Digestive Disease Information Center

Med-Brief

• Alendronate Appears to be Linked to Gastrointestinal Problems - Oct 98
• Approval of first oral drug treatment for chronic hepatitis B - Jan 99
• Diet May Improve Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome - Oct 98
• Drug Treatment of Advanced Colorectal Cancer - Nov 98
• Orphan drug status for Crohn's disease medication - Apr 99
• Possible link between bowel disorder, asthma, and heartburn - Jan 99
• U.S. availability of drug for overactive bladder - Feb 99

Medical Sciences Bulletin

• Analgesic Nephropathy: Preventable But Still Reported
• Assessing Therapies for Reflux Esophagitis
• Cimetidine and Weight Loss
• Cimetidine Approved for OTC
• Clarithromycin/omeprazole combo approved for H pylori ulcers
• Constipation in the Elderly
• Crohn's Disease
• Cyclospora: A New Cause of Traveler's Diarrhea
• Dexfenfluramine Approved for Managing Obesity
• Digestive Diseases Statistics
• Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis
• FDA Approves Olestra, Fat-free "Fat"
• FDA NEWS: Olestra and Other Fat Substitutes
• FDA Advisory Committee Recommends Dexfenfluramine Approval
• Focus On. . . Helicobacter pylori and Ulcers
• Focus On... Liver-Brain Relations in Alcoholics
• Focus On... Peptic Ulcer Disease
• Focus On... Stones
• Gastrointestinal Resources - A Review of Sites
• Gene-Based Therapy Offers Potential Breakthrough in Treating Inflammatory Bowel Disease
• GERD SYMPTOMS, MEDICATION USE AND ENDOSCOPIC FINDINGS IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH PEPTIC STRICTURES
• Granisetron Approved for Chemotherapy- induced Vomiting
• Interim Recommendations Issued for Patients Exposed to Fenfluramine and Dexfenfluramine
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Lactose Intolerance: Is There Hope for Those Affected?
• Lansoprazole Against Gastric Acid
• LONG-TERM FOLLOW-UP OF PATIENTS AFTER ANTI-REFLUX SURGERY: ASSESSING QUALITY OF LIFE AND CLINICAL OUTCOMES
• Low-Dose Aspirin and Gastric Toxicity: Can it be Prevented?
• Managing Acid-Reflux Disorders
• Managing Gastrointestinal Problems in Patients with Parkinson's Disease
• Meretek's Helicobacter pylori Breath Test Approved
• Mesalamine in Crohn's Disease
• New Study Finds Cats Do Not Transmit Ulcer Bacteria to Humans
• Nitroglycerin for Biliary Colic
• Oral Granisetron Antiemetic for High-dose Chemotherapy
• Oral Ondansetron Indication Expanded to Post-Op Nausea and Vomiting
• OTC Famotidine for Acid Control
• Poisoning: What You Need to
• Octreotide and Palliation
• Porfimer Approved for Esophageal Cancer Obstructions
• Presence of Helicobacter pylori in the Stomach Does Not Appear to Portend Risk of Significant Damage to the Esophagus
• Screening for Colorectal Cancer: New Guidelines
• Sibutramine: Replacement for "fen/phen?"
• Stomach and Duodenal Ulcers
• Surfing the Net May Be Hazardous to Your Health: Quality of Digestive Disease Information on the Internet Varies Widely
• Study Finds Heartburn Symptoms Persist After Surgical Treatment for Severe Gastroesophageal Reflux
• Tritec and Helidac Approved for H. pylori Peptic Ulcer Disease
• Ulcerative Colitis

PNN Pharmacotherapy Line

• Acetaminophen: Wrong Doses Damaging Livers
• Antioxidant Therapy Helps With H. pylori Eradication
• AP Story on Redux in Error; Death Was Homicide
• FDA Looks at Dietary Aids
• FDA Reports on Fen-Phen in Today's NEJM
• H. pylori Cure Associated with Reflux Esophagitis
• H. pylori in Gastric Ulcers: Tough Bugs
• H. pylori Linked to Enteric Infection in Childhood
• Infliximab Approved for Crohn's Disease - Sept 98
• JAMA Warns of New Problems with Diet Drugs
• Koop: 300,000 Premature Deaths from Obesity
• Leptin: Still an Enigma
• Low-Dose Ketoprofen Associated with GI Damage - Sept 98
• NSAIDs: Articles Review G.I. Problems, Solutions
• NSAIDs: Protective Against Colorectal Cancer?
• Obesity a Risk Factor in Breast Cancer
• Obesity: Debate Continues over the Role of Drugs
• Obesity Linked with Diabetes, Drugs Can Help
• Omeprazole Helps Sensitive Esophagus
• Prospects for Future Advances in Obesity Treatment
• Treatments Explored for Advanced Colorectal CA

AHCPR Research Activities

• Both overtreatment and undertreatment pose problems for children with acute gastroenteritis

