Alcohol-associated liver disease mortality rates increased each year from 2017 to 2020 and accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to data published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
Author: Praveen Suthrum
In recent years, clinicians and patients alike have experienced both significant interest in and confusion around food allergies/sensitivities and their manifestations in the gastrointestinal tract. A lack of clarity has led to frustration, inappropriate testing, and missed diagnoses.
The Scrubs & Heels organization recently held its inaugural summit, where women in gastroenterology gathered to network and attend educational sessions, panel discussions and presentations on personal and professional development.
Pandemic-related delays in endoscopic monitoring may not worsen inflammatory bowel disease outcomes, at least in the short term, according to research presented at the 2022 Crohn’s & Colitis Congress. “The COVID-19 pandemic has been terrible, but it’s also presented us with a natural study design to see what happens if we disrupt the regular follow-up for IBD patients, which is, of course, not something we can do normally,” senior investigator Vitaliy Poylin, MD, an associate professor of gastrointestinal surgery at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, in Chicago, told Gastroenterology & Endoscopy News.
Fecal immunochemical test (FIT) screening is effective in reducing the incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) and mortality, according to study results published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Various tests are used to screen individuals at average risk for CRC, but experts recommend FITs over guaiac-based fecal occult blood tests (gFOBTs) for FITs’ increased sensitivity in detecting advanced adenomas and CRC.
In contrast to the sharp declines in colorectal cancer (CRC) among U.S. adults ages 50 years and older, there is an alarming rise in early-onset CRC, which is typically characterized by more aggressive tumors.
A comprehensive review of data showed that two doses of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine were safe and effective in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, according to a report in Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics. “The efficacy of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccines has been demonstrated in several clinical trials; however, patients with IBD or those treated with immunosuppressive medications were excluded from these studies,” Abhishek Bhurwal, MD, of the division of gastroenterology and hepatology at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson School of Medicine, and colleagues wrote. “Therefore, multiple questions regarding the effectiveness of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in IBD have emerged.”
Endoscopic stricturotomy could be an alternative to endoscopic balloon dilation for managing some strictures related to inflammatory bowel disease. According to a study presented at the 2022 Crohn’s & Colitis Congress, ESt was successful in treating 90% of strictures in IBD patients, although roughly half of the patients required a repeat intervention within 18 months.
ATLANTA, April 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — United Digestive, a leading physician practice management company focused on gastroenterology, today announced Neal C. Patel, MD as its President. “I am eager and excited to serve United Digestive in this way. I’ve been so proud to be a part of this organization, particularly with the growth we’ve seen over the last year,” said Neal C. Patel, MD.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is progressively disrupting the healthcare industry andrapidly making a meaningful impact on several medical fields. Gastroenterologyhas led the way by showcasing AI applications to enhancepatient care, life sciences, and clinical workflows. A subfield of AI, computer vision,interprets images and videos and is the focus of early applications of AI in gastroenterology, augmenting operator-dependent processes characteristic ofendoscopy.