Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Gastroenterology for May 2006. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.
Rise in BMI Aggravates Gastroesophageal Reflux
WEDNESDAY, May 31 (HealthDay News) -- A higher body mass index (BMI) is associated with more severe gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms, even in normal-weight women and those who experience a moderate weight gain, according to research published in the June 1 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Limited Benefit in Colonoscopy Screening of Elderly
TUESDAY, May 23 (HealthDay News) -- Screening elderly individuals for colon cancer detects more cancers but does not increase life expectancy compared with younger individuals, and colon cancer incidence remains low 10 years after a negative colonoscopy result, according to two studies in the May 24/31 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Unnecessary Tests During Physicals Could Cost Millions
TUESDAY, May 23 (HealthDay News) -- Unnecessary medical interventions during routine office visits for preventive medical exams could be costing $47 million to $194 million a year in the United States, according to a report in the June issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
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Some 4.1 Million Americans Infected with Hepatitis C
TUESDAY, May 16 (HealthDay News) -- The prevalence of antibodies to the hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) in the United States was 1.6 percent in 1999-2002, the equivalent of an estimated 4.1 million Americans, according to a study in the May 16 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Mortality Low After Bariatric Surgery at Academic Centers
MONDAY, May 15 (HealthDay News) -- A national audit of bariatric surgeries performed at academic centers in the United States suggests that the risk of mortality within 30 days of surgery is less than 1 percent, and many hospitals are performing laparoscopic procedures, according to a report published in the May issue of the Archives of Surgery.
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High Rate of Hepatitis B in Asian Patients in New York
FRIDAY, May 12 (HealthDay News) -- Approximately 15 percent of newly tested Asians/Pacific Islanders living in New York City are infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV), a prevalence 35 times higher than the general U.S. population, officials from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report May 12 in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Such patients are at high risk of developing liver disease and liver cancer.
Frivolous Claims Account for Small Fraction of Costs
WEDNESDAY, May 10 (HealthDay News) -- The majority of resources involved in malpractice claims go toward resolving and paying those that involve errors, indicating it may be more cost-effective to streamline claims processing rather than discourage claims, according to a study in the May 11 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Editorial
Gleevec May Alter Bone Metabolism in Cancer Patients
WEDNESDAY, May 10 (HealthDay News) -- In patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia or gastrointestinal stromal tumors, including those with normal serum phosphate levels, imatinib mesylate (Gleevec) therapy may cause changes in bone and mineral metabolism and inhibit bone remodeling, according to a study in the May 11 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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New RNA-Based Drug Class Tested Successfully in Monkeys
TUESDAY, May 9 (HealthDay News) -- Researchers have used RNA interference, or RNAi, to limit liver production of apolipoprotein B in monkeys, reducing their cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein levels and marking a significant advance towards a new class of drugs, according to a report in the May 4 issue of Nature.
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Hyperbilirubinemia Not Linked to Later Neurologic Deficit
WEDNESDAY, May 3 (HealthDay News) -- Infants with elevated levels of bilirubin who are treated with either phototherapy or exchange transfusion show neurodevelopmental progress similar to that of normal children, according to a report in the May 4 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Naltrexone Plus Management Best for Alcohol Dependence
TUESDAY, May 2 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with alcohol dependence do best if treated with naltrexone combined with sessions with a medical professional to enhance adherence to medication and to encourage abstinence from drinking, according to the results of a large-scale, randomized, controlled study published in the May 3 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Higher-Income Uninsured Lack Preventive Screening
TUESDAY, May 2 (HealthDay News) -- A higher income does not ensure that adults without health insurance will receive needed screening tests for cancer, diabetes and heart disease, according to a study published in the May 3 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Surgery Better for Weight Loss Than Diet, Lifestyle Changes
TUESDAY, May 2 (HealthDay News) -- In patients with mild to moderate obesity, gastric banding is more effective in reducing weight and resolving the metabolic syndrome than non-surgical weight-loss therapy, according to a study in the May 2 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Editorial
Mothers Main Source of H. pylori Infection in Children
MONDAY, May 1 (HealthDay News) -- Children infected with Helicobacter pylori are more likely to acquire the infection from their mothers than their fathers, according to a report published in the May issue of Epidemiology.
