Table of contents
December 2005 Volume 2 No 12
Editorial
Viewpoint
Patients and patience: the pitfalls of primary biliary cirrhosis trials
552Controversy exists as to whether ursodeoxycholic acid improves survival in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis. This is mainly because the disease is uncommon and slowly progressive, which has meant that many clinical trials lack hard endpoints such as mortality. This Viewpoint article discusses the importance of the appropriate design of clinical trials in this field.
Research Highlights
Improved bone mineral density with alendronate in primary biliary cirrhosis patients
554Does antibiotic prophylaxis benefit all patients undergoing PEG?
554Endoscopic therapy reduces recurrent hemorrhage in peptic ulcers with adherent clots
554Ursodeoxycholic acid for treatment of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy
555Esomeprazole for nocturnal heartburn and GERD-associated sleep disturbance
555Metal stents are superior to plastic before surgery for resectable pancreatic cancer
556Benefits of propofol sedation in high-risk elderly patients undergoing endoscopy
556Changes in liver histology associated with massive weight loss
557Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication in obese patients
557Melatonin trial in patients with irritable bowel syndrome
558Hepatic stellate cells: early activation predicts fibrosis in HCV-infected transplant recipients
558Practice Points
What is the risk of transmission of hepatitis C virus during digestive endoscopy?
560How useful is CT in the management of patients with complicated diverticulitis?
562What is the optimal dosage of mesalazine to maintain remission in patients with ulcerative colitis?
564Can leukocyte esterase reagent strips be used for the diagnosis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis?
566HCV genotype 2 and 3 infections: what is the optimal duration for peginterferon 
-2b and ribavirin therapy?
568Reviews
Managing complicated Crohn's disease in children and adolescents
572Although there are many similarities among pediatric and adult Crohn's disease patients, some unique features of the pediatric population influence the therapeutic approach adopted; pediatric Crohn's disease can have a significant impact on the patient's quality of life, growth, bone health, and development. This Review focuses on the latest advances in the treatment of complicated pediatric Crohn's disease, including the use of biologic therapies such as infliximab.
doi:10.1038/ncpgasthep0338 | Full Text | PDF (150K)
The role of C-reactive protein as an inflammatory marker in gastrointestinal diseases
580This Review discusses the use of C-reactive protein as an inflammatory marker in gastrointestinal diseases. Inflammation does not produce a good C-reactive protein response in all diseases, however, and until there are more data, the use of C-reactive protein and other biomarkers should be seen only as an aid to clinical observation and physical examination and not as a replacement.
doi:10.1038/ncpgasthep0359 | Full Text | PDF (138K)
Therapy Insight: pyoderma gangrenosum—old disease, new management
587Pyoderma gangrenosum is a rare condition of unknown etiology that was described as an extraintestinal manifestation of inflammatory bowel disease in 1930. At present, there are few well-designed published studies that help determine the optimal therapeutic strategy to use for the management of pyoderma gangrenosum. This article reviews the published treatment strategies in current use and aims to guide effective management.
doi:10.1038/ncpgasthep0339 | Full Text | PDF (516K)
Therapy Insight: gastroesophageal reflux disease and laryngopharyngeal reflux
595Gastroesophageal reflux disease is associated with laryngopharyngeal reflux, but the cause and effect relationship between these two clinical entities is far from established. This Review considers studies of the pathogenesis of laryngopharyngeal reflux, the value of diagnostic testing either on or off therapy, and treatment options and duration, that have increased our our understanding of this field.
doi:10.1038/ncpgasthep0358 | Full Text | PDF (245K)
Case Study
High-output stoma after small-bowel resections for Crohn's disease
604doi:10.1038/ncpgasthep0343 | Full Text | PDF (114K)
