Gastrointestinal Health News and Research

Latest Gastrointestinal Health News and Research

Breast milk might prevent premature babies from deadly intestinal condition

An ingredient that naturally occurs in breast milk might be used to prevent premature babies from developing a deadly intestinal condition that currently is largely incurable, according to researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC in this week's online early edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

7 May 2013

Kinase inhibitors: an interview with Jan Hoflack, CSO of Oncodesign

Kinase inhibitors are molecules that block the activity of kinases. Kinases are a specific class of enzymes. They are extremely important in signal transduction processes in the human body meaning that they actually regulate most of the physiological processes that take place in the body.

7 May 2013

Cleveland Clinic receives $2M for research in colorectal surgery

Kenneth M. Garschina and his wife, Sara Story, have pledged $2 million to Cleveland Clinic's Digestive Disease Institute to create an endowed chair for research in colorectal surgery. The donation coincides with the re-dedication of two previously funded endowed chairs.

6 May 2013

Sedasys gets PMA approval from FDA for SEDASYS System

Sedasys, a Division of Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc., today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted PMA approval for the SEDASYS System, the first computer-assisted personalized sedation system.

5 May 2013

Aclidinium and formoterol combination demonstrates significant lung function improvement in the second pivotal efficacy trial

Almirall, S.A. (ALM:MC) and Forest Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE:FRX) today announced positive topline results from AUGMENT/COPD, the second six-month pivotal phase III clinical trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of investigational fixed dose combinations of aclidinium bromide (LAMA) and formoterol fumarate (LABA) for the treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), delivered in the Pressair™ inhaler (Genuair® outside the USA).

2 May 2013

Forest Laboratories, Almirall report positive topline results from AUGMENT COPD

Forest Laboratories, Inc. and Almirall, S.A. today announced positive topline results from AUGMENT COPD, the second six-month pivotal phase III clinical trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of investigational fixed dose combinations of aclidinium bromide and formoterol fumarate, delivered in the Pressair (Genuair outside the USA) inhaler.

2 May 2013

Study: Biologic response modifying drugs can cause acute liver injury

A commonly used class of biologic response modifying drugs can cause acute liver injury with elevated liver enzymes, according to a new study in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, the official clinical practice journal of the American Gastroenterological Association.

30 Apr 2013

Exclusion diet boosts anal fissure healing

Research published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology shows that an exclusion diet combined with medical treatment can increase healing rates in patients with chronic anal fissure who have been referred for surgery.

30 Apr 2013

Schizophrenia cardiovascular risk under-recognized in primary care

UK researchers have found that despite being a major contributor to premature deaths among patients with schizophrenia, cardiovascular disease is less likely to be recorded on their primary care records than those of people without schizophrenia.

30 Apr 2013

Intermediate anti-tTG levels affects birth outcomes, new study reveals

Pregnant women with mid to high levels of antibodies common in patients with celiac disease are at risk for having babies with reduced fetal weight and birth weight, according to a new study in Gastroenterology, the official journal of the American Gastroenterological Association.

30 Apr 2013

Dental problems create substantial burden

Over 40 million hours are lost each year due to dental problems and their treatment in the Canadian population, study findings indicate.

29 Apr 2013

GS-9620 therapy suppresses hepatitis B virus infection

A novel drug developed by Gilead Sciences and tested in an animal model at the Texas Biomedical Research Institute in San Antonio suppresses hepatitis B virus infection by stimulating the immune system and inducing loss of infected cells.

29 Apr 2013

New clinical algorithm to treat complex pediatric patients with ARPKD

A collaborative team of physician-scientists at the Medical College of Wisconsin and Children's Hospital of Wisconsin Research Institute has developed a new evidence-based, clinical algorithm to help physicians treat complex patients with autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease.

29 Apr 2013

Pfizer reports that Prevenar 13 Phase 3 study meets all primary, secondary objectives

Pfizer Inc. presented today the results from a Phase 3 study investigating immunogenicity, tolerability and safety of Prevenar 13 (Pneumococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccine [13-valent, adsorbed]) in adults 18 to 49 years of age.

From Pfizer, Inc. 29 Apr 2013

New technologies speed health care delivery, reduce costs, pioneer new therapies

The current special issue of Technology and Innovation - Proceedings of the National Academy of Inventors, devoted to studies on medical technology and health care delivery, focuses on a wide range of topics, from new technologies to reduce the cost of health care to understanding the human microbiome.

25 Apr 2013

Schizophrenia cardiovascular risk under-recognized in primary care

25 Apr 2013

Higher TMAO blood levels linked to increased risk of heart disease

A microbial byproduct of intestinal bacteria contributes to heart disease and serves as an accurate screening tool for predicting future risks of heart attack, stroke and death in persons not otherwise identified by traditional risk factors and blood tests, according to Cleveland Clinic research published today in The New England Journal of Medicine.

25 Apr 2013

Sofosbuvir is safer than interferon for hepatitis C patients, say scientists

A new drug is offering dramatic cure rates for hepatitis C patients with two subtypes of the infection -- genotype 2 and 3, say a team of scientists led by Weill Cornell Medical College researchers.

25 Apr 2013

Sucampo's supplemental new drug application for AMITIZA gets FDA approval

Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc. announced today that the United States Food and Drug Administration has approved Sucampo's supplemental new drug application for AMITIZA (lubiprostone) (24 mcg twice daily) as the first and only oral medication for the treatment of opioid-induced constipation in adult patients with chronic, non-cancer pain.

24 Apr 2013

Janssen announces safety results from two Phase 3 studies of simeprevir in hepatitis C patients

Janssen R&D Ireland today announced primary efficacy and safety results from two global Phase 3 studies demonstrating that use of the investigational protease inhibitor simeprevir (TMC435) led to sustained virologic response 12 weeks after the end of treatment (SVR12) in 80 and 81 percent, respectively, of treatment-naive genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C adult patients with compensated liver disease, including all stages of liver fibrosis, when administered once daily with pegylated interferon and ribavirin.

24 Apr 2013