Gastroenterology

Using a minimally invasive screening method for ulcerative colitis (UC) is a quick and cost-effective approach to disease detection.

The US Food and Drug Administration approved a supplemental New Drug Application submitted by drug maker AbbVie for Viekira Pak without ribavirin to treat patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 1b and compensated cirrhosis.

Researchers had long believed statins decreased patients’ risk of colorectal cancer (CRC); however, new research suggests cholesterol levels are the true driver of CRC risk.

Anorexia nervosa, chronic fatigue syndrome, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) might not be the typical threesome, but these three conditions do share a common origin.

Using aspirin for long periods of time was linked to lower risk for gastrointestinal tract cancers in a retrospective, longitudinal study published in JAMA Oncology.

Patients with hepatitis C were two to five times more likely to develop some types of head and neck cancers, according to a study conducted by the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

Physicians, hospitals and large provider groups are beginning to understand the high costs of physician burnout.

Layoffs are tough. But, the economic downturn, lower insurance reimbursements, increased business expenses and the expectation that medical practices “do more with less†may make layoffs unavoidable.

A team from Germany found patients with acute HCV infection could be cured in six weeks with DAA treatment, half the recommended time.

A very preliminary report on a drug that could block the hepatitis B and hepatitis D viruses showed it does not have any negative interaction with tenofovir, a potential hurdle for treatment.

A recent study in the United Kingdom looked at the 6-month outcomes of those with hepatitis C cirrhosis on antiviral treatment.

Work being done to treat and cure hepatitis C today could make it almost a non-issue for future generations, thanks to groups like the World Health Organization (WHO) and others putting the focus on parts of the world that need help in this area the most.

As hepatitis C becomes a largely curable condition, work is being done to ensure that people around the world get the same level of treatment no matter where they live. That effort is being supported thanks to new guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO).

Cirrhosis is not a new condition in the medical community, but researchers are looking at regions where the condition may be more common and how changes in policy regarding alcohol could help prevent more cases of the condition in the future.

While many forms of hepatitis C are now nearing curability, there are some genotypes which are harder to treat and some patient populations proving harder to reach. Research is being done on several fronts to address both issues.

The number of deaths associated with the hepatitis C virus climbed well above those of several other infectious diseases over a 10-year period ending in 2013, according to a recent government study.

Whether it is communicating with friends, loved ones, or their health care providers, being able to communicate effectively can help them feel better about their conditions which can help the overall treatment process.

It may seem obvious, but being able to effectively communicate to patients about their cardiovascular care can have a dramatic impact on treatment in the long run.

A report from the NAS suggests that the elimination of hepatitis B and C as a public health problem is possible, but that time and considerable resources will need to be devoted to stopping the transmission of the disease and treating all those who are infected.

You do your best to attract qualified job candidates, ask the right interview questions and ultimately hire the best and the brightest to work at your practice. But, no matter what you do, it is inevitable that you will have problems with your workers from time to time.

Low-dose aspirin intake can benefit adult patients who exhibit a high risk for both cardiovascular-related events and colorectal cancer, reported the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF).

At one point or another, every medical practice will have to deal with unmotivated employees. Unmotivated staff members can cause all sorts of problems, from a slowdown in productivity to decreased profits, poor morale and patient dissatisfaction.

Physicians do not usually burn themselves out. The majority of the time it is the work environment which burns out the physician. Certain conditions and circumstances in the workplace can set-up unsuspecting doctors for job related burnout. You can take an on fire, passionate, purpose driven physician and put them in the wrong work environment and you will burn them out.

“Flip the Clinic†is an open experiment that involves breaking the traditional health care mold. Clinic flippers are using a new strategies and techniques to empower patients and engage them in their health care while maximizing time with practitioners.

The FDA has approved Inflectra (infliximab-dyyb/Celltrion, Inc), the biosimilar for Remicade (infliximab) for the treatment of patients suffering from serious autoimmune diseases.

The gut microbiota could influence the severity of malaria, according to findings of a mice model study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

An honest follow-up story to something we are all in danger of facing, burnout, and why it's so easy to find yourself back at the point of no return

Qualities in colonoscopies can be assessed using a new tool, which can track hospital follow-ups in outpatient facilities, according to findings published in Gastroenterology.

A new trial of the pancrelipase formulation Zenpep found the product to be as safe and effective as Creon for the treatment of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in cystic fibrosis patients aged 12 years and older.

A federal jury in California has ordered Gilead Sciences to pay Merck $200 million in damages for infringing upon patents related to compounds used in Sovaldi, the blockbuster hepatitis C drug.