Social networks influence health behavior and health status. Within social networks, "key players" often influence those around them, particularly in traditionally underserved areas like the Appalachian region in the USA. From a total sample of 787 Appalachian residents, we identified and interviewed 10 key players in complex networks, asking them what comprises a key player, their role in thei...

BACKGROUND Several screening tests are available to detect colorectal cancer (CRC) and reduce the incidence and mortality of CRC. The purpose of this review was to determine how current CRC screening strategies for CRC compare with no screening and whether agreement exists with regard to the cost effectiveness of different strategies. METHODS Databases were searched for cost-effectiveness ana...

Background—A multicentre randomised controlled trial to evaluate screening by “once only” flexible sigmoidoscopy (FS) for prevention of bowel cancer is in progress. Aims—To pilot the trial protocol examining rates of attendance, yield of neoplasia, and adverse eVects. Subjects—A total of 3540 subjects aged 55–64 years in Welwyn Garden City (WGC) and 19 706 in Leicester (LE). Methods—Subjects re...

BACKGROUND A multicentre randomised controlled trial to evaluate screening by "once only" flexible sigmoidoscopy (FS) for prevention of bowel cancer is in progress. AIMS To pilot the trial protocol examining rates of attendance, yield of neoplasia, and adverse effects. SUBJECTS A total of 3540 subjects aged 55-64 years in Welwyn Garden City (WGC) and 19,706 in Leicester (LE). METHODS Subj...

Screening for colorectal cancer (CRC) using sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy is now common in many developed countries. This concise, evidence-based review looks at the impact of sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy screening on CRC incidence, CRC mortality and overall mortality. Data from controlled retrospective and prospective (observational or randomized) studies have generally shown that sigmoidoscopy...

Colonoscopy is rarely associated with complications such as colonic perforation. Perforation of the small bowel is extremely rare, especially if the procedure is done without therapeutic interventions. Several factors are associated with this entity. Perforation of the ileum has been reported, but proximal jejunal perforation secondary to rupture of jejunal diverticulum during colonoscopy has n...

OBJECTIVES Capsule colonoscopy is an additional screening modality for colorectal cancer. Second-generation capsule colonoscopy (CC2) may have improved efficacy in the detection of colon adenomas as compared with prior devices. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of CC2 in the detection of polyps in symptomatic and screening patients in the USA. DESIGN Prospective, multi...

End points for trials promoting cancer screening are often based on self-reported screening behavior. This study was designed to evaluate and optimize the reliability of a computer-assisted telephone interview for collecting self-reported colorectal cancer screening behavior. Cases who had received a fecal occult blood test (FOBT), flexible sigmoidoscopy, and/or colonoscopy, and controls who ha...

BACKGROUND The diagnosis of acute diverticulitis is mainly based on clinical, biological and computed tomography (CT)-scan findings. Elective colonoscopy is recommended after medical treatment, to rule out another diagnosis and to detect associated conditions; however, the relevance of this recommendation has been questioned. PATIENTS AND METHODS Between January 2005 and December 2011, we ret...