May 2009 Briefing - Gastroenterology

Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Gastroenterology for May 2009. 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.

Vascular Disease Prevention Benefits of Aspirin Uncertain

FRIDAY, May 29 (HealthDay News) -- The benefits of using aspirin in the primary prevention of vascular disease are uncertain because it reduces the risk of heart attack but increases the risk of internal bleeding, according to a study published in the May 30 issue of The Lancet.

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Cervical Testing Rates Too Low in Women With Bowel Disease

THURSDAY, May 28 (HealthDay News) -- Women with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) -- who may be at higher risk of cervical abnormalities due to immunosuppressant use -- may have suboptimal screening rates for cervical dysplasia and cancer, according to research published in the May issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

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Gastric Bypass Surgery Linked to Kidney Stones

THURSDAY, May 28 (HealthDay News) -- Obese patients who undergo gastric bypass surgery may have a significantly increased risk of kidney stone disease and the need to undergo kidney stone surgery, according to a study published in the June issue of The Journal of Urology.

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Computerized Prescription Order Errors a Risk for Patients

THURSDAY, May 28 (HealthDay News) -- Computerized provider order entry systems are prone to input errors that may put patients at risk, according to a study published in the May 25 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.

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Focus on Meaningful Work Protects Doctors From Burnout

THURSDAY, May 27 (HealthDay News) -- Academic faculty physicians who focus on what they find most meaningful are less likely to experience burnout, according to a study published in the May 25 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.

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Cancer Deaths Reported Down Between 1990 and 2005

THURSDAY, May 28 (HealthDay News) -- A 19.2 percent drop in cancer deaths in men and an 11.4 percent drop in women avoided about 650,000 cancer deaths between 1990 and 2005, according to the American Cancer Society's annual report of cancer statistics in CA, A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.

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Ablation Eradicates Disease in Barrett's Esophagus

WEDNESDAY, May 27 (HealthDay News) -- Radiofrequency ablation is effective in completely eradicating intestinal metaplasia and dysplasia in patients with Barrett's esophagus, according to a study in the May 28 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

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Colorectal Cancer Outcomes Improve at Two Cancer Centers

WEDNESDAY, May 27 (HealthDay News) -- Outcomes for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer have markedly improved at two leading cancer centers since 1997 because of increased use of liver resection and the introduction of new cancer drugs, according to a study published online May 26 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

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Lower-Insurance Mortality Unaffected by Comorbidities

WEDNESDAY, May 27 (HealthDay News) -- Comorbidity levels do not explain why patients with colorectal cancer who have private insurance have lower death rates than patients who are uninsured or have government insurance, according to a study published online May 26 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. In a related study in the same issue, hospital factors such as quality can help explain some of the higher mortality in black patients with breast or colon cancer.

Abstract - Robbins
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Abstract - Breslin
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Acid Suppressors Linked to Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia

TUESDAY, May 26 (HealthDay News) -- Among inpatients, treatment with acid-suppressive medication -- particularly proton-pump inhibitors -- may significantly increase the risk of hospital-acquired pneumonia, according to a study published in the May 27 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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Bevacizumab May Increase Risk of Gastrointestinal Perforation

TUESDAY, May 26 (HealthDay News) -- The use of bevacizumab in cancer treatment increases the risk of gastrointestinal perforation in comparison with other medications, according to a medical literature review published online May 25 in The Lancet Oncology.

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Democrats Set Ambitious Goal for Health Care Reform

THURSDAY, May 21 (HealthDay News) -- Congressional Democrats face formidable challenges in their efforts to pass health care reform legislation by July 31, but physicians can take the lead to ensure changes are enacted, according to two perspectives published online May 20 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Full Text - Iglehart
Full Text - Fisher

Statins May Cut Liver Cancer and Cholecystectomy Risks

THURSDAY, May 21 (HealthDay News) -- Statin use is associated with reduced risk for cholecystectomy and for liver cancer, according to two studies published in the May issue of Gastroenterology.

