How many times has a patient asked you what probiotic to take? What about interpreting a direct-to-consumer microbiome test? Gastroenterologists often are assumed to be the go-to doctor to ask these questions, but due to the fast pace of development and relative lack of educational resources, many may not feel up-to-date and confident to counsel patients in this field. Gastroenterologists need to have a basic understanding of the current state of microbiome science and how to apply it in everyday practice. Although microbiome research is in many ways still in its infancy, there is already a substantial base of literature…
Author: Harshal Chaudhari
Vivante Health, the provider of the GIThrive digital digestive health solution, has entered into a national distribution contract with United Healthcare (UHC), the largest health insurance company in the U.S. This partnership will enhance Vivante’s capability to assist individuals with digestive diseases by offering access to UHC’s large clientele, including self-funded employers aiming to enhance their benefits programs. The GIThrive platform will be the first digestive health solution featured on the UHC Hub, a platform that aids organizations in streamlining the process of selecting and managing healthcare benefits. The collaboration underscores the increasing recognition of the widespread nature of digestive…
Researchers are training artificial intelligence (AI) models to interpret facial expressions as a biomarker of pain, especially for patients who cannot verbally express their pain levels, such as those who are sedated, have dementia, or are nonverbal. An AI algorithm has been developed to analyze images of patients’ faces to detect pain, offering potential for continuous monitoring. This AI system was trained using examples of patients in pain and, using computer vision and deep learning, it learned to recognize pain in other patients. When compared to the Critical Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT), the AI’s readings were 88% accurate. The…
Exact Sciences Corporation announced its third-quarter 2023 results. Here’s a summary:
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (Blue Cross) has expanded its virtual care provider network to address two chronic conditions: gastrointestinal (GI) conditions and diabetes. The health plan has incorporated Oshi Health and Virta Health into its network. These organizations provide virtual care services, ensuring convenient and affordable care access for Blue Cross members. Oshi Health offers a comprehensive virtual care model for individuals with GI conditions, while Virta Health provides a unique approach combining virtual care and personalized nutrition to help individuals manage and potentially reverse type 2 diabetes. Lisa Glenn, Blue Cross’ vice president of network partnerships and…
Ayble Health, a digital health platform specializing in chronic gastrointestinal (GI) conditions, has introduced a mind-gut program. This program, lasting up to 15 weeks, offers users skill-building exercises designed to reestablish the connection between the mind and gut, aiming to alleviate GI symptoms and enhance the quality of life. The app is accessible both directly to consumers and via certain undisclosed employers and health plans. Ayble’s team consists of board-certified health coaches, overseen by dietitians and psychologists, who offer comprehensive, tailored dietary treatment plans and coaching. The new program is integrated with Ayble’s foundational nutrition program and incorporates evidence-based brain-gut…
Benjamin Levy III, MD, a gastroenterologist at University of Chicago Medicine, spoke with Becker’s to discuss how decreased reimbursements are a threat to gastroenterology.
Mahana Therapeutics, a prominent provider of prescription digital therapeutics, unveiled significant results from an analysis presented by Dr. Mythili Pathipati of Mass General Hospital at the ACG 2023 Scientific Meeting in Vancouver. The findings revealed that nearly 60% of users who completed the Mahana IBS program in real-world settings experienced a notable reduction in the severity of their IBS symptoms. Additionally, the use of Mahana IBS considerably alleviated stress, as gauged by the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). The study also identified key demographics that would most likely adhere to and benefit from the Mahana IBS program. The real-world analysis assessed…
VolitionRX Limited, an international epigenetics company, has introduced a groundbreaking cancer detection method at ESMO 2023, the European Society for Medical Oncology’s annual congress. Detecting early-stage cancer-derived circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in blood is challenging due to its minuscule presence among predominantly normal DNA. Current detection methods involve DNA extraction, sequencing, and complex bioinformatics analysis. However, Volition has pioneered a unique liquid biopsy method that physically isolates tumor-derived ctDNA fragments from blood. This method involves removing all normal background DNA of the same sequence and then detecting the cancer-derived ctDNA fragments using a cost-effective PCR test. Dr. Jake Micallef, Volition’s…
VANCOUVER—The incidence, prevalence and mortality associated with colorectal cancer all declined in the United States from 1990 to 2019, but the degree of decline was not evenly distributed by region or state, according to the Global Burden of Disease database. The overall mortality reduction was 26%—from 20 per 100,000 to 14.8 per 100,000—but the greatest declines, averaging about 40%, occurred in northern states, such as Massachusetts, New York, and the District of Columbia, reported Saqr Alsakarneh, MD, a resident in internal medicine at the University of Missouri in Kansas City. There was at least some decrease in mortality over the…