Each month the AJG Co-Editors-in-Chief, Dr. Jasmohan Bajaj and Dr. Millie Long, interview the author of a key article highlighting important clinical science for practicing gastrointestinal specialists.
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July 2024
Dr. Millie Long
Co-Editor-in-Chief Millie Long, MD, MPH, FACG interviews Eric J. Vargas, MD, MS about his recently published article "Effect of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists on Bowel Preparation for Colonoscopy."(9:41)
May 2024
Dr. Jasmohan S. Bajaj
Co-Editor-in-Chief Jasmohan S. Bajaj, MD, MS, FACG interviews Anand V. Kulkarni, MD, DM about the ARiE Trial, an RCT published in the May 2024 issue. (12:40)
March 2024
Dr. Millie Long
Co-Editor-in-Chief Dr. Millie Long interviews Dr. Eric S. Orman on his recently published article discussing the incidence, causes, and risk factors for preventable readmission in cirrhosis patients.(10:47)
October 2023
Co-Editor-in-Chief Dr Millie Long interviews Dr Christopher Ma of the Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary (Canada) on the most recent population-based multicenter cohort study on postendoscopy care for patients with food bolus impactions (8:41).
January 2023
Dr. Brian C. Jacobson
Co-Editor-in-Chief Jasmohan Bajaj, MD, MS, FACG interviews Brian C. Jacobson, MD, MPH, FACG on the recently published ACG Clinical Guideline for the diagnosis and management of gastrointestinal subepithelial lesions (17:50).
August 2022
Dr. Mark Pimentel
Mark Pimentel, MD, FACG, discusses a smartphone application that uses artificial intelligence to help subjects self-report stool form. A novel smartphone application can determine BSS and other visual stool characteristics with high accuracy compared with the 2 expert gastroenterologists. Moreover, trained AI was superior to subject self-reporting of BSS. AI assessments could provide more objective outcome measures for stool characterization in gastroenterology. (10:49)
June 2022
Dr. Elliot Tapper
Elliot B. Tapper, MD from the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Michigan joins co-Editor-in-Chief Millie Long, MD, MPH, FACG to discuss the new randomized controlled trial on pickle juice to reduce cirrhotic cramps. The RCT is published in the June 2022 issue of the American Journal of Gastroenterology. (10:54)
May 2022
Nicholas Shaheen, MD, MPH
Co-Editor-in-Chief Millie Long, MD, MPH, FACG interviews Nicholas Shaheen, MD, MPH discuss the recently updated ACG Guideline on the Diagnosis and Management of Barrett's Esophagus. Dr. Shaheen highlights changes in the new guideline including broadening of acceptable screening modalities for BE to include nonendoscopic methods, liberalized intervals for surveillance of short-segment BE, and volume criteria for endoscopic therapy centers for BE. (19:44)
March 2022
Dr. Neena S. Abraham
Co-Editor-in-Chief Millie Long, MD, MPH, FACG interviews Neena S. Abraham, MD, MSc (Epi), FACG of the Mayo Clinic on the new guideline "Management of Anticoagulants and Antiplatelets During Acute Gastrointestinal Bleeding and the Periendoscopic Period," co-published between the American College of Gastroenterology and the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology. The authors also wrote a clinical practice guideline dissemination tool for practicing clinicians to understand the guideline through common scenarios encountered during endoscopic practice. (24:35)
Read the Clinical Practice Guideline Dissemination Tool, published as a Red Section piece in the April 2022 issue of the journal.February 2022
Philip O. Katz, MD, MACG
Co-Editor-in-Chief Jasmohan Bajaj and Dr Philip Katz of Weill Cornell Medicine discuss the recently published ACG Clinical Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. First author Dr. Katz discusses how PPIs remain the medical treatment of choice for GERD even though multiple publications question potential adverse events. The guideline addresses key issues in PPI management and adverse events, so clinicians will have a comprehensive, go-to source in the guideline. (16:43)
November 2021
Arnold Wald, MD, MACG
Co-Editor-in-Chief Brennan Spiegel, MD, MSHS, FACG interviews Arnold Wald, MD, MACG to discuss highlights from the ACG Clinical Guideline Management of Benign Anorectal Disorders, published in the October 2021 issue of the American Journal of Gastroenterology.