American College of Gastroenterology, 1996

• Accuracy of a clinical decision strategy to triage patients with acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding - preliminary results
• The Baker Presidential Lecture "Helicobacter pylori in the Year 2000"
• Barrett's esophagus and intestinal metaplasia of the gastric cardia
• C. difficile colitis in the elderly
• Can the response rate of chronic hepatitis C to interferon be predicted by histologic scoring?
• Chronic unexplained diarrhea in human immunodeficiency virus infection. Determination of the best diagnostic approach.
• Chronic watery diarrhea and the diagnostic yield of lower endoscopy in patients under the age of fifty years
• Correlation between colonoscopy and CT-based virtual endoscopy (VE) in detecting space-occupying lesions of the colon
• Crohn's disease patients' experience with and beliefs about complementary medicine
• Does high frequency ultrasound probe sonography during diagnostic endoscopy change clinical management and outcome? A prospective study
• Does initial choice of Helicobacter pylori treatment regimen influence the recurrence rate of duodenal ulcer (DU)? A meta analysis
• Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) can effectively diagnose and predict resectability of pancreatic cancers
• Evaluation of a non-endoscopic cytology balloon in the diagnosis of infectious esophageal disease in aids patients
• Features associated with painless peptic ulcer bleeding
• Fecal occult blood testing in patients taking low-dose aspirin for cardiovascular disease
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease: is there a familial predisposition?
• How to Handle Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease An Expert Panel Discussion
• The impact of health care reform on gastroenterology fellows: are training programs preparing them for the future?
• IV cyclosporin in severe ulcerative colitis: a 5-year experience
• Is liver biopsy necessary prior to treatment of hepatitis C?: economic and medical implications.
• Long-term follow-up of endoscopic retrograde colangeopancreatography (ERCP) sphincterotomy for patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome papillary stenosis.
• The natural history of esophageal candidiasis after successful treatment of patients with AIDS.
• A new device for control of post-sphincterotomy bleeding
• New Research on the Treatyment of Iunflammatory Bowel Diseases
• Noncardiac Chest Pain
• Octreotide use in acute variceal hemorrhage: a prospective randomized study.
• Percutaneous cholecystostomy: a safe, effective treatment for high risk patients with acute cholecystitis
• Prolonged esophageal pH control does not reverse Barrett's esophagus
• "Recurrent" non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and cirrhosis after liver transplantation
• The Screening and Prevention of Deadly Gastrointestinal Cancers An Expert Panel Discussion
• Sensitivity and specificity of 53 protein accumulation as a marker of malignant potential in Barrett's metaplasia
• Surveillance in Barrett's esophagus
• Surveillance of Barrett's esophagus with balloon cytology
• Sustained esophageal contraction associated with noncardiac chest pain: identification by 24-hour intraluminal ultrasonography
• Utility of endoscopic procedures in the evaluation of liver transplant candidates
• What to do after a failed ERCP - give yourself a second chance

American College of Gastroenterology, 1995

• Pathogenesis of Reflux Esophagitis
• Current Treatment of Reflux Esophagitis
• Barrett's Esophagus
• A Prospective Randomized Trial Assessing the Timing and Cost of ERCP in Gallstone Pancreatitis
• Photodynamic Therapy Destroy's Dysplasia in Barrett's Esophagus
• The Incidence of Adenocarcinoma in Barrett's Esophagus
• Effects of Beta-Carotene Therapy on Symptomatic Endoscopic and Histologic Parameters in Patients with Barrett's Esophagus
• IV ACTH or Hydrocortisone in the Treatment of Hospitalized Patients with Crohn's Disease
• Mesalazine Versus Placebo in the Maintenance Remission of Patients with Crohn's Disease
• ACG Bleeding Registry (BR): Preliminary Findings
• A Community Experience with GI Bleeding
• News frrom the Poster Session (October 16, 1995)
• The Use of Colorectal Cancer Screening is Limited by Patient Preconceptions
• Evaluating Chronic Unexplained Diarrhea in Patients with HIV
• ACG Distinguished Lecture. Peptic Ulcer Disease: The Rest of the Story
• Erythromycin and Ancef(R) Increase Gastric Motility in Persons with Dysmotility Problems
• Diagnosing Cryptosporidium Parvum in AIDS Patients with Severe Diarrhea
• EUS versus CT in the Diagnosis of Chronic Pancreatitis
• News from the Poster Session (October 17, 1995)
• The Hydrophobic Characteristics of Esophageal Secretions are Altered in Patients with Reflux Esophagitis
• Single-dose Antacid Provides Rapid Relief from Heartburn Compared to an OTC H2-Blocker
• Endoscopic Discrimination of Gastric Ulcers is Sensitive and Specific
• The Role of Psychiatric and H. Pylori Screening Before Upper Endoscopy
• News from the Poster Session (October 18, 1995)
• Gastrointestinal Facts for Patients

