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Gastroenterology Stories and Local Doctors
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Crohn's Disease and Cow's Milk
Crohn's disease is a condition associated with chronic intestinal inflammation that causes pain, bleeding, and diarrhea, affecting 400,000 to 600,000 people in North America. Researchers from the University of Liverpool found that a bacteria present in cow's milk called Mycobacterium paratubuerculosis releases a molecule that prevents a type of white blood cell from killing E.coli bacteria found in the body. E.coli is known to be present in increased numbers within tissue affected by Crohn's disease. It is believed that Mycobacteria are introduced into the body via cows' milk and other dairy products. Until recently, it has been unclear how this bacterium could trigger intestinal inflammation in humans. (Read more about Crohn's Disease and Cow's Milk)
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Risk Factors for Erosive Esophagitis
Gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD is a common disorder with a high incidence rate in adults of 10 to 38%. Diagnosis and treatment of GERD are important because the disease, in addition to the problematic typical symptoms, has numerous known consequences. GERD can affect a patients' quality of life, decrease functional activity, and increase the risk of esophageal carcinoma. (Read more about Risk Factors for Erosive Esophagitis)
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What is Barrett's Esophagus?
Video: Dr. Jonathan Cohen of the Concorde Medical Group discusses Barrett's Esophagus
Barrett's esophagus (sometimes called Barrett's syndrome, CELLO, columnar epithelium lined lower (o)esophagus or colloquially as Barrett's) refers to an abnormal change (metaplasia) in the cells of the lower end of the esophagus thought to be caused by damage from chronic acid exposure, or reflux esophagitis.[1] Barrett's esophagus is found in about 10% of patients who seek medical care for heartburn (gastroesophageal reflux). It is considered to be a premalignant condition and is associated with an increased risk of esophageal cancer.[2]
The condition is named after Dr. Norman Barrett, Australian-born British surgeon at St Thomas' Hospital, who described the condition in 1957.[3] (Read more about What is Barrett's Esophagus?)
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What is Gastroenterology?
Gastroenterology is a specialized field of medicine that focuses on the digestive tract - from the mouth to the anus. Gastroenterolgy studies the functioning and disorders of the esophagus, stomach and intestines, as well as its associated organs such as the liver, pancreas and gall bladder.
There is documented evidence that some forms of Gastroenterolgy were practiced in ancient Egypt. Greek, Roman and Arab practitioners studied the digestive tracts of the human body with specially designed spatula and mirrors illuminated by candles or oil lamps. More complex tools for examining the rectum with dilating specula were found in the ruins of Pompeii. (Read more about What is Gastroenterology?)
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What Is a Peptic Ulcer?
Peptic Ulcer Disease
One out of eight people in the United States will be diagnosed with Peptic Ulcer Disease (PUD) over the course of their lifetimes. As with many diseases are understanding of the issues and causes of the disease have been evolving in recent years creating the opportunities for more innovative and effective treatments.
What are the Causes Peptic Ulcers?
A Peptic Ulcer is an open sore in the lining of the stomach or intestine. In many ways it is similar to a sore in the mouth. When the ulcer occurs in the stomach it is called a "gastric ulcer". When it occurs in the duodenum it is called a "duodenal ulcer." (Read more about What Is a Peptic Ulcer?)
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Critical Age for Childhood Weight Gain
New research reveals a critical period when a child is at risk of becoming obese.
A study from Columbia University Medical Center found that during the ages of 1-3 years, children are at risk of gaining significant weight. The researchers reviewed growth charts of over 1,700 children in New York City between the ages of one through five. They found that the rate of being overweight increased significantly with each year of age, with the biggest gains between ages of one and three years. (Read more about Critical Age for Childhood Weight Gain)
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Remedy or Ripoff Lactagen
There is a product on the market which supposedly can help people get over their intolerance to milk.
It’s something many adults have to deal with.
25 percent of the white population, and almost 90 percent of blacks, Asians, and American Indians are lactose intolerant as adults.
Because it’s a common problem, a cure for this would be a blockbuster. (Read more about Remedy or Ripoff Lactagen)
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Update on New IBS Treatment
There may be a new answer for a very common gastrointestinal disorder called irritable bowel syndrome.
The answer: an antibiotic.
A new study just released shows perhaps treating bacterial overgrowth of the intestines with an antibiotic might help.
Kim Williams has suffered tremendously from irritable bowel syndrome--a disease that doesn’t kill, it doesn’t cause life-changing disability--except for making one a slave to his or her bathroom.
“I’ve had days while having I.B.S. that I couldn’t go to work or I couldn’t go to school because i didn’t know if I could make it to my destination because I didn’t know if I could find a bathroom,” says Kim.
Irritable bowel syndrome is characterized by abdominal pain and bloating associated with diarrhea, constipation, or these two alternating. (Read more about Update on New IBS Treatment)
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Barrett's Esophagus
As kids the five Sitarski brothers were your typical pack of boys...they played baseball, cowboys and indians, they were best friends…but, today the brothers are battling a potentially fatal condition known as Barrett’s Esophagus. “In 2004 my brother had some problems with his throat, he was totally healthy, never had any problems, physical every year, when to the doctor, was diagnosed stage four cancer, he died nine months later and it was caused from Barrett’s,” says John Sitarski.
Since his brother’s death, John and his younger brother have also been diagnosed with Barrett’s Esophagus, a pre-cancerous condition caused by chronic GERD, or reflux disease. “Due to chronic acid exposure from reflux, the cells that normally line the esophagus gradually transform into a type of lining which is more protective against acid irritation, so the lining instead of being a normal esophageal lining, it is like a stomach lining, the body is trying to protect itself against acid,” says Dr. Greg Haber of Lenox Hill Hospital.
Since the cells lining the stomach are protected from contact with acid, their growth into the esophagus actually functions as a defense mechanism. It protects the normal tissue in the esophagus against further damage by GERD, but these tissue changes may be a forerunner of cancer. (Read more about Barrett's Esophagus)
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Your First Visit
By Tauseef Ahmed, MD, FACP
Professor of Medicine and Chief of the Division of Oncology / Hematology at New York Medical College
Your tests have come back. The news is not good and your doctor refers you to a specialist. Oncologist, Orthopedist, Neurologist, each one trusted by your doctor, each one trained to help you, whatever your problem might be. Each one can and should be helped by you.
Here are a few tips to help your caregiver help you: (Read more about Your First Visit)
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