Modeling post-operative survival in patients with gallbladder cancer resections: The road to improved patient care?

In this letter, we discuss the article by Li published in the . Gallbladder cancer is a rare but fatal cancer that is often detected unexpectedly and at an advanced stage following routine cholecystectomy. Although the prognosis is poor, curative resections often combined with postoperative chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy can improve survival.

T-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas reported to the FDA AERS with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) inhibitors: results of the REFURBISH study.

Objectives: The risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) inhibitors is unclear, whether related to concomitant thiopurines usage or due to the underlying inflammatory disease. We sought to review all cases of T-cell NHL reported to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in patients receiving TNF-α inhibitors for all approved indications and examine the risk of T-cell NHL with TNF-α inhibitors in comparison with the use of thiopurines in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Methods: The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (AERS) was queried for all lymphomas following treatment with the following TNF-α inhibitors: infliximab, adalimumab, certolizumab, etanercept, and their trade names.

Do gastroenterologists adhere to diagnostic and treatment guidelines for celiac disease?

Aim: Our group hypothesized that significant variation exists between suggested clinical guidelines, the clinical practices of practicing gastroenterologists and academic experts in celiac disease (CD).

Method: We designed 4 CD vignettes comparing experts and practicing gastroenterologists. Practicing gastroenterologists (n=169) were surveyed during Digestive Disease Week 2009 and experts (n=22) answered e-mail surveys.

Hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma in patients receiving TNF-α inhibitor therapy: expanding the groups at risk.

Background: Hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma (HSTCL) is a rare, lethal disease generally seen in young male patients with inflammatory bowel disease. The study of biologic and immunomodulator naive patients in Crohn's disease (SONIC), advocates combining infliximab with an immunomodulator in moderate-to-severe Crohn's disease. Unfortunately, combined immunosuppression increases risk for HSTCL.