September 2002 Vol XXVI Issue 9

GUEST EDITORIAL

Julie R. Smith and Jorge L. Herrera

Ms. Smith and Dr. Herrera write that the decision to treat Hepatitis C should be a team effort consisting of the doctor, the patient and the patient's family. Patients are more likely to tolerate and complete the therapy if they have participated in the decision to begin treatment.

GERIATRIC GASTROENTEROLOGY, SERIES #8

Anemia of Gastrointestinal Origin in the Elderly

T.S. Dharmarajan, May Luz F. Bullecer and C.S. Pitchumoni

Anemia is common in the elderly, signifies an underlying pathology and is more common in men than in women. Physioloigcal changes in the gastrointestinal system of older individuals may predispose them to development of anemia. Gastrointestinal blood loss is the most common cause of iron deficient anemia.

A SPECIAL ARTICLE

Microscopic Colitis: Collagenous and Lymphocytic Colitis

Brennan A. Scott and Thomas P. Prindiville

Doctors Scott and Prindiville write that collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis are uncommon chronic relapsing diarrheal illnesses. Most patients are women in their fifties and sixties. Their paper gives the epidemiology, other conditions associated with these illnesses, the diagnosis, pathogenesis and treatment.

GASTROINTESTINAL AND HEPATOBILIARY DISEASES IN THE U.S., SERIES #9

The Epidemiology of Esophageal Cancer in Minority Populations in the United States

Kenneth J. Vega, Paul A. Sievert and Bruce W. Trotman

Esophageal cancer is a lethal disease world-wide and its incidence varies by region, gender and ethnicity. By race and gender, African Americans have the highest incidence rate, followed by whites and other minority groups. This paper by doctors Vega, Sievert and Trotman deals with the two histological types of esophgeal cancer, adenocarcinoma and squamous carcinoma. They cover the epidemiology and risk factors.

A SPECIAL ARTICLE

Office-Based Physician Visits: A Comparison of Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Other Gastrointestinal Disorders Using National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey Data

Chris M. Kozma, Victoria Barghout, Terra Slaton, Feride Frech and C.E. Reeder

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders seen in clinical practice. The authors of this article use data from the National Medical Care Survey to compare resource utilization and frequency of physician visits for IBS with other functional and organic gastrointestinal disorders.

PEARLS OF GASTROENTEROLOGY

Emphysematous Cholecystitis

Herbert L. Fred

PEARLS OF GASTROENTEROLOGY

Recognition of Liver Abscess in Chest Pain

Herbert L. Fred and Niraj N. Mehta

Two special "pearls," by Dr. Fred with the assistance of Dr. Mehta in one of them. Both showing that diagnosis can be made with careful viewing of plain x-ray films.