Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): could we decide what is behind?

Functional visceral problems are frequently present nowadays in the medical practice probably due to the significant mental and emotional load on people. Although physicians and psychophysiologists are active on the field, still we are far from a complete knowledge, despite the fact that scientists like the Hungarian Professor György Ádám already had initiated a new approach called visceral psychophysiology already a long time ago. In this article, we commemorate Professor Ádám by analyzing one of the most frequent functional disorders, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), calling psychophysiology for help. First, we try to give a definition, then show the general descriptions and characteristics of IBS. Factors like stress, gender, and gastrointestinal pain are followed by the potential role of the immune system and the neuronal factors as well as the supposed brain mechanisms. We hope that this overview of the IBS-history would show how significant scientists can be decisive in certain fields of the science and practice.

Apuntes históricos sobre la Gastroenterología en el mundo, Cuba y Matanzas / Historical notes on Gastroenterology. Its development in the World, Cuba and Matanzas

RESUMEN Con el objetivo de resumir algunos aspectos destacados de la historia de la Gastroenterología en el mundo, en Cuba y especialmente en Matanzas, se expusieron cronológicamente hechos relacionados con el tema, y se destacó el aporte y el papel desempeñado por diferentes médicos en la especialidad (AU).

ABSTRACT With the objective of summarizing several significant aspects of the history of Gastroenterology in the world, in Cuba and especially in Matanzas, facts related with the theme were chronologically exposed, and the contribution and role played by different personalities in the specialty were highlighted (AU).

Andrew K. Burroughs: a research hepatologist extraordinaire.

Andrew K (Andy) Burroughs passed away in March 2014 at the early age of 60 years. Andy was one of the last of the great all round giants of hepatology. He was a consummate physician, clinical investigator and educator. Over a period of 35 years at the Royal Free Hospital Liver Unit he produced a prodigious quantity of original research and made major contributions in many areas of hepatology including portal hypertension, liver transplantation and chronic liver disease. His work on the methodology of clinical trials is carried on by the Baveno consensus meetings. From bedside clinical mastery to early molecular biology applications to diagnosis and pathology, his contributions left a mark in liver science and advanced medical science in general. He also was praised by his work in medical education particularly in post-graduate mentorship and, an admirable human touch with patients. We will not see his like again.

Translating the seminal findings of Carl Lüderitz: A description in English of his extraordinary studies of gastrointestinal motility accompanied by a historical view of peristalsis.

BACKGROUND: Carl Lüderitz provided the first comprehensive description of peristalsis in vivo in his publication from 1889 before Bayliss and Starling described the peristaltic reflex in isolated intestinal segments ex vivo 10 years later. At that time, the peristaltic reflex, responsible for progression of intestinal content, was referred to as the Lüderitz-Bayliss-Starling reflex. This shows that his peers around 1900 were very well aware of the significant impact of Lüderitz´s papers. PURPOSE: A major intention in this review is to bring the significant contributions by Dr. Carl Lüderitz (1854-1930) to the attention of our colleagues working in the field of Gastroenterology, in particular those interested in Neurogastroenterology and Gastrointestinal Motility. Until 1891, Carl Lüderitz published five more papers on the sensory and motor components of peristalsis including one seminal paper on stimulus-evoked muscle responses in the stomach in vivo. For most of his life, Carl Lüderitz was a practicing physician and doctor for the poor in Berlin. He spent a rather short time in academia, mostly during his studies in Jena under supervision of his cousin, the famous internist Hermann Nothnagel, and later in Berlin, where he volunteered for short periods at various university institutes but without any formal appointment. This paper is to honor Carl Lüderitz. We divided it into four chapters: a short biography, a summary and evaluation of his contributions, a translation of his seminal paper on peristalsis, and finally a historical view on peristalsis.