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Smoking is known to be a risk factor for chronic pancreatitis. However, to date, few studies have investigated the association between smoking and the risk of acute pancreatitis. A recent prospective, population-based study provides strong evidence that smoking should be considered a risk factor for acute pancreatitis.
Detecting and characterizing colonic polyps using high-definition imaging and narrow-band imaging (NBI) has yielded modest results. Now, two randomized studies have substantiated the role of NBI in reducing polyp miss rates in patients with hyperplastic polyposis syndrome, and in differentiating adenomas from hyperplastic polyps, although with no improvement in adenoma detection rates.
Pediatric liver transplantation is a major surgical challenge, especially in very small patients (≤5 kg), and existing literature on low-body-weight transplant recipients is limited. Two new studies discuss the possibilities and limitations of liver transplantation in very young infants and demonstrate encouraging results for liver transplantation in infancy.
As the clinical use of multidetector CT has increased, concerns have grown as to whether its benefits are commensurate with cost and risk of radiation exposure. Now, multidetector CT has been shown to be useful in the diagnosis of appendicitis, with a substantial influence on both clinical management and patient outcomes.
Gastrointestinal endoscopy has a central role in the evaluation and management of gastrointestinal diseases. This procedure during pregnancy, however, raises the unique issue of fetal safety. This Review addresses the need for cohesive information on endoscopic safety in pregnancy by comprehensively reviewing the subject and synthesizing practical clinical recommendations. The article aims to enable clinicians to make decisions on performing endoscopy, employ procedural modifications to enhance fetal safety, and to advise their pregnant patients about fetal risks.
The prevalence of childhood and adolescent obesity is increasing. Although obesity is preventable, effective management in those individuals already affected is crucial as the condition is associated with serious long-term complications. Baur and colleagues address the assessment and management of obesity in children and adolescents, describing key features in the diagnosis, treatment and management of these patients.
The majority of patients with IBD use conventional therapy over a prolonged period of time to induce and maintain remission. In this Review, Kirstin Taylor and Peter Irving discuss the multiple ways in which conventional therapy can be optimized, such as by simplifying dosing regimens or adjusting drug dosage.
