Long-term cortisol stress response in depression and comorbid anxiety is linked with reduced N-acetylaspartate in the anterior cingulate cortex.

Objectives: Major Depression (MDD) and anxiety disorders are stress-related disorders that share pathophysiological mechanisms. There is evidence for alterations of glutamate-glutamine, N-acetylaspartate (NAA) and GABA in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), a stress-sensitive region affected by hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA). The aim was to investigate metabolic alterations in the ACC and whether hair cortisol, current stress or early life adversity predict them.

Diagnostic yield of colonoscopy to evaluate melena after a nondiagnostic EGD.

Background: Melena can be caused by bleeding from lower GI sources. Colonoscopy is frequently used to investigate melena after a nondiagnostic EGD.

Objective: To determine the diagnostic yield and rate of therapeutic intervention during colonoscopy in patients with melena and a nondiagnostic EGD.

Constipation is not associated with an increased rate of findings on colonoscopy: results from a national endoscopy consortium.

Background And Study Aims: There are no definite guidelines regarding colonoscopic evaluation for the indication of constipation, a common gastrointestinal complaint. The aim of our study was to determine the risk of finding significant lesions in patients undergoing colonoscopy for the indication of constipation alone compared with constipation with another indication or average-risk screening.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective review of the Clinical Outcomes Research Initiative database was carried out for colonoscopies undertaken between 1 January 2000 and 30 June 2003.

High detection rates of colorectal neoplasia by stool DNA testing with a novel digital melt curve assay.

Background & Aims: Current stool DNA tests identify about half of individuals with colorectal cancers and miss most individuals with advanced adenomas. We developed a digital melt curve (DMC) assay to quantify low-abundance mutations in stool samples for detection of colorectal neoplasms and compared this test with other approaches.

Methods: We combined a melt curve assay with digital polymerase chain reaction and validated the quantitative range.

Stool DNA and occult blood testing for screen detection of colorectal neoplasia.

Background: Stool DNA testing is a new approach to colorectal cancer detection. Few data are available from the screening setting.

Objective: To compare stool DNA and fecal blood testing for detection of screen-relevant neoplasia (curable-stage cancer, high-grade dysplasia, or adenomas >1 cm).