Download slides summarizing key concepts and treatment recommendations for proctalgia syndromes, chronic anal fissures, and hemorrhoids to follow along with this podcast. (31:18)August 2021
Brian Lacy, MD, PhD, FACG
Co-Editor-in-Chief Dr Brennan Spiegel interviews his Co-Editor-in-Chief Dr Brian Lacy on the recent Red Section article "Controversies in Gastroparesis: Discussing the Sticky Points." Listen for a discussion on the 10 controversies in gastroparesis, including the uncommonness of abdominal pain in patients with gastroparesis, endoscopic pyloric therapy, and timing of emptying during scans that could lead to an incorrect diagnosis. (22:56)
May 2021
Dr. Loren Laine
Loren Laine MD, FACG joins Co-Editor-in-Chief Brennan Spiegel, MD, MSHS, FACG to discuss the ACG Clinical Guideline "Upper Gastrointestinal and Ulcer Bleeding." Dr. Laine discusses risk assessment in the emergency department in order to identify very-low-risk patients who may be discharged, as well as the recommendation for high-dose PPI therapy after endoscopic hemostatsis. (25:55)
May 2021
Dr. K. Rajender Reddy
K. Rajender Reddy MD, FACG speaks with Co-Editor-in-Chief Brian Lacy, MD on the new ACG Guideline Diagnosis and Management of Idiosyncratic Drug-Induced Liver Injury. Dr. Reddy offers clinical pearls of wisdom for diagnosing drug-induced liver injury in patients and reviews the new recommendations. (24:17)
April 2021
Dr. Amol Agarwal
Amol Agarwal, MD talks with Co-Editor-in-Chief Brennan Speigel, MD on whether or not the use of mt-sDNA testing in the primary care setting is an appropriate diagnostic tool for colorectal cancer screening. (16:40)
March 2021
Dr. Christpher Ma
Join author Christopher Ma, MD, MPH and Co-Editor-in-Chief Dr. Brennan Spiegel as they discuss the newly published article on gender and food insecurities. Food insecurity represents a substantial public health challenge in the United States that differentially affects women compared with men. Alternative strategies may be required to meet the nutritional requirements for food insecure women. (17:16)
March 2021
Dr. Aasma Shaukat
Aasma Shaukat, MD, MPH, FACG talks with Co-Editor in Chief Dr. Brian Lacy about the new ACG Guideline Colorectal Cancer Screening 2021. She discusses the new screening recommendation for average-risk individuals as young as 45 to reduce incidence of advanced adenoma, CRC, and mortality from CRC. (22:22)
January 2021
Dr. Mark Pimentel
Mark Pimentel, MD, FACG, discusses the newly published ACG Guideline for Management of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. (27:59)
January 2021
Dr. Monia E. Werlang
Monia E. Werlang, MD of the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville discusses how unidentified eating disorders can interfere with effective management of GI disease and its symptoms. (17:52)
October 2020
Dr. Jeffrey Mather and Dr. Raymond McKay
Jeffrey Mather MS, and Raymond G. McKay, MD discuss their study examining outcomes on famotidine treatment for patients hospitalized with COVID-19. (17:05)
January 2020
Dr. Patrick S. Kamath
Patrick Kamath, MD, summarizes the new clinical guideline on vascular liver disorders.
January 2020
Dr. Ali Rezaie
Ali Rezaie, MD, advises how to assess IBS-D patients for possible response to rifaximin using lactulose breath tests.
