Diagnostic yield of routine ileoscopy.

Intubation of the ileum during colonoscopy, although well described, is not routinely performed. It can establish the completeness of colonoscopic examinations and is useful in the diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease. However, the diagnostic utility of routine ileoscopy during all colonoscopic procedures has not been well studied.

Role of the hepatocyte microtubular system in the excretion of bile salts and biliary lipid: implications for intracellular vesicular transport.

The role of the hepatocyte microtubular system in the transport and excretion of bile salts and biliary lipid has not been defined. In this study the effects of microtubule inhibition on biliary excretion of micelle- and non-micelle-forming bile salts and associated lipid were examined in rats. Low-dose colchicine pretreatment had no effect on the baseline excretion of biliary bile salts and phospholipid in animals studied 1 hr after surgery (basal animals), but slightly retarded the excretion of tracer [14C]taurocholate relative to that of lumicolchicine-pretreated (control) rats.

Nd:YAG laser therapy for gastrointestinal bleeding due to radiation colitis.

Significant uncontrollable gastrointestinal bleeding due to radiation colitis has in the past required colectomy, proctectomy, arterial ligation, or angiographic embolization for control. The use of Nd:YAG laser photocoagulation of mucosal vascular ectasias provides a promising safe alternative to such invasive therapies.