Faculty:
Moshe Lygumski M.D., Associate Professor of Medicine
Joseph Zimmerman M.D., Associate Professor of Medicine
Dov Wengrower M.D., Lecturer in Medicine
The Gastroenterology Service includes endoscopic, clinical, and research activities, located in the Hadassah Ein Kerem Campus, and also a Unit providing clinical and endoscopic services in the Hadassah Mount Scopus campus.
Clinical Activity
The Gastroenterology Service is an integral part of the Department of Medicine of Hadassah Hospital. It is responsible for the management of patients with digestive diseases, including pancreatic, biliary and liver disorders incooperation with the unit of liver diseases.
The most common pathologies treated are peptic and non-peptic dyspepsia, inflammatory bowel diseases, neoplastic diseases of the digestive tract, motility and functional disorders, pathological conditions of the small bowel, malabsorption and maldigestion syndromes.
The senior physicians of the Unit, as well as the fellows, participate in the treatment of in-patients. The management and follow-up of out-patients are carried out in the Unit's Out-Patient Clinics.
The Unit is also responsible for service laboratories, including the clinical motility laboratory and the different breath test examinations.
An important section of our clinical services includes a sophisticated Endoscopic Unit, comprising upper and lower endoscopies, proctology treatments, endoscopic laser therapy, ERCP, etc.
Research Activity
The main research projects of the unit focus on Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Diabetic disorders of the GI tract, functional bowel diseases and new treatments in perianal disorders. The main research projects are:
1. ACE inhibitors for the prevention of fibrosis in IBD and the role of TGFBeta1: We have shown for the first time that Captopril, an ACE inhibitor used in the treatment of Arterial Hypertension, is effective in the prevention of fibrosis in an experimental model of IBD. We found that this effect comprises a depression of Angiotensin II and TGFBeta 1 that we determined through molecular biology tests, including tissue measurement of mRNA of TGFbeta1 by a semi-nested quantitative PCR. Similarly, in collaboration with physicians of Asaf Arofeh Hospital, our team carried out a study on the prevention of liver fibrosis by Captopril.
2. The impact of Stress on Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: Using the rat model under acute and chronic stress, we have studied different parameters of colitis and cytokins related to inflammation and fibrosis. The role of Substance P was investigated in this model of colitis.
3. Glutamine and its beneficial effects in Experimental Colitis: Extensive studies have been undertaken on the effects of the AA Glutamine in the TNBS model of colitis in rats (cooperative study with Prof Sevion and Levy from the Hadassah's School of Medicine). Different aspects of its effects were considered, including the role of anti-oxidants and the possible use of Glutamine enemas in Ulcerative Colitis patients.
4. The role of mast cells in the development of fibrosis in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A collaborative study with Prof. Levy-Shafer from the School of Pharmacy in Ein Kerem. The influence of mast cell activation and depression in the activity of IBD, and the development of fibrosis, with in-vivo and in-vitro experiments, were studied. This research is in its last stage before publication.
5. Clinical and basic research studies concerning GI Disorders in Diabetes performed during the past few years:
Intestinal Transit Disorders in different experimental models of diabetic rats: the role of Nitric Oxide.
Gastrointestinal disorders in a large diabetic population. 3) The influence of prokinetic drugs for the prevention of hypoglycemic events in diabetic patients with gastroparesis.
6. Studies regarding new therapeutic approaches in the treatment of proctologic diseases: 1-Nitric Oxide, Botulinim Toxin and Capsaicine for Refractory Fisura Ani: Studies with manometric correlation in over 100 patients. 6) Capsaicine for the treatment of severe and chronic Pruritus Ani has provided positive results in 40 patients.
7. Functional gastrointestinal disorders: Irritable bowel syndrome, gastro esophageal reflux, dyspepsia and non-cardiac chest pain. The development of specialized instrumentation for the diagnosis of these disorders, and assessment of response to therapy. Treatment of these disorders through hypnosis.
8. Biotechnology and new advances in digestive endoscopy: we have been active partners in the development of new metallic esophageal and biliary stents, we are studying new approaches for the potentially clogging status of biliary stents, which are important in an early decision concerning the use of metallic or plastic stents.