During the COVID-19 pandemic, due to constraints in endoscopy services, the use of non-invasive testing, such as faecal immunochemical testing (FIT), reached peak popularity. We wrote a Comment in 20201 highlighting the importance of seeking the right balance to avoid unintended consequences from the use of FIT for diagnoses. In the subsequent 3 years, there are 51 original research articles on FIT in colorectal cancer and more than ten on FIT in colorectal adenoma. There have also been ten meta-analyses to date on the diagnostic accuracy of FIT for colorectal cancer detection and a joint guideline document from the British…
Author: Abhay Panchal
Aim: The study aimed to evaluate the performance of ChatGPT in the context of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and to determine its reliability and usefulness for both patients and healthcare professionals. Methods: The study involved 20 specific questions related to the two main types of IBD: Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). These questions were divided into two sets: one for healthcare professionals and one for patients. The answers were evaluated using a seven-point Likert-type scale for reliability and usefulness. Results: The highest scores for both reliability and usefulness were obtained from questions sourced from professionals (5.00±1.21 for reliability…
Uber Health and UnitedHealth Group’s Optum health services are collaborating to simplify the payment process for ancillary benefits, such as ride-sharing and product delivery, for seniors using the Uber app. Here are the key details: In summary, the partnership between Uber Health and Optum seeks to optimize the way seniors access and pay for their health-related benefits, aiming for convenience and improved health outcomes.
Endoscopic detection and resection of colorectal polyps is the key determinant of the eventual prevention of colorectal cancer. Whereas visualization of sessile and pedunculated colon polyps is relatively straightforward and easy, finding flat or sessile serrated lesions is more challenging. These flat and sessile serrated lesions tend to secrete mucus or accumulate debris or stool on their surface, which changes the appearance of these lesions, hindering the ability of visual aid systems using artificial intelligence, or traditional virtual or dye-based chromoendoscopy techniques, to recognize them.
Here are five leading physicians in the field of gastroenterology: These physicians are making significant strides in the field of gastroenterology, pushing the boundaries of research, treatment, and patient care.
The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) has expressed concerns over UnitedHealthcare’s (UHC) lack of response to their call for clarity on the insurer’s advanced notification program for gastrointestinal care. On August 1, the AGA sent a letter to UHC urging them to withdraw this program. However, as of October 11, UHC has not provided any details or responses to the AGA’s concerns. Key points: In summary, the AGA’s concerns revolve around UHC’s advanced notification program for gastrointestinal care, and the insurer’s lack of communication has raised alarms in the medical community and among policymakers.
The American College of Physicians (ACP) recently updated its colorectal cancer (CRC) screening guidance, which has sparked concerns among some specialists. The ACP’s new guidance, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, recommends starting CRC screenings at age 50 for average-risk, asymptomatic individuals. This is in contrast to the 2021 guidelines from the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), which lowered the recommended initial screening age to 45. Several professional organizations, including the American College of Radiology, have criticized the ACP’s new guidelines, labeling them as “a step backward.” They warn that these guidelines…
During HLTH 2023, Google introduced new generative AI-powered features to its Vertex AI platform. These features are designed for health and life sciences companies to search patient data, including clinical sources such as FHIR data and clinical notes. This can be integrated with Google’s medical large language model, Med-PaLM 2. Key points:
Colonoscopy for colorectal cancer screening may not be a thing of the past yet, but two noninvasive screening tests are touting new data showing rates of sensitivity and specificity that are gaining on the gold-standard screening modality. New data on the cell-free DNA blood-based screening test Shield (Guardant Health) put it in the level of other noninvasive screening tests, researchers said, and improved metrics—including fewer false positive scores—of the next-generation of the multitarget stool DNA test Cologuard (Exact Sciences) show the test’s benefit for screening average-risk adults. Cell-Free DNA Assay: 83% Sensitivity for CRC The cfDNA test Shield demonstrated an…
SonarMD, a leader in value-based care for digestive health, and Telebelly Health, a virtual care platform specialized for gastroenterology practices, have announced a partnership. This collaboration aims to provide gastroenterology practices with enhanced support, including: The partnership addresses the current challenges faced by GI practices, such as increased demand due to colonoscopy screening guidelines, pandemic-induced backlogs, and a shortage of gastroenterologists. These challenges can result in dangerous care delays and increased costs. SonarMD’s approach involves remote patient monitoring, algorithms, and expert support to proactively identify and address emerging health issues in patients with chronic gut conditions. This not only improves…