Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Gastroenterology for March 2018. 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.
Bariatric Surgery Lessens Knee OA Pain More in Certain Patients
FRIDAY, March 30, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Laparoscopic gastric band (LAGB) surgery is associated with more improvement in knee osteoarthritis (OA) in younger patients and those without prior knee injury, according to a study published recently in Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism.
3, 6 Month Adjuvant CAPOX Equally Effective for Colon Cancer
THURSDAY, March 29, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For patients with stage III colon cancer, three months of capecitabine and oxaliplatin (CAPOX) therapy is not noninferior to six months of therapy overall, according to a study published in the March 20 issue the New England Journal of Medicine.
Novel Interstitium Has Been Identified in Human Tissues
THURSDAY, March 29, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A previously unrecognized interstitium has been identified in human tissues, according to a study published online March 27 in Scientific Reports.
Reduced Overall Survival for Alcohol-Related Liver Cancer
WEDNESDAY, March 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Reduced overall survival (OS) is seen for patients with alcohol-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), according to a study published online March 28 in Cancer.
EHR Usability Contributes to Possible Patient Harm Events
TUESDAY, March 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Electronic health record (EHR) usability may contribute to possible patient harm events, according to a research letter published in the March 27 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Hepatitis C Screening Increasing Among Baby Boomers
TUESDAY, March 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For baby boomers, born between 1945 and 1965, the odds of hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening increase over time, although the rates of screening are low, according to a study published online March 27 in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
Ethical Duties ID’d for Short-Term Global Health Experiences
MONDAY, March 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — In a position paper published online March 27 in the Annals of Internal Medicine, ethical obligations have been detailed for physicians participating in short-term global health experiences (STEGHs).
BMI Linked to Hepatocellular Carcinoma Risk in Chronic Hep B
MONDAY, March 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV), body mass index (BMI) is significantly associated with increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), with the risk more pronounced for women than men, according to a research letter published online March 22 in JAMA Oncology.
Lean Approach May Help Tackle Burnout in Health Care Providers
FRIDAY, March 23, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The Lean approach, which emphasizes reducing waste and improving customer value by focusing on the big picture, can be used to address physician burnout, according to a report published in Medical Economics.
Unique Risks Associated With Texting Medical Orders
THURSDAY, March 22, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Despite the popularity, convenience, and speed of texting medical orders, there are unique and alarming risks associated with the practice, according to a report published in Drug Topics.
Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitors in T2DM Linked to IBD
THURSDAY, March 22, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors are associated with increased risk of inflammatory bowel disease among patients with type 2 diabetes, according to a study published online March 21 in The BMJ.
Short-Term PPIs Tied to Higher Hip Fracture Risk in Alzheimer’s
THURSDAY, March 22, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Short-term proton pump inhibitor use, but not long-term or cumulative use, is associated with an increased risk of hip fracture among Alzheimer’s patients, according to a study published online March 6 in Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics.
H. Pylori Treatment Tied to Lower Metachronous Gastric Cancer Risk
WEDNESDAY, March 21, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Antibiotic treatment for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) in patients who underwent endoscopic resection of early-stage gastric cancer or high-grade adenoma is associated with a reduced rate of metachronous gastric cancer, according to a study published in the March 22 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Blueprint Being Developed to Address Physician Burnout
WEDNESDAY, March 21, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A new, three-pronged approach is being applied to develop a blueprint for addressing physician burnout, according to a report published in Medical Economics.
Personal Health Info Found in Recycling at Five Hospitals
TUESDAY, March 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A considerable amount of personal health information (PHI) and personally identifiable information (PII) was found in the recycling at five Canadian teaching hospitals, according to a research letter published in the March 20 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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High Intake of Red Meats Tied to Liver Disease, Insulin Resistance
TUESDAY, March 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — High consumption of red and/or processed meat is associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and insulin resistance (IR), according to a study published online March 20 in the Journal of Hepatology.
Prior Authorization Negatively Impacts Clinical Outcomes
MONDAY, March 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The burdens associated with prior authorization (PA) are high and include a negative impact on clinical outcomes, reported by 92 percent of physicians, according to the results of a survey conducted for the American Medical Association (AMA).
Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Among Poor Identified
THURSDAY, March 14, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Improving colorectal cancer screening rates among lower-income populations requires addressing structural, personal, and health care system barriers, according to research published in the April issue of Diseases of the Colon & Rectum.
