Gastrointestinal Health News and Research

Latest Gastrointestinal Health News and Research

Novartis Afinitor Phase III trial on tuberous sclerosis meets primary endpoint

Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation announced today Phase III trial results that showed more than one-third of patients taking Afinitor tablets experienced a 50% or greater reduction in the size of their subependymal giant cell astrocytomas, non-cancerous brain tumors associated with tuberous sclerosis complex.

8 Jul 2011

Researchers create tissue-engineered small intestine in mice

Researchers at The Saban Research Institute of Children's Hospital Los Angeles have successfully created a tissue-engineered small intestine in mice that replicates the intestinal structures of natural intestine-a necessary first step toward someday applying this regenerative medicine technique to humans.

6 Jul 2011

First flexible endoscopy robotic surgery for gastric tumours performed in India

Patients with gastric tumours in their stomach will no longer have to suffer an eight-hour long surgery, but instead can look forward to a short day surgery which last a few minutes to an hour without the need for hospitalisation.

6 Jul 2011

High folate intake linked with reduced risk of colorectal cancer

A new study finds high folate intake is associated with a reduced risk of colorectal cancer, a finding consistent with the findings of most previous epidemiologic studies.

6 Jul 2011

Tips for keeping children safe around water

Doctors at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center want to make sure children are safe this summer when they are playing in or around water.

28 Jun 2011

Vaccination against rotavirus decreases hospitalization rates among infants

[Vaccination against rotavirus, a major cause of severe acute gastroenteritis in children, dramatically decreased hospitalization rates for the infection among infants in three U.S. counties, according to a new study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases and now available online.

27 Jun 2011

Study traces precursor of deadly esophageal cancers to leftover embryonic cells

The ultimate source of some cancers is embryonic cells. Research published in the June 24th Cell, a Cell Press publication, traces the precursor of deadly esophageal cancers to leftover embryonic cells found in all adults.

24 Jun 2011

Researchers identify novel viral sensor complex

Double-stranded (ds) RNA viruses are a diverse group of viruses that include rotaviruses, a common cause of gastroenteritis. The ability of the immune system to detect and destroy viruses is critical for human health and survival.

24 Jun 2011

Mylan introduces generic Entocort EC capsules for treatment of Crohn's disease

Mylan Inc. today announced that the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware has found after trial that Mylan subsidiary Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc. does not infringe the asserted claims of U.S. Patent No. 5,643,602 with its Abbreviated New Drug Application for Budesonide Capsules, 3 mg, the generic version of AstraZeneca's Entocort EC capsules, a treatment for Crohn's disease.

24 Jun 2011

Majority of cancers are due to epigenetic influences

Dr. Ajay Goel, Ph.D., Director of Epigenetics and Cancer Prevention at the Gastrointestinal Research Center at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, TX, has announced plans for a series of upcoming studies to continue to unlock the mechanisms by which curcumin prevents cancer via its influence on epigenetic activity.

23 Jun 2011

FDA grants Fast Track designation for Repligen's RG3039 to treat Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Repligen Corporation announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track designation for RG3039, a potential treatment for Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

23 Jun 2011

Surgical lung injury prediction model can help identify patients at high risk of ALI

A new study in the July issue of Anesthesiology helped developed a model that could determine which patients are at high risk of developing acute lung injury.

23 Jun 2011

Telaprevir drug shows promise in curing hepatitis C infection

The drug telaprevir (Incivek) provides a dramatic improvement in the treatment of the most common form of hepatitis C infection, says an international team of investigators led by Dr. Ira M. Jacobson of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center.

23 Jun 2011

Simple non-invasive breath test could accurately detect vitamin B12 deficiency

Researchers have developed a new test to detect the levels of vitamin B12 using your breath, allowing for a cheaper, faster, and simpler diagnosis that could help to avoid the potentially fatal symptoms of B12 deficiency.

23 Jun 2011

FDA approves ProStrakan's Rectiv for pain associated with anal fissures

ProStrakan Group plc, a subsidiary of Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co. Ltd., and an international specialty pharmaceutical company, today announces that it has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Rectiv™ (nitroglycerin) Ointment 0.4 % for the treatment of moderate to severe pain associated with chronic anal fissures.

22 Jun 2011

Veritract to develop 'Smart Feeding Tube' with live camera and steering mechanism

Feeding tubes are not as harmless as they seem. Every year in the U.S. over 40,000 feeding tubes are mistakenly placed into a patient's lungs, which results in an estimated 6,000 deaths. But a University of Utah startup company, Veritract Inc., hopes to end these risks by making the placement of feeding tubes much safer and faster.

20 Jun 2011