From the Gastrointestinal Division, Department of Medicine, St Luke's Roosevelt Hospital Center, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, USA

Received 1 December, 2003

Accepted 1 December, 2003

Correspondence to Donald P. Kotler, MD, GI Division/S&R 1301, St Luke's Roosevelt Hospital Center, 1111 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10025, USA. Tel: +1 212 523 3670; fax: +1 212 523 3678; e-mail: [email protected]