Gastrointestinal Health News and Research

Latest Gastrointestinal Health News and Research

Tenofovir DF safe and effective in treating adolescents with HBV

A recent clinical trial found that the adult antiviral drug, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (tenofovir DF), is safe and effective in treating adolescents with hepatitis B virus (HBV). Trial results published in the December issue of Hepatology, a journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), show that tenofovir DF suppressed HBV in 89% of pediatric participants.

6 Dec 2012

Simple breath analysis could be used for colorectal cancer screening

A new study published in BJS has demonstrated for the first time that a simple breath analysis could be used for colorectal cancer screening. The study is part of the "Improving Outcomes in Gastrointestinal Cancer" supplement.

5 Dec 2012

Study identifies factors that can predict postpartum pelvic girdle pain in working women

A new study of working women has identified factors during pregnancy and postpartum that can predict pain in the joints that comprise the pelvic girdle. While 90 percent of working women in the Netherlands return to work after the birth of their first child, health issues during the postpartum period often require sick leave. Chief among these health issues is pelvic girdle pain (PGP).

5 Dec 2012

Mouthwash may reduce bacteremia after wisdom tooth extraction

Use of a povidone iodine- or chlorhexidine-based mouthwash immediately before third molar extraction reduces bacteria levels in patients' blood after the procedure, Turkish study findings reveal.

4 Dec 2012

Feeding probiotics to baby zebrafish accelerates their development into adulthood

Probiotics like those found in yogurt are not only good for people--they are also good for fish. A new study by scientists at the Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology found that feeding probiotics to baby zebrafish accelerated their development and increased their chances of survival into adulthood.

4 Dec 2012

Task Force set to back CDC hepatitis C screening

Clinicians should consider screening for hepatitis C virus in all patients born between 1945 and 1965, the US Preventive Services Task Force says in draft guidance.

3 Dec 2012

UCB directs national effort to educate public about Crohn's disease

In recognition of Crohn's and Colitis Awareness Week (December 1-7), UCB, Inc. is directing a national effort to educate the public about Crohn's disease and inspire those living with the condition to speak out about it.

1 Dec 2012

Broad range of human activities affects spread of vector-borne zoonotic diseases, experts say

West Nile virus, Lyme disease, dengue fever, and plague are examples of "vector-borne zoonotic diseases," caused by pathogens that naturally infect wildlife and are transmitted to humans by vectors such as mosquitoes or ticks.

30 Nov 2012

Sucampo receives supplement approval from FDA for AMITIZA

Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that the Company received a supplement approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that removes pregnancy "warnings and precautions" and clarifies information regarding the use of AMITIZA (lubiprostone) by pregnant and/or nursing women. In addition, the FDA expanded the labeling text of the Mechanism of Action section in the prescribing information for AMITIZA.

30 Nov 2012

Eisai announces FDA acceptance of AcipHex NDA for priority review

Eisai Inc. announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for priority review Eisai's New Drug Application (NDA) for AcipHex Delayed-Release Sprinkle Capsules 5mg and 10mg for the proposed indication of healing of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), maintenance of healing of GERD and improvement of symptoms of GERD in children 1 to 11 years of age.

30 Nov 2012

Nasolabial lip reconstruction provides favorable functional, aesthetic outcomes

Lip reconstruction with the musculocutaneous nasolabial flap following lip resection achieves good functional and aesthetic outcomes, research suggests.

29 Nov 2012

Periodontal disease identified using salivary biomarkers

Markers of inflammation found in saliva could be used to identify periodontal disease in large epidemiologic surveys, avoiding the need for cumbersome and expensive tests, suggest researchers.

29 Nov 2012

Children's caries history predicts future tooth decay

Having a history of dental caries significantly increases a child's chances of developing further caries, indicate study results.

27 Nov 2012

Colorectal cancer patient siblings ‘deserve screening’

Colorectal cancer screening should be offered to the siblings of affected patients, recommends a team of researchers from Hong Kong.

22 Nov 2012

Human Food Project, University of Colorado Boulder launch American Gut

Ever wondered who is living in your gut, and what they're doing? The trillions of microbial partners in and on our bodies outnumber our own cells by as many as 10 to 1 and do all sorts of important jobs, from helping digest the food we eat this Thanksgiving to building up our immune systems.

22 Nov 2012

Poor oral health linked to severe mental health issues

UK study results show that individuals with severe mental illness who live in the community and receive community-based psychiatric care have poorer oral health than the national adult population.

21 Nov 2012

Study finds specific way in which Salmonella counteract defense mechanisms of human cells

A new study by researchers at Imperial College London has identified a way in which Salmonella bacteria, which cause gastroenteritis and typhoid fever, counteract the defence mechanisms of human cells.

16 Nov 2012

Gene therapy shows promise against dry mouth in cancer patients

Injecting an adenoviral vector encoding human aquaporin-1 into the parotid glands of head and neck cancer survivors improves their symptoms of dry mouth induced by radiation therapy, show study results.

15 Nov 2012

Enrollment complete in Exact Sciences DeeP-C screening trial for colorectal cancer

Exact Sciences Corp. today announced it has completed patient enrollment in its DeeP-C pivotal trial for colorectal cancer screening. The study enrolled more than 12,700 patients at sites in the United States and Canada.

15 Nov 2012

ALN RNAi therapeutic program represents novel approach for treatment of AAT deficiency

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading RNAi therapeutics company, announced today that it has presented new pre-clinical data with an RNAi therapeutic targeting alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) for the treatment of liver disease associated with AAT deficiency. These data were presented at the 63rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD, "The Liver Meeting") held November 9-13, 2012 in Boston.

15 Nov 2012