A Smartphone Application Using Artificial Intelligence Is Superior To Subject Self-Reporting When Assessing Stool Form.

Introduction: Stool form assessment relies on subjective patient reports using the Bristol Stool Scale (BSS). In a novel smartphone application (app), trained artificial intelligence (AI) characterizes digital images of users' stool. In this study, we evaluate this AI for accuracy in assessing stool characteristics.

Gastroesophageal reflux reported on esophagram does not correlate with pH monitoring and high-resolution esophageal manometry.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is commonly reported on esophagram (UGI) studies. The correlation of findings suggestive of GERD on UGI with pH monitoring and high-resolution esophageal manometry (HRM) studies is unclear. We investigate the correlation between reflux on UGI with the findings on pH studies and HRM.

Evaluation of peripapillary lymphocytosis and lymphocytic esophagitis in adult inflammatory bowel disease.

Lymphocytic esophagitis (LE) is a newly described entity characterized histopathologically by peripapillary lymphocytosis (PL) without significant granulocytes (neutrophils and eosinophils). In an initial study, a significant portion of patients with LE had Crohn's disease (CD). A subsequent study revealed LE in one quarter of children with CD.

Recorded lower esophageal pressures as a function of electronic sleeve placement and location of gastric pressure measurement in patients with hiatal hernia.

Background/aims: In high-resolution manometry lower esophageal sphincter pressure (LESP) is measured relative to intragastric pressure, however Gastric Marker™ (GM) location used to determine resting LESP is not well established with hiatal hernia (HH). We test the hypothesis that measured resting LESP varies with HH based on GM location.

Methods: Subjects with HH ≥ 2 cm were included.

Hepcidin is a key mediator of anemia of inflammation in Crohn's disease.

Unlabelled: Anemia often complicates the course of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Hepcidin, a liver-produced peptide hormone, is a key mediator of anemia of chronic disease (ACD). We hypothesized that hepcidin is significantly elevated in anemic CD patients and that hepcidin may cause iron restriction and, therefore, mediate ACD.

Colorectal cancer screening and surveillance in Crohn's colitis.

Aims: To assess colonoscopic screening and surveillance for detecting neoplasia in patients with long-standing colonic Crohn's disease (CD).

Patients And Methods: Colonoscopy and biopsy records from patients with colonic CD were evaluated at the Cedars-Sinai Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center during a 17-year period (1992-2009).

Results: Overall, 904 screening and surveillance examinations were performed on 411 patients with Crohn's colitis (mean 2.

Intestinal methane production in obese individuals is associated with a higher body mass index.

Background: Obesity is an epidemic that affects 1 in 3 individuals in the United States, and recent evidence suggests that enteric microbiota may play a significant role in the development of obesity. This study evaluated the association between methanogenic archaea and obesity in human subjects.

Methods: Subjects with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m² or higher were prospectively recruited from the weight loss program of a tertiary care medical center.

Efficacy of the glucagon-like peptide-1 agonist exenatide in the treatment of short bowel syndrome.

Background: Short bowel syndrome (SBS) is a serious clinical disorder characterized by diarrhea and nutritional deprivation. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is a key hormone, produced by L-cells in the ileum, that regulates proximal gut transit. When extensive ileal resection occurs, as in SBS, GLP-1 levels may be deficient.

Acute and chronic histological changes of the small bowel secondary to C. jejuni infection in a rat model for post-infectious IBS.

Background: Campylobacter jejuni has been implicated in the pathogenesis of post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome (PI-IBS) in humans, effects which may be because of cytolethal distending toxin (CDT). In this study, we characterized both acute and chronic-phase histological changes of the small bowel in rats exposed to wild-type C. jejuni 81-176, or a strain that does not produce CDT, by using a validated rat model of PI-IBS.

Current national incidence, trends, and health care resource utilization of cleft lip-cleft palate.

Background: Available reports on the epidemiology of cleft lip, cleft palate, and cleft lip-cleft palate have been numerous yet inconsistent, and have originated only from institutional or regional studies. The need for current national data and the recognition of recent trends exists.

Methods: The authors examined the Kids' Inpatient Database to obtain national information on pediatric orofacial cleft discharges from 1997 to 2007.

