BMC Gastroenterology - Latest articlesThe latest articles from BMC Gastroenterology (ISSN 1471-230X) published by BioMed CentralAssociation between PPARGC1A polymorphisms and the occurrence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)- June 27, 2008 Background: Genetic factors as well as environmental factors are important in the development of NAFLD and in this study we investigated associations between polymorphisms of peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 alpha polymorphism (PPARGC1A) and NAFLD. AimsWe recruited 115 patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD, 65 with NASH and 50 with simple steatosis, and 441 healthy control subjects and investigated 15 SNPs of PPARGC1A. Results: SNP rs2290602 had the lowest p value..http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-230X/8/27 Rifaximin for maintenance therapy in antibiotic-dependent pouchitis- June 23, 2008 Background: Pouchitis is the most common long-term complication of in patients with restorative proctocolectomy and ileal pouch-anal anastomosis. Patients often develop antibiotic-dependent form of pouchitis requiring long-term antibiotic therapy for remission maintenance. Rifaximin, an oral, non-systemic, broad-spectrum antibiotic with a favorable safety profile, may be a promising candidate agent for maintenance therapy. This historical cohort open-label study investigated the efficacy and...http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-230X/8/26 Quality of health care and patient satisfaction in liver disease: the development and preliminary results of the QUOTE-Liver questionnaire- June 20, 2008 Background: Consensus on how to adequately measure patient satisfaction with health care is limited, and has led to the development of many questionnaires with various methodological problems. The objective of this study was to develop a liver disease- and care-specific patient satisfaction instrument on the basis of previously tested methodology in patient satisfaction measurement, the so called QUOTE- series: Quality Of health care services Through the patients' Eyes. QUOTE methodology aims...http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-230X/8/25 The pro-apoptotic K-Ras 4A proto-oncoprotein does not affect tumorigenesis in the ApcMin+ mouse small intestine- June 13, 2008 Background: Alterations in gene splicing occur in human sporadic colorectal cancer (CRC) and may contribute to tumour progression. The K-ras proto-oncogene encodes two splice variants, K-ras 4A and 4B, and K-ras activating mutations which jointly affect both isoforms are prevalent in CRC. Past studies have established that splicing of both the K-ras oncogene and proto-oncogene is altered in CRC in favour of K-ras 4B. The present study addressed whether the K-Ras 4A proto-oncoprotein can...http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-230X/8/24 Symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease in severely mentally retarded people: a systematic review- June 11, 2008 Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) occurs when stomach acid frequently backs up (or refluxes) into the gullet (or esophagus), and it has serious consequences for the quality of life. Usually this is felt as heartburn. Because severely mentally retarded people usually do not utter complaints of heartburn, it requires a high index of suspicion to discover possible GERD. Therefore it is relevant for care professionals such as nurses to have knowledge of those with a higher risk of..http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-230X/8/23 Combined written and oral information prior to gastrointestinal endoscopy compared with oral information alone: a randomized trial- June 3, 2008 Background: Little is known about how to most effectively deliver relevant information to patients scheduled for endoscopy. Methods: To assess the effects of combined written and oral information, compared with oral information alone on the quality of information before endoscopy and the level of anxiety. We designed a prospective study in two Swiss teaching hospitals which enrolled consecutive patients scheduled for endoscopy over a three-month period. Patients were randomized either to...http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-230X/8/22 |