Gastroenterology

Media Assistance: Joni Westerhouse Executive Director for Medical Communications westerhousej@wustl.edu (314) 286-0120

The Division of Gastroenterology at the Washington University School of Medicine represents one of the finest examples of an academic training program, dedicated to the study of digestive and liver diseases. The balance of outstanding faculty, exemplary facilities and a cohesive philosophy ensure consistent excellence across the missions of maintaining national prominence in research, teaching and patient care.

News Stories & Tip Sheets:

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Smaller stomach leads to big-time weight loss 'Couch potato' peels away weight (http://mednews.wustl.edu/news/page/normal/12195.html) Aug. 21, 2008 -- By Sarah Conard, St. Louis Post-Dispatch Maria Littrell works out. A few days after gastric bypass surgery, Maria Littrell found herself in the grocery, choosing which type of baby food to buy — for herself. Before the operation, Littrell honored her Sicilian heritage by eating pasta — a lot of it, and often. After struggling with her weight for 20 years, Littrell had gastric bypass surgery in September. The surgery reduces the size of the stomach and allows food to bypass part of the small intestine.

Non-surgical stomach reduction for obesity First U.S. incision-free procedure for obesity performed at Washington University (http://mednews.wustl.edu/news/page/normal/12063.html) July 24, 2008 -- Photo by Tim Parker Sreenivasa Jonnalagadda, M.D., and J. Christopher Eagon, M.D., performing the first TOGA procedure in the United States. Download Doctors at the School of Medicine have performed the first non-surgical procedure in the United States that restricts the size of the stomach to treat obesity. The investigational procedure was performed under direct endoscopic visualization with specialized instruments passed into the stomach through the mouth. The first U.S. patient received the treatment on July 23 at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.

Named professorship Stenson named Costrini Professor (http://mednews.wustl.edu/news/page/normal/10269.html) Oct. 9, 2007 -- William F. Stenson, M.D., has been named the Dr. Nicholas V. Costrini Professor of Gastroenterology & Inflammatory Bowel Disease at the School of Medicine. Washington University Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton made the announcement with Larry J. Shapiro, M.D., executive vice chancellor for medical affairs and dean of the School of Medicine.

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Faculty Experts:

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Jeffrey I. Gordon The Dr. Robert J. Glaser Distinguished University Professor and Head of the Department of Molecular Biology and Pharmacology and Professor of Medicine (http://mednews.wustl.edu/sb/page/normal/182.html) Gordon Gordon is internationally known for his research on gastrointestinal development and how gut bacteria affect normal intestinal function and predisposition to health and to certain diseases. Expertise: molecular biology, pharmacology, gut biology, microbes, bacteria, intestines, gastrointestinal development, … Media assistance: (314) 286-0109 / reckessg@wustl.edu

Samuel Klein Danforth Professor (http://mednews.wustl.edu/sb/page/normal/197.html) Klein The Danforth Professor of Medicine and Nutritional Sciences, Samuel Klein is an internationally renowned expert on obesity and weight loss. Expertise: Obesity, nutrition, weight loss Media assistance: (314) 286-0110 / jdryden@wustl.edu

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Related News Clips:

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Scientists Look to Vaccines in the War on E. Coli The New York Times and 1 others May 1, 2007 -- Vaccines for people and for cattle are just two approaches under development to prevent or treat food poisoning by the strain E. coli O157:H7. Right now, scientists can do little medically to fight the pathogen, which was responsible for two severe outbreaks last fall. WUSTL pediatrics professor Phillip Tarr, a gastroenterology specialist, comments on the difficulty of treatment.

Officials consider spinach labeling plan Associated Press and 32 others Sept. 22, 2006 -- Federal health officials said Thursday that more explicit labeling was just one proposal under consideration for allowing fresh spinach back on the market. Others include stepped-up regulation of how spinach is grown and processed. WUSTL pediatrics gastroenterology professor Phillip Tarr describes the illness and what people should do if they think they have the illness.

Duodenal ulcers like mayor's likely due to bacteria, not stress Associated Press State & Local Wire and 6 others July 10, 2006 -- The type of ulcer for which Pittsburgh Mayor Bob O'Connor has been diagnosed is likely caused by bacteria, not stress, according to doctors. Normally, the gastrointestinal system protects itself against acid imbalance, but bacteria can cause an infection that interferes with acid regulation, said WUSTL gastroenterologist Matthew Ciorba. It was long thought that stress or diet caused ulcers, but that's no longer the case.

Bucking the mainstream on Crohns Newsday (NY) May 16, 2006 -- Crohn's disease is marked by inflammation that can occur anywhere from the mouth to the anus and is characterized by bloody diarrhea, severe cramping and intestinal blockages - fistulas - that require doctors to surgically remove portions of the intestines. Reporting a year ago in the New England Journal of Medicine, Korzenik and co-theorist Dr. Brian Dieckgraefe, a gastroenterologist at Washington University in St. Louis, found that after one Leukine injection a day for 56 days, patients' quality of life improved and Crohn's symptoms dramatically retreated. Korzenik said additional studies are planned.

Effective and safe minimally invasive surgery Forbes and 15 others May 12, 2004 -- James W. Fleshman, professor of surgery at the School of Medicine, participated in a trial program for a minimally invasive colon cancer procedure in the United States. Patients who had the less-invasive operation spent an average of five days in the hospital, compared to six days for those who had conventional surgery. And laparoscopic patients needed injected narcotic painkillers for three days and oral painkillers for one day, compared to four days and two days, respectively, for those who had conventional surgery.

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