Dr. Gress has assembled top experts to discuss the latest advances of using endoscopic ultrasound for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. The issue has review articles devoted to the following topics: EUS Elastography; Contrast-Enhanced EUS; New developments in EUS- FNA Tissue Acquisition; EUS FNA: Cytologic and histologic using new techniques for interpretation; New EUS Techniques for diagnosing pancreatic neoplasms; EUS for diagnosing and treating pancreatic cysts; The role of EUS in the diagnosis of Autoimmune Pancreatitis; Therapeutic EUS for cancer treatment; and EUS-guided techniques in biliary drainage, pancreatic drainage, necrosectomy, pelvic fluid collections, hemostasis techniques, and gastrojejunostomy. The issue ends with articles that look at training issues and the future of EUS. Readers should leave with the clinical information they need to embrace the latest advances of endoscopic ultrasonography.

Dr. Gralnek is considered an authority on GI bleeding, and he has invited experts in their respective fields to contribute to this issue. The content is divided up between Acute Non-Variceal Upper GI Hemorrhage and Acute Lower Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage. Articles are devoted to the follow topics: Initial assessment, risk stratification and early management; Endotherapy of peptic ulcer bleeding; Endoscopic hemostasis of non-variceal, non-ulcer UGIH; Emerging endoscopic treatments for NVUGIH; The cutting edge: doppler ultrasound in guiding endoscopic hemostasis; The role of interventional radiology in NVUGIH; Managing antithrombotic agents in the setting of acute GI bleeding; Patient presentation, risk stratification and initial management; Colonoscopy: Diagnosis, timing and bowel preparation; The role of endoscopic hemostasis therapy; and Prevention of recurrent lower GI hemorrhage. Readers will come away with the most current clinical infomration on how to manage and prevent GI bleeding.

Dr. Shaheen's issue of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Clinics of North America addresses the current thinking and clinical decision making surrounding endoscopy for Barrett's Esophagus. Expert authors have contributed articles on the following topics: The Troublesome Epidemiology of Barrett’s Esophagus and Esophageal Adenocarcinoma; Who Deserves Endoscopic Screening for Esophageal Neoplasia; Alternatives to Traditional per oral Endoscopy for Screening; Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness of Endoscopic Screening and Surveillance; The Role of Adjunct Imaging in Endoscopic Detection of Dysplasia; Beyond Dysplasia Grade: The Role of Biomarkers in Stratifying Risk; Management of Nodular Neoplasia in Barrett’s Esophagus: Endoscopic Mucosal Resection and Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection; EUS and Management of Superficial Esophageal Neoplasia; Radiofrequency Ablation of Barrett’s Esophagus: Patient Selection, Preparation, and Performance; Radiofrequency Ablation of Barrett’s Esophagus: Efficacy, Complications, and Durability; Cryotherapy of Barrett’s Esophagus; Care of the Post-Ablation Patient: Surveillance, Acid Suppression and Treatment of Recurrence; and Surgical Management of Superficial Esophageal Neoplasia. Readers will come away with the knowledge to diagnose and treat neoplasia and Barrett's Esophagus using the latest techniques.

Endoscopic access to the small bowel has advanced significantly since the introduction of video capsule endoscopy and deep enteroscopy in early 2000. Other major advances have occurred in imaging modalities involving computed tomography and magnetic resonance studies. Due to these advances, the recent 2015 ACG guideline changed the terminology from “obscure to “small bowel bleeding because the majority of cases now can be found to have a small bowel source. The improvements in technology have advanced our ability to visualized vascular findings, inflammatory lesions, and small bowel neoplasms. Articles in this issue are devoted to these improvements in technology.

