Relating Stool Microbial Metabolite Levels, Inflammatory Markers and Dietary Behaviors to Screening Colonoscopy Findings in a Racially/Ethnically Diverse Patient Population.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of cancer death for both men and women in the United States, yet it is treatable and preventable. African Americans have higher incidence of CRC than other racial/ethnic groups, however, it is unclear whether this disparity is primarily due to environmental or biological factors. Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are metabolites produced by bacteria in the colon and are known to be inversely related to CRC progression.

Effectiveness of focal vs. balloon radiofrequency ablation devices in the treatment of Barrett's esophagus.

Background And Aims: The safety and efficacy of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in treatment of Barrett's esophagus (BE)-associated dysplasia has been well established. The effectiveness of focal and balloon RFA devices has not been compared. Therefore, the aim of our study was to assess the effectiveness of focal and balloon RFA devices in the treatment of BE by calculating absolute and percentage change in BE length with RFA therapy by comparing pre- and post-treatment BE length.

Implementation intentions and colorectal screening: a randomized trial in safety-net clinics.

Context: Low-income and racial/ethnic minority populations experience disproportionate colorectal cancer (CRC) burden and poorer survival. Novel behavioral strategies are needed to improve screening rates in these groups.

Background: The study aimed to test a theoretically based "implementation intentions" intervention for improving CRC screening among unscreened adults in urban safety-net clinics.

Impact of a computer-based teaching module on characterization of diminutive colon polyps by using narrow-band imaging by non-experts in academic and community practice: a video-based study.

Background: Experts can accurately characterize the histology of diminutive polyps with narrow-band imaging (NBI). There are limited data on the performance of non-experts.

Objective: To assess the impact of a computer-based teaching module on the accuracy of predicting polyp histology with NBI by non-experts (in academics and community practice) by using video clips.

Defining patients at high risk for gastrointestinal hemorrhage after drug-eluting stent placement: a cost utility analysis.

Introduction: The study goal was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of drug-eluting stent (DES) placement with consideration of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding risk. DES reduce the need for future coronary revascularization, but require prolonged dual anti-platelet (DAT) therapy, which may increase the risk for GI bleeding. While DES have been found to be cost-effective in patients at average risk for GI bleeding, they may not be the most cost-effective strategy in higher risk patients.

Treatment of Gastroparesis.

Gastroparesis is a condition of impaired gastric motility that can be chronic and result in decreased quality of life and complete disability. Once the diagnosis of gastroparesis is established, the clinician's attention should immediately focus on restoring nutritional status, providing symptomatic relief from nausea and vomiting, and improving gastric motility. Combination therapy is the rule rather than the exception, and most patients require multiple prokinetic and antiemetic modalities for adequate symptom relief.

The treatment of gastroparesis in the age of the gastric pacemaker: a review.

Gastroparesis is a chronic disabling condition of impaired gastric motility that results in decreased quality of life. Currently available medical therapy consists of prokinetic medication combined with antiemetic therapy, dietary modifications, and nutritional supplementation. Many patients continue to have a suboptimal clinical response despite maximal use of these modalities.

Delayed gastric emptying in gastroesophageal reflux disease: reassessment with new methods and symptomatic correlations.

Background: Previous studies have shown that patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have slower rates of gastric emptying than control subjects, but the prevalence has differed because of variations in methodology. The recent establishment of international control values for scintigraphic gastric emptying assessment makes standardization of this technique possible. It would also be useful to determine whether specific gastrointestinal symptoms predicted delayed gastric emptying in GERD.

In primary sclerosing cholangitis, gallbladder polyps are frequently malignant.

Objective: The management of gallbladder polyps/masses in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) (i.e., cholecystectomy vs observation) remains problematic.