Gallstones News and Research

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Gallstones are small, pebble-like substances that develop in the gallbladder. The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped sac located below your liver in the right upper abdomen. Gallstones form when liquid stored in the gallbladder hardens into pieces of stone-like material. The liquid—called bile—helps the body digest fats. Bile is made in the liver, then stored in the gallbladder until the body needs it. The gallbladder contracts and pushes the bile into a tube—called the common bile duct—that carries it to the small intestine, where it helps with digestion.

Study sheds light on the complex relationship between serum lipids, lipid-modifying targets, and cholelithiasis

A new study published in the journal Gut has shed light on the complex relationship between serum lipids, lipid-modifying targets, and cholelithiasis, a common condition characterized by the formation of gallstones.

27 Nov 2023

GLP-1 weight loss drugs linked to heightened GI risks, says new study

Study from JAMA reveals that users of GLP-1 agonists, recent drugs for weight management, show a heightened risk of gastrointestinal complications like intestinal obstruction, gastroparesis, and pancreatitis. Though these effects are rare, those considering these drugs for weight loss should weigh the benefits against potential risks, especially if not using them for diabetes.

5 Oct 2023

Study finds no difference in survival rate for gallbladder cancer patients based on liver resection size

Gallbladder cancer is most common in people who have gallstones or have had gallstones in the past.

24 Jul 2023

Stimulating a bile acid receptor can help protect the vision of premature newborns

It sounds like bile acid in the eye would hurt, but scientists think stimulating one of its receptors can actually help protect the vision of premature newborns.

30 May 2023

AI-based population screening could expedite the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer

An artificial intelligence tool has successfully identified people at the highest risk for pancreatic cancer up to three years before diagnosis using solely the patients' medical records, according to new research led by investigators at Harvard Medical School and the University of Copenhagen, in collaboration with VA Boston Healthcare System, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

8 May 2023

Gut hormone receptor polyagonists show promise for obesity and diabetes

A new paper in the Journal of Clinical Investigation describes drugs that could help lose weight and manage type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

6 Feb 2023

Pancreatic cancer could be detected up to three years earlier than current diagnoses

Pancreatic cancer could be identified in patients up to three years earlier than current diagnoses, new research suggests.

1 Nov 2022

Machine-learning algorithms can help distinguish acute cholangitis and alcohol-associated hepatitis

Acute cholangitis is a potentially life-threatening bacterial infection that often is associated with gallstones. Symptoms include fever, jaundice, right upper quadrant pain, and elevated liver enzymes.

1 Jul 2022

Gallstone disease may be a way to better diagnose deadly pancreatic cancer

Patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) were six times more likely to have had gallstone disease within the year prior to diagnosis than non-cancer patients, suggesting gallstones could be a warning sign for this aggressive and deadly cancer, according to research to be presented at Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2022.

24 May 2022

Gallstones could be a warning sign for aggressive pancreatic cancer

13 May 2022

Lucky genes can help lower risk of diseases in people with obesity

Geneticists have revealed why some people with obesity remain relatively healthy, whilst others suffer from life-changing ailments such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

25 Jan 2022

Scientific review highlights the impact of coffee on digestive organs

A new scientific review, published in Nutrients, highlights coffee's effects on digestion and the gut, and its impact on organs involved in digestion.

19 Jan 2022

Weight loss drug Wegovy approved by FDA

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Wegovy (semaglutide) injection (2.4 mg once weekly) as a chronic weight management treatment in obese or overweight adults with a weight-related condition (such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol), when used along with calorie restriction and physical activity. Wegovy, is a more potent version of Novo Nordisk's diabetes drug semaglutide.

4 Jun 2021

Investigational drug reduced triglycerides in patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia, acute pancreatitis

The investigational drug evinacumab reduced triglycerides in patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia (sHTG) and a history of hospitalizations for acute pancreatitis in a phase 2 global study led by Mount Sinai.

17 May 2021

Most long COVID-19 sequelae affect people under 65, finds study

A new study, released as a preprint on the medRxiv* server, discusses the typical symptoms and signs of this syndrome, with the intention of improving the specificity of detection and reporting.

3 May 2021

Five-year study aims to improve health of patients with cystic fibrosis across their growing lifespan

People with cystic fibrosis are living better and longer, and now investigators want to further enhance quality and longevity by better understanding the role of nutrition, body composition and exercise in their health across an increasing lifespan.

19 Apr 2021

$Are bone fractures more common in non-meat eaters?$

Are bone fractures more common in non-meat eaters?

A new study has found that in comparison with people who eat meat, vegans, vegetarians, and pescatarians may be at a higher risk of hip fractures.

20 Nov 2020

Surgery for acute cholecystitis during pregnancy may be safer than postponing

Painful gallstones are common during pregnancy. The pain can be intense, coming on suddenly, increasing and often radiating to the back.

5 Aug 2020

Tailoring care for older patients after emergency surgery can greatly improves outcomes

Tailoring care for older patients who have had emergency surgery can reduce complications and deaths, decrease the length of hospital stays and cut down on the need for alternate care at discharge, according to a new study led a University of Alberta researcher.

18 Feb 2020

Loss of stress hormone is a hallmark of pancreatitis, shows study

In work that could have clinical implications, UT Southwestern researchers find that humans and mice with pancreatitis are deficient in a stress hormone called FGF21.

9 Jan 2020