In the News
Use of drugs, nondrug treatments for functional bowel disorders analyzed
One study found that nonpharmacologic interventions are underused in ambulatory care visits for functional bowel disorders, while another found that patients with irritable bowel disease and their insurers have financial incentives to favor differing treatments.
Dietary choices, some drugs may reduce incidence of colorectal cancer
While NSAIDs and a high consumption of fruits and vegetables were associated with a decreased incidence of colorectal cancer, frequent consumption of alcohol or meat was linked to increased colorectal cancer incidence, a systematic review found.
Best practice advice offered for diagnosis, management of seronegative enteropathy
The American Gastroenterological Association said that diagnosis of seronegative celiac disease, the most common cause of seronegative enteropathy, can be complicated by misinterpretation of histological findings, insufficient serological testing, IgA deficiency, and premature initiation of a gluten-free diet.
MKSAP Quiz: Management of gallstone disease
This month's quiz asks readers to determine the most appropriate course of management for a 65-year-old man with multiple gallstones found on ultrasonography screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm.
Spotlight on fecal immunochemical testing
Recent research focused on the outcomes of screening for colorectal cancer with fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) in patients with positive FIT, negative colonoscopy, or no recent screening.
Best practices for HCV care include less invasive testing for many patients, says ACP
The College's new advice on treating hepatitis C virus (HCV) identifies patients who can be safely treated in primary care with laboratory monitoring limited to the beginning and end of treatment and no invasive testing.
Regular use of PPIs linked to increased risk of type 2 diabetes
In an analysis of the Nurses' Health and Health Professionals studies, regular users of proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) had a 24% higher risk of diabetes than nonusers, with longer duration of use associated with greater risk.
Linked color imaging endoscopy improved detection of upper GI cancers
An industry-funded trial in Japan found that in high-risk adults, linked color imaging endoscopy improved detection of upper GI neoplasms compared with conventional white light imaging.
About 1 in 8 commercially insured patients received potential surprise bill for colonoscopy
Of more than 1 million elective colonoscopies in commercially insured U.S. patients, about 12% involved out-of-network claims at a median cost of $418 per potential surprise bill, a study found.
In adults with severe acute GI bleeding, tranexamic acid did not reduce death due to bleeding at 5 days
Based on findings from a randomized trial, tranexamic acid is unlikely to confer additional benefit beyond the current standard of care in all patients with severe upper or lower GI bleeding, an ACP Journal Club commentary said.