A Bakersfield, Calif.-based gastroenterologist has been placed on five years of probation for mistakenly administering treatment intended for another patient to a 67-year-old COVID-19 patient, resulting in the patient’s death, Fox 8 News reported April 17. What happened?
Author: Rutali Thakur
A randomized trial published in Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology found that appendectomy, when added to standard medical therapy, significantly reduced relapse rates in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients in remission compared to medical therapy alone. At 1 year, only 36% of patients in the appendectomy group relapsed, versus 56% in the control group. The surgery group also showed less need for biologics, better quality of life, and lower disease activity scores.
Stanford Medicine researchers have developed a groundbreaking RNA-based blood test that can detect cancer, track resistance to treatment, and assess tissue injury by analyzing messenger RNA (mRNA) in blood. Unlike traditional DNA tests, this “liquid biopsy” focuses on rare mRNA signatures from around 5,000 genes not typically found in healthy blood, boosting its ability to identify disease. In a recent study published in Nature, the test detected lung cancer in 73% of cases, including early-stage disease. It also identified non-genetic forms of treatment resistance and injury markers in conditions like COVID-19 and ARDS. The technique works on both fresh and…
On April 22, 2025, the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) announced $2.4 million in research funding for 74 recipients through its Research Foundation Awards Program. In response to growing concerns over federal funding cuts, AGA also committed an additional $400,000 for 10 new pilot grants in 2026 to ensure continued scientific discovery in digestive health. Michael Camilleri, MD, DSc, AGAF, emphasized AGA’s longstanding commitment to advancing GI research and supporting talented investigators. Applications for the 2026 cycle will open in May.
Researchers at Cedars-Sinai, led by Dr. Alan C. Kwan, have developed an AI algorithm that can detect chronic liver disease—such as steatosis and cirrhosis—using standard transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) videos. The tool analyzes subcostal views from heart ultrasounds, which incidentally capture images of the liver, and predicts liver disease with notable accuracy.
Sam Holliday, CEO and Co-Founder of Oshi Health, is leading the transformation of gastrointestinal (GI) care through a virtual, multidisciplinary approach. Motivated by personal experiences with his family’s GI health challenges, Holliday established Oshi Health in 2019 to address the shortcomings of traditional GI care. The company offers integrated services—including medical care, dietary guidance, and behavioral health support—through a virtual platform, aiming to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs. Oshi Health’s model has demonstrated significant success: Under Holliday’s leadership, Oshi Health has expanded its services nationwide, partnering with health plans and employers to provide accessible, high-quality GI care. The…
The microbiome—a vast ecosystem of microbes within our bodies—is emerging as a foundational platform for health, influencing everything from immunity and digestion to mental health and drug response. Despite growing scientific evidence, the healthcare industry often treats it as a niche trend, limiting its potential. The article argues for a paradigm shift: to stop viewing the microbiome as a wellness product and start integrating it into diagnostics, chronic care, and personalized medicine. The future of healthcare, it suggests, may depend not on external innovation, but on unlocking the power of the microscopic world within us.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Novo Nordisk are warning people not to use counterfeit semaglutide 1.0 mg (Ozempic injection) found in the US drug supply chain. Novo Nordisk notified the FDA on April 3, 2025 that several hundred units of the fake product had been distributed outside the company’s authorized supply chain. The FDA seized the identified products on April 9, 2025, but some may still be circulating. Patients, wholesalers, retail pharmacies, and healthcare professionals are advised to check Ozempic boxes for the lot number PAR0362 and serial number beginning with the first eight digits, 51746517. The lot number is legitimate,…
CMR Surgical has raised over $200 million in equity and debt to accelerate the global rollout of its Versius Surgical Robotic System, which has already completed more than 30,000 procedures in 30+ countries. The funding round, backed by existing investors and Trinity Capital, underscores growing confidence in CMR’s minimally invasive technology and U.K. life sciences sector. With a compact, modular design and advanced ergonomic features, Versius is gaining traction across multiple specialties and is now the world’s second most-used soft-tissue surgical robot. As CMR eyes U.S. expansion and new clinical trials—including pediatric and transoral surgeries—it’s not just building robots; it’s…
Medicare physician reimbursement could reflect inflation under a new formula recommended by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC). On April 10, MedPAC members voted unanimously to send Congress two draft recommendations that have been in discussion for months. They are: