Comparison of Pelican single-use multibite biopsy forceps and traditional double-bite forceps: evaluation in a porcine model.

Background: The multibite biopsy forceps is intended for consecutive acquisition of numerous tissue specimens with a single pass. The Pelican multibite forceps is equipped with a sleeve for tissue retention that allows up to 6 specimens to be obtained with each pass of the device through the accessory channel. Reducing the need for device exchange could decrease the total procedure time for colon cancer surveillance in patients with longstanding inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Utility of the Nonabsorbed (<0.4%) Antibiotic Rifaximin in Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

Oral antibiotics have probable or documented therapeutic utility for multiple enteric conditions commonly treated by gastroenterologists and hepatologists, but they are not frequently prescribed. Barriers to antibiotic use include concerns about bacterial resistance, drug interactions, and antibiotic-associated side effects and toxicity, particularly in vulnerable populations. The use of minimally absorbed oral antibiotics has been suggested as an approach to overcoming some of these barriers, but minimally absorbed antibiotics have not been an important part of the US gastroenterologists' or hepatologists' armamentarium until recently.

The role of biological therapy in inflammatory bowel disease.

Substantial evidence suggests a central role for TNF-alpha in the pathogenesis of IBD. This molecular observation has been supported by clinical trials with anti-TNF therapies. The most extensively investigated among the various anti-TNF agents is infliximab.

Extraintestinal manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease.

Numerous extraintestinal diseases have been associated with IBD. The role of the gastrointestinal tract in host response to the foreign antigens present in the gut makes the enteric immune system highly susceptible to any external perturbation to the system. Dysregulation of the enteric immune response results in pathology in various organs outside of the gut.