Colonoscopy News and Research

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Colonoscopy is examination of the inside of the colon using a colonoscope, inserted into the rectum. A colonoscope is a thin, tube-like instrument with a light and a lens for viewing. It may also have a tool to remove tissue to be checked under a microscope for signs of disease.

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

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

Comprehensive, risk-based screening guidelines for breast, cervical and colorectal cancers

Drawing on years of experience in cancer research and patient care, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center released today the most comprehensive, risk-based screening guidelines publicly available to date for breast, cervical and colorectal cancers.

27 Oct 2009

Detecting the cause of occult gastrointestinal bleeding with the PillCam SB video capsule demonstrated

Given Imaging Ltd. today announced that new data presented at the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) 2009 Conference show that by visualizing the small bowel with the PillCam® SB video capsule, physicians can detect the cause of occult gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB) and adapt how they manage and treat these patients.

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

Gastrointestinal Associates emphasizes the need for colon screenings

As Washington policymakers debated health care reform on weekend talk shows, 48 people who are out of work or without health insurance received free colonoscopy screenings at Gastrointestinal Associates (GIA) here.

20 Oct 2009

Santarus and Norgine enter into a licensing agreement for ZEGERID products

Santarus, Inc., a specialty biopharmaceutical company, and Norgine B.V., a European specialty pharmaceutical company, today announced that they have entered into a licensing agreement granting exclusive rights to Norgine to develop, manufacture and commercialize prescription immediate-release ZEGERID® products incorporating the proton pump inhibitor omeprazole in combination with one or more buffering agents in specified markets in Western, Central and Eastern Europe.

12 Oct 2009

Ipsen signs exclusive marketing agreement to produce and distribute Braintree's BLI-800 for colonic cleansing

Ipsen (Euronext: FR0010259150; IPN), an innovation-driven global specialty pharmaceutical Group and Braintree Laboratories, Inc., a US-based company specializing in the development, manufacturing and marketing of specialty pharmaceuticals, announced today the signature of an agreement for the exclusive manufacturing, marketing and distribution rights of Braintree’s proprietary formulation BLI-800 in colonic cleansing before colonoscopy, the best diagnostic procedure for colorectal cancer screening.

9 Oct 2009

Digestive Health Outcomes Registry for patients with GI disease

The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), the leading association representing clinicians and researchers who specialize in the digestive tract, and MedAssurant, Inc., a leading provider of data-driven healthcare solutions, announced today the collaborative initiative to develop a set of registries to assist physicians, payors, policy makers, and other healthcare stakeholders in the study and improvement of clinical and quality outcomes, care management, and cost effectiveness of care delivered to Americans with gastrointestinal disease.

9 Oct 2009

New tool to help reduce cost and time factors for colonoscopies

Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, leading to over 50,000 fatalities every year. But it can be prevented with early screening using a procedure called a colonoscopy. Now researchers from North Carolina State University, Mayo Clinic and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst (UMass) have created a tool to help colonoscopy facilities operate more efficiently, ultimately lowering costs and leading to shorter waiting times for patients.

7 Oct 2009

People with rare mutations of gene MUTYH at increased risk of bowel cancer

CANCER RESEARCH UK funded scientists have found that people who carry rare mutations within both copies of a gene called MUTYH are 28 times more likely to develop bowel cancer compared to the general population, according to a study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

1 Oct 2009

MabCures develops monoclonal antibodies against Colorectal Cancer

MabCure, Inc., a biotechnology company that has developed a series of highly specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to combat various types of cancers, has reached another development milestone, with the creation of its MAbs against Colorectal Cancer (CRC). After further characterization the company plans to explore the utility of these MAbs in terms of both the early diagnosis of CRC (in blood or feces specimens), as well as imaging agents for detecting micrometastatic disease during surgery and the detection of cancerous polyps during colonoscopy.

29 Sep 2009

New report on seniors and health insurance reform released

Vice President Joe Biden and Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today hosted a town hall meeting with seniors in Silver Spring, Md., and released a new report, Health Insurance Reform and Medicare: Making Medicare Stronger for America’s Seniors.

24 Sep 2009

GI cancer detection simpler and cost-effective with new blood tests

Berlin, Germany: Promising results from two new blood tests that can aid in the early identification of patients with gastrointestinal (GI) cancers will be presented at Europe's largest cancer congress, ECCO 15 - ESMO 34 [1], in Berlin today (Monday September 21). The tests will make GI cancer detection simpler, cost-effective, and more acceptable to patients than current methods, the researchers say.

21 Sep 2009

Study reveals that GI cancer can be diagnosed using blood tests

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21 Sep 2009

Phytel's Proactive Patient Outreach solution to be deployed at the Mankato Clinic

Phytel, the industry leader in automated, physician-led health improvement, announced today that the Mankato Clinic, one of the largest physician-owned multispecialty groups in Minnesota, has agreed to deploy its Proactive Patient Outreach solution. The nearly century-old Mankato Clinic, which includes 110 providers in nine locations, selected Phytel to help reduce its no-show rate and to increase the provision of needed services to its patients.

16 Sep 2009

Research study indicates presence of two stable bacterial ecosystems in the gut

Small-bowel transplant patients with an ileostomy -- an opening into their small bowel -- have a very different population of bacteria living in their gut than patients whose ileostomy has been closed, researchers from UC Davis and Georgetown University Medical Center have found. The results are published online Sept. 14 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

16 Sep 2009