AI Outperformed Doctors in Cancer Communication:A study comparing ChatGPT with real physicians’ responses to patient questions on Reddit found that AI responses scored significantly higher in both quality (4.2 vs 3.0) and empathy (4.2 vs 2.0). However, physician responses were easier to read and written at a lower grade level.Stigma in Liver Disease Media Coverage: An analysis of 341 U.S. media articles from 2010–2023 found that 37% used stigmatizing terms when reporting on cirrhosis, often linking it to alcohol abuse or addiction. Researchers called for more responsible language to reduce public bias and improve health behaviors.
Author: Abhay Panchal
Elaine Bredehoft, a Collier County attorney, has filed a lawsuit against Dr. Scott Wiesen and Premier Endoscopy Center after a routine colonoscopy in 2023 allegedly led to a life-threatening injury. She claims her colon was punctured and her ovary and fallopian tube were mistakenly removed, causing severe complications and multiple surgeries. Bredehoft says she later learned the doctor may have been suffering from dementia, though his license remains active. Despite her trauma, she urges others not to fear colonoscopies, emphasizing their critical role in preventing colorectal cancer.
In a groundbreaking move, researchers in the UK have trained a generative AI model called Foresight on anonymized health records from 57 million patients within England’s NHS — the largest dataset of its kind ever used. Built to predict hospitalizations and various health conditions, the model is currently restricted to COVID-19-related research within a secure NHS environment. While early versions of Foresight showed high accuracy, the latest iteration draws on 10 billion clinical events from 2018 to 2022. Experts say this could significantly advance predictive health AI, though privacy concerns remain.
On May 6, 2025, Nerva, a leading digital therapeutic for IBS, announced the acquisition of key assets from Mahana Therapeutics, a pioneer in digital therapies for chronic conditions. This move solidifies Nerva’s leadership in app-based brain-gut therapies, aiming to improve access to evidence-based care like gut-directed hypnotherapy and CBT for IBS. Nerva will integrate Mahana’s proven CBT programs into its own platform, expanding reach and effectiveness. The acquisition follows growing support from organizations like AGA and ACG for digital therapeutics in IBS care.
Guardant Health today shared results from a 778-sample, blinded case-control study demonstrating that its methylation-based Shield™ Multi-Cancer Detection (MCD) blood test achieves:
Sheldon Taub, MD, a gastroenterologist at Jupiter (Fla.) Medical Center with 45 years of experience, joined Becker’s to discuss the rewarding yet increasingly complex path of pursuing a medical career. Editor’s note: This response has been edited lightly for clarity and length. Question: If a student asked you today whether they should pursue a career in medicine, how would you advise them — and what experiences have shaped that perspective?
UCLA has received a $25 million commitment from alumna and former UCLA Foundation chair Shirley Wang and her husband, Walter, to establish the UCLA Walter and Shirley Wang Center for Integrative Digestive Health, one of the nation’s first programs to offer truly holistic gastrointestinal care. Opening later this year, the center will bring together gastroenterologists, GI psychologists, specialized dietitians and integrative health practitioners—using evidence-based approaches such as diaphragmatic breathing, mindfulness and self-compassion training—alongside nutrition and psychology services, all coordinated by dedicated care managers.
Geneoscopy co-founders Andrew Barnell, MBA, and Erica Barnell, M.D., Ph.D., have been named finalists for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2025 Heartland Award, which honors leaders of high-growth, innovative companies in the Midwest. Under their leadership, St. Louis–based Geneoscopy has developed ColoSense®, an FDA-approved, non-invasive colorectal cancer screening test based on stool-derived RNA biomarkers, and is expanding its pipeline into inflammatory bowel disease diagnostics.
A study published in March 2025 in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention offers important insights for the future of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening, particularly in how the cost-effectiveness of new noninvasive tests could reshape current practices. Here’s an overview of the research.The Study’s Design. Using a simulated model of 100,000 average-risk 45-year-old adults, the research compared three novel screening options—multitarget stool RNA (mt-sRNA), multitarget stool DNA 2.0, and cell-free DNA tests—against guideline-recommended methods like colonoscopy, fecal immunochemical testing, and stool DNA testing.
ResearchAndMarkets forecasts that the global gastrointestinal diagnostics market will grow from an estimated US$4.9 billion in 2024 to US$5.8 billion by 2030, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.8%. Endoscopy remains the largest test segment (projected to reach US$1.6 billion by 2030), while blood‐based diagnostics also continue to expand.