December 2019
Dr. Sonia Kupfer
Sonia Kupfer, MD, discusses the use and best practices of HLA genetic testing for celiac patients. (21:32)
August 2019
Dr. Barham Abu Dayyeh
Barham K. Abu Dayyeh, MD, MPH, FASGE, summarizes the current state of intragastric balloons for treatment of class I and II obesity. (25:02)
July 2019
Dr. Jessica Allegretti
Jessica Allegretti, MD, MPH, discusses the relationship between primary sclerosing cholangitis and inflammatory bowel disease, the biologic plausibility of fecal microbiota transplant for this condition, and the design of this pilot clinical trial. (18:57)
June 2019
Dr. Henry Parkman
Henry Parkman, MD, FACG, discusses current treatment options for gastroparesis, reasons why those treatments may fall short, and how cannabis may improve symptoms for these patients. (18:49)
March 2019
Dr. Raymond Cross
Raymond Cross, MD, MS, explains what TELEmedicine is, how it can be useful for gastroenterologists, and how this study found improved quality of life for IBD patients using this service. (15:07)
February 2019
Dr. Mark Pimentel
Mark Pimentel, MD, FACG, discusses non-pharmaceutical management approaches for IBS, including gluten-free diet, dairy-free diet, low FODMAP diet, and fiber. (21:55)
December 2018
Dr. Jewel Samadder
Jewel Samadder, MD, debates the pros and cons of changing the screening age for colorectal cancer to 45 years. (32:23)
September 2018
Dr. Parambir Dulai
Parambir Dulai, MD, describes how vedoluzimab works, the design of the VICTORY study, and provides tips for using this agent for ulcerative colitis patients. (11:24)
August 2018
Dr. Rena Yadlapati
Rena Yadlapati, MD, discusses which patients are candidates for antireflux surgery, as well as the preparation, technique, and potential complications of this procedure. (13:09)
April 2018
Dr. Grace Elta
Grace Elta, MD, FACG, discusses why pancreatic cysts are identified more and more frequently, the best imaging modalities for diagnosis and following pancreatic cysts, and common biomarkers used to diagnose malignancy. Dr. Elta also walks through her algorithm for cyst classification. (17:00)
February 2018
Dr. Vijay Shah
Vijay Shah, MD, FACG, discusses definition of alcohol use disorder, diagnostic tests for suspected cirrhosis and alcoholic hepatitis, and current treatment modalities, including when to refer for transplant. (16:45)
January 2018
Dr. Albert Pares
Albert Pares, MD, PhD, discusses the symptoms, causes, and diagnostic approaches to primary biliary cholangitis. Dr. Pares also describes the results of his study, which combines bezafibrate with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) to treat severe pruritus, the cardinal symptom of primary biliary cholangitis. (17:33)
January 2018
Dr. Philip Schoenfeld
Philip Schoenfeld, MD, discusses results from a double-blind, randomized controlled trial of low-dose linaclotide for patients with chronic idiopathic constipation. (28:21)
January 2018
Dr. Sameer Saini
Sameer Saini, MD, MS, discusses the five rules of thumb for stopping screening colonoscopy in older adults: know the data, get a full history, individualize benefits and harms, engage the patient, and work with primary care colleagues. (21:42)
November 2017
Dr. Allison Schulman
Allison Schulman, MD, MPH, discusses the growing popularity and evolution of bariatric surgery as a weight-loss solution for morbidly obese patients and describes the most commonly performed bariatric procedures. She provides a thorough review of the most frequent complications for each procedure, including Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, and intragastric balloons. (20:00)
October 2017
Kelly Issokson, MS, RD, CNSC
Kelly Issokson, a GI dietitian, discusses how she underwent an exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) trial for 30 days in order to better understand her patients’ experience. She describes the physical and psychological effects of living exclusively on liquid formula for an extended period of time, and provides tips for physicians prescribing EEN for patients. (18:38)
September 2017
Dr. Jordan Karlitz
Jordan Karlitz, MD, reviews the dedicated contributions of the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable and various ACG committees to the 80% by 2018 initiative, which aims to screen 80% of eligible U.S. adults for colorectal cancer by 2018. (17:59)
August 2017
Dr. Juan Malagelada
Juan R. Malagelada, MD, explains the definitions and mechanisms of bloating and distension, how visceral hypersensitivity heightens patient sensation of bloating, and what treatments work best for persistent gas and bloating. (17:58)
March 2017
Dr. Patrick Okolo
Patrick Okolo, MD, author of an editorial commenting on recently published research into the AspireAssist device, discusses the difficulty faced by some obese patients losing weight through diet and exercise, the rise in bariatric surgery as a promising treatment for these patients, and the mechanisms of the AspireAssist device studied in the original article by Thompson, et al. (24:05)
