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New diagnostic test for detecting colorectal cancer

GastroFISH™ is the first tissue-based fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) test for the detection of chromosomal anomalies associated with colon cancer.

31 Oct 2009

Researchers use BEZ235 drug to eliminate NSCL cancer

Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have eliminated non-small cell lung (NSCL) cancer in mice by using an investigative drug called BEZ235 in combination with low-dose radiation.

30 Oct 2009

Positive results from Celldex Therapeutics' Phase 1 studies of CDX-1307 cancer vaccine candidate

Celldex Therapeutics, Inc. today announced positive results from Phase 1 studies of CDX-1307 in patients with advanced epithelial cancers, including breast, colon, bladder and pancreatic cancer.

29 Oct 2009

Routine use of HRT increases longevity in postmenopausal women

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to treat menopausal estrogen deficiency has been in widespread use for over 60 years. Several observational studies over the years showed that HRT use by younger postmenopausal women was associated with a significant reduction in total mortality; available evidence supported the routine use of HRT to increase longevity in postmenopausal women.

29 Oct 2009

New anti-cancer medications may help in managing cancerous conditions

Bold new strategies in the battle against cancer may turn forms of the disease that presently are incurable into manageable conditions that can be controlled for long periods of time, according to an article in the current issue of Chemical & Engineering News, ACS' weekly newsmagazine.

29 Oct 2009

HD colonoscopy is more sensitive than standard colonoscopy in finding polyps: Study

High-definition (HD) colonoscopy is much more sensitive than standard colonoscopy in finding polyps that could morph into cancer, say researchers at the Mayo Clinic campus in Florida.

29 Oct 2009

U.S. Department of Defense funds Rush University Medical Center for gastrointestinal microorganism research

The human body contains billions of microorganisms, and microbial cells found in the human gut are estimated to outnumber human cells by ten-to-one in healthy adults. However, little is known about the ways in which these minute life forms influence health and disease.

28 Oct 2009

Renowned surgeons to discuss latest advances in laparoscopic surgery at upcoming MISS meeting

The upcoming prestigious Minimally Invasive Surgery Symposium (MISS) will include discussion of advances in metabolic surgery, a robotic approach to colon surgery, single-port bariatric surgery, transoral gastroplasty, and other "frontier" topics.

28 Oct 2009

Hope for lung cancer patients

Lung cancer is the world's most common cancer, and an estimated 219,440 Americans are expected to be diagnosed this year. It is also estimated that lung cancer will cause 159,000 deaths in the United States this year - more than the total number of deaths resulting from breast, colon and prostate cancers combined.

27 Oct 2009

New study reveals the importance of bowel preparation prior to procedure

While there is little doubt concerning the effectiveness of colonoscopy procedures to detect colon cancer, a new study presented at the American College of Gastroenterology's 74th Annual Scientific Meeting in San Diego places new emphasis on the importance of adequate bowel preparation prior to procedure.

27 Oct 2009

Studies highlight race- and gender-specific disparities in gastrointestinal disease

Three studies presented this week at the American College of Gastroenterology's 74th Annual Scientific meeting in San Diego underscore the growing disparities in gastrointestinal disease, particularly colon cancer and Barrett's Esophagus, among certain ethnic and gender populations, including African Americans, Latinos and women. These race- and gender-specific disparities underscore the need for education and vigilance among these populations and perhaps more aggressive screening tactics than the population in general.

27 Oct 2009

Colonoscopy recommended as primary screening method for colorectal cancer, researchers report

Researchers from Taiwan report in a new study that unsedated colonoscopy for primary colorectal cancer screening is well accepted in a majority of patients. Sedation is typically used for colonoscopy to make the patient feel comfortable during the procedure.

27 Oct 2009

Some colonoscopic technologies better at improving detection of adenomas

Recent advances in colonoscopic technology are featured in a number of studies presented at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology this week. In this research some technologies fare better than others at improving detection of potentially pre-cancerous growths in the colon known as adenomas.

27 Oct 2009

Video capsule endoscopy is safe for patients with heart devices

A new Mayo Clinic study suggests that video capsule endoscopy (CE), a procedure that uses wireless technology in diagnosing intestinal disease, is safe for patients with heart devices. Wireless electrical gadgets, such as cell phones, have been shown to interfere with implanted heart devices, including pacemakers and defibrillators. This risk has led medical experts to speculate that capsule endoscopy could similarly cause heart devices to fail.

27 Oct 2009

Patients with diverticulosis have lower incidence of polyps, says new study

A Henry Ford Hospital study questions the need for aggressive screening for colonic polyps in patients with diverticulosis.

27 Oct 2009

Stomach infection on the rise in outpatient settings; symptoms can range from diarrhea to life-threatening inflammation

Mayo Clinic researchers have found that a sometimes deadly stomach bug, Clostridium difficile, (http://www.mayoclinic.org/c-difficile/) is on the rise in outpatient settings.

27 Oct 2009

Researchers show link between alcohol and cancer

Alcohol consumption has long been linked to cancer and its spread, but the underlying mechanism has never been clear.

27 Oct 2009

Probiotic therapy can be effective for treating intestinal disorders

The probiotic, Bacillus polyfermenticus, can help mice recover from colitis, a new study has found. Mice treated with B. polyfermenticus during the non-inflammatory period of the disease had reduced rectal bleeding, their tissues were less inflamed and they gained more weight than mice that did not receive the treatment.

26 Oct 2009

Vision loss after non-ocular surgery is rare but potentially devastating

Vision loss after non-ocular surgery is a rare but potentially devastating surgical complication that is usually the result of cortical blindness, ischemic optic neuropathy or retinal vascular occlusion. Due to its rare and unexpected occurrence, the origin of perioperative vision loss (POVL) is poorly understood.

26 Oct 2009

African Americans face higher risk of colorectal cancer

African Americans are at significantly higher risk of developing colorectal cancer, and being diagnosed with the disease at a later stage, than other ethnic groups. That's the finding of a paper being presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology in San Diego.

26 Oct 2009