Clinical News - Digestive Diseases

March 2012

IBD pipeline drugs take aim at diverse targets

Emerging therapies and new applications of existing ones seek to expand treatment options for IBD by targeting a range of inflammatory pathways. Whether some or all will hit the mark remains to be seen. Read more.

Older patients with constipation benefit from education, simple routines

Education about diet, exercise and bowel techniques should be considered a first line treatment for chronic constipation in older patients, says a Mayo Clinic specialist. Read more.

AIP consensus criteria improve diagnosis

Autoimmune pancreatitis is notoriously difficult to distinguish from pancreatic cancer, and different diagnostic criteria in the East and West once compounded the problem. Now, new international consensus criteria should help improve diagnosis and aid the search for better long-term treatments. Read more.

pCLE improves dysplasia detection in Barrett's esophagus

In an international, multicenter trial, probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy significantly improved the detection of dysplasia in patients with Barrett's esophagus. The technology may increase the efficiency of surveillance endoscopy and help orient patient management in real time. Read more.

February 2012

Noncardiac chest pain is common, but challenging to diagnose and treat

Distinguishing noncardiac chest pain from angina is just the first of many challenges in the diagnosis and management of esophagus-related NCCP. A Mayo Clinic expert provides an in-depth analysis of this common but poorly understood disorder. Read more.

Disease index rates severity of microscopic colitis

Mayo Clinic researchers have developed a disease index that scores the severity of microscopic colitis, a common cause of diarrhea in older adults. The index provides the first validated method for assessing disease activity in clinical trials and case series. Read more.

General trauma leads to increased risk of IBS

Mayo Clinic researchers have shown that patients with irritable bowel syndrome are more likely to have experienced general trauma than people without the disease, even when the abuse is not physical or sexual in nature. Read more.

Physicians show bias when diagnosing upper GI pain

Diagnoses of gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD) have risen dramatically in recent years even though GERD symptoms have declined. Researchers say observer bias is shifting diagnosis toward GERD and away from functional dyspepsia, even in patients with functional dyspepsia symptoms. Read more.

Mayo transplant protocol successful across all large-volume US centers

A multicenter study shows that neoadjuvant therapy followed by liver transplantation leads to excellent outcomes for patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma, despite varying protocols. Strict selection criteria and extensive transplant experience are essential. Read more.

December 2011

Capsule endoscopy improves small bowel diagnosis despite limitations

Revolutionary in its ability to visualize the entire small bowel, capsule endoscopy also has a high rate of incidental findings and false-negatives. But next-generation devices are likely to overcome these and other limitations. Read more.

Single-incision colectomy results in less pain, shorter hospital stays

Preliminary data from the surgeon who performed the first single-port colectomy at Mayo Clinic shows that in expert hands, single-incision procedures lead to less postoperative pain, shorter hospital stays and fewer complications. Read more.

Study examines effect of bariatric surgery on gut microbes

Mouse and human studies have suggested a link between the composition of the gut microbiota and obesity. Now, Mayo Clinic researchers are examining the effect of surgical weight loss on intestinal microbe populations. Read more.

New HCV agents are first of many

FDA approval of the first direct-acting antivirals for HCV genotype 1 dramatically changed the landscape of hepatitis C treatment. But those drugs are only the first of many that seek to increase cure rates, improve tolerability and shorten therapy. Read more.

October 2011

Liver resection with chemotherapy improves survival rates for patients with resectable colorectal liver metastasis

Preoperative therapy, including chemotherapy and portal vein embolization to induce tumor shrinkage and increase liver remnant volume, increases the number of patients eligible for liver resection and improves patient outcomes. Read more.

Novel endoscopic therapies advance diagnosis and treatment in Barrett's esophagus

In the last two decades, novel diagnostic and therapeutic technologies have made endoscopic management of BE-related dysplasia and cancer the standard of care for many patients. Further breakthroughs and refinements are likely in the next few years. Read more.

Chromoendoscopy enhances the detection of precancerous lesions

Chromoendoscopy is a relatively simple technique that increases dysplasia detection rates in chronic ulcerative colitis. A new study demonstrates that white light followed by indigo carmine colonoscopy results in high rates of agreement for polyp detection among inexperienced observers. Read more.

Research may lead to medication that targets the cause of gastroparesis

Mouse studies show that hemin can reverse damage to the ICC network and restore normal gastric function in diabetic gastroparesis. Now, Mayo investigators are hoping to prove the same benefit in humans. Read more.

EPCAM gene deletion identified as cause of new form of Lynch syndrome in two families

In 2009, an international group of researchers identified a new genetic mutation for Lynch syndrome in two families separated by nearly 5,000 miles and 10 generations. Read more.

August 2011

Enhanced recovery pathway improves outcomes for colorectal surgery patients

Overturning time-honored protocols for patients undergoing colorectal surgery, enhanced recovery programs aim to reduce postoperative stress and organ dysfunction. Data show that these evidence-based, multimodal programs shorten hospital stays, provide a better patient experience and lower costs. Read more.

Expanding uses for EUS

First developed in the 1980s to aid in the early detection of pancreatic cancer, endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) has since become a valuable tool with a wide range of diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Read more.

Study aims to unravel mysteries of eosinophilic esophagitis

Mayo Clinic investigators are participating in a multinational study that seeks to develop an activity index to assess the symptoms and biological activity of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). Until now, this inflammatory condition of the esophagus has been relatively unstudied. Read more.

Most large colorectal polyps can be managed endoscopically

Once surgically managed, large, flat colorectal polyps are now safely and effectively treated endoscopically — most commonly with endoscopic mucosal resection. Endoscopic submucosal dissection, a technically demanding procedure that allows for en bloc resection, is gaining acceptance in a few large U.S. centers. Read more.