Table of contents
April 2006 Volume 3 No 4
Editorial
Viewpoints
Hemochromatosis case definition: out of focus?
178A wide range of expert opinions exist on the ideal case definition for hemochromatosis, and much of the debate centers on its phenotypic or genotypic diagnosis. The author of this Viewpoint discusses the controversy involved in establishing a diagnosis for the disease and provides recommendations for an appropriate case definition.
Alternative and complementary therapies for inflammatory bowel disease
180The number of patients using alternative and complementary therapies is increasing worldwide, and a large percentage have inflammatory bowel disease. This Viewpoint considers evidence for the safety and efficacy of these therapies for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, and the reasons why patients choose to seek alternatives to conventional medicine.
Research Highlights
New colonoscopists benefit from virtual reality training
182Food intake reduced by reverse gastric pacing in dogs
182Higher risk of breast cancer in first-degree relatives of patients with Crohn's disease
182New device aids bioengineering of hepatic tissue
183Hepatitis C treatment decisions: the patient's perspective
183doi:10.1038/ncpgasthep0426 | Full Text | PDF (135K)
Colonography and tumor staging during single-session PET/CT
184Successful treatment of inflammatory bowel disease with budesonide in clinical practice
185Argon plasma coagulation is a safe and effective treatment for gastrointestinal vascular lesions
185Costs saved by Helicobacter pylori community screening program
186Vitamin A supplementation and childhood morbidity and mortality
186Animal study supports bile-duct cooling during hepatic radiofrequency ablation
186Consumption of carbonated soft drinks does not increase esophageal cancer risk
187Statins might not reduce the risk of cancer, after all
188Vessel-related variables improve prognostic ability of the Dukes staging system
188No association between dietary-fiber intake and colorectal cancer
189Practice Points
Where is the optimal location for paracentesis?
190Is fiber beneficial for the treatment of hemorrhoids?
192Can growth hormone and glutamine reduce parenteral nutrition requirements in patients with short-bowel syndrome?
194How effective is fluoxetine for the treatment of pain and constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome?
196Is biofeedback therapy an effective treatment for patients with constipation?
198Reviews
Nutritional support in patients with chronic liver disease
202Malnutrition is an increasingly recognized complication of chronic liver disease. In patients with cirrhosis, malnutrition increases morbidity and mortality, and patients who are severely malnourished before transplantation have a higher rate of complications and higher post-operative mortality. The authors of this Review consider the etiologies of malnutrition, methods used to assess nutritional status, and appropriate treatment strategies.
doi:10.1038/ncpgasthep0443 | Full Text | PDF (153K)
Technology Insight: the role of impedance testing for esophageal disorders
210Esophageal impedance monitoring is a new technique that can be used alone and in combination with pH-metry and manometry to evaluate bolus transport and all types of gastroesophageal reflux. The authors of this Review describe the technique and summarize the published validation studies that compare impedance monitoring with other methods. Normal values and the reproducibility of impedance patterns and their association with symptoms are also discussed.
doi:10.1038/ncpgasthep0446 | Full Text | PDF (305K)
Drug Insight: antagonists of tumor-necrosis factor-
in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease
220Advances in the understanding of the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease have allowed rational therapeutic targets to be developed, including antagonists of tumor-necrosis factor-
. The authors of this Review provide insights into the similarities and differences of the mechanism of action, clinical efficacy and limitations of the tumor-necrosis factor- antagonists infliximab, adalimumab, certolizumab, CDP571, etanercept, and onercept.
doi:10.1038/ncpgasthep0447 | Full Text | PDF (784K)
Case Study
A patient with anemia of obscure origin: Crohn's disease in disguise
229doi:10.1038/ncpgasthep0449 | Full Text | PDF (380K)
