Copyright 2008 Medical News Today Latest GastroIntestinal / Gastroenterology News From Medical News Today. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/sections/gastrointestinal/ admin@medicalnewstoday.com (MNT Admin) editors@medicalnewstoday.com (MNT Editors) en-us Mon, 07 Jul 2008 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/114105.php BD Diagnostics, a segment of BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), announced the CE marking of the BD GeneOhm(TM) Cdiff molecular assay for the rapid diagnosis of patients with Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). It is the first CDI diagnostic test that offers sensitivity, simplicity and speed in one test procedure. BD has also submitted this assay to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for clearance. Mon, 07 Jul 2008 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/114076.php Adolor Corporation (Nasdaq: ADLR) today issued an update on the Entereg® (alvimopan) Program for chronic opioid bowel dysfunction (OBD), under development in collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: GSK). The U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has concluded that clinical investigations relating to alvimopan in OBD may now proceed, and has therefore lifted the clinical hold on the OBD Investigational New Drug Application. Sun, 06 Jul 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/114032.php According to gastroenterologist and President of World Gastroenterology Organization Dr. Eamonn Quigley, your overall health depends on the healthy functioning of your digestive system. Your digestive system not only pulls nutrients from food to nourish the body, but it participates in protecting it from disease. The bacteria that populate the digestive tract play a critical role in both of these functions. Imbalances in the types of gut flora -- friendly vs. Fri, 04 Jul 2008 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/113902.php Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, 3rd July, announced that it has received EMEA marketing approval for Relistor™ (methylnaltrexone bromide) subcutaneous injection. This first-in-class treatment is indicated for opioid-induced constipation (OIC) in patients with advanced illness who are receiving palliative care, when response to the usual laxative therapy has not been sufficient. Wed, 02 Jul 2008 07:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/113671.php By measuring the activity of four genes in cancer cells, scientists at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University accurately predicted whether colorectal tumors are sensitive or resistant to 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), an important chemotherapy drug. Tue, 01 Jul 2008 03:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/113437.php To survive tough times, cells sometimes resort to a form of self-cannibalism called autophagy. But as Hashimoto et al. reveal, autophagy can have a down side, destroying the pancreas by prematurely activating a digestive enzyme. In autophagy, a vesicle swallows a portion of cytoplasm and ferries it to the lysosome for digestion. The process is often beneficial, allowing hungry cells to recycle molecules, for example. Tue, 01 Jul 2008 03:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/113427.php At the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer and the International Society of Oral Oncology's 2008 International Symposium on Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC / ISOO) held last week in Houston, Texas, The GI Company reported secondary endpoints relating to Oral Mucositis A Mon, 30 Jun 2008 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/113289.php A pre-planned multivariate analysis of the five-year follow-up data shows that patients receiving chemotherapy after-surgery to treat colon cancer, are more likely to live longer when taking the chemotherapy pill Xeloda (capecitabine), compared to those receiving 5-FU/FA intravenous (IV) chemotherapy. The study compared Xeloda to the previous gold-standard IV chemotherapy for colon cancer, 5-FU/FA*, also known as the Mayo Clinic regimen. Mon, 30 Jun 2008 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/113285.php Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN) announced updated results from the "STEPP" (Skin Toxicity Evaluation Protocol with Panitumumab) trial, the first prospective study to examine differences between preemptive and reactive skin treatment for skin toxicities in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients receiving epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFr) therapy. Fri, 27 Jun 2008 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/112936.php Data presented at the 10th World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer (WCGC) in Barcelona confirm that Avastin (bevacizumab) significantly improves survival in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer regardless of whether they have mutation in a gene known as K-Ras. Fri, 27 Jun 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/112916.php The Foundation for Digestive Health and Nutrition has announced the 2008 American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Foundation Student Research Fellowship Awards. The Student Research Fellowship Awards program was created by the AGA more than a decade ago to stimulate interest in gastroenterological (GI) research careers in high school, college and medical school students. Thu, 26 Jun 2008 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/112746.php europacolon has called on all governments to implement existing EU recommendations on colorectal cancer screening following a new report published that shows the disease to be significantly neglected despite being the second most common cancer in Europe.1 Welcoming the findings of the report by the London School of Economics,2 Jola Gore-Booth, Director of europacolon said: "For too long colorectal cancer has been the poor relation in cancer screening and