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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><rss version="2.0"><channel><title>Healio.com GASTROENTEROLOGY RSS Feed</title><link>http://www.healio.com/rss</link><description>The latest news and articles from the Healio.com, leading publication on the web.</description><copyright>(c) 2014, Slack Incorporated. All rights reserved.</copyright><updated>1/5/2014 2:44:19 AM</updated><ttl>5</ttl><item><title>Hepatitis took decades off expected life span</title><description>Hepatitis was listed as a cause of death for more than 18,000 people in 2010 in the United States, and the deaths occurred 22 to 23 years earlier than in patients not listing such infections as a cause of death, a study determined.“Hepatitis C alone was identified as a cause of nearly 90% of these [18,473] deaths; the majority of those occurred in persons aged 45–64 years,” the researchers wrote.</description><link>http://www.healio.com/infectious-disease/hepatitis-resource-center-2013/hepatitis-took-decades-off-expected-life-span</link><pubDate>Fri, 03 Jan 2014 11:57:49 GMT</pubDate><guid>{D7ACA7D9-D8F8-4D0A-B21E-FA408C62FA10}</guid></item><item><title>Stent OK’d for marketing to treat pseudocysts of pancreas</title><description>The FDA announced it will allow marketing of the Axios Stent and Delivery System to treat fluid- and tissue-filled cavities in the pancreas and adjacent to the stomach or small intestine, according to a news release.“Pancreatic stents currently on the market are indicated for pancreatic drainage and are to be placed through the pancreas’ existing ducts, but this frequently does not provide adequate drainage of a pseudocyst,” Christy L. Foreman, director of the Office of Device Evaluation in the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health, said in the release. “The Axios Stent provides a new option for physicians to effectively treat pseudocysts with a less invasive intervention than surgical removal of the pseudocyst.”</description><link>http://www.healio.com/gastroenterology/pancreatic-disorders/news/online/{d288f12d-b8f5-4170-bf73-cfd738c7c1f4}/stent-okd-for-marketing-to-treat-pseudocysts-of-pancreas</link><pubDate>Fri, 03 Jan 2014 10:02:43 GMT</pubDate><guid>{D288F12D-B8F5-4170-BF73-CFD738C7C1F4}</guid></item><item><title>Successful Medicare physicians: Beware of targeted reviews</title><description>A report issued by the HHS Office of the Inspector General in December 2013 should put successful physicians with large Medicare practices on notice: the government is watching. For many years it has been presumed that high-volume practitioners are more likely than others to be subject to government scrutiny. Fairly or unfairly, the Medicare program is inherently suspicious of practices that generate a high volume of Medicare payment. Further, if problems are identified with a high-volume practitioner, and an overpayment is identified, the recovery will likely be greater.</description><link>http://www.healio.com/cardiology/practice-management/news/online/{b41f6be9-ea5f-4aae-9a9d-68aba242b275}/successful-medicare-physicians-beware-of-targeted-reviews</link><pubDate>Thu, 02 Jan 2014 15:12:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>{B41F6BE9-EA5F-4AAE-9A9D-68ABA242B275}</guid></item><item><title>Anti-TB drug hepatotoxicity increased in those with HCV</title><description>Patients coinfected with hepatitis C and tuberculosis are more likely to experience drug-induced hepatotoxicity related to first-line tuberculosis therapy, according to recent data.“Hepatotoxicity is the major adverse effect of three of the first-line anti-TB agents: isoniazid, rifampin and pyrazinamide,” the researchers wrote in PLoS One. “Underlying liver disease may increase the risk of developing drug-induced hepatotoxicity and there is concern that HCV and/or HIV coinfection may increase the risk of anti-TB drug-induced hepatotoxicity.”</description><link>http://www.healio.com/infectious-disease/hepatitis-resource-center-2013/anti-tb-drug-hepatotoxicity-increased-in-those-with-hcv</link><pubDate>Thu, 02 Jan 2014 11:00:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>{93E2C310-D41F-4801-9D77-FFD50E0BC1E3}</guid></item><item><title>CCFA Partners awarded funds to expand health data network</title><description>The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute has approved an award to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America’s Partners Research Initiative to develop and expand a health data network as part of the National Patient-Centered National Clinical Research Network, according to a news release.“Our IBD-focused, patient-powered research network will be a tremendous opportunity to build and strengthen alliances between the patient and scientific communities,” Michael Kappelman, MD, MPH, associate professor of pediatrics at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine and scientific director of the project, said in the release.