Home Gastroenterology October 2018 Briefing – Gastroenterology

October 2018 Briefing – Gastroenterology

Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Gastroenterology for October 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.

Greater Weight Loss With Gastric Bypass Than Other Bariatric Sx

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 31, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is associated with greater weight loss at one, three, and five years than sleeve gastrectomy (SG) or adjustable gastric banding (AGB), though it also has the highest rate of 30-day adverse events, according to a study published Oct. 29 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Antibiotics, Acid Suppressants in Infancy May Up Obesity Risk

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 31, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Prescription of antibiotics and acid-suppressing medications in early childhood is associated with an increased risk for obesity, according to a study published online Oct. 30 in Gut.

AMA Announces Initiative to Reinvent Physician Training

TUESDAY, Oct. 30, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The American Medical Association (AMA) today announced a new $15 million competitive grant initiative, the “Reimagining Residency” initiative, aimed at improving residency training.

Psoriasis Linked to Increased Risk for Inflammatory Bowel Disease

TUESDAY, Oct. 30, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Psoriasis appears to be significantly associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), according to a review published online Oct. 24 in JAMA Dermatology.

Community Health Worker Intervention Beneficial

TUESDAY, Oct. 30, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A standardized community health worker (CHW)-delivered intervention, Individual Management for Patient-Centered Targets, improves patient-perceived quality of care and reduces hospitalizations for low-income patients with chronic diseases, according to a study published online Oct. 22 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Many Hospitals Noncompliant With Record Request Regulations

MONDAY, Oct. 29, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Among top-ranked U.S. hospitals, data reveal discrepancies in information provided to patients regarding medical records release processes as well as noncompliance with state and federal regulations, according to a study published online Oct. 5 in JAMA Network Open.

Healthier Diet Tied to Lower Mortality Risk in CRC Patients

MONDAY, Oct. 29, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Colorectal cancer (CRC) patients who follow healthy diets before or after diagnosis have a decreased risk for mortality, according to a study published online Oct. 19 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Trump Administration Announces Plan to Cut Drug Prices

FRIDAY, Oct. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — In an effort to cut high drug costs, the prices paid by Medicare for certain prescription drugs would be based on those in other advanced industrial nations, according to a proposal announced Oct. 25 by the Trump administration.

HHS Study
New York Times Article

Alcohol Disorder Screening in Women Post-RYGB Inadequate

FRIDAY, Oct. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Assessing the frequency and quantity of alcohol consumption may be inadequate for identifying alcohol-related problems in women who have undergone Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery, according to a study published online Oct. 11 in the Annals of Surgery.

Pace of Change Has Accelerated in Alternative Payment Models

THURSDAY, Oct. 25, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The impact of alternative payment models (APMs) on physician practices has been described in a study published by the RAND Corp. and the American Medical Association.

Loss to Follow-Up Common With IBD, But Many Have Flare-Ups

THURSDAY, Oct. 25, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Loss to follow-up is common with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and both low C-reactive protein levels and long travel time to the hospital are predictors of follow-up loss, according to a study published in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

Hispanics With HIV Face Higher Risk for HPV-Related Cancer

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — HIV-infected Hispanics have an increased risk for human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cancers than Hispanics in the general population, according to a study published online Oct. 22 in Cancer.

Most Supplements Contain Prohibited Stimulants

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Many supplements contain one or more stimulants that have been the subject of U.S. Food and Drug Administration-issued public notices, according to a research letter published online Oct. 22 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

AGA Issues Guidelines for Opioid-Induced Constipation

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Recommendations for medical management of opioid-induced constipation include laxatives as first-line agents, according to a guideline from the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) published online Oct. 17 in Gastroenterology.

Abstract/Full Text – Guideline (subscription or payment may be required)
Abstract/Full Text – Technical Review (subscription or payment may be required)

Prevalence of Pediatric Metabolic, Bariatric Surgery Examined

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — From 2005 through 2014, an estimated 14,178 metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) procedures were performed among pediatric patients aged 20 years and younger with severe obesity, according to a research letter published online Oct. 22 in JAMA Pediatrics.