February 2017
Dr. Francis Farraye
Francis Farraye, MD, MSc, FACG, co-author of a recent ACG Clinical Guideline on preventive care in IBD, discusses the importance of collaboration between the gastroenterologist and the primary care team for IBD patients, the safety and timing of vaccinations, and recommendations for preventive screening for patients on immunosuppresants. (18:27)
February 2017
Dr. Bill Chey
Bill Chey, MD, FACG, co-author of a recent ACG Clinical Guideline on H. pylori infection, discusses the changing prevalence of H. pylori infection and its relationship to disorders beyond peptic ulcer disease. The complicated landscape of diagnosis and treatment are also discussed. (29:39)
January 2017
Dr. Paul Kwo
Paul Kwo, MD, FACG, FAASLD, co-author of a recent ACG Clinical Guideline on abnormal liver chemistries, discusses the change in terminology from “liver function tests,” the lowered upper limit of normal for ALT levels, and the importance of screening patients born between 1945 and 1965 for HCV. (20:13)
December 2016
Dr. William Chey
William D. Chey, MD, FACG, co-author of new research comparing the effectiveness of the low FODMAP diet versus a modified NICE diet for IBS-D, speaks with AJG co-Editor in Chief Dr. Brennan Spiegel about improvements in bloating and abdominal pain found with the low FODMAP diet, the value of individual symptom response compared to an overall “adequate relief” end point, and practical advice for guiding patients through the low FODMAP diet process. (24:05)
November 2016
Dr. Samir Gupta
Samir Gupta, MD, MSCS, co-author of recent study examining the impact of small financial incentives for completion of FIT testing, speaks with AJG co-Editor in Chief Dr. Brennan Spiegel about why use of financial incentives to encourage health behavior is not always effective, and the behavioral economics underlying this research. This article was published in the recent Negative Issue of AJG. (15:43)
September 2016
Dr. C. Mel Wilcox
C. Mel Wilcox, MD, MSPH, co-author of new research on the causes, response to therapy, and long-term outcome of idiopathic pancreatitis, speaks with AJG co-Editor in Chief Dr. Brian Lacy about the evolving definition of idiopathic pancreatitis, the role of EUS vs MRCP in its diagnosis, and when you should consider pancreas divisum or autoimmune disorders in your etiology. (12:35)
July 2016
Dr. William Lee
William Lee, MD, co-author of an new article comparing complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)-induced liver injury to that caused by prescription medications, speaks with AJG co-Editor in Chief Dr. Brian Lacy about the definition of CAM, the regulatory approval process (or lack thereof) for CAM compared to prescription medication, and the most frequent CAM and prescription offenders for drug-induced liver injury. Dr. Lee also provides advice for clinicians trying to diagnose and counsel patients with suspected CAM-induced liver injury. (15:50)
April 2016
Dr. Lisa Strate
Lisa Strate, MD, MPH, FACG, co-author of the new ACG Clinical Guideline, speaks with AJG co-Editor in Chief Dr. Brennan Spiegel about the timing of endoscopy for management of lower GI bleeding, how to assess high-risk patients for whom colonoscopy should not be performed, and the important questions surrounding the topic that remain unanswered in the current literature. (18:22)
March 2016
Dr. Steve McClave
Steve McClave, MD, co-author of the new ACG Clinical Guideline, speaks with AJG co-Editor in Chief Dr. Brian Lacy about how to recognize nutritionally deficient patients, the most common deficiencies by condition, how to determine if a patient will tolerate enteral feeds, and the pros and cons of orgastric, nasogastric, and jejunal feeding. Dr. McClave dispels some common myths, provides advice on peripheral PN (Don’t do it!), and emphasizes the invaluable support GIs can provide for the nutritional team. (16:25)
February 2016
Dr. Tram T. Tran
Tram T. Tran, MD, FACG, FAASLD, co-author of the new ACG Clinical Guideline on the management of liver diseases in pregnant women, speaks with AJG co-Editor in Chief Dr. Brennan Spiegel about the liver function tests that may be abnormal during pregnancy, which ones to be concerned about, and how to best pursue imaging or endoscopic follow-up in pregnant women. Advice for patients who are pregnant or who wish to become pregnant is also included. (21:18)
February 2016
Dr. William D. Chey
William D. Chey, MD, FACG, presenter of the 2015 David Sun Lecture and author of a recently published review of the same topic, speaks with AJG co-Editor-in-Chief Dr. Brennan Spiegel about the evolution of food from sustenance and medicine to entertainment and enjoyment and the gradual shift back toward food as medicine and therapy for disease. Learn more about the complex interplay between food and GI symptoms and the FODMAP diet as a promising treatment approach. The emerging academic focus on diet and nutrition in GI care and the essential role of dietitians in the lives of IBS patients are also discussed. (25:35)