</description><link>http://www.healio.com/gastroenterology/inflammatory-bowel-disease/news/online/{74a29c3b-d08d-4ba5-abbb-709c29ea8d20}/ccfa-partners-awarded-funds-to-expand-health-data-network</link><pubDate>Thu, 02 Jan 2014 09:12:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>{74A29C3B-D08D-4BA5-ABBB-709C29EA8D20}</guid></item><item><title>Food processing aid approved to eliminate Salmonella</title><description>The FDA and US Department of Agriculture have approved a food processing aid against Salmonella, according to a press release. The additive, called Salmonelex, uses natural phages to eliminate the bacteria.Salmonelex is produced by Micreos of the Netherlands and will be used by poultry processors in the United States beginning in January.</description><link>http://www.healio.com/infectious-disease/gastrointestinal-infections/news/online/{587dce76-ada5-4a70-97c2-ee89946d4fba}/food-processing-aid-approved-to-eliminate-salmonella</link><pubDate>Tue, 31 Dec 2013 19:00:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>{587DCE76-ADA5-4A70-97C2-EE89946D4FBA}</guid></item><item><title>IDUs decreased drug use after HCV seroconversion</title><description>Injection drug users who test positive for hepatitis C were more likely to decrease their drug use, according to researchers from the University of Montreal. “Our study underscores the need for regular and individualized HCV screening and counseling for all [injection drug users] with linkage to HCV treatment and opiate substitution therapy when appropriate,” the researchers wrote in Clinical Infectious Diseases. </description><link>http://www.healio.com/infectious-disease/hepatitis-resource-center-2013/idus-decreased-drug-use-after-hcv-seroconversion</link><pubDate>Mon, 30 Dec 2013 11:30:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>{B99644A7-CC24-4CBA-92D2-6FCAF33412F2}</guid></item><item><title>HCWs' hands harbor <em>C. difficile</em> after routine CDI patient care</title><description>Nearly 25% of health care workers’ hands are contaminated with Clostridium difficile spores after caring for patients with the infection, researchers reported in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology.“This is the first known study focusing on the carriage of viable C. difficile spores on health care workers hands,” Caroline Landelle, PharmD, PhD, of the Infection Control Unit, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Albert Chenevier–Henri Mondor, Assistance Publique–Hôpitaux de Paris, Université Paris–Est Créteil, France, said in a press release. “Because C. difficile spores are so resistant and persistent to disinfection, glove use is not an absolute barrier against the contamination of health care workers’ hands. Effective hand hygiene should be performed, even in non-outbreak settings.”</description><link>http://www.healio.com/infectious-disease/nosocomial-infections/news/online/{12ef1e29-ca5e-4b71-8c0e-7db1d5c549ca}/hcws-hands-harbor-c-difficile-after-routine-cdi-patient-care</link><pubDate>Mon, 30 Dec 2013 07:00:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>{12EF1E29-CA5E-4B71-8C0E-7DB1D5C549CA}</guid></item><item><title>Availability of on-site HIV, STI testing at opioid treatment programs declined</title><description>The number of opioid treatment programs in the United States that offer on-site testing for HIV and sexually transmitted infections declined substantially from 2000 to 2011, according to the findings of a research letter published in JAMA. The availability of on-site testing for hepatitis C virus in these programs remained steady, however.“Opioid treatment programs, which provide treatment to more than 300,000 opioid-dependent individuals in the United States, are well-positioned to offer testing for these infectious diseases to a high-risk population,” the researchers wrote.Data from the National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services were used to determine the percentage of treatment programs offering on-site testing from 2000 to 2011.</description><link>http://www.healio.com/infectious-disease/hiv-aids/news/online/{210aeedf-0e96-449e-a2c9-2902ebf3a2c3}/availability-of-on-site-hiv-sti-testing-at-opioid-treatment-programs-declined</link><pubDate>Fri, 27 Dec 2013 15:05:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>{210AEEDF-0E96-449E-A2C9-2902EBF3A2C3}</guid></item><item><title>HHS announces creation of 123 new ACOs in Medicare</title><description>The Department of Health and Human Services has announced the creation of 123 new Accountable Care Organizations in Medicare that are estimated to bring access to health care to about 1.5 million more Medicare beneficiaries, according to a press release.“Accountable Care Organizations are delivering higher-quality care to Medicare beneficiaries and are using Medicare dollars more efficiently,” Kathleen Sebelius, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) secretary, stated in a press release. “This is a great example of the Affordable Care Act rewarding hospitals and doctors that work together to help our beneficiaries get the best possible care.”