Gastroenterology Publishes Special Issue on IBD
Bethesda, MD (May 4, 2011) — The editors of Gastroenterology, the official journal of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute, are pleased to announce the publication of this year’s highly anticipated special 13th issue. Published each May, the 13th issue is devoted to a particular gastroenterological topic of broad interest. This year’s comprehensive review series provides updates on challenging inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treatment paradigms as well as the numerous advances in our understanding of the biology of the disease — findings that are likely to lead to many new treatment modalities in the coming years.
In conjunction with editor-in-chief Anil K. Rustgi, MD, this issue was developed by Gastroenterology’s experts in IBD: associate editors Richard Blumberg, MD, AGAF; Judy Cho, MD; James Lewis, MD, MSCE, AGAF; and Gary Wu, MD. Their expertise guided the contributing authors — all international authorities in their respective specialties.
“We feel that this collection of articles will serve as a highly valuable update for those who are immersed in the field and a trigger to prompt discussion about the pathology and therapy of IBD among physicians,” said Dr. Rustgi.
In one study, a team of doctors review the advances in intestinal imaging in IBD that have occurred in the last decade, including an encyclopedic discussion of the field that compares and contrasts computed tomographic (CT) enterography, magnetic resonance enterography, capsule endoscopy, chromoendoscopy, ultrasound, positron emission tomography/CT, fluoroscopy, endoscopic ultrasound and pelvic magnetic resonance imaging. New strategies to increase the acceptability of these technologies, such as methods to reduce levels of radiation exposure, are also discussed. Many of these optical and cross-sectional imaging techniques provide improved and objective detection and estimation of inflammatory disease burden.
In another study, doctors speculate about future therapeutic approaches for inflammatory bowel diseases, focusing on the need for better preclinical and clinical models. They offer ideas to change clinical trial programs and to use immunologic and genetic biomarkers to personalize medicine. Finally, they attempt to reconcile past therapeutic successes and failures to improve future approaches.
A wide range of other important and timely topics are discussed, including the rapid progress made in the search for IBD genes, the implications of these findings on our current understanding of the pathogenesis of IBD, and how these findings could lead to new treatment pathways. Issue highlights include:
- Thought-provoking discussion of current treatment strategies.
- Utility of currently available biomarkers in the diagnosis and treatment of IBD.
- Detailed current description of the interplay between host genetics, enteric microbiology and IBD pathogenesis.
- Epidemiology and natural history of IBD.
- Clinical aspects of IBD patient care.
- Review of the complex interplay between various lymphocyte subsets and their role in the regulation of the intestinal inflammatory response relevant to IBD.
- Review of the evidence that the gut microbiota play a role in the pathogenesis of IBD.
- Clinicopathological features of colitis-associated cancer and the molecular basis for its development.
“By stimulating interest in ongoing and future research, this special issue will not only contribute to the care of inflammatory bowel disease patients, but also to advancing the field in general,” added Dr. Rustgi.
About the AGA Institute
The American Gastroenterological Association is the trusted voice of the GI community. Founded in 1897, the AGA has grown to include 17,000 members from around the globe who are involved in all aspects of the science, practice and advancement of gastroenterology. The AGA Institute administers the practice, research and educational programs of the organization. www.gastro.org.
About Gastroenterology
Gastroenterology, the official journal of the AGA Institute, is the most prominent scientific journal in the specialty and is in the top 1 percent of indexed medical journals internationally. The journal publishes clinical and basic science studies of all aspects of the digestive system, including the liver and pancreas, as well as nutrition. The journal is abstracted and indexed in Biological Abstracts, Current Awareness in Biological Sciences, Chemical Abstracts, Current Contents, Excerpta Medica, Index Medicus, Nutrition Abstracts and Science Citation Index. For more information, visit www.gastrojournal.org.
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