EDITORIAL

In two review papers Montalto et al. (1) give a

comprehensive update on a rare disorder � auto-

immune enteropathy while Bjornsson et al (2) give a

thorough overview of the present strategy of treating

esophageal varices in the Nordic countries.

In a prospective, randomised study Ehrenstein

et al. (3) studied the effect of fasting vs non-fasting

on the quality of ultrasound examinations of the

abdomen. Fasting only improved the quality of

examinations of the gallbladder.

In a double-blind trial Erchinger et al. (4) rando-

mised patients to insufflation with CO2 or air during

colonoscopy. When abdominal ultrasound was per-

formed 30 minutes later, the results of the utlrasound

was significantly better following insufflation with

CO2 as compared with air.

Breckan et al. (5) present data from a study of the

effect of BMI and H. pylori on reflux symptoms

among adults. Reflux symptoms were recorded

through a questionnaire and stool samples were

examined for the presence of H. pylori antigens.

BMI proved to be an independent risk factor among

healthy females while H. pylori was protective against

reflux symptoms in males.

In a rat study, Sugiyama et al. (6) demonstrate

that 13C-uracil is not absorbed from the stomach.

A strong negative correlation between the breath

response and the residual ratio of 13C-uracil in the

stomach after oral administration of 13C-uracil,

indicate that this istope can be used to evaluate

gastric emptying in a quantitative manner.

Thomas et al. have studied the impact of histolo-

gical, serological and genetic factors on the clinical

course of coeliac disease in 384 adult patients in

whom the diagnosis was established after the age of

16 years (7). Histological severity at the time of

diagnosis was associated with anemia. Patients

carrying HLA-DQ2 were more frequently EMA-

positive than those carrying HLA-DQ8.

In a retrospective study of 258 patients with small

intestinal neuroendoscrine tumors, Bergestuen et al.

(8) found that the only independent predictors of

poor survival were distant metastases, elevated

chromogranin A and advanced age. The median

overall 5-year survival was 72%.

Among 62 families with a diagnosis of familial

adenomatous polyposis (FAP), Pezzi et al. (9) found

33 families to have mutations in the APC and four

to have mutations in the MUTYH gene. Age at

diagnosis and pattern of transmission was found to

differ between the APC and MUTYH associated

FAP.

Legan et al. present data on cycloxygenase-2

(COX-2) and glucose transporter-1 (GLUT-1) in

56 patients with gallbladder carcinoma (10). In an

immunohistochemical study they found GLUT-1

expression to be a significant denominator of poor

prognosis while neither COX-2 nor angiogenesis

were predictors of survival.

Sohn et al. have studied the early recurrence

following endoscopic treatment for early gastric

cancer (11). With a local recurrence rate of 5%

neither conventional CT, nor PET-CT scans nor

tumor markers could be used in the primary surveil-

lance of early gastric cancer.

In an experimental study on mice fed

with a methionine-choline deficient diet, Nan

et al. found that the antioxidants vitamin E and

1-aminobenzotriazole had a protective role (12).

Measurements of super-oxidase dismutase, COX-2,

NF-kB, Bcl-2, Bax. TGF-b1, MMP and adiponectin

supported the histological findings.

In a study of 79 liver transplant recipients

Masuzaki et al. measured liver stiffness by transient

elastography (Fibroscan) following living donor

transplantation (13). The liver stiffness was found

to be closely correlated with fibrosis as measured in

liver biopsies.

Ung et al. report (14) that endoscopic sphincter-

otomy does not cause diarrhoea and does not cause

alterations in biliary acid metabolism. The latter was

studied by an isotope method (75SeHCAT) and by

measurement of bile acids in blood samples.

Vila et al. (15) report the finding of non-suspected

new diagnosis in 239 patients undergoing endo-

scopic ultrasound, in 39% an additional diagnosis

was established and in 11% a significant additional

diagnosis was demonstrated � necessitating further

examinations.

References

[1] Montalto M, D’Onofrio F, Santoro L, Gallo A, Gasbarrini

A, Gasbarrini G. Autoimmune enteropathy in children and

adults. Scand J Gastroenterol 2009;44:1029�1036.

