Gastroenterology

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.

Researchers say that identifying HCV transmission hotspots and gaining a more comprehensive understanding of exactly how hepatitis C virus is transmitted during times of significant spread could facilitate public health initiatives to reduce the prevalence of HCV in people who contract it through intravenous drug use.

AbbVie's hepatitis C antivirals now come with a warning. In a Q&A with MD Magazine, Barry Bernstein, MD, the company's vice president for infectious disease product development, discusses the ramifications. It's not just AbbVie, he says, more post-market reports on other companies drugs are likely coming.

The evidence indicates resistant starches improve glucose metabolism beyond what would be expected from its reduced glycemic index.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the cancer agency of the World Health Organization (WHO), has officially classified processed and red meat products like bacon and salami "carcinogenic to humans".

Raised lesions of dysplatic Barrett's esophagus (BE) are treated with endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) before ablation. But the procedure causes bleeding in 10% of cases.Mayo Clinic researchers said they found a way to reduce those adverse events.

C. Difficile is big. It has surpassed MRSA as the most common hospital acquired infection.

Pennies, chicken bones, and dishwasher cleaning powders. Gastroenterologists who work at hospitals are likely to get called in when people either accidentally or purposefully swallow something they should not. At the American College of Gastroenterology Annual Scientific Meeting in Honolulu, a physician at NYU Langone Medical Center offered a treatment primer.

Pancreatic cancer is hard to cure and even diagnosing it is challenging. Among the eagerly awaiting research topics to be presented at the American College of Gastroenterology Meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii are reports on new developments in detecting malignancies.

More than three-quarters of intravenous drug users and Baby Boomers tested for hepatitis C were positive and unaware they were infected, according to results of a study published in the journal Annals of Emergency Medicine.

Just as overactive bladder issues and constipation are an issue for patients with multiple sclerosis, mirabegron is a popular medication in the general population for managing these issues. At the NYU Langone Medical Center Comprehensive Care Center patients receive treatment from a wide variety of healthcare professionals in order to get the best results possible for their condition.

Air pollution affects liver health and can cause fibrosis, according to findings published in the Journal of Hepatology.

Genetic mutations in hereditary colorectal cancers may be detectable, according to findings published in the Journal of Molecular Diagnostics.

A recent review article provided updated information on classification systems, preventive techniques, pathophysiological mechanisms, and treatment options for postoperative ileus.

The molecular mechanism permitting the bacterium Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) to survive in nearly 50% of humans' stomachs has been identified, according to research published in Science Advances