In the News
Daily aspirin may reduce risk of hepatitis-related liver cancer
A Taiwanese nationwide cohort study of more than 10,000 patients with chronic hepatitis B showed a statistically significant 29% risk reduction for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients who received daily aspirin compared with matched controls.
Combination therapy for IBD carries higher infection risk than monotherapy
Monotherapy for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with an immunosuppressive agent was associated with a lower risk of serious infection than a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonist alone or an anti-TNF plus an immunosuppressive agent, according to a meta-analysis.
Statins associated with lower risk for postcolonoscopy colorectal cancer
The primary outcome of the retrospective cohort study was postcolonoscopy colorectal cancer within three years, defined as colorectal cancer diagnosed within six and 36 months after negative findings on index colonoscopy.
MKSAP quiz: HCV-related cirrhosis with decompensation
This month's quiz asks readers to determine the next step in management for a 64-year-old man with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related decompensation.
Spotlight on colorectal cancer survival
One study found that colorectal cancer diagnosed six to 60 months after colonoscopy leads to a shorter life expectancy, while two others found increased risks of mental illness and chronic opioid use among colorectal cancer survivors.
Genotypic resistance–guided and medication-guided therapies did not differ for eradicating refractory H pylori
Patients with Helicobacter pylori infection had similar cure rates with resistance-guided and medication-guided therapy, an unexpected finding, according to an ACP Journal Club commentary.
Cholecystectomy reduced major complications vs catheter drainage in high-risk patients with acute cholecystitis
A Dutch trial showed that older patients without life-threatening comorbidities may benefit from early surgical intervention, but the results would be more generalizable if the study had included patients from a broader age range, an ACP Journal Club commentary said.
Mucosal healing an emerging goal of ulcerative colitis treatment, guideline states
The updated guideline from the American College of Gastroenterology offers recommendations on drug treatment and cancer screening, among other topics.
Annual FIT has moderate to high sensitivity and specificity for screening asymptomatic adults
Fecal immunochemical tests (FITs) are noninvasive, easy to prepare, and inexpensive and are as effective as colonoscopy when used in a consistent fashion to screen for colorectal cancer, an editorial stated.