Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Gastroenterology for March 2020. 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.
Doctors, Hospitals, Pharmacies Warned Not to Stockpile Meds
TUESDAY, March 31, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In a joint statement released by the American Medical Association, American Pharmacists Association, and American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, the professional groups “strongly oppose” physicians, pharmacies, and hospitals prophylactically prescribing medications or purchasing excessive amounts or stockpiles of potential treatments for COVID-19.
Joint Statement
U.S. Army Opens Field Hospital in New York City
MONDAY, March 30, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The first U.S. Army field hospital for civilian patients opened in New York City Monday and could be the first of many across the nation as it struggles with the coronavirus pandemic.
Higher Risk for Bone Fractures Seen After Bariatric Surgery
MONDAY, March 30, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The risk for bone fracture is increased after gastric bypass surgery, according to a study published online March 3 in the Journal of Internal Medicine.
PPE Negative for SARS-CoV-2 After Patient Contact
FRIDAY, March 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Samples collected from personal protective equipment (PPE) from health care workers (HCWs) caring for patients positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) were negative for SARS-CoV-2, according to research published online March 26 in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology.
Workers at Risk for COVID-19 Exposure Can Access Online Training
THURSDAY, March 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The National Institutes of Health has launched a new website with educational resources for hospital employees, emergency first responders, and other workers at risk for exposure to COVID-19.
Prospective, Randomized Studies of AI Lacking in Medical Imaging
THURSDAY, March 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In the field of medical imaging, there are few prospective studies and randomized trials of deep learning, according to a review published online March 25 in The BMJ.
FDA Issues Safety Alert for COVID-19 Risk With Fecal Transplant
WEDNESDAY, March 25, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a MedWatch Safety Alert on Tuesday about the potential risk for SARS-CoV-2 transmission with the use of fecal microbiota for transplantation (FMT) to treat Clostridioides difficile infection.
CDC: Prevalence of Any Past, Present Hep B Infection 4.3 Percent
WEDNESDAY, March 25, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The prevalence of any past or present hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection was 4.3 percent among U.S. adults during 2015 to 2018, according to a March data brief published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics.
National Health Spending Expected to Increase Through 2028
WEDNESDAY, March 25, 2020 (HealthDay News) — National health expenditures are projected to increase at an average annual rate of 5.4 percent for 2019 to 2028, representing almost 20 percent of U.S. gross domestic product by 2028, according to a study published online March 24 in Health Affairs.
Proton Pump Inhibitors May Up Fracture Risk in Children
WEDNESDAY, March 25, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use in children is associated with a small but significant increased risk for any fracture, according to a study published online March 16 in JAMA Pediatrics.
Information on COVID-19 Provided for Gastroenterologists
TUESDAY, March 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In a special article published online March 17 in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, key information is presented about coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the field of gastroenterology.
1990 to 2017 Saw Increases in Primary Liver Cancer Cases
MONDAY, March 23, 2020 (HealthDay News) — From 1990 to 2017, there were increases in the number of primary liver cancer (PLC) cases among those diagnosed at ages 30 to 59 and ≥60 years, according to a study published online March 23 in Cancer.
Cumulative Dose of Oral Steroids Associated With HTN Incidence
MONDAY, March 23, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For adults with any of six chronic inflammatory diseases, a cumulative dose of oral glucocorticoids is associated with an increased incidence of hypertension, according to a study published online March 23 in CMAJ, the journal of the Canadian Medical Association.
E. Coli Outbreak Tied to Clover Sprouts Rises to 39 Cases in Six States
FRIDAY, March 20, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The number of cases in an Escherichia coli outbreak linked to clover sprouts has reached 39 in six states, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday.
Serial Interval of COVID-19 Estimated at 3.96 Days
FRIDAY, March 20, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The serial interval of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), defined as the time between a primary case and secondary case developing symptoms, is 3.96 days, according to a study published online March 19 in Emerging Infectious Diseases, a publication of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Digestive Symptoms Reported for About Half of COVID-19 Patients
THURSDAY, March 19, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Patients with coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) frequently have digestive symptoms, and those with digestive symptoms have a worse clinical outcome, according to a study published online March 17 in the American Journal of Gastroenterology.
