Monthly Archives: May 2015

Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening has been shown to reduce CRC incidence and mortality and is widely recommended. However, despite the demonstrated benefits of screening and ongoing efforts to improve screening rates, a large percentage of the populati… Continue reading →

We thank Drs DiMaio and Kim for their thorough review of our paper. Conducting research in this arena is challenging and we concur that there are problems inherent to retrospective record review, but it is at present the only realistic method to ensure… Continue reading →

The ratio of liver size to body weight (hepatostat) is tightly controlled, but little is known about how the physiologic functions of the liver help determine its size. Livers of mice repopulated with human hepatocytes (humanized livers) grow to larger… Continue reading →

The prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has increased with the obesity pandemic. We analyzed the transcriptional profiles of subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and phenotypes and functional character… Continue reading →

Question: A 55-year-old woman with chronic constipation underwent screening colonoscopy. The colonic mucosa had a diffuse brown pigmentation consistent with melanosis coli. In the cecum a 1-cm, Paris class IIa lesion with a yellowish hue and concomitan… Continue reading →

Question: A 21-year-old woman was referred to our General Surgery Department in South Africa with progressive abdominal distention, abdominal discomfort, and intermittent vomiting over the previous year. She was still managing to pass stools and flatus… Continue reading →

Question: A 79-year-old man presented with a 4-month history of intermittent melena, weakness, and abdominal pain was admitted to our hospital. His past medical history was significant for hypertension and cholecystectomy. He denied previous radiothera… Continue reading →

Question: A 46-year-old man with a 3-month history of recurrent pancreatitis of unknown etiology was admitted for another episode of acute pancreatitis. Liver function tests (LFTs) at the time of initial presentation showed elevated bilirubin (4.5 mg/dL) and transaminase levels >200 U/L. CT scan and MR cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) revealed pancreatic inflammation, gallbladder wall thickening, and 0.9 cm common bile duct (CBD) dilatation. He underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with biliary sphincterotomy and sludge removal (Figure A). Continue reading →

Question: A 61-year-old man with recurrent small bowel obstruction, hematochezia, and terminal ileal ulcerations seen on colonoscopy was referred to our institution for suspicion of inflammatory bowel disease. On physical examination, the patient was afebrile without abdominal distention, tenderness, organomegaly, or palpable masses. Laboratory assessment was notable for an elevated C-reactive protein of 40 mg/L (normal, <5 mg/L) and elevated serum chromogranin A of 196 ng/dL (normal, <93 ng/dL). Continue reading →