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Endoscopic Ultrasound and Fluoroscopy Suite Endoscopic Ultrasound and Fluoroscopy Suite Endoscopic Ultrasound and Fluoroscopy Suite

department of medicine

Section of Gastroenterology

Research Interests

 

The Gastroenterology Section in the Department of Medicine of Temple University School of Medicine has been consistently ranked as one of the best GI sections in the country by US News and World Report. In addition to being known for providing outstanding patient care, the GI section has national recognition from its clinical research activities. The clinical research has been primarily in gastrointestinal motility disorders, and has been expanding to include Barrett’s Esophagus and novel endoscopic approaches to evaluate and treat gastrointestinal disorders. The clinical research of the GI section is supported by NIH grants as well as pharmaceutical and foundation sources. The following lists some of the research interests of the members of the Gastrointestinal Section:

 

 

Robert Fisher, MD

 

  • The incidence, pathophysiology, and treatment of Barrett’s Esophagus
  • Therapeutic agents to treat functional gastrointestinal disorders: functional dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome and functional constipation
  • Effects of proton pump inhibitors and meal composition on regional gastric acidity
  • Autonomic (vagal and sympathetic) effects on stomach motility

 

 

Frank Friedenberg, MD

 

  • The efficacy of botulinum toxin for the treatment of gastroparesis in a randomized, double-blind, prospective trial
  • Risk factors for the failure of metronidazole in the initial management of C. difficile-associated disease
  • The efficacy of the proton pump inhibitor rabeprazole in improving pulmonary function and symptoms in patients with asthma

 

 

Benjamin Krevsky, MD, MPH

 

  • Use of laser therapy to treat Barrett's Esophagus and esophageal cancer
  • Uses of computers in gastroenterology
  • Scintigraphic techniques in studying GI motility
  • Colon cancer surveillance in heart transplant candidates

 

 

Larry Miller, MD

 

  • Define the physiology and pathophysiology of the high pressure zone of the distal esophagus.  This will help with understanding gastroesophageal reflux disease.
  • Measurement of hemodynamic variables in esophageal varices to predict variceal bleeding. This will help in treatment and prevention of bleeding in patients with cirrhosis.

 

 

Henry Parkman, MD

 

  • Use of multichannel electrogastrography to assess gastric myoelectrical activity to detect gastric motor function in patients with dyspeptic symptoms
  • Development of a noninvasive test to measure simultaneously both gastric emptying and gastric volume after ingestion of a solid meal under physiologic conditions.  This will be useful to define the pathophysiologic factors which cause symptoms in patients with functional dyspepsia and be useful to test the effects of new pharmaceutical agents.