Diastolic heart failure (or HFPEF-heart failure with preserved ejection fraction) is characterized by inadequate myocardial relaxation and diastolic filling ("stiff ventricle"), with heart failure signs and symptoms despite normal ejection fraction. The most common cause is long-standing hypertension.

Systemic inflammation has been identified as a risk factor for the development of heart failure in population studies. In the 5-year prospective MESA study, researchers from Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore recorded a baseline nonspecific marker of systemic inflammation, C-reactive protein (CRP).

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.

Global humanitarian James Orbinski, MD, will deliver the Franz M. Groedel Presidential Plenary Lecture at this year's Scientific Showcase Session on Sunday, April 3.

A diet high in fats and protein increases the risk of developing ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, researchers found. Hou and colleagues performed a systematic review to evaluate the association between diet and risk of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

Despite a lower prevalence of traditional risk factors-such as hypertension and diabetes-patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have a higher incidence of stroke, said researchers at the University of Miami.

Does upper endoscopy affect the diagnosis or management of adults with colitis? No, say investigators from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, although the procedure is routinely performed in children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) of the colon.

Quality of life in children and adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a key focus of research presented at the 2010 Advances in IBD conference in Hollywood, Florida. Two of the top abstracts address social isolation and patient adherence to medication regimens among teenagers with IBD.

Ulcerative colitis affects about 500,000 persons in the United States and accounts for more than 30,000 hospitalizations and 1 million workdays lost each year. The exacerbations and remissions that characterize the clinical course of the disease can make its management particularly challenging. What is the optimal approach to treatment? And which agents are most effective for maintenance therapy?

More than 1000 clinicians and researchers from all over the world will gather in Hollywood, Florida, this week for the 2010 Advances in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s Conference. The featured speaker is Jean-Frederic Colombel, MD, Professor of Hepatogastroenterology at Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Lille, France, who will discuss management strategies to improve the quality of care of patients with IBD.

Statins are associated with a slight reduction in the risk of colorectal cancer, according to the results of a recent meta-analysis presented at the 2010 American College of Gastroenterology meeting. Investigators at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor conducted a systematic review that included 22 studies with a total of more than 2.5 million participants.

Certain patients with inflammatory bowel disease are at heightened risk for the development of colorectal cancer. But researchers have not yet been able to discover markers that can identify these patients.

Turmeric, a spice used in curry, may help prevent Clostridium difficile infection. Rattan Patel, MD, of Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, and his colleagues found that curcumin (the active ingredient in turmeric) inhibited the growth of various strains of C difficile in vitro.

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.

Consider fructose intolerance in children with chronic abdominal pain, after you have ruled out more serious GI disorders such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. A low-fructose diet can be an effective treatment, according to the results of a recent study reported at the ACG 2010 Annual Scientific Meeting.

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.

Two of the numerous geriatrics offerings at this year’s ACP convention were part of a series entitled “Modifying Your Office Practice for the Tsunami of Older Adults.” This eminently apropos title was actually something of a theme for the convention as a whole. This year, only 3 clinical categories boasted more offerings than geriatrics. Clearly, primary care physicians are beginning to feel the impact of the baby boomers’ coming of age.