Exact Sciences unveiled data on the Cologuard Plus™ test at the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) 2024 Annual Meeting, showcasing its effectiveness as a noninvasive colorectal cancer (CRC) screening tool. Cologuard Plus was highlighted for achieving the highest life-years gained while requiring fewer colonoscopies compared to other noninvasive screening methods. Through a validated simulation model, researchers found that Cologuard Plus provided the best balance of benefits (life-years gained) and burdens (number of colonoscopies) in CRC screening across various age ranges, from 45 to 75 years.
Author: Abhay Panchal
Cook Medical has started distributing the PillSense GI Bleed Detection System in the U.S., a collaboration with EnteraSense. This FDA-approved, single-use ingestible capsule uses light-absorption technology to detect bleeding in the upper GI tract with 93% sensitivity and 91% specificity. Patients ingest the capsule, which then transmits data to a reusable handheld receiver that clearly indicates whether blood has been detected, reducing the need for image interpretation or extensive patient prep. This technology enables faster, accurate triaging of hemodynamically stable patients with suspected GI bleeding, enhancing both patient care and resource allocation in hospital settings.
To mark Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology’s 20th anniversary, experts discussed the microbiome’s impact on biology, the field’s current strengths and limitations, and future research directions. They highlighted how the microbiome acts like an “essential organ,” influencing immunity, metabolism, and overall health. Early-life microbiome composition, especially from maternal transmission, has proven critical for shaping long-term health outcomes. Strengths of microbiome research include advanced sequencing and data analysis, but limitations persist due to variability among individuals and reliance on association data rather than causation. Looking forward, the field aims to personalize treatment through microbiome-driven therapies, explore synthetic microbial communities, and integrate…
At the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) 2024 Annual Meeting, researchers presented an AI tool that identifies and differentiates pancreatic cystic and solid lesions with remarkable accuracy during endoscopic ultrasound (EUS). Developed collaboratively by teams across the U.S., Portugal, Spain, and Brazil, the AI model utilizes a convolutional neural network trained on over 126,000 still images from 378 EUS exams. Results showed high accuracy, with the AI distinguishing between normal pancreatic tissue and lesions, including 99.1% accuracy for normal tissue, 99-99.8% for cystic lesions (M-PCLs and NM-PCLs), and 94% accuracy for solid lesions like pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (P-DAC) and neuroendocrine…
Dr. Harish Gagneja, Chief Medical Officer at Austin Gastroenterology, has earned the prestigious title of Master of the American College of Gastroenterology (MACG). This distinction places Dr. Gagneja among only 172 of over 18,000 ACG members who have achieved this honor. With a career dedicated to advancing gastroenterology, Dr. Gagneja has also held positions as Assistant Professor at MD Anderson Cancer Center and as President of the Texas Society of Gastroenterology and Endoscopy. He is recognized not only for his clinical expertise and leadership but also for his dedication to patient-centered care and mentoring new professionals in the field.
Dr. Partha Nandi, a gastroenterologist, developed a passion for gut health’s impact on brain health after his father, Uma Nandi, suffered a stroke. Inspired by his father’s experience, Dr. Nandi researched how gut health links to brain diseases like stroke, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s. His findings, published in his new book Heal Your Gut, Save Your Brain, emphasize how maintaining a healthy gut can improve cognitive function and overall well-being.
A massive data breach at Change Healthcare, owned by UnitedHealth Group (UHG), exposed the private health information of over 100 million Americans during a February ransomware attack, making it one of the largest data breaches in U.S. history. The breach, attributed to the Russian-speaking ransomware group ALPHV/BlackCat, caused widespread disruptions across the healthcare sector, affecting patient records, insurance billing, and hospital operations. Sensitive personal and medical data, including Social Security numbers, diagnoses, and financial details, were stolen and later partially published online.
OpenBiome, a nonprofit supplying fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) material, announced a voluntary suspension of its distribution this week, affecting many clinical sites across the U.S. Although the FDA’s current enforcement policy permits FMT use for C. difficile infections unresponsive to standard treatments, the future of this policy is uncertain. The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) is actively advocating to maintain access to conventional FMT for patients with severe C. diff infections who may not be eligible for recently FDA-approved microbial therapies. In collaboration with infectious disease experts and related organizations, AGA submitted a letter to the FDA, stressing the need for…
The recent multisociety clinical practice document provides guidance on the perioperative management of GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), emphasizing shared decision-making and tailored patient care. Here are key points from the recommendations:
A new study presented at the American College of Gastroenterology 2024 meeting suggests that a wireless motility patch system could offer a more comprehensive, noninvasive way to monitor multiday gastrointestinal (GI) activity. Led by Dr. Brian Lacy and colleagues from the Mayo Clinic, the study used wireless patches on 37 patients to record colonic myoelectrical activity continuously over several days. Findings indicated that higher nighttime GI activity correlated with improved bowel movement satisfaction among patients. This technology challenges traditional methods, which typically capture brief “snapshots” using gastric emptying scintigraphy or high-resolution manometry—both limited in scope, invasive, and generally confined to…