Study protocol for a pilot randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of Frondanol in adults with inflammatory bowel disease.

Introduction: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), consisting of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, is a debilitating condition with a rising incidence globally over recent years. Frondanol, a widely available nutraceutical extract of the edible sea cucumber has been reported to possess potent anti-inflammatory effects, likely mediated by the inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase and 12-lipoxygenase pathways, whilst showing no signs of toxicity. The potent anti-inflammatory effects of Frondanol in a mouse model of IBD provide encouragement for investigating its effects in human IBD patients.

Dieulafoy's lesion-like bleeding: an underrecognized cause of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage in patients with advanced liver disease.

Dieulafoy's lesion is a gastrointestinal submucosal artery that ruptures into the lumen causing massive hemorrhage. Until recently, failure to diagnose and treat patients endoscopically may have necessitated blind gastrectomy. Because arteriolar spider nevi abound in patients with liver disease and bleeding from such lesions has been described in the upper gastrointestinal tract, we reviewed our experience to determine whether a diagnosis of advanced liver disease could facilitate recognition and treatment of this type of arterial bleeding.