White House Unveils New Insurance Option for Small Firms

TUESDAY, Oct. 23, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A plan to allow small businesses to use tax-free accounts to provide health coverage for employees was announced today by the Trump administration.

Unrestricted Diet OK More Than One Day Before Colonoscopy

TUESDAY, Oct. 23, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Unrestricted diets are acceptable more than one day before colonoscopy among patients using a split-dose bowel regimen, according to a study published in the October issue of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.

Percent Weight Regain Predicts Health Risks Post-Bariatric Surgery

MONDAY, Oct. 22, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Measuring the percentage of weight regained following the maximum amount of weight lost after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery best predicts a patient’s risk for several serious health problems, according to a study published in the Oct. 16 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Variability in Geographic Availability of New Antibiotics

FRIDAY, Oct. 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — There is considerable variability in the geographic availability of antibiotics, according to a study published online Oct. 16 in PLOS ONE.

Light Use of Topical Skin Tx Before Radiotherapy Seems Safe

FRIDAY, Oct. 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Contrary to the advice most cancer patients receive, light or moderate use of topical agents before radiation treatment does not appear to increase the radiation dose to the skin, according to a study published online Oct. 18 in JAMA Oncology.

Bioinformatics Tool Can ID Source of Bloodstream Pathogens

FRIDAY, Oct. 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A streamlined bioinformatics tool can match bloodstream pathogens to a candidate source, according to a study published online Oct. 15 in Nature Medicine.

Procurement Requirements Drive Interoperability in Health Care IT

THURSDAY, Oct. 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Interoperability of health care information technology (IT) must be improved to facilitate creation of a fully integrated health care system that can improve health and health care at lower cost, according to a report published by the National Academy of Medicine.

Recommendations Developed to Verify NGT Placement in Children

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 17, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Recommendations on best practices for nasogastric tube (NGT) placement and verification in pediatric patients have been developed. The best practice recommendations were published online Sept. 6 in Nutrition in Clinical Practice.

Web-Based Lifestyle Program Works for Liver Disease Patients

TUESDAY, Oct. 16, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Web-based programs may be effective in helping patients make lifestyle changes to control non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), according to a study published in the November issue of the Journal of Hepatology.

Gastric Banding, Metformin Similar for Improving Glycemia

TUESDAY, Oct. 16, 2018 (HealthDay News) — In adults with moderate obesity and either impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or recently diagnosed mild type 2 diabetes (T2D), gastric banding and metformin are similarly effective for slowing disease progression over a two-year period, according to a study published online Oct. 3 in Diabetes Care.

Without Medicaid Expansion, Poor Patients Forgo Medical Care

MONDAY, Oct. 15, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Doing without medical care is much more common among low-income residents of states that have not expanded Medicaid than among low-income people in other states, according to a Government Accountability Office report.

AP News Article

Active Pharmaceuticals ID’d in >700 Dietary Supplements

MONDAY, Oct. 15, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Dietary supplements often include active pharmaceuticals, even after warnings from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, according to a study published online Oct. 12 in JAMA Network Open.

Modest Alcohol Consumption May Reduce Mortality in NAFLD

FRIDAY, Oct. 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), modest alcohol consumption is associated with a reduction in all-cause mortality, while drinking 1.5 or more drinks per day may increase mortality, according to a study recently published in Hepatology.

Sleeve Gastrectomy, Gastric Bypass May Be Better for Teens

THURSDAY, Oct. 11, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Adolescents with severe obesity achieve substantial and sustainable weight loss with sleeve gastrectomy (SG) and gastric bypass procedures but not with gastric banding, according to a study published in the September issue of Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases.

Aetna-CVS Merger Approved

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 10, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A $69 billion merger between health insurer Aetna and pharmacy manager CVS Health has been approved, according to the U.S. Justice Department.

The New York Times Article

Long-Term Aspirin Use Linked to Reduction in Liver Cancer Risk

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 10, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Regular long-term aspirin use is associated with a dose-dependent reduction in the risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), according to a study published online Oct. 4 in JAMA Oncology.