management. Thu, 26 Jun 2008 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/112744.php The first cross-country report on the management and funding of colorectal cancer (CRC) reveals an urgent need for action to improve the survival of patients diagnosed with this common cancer in Europe and Australia. Key findings from the report published by the London School of Economics (LSE) confirm that few countries have prioritized CRC screening and treatment. Tue, 24 Jun 2008 03:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/112515.php Tranzyme Pharma announces the successful results from a "Thorough QT/QTc" study of the company's lead product TZP-101, an intravenous gastrointestinal prokinetic agent currently in two Phase IIb trials for the treatment of postoperative ileus (POI) and severe gastroparesis. Tue, 24 Jun 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/112446.php As an everyday emotion, anxiety can be a good thing, prompting us to take extra precautions. But when anxiety persists, it can undermine our physical health. Evidence suggests that people with anxiety disorders are at greater risk for some chronic medical conditions. Sat, 21 Jun 2008 06:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/112025.php "The recent signing of a license agreement between the CSIRO/Australian Capital Ventures Limited joint venture and Austgrains Pty Ltd has paved the way for large scale commercial crops of BARLEYmax® - unique grain developed by CSIRO using conventional plant breeding techniques," says the Director of the CSIRO Food Futures Flagship, Dr Bruce Lee. Fri, 20 Jun 2008 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/112068.php iCAD, Inc. (Nasdaq: ICAD), an industry-leading provider of Computer-Aided Detection (CAD) solutions for the early identification of cancer, announced it has initiated a clinical study for Colon CAD, its virtual colonoscopy CAD product, in partnership with ACR Image Metrix, a subsidiary of the American College of Radiology (ACR). Fri, 20 Jun 2008 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/112044.php As it celebrates its 10th year, the ESMO International Symposium: 10th World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer® has received endorsements from 6 leading professional societies and organizations, solidifying the reputation of the Congress as the premier platform for specialists in cancer research, leading oncologists and practicing clinicians to review the state-of-the-art in gastrointestinal cancer and share the latest information on its multidisciplinary management. Thu, 19 Jun 2008 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/111837.php Shire Limited (LSE: SHP, Nasdaq: SHPGY), the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, has announced the publication of data from a randomized, long-term safety and tolerability study (study 303) of ulcerative colitis (UC) drug Lialda(TM) (mesalamine). The primary endpoints of this study were to assess the safety and tolerability of Lialda in mild-to-moderate UC patients over 12 months. Thu, 19 Jun 2008 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/111827.php EXACT Sciences Corporation (NASDAQ: EXAS) announced that a major gastroenterology journal has accepted for publication a multi-center, prospective study of EXACT's Version 2 technology for early colorectal cancer detection using stool-based DNA testing. The study, conducted by Steven H. Itzkowitz, M.D, Professor of Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine and his collaborators, was also recently presented in abstract form at Digestive Disease Week (DDW) in San Diego, California. Wed, 18 Jun 2008 05:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/111750.php Another health benefit of bariatric weight-loss surgery may be a heightened immune defense against cancer and infections, a new study suggests. The results were presented at The Endocrine Society's 90th Annual Meeting in San Francisco. "Obesity is related to a higher rate of infections and some types of cancer," said a study coauthor, Alfredo Halpern, PhD, of the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Wed, 18 Jun 2008 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/111647.php Shire Limited (LSE: SHP, NASDAQ: SHPGY), the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, has announced the publication of data from a randomized, long-term safety and tolerability study (study 303) of ulcerative colitis (UC) drug Lialda™ (mesalamine). The primary endpoints of this study were to assess the safety and tolerability of Lialda in mild-to-moderate UC patients over 12 months. Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/111660.php There are two new research studies commencing regarding inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) at Rush University Medical Center. These studies plan to investigate the impact of mind related medicine on patients suffering from ulcerative colitis (UC) and the impact of diet on Crohn's Disease (CD.) Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are a set of chronic inflammatory diseases of the intestinal tract. Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/111635.php Two research studies evaluating dietary changes and complementary medicine for the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) have been launched at Rush University Medical Center. Funded by the National Institute of Health, one study will look at the impact of mind/body medicine on patients suffering from ulcerative colitis (UC) and the other will assess how diet impacts patients with Crohn's Disease. Tue, 17 Jun 2008 04:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/111582.php Tranzyme Pharma announced the successful completion of a Phase I, placebo-controlled, single ascending dose study of its orally administered ghrelin agonist, TZP-102. TZP-102 is the second drug candidate from Tranzyme's internal R&D efforts to reach clinical development. It is a potent prokinetic agent initially being developed for the treatment of mild-to-moderate gastroparesis.