The American journal of gastroenterology
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Am. J. Gastroenterol. · Aug 2011
Multicenter StudyPrevalence of celiac disease in healthy Turkish school children.
Epidemiological studies of celiac disease (CD) in Turkey have been performed only within some regions of the country. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of CD in Turkish school children. ⋯ We estimate that the prevalence of CD is at least 0.47% in healthy Turkish school children. Screening for IgA-tTG plus EMA provided better results for diagnosis when compared with testing for IgA-tTG alone.
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Am. J. Gastroenterol. · Jul 2011
Intestinal serotonin release, sensory neuron activation, and abdominal pain in irritable bowel syndrome.
Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) metabolism may be altered in gut disorders, including in the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). We assessed in patients with IBS vs. healthy controls (HCs) the number of colonic 5-HT-positive cells; the amount of mucosal 5-HT release; their correlation with mast cell counts and mediator release, as well as IBS symptoms; and the effects of mucosal 5-HT on electrophysiological responses in vitro. ⋯ In patients with IBS, 5-HT spontaneous release was significantly increased irrespective of bowel habit and correlated with mast cell counts and the severity of abdominal pain. Our results suggest that increased 5-HT release contributes to development of abdominal pain in IBS, probably through mucosal immune activation.
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Am. J. Gastroenterol. · Jul 2011
ReviewColorectal cancer screening and surveillance in the elderly patient.
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Older age is associated with a rise in colorectal cancer and adenomas, necessitating the need for CRC screening in older patients. ⋯ The decision requires an individualized assessment that incorporates factors unique to performing colonoscopy in older adults in order to weigh the risks and benefits for each patient according to their overall health and preferences. This review addresses the factors unique to colorectal cancer and performing colonoscopy in older adults that are relevant in weighing the risks and benefits of screening and surveillance in this population.
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Am. J. Gastroenterol. · Jun 2011
Comparative StudyComparison between definitive chemoradiotherapy and esophagectomy in patients with clinical stage I esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
Chemoradiotherapy (CRT) has been proposed as an alternative therapy to esophagectomy for esophageal cancer, because of its favorable survival rate and mild toxicity. However, no comparative studies of esophagectomy and CRT have been reported in patients with clinical stage I esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. ⋯ The overall survival rate of patients with clinical stage I esophageal cancer treated with CRT was comparable to that in those treated with esophagectomy, despite a high local recurrence rate. Locally recurrent carcinoma was endoscopically treatable in most patients, with no effect on overall survival. CRT seems to be a viable alternative to esophagectomy in patients with clinical stage I esophageal cancer.