Wireless capsule endoscopy (WCE) has transformed gastroenterology since the early 2000s by enabling noninvasive visualization of the gastrointestinal tract, particularly the small intestine—an area traditionally difficult to examine with conventional endoscopy. Conceptualized in the 1980s by Gavriel Iddan and Eitan Scapa in Israel and advanced in parallel by Paul Swain in the UK, WCE brought Richard Feynman’s idea of “swallowing the surgeon” closer to reality. The first FDA-approved capsule, PillCam SB1 (2001), demonstrated the feasibility of complete small-bowel imaging and rapidly expanded clinical use beyond obscure GI bleeding to include Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, small-bowel tumors, and iron deficiency anemia.…
Author: Abhay Panchal
A single-center study suggests that a saline-immersion/irrigation technique (SITE) combined with the pocket-creation method (PCM) can significantly improve outcomes in colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). Key findings: Why it matters:SITE-ESD improves visualization and procedural stability by replacing intraluminal gas with saline irrigation, enabling safer and more effective en bloc resection of complex lesions. The approach may reduce the need for general anesthesia and surgery while maintaining high curative outcomes. Limitations:Results are from a single center, follow-up was available for only 58.8% of patients, and resection speed was modest due to lesion complexity. Bottom line:SITE-ESD appears to be a safe, effective,…
OpenAI announced the launch of ChatGPT Health, a new platform designed to help users navigate healthcare and answer everyday health and wellness questions by combining ChatGPT’s capabilities with a person’s personal health information. The company also announced a partnership with b.well, which will serve as the technical backend to securely access and unify users’ medical records. ChatGPT Health allows users to upload and connect medical records such as lab results, visit summaries, clinical history, and data from wellness apps including Apple Health. OpenAI stated that the platform was developed in collaboration with physicians globally and includes additional protections beyond standard…
Freenome reported improved clinical performance of an updated version of its SimpleScreen™ colorectal cancer (CRC) blood test, with data presented at the 2026 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium. In a large case-control validation study of 966 average-risk samples, the updated test detected 85% of CRC cases and 22% of advanced precancerous lesions (APLs) at 90% specificity. The improved performance reflects assay upgrades, including optimized reagents, workflow enhancements, and increased automation. The updated test was compared head-to-head with the original version—currently under FDA review—using the same study subjects, controlling for biological and cohort variation. Performance results for both CRC and APL were…
Ro, the leading direct-to-patient healthcare company, announced today that it is working with Novo Nordisk on the nationwide launch of the new Wegovy® pill. Patients today can come to Ro.co for the easiest way to access the first and only oral GLP-1 weight loss medication at the lowest available cash pay price. Ro first integrated directly with Novo Nordisk in April 2025 and has been a key part of the manufacturer’s direct-to-patient expansion to date. “The Wegovy pill is the most recent example of Novo Nordisk’s decades-long commitment to obesity treatment. Now more than ever, it is critically important to…
A national shortage of gastroenterologists is beginning to show measurable downstream effects on physician workload and patient care, according to a Medscape report published Dec. 12. Most respondents reported at least a moderate negative impact from the shortage, with the greatest strain appearing in physicians’ day-to-day time demands. More than two-thirds of respondents rated the shortage’s impact on their time per patient at a 3 or 4 on a five-point scale, and 8% said it has had a “considerable negative impact.” When asked about patient care, respondents similarly clustered around moderate effects, both within their own practices and in their…
New preclinical research published in Cell Reports Medicine suggests that bowel preparation for colonoscopy may temporarily disrupt gut balance, potentially increasing susceptibility to infection and inflammation in individuals with compromised gastrointestinal health. In mouse models, researchers simulated bowel preparation using polyethylene glycol (PEG), a common laxative ingredient. The treatment caused diarrhea, temporarily depleted the gut’s protective mucus barrier, reduced beneficial gut bacteria, and lowered levels of short-chain fatty acids that help protect against infection and inflammation. Although the mice recovered within a few days, this period created a window of weakened gut defenses.
How is AI reshaping inflammatory bowel disease care? In this series, host Catherine Glass speaks with Michael Byrne, a gastroenterologist, researcher, and founder of Dova Health Intelligence, Vancouver, Canada, about the rise of AI in endoscopy, tackling bias, and redefining clinical trials. Across four episodes, they explore how intelligent systems like DovaVision™ (Dova Health Intelligence) are bringing consistency, speed, and precision to the management of inflammatory bowel disease.
Utah has launched a first-of-its-kind pilot program allowing an artificial intelligence system — without human involvement — to renew certain medical prescriptions for patients with chronic conditions. The program is being run in partnership with health-tech startup Doctronic and began quietly in late 2025. The initiative tests whether AI can safely manage routine prescription renewals and how willing patients, regulators, and policymakers are to trust AI in a role traditionally handled by physicians. Utah officials view the program as a way to reduce costs, prevent medication lapses, and ease pressure on clinicians, especially in underserved and rural areas. The AI…
The article examines whether surgical resection can be avoided in some patients after a malignant colorectal polyp has been removed endoscopically. Traditionally, surgery has been recommended because of concerns about residual cancer or lymph node involvement, but the article highlights growing discussion around selective non-surgical management. Key themes covered in the article: