A large U.S. real-world study of more than 326,000 average-risk adults found that repeat multitarget stool DNA (mt-sDNA) screening for colorectal cancer achieves consistently high adherence, exceeding 80% across all racial and ethnic groups. Overall repeat-testing adherence reached 86%, rising to more than 90% among patients with prior mt-sDNA experience. Follow-up colonoscopy after a positive test occurred in 76% of cases — a critical step for effective screening. Older adults, rural residents, patients receiving digital outreach, and those whose tests were ordered by OB/GYNs were more likely to complete repeat screening. The findings reinforce mt-sDNA as a scalable, home-based screening…
Author: Abhay Panchal
Smart toilets may sound like novelty tech, but companies are betting they can turn urine and stool into valuable, non-invasive health signals. A growing number of digital health firms are developing sensor-enabled toilets or attachments that analyze what lands in the bowl, aiming to detect early signs of gastrointestinal, kidney, and metabolic disease. Products range from optical stool analysis to urine-based biomarker tracking, with potential applications in early cancer detection, chronic disease monitoring, and senior care. Gastroenterologist Anish Sheth of Penn Medicine Princeton Health has noted that continuous monitoring could allow earlier intervention before symptoms worsen. While the technology holds…
Key Takeaways
More than 100 million Americans will be treated this year by physicians using AI. According to The Information, OpenEvidence — often described as “ChatGPT for doctors” — is on track to become one of only eight applied-AI companies to surpass $10B in valuation and $100M in revenue. Adoption at clinical scale Economics that stand out How Physicians Actually Use Clinical AI A new NPJ Digital Medicine study examined how physicians interact with AI chatbots during real clinical reasoning tasks (Siden et al.). Study design Four dominant usage patterns emerged Key finding No interaction style consistently improved clinical reasoning performance. Providing…
A Colorado-based gastroenterology group has agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit tied to a 2024 cyberattack that exposed sensitive patient data for more than 366,000 individuals. The settlement includes reimbursement of up to $1,000 for documented identity-related losses and two years of credit and medical monitoring, underscoring the growing financial and reputational risks GI practices face as cyber incidents increasingly move from IT failures to legal liabilities.
As independent medical practices disappear, some physicians are turning to private equity as an unexpected path to autonomy. Doctors interviewed by Healthcare Brew argue that PE-backed management services organizations can provide capital, staffing, and administrative support while leaving clinical decisions in physicians’ hands — a contrast to hospital employment, which many say restricts schedules, referrals, and care delivery. Critics warn, however, that PE consolidation still drives higher prices and long-term instability, raising the question of whether this autonomy is durable or simply a different version of corporate control.
A new study suggests that ChatGPT can produce medical responses that appear empathetic — but still fall short of the emotional depth and situational awareness shown by physicians. Researchers compared AI-generated replies with doctors’ responses on an online medical forum and found that while ChatGPT often used supportive language and appropriate tone, it struggled with subtle emotional cues such as distress, anger, or uncertainty. The authors caution that AI may help handle routine patient questions and reduce clinician workload, but it cannot replace the trust, judgment, and relational nuance that underpin effective doctor–patient care — raising important ethical questions as…
Tiny Health, the microbiome testing company best known for its infant gut health platform, says it has surpassed 100,000 tests and is now pushing aggressively into the longevity market. Backed by a randomized controlled trial in infants showing an 83% reduction in eczema risk, the company is extending its science to adults with new microbiome-based markers tied to metabolic health, GLP-1 production, inflammation, and aging resilience. Alongside the milestone, Tiny Health launched a new Microbiome Age study for adults over 60 and expanded partnerships with longevity clinics and preventive health programs, positioning the gut microbiome as a core signal for…
AI in GI endoscopy has moved from “cool demos” to clinically tested tools, with the strongest evidence in colonoscopy. Across multiple randomized trials and meta-analyses, computer-aided detection (CADe) consistently boosts polyp/adenoma detection (about a ~20% lift on average), while newer systems are reducing the false-alert problem that can drive “alert fatigue.” Computer-aided diagnosis (CADx) is improving real-time polyp characterization, but still needs stronger prospective data before “resect-and-discard” becomes routine. Beyond detection, quality-control AI (cecal intubation confirmation, bowel prep scoring, withdrawal optimization) is emerging as the next leap—shifting toward full “AI-guided endoscopy platforms.” Upper GI, EUS/ERCP, capsule, and IBD surveillance applications…
The FDA has taken a landmark step in drug development by qualifying its first artificial intelligence tool, AIM-MASH AI Assist, to help score liver biopsies in metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis (MASH) clinical trials. Developed by PathAI, the system uses machine learning to standardize notoriously variable histologic assessments while keeping pathologists firmly in the loop. Experts say the move could cut noise, speed trials, and accelerate much-needed therapies for a growing global liver disease crisis—signaling how AI is beginning to reshape how new drugs reach patients.