Gastrointestinal Health News and Research

Latest Gastrointestinal Health News and Research

Endo Pharmaceuticals signs agreement to acquire HealthTronics

Continuing to diversify, move into new growth areas beyond pharmaceuticals, and strengthen its commitment to improved patient outcomes in urology, Endo Pharmaceuticals today announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire HealthTronics, Inc., a leading U.S. provider of urological products and services.

6 May 2010

Pay-for-performance may create unintended financial incentives for doctors to discriminate against obese patients

Pay-for-performance reimbursement models may create unintended financial incentives for doctors to discriminate against obese patients, measuring a patient's waist circumference may be more effective in predicting surgical outcomes than the more traditional body mass index measure, and childhood obesity doubles the risk of developing colon cancer, according to data being presented at Digestive Disease Week- 2010.

5 May 2010

Colorectal pre-cancer can be detected through stool DNA testing: Mayo Clinic study

Research teams led by Mayo Clinic have demonstrated for the first time that two types of colorectal pre-cancers can be detected through noninvasive stool DNA testing. The two studies being presented demonstrate that stool DNA testing may be useful for detection of premalignant dysplasia in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and of an important type of colorectal pre-cancer called serrated polyps.

5 May 2010

New pathology test may help doctors distinguish between two overlapping esophageal disorders: Study

A pathology test may help doctors distinguish between two separate but overlapping esophageal disorders that require different courses of treatment, according to a study by researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

5 May 2010

Targeted antibiotics provide safe, long-lasting improvement for IBS patients, says study

A targeted antibiotic provides effective and long-lasting relief of Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms, according to the results of two multisite Phase III clinical trials designed by Cedars-Sinai researchers. Rifaximin is the first drug treatment for IBS that relieves symptoms while it's being administered and continues to benefit patients after they stop taking the drug.

5 May 2010

Data shows rates of colorectal cancer screening vary by race, ethnicity and method

Rates of colorectal cancer screening vary by race and ethnicity as well as method, according to data being presented at Digestive Disease Week- 2010. Scientists examine data on minority and older populations as well as utilization rates of virtual and optical colonoscopies to better understand adherence to recommended screening guidelines.

5 May 2010

ChemoCentryx reports positive data with Traficet-EN in Crohn's disease trial

ChemoCentryx, Inc., today announced that it reported positive data with Traficet-EN™ (CCX282-B) in the Maintenance period of PROTECT-1 (Prospective Randomized Oral Therapy Evaluation in Crohn's disease Trial-1). Traficet-EN maintained a clinical remission rate (Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI) less than 150) of approximately 50% in Crohn's patients over the course of 36 weeks, whereas in the placebo group remission decreased progressively from 50% to 31%.

5 May 2010

Results from STEALTH C-3 clinical trial of nitazoxanide presented at DDW 2010

Romark Laboratories announced results from its STEALTH C-3 clinical trial, a phase 2 clinical study of nitazoxanide in treatment-naive patients with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C. Study results were presented this afternoon as an oral communication at a late breaking forum of the American Gastroenterological Association Institute during Digestive Disease Week 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

5 May 2010

Mayo Clinic researchers identify genetic variants in serotonin genes that impact IBS

Most people associate serotonin with brain neurology, but over 95 percent of the body's serotonin occurs in the gastrointestinal tract, which has a complex neuronal circuit that has been called "the second brain" of the body.

5 May 2010

Idera Pharmaceuticals reports net loss of $1.9M for first-quarter 2010

Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biotechnology company engaged in the discovery and development of DNA- and RNA-based drug candidates targeted to Toll-like Receptors, today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2010.

5 May 2010

Study comparing enteroscopy technologies finds SE quicker than DBE for examining small intestine

Spirus Medical, Inc., a leading developer of diagnostic and therapeutic advancement systems for gastroenterology, announced at Digestive Disease Week 2010 that results from the first-ever prospective study comparing enteroscopy technologies show spiral enteroscopy (SE) to be more than three times faster, on average, than double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) in examining the small intestine.

4 May 2010

Shorter shifts for endoscopists positively influence polyp detection rates

A shorter daily shift schedule for endoscopists, the physicians who perform colonoscopies, avoids a decrease in the polyp detection rate as the day progresses, research from Mayo Clinic indicates. The findings, which have implications for endoscopist scheduling, were presented by Mayo Clinic investigators today at Digestive Disease Week 2010, (http://www.ddw.org/wmspage.cfm?parm1=679) the annual meeting of the American Gastroenterological Association.

4 May 2010

Novel biomarker test predicts risk of disease progression in patients with Crohn's disease

Prometheus Laboratories Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical and diagnostic company, announced new findings supporting a novel, algorithm-based biomarker test that helps clinicians effectively predict the risk of developing aggressive disease in patients with Crohn's disease.