Minority Residents Experience Burdens Linked to Race/Ethnicity

TUESDAY, Oct. 9 2018 (HealthDay News) — Minority residents describe burdens associated with race/ethnicity, including microaggressions and bias on a daily basis, according to a study published online Sept. 28 in JAMA Network Open.

Industry-Funded Trials Often Involve Employees in Studies

FRIDAY, Oct. 5, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Industry employees are often involved in the design, conduct, and reporting of industry-funded trials in high-impact journals, according to a study published online Oct. 3 in The BMJ.

Daily Drinking Associated With Increased Mortality Risk

FRIDAY, Oct. 5, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Daily drinking, even at low levels, may be detrimental to one’s health, according to a study published online Oct. 3 in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.

Price Hikes Noted in Small Subset of Generic Drugs

THURSDAY, Oct. 4, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A small but growing subset of generic drugs experienced sudden large price increases from 2007 to 2013, according to a study published in the October issue of Health Affairs.

Tips Provided for Budgeting in Medical Residency

THURSDAY, Oct. 4, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Medical residents should start budgeting and save for the future, according to an article published in the American Medical Association AMA Wire.

Three-Quarters of Health Care Workers Got Flu Shot Last Year

THURSDAY, Oct. 4, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Just over three-quarters of health care personnel received a flu vaccine last season, according to research published in the Sept. 28 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Cancer Risk Varies for Hispanics, Including in Puerto Rico

THURSDAY, Oct. 4, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Hispanics have lower incidence and mortality than non-Hispanic whites for all cancers combined, although there is considerable variability in cancer risk within the U.S. Hispanic population, according to a report published online Oct. 4 in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.

Uninsured Rate at 8.8 Percent in First Quarter of 2018

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 3, 2018 (HealthDay News) — In the first quarter of 2018, the uninsured rate was 8.8 percent, not significantly different from a year earlier, according to a report released Aug. 29 by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).

For Employer-Based Plans, Spending Across Services Steady

TUESDAY, Oct. 2, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Despite large health policy changes, the distribution of spending across service areas has remained fairly consistent over the past 10 years for those enrolled in employer-sponsored insurance, according to a study published in the October issue of Health Affairs.

Negligible Drop in Neoplastic Lesion Dx After First Round of FIT

TUESDAY, Oct. 2, 2018 (HealthDay News) — After the first round of a fecal immunochemical test (FIT)-based, multiple-round, long-term screening program, there is a negligible reduction in detection rates for neoplastic lesions in the proximal versus the distal colon, according to a study published online Oct. 2 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Interviews Can Help Ensure Physician Candidates Fit Culture

TUESDAY, Oct. 2, 2018 (HealthDay News) — In preparing to interview to hire a new physician, practices must understand their own cultures, according to an article published in Medical Economics.

Number of Health-Related Data Breaches Increasing

TUESDAY, Oct. 2, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The number of health data breaches has steadily increased since 2010, according to a research letter published in the Sept. 25 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

First Human Case of Rat Strain of Hepatitis E Seen in Hong Kong

MONDAY, Oct. 1, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The first human case of a strain of hepatitis E previously found only in rats was diagnosed in a Hong Kong man who received a liver transplant in May 2017.

The New York Times Article

More Non-Elderly Americans Uninsured in 2017 Versus 2016

MONDAY, Oct. 1, 2018 (HealthDay News) — From 2016 to 2017, there was an increase in the number of uninsured non-elderly Americans, according to a report published by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Anti-Reflux Surgery Promising in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

MONDAY, Oct. 1, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Laparoscopic antireflux surgery is safe and well-tolerated in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and abnormal acid gastroesophageal reflux (GER), according to a phase 2 study published in the Sept. 1 issue of The Lancet Respiratory Medicine.

Risk of Venous Thromboembolism Recurrence High

MONDAY, Oct. 1, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The risk of recurrence after incident venous thromboembolism is high, particularly among patients with cancer-related venous thromboembolism, according to a study published in the September issue of The American Journal of Medicine.

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