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7 things you need to know for World Digestive Health Day
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May 29 is World Digestive Health Day. Created in 2003 to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the establishment of the World Gastroenterology Organisation, World Digestive Health Day aims to raise awareness and provide resources and tools for gastrointestinal diseases and disorders.
Each year the WGO selects a specific campaign focus for World Digestive Health Day. The last two years focused on inflammatory bowel disease and viral hepatitis. This year, the campaign is emphasizing gastrointestinal cancers.
The aim of this year’s WDHD, according to a statement from the co-chairs, is to raise awareness for the early diagnosis and treatment of GI cancer through its annual public advocacy and awareness campaign.
In recognition of WDHD, Healio Gastroenterology and Liver Disease has compiled a list of seven updates on topics involving GI cancers, including a video-based polypectomy training tool.
Endoscopic resection cost-effective for benign rectal polyps
Endoscopic resection with careful follow-up was similarly effective to and more cost-effective than other techniques for the management of benign rectal polyps, according to study results.
Jessica X. Yu, MD, MS, of the division of gastroenterology and hepatology at Stanford University, and colleagues wrote that although studies have shown that endoscopic resection (ER) is safe and effective, little is known about the long-term outcomes of rectal polyps management or the cost-effectiveness of ER compared with two other surgical methods, transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) and transanal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS). READ MORE.
Money doesn’t talk for FIT incentive
Results from a randomized clinical trial suggest that $10 is not enough to motivate people to return their fecal immunochemical tests for colorectal cancer screening.
Shivan J. Mehta, MD, MBA, MSHP, of the department of medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and colleagues wrote that FIT completion remains low despite the success of tests mailed directly to patients. READ MORE.
Video-based polypectomy tool efficiently assesses endoscopists’ skills
A team of researchers developed a new tool that can assess competence in cold snare polypectomy using a simplified, video-based approach, according to data published in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.
Swati G. Patel, MD, of the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Center, and colleagues wrote that the current standard polypectomy assessment tool — the Direct Observation of Polypectomy Skills (DOPyS) tool — is not entirely feasible for cold snare polypectomy because not all of its factors are applicable for cold snare, and it was not designed for video-based assessments. READ MORE.
‘Underwater’ technique improves colorectal polyp resection
Endoscopists who used the underwater endoscopic mucosal resection method were able to increase the proportion of R0 resections in patients with intermediate-size colorectal polyps.
Noriya Uedo , of the department of gastrointestinal oncology at the Osaka International Cancer Institute in Japan, and colleagues wrote that en bloc resection rates in traditional endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) decreased as polyps increased in size larger than 10 mm, which led to piecemeal resection and an increased recurrence rate. READ MORE.
Improving CRC screening in older patients could avert 3 times as many deaths
Last year’s move to lower the colonoscopy screening age for colorectal cancer to 45 years appeared both beneficial and cost-effective. However, researchers from Stanford University found that focusing resources on capturing more unscreened patients who are older could have an even greater benefit.
“This is one of the most important changes to guidelines that has occurred in the colorectal cancer screening world recently, and it was very controversial,” Uri Ladabaum, MD, MS, of the division of gastroenterology and hepatology at Stanford University School of Medicine, said in a press release. “Our aim was to do a traditional cost-effectiveness analysis, but then also look at the potential tradeoffs and national impact. We wanted to crystalize the qualitative issues into tangible numbers, so people could then have a productive debate about these very issues.” READ MORE.
Gene mutations linked to pancreatic cancer development
Inherited genetic mutations may increase the risk for pancreatic cancer in patients with specific pancreatic lesions, according to data published in Gastroenterology.
Nicholas Roberts, PhD, of the department of pathology at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and colleagues hope that their findings will help guide high-risk patients to early interventions and treatment for pancreatic cancer. READ MORE.
Increased whole grains in diet linked to reduced risk for liver cancer
Increased intake of whole grains correlated with a reduced risk for hepatocellular carcinoma among adults regardless of cancer etiology, according to study results published in JAMA Oncology.
“Consumption of whole grains and dietary fiber, especially cereal fiber, has been associated with lower risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, which are known predisposing factors for HCC,” Wanshui Yang, PhD, from Anhui Medical University in China, and colleagues wrote. “In addition to improving insulin sensitivity and metabolic regulation and decreasing systemic inflammation, intake of whole grains and dietary fiber may improve gut integrity and alter gut microbiota composition, thereby leading to increased production of microbiota-related metabolites, including short-chain fatty acids, particularly butyrate. Gut integrity, the composition of gut microbiota, and metabolites may play an important role in the development of liver diseases, including HCC.” READ MORE.