Gastroenterology

Researchers say they have discovered a new human virus confirmed from genetic screenings of blood samples that appears to be linked to hepatitis C but it is unknown whether it can cause disease.

In the medical community there are many questions about the benefits of patients on a daily aspirin regimen and who should be considered for this treatment option. While these questions apply mainly to standard aspirin treatments currently available there is work being done to move the field in a new direction.

Part of an ongoing series that takes a high-level look at the positions of the leading nominees for President when it comes to political issues potentially impacting physicians, this installment focuses on Ben Carson.

Patients who have the hepatitis C virus are at a significantly higher risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.

A public health experiment in which the Egyptian government has obtained large quantities of sofosbuvir for much less than its retail price is impacting the lives of tens of thousands of people.

A group of health professionals and researchers have received grants to study treatments for substance use disorders and hepatitis C among people incarcerated in state prisons.

New research in pigs indicates that exocrine pancreatic insufficiency may have unexpectedly large effects on the body composition of human children and that it alters hormone levels in ways that could lend themselves to new diagnostic tests.

Whether it is a parent concerned about their child's health or a doctor in a hospital looking to prevent the spreading of germs an alternative for a stethoscope could be a welcome addition to the health care field. With iPhones being a common tool in life bringing the two together could benefit people in many ways.

People suffering from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) also often have lower levels of vitamin D.

Researchers from the University of California, San Diego evaluated 60 pairs of adult twin participants using liver MRIs between January 2012 and January 2015 in order to investigate the heritability of hepatic fibrosis.

There are four different variations of bowel cancer with their own set of biological characteristics, affecting the treatment paths for each, according to a study published in Nature Medicine.

Researchers from the Mayo Clinic analyzed the genes of more than 3,300 stage III colon cancer patients in order to determine if racial disparities in colon cancer outcomes persist even after controlling for clinical and pathological variables.

The US Food and Drug Administration recently approved the Fenix Continence Restoration System for the treatment of fecal incontinence for patients who have tried and failed other medical and surgical options.

Collaboration between gastroenterologists and pathologists is essential in arriving at an accurate diagnosis for precursor lesions in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients.

Colonoscopy patients often don’t accurately recall pertinent details of their exam over time, according to study results presented at the 2015 Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons in October.

The much-criticized high prices of directing-acting antivirals for hepatitis C are headed for a plunge -- but not in the US. Much as they did with HIV drugs years ago, pharma companies are giving away patents in many poor nations. Prices in the US will likely not change much.

Patients with anorexia nervosa have a different gut microbial makeup than patients without the eating disorder, according to a study published in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine.

The gut microbiome influences gluten-induced celiac disease in mice models, according to findings published in The American Journal of Pathology.

According to findings published in Cell Stem Cell, the cause of gastrointestinal symptoms in type 1 diabetes has been discovered.

Many guidelines recommend transfusion if the patient's hemoglobin (Hb) level falls to 7 to 8 g/dL, but some researchers think that using a fixed trigger point may be deleterious to patients.

Marla Dubinsky, MD, Mount Sinai Hospital, reviewed some of the more common side effects associated with the more common therapies that most IBD experts discuss.

Marla Dubinsky, MD, Mount Sinai Hospital, discussed at the 2015 Advances in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Annual meeting the various levels involved with the relationship between prevention and management in pediatric IBD.

Questions around the price of treatments for hepatitis C virus have been all over the news lately.

A team of researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have identified a new approach that may soon lead to the discovery of a vaccine to treat the hepatitis C virus.

Physicians and patients in Tasmania are finding creative ways to get around the high cost of drugs to treat the hepatitis C virus. The group is importing the medications in powdered form or as tablets, from countries like India, Bangladesh and China, where patents for the drug does not exist.

A report released by Senator Ron Wyden (D-OH) and Charles Grassley (R-IA) came to the conclusion that Gilead Sciences charged more for its blockbuster hepatitis C virus medications Sovaldi and Harvoni than required to recoup acquisition costs, clinical research, and marketing expenditures.

Four types of gut microbiota acquired in infancy may protect babies from developing asthma, according to findings published in Science Translational Medicine.

New research from Japan indicates that exocrine pancreatic insufficiency after pancreatectomy may be 1 of several factors that indicates an elevated risk of postoperative hepatic steatosis.

Global pharmaceutical company Allergan announced today the availability by prescription of Viberzi (eluxadoline), their first-in-class treatment for adult patients suffering from irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D).

Francisco Sylvester, MD, UNC School of medicine emphasized the importance of applying study findings to early interventions in treatment.