Jeffrey Hertzberg, MD, MS

Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston presented results from the PROTECT (ProBNP Outpatient Tailored Chronic Heart Failure) study. NT-proBNP (b-type natriuretic peptide) is a biomarker released from myocardial tissue in response to high levels of wall stretch and has been studied as a marker for decompensated systolic heart failure.

From the perspective of a harried primary care physician, it’s very difficult to sort out arguments and data when two respected specialists diametrically disagree.

Does dye-based chromoendoscopy improve dysplasia detection in patients undergoing surveillance colonoscopy for long-term ulcerative colitis? It does, according to Anna Buchner, MD, PhD, and her coauthors, and this raises the question of whether US guidelines should endorse dye-based chromoendoscopy for dysplasia screening in patients with ulcerative colitis.

Obesity is associated with a broad range of GI health risks. An expert panel discussed these risks, which were documented in abstracts presented at the 2010 ACG Scientific Meeting.

Hands-on sessions markedly enhance the CME experience. New to the ACG Scientific Meeting in 2010, the hands-on workshop center proved to be one of the conference’s most popular offerings.

In this engaging session, 5 patients with complex and difficult cases of ulcerative colitis were presented to an expert panel, which consisted of Maria Abreu, MD, Edward Loftus, MD, and David Rubin, MD. The panel moderator was Jean-Paul Achkar, MD.