[2] Bjornsson E, Aabakken L, Olafsson S, Bendtsen F. Are

specific guidelines necessary for treatment of esophageal

varices in the Nordic countries? Scand J Gastroenterol

2009;44:1037�1047.

Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology, 2009; 44: 1027�1028

ISSN 0036-5521 print/ISSN 1502-7708 online # 2009 Informa UK Ltd.

DOI: 10.1080/00365520903168777

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[3] Ehrenstein BP, Froh S, Schlottmann K, Scholmerich J,

Schacherer D. To eat or not to eat? Effect of fasting prior

to abdominal sonography examinations on the quality of

imaging under routine conditions: A randomized, examiner-

blinded trial. Scand J Gastroenterol 2009;44:1048�1054.

[4] Erchinger F, Dimcevski G, Gilja OH, Hausken T. Abdom-

inal ultrasound after colonoscopy with insufflation of carbon

dioxide versus air. Scand J Gastroenterol 2009;44:1055�1059.

[5] Breckan RK, Paulssen EJ, Asfeldt AM, Mortensen L,

Straume B, Florholmen J. The impact of body mass index

and Helicobacter pylori infection on gastro-oesophageal reflux

symptoms: a population- based study in Northern Norway.

Scand J Gastroenterol 2009;44:1060�1066.

[6] Sugiyama E, Inada M, Kunizaki JI, Tobita K, Yoshida T,

Kashimoto M, Hirao Y, et al. Desirable pharmacokinetic

properties of 13C-uracil as a breath test probe of gastric

emptying in comparison with 13C-acteate and 13C-octanoate

in rats. Scand J Gastroenterol 2009;44:1067�1075.

[7] Thomas HJ, Ahmad T, Rajaguru C, Barnardo M, Warren

BF, Jewell DP. Contribution of histological, serological and

genetic factors to the clinical heterogeneity of adult-onset

coeliac disease. Scand J Gastroenterol 2009;44:1076�1083.

[8] Bergestuen DS, Aabakken L, Holm K, Vatn M, Thiis-

Evensen E. Small neuroendocrine tumors: Prognostic factors

and survival. Scand J Gastroenterol 2009;44:1084�1091.

[9] Pezzi A, Roncucci L, Benatti P, Sassatelli R, Varesco L, Di

Gregorio C, Venesio T, et al. Relative role of APC and

MUTYH mutations in the pathogenesis of Familial Ademo-

natous Polyposis. Scand J Gastroenterol 2009;44:1092�1100.

[10] Legan M, Luzar B, Marolt VF. Expression of cyclooxygen-

ase-2, glucose transporter-1 and angiogenesis in gallbladder

carcinomas and their impact on prognosis. Scand J

Gastroenterol 2009;44:1101�1108.

[11] Sohn YJ, Jang JS, Choi SR, Kwon HC, Jung GJ, Kim MC,

Jeong JS. Early detection of recurrence after endoscopic

treatment for early gastric cancer. Scand J Gastroenterol

2009;44:1109�1114.

[12] Nan YM, Wu WJ, Fu N, Liang BL, Wang RQ, Li LX, Zhao

SX, et al. Antioxidants vitamin E and 1-aminobenzotriazole

prevent experimental nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in mice.

Scand J Gastroenterol 2009;44:1121�1131.

[13] Masuzaki R, Yamashiki N, Sugawara Y, Yoshida H, Tateishi

R, Tamura S, Kaneko J, et al. Assessment of liver stiffness

patients after living donor liver transplantations by transient

elastography. Scand J Gastroenterol 2009;44:1115�1120.

[14] Ung KA, Mottacki M, Rudling M, Bajor A. Biliary

sphinterotomy does not relate to diarrhoea or major changes

in bile acid synthesis or plasma lipids. Scand J Gastroenterol

2009;44:1132�1138.

[15] Vila JJ, Jimenez J, Irisarri R, Vicuna M, Ruiz-Clavijo D,

Gonzales de la Higuera B, Fernandez-Urien I, et al.

Prospective observational study of the incidental fidnings

on endoscopic ultrasonography: Should a complete explora-

tion always be performed? Scand J Gastroenterol 2009;

44:1139�1145.

1028 Editorial

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