Top stories in gastroenterology: Bismuth helps eradicate Helicobacter pylori, costs decrease after gastroesophageal reflux disease procedure

Among the top stories in gastroenterology last week were data that showed adding bismuth salts to a triple therapy of proton pump inhibitors, amoxicillin and clarithromycin helped eradicate Helicobacter pylori infection and a study that found treating patients with a gastroesophageal reflux procedure helped reduce disease-related and overall medical costs.

Other highlights included a study that concluded chronic diarrhea and constipation were more common in patients with depression, research that found administering cognitive behavioral therapy over the telephone and on the internet were both better than traditional care for patients with refractory irritable bowel syndrome and a video from the 2019 Interdisciplinary Autoimmune Summit that focused on treatment targets in inflammatory bowel disease and the challenges gastroenterologists face when treating the disease.

Adding bismuth to triple therapy boosts H. pylori eradication

Recently published data showed that adding bismuth salts to a triple therapy of proton pump inhibitors, amoxicillin and clarithromycin helped eradicate Helicobacter pylori infection. Read more.

Disease-related costs decrease after gastroesophageal reflux disease procedure

Treating patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease with magnetic sphincter augmentation using the Linx Reflux Management System helped reduce disease-related and overall medical costs in the year following surgery, according to study results. Read more.

Chronic diarrhea, constipation more common in patients with depression

Mood likely has an impact on a person’s specific bowel habits, according to study results. Read more.

Tele-cognitive behavioral therapies offer alternative option for refractory irritable bowel syndrome

Administering cognitive behavioral therapy over the telephone and on the internet were both better than traditional care for patients with refractory irritable bowel syndrome, according to research published in Gut. Read more.

VIDEO: ‘Explosion’ of inflammatory bowel disease therapies has gastroenterologists evaluating how to best sequence treatments

In this exclusive video from the 2019 Interdisciplinary Autoimmune Summit, David T. Rubin, MD, section chief of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, and co-director of the Digestive Diseases Center at the University of Chicago Medicine, discusses some of the existing and emerging treatment targets in inflammatory bowel disease, and the challenges gastroenterologists face when treating the disease. Read more.