The study aimed to evaluate the auxiliary diagnostic performance of an AI system in detecting superficial oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma and precancerous lesions using white light endoscopy (WLE) and non-magnified narrow-band imaging (NBI). Conducted across 12 hospitals in China, the trial involved patients undergoing sedated upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for various reasons. Participants were randomly assigned to either an AI-first or a routine-first group, with the endoscopist performing examinations with and without AI assistance. Key findings include: Insights:
Author: Abhay Panchal
Dive deep with Dr. Michael Byrne, CEO & Founder of Satisfai Health, as he discusses the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Gastroenterology (GI). This conversation is a treasure trove for anyone keen on understanding the future of AI in medicine and its implications for the healthcare industry. Highlights: Dr. Byrne believes, “The healthcare system in general will see the utility and the benefit of AI… the benefits of AI in medicine, in GI, in endoscopy are literally huge.” Don’t miss this one.
Major tech companies have been making significant strides in the healthcare sector, and their progress has been closely monitored and analyzed. Based on the 2023 scores on the Health, Innovation & Tech (HIT) Index, here’s a power ranking of the most influential non-healthcare players in the healthcare industry:
Healthcare startup Olive, which experienced rapid growth in 2020 and 2021, is now winding down its operations. The company’s rise was fueled by the digital health funding boom and the demand for automation during the COVID-19 pandemic. By 2021, Olive’s AI was operational in over 900 hospitals across more than 40 U.S. states. However, the company has faced challenges, leading to a significant decline in its operations. Olive has sold its clearinghouse and patient access business units to Waystar and its prior authorization business unit to Humata Health. The company’s CEO, Sean Lane, acknowledged “missteps” in Olive’s strategy and cited…
Mental health conditions are increasingly prevalent and can trigger disorders of the gut-brain axis (GBA), which have also been diagnosed more frequently in recent times. A global survey involving 54,127 participants from 26 countries found that 37.5% exhibited clinically relevant psychological distress and/or somatic symptom severity, which was associated with a 4.45-fold increased risk of GBA disorders. In the U.S., the most common GBA disorders are irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and functional dyspepsia. Mind-body therapies, such as gut-directed hypnotherapy (GDH), relaxation techniques, behavioral therapy, and psychotherapy, have shown effectiveness for these conditions. Despite the evidence, these methods are not widely…
UnitedHealthcare (UHC) has announced a 20% reduction in its prior authorization requirements for its members and member physicians, effective from September 1. This move is part of a two-phased approach, with the first phase initiated on September 1, eliminating codes for various UHC plans, including Medicare Advantage, commercial, Oxford, and Individual Exchange plan members. While UHC states that this change aims to simplify the healthcare experience for members and healthcare professionals, some physicians believe that the eliminated codes are among the least used. Dr. Adam Bruggeman, an orthopedic surgeon at Texas Spine Care Center, mentioned that many of the removed…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given its approval to Omvoh, a novel medication developed by Eli Lilly, for the treatment of ulcerative colitis. This injectable drug is the inaugural treatment for ulcerative colitis that specifically targets the p19 protein subunit, which plays a role in inflammation associated with the condition. The announcement was made in an official press release by Eli Lilly on October 26. Omvoh is set to be available in the U.S. market in the upcoming weeks. Notably, the drug had already received approval in Japan and the European Union earlier this year.
As 2023 comes to a close, physician private practices are encouraged to prepare for the upcoming year, especially in areas like budgeting, staffing, and clinical supplies. Taylor Johnson, the AMA’s manager of physician practice development, suggests that private practices should have an agenda based on their business plan to review their needs and business relationships for 2024. She also emphasizes the importance of meeting patients’ scheduling needs, especially those who have met their insurance deductibles and are seeking high-cost treatments before year-end. Staffing and supply management are critical areas of focus, especially in light of challenges faced during the COVID-19…
A recent global analysis has shed light on the significant number of premature cancer deaths worldwide. The study reveals that in 2020, out of 9.96 million cancer deaths, 5.28 million occurred prematurely (before age 70), resulting in an approximate loss of 183 million life-years globally. The analysis suggests that over two-thirds of these premature deaths, equating to 3.6 million or 68%, might have been preventable through measures like early detection, lifestyle changes, and cancer screening. However, 31% or 1.65 million of these deaths could have been treatable. Despite these findings, some experts, including Nilanjan Chatterjee, PhD, from Johns Hopkins University,…
A meta-analysis presented at the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) 2023 Annual Scientific Meeting in Vancouver, Canada, highlighted the potential benefits of Intestinal Microbiota Transplant (IMT), also known as fecal microbiota transplant (FMT), in treating inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The study, led by Dr. Ifrah Fatima from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, found that IMT significantly improved clinical response and remission in IBD patients compared to standard treatments. However, no significant improvement was observed in endoscopic remission. The analysis included 10 randomized control trials and showed that IMT was particularly effective for patients with ulcerative colitis but…