Digestive Disease Week, 1996

• A meta-analysis comparing endoscopic injection therapy and thermal methods in the treatment of hemorrhage caused by peptic ulcer
• A sexual and physical abuse severity measure predicts health status among patients with GI disorders.
• An Overview of the Digestive Disease Week Meeting
• Approaches to the adolescent with abdominal pain
• Are There Environmental Risks Factors that Contribute to the Development of Barrett's Esophagus
• Cost-effectiveness of alternative strategies for preventing rebleeding from esophageal varices
• Cost-effectiveness of omeprazole vs. fundoplication in the long-term treatment of reflux
• Delayed Gastric Emptying in Healthy Women has been Associated with Decreased Antral Contractility
• Development and evaluation of patient information brochures for endoscopy
• Does dose escalation of interferon result in a greater improvement in patients with chronic hepatitis?
• Does the Eradication of H. Pylori Prevent NSAID-Induced Ulcers
• Effective two-week triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori disease in children.
• Esophagoprotective potential of cisapride: a novel rationale for it use in gastroesophageal reflux disease
• Frequent heartburn should not be ignored in subjects who self-medicate with antacids
• Gallbladder function in obese persons during weight loss diets
• High gastrin levels increases the risk for colorectal carcinoma
• Interleukin-1beta Converting Enzyme: A novel therapeutic target in inflammatory bowel disease
• Is Helicobacter pylori infection a risk factor for gastric cancer in patients younger that 55 years of age?
• Long-Term Follow-Up of Patients with Short-Segment Barrett's Esophagus
• Maintenance Therapy in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
• Preoperative endoscopic ultrasound can predict recurrence and mortality after surgery for esophageal carcinoma.
• Quadruple therapy in Helicobacter pylori eradication using omeprazole, sucralfate, tetracycline and metronidazole
• Should Helicobacter Pylori Status be Determined Before Initiating Eradication Therapy in Patients With Chronic Duodenal Ulcer Disease?
• Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction and chronic pancreatitis
• The effect of 1-month treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on intragastric pH of patients with rheumatoid arthritis
• The gastric bypass surgery for obesity reduces the progression and mortality of noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM
• The significance of family history in colorectal cancer
• TIPS vs peritoneovenous shunts in the treatment of intractable ascites
• Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C with Amantadine

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• alosetron (Lotronex)
• balsalazide (Colazide (UK))
• bethanechol (Urecholine/Merck)
• bisacodyl (Dulcolax/Ciba Geigy)
• cisapride (Propulsid/Janssen Pharmaceutica)
• domeperidone
• famotidine (Pepcid)
• infliximab (Remicade)
• lactulose (Chronulac/Hoechst Marion Roussel)
• lansoprazole (Prevacid/Takeda-Abbott Pharmaceutical)
• metoclopramide (Relgan/Robins)
• nizatidine (Axid/Lilly)
• octreotide (Sandostatin)
• olestra (Olean)
• omeprazole (Prilosec/Astra-Merck)
• pantoprazole (Protonix)
• ranitidine (Zantac/GlaxoWellcome)
• sucralfate (Carafate/Hoechst Marion Roussel)
• tegaserod (Zelmac)
• ursodiol (ursodeoxycholic acid) (Actigall/Summit Pharmaceuticals)

GASTRO-EHLB

GASTRO-EHLB is for the discussion of the latest research and practical clinical treatment guidelines in the Gastrointestinal area. It is also for the dissemination of electronic highlights bulletins from important medical meetings such as the annual meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology or the Digestive Disease Week annual meetings.

GASTRO-EHLB is an independent mailing list owned and moderated by VirSci Corporation.

To subscribe to GASTRO-EHLB, send an E-mail message to LISTSERV@listserv.acor.org with the following in the message body:

SUBSCRIBE GASTRO-EHLB firstname lastname

substitute your own first and last names (as in SUBSCRIBE GASTRO-EHLB Bob Doe). DO NOT INCLUDE ANY OTHER TEXT IN THE BODY OF THE MESSAGE (not even a "signature").

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Web Sites

Pathology slides from Kansas University Medical Center

What's there?-Fantastic 'Fotos' with clear explanations and ability to enlarge specimens to better view the abnormality. Without doubt, one of the best pathology presentations I have seen. This is the direct link to the GI section of the site which has over 30 GI pathology topics.

Endoscopy Atlas

From the anticancer league in Venezuela; in Spanish but easily interpretable due to great use of graphics.

"Endoscopia" by Ignazio Puddu

What's there? Some interesting endoscopic slides including a great one of an actively bleeding Varix plus a few links to other GI sites. In Italian-but pics are universal.

What is a Gastroenterologist?

An FAQ from the American College of Gastroenterology

American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases

American Liver Foundation

Centers for Disease Control

Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center Gastroenterology Web

Directory of Digestive Disease Organizations for Patients

Documents on Digestive Diseases

for patients from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease

Functional Bowel Disease Center University of North Carolina

Hepatitis C Information and Support Groups

Hepatitis Foundation International

Inflammatory Bowel Disease Pages

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease

Shwachman Syndrome Support Page

University of Alberta Electrogastrography

University of Calgary GI Research Group