January 2016
Dr. Nicholas Shaheen
Nicholas Shaheen, MD, MPH, FACG, co-author of the new ACG Clinical Guideline on the management of Barrett’s Esophagus (BE), speaks with AJG co-Editor in Chief Dr. Brian Lacy about the changing definition of BE and reasons for a new guideline. Learn more about biopsy strategies, which patients should be screened, and proper surveillance strategies once a diagnosis is made. Treatment and prevention strategies are also discussed. (16:20)
January 2016
Dr. Jasmohan S. Bajaj
Jasmohan S. Bajaj, MD, co-author of a multi-center study validating a new app to diagnose minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE), speaks with AJG co-Editor in Chief Dr. Brennan Spiegel about the difficulty diagnosing MHE in cirrhotic patients, and the importance of a valid, rapid, and accessible diagnostic tool for this disabling and dangerous condition. Dr. Bajaj also discusses the difficulty of creating validated, user-friendly apps that provide both accurate diagnostics for patients and their doctors as well as usable data for researchers. (22:33)
December 2015
Dr. Christopher Almario
Christopher Almario, MD, MSHPM, co-author of a recent article examining the cost-effectiveness of various approaches for preventing transmission of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) through ERCP endoscopes, discusses the genesis of the study and the finding that newly issued FDA recommendations for endoscope reprocessing were most cost-effective compared to the other approaches studied. Dr. Almario explains why a “do nothing strategy” was not included in the model, and addresses other underlying assumptions of the analysis. (20:39)
October 2015
Dr. Sachin Wani
Sachin Wani MD, co-author of a recent article about on-site cytopathology evaluation during EUS-FNA for pancreatic masses, talks with AJG Co-Editor Dr. William Chey about why EUS has been come such an important part of evaluation for pancreatic masses and cancer, the benefits and limitations of on-site cytopathology, an presents advice on cost-minimization and quality indicator adherence. (18:21)
July 2015
Dr. Peter Higgins
Peter Higgins, MD, PhD, co-author of a recent editorial regarding the use of chromoendoscopy surveillance in IBD and ulcerative colitis, talks with AJG Co-Editor Dr. William Chey about the relationship between chronic ulcerative colitis and dysplasia, the real rate of dysplasia development in these patients, and how frequently surveillance colonoscopy should be performed. Dr. Higgins also summarizes recent research on the use of chromoendoscopy for surveillance and weighs the costs and benefits of applying this procedure to IBD patients in clinical practice. (21:08)
May 2015
Dr. Keith D. Lindor
Keith D. Lindor, MD, FACG, co-author of the new ACG Clinical Guideline on primary sclerosing cholangitis talks with AJG Co-Editor Dr. Paul Moayyedi about recommended diagnostic techniques, symptom management strategies, and the role of liver transplantation. Recommendations for colon and cholangiocarcinoma surveillance are also discussed. (18:18)
April 2015
Dr. Ron Schey
Ron Schey, MD, FACG, co-author of a recent article reviewing common bowel changes for women during pregnancy and in the postpartum period, talks with AJG Co-Editor Dr. William Chey about the temporary and possibly permanent changes to pelvic floor anatomy and physiology during pregnancy and how preexisting functional GI disorders may change during and after pregnancy. The prevalence and risk factors constipation and fecal incontinence are discussed, as well as the safety and effectiveness of various treatments for both conditions. (21:34)
March 2015
Dr. Joseph A. Murray
Joseph A. Murray, MD, co-author of a recent article on the racial/ethnic trends in celiac disease and gluten-free diets, talks with AJG Co-Editor Dr. William Chey about the racial differences in the prevalence of celiac disease, the startling increase in this prevalence over the last 20 years, and how physicians should consider celiac disease in the context of related disorders for at-risk populations. Dr. Murray also discusses the puzzling recent trend of non-celiac patients adhering to a gluten-free diet for “health” reasons not supported by science. (24:57)
February 2015
Dr. Mark E. Gerich
Mark E. Gerich, MD, co-author of a recent Red Section article on medical marijuana and digestive disorders, talks with AJG Co-Editor Dr. Paul Moayyedi about the controversies surrounding medical marijuana, the changing legal landscape, and the challenges of conducting clinical research on the drug’s effects. The specific pharmacological agents in marijuana and their potential treatment applications for a variety of digestive disease states and symptoms are also discussed. (18:32)
January 2015
Dr. Adil Bharucha
