Current Opinion in Gastroenterology

Ahlquist, David A.

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This review highlights the past year's literature that pertains to the appropriate use and effectiveness of colorectal endoscopy for the screening and surveillance of neoplasia. Treatment of colorectal neoplasms by electrothermal, photothermal, and photodynamic techniques is discussed. Technologies to extend our current diagnostic capabilities, such as electronic endoscopy and endoscopic ultrasound, are covered. Studies are summarized on the diagnostic yield of colonoscopy in patients with occult and overt bleeding. New information on tissue sampling, bowel preparation, procedure safety, and patient monitoring is presented.

Farthing, Michael J.G.

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The structure of the pore-forming peptide of

Sears, Cynthia L.

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Salmonella gastroenteritis is an important, common, and usually self-limited illness. Problems relating to invasive salmonellosis in immunocompromised hosts, chronic carriage, and increasing antibiotic resistance have made the management of salmonella infections more complex. This article reviews salmonellosis, focusing on recent epidemiology, pathophysiology, and treatment considerations. Areas of recent investigation of mechanisms of pathogenesis, including signal transduction pathways, the role of cytokines, and the mechanisms of the heat-labile enterotoxin, are reviewed. New concepts are also considered for enteropathy associated with human immunodeficiency virus.

Gracey, Michael

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This review discusses recent advances in the etiology and epidemiology of infectious diarrhea, with emphasis on pediatric reports. The wider implications of the Peruvian cholera epidemic and the social and economic consequences of human salmonellosis are given particular attention. The review ends with a discussion of some important papers about management of childhood diarrheal disease, including the role of drug therapy.

Gorbach, Sherwood L.

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Tremaine, William J.

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This article reviews several recent studies on effects of medications on the colon. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-associated diseases, including colitis, stercoral perforations of the colon, and complications of diverticular disease are presented. The toxic effects to the colon of South African tribal enemas and methamphetamines are detailed. Inhibition of colonic prostaglandin synthesis by sulindac with a reduction in polyps in patients with polyposis coli is noted. Other studies discussed include information about the following: colonic prostaglandin levels after laxative use, mechanism of action of simethicone, the role of different fiber diets in the generation of colonic short-chain fatty acids, fiber in infant formulas, the role of dietary calcium in reducing fecal water cytotoxicity, short-chain fatty acid therapy, and polypeptide diets. New reports of Dieulafoy's lesions and some other vascular abnormalities of the colon and two studies on colonic injury from radiation are discussed.

Milsom, Jeffrey W.

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This review of the past year's literature on major surgical advances in colorectal cancer and inflammatory bowel disease highlights perioperative and intraoperative strategies, new techniques, and finally a short review on laparoscopic bowel surgery—an area certain to grow in the years ahead. As in previous editions, editorial comments pervade the text.

Griffiths, Jeffrey K.

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The past year has seen some advances in the diagnosis and epidemiology of invasive bacteria that cause colonic infections. Multidrug-resistant

Sellin, Joseph H.

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Advances in our understanding of transport and epithelial functions of the colon occurred in several areas during the past year: 1) elucidation of the role of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator in colonic chloride secretion, 2) identification of novel transport pathways for sodium, chloride, and bicarbonate in the colon, 3) delineation of the intricacies of intracellular regulation by second messengers and their surrogates, and 4) recognition of the importance of luminal and subepithelial factors in regulating and, perhaps, controlling epithelial function.

Ericsson, Charles D.

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Traveler's diarrhea remains a common health problem among individuals from industrialized nations who travel to developing nations. The syndrome is self-limited and not incapacitating for the majority of sufferers. It affects all age groups with variable frequency and may manifest more severely in the very young. In certain geographic areas, enterotoxigenic