Pharmacotherapy in Treatment of Obesity.

Common disease states in gastroenterology are more effectively treated in an obese patient when weight loss is incorporated into the treatment plan. Strategies that seek to achieve weight loss improve outcomes in the treatment of hepatitis C, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and colorectal cancer, as examples. Pharmacologic therapy is an important adjunctive intervention that improves both short-term and long-term outcomes in the management of obese patients.

Lactose intolerance and health disparities among African Americans and Hispanic Americans: an updated consensus statement.

Dairy foods contribute nine essential nutrients to the diet including calcium, potassium and vitamin D; nutrients identified by the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans as being "of public health concern" within the U.S. population.

Endoscopic management of common bariatric surgical complications.

The primary role of endoscopic intervention in the care of bariatric surgery patients is in the management of late bariatric surgical complications and non-operative revision of the surgical anatomy. In the future, indications for therapeutic endoscopy will involve the gastroenterologist in primary weight loss interventions as cutting edge technology is currently undergoing rigorous scientific evaluation. Endoscopists caring for these patients should become familiar with post-bariatric surgical anatomy, potential complications, common presenting symptoms, anticipated luminal/extra-luminal findings, and endoscopic management of common bariatric complications; this review addresses these issues.

Prophylactic percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube placement in treatment of head and neck cancer: a comprehensive review and call for evidence-based medicine.

Background: Patients with head and neck cancers (HNCs) are at increased risk of experiencing malnutrition, which is associated with poor outcomes. Advances in the treatment of HNCs have resulted in improved outcomes that are associated with severe toxic oral side effects, placing patients at an even greater risk of malnutrition. Prophylactic placement of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tubes before treatment may be beneficial in patients with HNC, especially those undergoing more intense treatment regimens.

The prevalence of self-reported lactose intolerance and the consumption of dairy foods among African American adults are less than expected.

Objective: To determine the self-reported incidence of lactose intolerance and its influence on dairy choices among African American adults.

Design, Setting, And Participants: An online survey closely matched to the 2000 US Census was administered to a nationally representative sample of African Americans (2016 adults) and a comparison sample of the general population (1084 adults). Statistical analyses performed included pairwise t tests for proportion conducted on percent responses at the 95% confidence level.

Bedside nutrition assessment past, present, and future: a review of the Subjective Global Assessment.

Bedside nutrition assessment remains an essential skill for the practicing clinician to master as the nutrition status of our patients directly influences clinical outcomes and mortality rates. Dr Charles E. Butterworth Jr's initial report of malnutrition in hospitalized patients, the so-called "skeleton in the closet," riveted the medical community.

Rosai-Dorfman disease presenting in the gastrointestinal tract.

Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD) rarely presents a diagnostic challenge. However, unusual sites of presentation can cause confusion. We present a case of RDD of the colon in a symptomatic 51-year-old woman.