Table of contents
July 2008 Volume 5 No 7
Editorial
Research Highlights
Phase II study shows efficacy of lubiprostone against IBS
350Optimal fospropofol dosage for sedation during colonoscopy
350Postmenopausal estrogen therapy increases risk of GERD
350doi:10.1038/ncpgasthep1163 | Full Text | PDF (104K)
Significant oxygen desaturation can occur during sleep in patients with moderate HPS
351Hyperalimentation significantly and rapidly increases serum ALT levels
351doi:10.1038/ncpgasthep1165 | Full Text | PDF (102K)
Do all transplant candidates with HPS need MELD exception points?
352Liver–kidney transplantation outcomes have worsened since MELD
352Is steroid-free immunosuppression safe for liver transplant recipients?
353Pancreatic mucinous cystic neoplasms are usually not aggressive
353Laparoscopic and open IPAA result in comparable quality of life and sexual function
353doi:10.1038/ncpgasthep1170 | Full Text | PDF (103K)
Symptom frequency scores help to predict need for prokinetics in patients with GERD
354Omega-3 free fatty acids do not maintain remission of Crohn disease
354doi:10.1038/ncpgasthep1172 | Full Text | PDF (101K)
Acid suppression is as cost-effective as 'test and treat' for initial dyspepsia treatment
355Practice Points
How safe and effective is a nitinol self-expanding metallic stent for palliation of malignant colonic obstruction?
356doi:10.1038/ncpgasthep1144 | Full Text | PDF (129K)
Should erythromycin be administered before endoscopy for acute upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage?
358doi:10.1038/ncpgasthep1156 | Full Text | PDF (125K)
Steatotic livers for liver transplantation—life-saving but at a cost
360doi:10.1038/ncpgasthep1159 | Full Text | PDF (127K)
Ribavirin plus either peginterferon 
-2a or peginterferon -2b for patients with chronic HCV infection?
362doi:10.1038/ncpgasthep1155 | Full Text | PDF (135K)
Does adjuvant chemoradiation benefit patients who have undergone resection of pancreatic or periampullary cancer?
364doi:10.1038/ncpgasthep1152 | Full Text | PDF (128K)
Viewpoints
Is the tissue-engineered intestine clinically viable?
366The tissue-engineered intestine might provide a viable alternative to intestinal transplantation for patients with intestinal failure. This Viewpoint discusses the available evidence regarding the feasibility of this type of treatment, and the state-of-the-art technology involved in creating a tissue-engineered intestine in the context of its clinical and technical limitations.
doi:10.1038/ncpgasthep1151 | Full Text | PDF (120K)
Is gastric electrical stimulation an effective therapy for patients with drug-refractory gastroparesis?
368Gastroparesis is a poorly defined and poorly understood chronic digestive disorder that is difficult to treat. This Viewpoint article discusses evidence for the use of gastric electrical stimulation in patients with drug-refractory gastroparesis, and highlights directions for future research.
doi:10.1038/ncpgasthep1157 | Full Text | PDF (143K)
Reviews
The role of biofeedback in the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders
371Biofeedback is a conditioning treatment in which information about a physiologic process is converted into a simple visual or auditory signal to enable the patient to learn to control a disordered function. In this Review, the authors consider the evidence for biofeedback as a treatment for IBS, functional dyspepsia, functional anorectal pain, aerophagia, fecal incontinence and functional defecation disorders, with a particular focus on dyssynergic defecation and fecal incontinence.
doi:10.1038/ncpgasthep1150 | Full Text | PDF (250K)
Mechanisms of heartburn
383Heartburn is a challenging clinical symptom to treat as it does not always readily respond to antisecretory therapy. The authors of this Review provide an update on the evidence available to support the mechanisms currently postulated to underlie heartburn: acid reflux, weakly acidic reflux, bile reflux, mechanical stimulation of the esophagus, esophageal hyperalgesia and psychological comorbidity.
doi:10.1038/ncpgasthep1160 | Full Text | PDF (425K)
Diagnostic evaluation of dysphagia
393In this Review, the author focuses on the diagnostic evaluation of dysphagia, a disorder that is common in the general population and even more so in the elderly and in the chronic-care setting. In particular, the importance of taking a good history is emphasized. Consideration is also given to interpreting the findings of radiography, endoscopy and esophageal manometry, and what to do when these three modalities fail to yield a diagnosis.
doi:10.1038/ncpgasthep1153 | Full Text | PDF (367K)
Case Study
Diffuse malignant infiltration of the liver manifesting as a case of acute liver failure
405This article considers the case of a 54-year-old male with a history of coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus and tobacco abuse who presented with right upper quadrant abdominal pain, decreased appetite and jaundice. After admission, the patient's clinical status declined rapidly, with the development of confusion, respiratory failure, hypotension, renal failure and worsening lactic acidosis. The patient developed asystole and was pronounced dead on hospital day 4.
doi:10.1038/ncpgasthep1154 | Full Text | PDF (264K)