4 May 2010

UCB, IBDWG announce recipients of 2010 Research Awards in IBD for GI Fellows

UCB and the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Working Group today announced the five recipients of the 2010 Research Awards in Inflammatory Bowel Disease for Gastroenterology Fellows, each of whom will receive a one-year $40,000 research grant for their original clinical or basic research.

4 May 2010

Ocera Therapeutics presents Phase 2 proof-of-concept study results of AST-120 in non-constipating IBS

Ocera Therapeutics, Inc. presented results yesterday from a Phase 2 proof-of-concept study of AST-120 (spherical carbon adsorbent) in the treatment of patients with non-constipating Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) at DDW, the annual meeting of the American Gastroenterological Association. Data showed that subjects treated with AST-120 responded in a consistent manner with reduction in pain better than placebo at week four and at week eight, the primary time point for analysis. The company plans to initiate a Phase 2b study evaluating AST-120 in non-constipating IBS.

4 May 2010

Doctors often treat IBS patients with narcotics: Researchers

Doctors often unnecessarily treat irritable bowel syndrome with narcotics, according to a study led by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill researchers.

4 May 2010

Johns Hopkins researchers identify a key protein that triggers sarcoidosis

Lung researchers at Johns Hopkins have identified a possible protein trigger responsible for sarcoidosis, a potentially fatal inflammatory disease marked by tiny clumps of inflammatory cells that each year leave deep, grainy scars on the lungs, lymph nodes, skin and almost all major organs in hundreds of thousands of Americans.

4 May 2010

ACAAI, AGA Institute announce innovative initiative to raise awareness of HAE

The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology and the American Gastroenterological Association Institute today announced an innovative initiative called "HAE: Learn About It, Talk About It," at Digestive Disease Week® 2010.

4 May 2010

Sucampo Pharmaceuticals presents Phase 2 cobiprostone clinical trial data at DDW 2010

Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today presented results of a phase 2 clinical trial of cobiprostone, an investigational drug, for the prevention of gastric ulcers and other gastrointestinal injuries in patients treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These data were presented at the Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2010 conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, as part of the distinguished abstract plenary session.

4 May 2010

Weight loss through caloric restriction and increase in physical activity improve symptoms of GERD

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a debilitating problem for sufferers -- heartburn, difficulty swallowing, chest pain and acid reflux. According to a Mayo Clinic study that will be presented at Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2010 in New Orleans May 1-5, even moderate weight gain can exacerbate those symptoms, DDW is the largest international gathering of physicians and researcher in the field of gastroenterology, hepatology, endoscopy and gastrointestinal surgery.

3 May 2010

Gastrointestinal Health News and Research

Latest Gastrointestinal Health News and Research

Endo Pharmaceuticals signs agreement to acquire HealthTronics

Pay-for-performance may create unintended financial incentives for doctors to discriminate against obese patients

Colorectal pre-cancer can be detected through stool DNA testing: Mayo Clinic study

New pathology test may help doctors distinguish between two overlapping esophageal disorders: Study

Targeted antibiotics provide safe, long-lasting improvement for IBS patients, says study

Data shows rates of colorectal cancer screening vary by race, ethnicity and method

ChemoCentryx reports positive data with Traficet-EN in Crohn's disease trial

Results from STEALTH C-3 clinical trial of nitazoxanide presented at DDW 2010

Mayo Clinic researchers identify genetic variants in serotonin genes that impact IBS

Idera Pharmaceuticals reports net loss of $1.9M for first-quarter 2010

Study comparing enteroscopy technologies finds SE quicker than DBE for examining small intestine

Shorter shifts for endoscopists positively influence polyp detection rates

Novel biomarker test predicts risk of disease progression in patients with Crohn's disease

UCB, IBDWG announce recipients of 2010 Research Awards in IBD for GI Fellows

Ocera Therapeutics presents Phase 2 proof-of-concept study results of AST-120 in non-constipating IBS

Doctors often treat IBS patients with narcotics: Researchers

Johns Hopkins researchers identify a key protein that triggers sarcoidosis

ACAAI, AGA Institute announce innovative initiative to raise awareness of HAE

Sucampo Pharmaceuticals presents Phase 2 cobiprostone clinical trial data at DDW 2010

Weight loss through caloric restriction and increase in physical activity improve symptoms of GERD

Microbiology eBook

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

From Puberty to Menopause: Clue’s CEO, Audrey Tsang on the Power of Femtech

Gastrointestinal Health News and Research

Latest Gastrointestinal Health News and Research

Microbiology eBook

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

From Puberty to Menopause: Clue’s CEO, Audrey Tsang on the Power of Femtech

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