Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common hepatic disorder, which poses a significant health burden in the western countries. As the epidemic of obesity slides health downward, the incidence of NAFLD is evidently increasing.Aim: We aimed to ascertain the awareness of NAFLD and its risk factors in the general population, which may be helpful in designing educational tools to promote prevention, early detection, and treatment of this disorder.Methods: A survey of 5000 non-institutionalized residents of Brooklyn, NY, USA was conducted. Sixteen items were included in the survey questionnaire including awareness of fatty liver, predisposing factors of NAFLD, awareness of cirrhosis, and conditions that advance to cirrhosis. The questionnaire also addressed awareness of prevention, diagnostic methods and treatment of NAFLD, and education of physicians to their patients about NAFLD.Results: Overwhelming majority of the subjects was not aware of NAFLD and stated that their physicians did not have a discussion about NAFLD.Conclusion: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a preventable liver disorder with limited treatment options. Thorough counseling by primary care physicians can be of paramount importance in preventive strategy for NAFLD. We should target our teenage population in an era of obesity epidemics of all times.

The gastrointestinal tract is the largest neuroendocrine system in the body. Carcinoid tumors are amine precursor uptake decarboxylase (APUD) omas that arise from enterochromaffin cells throughout the gut. These tumors secrete discrete bioactive substances producing characteristic immunohistochemical patterns. Most tumors are asymptomatic and detected at late stages. Hepatic metastases are commonly responsible for carcinoid syndrome. The small bowel is the most common location of carcinoids. Computed tomography scan and magnetic resonance imaging are useful in the detection of these tumors. The measurement of bioactive amines is the initial diagnostic test. Various treatment options, including somatostatin analogs, interferon, chemotherapy, surgery, hepatic artery chemoembolization, and surgery have emerged in the past two decades. However, the incidence and prevalence of carcinoid tumors has increased, while mean survival time has not changed significantly. The lack of standardized classification, federal support, and an incomplete understanding of the complications of this disease are some of the impediments to progress in treatment.

Physician/family and peer influence seems important but influencing only a minority of subjects. Fear of complications should be allayed using accurate statistical information. Pain should be significantly diminished and/or eliminated during colonoscopy. Future research should focus to minimize complexity and discomfort associated with bowel preparation.

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