Digestive System News and Research

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Peginterferon alpha-2a yields better results in treating patients with chronic hepatitis C

In patients with chronic hepatitis C, treatment with peginterferon alpha-2a (PegIFNα2a) plus ribavirin (RBV) better suppresses the virus to undetectable levels in the blood than treatment with peginterferon alpha-2b (PegIFNα2b) plus RBV, according to two new head-to-head studies in Gastroenterology, the official journal of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute.

5 Jan 2010

CGEN-671, a new drug target for multiple epithelial tumors discovered by Compugen

Compugen Ltd. announced today the discovery and experimental validation of CGEN-671, a new drug target for multiple epithelial tumors.

28 Dec 2009

Researchers discover how protein can be controlled and under what circumstances it can go awry

A team of researchers studying the protein that, when defective or absent, causes cystic fibrosis (CF) has made an important discovery about how that protein is normally controlled and under what circumstances it might go awry.

18 Dec 2009

Given Imaging introduces new PillCam system at GASTRO 2009 Conference

Given Imaging Ltd., the global leader in capsule endoscopy, today announced the launch of its second-generation PillCam® COLON capsule at the Gastro 2009 Conference taking place in London. Like Given Imaging's other capsule endoscopes, PillCam® SB and PillCam® ESO, PillCam COLON could be a more patient-friendly tool for imaging the gastrointestinal tract.

23 Nov 2009

Antioxidant found in vegetables can protect cells from damage caused by infection and injury

Scientists at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine discovered that a dietary antioxidant found in such vegetables as broccoli and cauliflower protects cells from damage caused by chemicals generated during the body's inflammatory response to infection and injury. The finding has implications for such inflammation-based disorders as cystic fibrosis (CF), diabetes, heart disease, and neurodegeneration.

17 Nov 2009

Detailed review findings of EMPOWER study to evaluate the Maestro System released

EnteroMedics Inc., the developer of medical devices using neuroblocking technology to treat obesity and other gastrointestinal disorders, today announced preliminary findings from its ongoing detailed review of its EMPOWER™ study, a randomized, double-blind, controlled pivotal study designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the Maestro® System in the treatment of obesity.

12 Nov 2009

Lactose intolerance rates may be overestimated by wide margins

Prevalence of lactose intolerance may be far lower than previously estimated, according to a study in the latest issue of Nutrition Today.(1) The study, which uses data from a national sample of three ethnic groups, reveals that the overall prevalence rate of self-reported lactose intolerance is 12 percent - with 7.72 percent of European Americans, 10.05 percent of Hispanic Americans and 19.5 percent of African Americans who consider themselves lactose intolerant.

21 Oct 2009

XenoPort commences Phase 2b arbaclofen placarbil clinical trial for treating gastroesophageal reflux disease

XenoPort, Inc. announced today that it has initiated a Phase 2b clinical trial of arbaclofen placarbil (AP), also known as XP19986, in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) who remain symptomatic despite treatment with a proton pump inhibitor (PPI). The trial is a multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study designed to assess the efficacy and safety of AP as adjunctive therapy to PPIs.

19 Oct 2009

Riley Hospital for Children commences patient enrollment in clinical trial of cystic fibrosis drug

The Riley Hospital for Children Cystic Fibrosis Center is the first site in the nation to enroll patients ages 6-11 for the first part of a 48-week clinical trial of a promising investigational treatment for cystic fibrosis (CF).

9 Oct 2009

Fight against obesity and heart disease gets new boost from public sector and industry

The battle against obesity, heart disease and other diet related health problems received a -4 Million boost today with the announcement of seven new research projects. The projects, taking place in universities and research institutes across the UK, are part of a partnership between two publicly-funded Research Councils and 15 companies.

9 Oct 2009

Antidepressant amitriptyline works just as well as placebo for children with gastrointestinal disorders

When used "off-label," the antidepressant amitriptyline works just as well as placebo in treating pain-predominant gastrointestinal disorders in children, according to a new study in Gastroenterology, the official journal of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute. To view this article's video abstract, go to the AGA's YouTube Channel at www.youtube.com/AmerGastroAssn.

1 Oct 2009

Rosiglitazone slows progression of cachexia in cancer affected mice

Insulin resistance, the hallmark of type 2 diabetes and a condition often associated with obesity, is paradoxically also an apparent contributor to muscle wasting and severe fat loss that accompanies some cancers, according to new research.

27 Sep 2009

Advanced radiosurgery technology utilized by Cyberknife for effective cancer treatment

Cyberknife of Long Island has become the first cancer center in New York to treat tumors with the most advanced radiosurgery technology available to date.

17 Sep 2009

Researchers examine new method for controlling soybean aphids

Two Iowa State University researchers are examining a new method of controlling soybean aphids without the use of chemical pesticides.

16 Sep 2009

Gentic circuits that cause mucous hyper-production identified

Scientists have identified the main genetic switch that causes excessive mucous in the lungs, a discovery that one day could ease suffering for people with chronic lung diseases like asthma and cystic fibrosis, or just those fighting the common cold.

15 Sep 2009

Genetic switch that causes excessive mucus in the lungs identified

Scientists have identified the main genetic switch that causes excessive mucus in the lungs, a discovery that one day could ease suffering for people with chronic lung diseases like asthma and cystic fibrosis, or just those fighting the common cold.

15 Sep 2009

Merck update on the status of telcagepant clinical development programs

Merck & Co., Inc. today updated the status of the clinical development programs for telcagepant (MK-0974) and MK-3207, the Company's investigational oral calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonists for the intermittent treatment of acute migraine.

11 Sep 2009

Impact Fusion International completes geographic market test of Intact Digest

Impact Fusion International announced today it has successfully completed a limited geographic market test for Intact Digest with several retail vitamin stores re-ordering on a monthly basis.

8 Sep 2009

FDA approves new xTAG Cystic Fibrosis 39 Kit v2 from Luminex

Luminex Corporation (NASDAQ: LMNX), the worldwide leader in multiplexed solutions, today announced that it has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a new cystic fibrosis (CF) test: the xTAG® Cystic Fibrosis 39 Kit v2.

From Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. 4 Sep 2009

Sexual impairment common among men undergoing chronic hepatitis C treatment

Sexual impairment is common among men with chronic hepatitis C undergoing antiviral therapy, according to a new study in Gastroenterology, the official journal of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute.

1 Sep 2009