Adil Bharucha, MBBS, MD, co-author of the NIDDK state of the science summary on fecal incontience, talks with AJG Co-Editor Dr. William D. Chey about the highly common but often taboo topic of fecal incontinence. Dr. Bharucha discusses the personal and economic costs of a disorder affecting up to 15% of community-dwelling adults, as well as some key risk factors, diagnostic tests, and treatments. Clinicians will hear valuable advice on how to broach this topic with patients and how to provide meaningful care for a condition with significant emotional consequences. (26:35)
January 2015
Dr. Philip Schoenfeld
Philip Schoenfeld, MD, co-author of new Quality Indicators for Colonoscopy published on behalf of the ACG and ASGE, talks with AJG Co-Editor Dr. William D. Chey about the transition of screening colonoscopy practice from a fee-for-service model to a quality-based model. Dr. Schoenfeld explains pre-procedure, intra-procedure, and post-procedural quality indicators, performance targets for meeting those indicators, and impact of performance data on reimbursement rates from both CMS and third-party payers. Compliance dates and reporting systems such as GIQuIC are also discussed in this essential podcast for any practicing gastroenterologist. (30:11)
November 2014
Dr. Loren Laine
Loren Laine, MD, co-author of a new systematic review of the impact of bowel prep quality on early repeat colonoscopy and adenoma detection rate (ADR), talks with AJG Co-Editor Dr. William D. Chey about the real-world differences in ADR during colonoscopies with high, intermediate, and poor quality bowel preps. Meta-analysis of high-quality studies found no significant difference in ADR between high and intermediate quality preps, suggesting that intermediate preps might be “good enough.” Dr. Laine also discusses the impact of withdrawal time, documentation of prep quality, and recommendations for repeat colonoscopies after intermediate or poor quality preps. (20:55)
October 2014
Dr. Eamonn M. M. Quigley and Dr. Paul Moayyedi
Eamonn M. M. Quigley, MD, FACG and Paul Moayyedi, BSc, MB ChB, PhD, MPH, FACG, co-authors of the new ACG Monograph on the management of IBS and CIC, talk with AJG Co-Editor Dr. William D. Chey about the rapidly changing field of IBS and CIC treatments, the new relevance of products such as probiotics and antibiotics in altering the microbiome in IBS patients, recommendations for PEG and newer prosecretory agents in IBS-C and CIC, and the use of drugs such as alosetron and ondansetron for severe IBS-D. (22:44)
September 2014
Dr. Joseph Ahn
Joseph Ahn, MD, FACG, co-author of the new ACG Clinical Guideline on management of focal liver lesions talks with AJG Co-Editor Dr. William D. Chey about the epidemiology of focal liver lesions, use of imaging modalities and blood tests as diagnostic tools for this disorder, and treatment recommendations for different types of focal liver lesions, including hepatocellular carcinoma and adenoma, cholangiocarcinoma, hemangioma, nodular regenerative hyperplasia, and cystic liver lesions. (22:44)
August 2014
Dr. Arnold Wald
Arnold Wald, MD, MACG, co-author of the new ACG Clinical Guideline on management of benign anorectal disorders, talks with AJG Co-Editor Dr. Paul Moayyedi about the definitions and treatment of dyssynergic defecation disorders, proctalgia syndromes, and fecal incontinence. They discuss the importance of determining the causes of these disorders before pursuing treatment, and the overall merits of conservative treatments over more invasive measures. (26:44)
July 2014
Dr. Naga P. Chalasani and Dr. Herbert L. Bonkovsky
Naga P. Chalasani, MD, FACG, and Herbert L. Bonkovsky, MD, FACG, co-authors of the new ACG Clinical Guideline on drug-induced liver injury (DILI) talks with AJG Co-Editor Dr. William D. Chey about the definition of DILI and its different subtypes, risk factors for the disorder, the drug classes that pose the greatest risk of liver injury, and the essentials of clinical work-up for DILI patients, including when to perform a liver biopsy. Special note is paid to herbal and dietary supplements, which are largely unregulated and have caused increasing harm to patients over the past few years. (32:17)
May 2014
Dr. Elena F. Verdu
Elena F. Verdu, MD, PhD, co-author of new research on the role of the serine protease inhibitor elafin in celiac disease published in the May 2014 issue of AJG, talks with AJG Co-Editor Dr. William D. Chey about the pathophysiology of celiac disease, the role of various serine proteases, including elafin, in the inflammatory processes of celiac disease, and the potential diagnostic and treatment implications of the study findings. (15:37)
April 2014
Dr. Christina M. Surawicz
Christina M. Surawicz, MD, MACG, author and presenter of the J. Edward Berk Distinguished Lecture at ACG 2013, which was published in the April 2014 issue of AJG, talks with AJG Co-Editor Dr. Paul Moayyedi about physician burnout, which has been defined as “a state of mental exhaustion caused by one’s professional life.” She discusses the components of burnout (namely emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a decreased sense of personal accomplishment), frequent contributing factors to burnout such as work-home conflicts, and suggestions for how to prevent and manage burnout if it occurs. (21:00)
