Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Gastroenterology for June 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.
Three Issues to Consider Before Selecting EHR
TUESDAY, June 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Work flow, features and functionality, and technical infrastructure should all be considered in advance of selecting an electronic heath record (EHR) system, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
New Naloxone Capsule Safe for Opioid-Induced Constipation
TUESDAY, June 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A new naloxone sustained release (NSR) capsule appears to be safe and efficacious for opioid-induced constipation (OIC), according to a study published online June 24 in Pain Medicine.
Patients Want Online Access to Physicians, Health Records
TUESDAY, June 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Internet-savvy Americans would like to add their doctors to their group of Facebook friends or e-mail contacts, according to a study published online June 24 in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
Web Process to Provide Timely Guidance in HCV Management
TUESDAY, June 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — — A living document has been developed to aid practitioners treating patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). A document update and a summary of recommendations have been published online June 25 in Hepatology.
hcvguidelines.org
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AMA Discusses Pre-Retirement Evaluation for Aging Doctors
MONDAY, June 29, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Issues relating to physician retirement and evaluation of aging physicians before retirement are discussed in a Council on Medical Education report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
New Rapid Ebola Test Shows Promise in African Clinics
FRIDAY, June 26, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A new rapid-detection test that diagnoses Ebola within minutes could improve treatment of the virus and help health care workers contain outbreaks, according to research published online June 25 in The Lancet.
Alteration in Intestinal Microbiota Tied to T1DM Susceptibility
FRIDAY, June 26, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Individuals with islet autoimmunity have alterations in intestinal microbiota, according to a study published online June 19 in Diabetes.
SCOTUS Upholds Subsidies for Affordable Care Act
FRIDAY, June 26, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Supreme Court upheld on Thursday the legality of tax subsidies for millions of Americans who signed up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act.
Glypican-1 Protein May Help Identify Pancreatic Cancer Early
THURSDAY, June 25, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A cell surface proteoglycan, glypican-1 (GPC1), on circulating exosomes may serve as a potential noninvasive diagnostic and screening tool to detect early stages of pancreatic cancer, according to research published online June 24 in Nature.
Intradermal HBV Vaccine Efficient for Intramuscular Nonresponders
THURSDAY, June 25, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For intramuscular hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine nonresponders, intradermal vaccine administration seems efficacious and safe, according to a study published online June 23 in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
Prenatal Exposure to H2 Blockers, PPIs Ups Asthma Risk
THURSDAY, June 25, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Prenatal exposure to H2 blockers (H2Bs) or proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) is associated with a small but significantly increased risk of asthma in offspring, according to a study published online June 20 in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.
Moderate-Quality Evidence for Marijuana Rx for Pain, Spasticity
WEDNESDAY, June 24, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Medical marijuana may be useful in treating chronic pain and spasticity, but less effective for other conditions, according to the results of a review published in the June 23/30 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Gut Microbe Could Aid Weight Loss, Improve Metabolic Health
WEDNESDAY, June 24, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The gut microbe Akkermansia muciniphila is associated with healthier metabolic status, according to research published online June 22 in Gut.
Acid Suppression Medications Up C. difficile Risk in Children
TUESDAY, June 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Use of acid suppression medication is associated with increased risk of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in infants and children, according to a study published online June 9 in Clinical Infectious Diseases.
Medical Identity Theft Incidents Increasing
MONDAY, June 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Medical identity theft is on the rise, costly to consumers, and challenging to resolve, according to the fifth annual report published by the Ponemon Institute.
Caution in Social Media Age: Self-Promotion Can Backfire
FRIDAY, June 19, 2015 (HealthDay News) — In a series of experiments, researchers found that people who self-promote often offend others. The study was published in the June issue of Psychological Science.
Hundreds Arrested Nationwide for Medicare/Medicaid Fraud
FRIDAY, June 19, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Hundreds of people have been charged after health care fraud sweeps were made across the United States, the federal government said Thursday.
