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The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether affected bowel in Crohn’s disease patients can be identified by observing decreased peristalsis (frozen bowel sign) using cine balanced steady-state free precession (cine BSSFP) images. 5 radiologists independently reviewed cine BSSFP sequences from randomized MR Enterography (MRE) exams for 30 normal and 30 Crohn’s disease patients, graded overall small bowel peristalsis from slowest to fastest, and graded peristalsis for the most abnormal small bowel segment. Sensitivity and specificity of the frozen bowel sign for diagnosing Crohn’s disease were calculated. T tests of the peristalsis difference between abnormal segments and overall small bowel were conducted. For 5 readers, the sensitivity and specificity of cine BSSFP of the frozen bowel sign for diagnosing Crohn’s disease ranged from 70% to 100% and 87% to 100%, respectively. There were significant differences in peristalsis between abnormal small bowel segments and the overall small bowel for Crohn’s patients, but not in the overall small bowel between normal-MRE patients and Crohn’s disease patients. Abnormal Crohn’s small bowel segments have significantly decreased peristalsis compared to normal small bowel, which can be identified using cine BSSFP sequences as the frozen bowel sign.

Epidermolysis bullosa encompasses a group of rare disorders typified by blister formation following minor trauma to the skin. Gastrointestinal tract involvement may occur in the extremely rare recessive dystrophic variants. The gastrointestinal manifestations present in 25 patients with the Hallopeau-Siemens variant of recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa are reviewed. In the oesophagus both anatomical and motility abnormalities were observed. Features seen included a generally shortened oesophagus, strictures including those resembling webs, hiatus herniae, decreased peristalsis, oesophageal atony and pseudodiverticulum formation. These patients also had faecal impaction.

A new guide wire-directed enteric feeding tube is described. Clinical trials have shown the tube can be rapidly placed in the small bowel in patients with altered gastric anatomy or decreased peristalsis. Fluoroscopically guided feeding tube placement has proved to be a valuable adjunct in the therapy of patients requiring long-term enteric alimentation.

A saponin isolated from the alcohol extract of fresh bur clover ( Medicago hispida ) has properties and constants identical with those of hederin. This saponin caused a marked increase in tonus and decreased peristalsis when in contact with isolated strips of rabbit ileum. The acidic sapogenin obtained by hydrolysis of the saponin was shown to be hederagenin C 30 H 48 O 4 .