Gastroenterology

A new randomized controlled trial hints that pancrelipase may do better than conventional pancreatic enzyme supplementation in protecting against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in pancreatic cancer patients who undergo pancreatoduodenectomy.

Cheese contains a natural food preservative, nisin, which can destroy cancer cells.

Patients suffering from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can reduce their symptoms with the substance ebastine found in histamines used to treat hay fever.

It was not long ago that patients with hepatitis C were among the leading candidates for liver transplants. Now that many forms of the disease are curable that attention can be turned to other patients in need.

Patients with irritable bowel disease can have enough issues to deal with in their daily lives. Add a condition like c-diff can make the treatment that much more complicated.

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.

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.

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

Study results show that patients with ulcerative colitis who undergo hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) had higher rates of opportunistic infections and inpatient mortality compared to transplant patients who did not have UC.

Russell Cohen, MD, director of the Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Center at The University of Chicago Medicine continued to discuss the relevance of healthcare economics specific to IBD at the 2015 Advances in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.

Treatment for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is significantly more expensive when treated in secondary care settings than it is when treated in primary care settings -- without a corresponding increase in treatment effectiveness.

A US Senate investigation found that drug maker Gilead Sciences sought to maximize profits of its blockbuster hepatitis C drug, without any significant consideration of the thousands of patients who could not afford its pricey pill.

Researchers have developed a method to screen for hepatitis C using a urine test that is faster and cheaper than traditional blood tests.

In the past patients with alcoholic liver disease may not have been considered viable options for liver transplants. A recent study looked at whether an artificial device could help these patients return to a normal quality of life.

Several prior studies have noted that Roux-Y gastric bypass surgery often leaves patients with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, but new research from Switzerland indicates that different flavors of the procedure expose patients to greatly different risks.

Coconut oil can control the overgrowth of the fungal pathogen Candida albicans (C. albicans) in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

Obese people are generally less healthy than those of normal weight, but that should not be a barrier to liver transplantation, researchers said at the 2015 Liver Meeting (AASLD) in San Francisco, CA.

Donor livers are scarce, donated organs are precious, and transplant surgeons make the final call on whether to transplant. When the question of whether to give a liver to a patient who uses marijuana, drinks too much alcohol, or even smokes tobacco comes up, the issue gets tricky.

Although there are now effective treatments for several genotypes of hepatitis C, certain patient groups continue to present challenges for the pharmaceutical and medical communities. Work is being done to overcome those challenges around the world.

The high costs of direct-acting antivirals to treat hepatitis C infection is no secret, but neither is the fact that the drugs are cost-effective. Pennsylvania researchers found insurers were lagging in approving payment for the drugs in their four-state region, with Medicaid programs the worst offenders.

Changes in gut bacterial growth rates may be linked to onset of diseases, such as type 2 diabetes or irritable bowel syndrome, for example, according to research published in the journal Science.

Dried plums may decrease the risk for colon cancer.

Viruses are present in the guts of newborn babies, according to findings published in Nature Medicine.

Some experts contend that hiatal hernia-related symptoms improve after weight-loss surgery, making repair of the hiatus unnecessary. Yet, simultaneous repair during bariatric surgery may be more efficient than undergoing separate procedures. A study published in the journal Surgery suggests repair of hiatal hernia during bariatric surgery appears safe and feasible.