Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Gastroenterology for January 2015. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.
Colorectal Cancer Rates on Rise in Young Americans
FRIDAY, Jan. 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Although the overall rate of colorectal cancer (CRC) has fallen in recent decades, new research suggests that over the last 20 years the disease has been increasing among young and early middle-aged American adults. Results of the study were published in the December issue of the Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology.
Decreasing Serum Sodium Ups Liver Transplant Survival
FRIDAY, Jan. 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For liver transplantation (LT) recipients with model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) scores above 11, survival benefit increases with decreasing serum sodium values, according to a study published online Dec. 11 in Liver Transplantation.
CDC: ~8 Percent of U.S. Adults Nonadherent Due to Rx Costs
THURSDAY, Jan. 29, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Nearly one in 10 American adults don’t take their medications as prescribed because they can’t afford to, according to a January data brief published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics.
Hepatitis A Hospitalizations Down From 2002 to 2011
THURSDAY, Jan. 29, 2015 (HealthDay News) — From 2002 to 2011 there was a decrease in the rate of hospitalizations for hepatitis A, according to a study published in the February issue of Hepatology.
Benefits Package Important for Attracting, Retaining Staff
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) — An appropriately-targeted benefits package is crucial for attracting and retaining employees, according to an article published Jan. 22 in Medical Economics.
Meta-Analysis Compares Tx for Inducing Remission in Crohn’s
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For adult patients with Crohn’s disease, adalimumab and infliximab + azathioprine are most effective for induction and maintenance of remission, according to a meta-analysis published in the February issue of Gastroenterology.
Chlorhexidine Bathing Doesn’t Cut Health Care-Linked Infections
TUESDAY, Jan. 27, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For critically ill patients, chlorhexidine bathing does not reduce health-care-associated infections, according to a study published in the Jan. 27 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Glucose Breath Test Positivity Up in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
TUESDAY, Jan. 27, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The positive rate of the glucose breath test is higher in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, especially Crohn’s disease, than in healthy controls, according to a study published online Jan. 22 in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
FDA Approves Generic Form of Nexium
TUESDAY, Jan. 27, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The first generic version of Nexium (esomeprazole magnesium delayed-release capsules) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease in adults and children ages 1 and older.
Exercise Regimen Beneficial in Head, Neck CA Radiation Tx
MONDAY, Jan. 26, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with head and neck cancers undergoing radiation therapy, an exercise regimen is better than a repetitive swallow regimen for swallowing function, according to a study published in the February issue of Head & Neck.
Viruses Implicated in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
MONDAY, Jan. 26, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Viruses may play a role in inflammatory bowel diseases, including the two most common types, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, according to a new study published online Jan. 22 in Cell.
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May Be Room for Improvement in U/S Transducer Hygiene
FRIDAY, Jan. 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For endoluminal procedures relying on barrier protection to avoid contamination, permeability of materials may not always be considered, according to a study published in the February issue of the Journal of Clinical Ultrasound.
ASCO Reports Biggest Clinical Cancer Advances for 2015
FRIDAY, Jan. 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The biggest clinical cancer advances for 2015 have been identified in an annual report from the American Society of Clinical Oncology, published online Jan. 20 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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Overuse of Abx for Travelers’ Diarrhea Creating Superbugs
THURSDAY, Jan. 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The overuse of antibiotics to treat travelers’ diarrhea may contribute to the spread of drug-resistant superbugs, a new study suggests. The findings were published online Jan. 21 in Clinical Infectious Diseases.
Physicians Rank the Best EHR Systems of 2014
THURSDAY, Jan. 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Physicians have ranked electronic health record (EHR) systems based on five key performance areas, according to a report published in Medical Economics.
More Diverticulitis in Areas With Low-UV Light Exposure
THURSDAY, Jan. 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Lower ultraviolet (UV) light is associated with increased rate of diverticulitis admissions, according to a study published online Jan. 21 in JAMA Surgery.
NSAIDs Up Odds of Anastomotic Leak Post-Colorectal Resection
THURSDAY, Jan. 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients undergoing nonelective colorectal resection, postoperative nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) administration is associated with increased odds of anastomotic leaks, according to a study published online Jan. 21 in JAMA Surgery.
Roux-en-Y Surgery Can Reverse Insulin Treatment in T2DM
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 21, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery (RYGB) strongly predicts insulin cessation after surgery in insulin-treated type 2 diabetes (I-T2D) patients, independent of weight loss, according to a study published online Jan. 8 in Diabetes Care.
Collaboration Between Med Students Cuts Diagnostic Errors
TUESDAY, Jan. 20, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For fourth-year medical students, working collaboratively is associated with a reduction in diagnostic errors, according to a research letter published in the Jan. 20 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Docs Should Negotiate Health Care Payer Contracts
TUESDAY, Jan. 20, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The terms in health care payer contracts are not immutable, and contracts should be negotiated, according to an article published Jan. 9 in Medical Economics.
