Gastrointestinal Health News and Research

Latest Gastrointestinal Health News and Research

Physicians Endoscopy announces acquisition of minority interest in Illinois ASC

Physicians Endoscopy, LLC (PE) is pleased to announce the acquisition of a minority interest in the Digestive Disease Endoscopy Center (DDEC) located in Normal, Illinois. DDEC is a joint venture partnership between five physicians, BroMenn Physicians Management Corporation and Physicians Endoscopy.

15 Sep 2012

Infants’ oral microbiota differs according to feeding method

The oral microbiota of 3-month old infants is distinguishable by whether they are breast- or formula-fed, show study findings.

13 Sep 2012

Loss of normal microbial diversity may be culprit behind chronic sinusitis

A common bacteria ever-present on the human skin and previously considered harmless, may, in fact, be the culprit behind chronic sinusitis, a painful, recurring swelling of the sinuses that strikes more than one in ten Americans each year, according to a study by scientists at the University of California, San Francisco.

13 Sep 2012

Blood pressure, oxygen saturation predict death in terminally ill

The most reliable events that predict impending death in terminally ill cancer patients being treated palliatively are decreased blood pressure and low oxygen saturation, show study results.

12 Sep 2012

Many pediatric respiratory hospitalizations unnecessary

Study findings suggest that a large number of pediatric hospitalizations, particularly those of a respiratory nature, could be prevented.

11 Sep 2012

CT shows promise in predicting COPD exacerbation risk

Measurement of the pulmonary artery-to-aorta ratio can predict the risk for exacerbations in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, particularly those that require hospitalization, say the authors of a US study.

11 Sep 2012

Nonsurgical treatment achieves periodontitis improvements regardless of smoking

Both smokers and nonsmokers with the chronic inflammatory disease periodontitis have significantly improved clinical markers, including probing depth and plaque index, after nonsurgical periodontal therapy, show study results.

11 Sep 2012

BRI scientists receive two major grant awards for research into autoimmunity prevention

Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason (BRI) recently received two major grant awards to explore how to regulate the immune system, as part of a nationwide collaborative program to prevent autoimmune diseases.

11 Sep 2012

Data from BioLineRx’s BL-7010 pre-clinical studies on celiac disease

BioLineRx, a biopharmaceutical development company, announced today that BL-7010, an orally available treatment for celiac disease, was found to be safe and well tolerated in pre-clinical studies conducted to date.

10 Sep 2012

Children and young patients with chronic HBV infection do have a protective immune response

Scientists from A*STAR's Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), together with clinical collaborators from London , discovered for the first time that children and young patients with chronic Hepatitis B Virus infection (HBV carriers) do have a protective immune response, contrary to current belief, and hence can be more suitable treatment candidates than previously considered.

7 Sep 2012

Biopsies may misdiagnose eosinophilic esophagitis

University of Utah engineers mapped white blood cells called eonsinophils and showed an existing diagnostic method may overlook an elusive digestive disorder that causes swelling in the esophagus and painful swallowing.

7 Sep 2012

Hebrew University researcher develops anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic family of drugs

A synthetic, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic family of drugs to combat a variety of illnesses while avoiding detrimental side effects has been developed by a Hebrew University of Jerusalem researcher.

7 Sep 2012

Constipation drug may bring US patients relief

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved linaclotide for the treatment of chronic idiopathic constipation and irritable bowel syndrome with constipation in adults.

6 Sep 2012

Reduced NF-κB expression linκed to postradiation oral mucosa vulnerability

The fragility of oral mucosa after radiotherapy for oral squamous cell carcinoma may be due to the inhibition of the DNA transcriptor protein nuclear factor κappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells, show study findings.

6 Sep 2012

FDA continues review of Salix’s Crofelemer new drug application

Napo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. was informed today that the Food and Drug Administration is continuing its review of the new drug application seeking approval of crofelemer for the treatment of chronic diarrhea in people living with HIV/AIDS on anti-retroviral therapy.

6 Sep 2012

Out-of-pocket spending on health care in old age puts significant strain on finances

The protection of the savings of the elderly-one of the primary goals of Medicare-is under threat from a combination of spiraling healthcare costs and increased longevity. As the government attempts to reduce Medicare costs, one suggestion is that the elderly could pay a larger proportion of the costs of their healthcare. But exactly how much would this be and what impact would it have on their finances?

6 Sep 2012

Concise guide to treat children who have swallowed powerful neodymium magnets

Children who swallow powerful neodymium magnets are at risk of serious complications, requiring emergency evaluation and possible treatment. That's the message of a new clinical algorithm published in the September issue of The Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, official journal of the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition and the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (NASPGHAN).

5 Sep 2012

EC grants European market authorization for Revestive to treat short bowel syndrome

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited and NPS Pharmaceuticals, Inc., jointly announced today that the European Commission has granted European market authorization for the medicinal product teduglutide (trade name in Europe: Revestive) as a once-daily treatment for adult patients with short bowel syndrome.

5 Sep 2012

Coconut oil attacks tooth decay

Digested coconut oil could become part of the armory used to combat tooth decay, report researchers presenting their findings at the Society for General Microbiology’s Autumn Conference in Warwick, UK.

4 Sep 2012

Triple-threat approach can reduce invasive bloodstream infections in pediatric cancer patients

Hospitals can dramatically reduce the number of life-threatening central line infections in pediatric cancer patients by following a set of basic precautions, by encouraging families to speak up when they observe noncompliance with the protocol and by honest analysis of the root cause behind every single infection, according to a new Johns Hopkins Children's Center study.

3 Sep 2012