Bariatric Surgery Tied to Lower Long-Term Risk for Major CV Events
THURSDAY, March 19, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For patients with obesity, bariatric surgery is associated with a lower long-term risk for major cardiovascular events and incident heart failure, according to a study published online March 18 in the European Heart Journal.
Chat Users Report Flu-Like Symptoms With Keto Diet
TUESDAY, March 17, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Online forum users commonly report that a ketogenic diet can lead to several flu-like symptoms within the first few weeks on the diet, according to a study published online March 13 in Frontiers in Nutrition.
Per-Capita Medical Radiation Exposure Down in United States
TUESDAY, March 17, 2020 (HealthDay News) — From 2006 to 2016, there was a decrease in per-capita exposure to medical radiation in the United States, according to a study published online March 17 in Radiology.
Hep C Testing, Treatment Rates Low at Federally Qualified Health Centers
FRIDAY, March 13, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The rates of hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing and treatment initiation are low at federally qualified health centers (FQHC) in the United States, according to a study published online March 4 in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
Evidence Points to GI Infection by SARS-CoV-2
FRIDAY, March 13, 2020 (HealthDay News) — There is evidence for gastrointestinal infection of SARS-CoV-2, according to a study published online March 3 in Gastroenterology.
Function, Cognition, Psych Well-Being Linked to Postop Death
FRIDAY, March 13, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Poor function, cognition, and psychological well-being are associated with mortality among older adults undergoing major surgery, according to a study published online March 11 in JAMA Surgery.
Recommendations Updated for Postcolonoscopy Management
FRIDAY, March 13, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In two guideline updates from the U.S. Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer, published in the March issue of Gastroenterology, recommendations are presented for postcolonoscopy management and endoscopic removal of colorectal lesions.
Abstract/Full Text – Gupta
Abstract/Full Text – Kaltenbach
Prevalence of CRC Screening Lowest in Adults Aged 50 to 54
THURSDAY, March 12, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The prevalence of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening is lowest among adults aged 50 to 54 years, according to research published in the March 13 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Enoki Mushrooms From Korea Linked to Deadly U.S. Listeria Outbreak
THURSDAY, March 12, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Enoki mushrooms from Korea are the likely cause of a deadly Listeria outbreak in the United States that has sickened 36 people in 17 states, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.
Decreases Seen in Cancer Incidence, Death Rates
THURSDAY, March 12, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Cancer incidence and death rates have decreased in recent years, according to two studies published online March 12 in Cancer.
CRC Risks Similar to General Population After Bariatric Surgery
THURSDAY, March 12, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Patients with obesity undergoing bariatric surgery have the same risk for colorectal cancer (CRC) as the general population, according to a study published online March 11 in JAMA Surgery.
Acute Appendicitis Incidence Not Randomly Distributed
TUESDAY, March 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Socioeconomic status and other geographically defined factors are associated with incidence of acute appendicitis (AA), according to a study published online March 4 in JAMA Surgery.
Risk for Liver Cancer Down With Low-Dose Aspirin in Hepatitis B, C
WEDNESDAY, March 11, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Low-dose aspirin is associated with a reduced risk for hepatocellular carcinoma among patients with chronic viral hepatitis, according to a study published in the March 12 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Atopic Comorbidity Up in Children With Food Protein-Induced Enterocolitis
WEDNESDAY, March 11, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Children with food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES) have higher rates of atopic comorbidity, according to a study published online in the March issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice.
Anticholinergic Burden Tied to Adverse Effects in Middle Age
TUESDAY, March 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Anticholinergic burden (ACB) is associated with adverse outcomes in a middle- to older-aged population, according to a study published in the March/April issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.
Apixaban Seems Safer Than Rivaroxaban for A-Fib
TUESDAY, March 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Among adults with atrial fibrillation, the rates for ischemic stroke or systemic embolism and bleeding are lower with apixaban compared with rivaroxaban, according to a study published online March 10 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
2018 Health Care Spending Up Due to Higher Prices
MONDAY, March 9, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Average employer-sponsored insurance spending rose to $5,892 per person in 2018, according to the Health Care Cost Institute annual Health Care Cost and Utilization Report.
