Catherine Kolonko

Study results indicate that diabetes mellitus is independently associated with the development of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma among patients who have fatty liver disease.

Results from a clinical trial designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a hepatitis C educational program delivered by the Hepatology Centers of Educational Expertise, a hepatologist-led working group dedicated to educating healthcare professionals on the latest developments in the management of chronic liver disease.

Case study results indicate boceprevir-based triple therapy could be a viable treatment option for patients with acute hepatitis C virus who fail to respond to standard treatment.

Study results show that patients currently taking opioids and those who were previously on chronic opioid therapy experienced induced esophageal dysfunction, with outflow obstruction and spastic esophageal dysmotility patterns more prevalent among current users.

Researchers report a cure rate of greater than 90 percent among patients with recurrent C. difficile infection treated with fecal microbiota transplantation at a community hospital.

Study results show that improvement in short-term mortality was seen in patients who receive corticosteroids for treatment of severe alcoholic hepatitis without an increased risk of infection occurrence.

A large majority of patients with chronic hepatitis C cleared their virus after receiving triple therapy of pegylated interferon, ribavirin, and boceprevir for 24 weeks. No patients in the study cohort discontinued treatment due to medication-related side effects.

Study results show that SIRS on admission and at 72 hours after is associated with a higher incidence of pancreatic necrosis, an important risk factor contributing to death in patients with severe acute pancreatitis.

A literature search found no well-documented evidence showing that implementing a gluten-and-casein-free diet in children with autism produces statistically significant differences in autism-related behaviors.

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the fastest rising cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. However, there are several stages along the way from healthy liver to malignant transformation that offer opportunities for detection and intervention.

Researchers have identified several mutations of genes that could predispose someone to chronic pancreatitis, while thinking has also changed when it comes to treating the pain associated with this chronic condition.

Autoimmune hepatitis often responds well to steroid therapy but identifying the disease and the best approach to management is filled with complexities.

Research has shown that patients with hereditary colorectal syndromes such as Lynch syndrome, adenomatous polyposis, and hamartomatous polyposis have a much higher likelihood of developing colorectal cancer.

With celiac disease becoming more prevalent, especially in adults, what are the most effective approaches to testing patients for this disease, and are there effective management strategies that can be used in conjunction with a gluten-free diet?

Proton pump inhibitors (PPI) are effective in many patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), but up to half of patients do not experience symptom relief with these medications.

Expert advice from the 2013 AGA-ASGE Clinical Congress of Gastroenterology and Hepatology on managing diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, and other symptoms associated with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Randomized controlled trials remain the gold standard, but a researcher at Kidney Week 2012 says that new approaches and study designs are needed that reflect real-world drug use and account for confounding variables.

Patients with end-stage renal disease who live in the Midwest begin dialysis at an earlier stage than patients who live in other regions of the US.

Results from the TEMPO trial presented at Kidney Week 2012 show that treatment with tolvaptan slowed the increase in total kidney volume and the decline in kidney function in patients with Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD).

Increasing numbers of people are on kidney transplant waiting lists. However, the number of potential living donors may shrink as more Americans qualify as pre-diabetic, making them less than ideal donor candidates.

Experts at Kidney Week 2012 discuss several treatment options for hyponatremia, including fluid restriction, loop diuretics, and the use of selective vasopressin V2-receptor antagonists.

A diet rich in highly alkaline fruits and vegetables helps reduce a marker of kidney injury and preserve kidney function in patients with chronic kidney disease.

The powerful immunosuppressive drugs used to prevent allograft rejection are associated with severe side effects. A "mixed chimerism" strategy in which patients undergo simultaneous bone marrow and kidney transplant from the same donor may improve transplant survival and reduce the need for these drugs.

Use of peritoneal dialysis in patients with end-stage renal disease is declining due to lack of physician training and awareness, financial disincentives, and other factors. However, with proper patient and provider education, it is possible to grow a successful peritoneal dialysis program.

Study results reported at Kidney Week 2012 reveal that patients with early-stage CKD fare better in the public health system, which also appears to produce fewer racial and ethnic health disparities in care delivered to this population.

Physicians often do not follow treatment guidelines for health care-acquired pneumonia, resulting in nearly two-thirds of patients receiving antibiotics that conflict with established guidelines.

However, researchers at IDWeek 2012 said that although the drug showed a biological and a clinical effect during a phase III study, it did not meet the primary efficacy outcome.

Researchers at IDWeek 2012 presented new information and guidance on the diagnosis and management of three of the most deadly infectious diseases: pneumonia, meningitis, and endocarditis.

Intestinal microbiota transplant is a viable option for patients with C. diff infection who have not responded to conventional treatment.

Researchers at IDWeek 2012 show that influenza can pose fatal health risks even to otherwise healthy children with no serious underlying medical conditions. They also revealed that children who were vaccinated at school were much less likely to get the flu, leading to fewer school absences.