The article from Cureus discusses the significant role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in diagnosing and managing pancreatic cancer (PC), particularly pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). AI, including Machine Learning (ML) and Deep Learning (DL), is increasingly used in medical fields due to its ability to process vast amounts of data and assist in decision-making. Key points from the article include: Challenges in Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosis: Pancreatic cancer often presents with few symptoms until advanced stages, making early detection challenging. Traditional diagnostic methods like CT scans, MRI, and Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) have limitations, and there is a need for more effective early…
Author: Abhay Panchal
A study presented at The Liver Meeting highlighted significant gaps in hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing and treatment among pregnant individuals in Canada. Conducted by Andrew B. Mendlowitz, PhD, MBiotech, and colleagues, the population-based, retrospective cohort study analyzed pregnancies in Ontario from 2008 to 2020, linked to HCV testing records from 1999 to 2020. Key findings include: However, 20.1% of individuals with a positive antibody test had at least one pregnancy before receiving a subsequent RNA test. Of those with an RNA-positive record, a minority received treatment. An estimated 195 infants may have been infected due to missed opportunities for…
Patients with high-risk T1 rectal cancer have a higher risk of recurrence after surgical resection compared to those with colon cancer, according to a study published in Gastroenterology. The research, led by Tatsunori Minamide, MD, and colleagues, analyzed data from 3,789 patients who underwent complete resection of T1 colorectal cancer. The study found no significant differences in recurrence after endoscopic local resection of low- or high-risk colorectal cancer (CRC) lesions. In the study, 1,044 patients underwent local resection (LR) and 2,745 underwent surgical resection (SR), all for high-risk lesions. Recurrence rates were 1.2% for LR and 1.8% for SR, while…
It has been 12 years since I published a commentary titled “Electronic Distraction an Unmeasured Variable in Modern Medicine” in Gastroenterology & Endoscopy News’ sister publication Anesthesiology News (November 2011). This piece was at the core of a front-page story that appeared in The New York Times and ignited a firestorm of media coverage. Professionals in all fields of medicine addressed this issue at both national and international conferences; many articles were written; studies and research were done; and education was provided in almost every field of healthcare. This distraction was also addressed by the legal profession, with it becoming…
Research presented at the American Public Health Association’s Annual Meeting shows that Oshi Health’s virtual multidisciplinary gastrointestinal (GI) care significantly reduces emergency department (ED) utilization among patients. This study, conducted in partnership with a national health plan, compared GI-related ED visits between patients enrolled in Oshi Health’s program and those not enrolled. The findings revealed a 72% improvement at 3 months and a 64% improvement at 6 months in reducing GI-related ED visits among enrolled patients. Oshi Health, a virtual digestive health center, offers high-touch, multidisciplinary care including telehealth appointments with GI-specialized physicians, dietitians, psychologists, health coaches, and care coordinators.…
A study published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, led by Dr. Karl Mårild, highlights that histologic inflammation in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) significantly increases the risk of serious infections. The research, based on a national population study of 55,626 adults with IBD in Sweden, found that serious infections were more frequent in patients with histologic inflammation compared to those in histologic remission. The study observed 4.62 serious infections per 100 person-years of follow-up in patients with histologic inflammation, versus 2.53 in those in remission. This increased risk was consistent across both ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. The findings…
U.S. health insurers Humana and Cigna are in merger discussions, potentially creating a deal worth over $60 billion. This move follows years after antitrust challenges blocked similar large-scale health insurance consolidations. The proposed stock-and-cash deal, which could be finalized by year-end, aims to form a larger entity to compete with major players like UnitedHealth Group and CVS Health. Humana, with a stronger Medicare business, and Cigna, with a large pharmacy benefit unit, have limited business overlap, mainly in Medicare plans. However, the merger faces potential antitrust scrutiny, investor concerns over valuation disparities, and the challenge of limited cost and revenue…
Key Insights: Evolving Role of Medical Chatbots: Medical chatbots, initially used for basic tasks like customer service, are now expanding into healthcare. They are improving care efficiency and connecting patients with vital information and providers. However, their effectiveness depends on the volume and quality of data they are trained on. Challenges in Keeping Up with Medical Research: The rapid growth of biomedical research presents a challenge for AI models like medical chatbots. Ensuring these chatbots stay current with the latest scientific knowledge is crucial but difficult due to the sheer volume of new research. Key Evaluation Areas for Medical Chatbots:
Impact in Healthcare: Since its launch, ChatGPT has significantly influenced the healthcare industry, known for its slow tech adoption. It has passed medical licensing exams, aided in new medicine development, and reduced doctors’ paperwork. It’s also moving healthcare towards AI-assisted diagnoses. Accelerated Use in Research and Care Delivery: ChatGPT and similar AI models have rapidly expanded their role in healthcare research and patient care. These advancements include writing medical documents like discharge summaries and radiology reports, and even showing empathy in patient interactions. Pharmaceutical and Tech Industry Integration: The pharmaceutical industry is leveraging AI for more efficient drug discovery. Tech…
Clinicians should consider starting a patient with gastrointestinal diseases on enteral nutrition as soon as there is a risk for malnutrition due to inadequate oral intake, according to gastroenterologist Matthew Bechtold, MD, co-chair of the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition’s EN committee. During a recent ASPEN webinar on EN in GI disease, Dr. Bechtold, a professor of clinical medicine, the director of endoscopy and the director of GI ambulatory services at the University of Missouri, in Columbia, focused on three primary GI diseases— inflammatory bowel disease, chronic liver disease and acute pancreatitis—and when to consider EN in each…