February 2014
Dr. Jeffrey M. Lackner
Jeffrey M. Lackner, PsyD, co-author of new research on the correlation between self-ratings of health and IBS symptom severity published in the February 2014 issue of AJG, talks with AJG Co-Editor Dr. Paul Moayyedi about how fatigue, somatization, and negative social interactions might serve as key predictors for self-rated health in IBS, how IBS symptom severity has a surprisingly modest role in self-rated health, and how doctors can better consider the psychological experience of IBS and how that impacts treatment and patient response. (22:31)
January 2014
Dr. Robin C. Spiller
Robin C. Spiller, MD, FRCP, co-author of new research on the effect of FODMAPs such as fructose and fructans on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms published in the January 2014 issue of AJG, talks with AJG Co-Editor Dr. William D. Chey about the dietary substances included in the FODMAP classification, the MRI imaging techniques used to measure FODMAP impact on colonic distention and gas production in this study, and how clinicians might consider FODMAPs along with gluten and lactose when recommending dietary interventions for IBS patients. (21:53)
October 2013
Dr. Sieglinde Angelberger and Dr. David Berry
Sieglinde Angelberger, MD, and David Berry, PhD, co-authors of new research on the efficacy of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in patients with ulcerative colitis published in the October issue of AJG, talk with AJG Co-Editor Dr. Paul Moayyedi about the highlights of their case series, including choice of stool donors, route and duration of administration, impact of FMT on these patients’ gut microbiota, and what the disappointing response to FMT in these ulcerative colitis cases suggests for further research into this practice. (16:20)
August 2013
Dr. Michael F. Vaezi, Dr. John E. Pandolfino and Dr. Marcelo F. Vela
Michael F. Vaezi, MD, FACG, John E. Pandolfino, MD, and Marcelo F. Vela, MD, co-authors of the ACG Clinical Guideline on the Diagnosis and Management of Achalasia published in the August issue of AJG, talk with Co-Editor Dr. Paul Moayyedi about the incidence, prevalence, and diagnosis of this disorder; the best treatment options—including myotomy, pneumatic dilatation, and botulinum toxin—according to achalasia subtype and patient age, gender, and preference; as well as the long-term outlook and risks for achalasia patients after successful therapy. (25:58)
July 2013
Dr. Peter J. Kahrilas
Peter J. Kahrilas, MD, FACG, co-author of new research published in the July issue of AJG about the “acid pocket,” an area of unbuffered gastric acid that accumulates in the proximal stomach after meals, talks with AJG Co-Editor William D. Chey, MD, FACG, about the definition and genesis of the acid pocket concept; the relationship between this phenomenon and hiatal hernia, erosive esophagitis, and Barrett’s esophagus; as well as evolving methods to identify and target the acid pocket for the treatment of GERD. (21:50)
June 2013
Dr. Michael F. Vaezi and Dr. David O. Francis
Michael F. Vaezi, MD, FACG, and David O. Francis, MD, co-authors of new research on the high costs of caring for patients with extraesophageal reflux symptoms published in the June issue of AJG, talk with AJG Co-Editor Dr. Paul Moayyedi about the prevalence of various extraesophageal reflux symptoms, the costs of treating these symptoms, the impact of tertiary care centers in both patient improvement and health care costs, and whether the best treatment for extraesophageal reflux is perhaps no treatment at all. (26:44)
May 2013
Dr. Joseph A. Murray and Dr. Ciarán P. Kelly
Joseph A. Murray, MD, FACG, and Ciarán P. Kelly, MD, FACG, co-authors of the ACG Clinical Guideline on the Diagnosis and Management of Celiac Disease, talk with AJG Co-Editor William D. Chey, MD, FACG, about the key components of the guidelines, including the working definition of celiac disease, screening techniques such as small bowel biopsy and genetic testing, best practices for gluten challenge, as well as routine celiac patient monitoring and emerging treatments. (35:42)
May 2013
Dr. David A. Katzka
David A. Katzka, MD, FACG, co-author of the ACG Clinical Guideline on the Diagnosis and Management of Esophageal Eosinophilia and Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE), talks with AJG Co-Editor Dr. Paul Moayyedi about the key components of the guidelines, including the epidemiology of the disease, the difficulty of diagnosis for EoE, the role of diet and pharmacological therapy for treatment of EoE, and the urgent need for more research into this disease. (40:38)
April 2013
Dr. Christina Surawicz
