A new study has developed a machine learning (ML) model that uses standard laboratory values and clinical data to predict the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). This model, which showed high specificity and sensitivity, was trained and validated using data from 1561 and 686 patients with MASLD, respectively, from two academic medical centers. The strongest predictive parameter of HCC in the model was liver fibrosis, as determined by the noninvasive fibrosis-4 score, along with total cholesterol, alkaline phosphate, bilirubin, and hypertension. In the validation cohort, the model achieved 92.06% accuracy in…
Author: Abhay Panchal
Private equity has staked its claim in gastroenterology.From GI Alliance to United Digestive, most major GI groups are backed by private equity. But what is drawing private equity to gastroenterology specifically? “This trend has seen growing momentum in the past five years. The field presents an attractive PE target, as a significant portion of gastroenterologists remain in independent practices with ownership in ambulatory endoscopy centers,” Rami Abbass, MD, a gastroenterologist at University Hospitals in Mentor, Ohio, told Becker’s in 2021. “The growing regulatory environment, high cost of capital, administrative burdens and challenges of partner recruitment have made private equity attractive…
This software could expedite the quality review process and establish new benchmarks in colonoscopy performance. Key Features of the Software: Evaluation and Performance: Advantages and Potential Impact: Future Development: The investigators, who disclosed relationships with various medical companies, believe that automating data collection in this manner could help determine which metrics provide clinically meaningful insights and potentially expand the standard performance benchmarks in colonoscopy.
Management organization GI Alliance has broken ground on an ASC in Kansas City, Mo., in conjunction with real estate company MedCore Partners and Cig Partners Two. The 14,000-square-foot ASC will be one of many facilities that MedCore and GI Alliance have developed together across several states. The development is expected to be complete in January 2025, according to a Feb. 6 press release.
Use of a mechanical enhancement device during screening colonoscopy improved polyp detection rates and estimated adenoma detection rates in real-world clinical settings, likely due to improved surface area exposure of the colon, according to an analysis of a large healthcare database. Despite this demonstrable benefit, the uptake of the device (EndoCuff Vision, Olympus) in clinical practice “is low, probably limited by financial barriers for the cost of single-use products,” according to investigator Seth A. Gross, MD, who presented the findings at the 2023 annual meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology (plenary 50). “Published studies have shown polyp/adenoma miss rates…
Researchers Jane Crowley and George Gordon from the University of Nottingham have developed an innovative spatial frequency domain imaging (SFDI) device, which is promising for gastrointestinal endoscopy applications. Key Features of the SFDI Device: Innovations in the Device: Potential Impact: The study, published in the Journal of Biomedical Optics, addresses the need for inexpensive yet accurate imaging systems for GC screening. This innovation could significantly improve early detection and treatment of gastrointestinal cancers, potentially reducing mortality rates associated with these cancers.
This update is significant for gastroenterologists and other healthcare professionals involved in the treatment of GI tract lesions, providing them with the latest insights and techniques for managing these conditions. Key Points: Clinical Implications:
A study published in Scientific Reports evaluated ChatGPT’s proficiency in answering questions about colorectal cancer (CRC). The study, conducted by a team from the University of Texas at Arlington, used a book on CRC as a reference to test ChatGPT (GPT-3.5 version) against expert answers to 131 CRC-related questions. The questions covered various aspects of CRC, including surgical management, radiation therapy, and pain control. ChatGPT’s responses were scored by clinical physicians specializing in CRC. The study found that while ChatGPT showed high accuracy and reproducibility, it lacked comprehensiveness in some areas, particularly in surgical management, basic information, and internal medicine.…
While gastroenterologists continue to face physician fee cuts from Medicare, many are holding the line and refusing to drop patients with Medicare, citing an obligation to treat all patients equally.Benjamin Levy III, MD, a gastroenterologist at University of Chicago Medicine, told Becker’s that it is important to continue providing screening colonoscopies for Medicare patients, especially as colon cancer rates continue to rise.Colon cancer is among the most common types of cancer diagnosed in both men and women, and cancer rates for those under 50 have risen 13% since 2000.
Researchers from the University of Texas at Arlington have developed an AI algorithm to provide personalized treatment options for esophageal cancer patients. This algorithm, detailed in a study published in the Journal of Mathematical Biology, is designed to address the disease’s heterogeneity and guide treatment by using a pharmacokinetic model to determine ideal drug doses, conducting sensitivity analysis to identify factors influencing cancer progression, and applying an optimal control model for selecting drug combinations and dosages. The framework, tested with synthetic data, has shown high accuracy in recommending optimal treatment strategies, offering a new tool for clinicians in the fight…