Physicians Hit Barriers in Making Cancer Referrals
TUESDAY, Jan. 20, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Many physicians report encountering barriers when referring cancer patients to specialty care, according to research published in the Jan. 1 issue of Cancer.
Electronic Alert Cuts Proportion of IV Proton Pump Inhibitors
MONDAY, Jan. 19, 2015 (HealthDay News) — An electronic alert triggered on order of intravenous (IV) proton pump inhibitors (PPI) can decrease the proportion of IV PPIs ordered, according to a research letter published online Jan. 19 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Age at Gluten Introduction Not Linked to Risk of Celiac Disease
MONDAY, Jan. 19, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The age of introduction of gluten is not associated with risk of celiac disease (CD) in genetically predisposed children, according to a study published online Jan. 19 in Pediatrics.
Most Docs Work 40 to 60 Hours Per Week
FRIDAY, Jan. 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Physicians work long hours, with most working 40 to 60 hours per week and a considerable proportion working 61 to 80 or more hours per week, according to a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
Unhealthy Dietary Behaviors Linked to Functional Dyspepsia
FRIDAY, Jan. 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Unhealthy dietary behaviors are associated with refractory functional dyspepsia (RFD), according to a study published in the December issue of the Journal of Digestive Diseases.
Impact of Medical Scribes on EHR Advancement Discussed
THURSDAY, Jan. 15, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The increasing use of medical scribes should not be a replacement for improving electronic health records (EHRs), according to a viewpoint piece published online Dec. 15 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Fewer Surgeries for Patients With Advanced Colorectal Cancer
THURSDAY, Jan. 15, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Fewer U.S. colorectal cancer patients who are diagnosed in the final stages of their disease are having what can often be unnecessary surgery to have the primary tumor removed, researchers report. These patients are also living longer even as the surgery becomes less common, although their general prognosis is not good, according to the study published online Jan. 14 in JAMA Surgery.
Working Long Hours? Beware Risky Alcohol Consumption
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 14, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Working long hours may raise the risk for alcohol abuse, according to a new study of more than 300,000 people from 14 countries. The report was published online Jan. 13 in The BMJ.
Rotavirus Vaccine Effective in Reduction of Morbidity
TUESDAY, Jan. 13, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Widespread vaccination against rotavirus cuts children’s rates of infection, according to a new study funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and published online Jan. 12 in Pediatrics.
Guidelines Presented for Clinical Documentation in 21st Century
TUESDAY, Jan. 13, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Guidelines have been developed for clinical documentation and interrelated issues. The position paper has been published online Jan. 13 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Moderately Increased Risk of Colorectal Cancer in T2DM
TUESDAY, Jan. 13, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The risk of colorectal cancer is moderately increased in patients with type 2 diabetes, according to research published online Dec. 31 in Diabetes Care.
Many Patients With HCV ‘Lost’ in U.S. Health Care System
MONDAY, Jan. 12, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Many hepatitis C patients get “lost” in the U.S. health care system, according to a study published in Hepatology.
AMA Reports on How Docs Use Their Free Time
FRIDAY, Jan. 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The American Medical Association recently surveyed physicians to find what activities they pursue when not in the exam room.
CDC: Occupationally Acquired HIV Now Rare
FRIDAY, Jan. 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Documented occupational acquisition of HIV has now become rare in the United States, according to research published in the Dec. 9 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Earlier Life Adiposity Trajectories Linked to NAFLD in Teens
THURSDAY, Jan. 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Earlier life trajectories of adiposity are associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in adolescents, according to a study published in the January issue of the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
Experts Discuss Pros and Cons of Maintenance of Certification
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 7, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The pros and cons of the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) are discussed in two articles published in the Jan. 8 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Low Risk of Statin-Linked Hepatic Injury in Liver Disease
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 7, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with chronic liver disease, statin initiation is associated with low overall incidence of hospitalization due to severe hepatic injury, according to a study published in the January issue of the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
Mandatory Gastro Consult Boosts Care in Decompensated Cirrhosis
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 7, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients hospitalized with decompensated cirrhosis (DC), a gastroenterology mandatory consultation (MC) can improve the quality of care, according to a study published online Dec. 30 in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
Article Highlights Top Technology Challenges for 2015
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 7, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The introduction of the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) audits, meaningful use 2, and the burdens of technology are the top four technological challenges for physicians in 2015, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
Diet Advice for CA Prevention: More Veggies, Less Alcohol
TUESDAY, Jan. 6, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Eating a plant-based diet and limiting alcohol intake may help lower the risk for obesity-related cancers, according to research published online Jan. 6 in Cancer Causes & Control.
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Article Highlights Top Management Challenges for 2015
MONDAY, Jan. 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Considerable challenges are projected to impact practice management in 2015, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
Review: SSRI Use Ups Risk of Upper GI Bleeding
MONDAY, Jan. 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) use is associated with increased risk of upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB), according to a meta-analysis published in the January issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
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