Gastroenterology Gateway

Treating ulcerative colitis with GMA

Certain factors, such as a recent relapse and low white blood cell counts, are predictive of successful treatment of ulcerative colitis using adsorptive granulocyte and monocyte apheresis

PCR diagnosis of acute schistosomiasis

Detection of Schistosoma DNA in serum is more sensitive than serology or microscopy, regardless of the endemic region where the infection was contracted, indicating that this is a good method for diagnosis of acute schistosomiasis.

Hepatitis C: lessons from a meta-analysis

Kazuaki Chayama and Nelson Hayes discuss a recent study in BMC Medicine assessing the extent of effects of IL28B polymorphisms in spontaneous and therapy-induced hepatitis C virus clearance.

Effectiveness of a reduced regimen for zidovudine

A two week course of oral postnatal zidovudine is effective at reducing mother to child transmission of HIV, suggesting that a shortened zidovudine regimen may be safely used to suppress HIV in at-risk infants.

Antibody tests for celiac disease

A combination of three or four antibody tests, including deamidated gliadin peptides and IgA anti-tTG, can diagnose or exclude celiac disease without the need for intestinal biopsy in a high proportion of patients