptance and test performance for two screening methods - fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) and flexible sigmoidoscopy (FS). This protocol describes the main methodological issues, necessary resources and the expected effects.