Prevalence of elevated liver enzymes in children with cystic fibrosis diagnosed by newborn screen.

Background: Prevalence and risks for elevated liver enzymes have not been studied systematically in children with CF identified by newborn screen.

Methods: 298 CF children identified by newborn screen since 1982. AST, ALT and GGT tested at annual visits.

Eosinophilic esophagitis: epithelial mesenchymal transition contributes to esophageal remodeling and reverses with treatment.

Background: Mechanisms underlying esophageal remodeling with subepithelial fibrosis in subjects with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) have not been delineated.

Objectives: We sought to explore a role for epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) in subjects with EoE and determine whether EMT resolves with treatment.

Methods: Esophageal biopsy specimens from 60 children were immunostained for epithelial (cytokeratin) and mesenchymal (vimentin) EMT biomarkers, and EMT was quantified.

Role of eosinophils in inflammatory bowel and gastrointestinal diseases.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are characterized by the invasion of leukocytes into the intestinal mucosa. However, a mixed inflammatory picture is observed that includes neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, and eosinophils. To this day, the role of eosinophils in health and in disease remains unclear.

A novel histologic scoring system to evaluate mucosal biopsies from patients with eosinophilic esophagitis.

Background & Aims: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is characterized by medically/surgically-resistant gastroesophageal reflux symptoms and dense squamous eosinophilia. Studies suggest that histologic assessment of esophageal eosinophilia alone cannot reliably separate patients with EoE from those with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Our goal was to develop an assay to identify EoE patients and perhaps differentiate EoE from other causes of esophageal eosinophilia.