Is central obesity associated with cirrhosis-related death or hospitalization? A population-based, cohort study.

Background & Aims: We aimed to determine the interaction between body fat distribution (central versus peripheral) and increased body mass index (BMI) with regards to the risk of cirrhosis-related death or hospitalization.

Methods: Participants included 11,434 persons aged 25-74 years without evidence of cirrhosis at entry into the study or during the first 5 years of follow-up who were subsequently followed for a mean of 12.9 years as part of the first National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Elevated prevalence of hepatitis C infection in users of United States veterans medical centers.

Several studies suggest veterans have a higher prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection than nonveterans, possibly because of military exposures. The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of anti-hepatitis C antibody and evaluate factors associated with infection among users of Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers. Using a two-staged cluster sample, 1288 of 3863 randomly selected veterans completed a survey and underwent home-based phlebotomy for serological testing.

Association of interferon-alpha-induced depression and improved treatment response in patients with hepatitis C.

Thirty-nine patients with hepatitis C viral infection on interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) therapy were monitored weekly using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Thirteen of thirty-nine patients (33%) developed IFN-alpha-induced major depressive disorder (MDD). During the course of IFN-alpha therapy, patients who became depressed were treated with citalopram, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant.

The effect of alcohol consumption on the prevalence of iron overload, iron deficiency, and iron deficiency anemia.

Background & Aims: Our aim was to investigate the relationship between alcohol consumption and iron overload, iron deficiency, or iron deficiency anemia in the U.S. population.

Hepatitis C tested prevalence and comorbidities among veterans in the US Northwest.

Goals: (1) Investigate the epidemiology of hepatitis C virus infection among patients seen in the Veterans Administration Northwest Network; (2) examine time trends in testing practices and results; and (3) estimate the prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection among active patients.

Background: Hepatitis C virus infection causes chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis and is a leading cause of end-stage liver disease. Hepatitis C virus antibodies are estimated to be present in 1.

Is obesity a risk factor for cirrhosis-related death or hospitalization? A population-based cohort study.

Background And Aims: Our aim was to determine whether increased body mass index (BMI) in the general population is associated with cirrhosis-related death or hospitalization.

Methods: Participants included 11,465 persons aged 25-74 years without evidence of cirrhosis at entry into the study, or during the first 5 years of follow-up, who subsequently were followed-up for a mean of 12.9 years.

Predictors of colorectal cancer screening participation in the United States.

Objective: Our aim was to identify predictors of colorectal cancer screening in the United States and subgroups with particularly low rates of screening.

Methods: The responses to a telephone-administered questionnaire of a nationally representative sample of 61,068 persons aged >/=50 yr were analyzed. Current screening was defined as either sigmoidoscopy/colonoscopy in the preceding 5 years or fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) in the preceding year, or both.

Fecal occult blood testing in a general medical clinic: comparison between guaiac-based and immunochemical-based tests.

Purpose: Guaiac-based fecal occult blood tests are limited by poor patient compliance, and low sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value. Newer immunochemical-based tests are designed to improve accuracy and patient compliance. We compared patient compliance and the test characteristics of these two types of tests.

Racial differences in the relationship between hepatitis C infection and iron stores.

Black race and increased hepatic iron stores predict poor response to interferon treatment for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We tested the hypothesis that these 2 observations are linked by investigating whether HCV-infected African-Americans have increased iron stores relative to uninfected persons. Using data from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), we determined the risk of having increased iron stores, defined as elevation of both serum ferritin and transferrin-iron saturation (TS), in HCV-RNA-positive blacks (n = 100) and nonblacks (n = 126) relative to HCV-RNA-negative blacks (n = 4,002) and nonblacks (n = 10,943).

Prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis and hepatitis C in those age 60 and older in a US population based study.

Objective: A positive association between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been reported in clinic based cross sectional studies. We investigated if RA and HCV are associated in a population based survey.

Methods: Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III, hepatitis C and RA status were determined for subjects > or = 60 years of age.

The safety of valproic acid use for patients with hepatitis C infection.

Objective: Valproic acid is frequently not recommended for patients with hepatic dysfunction. The authors evaluated the association between hepatitis C and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) values during valproic acid treatment.

Method: ALT changes in 564 individuals beginning valproic acid treatment were examined.

Guideline for the management of ingested foreign bodies.

This is one of a series of statements discussing the utilization of gastrointestinal endoscopy in common clinical situations. The Standards of Practice Committee of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy prepared this text. In preparing this guideline, a MEDLINE literature search was performed, and additional references were obtained from the bibliographies of the identified articles and from recommendations of expert consultants.

Role of endoscopy in enteral feeding.

This is one of a series of statements discussing the utilization of gastrointestinal endoscopy in common clinical situations. The Standards of Practice Committee of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy prepared this text. A previous guideline related to this topic (ASGE Publication No.

Complications of upper GI endoscopy.

This is one of a series of statements discussing the utilization of gastrointestinal endoscopy in common clinical situations. The Standards of Practice Committee of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy prepared this text. In preparing this guideline, a MEDLINE literature search was performed, and additional references were obtained from the bibliographies of the identified articles and from recommendations of expert consultants.

Methods of granting hospital privileges to perform gastrointestinal endoscopy.

This is one of a series of statements discussing the utilization of gastrointestinal endoscopy in common clinical situations. The Standards of Practice Committee of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy prepared this text. In preparing this guideline, a MEDLINE literature search was performed, and additional references were obtained from the bibliographies of the identified articles and from recommendations of expert consultants.

Guideline on the management of anticoagulation and antiplatelet therapy for endoscopic procedures.

This is one of a series of statements discussing the practice of gastrointestinal endoscopy in common clinical situations. It is intended to aid endoscopists in determining the appropriate use of endoscopic procedures in conjunction with anticoagulation and/or antiplatelet therapy. Guidelines for the appropriate practice of endoscopy are based on critical review of the available data and expert consensus.