Journal of clinical gastroenterology
-
J. Clin. Gastroenterol. · Jul 2012
Comparative StudyThe accuracy of noninvasive methods in predicting the development of hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatic decompensation in patients with chronic hepatitis B.
Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) using transient elastography (FibroScan) can accurately assess the degree of liver fibrosis and predict the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and variceal bleeding in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). ⋯ Our results suggest that LSM or LSPI may be useful predictors of the development of HCC and hepatic decompensation in patients with CHB.
-
J. Clin. Gastroenterol. · Jul 2012
Fecal calprotectin in clinical practice: a noninvasive screening tool for patients with chronic diarrhea.
Surrogate markers of colorectal inflammation are increasingly being recognized as important in differentiating organic from functional intestinal disorders. Fecal calprotectin (FC) can be easily measured in the stool, being released by leukocytes in inflammatory conditions. ⋯ In outpatients referred for colonoscopy a measurement of FC is accurate to identify those with histologic inflammation. Assay of FC may be a reliable and noninvasive screening tool to identify inflammatory causes of chronic, nonbloody diarrhea.
-
J. Clin. Gastroenterol. · Jul 2012
ReviewEsophageal motor disorders: how to bridge the gap between advanced diagnostic tools and paucity of therapeutic modalities?
High-resolution manometry has added significantly to our current understanding of esophageal motor function by providing improved detail and a data analysis paradigm that is more akin to an imaging format. Esophageal pressure topography provides a seamless dynamic representation of the pressure profile through the entire esophagus and thus, is able to eliminate movement artifact and also assess intrabolus pressure patterns as a surrogate for bolus transit mechanics. ⋯ However, more work is needed in determining the etiology of symptom generation in the context of normal or trivial motor dysfunction. This research will require new techniques to assess visceral hypersensitivity and alterations in central modulation of pain and discomfort.