</description><link>http://www.healio.com/orthopedics/business-of-orthopedics/news/online/{205ddffb-be89-46eb-8a2f-39179d2bdd40}/hhs-announces-creation-of-123-new-acos-in-medicare</link><pubDate>Fri, 27 Dec 2013 11:00:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>{205DDFFB-BE89-46EB-8A2F-39179D2BDD40}</guid></item><item><title>Biomarker combinations improved IBD measurements</title><description>Shortcomings in current methods to analyze inflammatory bowel disease and the potential for inaccurate conclusions regarding extent of inflammation in Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis can be overcome by using several biomarker mechanisms simultaneously, researchers determined.“This exploratory biomarker study identified combinations of biomarkers including fecal calprotectin, serum MMP9 and serum IL-22 that were correlated with objective measures of disease activity,” the researchers wrote. “In addition, this study highlights the importance of cross-sectional imaging in compensating for the shortcomings of ICO [ileocolonoscopy] in accurately quantifying disease burden in patients with CD [Crohn’s disease].”</description><link>http://www.healio.com/gastroenterology/inflammatory-bowel-disease/news/online/{d0b0adb6-9690-435d-abd6-05d5f87cccb6}/biomarker-combinations-improved-ibd-measurements</link><pubDate>Fri, 27 Dec 2013 10:36:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>{D0B0ADB6-9690-435D-ABD6-05D5F87CCCB6}</guid></item><item><title>Takeda, Natrogen enter agreement to develop potential UC treatment</title><description>Takeda Pharmaceutical has acquired exclusive license to develop Natura-alpha, a synthetic, small-molecule oral compound from Natrogen Therapeutics that may help to reduce gastrointestinal inflammation, according to a news release.The agreement includes an option for Takeda to acquire Natrogen in the future, the release said.</description><link>http://www.healio.com/gastroenterology/inflammatory-bowel-disease/news/online/{f81ccf80-63e4-4c32-9ba5-579c871c3211}/takeda-natrogen-enter-agreement-to-develop-potential-uc-treatment</link><pubDate>Thu, 26 Dec 2013 11:29:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>{F81CCF80-63E4-4C32-9BA5-579C871C3211}</guid></item><item><title>Coffee, chocolate linked to improved liver health in HIV/HCV patients</title><description>Patients coinfected with HIV and hepatitis C may experience a reduction in abnormal liver enzymes and an overall improvement in liver function with increased consumption of coffee and chocolate, a study determined.“Our results provide the first evidence that daily chocolate intake and, more generally, polyphenol rich food intake, may contribute to decreased AST [aspartate aminotransferase] and ALT [alanine aminotransferase] levels and potentially improve liver function in HIV-HCV coinfected patients,” the researchers wrote. “They also suggest that polyphenols contained in coffee, but also in cocoa, can be involved in the causal process, which leads to reduced inflammation.”</description><link>http://www.healio.com/hepatology/chronic-hepatitis/news/online/{f0d69fb3-4d21-425e-b761-86b9adec24ff}/coffee-chocolate-linked-to-improved-liver-health-in-hivhcv-patients</link><pubDate>Thu, 26 Dec 2013 08:44:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>{F0D69FB3-4D21-425E-B761-86B9ADEC24FF}</guid></item><item><title>Models may help predict severity of Crohn’s disease progression</title><description>An analysis of Crohn’s disease patients found a combination of basic risk factors could help predict the likelihood of developing advanced disease in the short and intermediate term, a study determined.“Our visual risk matrices, combining well-known risk factors that are readily available in a routine clinical setting, revealed substantial differences in the probabilities of developing advanced disease during a short and intermediate course of CD [Crohn’s disease],” the researchers wrote. “Thus, our model gives reason to consider early individualized treatment of newly diagnosed patients with CD in an attempt to prevent progressive disease.”</description><link>http://www.healio.com/gastroenterology/inflammatory-bowel-disease/news/online/{6f82662d-3649-460d-b69e-ff78b2abdcd8}/models-may-help-predict-severity-of-crohns-disease-progression</link><pubDate>Mon, 23 Dec 2013 11:47:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>{6F82662D-3649-460D-B69E-FF78B2ABDCD8}</guid></item><item><title>Hepatitis A vaccination effective in IBD patients, but anti-TNF agents lowered seroconversion rate</title><description>Use of immunosuppressants, including the anti-tumor necrosis factor monoclonal antibodies infliximab or adalimumab, resulted in lower seroconversion rates among inflammatory bowel disease patients who received hepatitis A vaccinations, but the vaccine remained effective, a study determined.“The seroconversion rate after HAV vaccination was very high in adult patients with IBD, although this rate was lower in patients receiving anti-TNF agents,” the researchers wrote. “Therefore, the best time to vaccinate these patients for HAV may be at the diagnosis of IBD.”