The American journal of gastroenterology
-
Am. J. Gastroenterol. · Jul 2007
Multicenter StudyPlasma citrulline concentration: a reliable marker of small bowel absorptive capacity independent of intestinal inflammation.
Postabsorptive plasma citrulline concentration has been proposed as a reliable marker of small bowel absorptive capacity in short bowel patients. The aim of this study was to address the potentially confounding impact of intestinal inflammation. ⋯ Plasma citrulline concentration is a simple and reliable surrogate for small bowel absorptive capacity and is not influenced by intestinal inflammation.
-
Am. J. Gastroenterol. · Jun 2007
Funding source and conflict of interest disclosures by authors and editors in gastroenterology specialty journals.
Declarations of conflicts of interest have received considerable scrutiny in recent years. ⋯ Editors of gastroenterology and hepatology journals have been slow to implement guidelines for the disclosure of their own conflicts of interest. Disclosure of funding sources and conflicts of interest of authors is variable despite the presence of conflict of interest policies at most journals.
-
Am. J. Gastroenterol. · Jun 2007
Ischemic-like cholangiopathy with secondary sclerosing cholangitis in critically ill patients.
Sclerosing cholangitis in critically ill patients (SC-CIP) is a newly described entity of severe biliary disease with progression to liver cirrhosis. The mechanisms leading to this form of cholangiopathy with stricture formation and complete obliteration of bile ducts are unknown. ⋯ SC-CIP is a severe and in most cases rapidly progressive complication of intensive care patients. Ischemic injury of the biliary tree with the formation of biliary casts and subsequent ongoing biliary infection due to multiresistant bacteria seem to be major pathogenic mechanisms in the development of this new entity of sclerosing cholangitis.
-
Am. J. Gastroenterol. · May 2007
The role of nonenhanced magnetic resonance imaging in the early assessment of acute pancreatitis.
Computed tomography (CT), especially contrast-enhanced CT (CECT), provides important information on the severity and prognosis of acute pancreatitis (AP). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become a useful tool as an alternative to CT in the assessment of AP. The primary aim of our study was to determine the diagnostic value of nonenhanced MRI (NEMRI) to assess severity and predict outcome in patients with AP from the third to fifth day after admission. We also correlated MRI findings with CT and biochemical parameters. ⋯ NEMRI is comparable to CECT in the early assessment of the severity of AP, and both methods are equally efficient in predicting local and systemic complications of AP. MRI has a potential advantage over CT in detecting bile duct lithiasis and pancreatic hemorrhage.