Prevalence of colorectal neoplasms in Asian Americans.

Purpose: To determine the yield of colonoscopy in a predominantly Asian American gastroenterology practice in California from 8/2003 to 2/2005.

Results: A total 2,723 subjects were included: 87% were Asian and 13% were non-Asian. Advanced neoplasia prevalence was 12% in Asian men and 9% in non-Asian men (P = 0.

Low proportion of Barrett's esophagus in Asian Americans.

Objectives: To determine the proportion of Barrett's esophagus (BE) in Asians versus non-Asians and the predictors of BE in patients with upper gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study to determine the proportion of BE from all consecutive patients who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) for various indications at an outpatient, community-based gastroenterology practice in northern California from February 2000 to September 2006. BE was defined as endoscopically recognized presence of salmon-pink mucosa in the distal esophagus and intestinal metaplasia on biopsy.

Significant prevalence of histologic disease in patients with chronic hepatitis B and mildly elevated serum alanine aminotransferase levels.

Background & Aims: Serum ALT remains the most accessible test available to clinicians for monitoring chronic hepatitis B virus infection, but appropriate action when ALT levels are only mildly elevated is ambiguous in standard guidelines.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of significant histology in a patient population with mildly elevated serum ALT levels. A total of 193 consecutive patients were selected and divided into 2 groups according to HBeAg status.