Christina M. Surawicz, MD, MACG, talks about the key components of the guideline, including the epidemiology of the disease, the criteria for diagnosis of severe C. difficile infection, and appropriate treatment regimens for both mild-to-moderate and severe disease, including fecal transplantation. (14:10)
March 2013
Dr. Philip O. Katz and Dr. Lauren B. Gerson
Philip O. Katz, MD, FACG and Lauren B. Gerson, MD, MSc, FACG, two authors of the ACG Clinical Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), talk with AJG Co-Editor Paul Moayyedi, MD, FACG, about the key components of the guidelines, including the prevalence of GERD, the recommendations for the approach to diagnosis and management, and the potential adverse events associated with PPI therapy. (33:33)
February 2013
Dr. Lawrence J. Brandt
William D. Chey, MD, FACG, talks with Lawrence J. Brandt, MD, MACG, on the efficacy of this potentially lifesaving procedure and how the FDA’s recent classification of stool as a “drug” could impact physicians who want to use FMT as a treatment option for their patients. A leading pioneer in the use of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in treating C. difficile infection, Dr. Brandt gave the 2012 AJG Lecture that was also published in the February issue. (33:10)
January 2013
Dr. Henry P. Parkman
Paul Moayyedi, MD, FACG, talks with Henry P. Parkman, MD, FACG, co-author of the ACG Clinical Guideline for the management of gastroparesis. Published in the January issue of AJG, the guideline addresses the definition, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and treatment of gastroparesis, including nutritional supplementation, glycemic control, pharmacological, endoscopic, device, and surgical therapy. Dr. Parkman provides insight on the guideline’s key recommendations, including the scientifically-based evidence behind them. (25:43)
December 2012
Dr. Joseph A. Murray
Recent research by Antonio Carroccio, MD, that suggests the existence of non-celiac wheat sensitivity as a distinct clinical condition is the basis for a discussion between AJG Co-Editor William D. Chey, MD, FACG, and Joseph A. Murray, MD, who is lead author of an upcoming clinical management guideline for celiac disease that will be published in the Red Journal. Dr. Murray helps define non-celiac gluten sensitivity, explores why gluten-free diets are unsatisfactory as a diagnostic tool, and explains the need for scientific advancement in this area. Dr. Carroccio’s paper was published in the December issue of The American Journal of Gastroenterology. (37:17)
November 2012
Dr. William D. Chey and Dr. Satish Rao
Dr. Paul Moayyedi talks with William D. Chey, MD, FACG and Satish Rao, MD, PhD, FACG about two randomized controlled trials on linaclotide in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) published in the December issue of The American Journal of Gastroenterology. The phase 3 trials report that this new therapy significantly reduces constipation and abdominal pain associated with some kinds of IBS. (35:31)
September 2012
Dr. Geoffrey C. Nguyen and Dr. Charles N. Bernstein
Findings from a new meta-analysis focusing on non-referral studies suggest that 5-Aminosalicylic Acid offers little, if any, protection against colorectal cancer in Inflammatory Bowel Disease. In a conversation with AJG Co-Editor Dr. Paul Moayyedi, co-investigators Geoffrey C. Nguyen, MD, PhD, FRCPC and Charles N. Bernstein, MD explain why their findings conflict with previous clinic-based population studies and why 5-ASA should not be prescribed to IBD patients solely for their putative effects against CRC. (32:30)
June 2012
Dr. Irving Waxman
Endotherapy for Barrett’s esophagus is the featured topic of the June 2012 Author Podcast featuring Dr. Irving Waxman of the University of Chicago. In conversation with Co-Editor of AJG, Dr. Paul Moayyedi, Dr. Waxman reviews Barrett’s surveillance and management strategies for patients with high grade dysplasia including a discussion of EMR and various ablative modalities. (27:10)
May 2012
Dr. Peter Gibson
Professor Peter Gibson reviews the quality of the evidence on diets high or low in poorly absorbed short-chain carbohydrates, known as FODMAPs (Fermentable Oligo-, Di- and Mono-saccharides and Polyols) and their impact on functional gastrointestinal symptoms. In a discussion with Co-Editor Dr. Bill Chey, Professor Gibson provides insights on implementing dietary approaches in the office and discusses the challenges of recognizing patients with non-celiac gluten sensitivity. (28:10)
April 2012
Dr. Alan Barkun
Dr. Alan Barkun from McGill in Montreal, Canada is the author of a new systematic review and meta-analysis on PPIs vs. H2-receptor antagonists for stress related mucosal bleeding prophylaxis in critically ill patients. In a conversation with Dr. Paul Moayyedi, Professor Barkun reviews the evidence on the efficacy of PPIs vs. H2RAs in recurrent GI bleeding, ICU stay, mortality, and nosocomial pneumonia. (23:06)