Health Highlights: June 19, 2015
FDA Cracks Down on Online Sale of Illegal Medical Products
FRIDAY, June 19, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, along with international partners, moved this week against more than 1,050 websites that sell potentially dangerous counterfeit medicines and medical devices, the agency said Thursday.
Virtual Credit Card Fees Amount to 3 to 5 Percent of Payments
THURSDAY, June 18, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Payment with virtual credit cards (VCCs) is associated with considerable fees, although physicians are often unaware of these charges, according to the American Medical Association (AMA).
Net Savings for Higher-Quality Colonoscopy
WEDNESDAY, June 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Higher-quality colonoscopies are associated with a 50 to 60 percent lower risk for colorectal cancer and colorectal cancer fatalities over a patient’s lifetime, according to research published in the June 16 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. The researchers also note that higher-quality screenings did not translate into more expensive screenings.
Antibiotics May Be Enough for Some Appendicitis Patients
WEDNESDAY, June 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Although surgical removal of the appendix has long been a standard treatment, new research suggests that almost three-quarters of people treated with antibiotics could be spared appendectomy. The findings were published in the June 16 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Direct Messaging Not Yet Widely Adopted by Physicians
TUESDAY, June 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Direct secure messaging (Direct), which is a standardized protocol for exchanging clinical messages and attachments, has not been widely adopted by physicians, despite its potential for improving care coordination, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
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GI Antispasmodic, Anticholinergic Rx Use May Raise Injury Risk
TUESDAY, June 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Gastrointestinal (GI) antispasmodic and anticholinergic medication use is associated with increased risk of injury in older adults, according to a study published online June 11 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Review Examines Inappropriate Prescribing of IV Fluids
TUESDAY, June 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Inappropriate prescribing of intravenous (IV) fluids most often involves incorrect volumes and types of IV fluids prescribed, according to a review published online June 11 in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics.
Article Weighs Paying Off Student Loans Versus Investment
MONDAY, June 15, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Newly-minted physicians should consider the issues relating to paying off their loans versus investing for retirement, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
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Half of Cancer Deaths Due to Past, Current Smoking
MONDAY, June 15, 2015 (HealthDay News) — About half of U.S. deaths caused by certain cancers — including lung, colorectum, and pancreatic tumors — can be attributed to smoking, a new American Cancer Society study estimates. The report was published online June 15 as a research letter in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Vessel Boost Tied to Improved Surgical Resection Rate
FRIDAY, June 12, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with borderline resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma (BRPAC) and locally-advanced PAC (LAPAC) treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation (NACRT), dose escalation with a vessel boost (VB) correlates with a trend toward improvement in the surgical resection rate. These findings were published online June 12 in Practical Radiation Oncology.
Some Graduating Seniors Not Matching to Residency Positions
THURSDAY, June 11, 2015 (HealthDay News) — More than 250 of this year’s graduating seniors from U.S. medical schools did not match to a residency position, according to the American Medical Association.
Shorter Antibiotic Course Post Abdominal Surgery May Be Viable
THURSDAY, June 11, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A shorter course of antibiotic treatment for abdominal infections after surgery may be as equally effective as a longer course, a new study suggests. The findings were published in the May 21 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Venous Thromboembolism Rates Low After Colorectal Surgery
THURSDAY, June 11, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients undergoing colorectal surgery, venous thromboembolism (VTE) rates are generally low, according to a study published online June 10 in JAMA Surgery.
Proton Pump Inhibitors Linked to Increased Risk of MI
WEDNESDAY, June 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For U.S. adults with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), the risk of myocardial infarction (MI) is slightly elevated among those using proton pump inhibitors, according to a review published online June 10 in PLOS ONE.
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Geographic Location Most Important for Residents
WEDNESDAY, June 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For residents, the most important element in a future practice is geographic location, with lifestyle, adequate call hours and personal time, and a good financial package also cited as being important, according to the American Medical Association (AMA).