Health Care Cost and Utilization Report
Rotavirus Vaccination, Type 1 Diabetes Not Linked in Children
MONDAY, March 9, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Rotavirus vaccination seems not to be associated with type 1 diabetes in children, according to a study published online March 9 in JAMA Pediatrics.
Guidelines Detail Management of Liver Failure in ICU Patients
MONDAY, March 9, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In an executive summary of a new guideline from the Society of Critical Care Medicine, published in the March issue of Critical Care Medicine, a set of evidence-based recommendations are presented for the management of liver failure in critically ill patients.
Bariatric Surgery Outcomes Similar Regardless of Obesity Onset
FRIDAY, March 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The treatment benefits of bariatric surgery in adults are similar regardless of early- or adult-onset obesity, according to a study recently published in Diabetes Care.
CRC Incidence, Mortality Declining for Adults Aged ≥65
FRIDAY, March 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and mortality are continuing to decline among adults aged 65 years and older but are increasing among younger adults, according to a study published online March 5 in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.
Gulf War Illness Still Poses High Symptom Burden
THURSDAY, March 5, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Gulf War illness (GWI) poses a high disease burden on veterans almost three decades after the conflict, according to a study published online Feb. 2 in Military Medicine.
Female Clinical Chairs Paid Significantly Less Than Men
THURSDAY, March 5, 2020 (HealthDay News) — There are significant sex differences in salaries of clinical department chairs in public medical schools in the United States, according to a research letter published online March 2 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Molecularly Matched Therapy Promising in Pancreatic Cancer
WEDNESDAY, March 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Receipt of molecularly matched therapy is associated with improved outcomes in patients with pancreatic cancer, according to a study published online March 2 in The Lancet Oncology.
Late Mortality Down for Young Adult, Adolescent Cancer Survivors
WEDNESDAY, March 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) — All-cause and cause-specific mortality have decreased among five-year adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors overall, but improvements have not been consistent across all cancer types, according to a study published online March 3 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
T2DM Remission Rates Higher With RYGB Versus Sleeve Gastrectomy
WEDNESDAY, March 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Most patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) undergoing bariatric surgery experience T2DM remission during five years of follow-up, but outcomes are superior with Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) compared with sleeve gastrectomy (SG), according to a study published online March 4 in JAMA Surgery.
Racial/Ethnic Insurance Coverage Disparity Down Since ACA
WEDNESDAY, March 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Since the implementation of coverage expansions associated with the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the disparities in insurance coverage related to race and ethnicity have decreased, according to a study published in the March issue of Health Affairs.
Considerable Increase Seen in List, Net Prices of Branded Drugs
WEDNESDAY, March 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) — From 2007 to 2018, there were substantial increases in list and net prices of branded drugs in the United States, according to a study published in the March 3 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Recommendations Provided for Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis
WEDNESDAY, March 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In a new clinical guideline from the American Gastroenterological Association, recently published in Gastroenterology, treatment recommendations are presented for patients with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis (UC).
1996 to 2016 Saw Increases in U.S. Spending on Health Care
TUESDAY, March 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) — From 1996 to 2016, there were considerable increases in U.S. spending on health care, according to a study published in the March 3 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Use of PPIs Tied to Cognitive Issues in Breast Cancer Survivors
TUESDAY, March 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Use of acid reflux drugs (proton pump inhibitors [PPIs]) during and after cancer treatment may be tied to impaired memory and concentration in breast cancer survivors, according to a study recently published in the Journal of Cancer Survivorship.
USPSTF Recommends Screening All Adults for Hepatitis C Virus
MONDAY, March 2, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends screening for hepatitis C virus infection in all adults. This recommendation forms the basis of a final recommendation statement published online March 2 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Evidence Report
Final Recommendation Statement
Editorial 1 (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial 2 (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial 3 (subscription or payment may be required)
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