Gastroenterology

As fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has gained acceptance and popularity as a treatment for c. difficile infection, researchers have also been investigating the benefits of the procedure for treating other disorders of the gut, including ulcerative colitis (UC).

Not only has "the world's most sensitive test to detect and diagnose infectious disease" been developed, but it has the potential to become a doctor's office staple.

Coming next from Medicare: the ICD-10 Obmudsman. Billing under the dreaded new International Classification of Diseases-10 (ICD-10) coding system will get a bit less onerous under a deal brokered between Medicare and the American Medical Association.

Michigan State University (MSU) researchers have created the first map to predict rotavirus (RV) prevalence on a global scale.

More than 262 million courses of antibiotics were prescribed to outpatients in the US in 2011, translating to nearly 842 courses per 1,000 patients each year.

The amount of money paid for expensive new hepatitis C drug treatments skyrocketed in the first quarter of 2015, according to a report released by Express Scripts.

With 259 million painkiller prescriptions written in 2012 alone, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one of the most common side effects experienced by patients being treated for chronic pain is opioid-induced constipation (OIC).

This study evaluated the association between alcohol consumption and all-cause mortality, as well as the relevance of age-specific limits for alcohol consumption. Alcohol use, particularly consumption of excessive amounts, is negatively associated with many acute and chronic diseases. The direct and indirect economic burden due to alcohol use is substantial.

Preceding visceral arteriography (VA) with a diagnostic study using computed tomographic angiography (CTA) improved positive localization of the site of lower gastrointestinal (GI) hemorrhage compared with VA alone, according to a new study published in May in JAMA Surgery.

Spouses and first-degree relatives of patients afflicted with celiac disease were found to be at greater risk for non-celiac autoimmune diseases like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Researchers from Hiroshima University have created a system to detect a drug-resistant viral strain mutation in hepatitis C (HCV) cases.

Patients with gastric ulcers are always looking for the fastest way to heal their conditions. A recent study looked at whether exercise in rats helped expedite the healing process.

A new study of obese adolescents highlighted the link between obesity and chronic musculoskeletal (MSK) pain and limitations on physical function and quality of life (QOL).

Colorectal surgery is often performed for inflammatory disease or malignancy-known risk factors for venous thromboembolism (VTE). Although a patient safety priority, comprehensive recommendations for these VTE patients are lacking. Most patients receive perioperative and in-hospital VTE chemoprophylaxis, but extended prophylaxis rates lag.

Recent study showered 100 percent sustained virologic response at 12 weeks in patients with hepatitis C genotype 1b who received treatment with an interferon- and ribavirin-free combination drug.

The corticosteroid beclomesthasone diproprionate (BDP) can successfully treat patients afflicted with active mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis (UC).

The King v. Burwell US Supreme Court decision yesterday means that people who could have lost mental health insurance coverage don't have to worry.

Postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) after major abdominal surgery are common, with risk increasing with patient age. Major abdominal surgeries alter and disrupt diaphragmatic dysfunction, which has been proven causative of PPCs.

The Supreme Court's decision to uphold Affordable Care Act insurance subsidies in all 50 states was greeted warmly by major healthcare associations and by Wall Street. However, the decision in King vs. Burwell also served to reignite debate over the healthcare law, and the challenges that remain 5 years after its passage.

The US Supreme Court has said residents of all 50 states are entitled to subsidies, regardless of whether they bought insurance through a federally run or state-run marketplace. The case centered on whether 2010's Affordable Care Act authorized subsidies to consumers who bought health insurance on non-state-run insurance marketplaces.

Fecal microbiota transplant has been used to treat patients with c-diff for a while now but one of the biggest questions is what else can it do. A recent study looked at using the procedure to remove antibiotic resistant genes.

Patients with C-Diff are being treated with fecal microbiota transplantation but there is still more research being done in the field to learn more about the potential benefits in the field.

Hormone therapy has proven a very effective option for many women during menopause but there has also been some evidence that it can increase the likelihood of bleeding disorders. A recent study looked at the link between the two.

Whether patients have irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease what matters to them most is getting the correct diagnosis and treatment as quickly as possible.

Whether it is due to doctors waiting to make a diagnosis or patients waiting to see a doctor in the first place, diagnosis delay can be a considerable issue for patients with celiac disease. A recent study looked at just how big a problem this can be in the medical community.

In previous studies, regular breakfast consumption has been correlated with lower BMI and improved cardiometabolic risk profile. Furthermore, evidence suggests that low-energy density, high-fiber, and high-carbohydrate foods may be more satiating when compared to their alternatives.

Infants and young children who were prescribed acid-reducing drugs were found to face a higher risk of developing Clostridium difficile (C. diff) infection.

Researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital recently announced they have discovered that an immune system protein, Absent in Melanoma 2 (AIM2), plays a role in determining the degree of aggressiveness of colon cancer.

Patients coming out of surgery face a variety of risks even when the operation is done. A group is looking into a new device that can help with patients undergoing abdominal surgery to detect ileus after going under the knife.

The internet can be an endless source of information for patients looking to learn more about their conditions and possible treatments and surgical options. Whether those sources provide the help needed is another issue for healthcare professionals to tackle.