Gut Bacteria May Be Tied to Brain Dysfunction From Sepsis
THURSDAY, March 15, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Gut bacteria may be tied to sepsis-related brain dysfunction, according to a study published recently in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
Novel Pediatric Appendicitis Risk Calculator Accurately IDs Risk
WEDNESDAY, March 14, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The pediatric appendicitis risk calculator (pARC) accurately quantifies the risk for appendicitis in a validation cohort of patients with acute abdominal pain, according to a study published online March 13 in Pediatrics.
Drug Copayments Often Exceed Prescription Drug Costs
WEDNESDAY, March 14, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Drug copayments frequently exceed prescription drug costs, with overpayments affecting 23 percent of all prescriptions, according to a research letter published in the March 13 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Digital Intervention Can Increase Colorectal Cancer Screenings
TUESDAY, March 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Mobile Patient Technology for Health-Colorectal Cancer (mPATH-CRC), a digital health intervention which allows patients to self-order tests, can increase rates of screening, according to a study published online March 13 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
U.S. Spends Twice As Much for Similar Health Care Utilization
TUESDAY, March 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Spending on health care is much higher in the United States than other high-income countries, but utilization rates are similar, according to a study published in the March 13 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Vit D Concentration Associated With Reduced Risk of Cancer
TUESDAY, March 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Higher plasma concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D is associated with reduced risk of total cancer in a Japanese population, according to a study published online March 7 in The BMJ.
More Evidence Colonoscopy Cuts Colorectal Cancer Mortality
MONDAY, March 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Screening colonoscopy significantly reduces mortality from colorectal cancer (CRC), according to a Veterans Affairs study published online March 13 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Three-Pronged Approach Can Improve Physician Engagement
MONDAY, March 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The three-pronged approach implemented by one practice successfully improved physician engagement, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
Median Household Income Predicts Survival in Anal Cancer
MONDAY, March 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Lower median household income (MHI) is associated with worse survival for patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the anus (SCCA), according to a study published online March 12 in Cancer.
Odds of Opioid Prescriptions Up in Head and Neck Cancer Patients
MONDAY, March 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The odds of opioid prescription are increased for patients with head and neck cancer (HNCA) versus those with lung or colon cancer (LCCA), according to a research letter published online March 8 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.
Doctors Facing Challenge to Help Needy While Protecting Practices
FRIDAY, March 9, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Physicians are increasingly being challenged to protect their practice finances while helping patients without insurance, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
Text Message-Based Intervention Helps With Sobriety Maintenance
FRIDAY, March 9, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Mobile alcohol interventions may help liver transplant candidates with alcoholic liver disease (ALD) maintain sobriety, according to a study published online March 2 in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.
Maternal Use of TDF Doesn’t Further Reduce HBV Transmission
THURSDAY, March 8, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Maternal use of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) in addition to administration of hepatitis B immune globulin and hepatitis B vaccine to infants born to hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive pregnant women does not further lower the rate of hepatitis B virus transmission, according to a study published in the March 8 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Volatile Organic Compounds in Feces Tied to Diet Response
MONDAY, March 5, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Fecal levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are associated with response to dietary intervention in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), according to a study published in the March issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
Calcium ± Vit D Supplements Up Risk of Colon Adenomas, Polyps
FRIDAY, March 2, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Calcium supplements, taken with or without vitamin D, may increase the risk of sessile serrated adenomas or polyps (SSA/Ps), according to a study published online March 1 in Gut.
Diaphragmatic Breathing Tied to Less Belching in GERD
FRIDAY, March 2, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Diaphragmatic breathing can reduce belching and proton pump inhibitor (PPI)-refractory gastroesophageal reflux, according to a study published in the March issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
Higher Nut Consumption May Cut Recurrence, Death in Colon CA
THURSDAY, March 1, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For patients with stage III colon cancer, nut intake, specifically tree nut intake, is associated with reduced incidence of cancer recurrence and mortality, according to a study published online Feb. 28 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Diet-Treated Chronic Illness May Lead to Disordered Eating
THURSDAY, March 1, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Interventions for diet-treated chronic illnesses may increase the risk for disordered eating in children, according to a review published online Feb. 22 in the International Journal of Eating Disorders.
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