Top gastroenterology stories: Immersive experience shows struggles of IBD, treatment improves gut in IBD

The top story in gastroenterology this week was research that found that a mobile app helped individuals gain more knowledge about inflammatory bowel disease.

Other popular stories included data indicating that behavioral treatment improves gut function in patients with IBD, discontinuing 5-aminosalicylate therapy is safe upon anti-tumor necrosis factor induction for ulcerative colitis, strategies are needed to increase follow-up colonoscopies after advanced adenoma removal and visibility is important in enriching diversity in health and medical careers.

Immersive experience shows people the life, struggles of a patient with IBD

An immersive experience built around a mobile app helped individuals gain more knowledge about IBD and promoted empathy for patients with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, according to research published in Frontiers of Psychology. Read more.

Behavioral treatment improves gut function in patients with IBD

A gut-directed, pelvic floor behavioral treatment regimen helped improve symptoms of fecal incontinence and constipation in patients with inflammatory bowel disease who did not respond to medical therapy, according to research published in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. Read more.

Discontinuing 5-aminosalicylate therapy safe upon anti-TNF induction for ulcerative colitis

Patients with ulcerative colitis who discontinue 5-aminosalicylate therapy once they begin anti-TNF therapy do not appear at great risk for adverse clinical events, according to research published in Gut. Read more.

Strategies needed to increase follow-up colonoscopies after advanced adenoma removal

Surveillance colonoscopies completed within the U.S. Multi-Society Task Force-recommended 3-year interval following the removal of high-risk adenomas appear underutilized and vary by patient age and health care system location, according to results of a population-based study. Read more.

Visibility ‘extremely important’ in enriching diversity in health, medical careers

PHILADELPHIA — Visibility matters and it is perhaps one of the most important factors to successfully navigating a winding road down a mountain or safely flying passengers in an airliner from one destination to another and maybe more so in the field of medicine. Read more.