The recent issue of Clinical Gastroenterology & Hepatology addresses the American Cancer Society’s new recommendation to lower the age of initial screening for colon cancer from 50 to 45. The recommendation follows a small spike in younger patients having colon cancer. However, those patients are not necessarily 45-50. Actually, patients in their 20’s are the
Proton pump inhibitor therapy is not connected to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, according to a study published in Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics. The FDA has discouraged using PPI’s with antiplatelet therapy clopidogrel because the drugs work with the same isoenzyme. “Inhibition of CYP2C19 by PPIs may reduce the bioavailability of the active metabolites of
ACG position statement on antidepressants and psychological therapies in IBS
A meta-analysis and review of available supportive therapies for IBS finds that antidepressants are efficacious in reducing symptoms in IBS patients. Psychological therapies also appear to be effective treatments for IBS, although there are limitations in the quality of the evidence, and treatment effects may be overestimated as a result. See the paper here.
Yes, that title leads to all kinds of imagery! “Leaky gut syndrome” is a hypothetical condition that is believed to cause chronic inflammation throughout the body and may result in a wide range of conditions. Proposed sequelae include chronic fatigue syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, migraines, multiple sclerosis, and autism. The proposed mechanism is that the intestinal
An association between celiac disease and microscopic colitis has long been recognized. A study published in The American Journal of Gastroenterology explored the possibility of non-celiac sensitivity to gluten. The results suggested eating a diet that contains gluten did not increase the risk for microscopic colitis in women who do not already have celiac disease. See
An estimated 30-50%, and possible 60%, of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) turn to complementary and alternative medicines (CAM’s) to ease symptoms and exert more control over their treatment. Very few studies have evaluated CAM’s, and many of the studies were small, poorly designed, and uncontrolled. Predictors of CAM use include dissatisfaction with conventional therapies,
