Gastroenterology News and Research

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Gastroenterology is the branch of medicine where the digestive system and its disorders are studied.

Niacin fortification foods can cause obesity

Dietary factors have long been known to play a major role in the development of obesity. The global increasing prevalence of obesity suggests that there should be some common changes in diet worldwide.

21 May 2010

New book offers practical knowledge on celiac disease, gluten-related disorders

A new book from the American Gastroenterological Association offers broad and practical knowledge on celiac disease and gluten-related disorders, empowering those who are undiagnosed and those living with the disease to achieve the best possible health and well-being.

18 May 2010

FDA issues complete response letter for roflumilast NDA

Forest Laboratories, Inc. and Nycomed today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a complete response letter regarding the New Drug Application (NDA) for roflumilast. Roflumilast was reviewed as a potential treatment to reduce COPD exacerbations associated with chronic bronchitis in patients at risk for exacerbations.

18 May 2010

Most recurrences of HCC occur early after initial diagnosis and treatment: Research article

Hepatocellular carcinoma is an aggressive tumor with poor long-term prognosis. The reported 5-year recurrence rate ranges from 75% to 100%. Therefore, extrahepatic metastasis of HCC is uncommon due to the highly malignant nature of the primary tumor. However, with advances in different treatment modalities for HCC, the incidence of extrahepatic metastasis appears to be increasing.

17 May 2010

Mauna Kea Technologies' Cellvizio improves diagnosis of early forms of bile duct cancer

New data from a multi-centric international registry study show that cellular-level imaging with Mauna Kea Technologies' Cellvizio®, the world's smallest microscope, appears to significantly improve a physician's ability to diagnose or rule out early forms of bile duct cancer during a standard endoscopic diagnostic exam.

14 May 2010

Prometheus announces novel method for early detection of HACA during infliximab treatment

Prometheus Laboratories Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical and diagnostic company, announced a new method for detecting antibody levels in individual patients treated with infliximab, a biologic therapy that has been used to treat more than a million patients across a number of autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

14 May 2010

Mild-mannered organelles can detect virus invasion signals: Researchers

Within cells, an ancient antiviral duo can deliver a one-two knockout to thwart invading viruses, report researchers who have just unmasked the cellular sidekick that throws the first punch. The findings mean scientists must rethink the design of antiviral immunity and how the body fends off viruses of all types, including influenza and HIV.

14 May 2010

Merit Medical Systems to acquire BioSphere Medical

Merit Medical Systems, Inc. today announced that it has signed a definitive merger agreement to acquire BioSphere Medical, Inc. in an all cash transaction valued at approximately $96 million, inclusive of all common equity and Series A Preferred preferences.

14 May 2010

Research article focuses on how IECs respond to probiotic strain B. lactis HN019

Probiotics are a group of live microorganisms administered in adequate amounts which confer a beneficial health effect on the host. This bacterial community plays a pivotal role in human nutrition and health by promoting the supply of nutrients, preventing pathogen colonization and shaping and maintaining normal mucosal immunity.

13 May 2010

Increased IR associated with HCC development in chronic HCV-infected patients

Recent studies have demonstrated that type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with high risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Insulin resistance (IR), which correlates inversely with circulating adiponectin concentration, is a consistent finding in patients with type 2 DM.

13 May 2010

Research investigates MDR in human HCC

Hepatocellular carcinoma responds poorly to chemotherapy owing to MDR. Recent studies have shown the tumors derived from the colon, kidney, or adrenal cortex, and HCC exhibited overexpression of MDR1/P-gp. This overexpression results in a primary MDR phenotype of these cancers.

13 May 2010

Rapid responders in novel behavior treatment for IBS maintain improvement at 3-month follow-up

Nearly one-third of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) who underwent a novel behavior treatment developed by a University at Buffalo behavioral scientist achieved significant relief within four weeks of beginning treatment.

13 May 2010

RYGB surgery increases insulin activity in diabetes mellitus patients

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease resulted from, either decreased production of insulin or increased resistance to it from peripheral tissues or both factors combined together. While medical treatment remains the mainstay of treatment for diabetes, some surgical procedures, such as Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, have demonstrated some potential to be a treatment option for diabetes.

13 May 2010

Four caged xanthones can inhibit growth of CCA cell lines: Research article

Cholangiocarcinoma is a malignant tumor, characterized by a poor prognosis and unresponsive to conventional chemotherapeutic agents. Therefore, searching for novel and effective therapeutic agents for CCA is necessary. In previous studies, several caged xanthones from G. hanburyi have been reported to be potent antiproliferatives as well as having anticancer and anti-tumor activities and they induce apoptosis in various cancer cell lines.

13 May 2010

Study compares outcome of popular esophageal stents in patients with dysphagia

Less than 50% of patients with esophageal carcinoma are suitable for surgery at the time of diagnosis. Most of these patients present with locally advanced or metastatic disease and/or significant comorbidities. In such circumstances, the only therapeutic option is palliative care to treat dysphagia and prevent respiratory complications secondary to aspiration. Self-expanding metal stents have been proven effective for palliation of dysphagia in patients with esophageal carcinoma, tracheo-esophageal fistulas or anastomotic leaks.

13 May 2010

Report describes imaging features of superior mesenteric artery aneurysm

A recent case report published on May 14, 2010 in World Journal of Gastroenterology describes the imaging features of a ruptured superior mesenteric artery aneurysm,which created a giant hematoma and mimicked a pancreatic mass, with mild dilatation of main pancreatic duct.

13 May 2010

New case report addresses diagnostic significance of CT and MRI for DCF

Duodenocaval fistula is an uncommon but lethal clinical entity. The high mortality has been attributed to the difficulty of diagnosis before attempts at definitive therapy.

13 May 2010

Study evaluates cost-utility of MARS treatment in ALF patients

Numerous studies have documented the favorable effects of MARS albumin dialysis treatment on clinical and laboratory parameters and survival in liver failure patients. However, to ensure that limited resources are utilized in an ethical manner, the subjective feelings of the patient in terms of health-related quality of life and costs should also be taken into account.

13 May 2010

Risk of venous thromboembolism is low after hepatic resection in cirrhotic patients: Researchers

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common primary neoplasm of the liver and often arises in the context of a chronic liver disease that impairs coagulative function. Surgical resection is the best option to cure HCC, however, surgery on cirrhotic liver may increase the risk of bleeding.

12 May 2010

Australian TGA approves Acetadote for treatment of paracetamol poisoning

Cumberland Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Phebra Pty Ltd. today announced that Acetadote® (acetylcysteine) Injection has been granted regulatory approval for marketing and sale in Australia. Acetadote, an injectable drug used to treat acetaminophen (paracetamol) overdose, was approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), the government agency responsible for regulating drugs and medical devices in Australia.

12 May 2010