Report Offers Guidance on Medical Ethics Education
WEDNESDAY, June 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — An analysis of the current state of medical ethics education in the United States has been published in the June issue of Academic Medicine. The article, the Romanell Report, also offers guidance to assist medial ethics educators in meeting expectations.
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Extra Time During MCAT Linked to Less Success in Med School
WEDNESDAY, June 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Medical school applicants with Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) scores obtained with extra test administration time have lower rates of success in medical schools, according to a study published in the June 9 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
CDC: Drug-Resistant Foodborne Bacteria on Rise
WEDNESDAY, June 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Antibiotic-resistant infections from foodborne germs still cause about 440,000 illnesses in the United States each year, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Tuesday.
Rotavirus Vaccination Reduces Gastroenteritis Hospitalizations
TUESDAY, June 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The widespread use of rotavirus vaccine has been very successful in the United States, according to a study published in the June 9 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Analysis Targets U.S. Hospitals With Highest Markups
TUESDAY, June 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The 50 U.S. hospitals with the highest charge-to-cost ratio have markups approximately 10 times the Medicare-allowable costs, and most of these hospitals are for profit, according to a study published in the June issue of Health Affairs.
AMA Offers Guidance for Physician-Hospital Relationships
MONDAY, June 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) — New guidelines can enable successful physician hospital relationships and integrated leadership, according to a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
Larazotide Acetate 0.5 mg Found Beneficial in Celiac Disease
MONDAY, June 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Larazotide acetate 0.5 mg is associated with improvement in symptoms of celiac disease (CeD), according to a study published in the June issue of Gastroenterology.
Anxiety, Depression Impact Symptoms, QoL in GERD
FRIDAY, June 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Anxiety and depression are linked to increased severity of retrosternal pain and heartburn and reduced quality of life among patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), according to a study published in the June issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
Gastritis Linked to Metformin-Related GI Side Effects in T2DM
FRIDAY, June 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with type 2 diabetes, asymptomatic gastritis is associated with metformin-related gastrointestinal side effects, according to a study published online May 29 in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics.
Rise in CRC Screening Rates After ACA Implementation
FRIDAY, June 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The Affordable Care Act may have helped boost rates of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening among lower income Americans, a new study suggests. The findings were published online June 4 in Cancer.
Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Formed
THURSDAY, June 4, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Nine states have enacted the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact law, with the seventh state’s enactment triggering formation of a commission to administer a process for physicians seeking licensure in multiple states, according to a report published by the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Model Including CRC Risk Alleles Ups Risk Discrimination
THURSDAY, June 4, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Incorporation of a genetic risk score can improve the accuracy of colorectal cancer (CRC) risk determination, according to a study published in the June issue of Gastroenterology.
NASH-Linked Changes Impact Metformin Pharmacokinetics
THURSDAY, June 4, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)-associated changes in liver function affect kidney transporter expression and metformin pharmacokinetics, according to an experimental study published online May 27 in Diabetes Care.
CMS: Hospital Charges for Common Procedures Up
WEDNESDAY, June 3, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The prices hospitals charge patients for a number of common procedures rose more than 10 percent between 2011 and 2013, more than twice the rate of inflation, according to data released by the federal government Monday.
Review: Radioablation Offers No Benefit for GERD Patients
WEDNESDAY, June 3, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), evidence shows no difference in physiologic parameters for treatment with a radiofrequency ablation technique known as Stretta versus sham or proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy, according to a review published in the June issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
Inverse Link for Coffee Intake, Cholecystectomy Risk
TUESDAY, June 2, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For premenopausal women and those using hormone replacement therapy (HRT), there is an inverse association between coffee consumption and risk of cholecystectomy, according to a study published in the June issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
U.S. Organ Donation System Needs ‘Disruptive Innovation’
TUESDAY, June 2, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Many state policies meant to increase organ donations and transplant rates have had almost no impact, according to new research published online June 1 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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