A smartphone app might be the key to making the low-FODMAP diet viable for control of irritable bowel syndrome both more accessible and realistic for patients, researchers in Belgium have found. People who use the app receive comprehensive lists of what they should and should not eat on a low-FODMAP (fermentable oligo-, di-, monosaccharides and polyols) diet. To eliminate the need for dietary supervision and remove barriers to adherence, the app does not merely identify the foods to avoid but…
Author: Praveen Suthrum
Celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have similar presentations and both are characterized by chronic immune-mediated gastrointestinal tract inflammation. While associations between the two conditions have been documented in the literature, a new study led by Cleveland Clinic investigators is the first to suggest a bidirectional link and to reveal the impact of IBD treatment on celiac disease. “This is the largest database study to evaluate the association between celiac disease and IBD and the impact of IBD therapy on celiac disease incidence, says Mohannad Abou Saleh, MD, a gastroenterologist at Cleveland Clinic and co-author of the report. “It…
A new meta-analysis has given fresh insights into the optimal sequence of first- and second-line therapies in moderate-to-severe Crohn’s disease, gastroenterologists say. The systematic review and network meta-analysis included 31 clinical trials of TNF inhibitors (infliximab, adalimumab, and certolizumab pegol), anti-integrins (vedolizumab), anti-IL-12/23p40 agents (ustekinumab), and anti-IL-23p19 agents (risankizumab).
A clinical research study from Indiana University School of Medicine and the Regenstrief Institute examines the use, in emergency and inpatient settings, of FIT (fecal immunochemical testing), which looks for blood in stool, a possible sign of colorectal cancer. The researchers conclude that FIT should only be used for its validated indication of colorectal cancer screening and should not be used for evaluation of gastrointestinal bleeding, abdominal pain or iron deficiency anemia and other symptoms or problems that bring individuals to the hospital. “FIT is a cancer screening tool, not a test for symptoms, for example, symptoms such as rectal…
The American Journal of Gastroenterology: November 2021 – Volume 116 – Issue 11
In the late 2000s, Cathy Eng, MD, began noticing something strange: A growing number of patients in their 20s, 30s, and 40s with colorectal cancer (CRC), often at more advanced stages. “CRC is typically viewed as a disease for older individuals, so when I first started seeing these young patients presenting with advanced disease, no one really believed me,” says Eng, who was then a professor of gastrointestinal medical oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.
Sharing information across platforms has become so ubiquitous that many of us hardly notice it happening—interconnected technologies touch almost every area of our lives. Industries ranging from tourism to e-commerce have adopted data-sharing practices; greater access to information has proven, unsurprisingly, to lead to better experiences. And yet, information-sharing innovations that would allow for streamlining and convenience are lagging in one of the most vital sectors: healthcare. If healthcare is going to join those sectors that are more advanced in both technology and consumer experience, it would do well to take a page from fintech—or more specifically, the open data…
As a growing number of hospitals face unprecedented financial challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there is concern that they might become acquisition targets by private equity firms. New research from Duke University and Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy indicates privately-acquired hospitals are significantly more likely to offer services that maximize profit and cut those that don’t.
Medtronic secured an FDA clearance for the newest generation of its ingestible digital camera. It will serve as the basis for at-home remote diagnostics programs, which are in high-demand since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Shaped like a small capsule, the PillCam Smart Bowel 3 takes between two and six pictures per second as it makes its way through the digestive tract—resulting in about 50,000 images that can be parsed for the signs of Crohn’s disease or iron-deficient anemia or to locate the sources of obscure internal bleeding that can’t be reached by other endoscopic means.
The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a heavy toll on health care workers. Early in the epidemic it became clear that Black, American Indian and Indigenous, Latino/Latina/Latinx† and Hispanic and Pacific Islander communities, as well as historically marginalized and medically vulnerable populations, were disproportionately affected by COVID-19. At the same time, reports of harmful and racist experiences by minoritized and marginalized physicians, especially amongst Black and Asian doctors, were shared via social media and news articles. The AMA conducted a web-based survey in June and July 2020 of 747 physicians from various racial and ethnic groups to explore the specific ways…