In consultation with Dr. Charles Lightdale, Dr. DiMaio has assembled a list of articles devoted to endoscopy in hepatology with the most current and clinically relevant content. Dr. DiMaio invited top experts from well-known institutions to contribute reviews on the following topics: EUS in the evaluation of unexplained biliary dilation and liver function test abnormalities; EUS-guided liver biopsy; Advances in endoscopic imaging of the biliary tree; Expert evaluation of indeterminate biliary strictures; Stenting for benign and malignant biliary strictures; Endoscopic management of biliary issues in the liver transplant patient; Endoscopic management of complex biliary stone disease; EUS-guided biliary drainage; ERCP and EUS-guided drainage of the gallbladder; EUS-guided interventions for the measurement and treatment of portal hypertension; Endoscopic management of portal hypertension-related bleeding; EUS for diagnosis and staging of liver tumors; ERCP-guided ablation for cholangiocarcinoma; and EUS-guided ablation of liver tumors. Readers will come away with the most current clinical information they need to improve outcomes in patients with liver disease.

Eosinophilic esophagitis is an important disease that causes considerable morbidity in those afflicted. It is a major cause of esophageal symptoms, particularly dysphagia. Eosinophilic esophagitis seems to be increasing in frequency like bronchial asthma, to which it has been compared. It is complex and may have more than one pathogenesis in its varying presentations in children and adults.Dr. Katzka has invited expert authors to write clinical reviews on this complicated disease. Articles are devoted to the following topics: Pathophysiology and Definition; Incidence and Prevalence; Demographic Features; Symptoms; Endoscopic and Radiologic Findings; Children vs. Adults; Pharmacologic Treatment; Dietary Treatment; Endoscopic Treatment; and Future Directions. Readers will have the current knowledge of the endoscopic approach to diagnosis and treatment of this disease.

Top expert Dr. Jacques Van Dam has compiled the most current clinical reviews on lumen-apposing stents, an important emerging field in interventional endoscopy that can substitute for more invasive surgeries. Authors have addressed the following topics in this issue: Fluid collections and pseudocysts as a complication of acute pancreatitis; Surgical management of pancreatic pseudocysts; Evolution of EUS-guided cyst gastrostomy; EUS-guided drainage of pancreatic fluid collections; EUS-guided biliary drainage as an alternative to ERCP; EUS-guided gallbladder drainage; Novel uses of LAMS; Lumen-apposing stents: Which one and why; Safety of LAMS; Endoscopic closure of fistuli; and How the experts do it: Step-by-step guide. Readers will come away with the knowledge they need to incorporate the use of LAMs in their clinical repertoire.

This issue should serve as a primer to endoscopists who are seeking state-of-the-art clinical guidance on endoscopic ultrasound tissue acquisition. Authors address the changing paradigm in EUS-guided tissue acquisition and when does the oncologist require core tissue? Articles offer a comprehensive look at the core topics, including definitions in tissue acquisition, selection of FNA needles, and techniques for EUS-guides FNA and FNB. Expert authors also give their recommendations for overcoming technical challenges in EUS-guided tissue acquisition and what the pitfalls are. Readers will have a full understanding of EUS-guided tissue acquisition as well as the future directions

As Executive Director of the H.H. Chao Comprehensive Digestive Disease Center, University of California, Irvine, Dr. Chang brings the wealth of hix experience and knowledge to the topic of interventional endoscopic ultrasound. His issue is divided into two sections, the first dealing with the best practices of interventional EUS. Articles in this section address FNA of solid pancreatic tumors, pancreatic cysts, diagnosis of SMT's, lung cancer staging, pancreatic drainage, and celiac neurolysis. The second section addresses emerging technologies for intervention EUS. These articles discuss pancreatic cyst ablation, vascular access and therapy, anti-tumor agents, fiducial markers and brachytherapy, image enhancement, tumor ablation, and anastomosis.

Dr. Rothstein has assembled top experts to present the current status of the role of endoscopy in managing the obese patient. Authors present current clinical information on the following topics: Small Bowel Target Devices and Techniques; Reimbursement Issues for Endoscopic Devices Used for Metabolic Endoscopy; the Physiologic Alteractions of Bariatric Surgery; Non-Balloon Gastric and Pyloric Therapies for Obesity; Aspiration Therapy for Obesity; Endoscopic Therapies after Surgery; Duodenal Mucosal Resurfacing: Role for Diabetes Treatment; Gastric Plication; and Gastric Balloons. Readers should come away with the information they need to utilize endoscopic techniques to improve outcomes in their patients.