In the News

AGA issues guidance on diet, nutrition in IBD

A new clinical practice update from the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) covers the role of diet and nutritional therapies in managing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and identifying and treating malnutrition in IBD patients.

Score validated to assess patients with laryngeal symptoms for risk of GERD

In a study of 856 adults with chronic laryngeal symptoms, researchers created and validated a risk score, called COuGH RefluX, that is 79% sensitive and 81% specific for identifying gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Undiagnosed liver disease frequently found among patients with cognitive impairment

Among 177,422 veterans with dementia and no prior cirrhosis diagnosis, 10.3% had a Fibrosis-4 score suggestive of advanced fibrosis and 5.3% had a score suggestive of cirrhosis.

MKSAP quiz: Managing a serous cystadenoma

A 65-year-old woman is evaluated at a follow-up visit. She presented to the emergency department 2 weeks ago with a 2-day history of left-lower-quadrant abdominal pain. The radiology report shows a pancreatic cyst with all the imaging features of a serous cystadenoma. What is the most appropriate management?

Spotlight on cholesterol and the liver

Very low low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels are associated with increased risk of liver complications in the general population, a European study found, while a study of Chinese patients with primary biliary cholangitis showed that high total cholesterol levels predicted liver disease.

In persons aged ≥45 y, the mt-sRNA test had 94% sensitivity for colorectal cancer and 46% for advanced adenomas

The results of the industry-funded study support the use of the multitarget stool RNA (mt-sRNA) test for screening, but better adherence will be needed, and it is unclear whether the new test offers any advantages over current stool DNA testing, an ACP Journal Club commentary said.

In primary care, second-line IBS therapy with amitriptyline vs. placebo reduced symptoms at 6 mo

An ACP Journal Club commentary said the high-quality randomized trial provides pragmatic guidance on amitriptyline dosing in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), as well as additional support for the drug as an option in primary care after first-line therapies fail.