Sixty-five adults with IBS-D were randomized to LFD or rifaximin for 5 weeks. Primary endpoints were changes in mean daily abdominal pain and bloating at week 5 versus baseline. Secondary endpoints included changes in IBS Symptom Severity Score (IBS-SSS) and Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS) at week 5 versus baseline. Exploratory endpoints included responders defined as ≥30% reduction in abdominal pain or bloating. Stool samples collected at weeks 0, 2, 4, and 5 underwent 16S rRNA sequencing, and glucose breath testing (BT) was performed at weeks 0 and 5.
Author: Abhay Panchal
A large Cochrane review is challenging one of the most persistent assumptions in preventive gastroenterology: that aspirin meaningfully reduces colorectal cancer (CRC) risk in average-risk populations. Across nearly 125,000 participants from randomized trials, aspirin showed little to no impact on CRC incidence over 5–15 years, with any potential benefit appearing only after more than a decade—and even then, the evidence remains uncertain.
The gut microbiome was once a niche concept, but now is a mainstream health concept and rapidly gaining ground as a business opportunity. With more research connecting gut health and conditions such as digestion and mental health, microbiome companies are moving quickly to convert research into services and products. With the consumer demand for personalised health, this has created what is described as the ‘gold-rush’ of microbiome research.
At a recent clinical discussion, the message was clear: traditional pharmacologic pathways alone are not enough for many patients with IBD and IBS. Clinicians are increasingly exploring adjunct and alternative approaches—not as replacements, but as necessary complements to standard care. For IBS in particular, the shift is more philosophical than therapeutic. The condition often lacks a clear structural cause, pushing clinicians toward open-minded, patient-centered care that integrates behavioral and functional strategies. Approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy, hypnotherapy, and stress-focused interventions are gaining traction—not because they are “alternative,” but because they address the gut–brain axis that drugs alone cannot fully target.
The research, presented at American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting, also showed variations within early-onset colorectal cancer based on genetics and social determinants of health, including education and BMI.
Gastroenterology pay hit $530,000 in 2025, according to Medscape’s Physician Compensation Report published April 11. The report, which surveyed 5,916 physicians across more than 29 specialties from Sept. 5 to Dec. 17, found that orthopedic surgeons are pulling in $611,000 a year while pediatricians take home less than half that at $266,000.
As GI procedures increasingly rely on anesthesia services, ASCs and gastroenterologists are exploring ways to capture a share of anesthesia revenue—but most of these arrangements sit on legally fragile ground. Nearly all models, whether service agreements, joint ventures, or employment structures, involve physicians benefiting from referrals they control—placing them squarely under scrutiny of federal and state anti-kickback and fee-splitting laws.
Gastroenterology ASCs are seeing rising procedural demand, yet margins continue to erode—not because of volume, but because of missed strategic levers. Key opportunities lie in areas many practices underutilize: payer strategy, employer contracting, operational efficiency, and screening expansion. In-network positioning is increasingly critical as independent dispute resolution (IDR) becomes a volume driver, while direct-to-employer contracting offers a largely untapped path to capture predictable, bundled revenue. At the same time, internal inefficiencies—device variation, poor scheduling, and underutilized block time—quietly inflate costs without improving throughput. The biggest growth lever, however, sits outside the system: millions of unscreened patients following updated colorectal cancer…
Early Phase 2 data from the SKYLINE trial suggest SPY001, a next-generation anti-α4β7 therapy for ulcerative colitis, could match existing biologics in efficacy while significantly improving dosing convenience through an extended half-life. Beyond clinical remission and endoscopic improvement, the real innovation lies in design—quarterly or even biannual subcutaneous dosing via autoinjector could reduce treatment burden and improve adherence compared to current therapies. The platform trial structure also points toward a broader strategy: combining gut-selective agents with cytokine-targeting therapies to enhance outcomes. As the IBD treatment landscape becomes increasingly crowded, differentiation is shifting from pure efficacy to a combination of durability,…
Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a complication often found in patients with gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. Despite this connection, the identification and management of IDA in patients with GI conditions remains inconsistent and inadequate. This Special Report reviews key aspects of recognizing, diagnosing, and managing IDA in patients with GI disorders with a focus on the utility of parenteral/IV iron for restoring iron stores often responsible for IDA development.