Digestive Disease Week

The development of new medications for any condition requires attention to detail in a number of areas, especially safety and efficacy. A recent drug developed for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) looked to be effective in both areas prior to its approval.

Researchers reported that SVR12 rates in real-world, post-transplant genotype 1 HCV patients treated with ledipasvir-sofosbuvir, with or without ribavirin, is 98% across regimens and various characteristics.

Researchers report promising results from the QUARTZ-I study that assessed the efficacy of the 3D regimen combined with sofosbuvir in treatment-experienced patients with HCV genotype 1 infection.

Results from the ION-3 trial showed that the rapidity and durability of viral suppression achieved with ledipasvir-sofosbuvir therapy allows a shorter treatment course of 8 weeks in genotype 1, treatment-naïve, non-cirrhotic patients.

As more women take leadership roles in gastroenterology and , it can go a long way in helping to bridge the gender gap in that other specialties in medicine.

As with many areas of medicine, the ratio of male doctors in gastroenterology to female counterparts is considerable – although work is being done to lessen that gap across the field.

As with all surgical procedures, there are risks that come with gastric bypass surgery. While the procedure itself is not new, there is work being done to make it more effective and longer lasting for patients who utilize this valuable weight loss option.

Obesity remains a growing problem and while gastric bypass surgery has become a viable option for many patients, there is still work being done to improve the procedure.

The new Rome IV criteria classify the functional bowel disorders into five distinct categories, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), functional constipation, functional diarrhea, functional abdominal bloating/distention, and unspecified functional bowel disorder. A new category for opioid-induced constipation, which is distinct from the functional bowel disorders, has been added.

Rome IV updates include more specific definitions and diagnostic criteria for functional gastroduodenal disorders such as functional dyspepsia, belching disorders, and nausea and vomiting disorders.

The Rome Foundation announced the release of updated and revised Rome IV diagnostic criteria for more than 20 different gastrointestinal disorders at DDW 2016.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is a common procedure in adult patients but a recent study looked at whether the procedure was safe for younger patients and whether it provided the same level of efficacy.

A recent study looked to shed light on the long-researched belief that caffeine decreases the risk of advanced hepatic fibrosis in people with hepatitis C.

Not only is chronic liver disease the 12th leading cause of death in the United States, but it hurts a patient’s wallet and quality of life.

Obesity, not a low-fiber diet, is more strongly associated with colonic diverticula.

The connection between morbid obesity and death from acute pancreatitis has been studied, however, most obese patient do not fall in the “morbid†category. So researchers decided to analyze that very topic.

Treatment isn’t enough to keep ulcerative colitis relapses at bay; dietary factors play in an important role in flares as well. New research identifies foods that patients should stay away from.

Patients who stop infliximab 12 months after they started are at higher risk of relapse if those patients earlier had ulcerative colitis.

Positive test results from the initial step of colorectal screening may need a quicker follow-up colonoscopy than many people are getting.

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.

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.

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.

As hepatitis C becomes a curable condition in many parts of the world research is also showing the financial benefits of allowing once sick patients to resume their normal lives after treatment.

For patients who might need an intestinal transplant the surgery can often be a difficult and not always a permanent process. A new area of research is looking at whether cells can form intestines in the patients without needing the full transplant process.

As researchers look to learn more about drug induced liver injury sometimes looking at one patient alone cannot determine the potential causes of the condition. A recent preliminary study looked at what might be a "hidden pattern," to help patients.