Dysplasia and cancer in inflammatory bowel disease.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic gastrointestinal disease associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). Although CRC occurs in a minority of IBD patients (1%), it carries a high mortality and accounts for 20% of IBD-related mortality. Established risk factors for the development of CRC in IBD include disease duration of 8 years or more, family history of CRC, extensive colitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis.

Apple sauce improves detection of esophageal motor dysfunction during high-resolution manometry evaluation of dysphagia.

Background: Esophageal manometry utilizes water swallows to evaluate esophageal motor abnormalities in patients with dysphagia, chest pain, or reflux symptoms. Although manometry is the gold standard for evaluation of these symptoms, patients with dysphagia often have normal results in manometry studies.

Aim: The objective of this work was to test the hypothesis that challenging the esophagus with viscous apple sauce boluses uncovers motor abnormalities in patients with dysphagia not seen when using water swallows.

Pulmonary manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease: case presentations and review.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with a number of extraintestinal manifestations that may involve most organ systems. Extraintestinal manifestations are more common in Crohn disease (CD) and may include rheumatologic, ocular, dermatologic, biliary and pulmonary manifestations. The most common pulmonary manifestations of IBD are drug-induced lung disease.

Esophageal motor dysfunction and gastroesophageal reflux are prevalent in lung transplant candidates.

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux and aspiration contribute to the development of bronchiolitis obliterans and accelerate graft deterioration after lung transplantation (LTx). We evaluated LTx candidates for esophageal motor abnormalities and gastroesophageal reflux.

Methods: Consecutive patients evaluated for LTx underwent 24-hour pH monitoring using a dual-channel pH probe and high-resolution esophageal manometry.

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia in treatment-naive chronic hepatitis C infection: a case report and review of literature.

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the most common blood-borne pathogen and currently infects over two hundred and fifty million individuals worldwide. Chronic HCV infection may result in cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver failure. An exceedingly rare extrahepatic manifestation of HCV is autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA).

Tobacco and other factors have a negative impact on quality of life in hepatitis C patients.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is known to adversely affect general, social, emotional and mental health domains. This study was designed to identify variables that may be associated with these measurable outcomes. We conducted a cross-sectional retrospective review of demographic and clinical data from 800 patients with HCV evaluated between January 1998 and November 2007.

Comorbidities associated with the increasing burden of hepatitis C infection.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is implicated in an increasing number of liver transplantations, hospitalizations and healthcare costs.

Aims: We present an updated assessment of comorbidities associated with HCV in comparison to the general US population.

Methods: Cross-sectional retrospective review of data from 800 patients with HCV evaluated between January 1998 and November 2007.

Redefining the role of lymphocytes in gastroesophageal reflux disease and eosinophilic esophagitis.

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and reflux esophagitis (RE) overlap clinically and histologically. RE is characterized by epithelial infiltration with small numbers of neutrophils and eosinophils, EoE by a prominent eosinophilic infiltrate. Lymphocytic esophagitis (LE), a new entity characterized by peripapillary lymphocytosis, questions the role lymphocytes play in esophageal inflammation.

Heterotopic gastric mucosa (inlet patch) in a patient with laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) and laryngeal carcinoma: a case report and review of literature.

The inlet patch is an area of heterotopic gastric mucosa most commonly located in the postcricoid portion of the esophagus at, or just below, the level of the upper esophageal sphincter. Esophageal and supraesophageal symptoms are commonly associated with inlet patch, while esophageal adenocarcinoma rarely complicates it. Laryngeal adenocarcinoma associated with inlet patch is not described in the literature.

Oxysterols regulate differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells: pro-bone and anti-fat.

Unlabelled: Pluripotent mesenchymal stem cells can undergo lineage-specific differentiation in adult organisms. However, understanding of the factors and mechanisms that drive this differentiation is limited. We show the novel ability of specific oxysterols to regulate lineage-specific differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into osteogenic cells while inhibiting their adipogenic differentiation.

High-density lipoprotein regulates calcification of vascular cells.

Accumulating evidence has suggested the protective role of HDL in cardiovascular disease processes. Calcification is a common feature of atherosclerotic lesions and contributes to cardiovascular complications due to the loss of aortic resilience and function. Recent studies have suggested that vascular calcification shares several features with skeletal bone formation at the cellular and molecular levels.