</description><link>http://www.healio.com/hepatology/chronic-hepatitis/news/online/{9b6e0d0a-1eb0-4225-9538-6c49ac5a8c64}/hepatitis-a-vaccination-effective-in-ibd-patients-but-anti-tnf-agents-lowered-seroconversion-rate</link><pubDate>Mon, 23 Dec 2013 10:14:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>{9B6E0D0A-1EB0-4225-9538-6C49AC5A8C64}</guid></item><item><title><em>E. coli</em> evolution research may predict antibiotic resistance</title><description>A 5-year National Science Foundation CAREER Award will allow biologist Timothy Cooper, PhD, an associate professor at the University of Houston, and colleagues to study the causes and consequences of evolvability in bacterial populations.A better understanding of the evolvability of bacteria is crucial in the development and design of vaccines and antibiotics. Cooper will be specifically studying the evolution of Escherichia coli through genome sequencing and by comparing past and present populations of the bacteria. </description><link>http://www.healio.com/infectious-disease/gastrointestinal-infections/news/online/{eb5f525f-5539-403e-af4c-4f0455e8d9cb}/e-coli-evolution-research-may-predict-antibiotic-resistance</link><pubDate>Sun, 22 Dec 2013 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>{EB5F525F-5539-403E-AF4C-4F0455E8D9CB}</guid></item><item><title>Variables may predict HCV patients likely to respond to peginterferon/ribavirin</title><description>Using baseline data in combination with rapid virologic response status, researchers reported they may be able to predict which hepatitis C genotype 1 treatment-naive patients will benefit most from conventional dual therapy with pegylated interferon and ribavirin, according to study data.“The growing enthusiasm about embracing new therapies should not obscure the notion that an appreciable number of HCV-1 infected patients are able to eliminate the virus with conventional dual therapies,” the researchers wrote. “We estimated the magnitude of these patients to amount to 20%, a figure which is constituted by the great majority of patients experiencing RVR [rapid virologic response].”</description><link>http://www.healio.com/hepatology/chronic-hepatitis/news/online/{fd196218-3ea1-4126-8d88-3478cc55b053}/variables-may-predict-hcv-patients-likely-to-respond-to-peginterferonribavirin</link><pubDate>Fri, 20 Dec 2013 15:07:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>{FD196218-3EA1-4126-8D88-3478CC55B053}</guid></item><item><title>Close monitoring of methotrexate urged for pediatric IBD patients</title><description>Use of methotrexate to treat children with inflammatory bowel disease should be monitored closely to guard against hepatotoxicity, a meta-analysis determined.“We identified that abnormal liver biochemistries occur in approximately 1 of 10 patients, leading to medication discontinuation in approximately half of those affected,” the researchers wrote. “We would suggest close monitoring for this adverse event both during initiation of the medication and with long-term use.”</description><link>http://www.healio.com/gastroenterology/inflammatory-bowel-disease/news/online/{2a3687fd-08da-4d59-b828-f17b3f76da7c}/close-monitoring-of-methotrexate-urged-for-pediatric-ibd-patients</link><pubDate>Fri, 20 Dec 2013 09:29:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>{2A3687FD-08DA-4D59-B828-F17B3F76DA7C}</guid></item><item><title>Congressional payment patch leaves door open for permanent SGR reform</title><description>Congressional passage of a temporary fix that includes a 0.5% positive update to Medicare payments for 3 months has helped to avoid steep cuts of 24% in those payments to physicians.The Senate voted 64 to 36 on Wednesday to approve the bill that sets federal spending levels for the rest of fiscal 2014 and fiscal 2015. The American Medical Association expects President Barack Obama will sign the bill Friday.</description><link>http://www.healio.com/cardiology/practice-management/news/online/{dc33743e-cd7b-4106-bd4e-e75865d2462a}/congressional-payment-patch-leaves-door-open-for-permanent-sgr-reform</link><pubDate>Thu, 19 Dec 2013 15:40:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>{DC33743E-CD7B-4106-BD4E-E75865D2462A}</guid></item><item><title>Telaprevir reduced HCV treatment duration in HIV-coinfected patients</title><description>Adding telaprevir to pegylated interferon and ribavirin for the treatment of acute genotype 1 hepatitis C infection in HIV-positive men reduced the duration of hepatitis C therapy by half for most patients and improved sustained virologic response rates, according to new data.“There is an international epidemic of hepatitis C virus infection among HIV-infected men who have sex with men,” Daniel S. Fierer, MD, of Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and colleagues wrote in Clinical Infectious Diseases. “Sustained virological response (SVR) rates with pegylated interferon and ribavirin treatment are higher in these men during acute HCV than during chronic HCV, but treatment is still lengthy and SVR rates are suboptimal.”</description><link>http://www.healio.com/infectious-disease/hepatitis-c/news/online/{d86fceb7-32cb-449f-816a-f214bbcc75f9}/telaprevir-reduced-hcv-treatment-duration-in-hiv-coinfected-patients</link><pubDate>Thu, 19 Dec 2013 15:30:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>{D86FCEB7-32CB-449F-816A-F214BBCC75F9}</guid></item></channel></rss>