Top takeaways from Digestive Disease Week

The annual Digestive Disease Week meeting recently wrapped up in Chicago. Touted as the largest international scientific conference for gastroenterology, hepatology, endoscopy and gastrointestinal surgery, the event is co-sponsored by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, American Gastroenterological Association, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract.

Topics discussed included vitamin D’s impact on Crohn’s disease, managing obesity, medicines for constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome, ethical issues surrounding telemedicine and more.

As a service to its readers, Healio Family Medicine provides some of the top takeaways from this year’s event.

Vitamin D status does not impact Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis

Researchers observed no association between vitamin D status and the development of Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, suggesting that vitamin D deficiency does not significantly affect the etiology of inflammatory bowel disease. Read more

DDW Researcher Blog: Proton Pump Inhibitors not linked to bone loss in women

Karen Hansen, MD, MS, associate professor of medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, reviewed her latest data on proton pump inhibitors in within several rheumatology and osteoporosis clinics. Her research has focused on osteoporosis and factors that influence intestinal calcium absorption in postmenopausal women. Read more

Enzyme tablet may protect gluten-sensitive patients from exposure

The enzyme known as aspergillus niger-derived prolyl endoprotease, or AN-PEP, shows promise for protecting gluten-sensitive patients from experiencing symptoms after exposure to small amounts of gluten. Read more

VIDEO: Endoscopic bariatric therapies help gastroenterologists actively manage obesity

In this exclusive video, Barham K. Abu Dayyeh, MD, MPH, a gastroenterologist and director of metabolic and bariatric endoscopy at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, discusses the emerging role of endoscopic and metabolic bariatric therapies in treating patients with obesity. Watch video

Trulance improves symptoms in patients with constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome

Trulance safely and effectively improved symptoms in patients with constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome, according to the results of two phase 3 clinical trials. Read more

Racial, ethnic, socioeconomic disparities persist in colorectal cancer screening

Despite improved access to care, racial, ethnic and socioeconomic disparities persist in colorectal cancer screening, particularly among Hispanic people. Read more

VIDEO: As telemedicine expands, ethical issues arise, impede progress

In another exclusive video, Raymond Cross, MD, associate professor of medicine in the department of gastroenterology and hepatology, and director of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Program at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, discusses his presentation on ethics in telemedicine. Watch video

Find all of Healio's coverage of the Digestive Disease Week 2017 meeting by clicking here.