The FDA has given its approval for the subcutaneous administration of Takeda Pharmaceuticals’ Entyvio as a maintenance therapy for adult patients with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis. This approval follows the induction therapy via IV administration of the biologic. The IV formulation of Entyvio was initially approved in 2014 for both moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. The new formulation of Entyvio is anticipated to be available as a single-dose pre-filled pen within the upcoming month. Key Points: Purpose and Efficacy: The Galleri® test can detect signals from over 50 types of cancer, many of which currently lack recommended screening tests. When…
Author: Abhay Panchal
Point32Health, the parent company of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Tufts Health Plan, has expanded its collaboration with GRAIL, LLC, a healthcare company focused on early cancer detection. This expansion aims to offer GRAIL’s innovative Galleri® multi-cancer early detection blood test to more members. The test is now available to specific Point32Health members who receive primary care with Mass General Brigham affiliated providers. Key Highlights: Purpose of the Test: The Galleri® test can detect signals from over 50 types of cancer, many of which currently lack recommended screening tests. When a cancer signal is detected, the test can predict its…
New AGA guidance helps physicians and patients identify whether problems are due to the condition caused by lone star tick bitesAs confirmed diagnoses of alpha-gal syndrome are rising, experts urge GI clinicians to familiarize themselves with this condition, it’s often-challenging presentation, and the necessary steps for its diagnosis and management. Physicians in certain regions of the United States should consider alpha-gal allergy in patients with unexplained abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, according to a recently released clinical practice update from the American Gastroenterological Association (Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023;21[4]:891-896). This increased vigilance is particularly warranted for patients who live or…
SonarMD, a company at the forefront of value-based care in digestive health, has entered into new partnerships with gastroenterology practices in Illinois. This collaboration is part of an agreement with a significant health plan in the state. SonarMD’s primary focus is to work alongside practices to proactively manage the health of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, between their in-office visits. Key Highlights: Patient Monitoring: IBD patients associated with these practices and members of the health plan will have complimentary access to the user-friendly SonarMD tool. This tool allows patients to monitor their…
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are revolutionizing the field of hepatology, especially in the diagnosis and treatment of liver diseases. Hepatology heavily relies on imaging, and AI can harness this to its full potential. Machine learning extracts valuable information from imaging and clinical data, aiding in the non-invasive and precise diagnosis of various liver conditions. Key Points: AI-Powered Diagnosis: Liver biopsy, the gold standard for many chronic liver diseases, is invasive and not suitable for routine screening. AI offers a non-invasive alternative, using algorithms based on current diagnostic guidelines, refined by vast imaging and clinical datasets. For example,…
EXTON, Pa., Sept. 28, 2023 – US Digestive Health (USDH), one of the largest gastroenterology (GI) practices in the United States, and UnitedHealthcare® Insurance and their affiliate health plans have come to an agreement on a new contract for USDH providers and their patients across Pennsylvania and Delaware. Jerry Tillinger, CEO of USDHM, expressed satisfaction with the new agreement, emphasizing USDH’s commitment to expanding GI care in the communities they serve. This new agreement will take effect on October 1, 2023.
A higher adenoma detection rate is associated with increased detection of colorectal cancer during screening colonoscopies, demonstrating that CRC incidence and mortality after index colonoscopy result not only from missed precancerous lesions but also from missed cancers, according to an analysis of the GI Quality Improvement Consortium (GIQuIC) database. “We saw that ADR is associated with the detection of [advanced adenomas (AAs)] and [sessile serrated lesions (SSLs)], but that’s not terribly surprising. What was somewhat surprising was the difference in the cancer detection rate,” said lead author Jason A. Dominitz, MD, MHS, the national director of gastroenterology for the Veterans…
ALF is a much-dreaded severe complication of liver injury that, as the name implies, develops over a short period of time; at most, it’s 26 weeks. It can lead to life-threatening complications, such as cerebral edema and multiorgan failure. The liver has a tremendous reserve and regeneration ability and can handle a lot of inflammation without its synthetic function being affected. It is only when the latter is compromised — judged by an elevated INR of over 1.5 — that the liver’s ability to metabolize toxins gets affected. People can develop confusion related to liver disease or hepatic encephalopathy (HE).…
The article discusses the effectiveness of an AI-enhanced breath analysis method in detecting COVID-19. This method was presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress. The AI-selected clinical data, combined with breath analysis data, showed a notable improvement in distinguishing COVID-19 in patients, boasting a 98% sensitivity and a 98% negative predictive value. The real-time mass spectrometry breath analysis, enhanced by artificial intelligence, is being considered as a potential screening method for COVID-19. The test takes less than a minute to perform, making it a high-throughput method. It could be particularly useful for quickly identifying COVID-19-negative individuals, with confirmatory tests…
The AlphV ransomware group has claimed to have stolen confidential patient data from MNGI Digestive Health, a physician-owned gastroenterology practice based in Minneapolis. According to a report from DataBreaches.net, AlphV posted a notice on its website on September 24, stating that MNGI had 48 hours to contact them, or the stolen data would be published. The ransomware group threatened that patients would be massively notified about the data breach, potentially leading to a class action lawsuit. AlphV also warned of revealing all violations of sensitive data storage in MNGI’s system. To substantiate its claims, the group uploaded images from diagnostic…