Abstract - Tsai
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Abstract - El-Serag
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Sticking to Work Hours Limits Very Costly

WEDNESDAY, May 20 (HealthDay News) -- Adherence to the 2003 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) limits on work hours, and other measures aimed at reducing fatigue among residents, would be costly with no proven benefits, according to an article published in the May 21 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

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Editorial

Genes Regulating Interleukin Linked to Biliary Cirrhosis

WEDNESDAY, May 20 (HealthDay News) -- Primary biliary cirrhosis may be linked to variants in the genes that regulate interleukin-12 signaling in the immune response, according to a study reported in the May 21 issue if the New England Journal of Medicine.

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Prognosis Remains Poor in Gallbladder Cancer

WEDNESDAY, May 20 (HealthDay News) -- Median survival time for patients with gallbladder cancer has increased for more than four decades, but many patients still present with advanced disease and prognosis remains poor, according to a paper in the May Archives of Surgery.

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Iron Not Linked to Survival in Primary Myelofibrosis

MONDAY, May 18 (HealthDay News) -- Higher serum ferritin levels weren't associated with decreased survival in patients with primary myelofibrosis, which could be a finding that's relevant to ongoing discussions in hematology regarding the use of iron chelation, according to research published in the May issue of the American Journal of Hematology.

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Commentary

HCV in Patients With Sustained Response Still Infective

FRIDAY, May 15 (HealthDay News) -- Trace quantities of hepatitis C virus (HCV) from patients with long-resolved chronic hepatitis C infection may still be infective, according to a study published in the May issue of Hepatology.

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Medicare Denies Coverage for 'Virtual Colonoscopy'

THURSDAY, May 14 (HealthDay News) -- The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced May 12 that it would not cover the cost of so-called "virtual colonoscopies," colon screenings using computed tomography scanning devices. The decision was immediately blasted by the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the American College of Radiology (ACR).

CMS Coverage Decision
American Cancer Society Statement
American College of Radiology Statement

Hypothyroidism Linked to Liver Cancer in Women

THURSDAY, May 14 (HealthDay News) -- Hypothyroidism is associated with a three-fold higher risk of developing liver cancer in women, even among those without major risk factors, according to a study in the May issue of Hepatology.

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Exercise and Diet Support Slows Cancer Survivor Decline

TUESDAY, May 12 (HealthDay News) -- Exercise, diet and weight loss support can slow the functional decline of long-term cancer survivors, according to a study in the May 13 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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Simple Survey Assesses Adherence to Gluten-Free Diet

TUESDAY, May 12 (HealthDay News) -- A simple seven-question tool may be effective in assessing gluten-free diet adherence among individuals with celiac disease, according to research published in the May issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

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Colorectal Cancer Death Risk Down in Bowel Disease

TUESDAY, May 12 (HealthDay News) -- The incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) in people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has not significantly changed in recent decades, but the risk of CRC death has dropped substantially, according to a study published in the May issue of Gastroenterology.

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Low-Dose Aspirin May Damage the Small Intestine

FRIDAY, May 8 (HealthDay News) -- Even a short course of low-dose aspirin therapy may damage the small intestine, according to a study published in the May issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

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Medical Center Press Releases Often Lacking Key Details

TUESDAY, May 5 (HealthDay News) -- Press releases from academic medical centers may often overstate the importance of research findings while failing to acknowledge relevant limitations of the studies, according to research published in the May 5 Annals of Internal Medicine.

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TGF-β Signal Disruption Linked to Faster Cancer Growth

TUESDAY, May 5 (HealthDay News) -- In mice, disruption of transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) signaling may encourage the growth of diffuse-type gastric carcinoma, according to research published in the April 15 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

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Pancreas Graft Function Affects Survival in Diabetics

MONDAY, May 4 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with type 1 diabetes and severe renal dysfunction who receive a simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant have better survival if the pancreas remains functional a year after the transplant, according to a study published online ahead of print April 30 in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

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