Gastrointestinal tract

News • Encouraging results of DARS trial

A ‘new gold standard’ for head and neck cancer radiotherapy

New research suggests a new approach to precision radiotherapy can reduce the risk of swallowing problems for patients, without impacting the success of treatment.

News • Mysterious mechanism solved

Researchers discover how bowel cancer 'blinds' the immune system

A mystery which has stumped bowel cancer researchers for decades, has been solved by scientists at the Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute and University of Glasgow.

News • Gastric leak detection

Sensor patch monitors surgery sutures in the abdomen

To ensure that wounds remain tightly sealed in the abdomen after surgery, researchers at Empa and ETH Zurich have developed a patch with a sensor function.

News • Targeted therapy

Biliary duct cancer: the future of precision oncology

Gene alterations in biliary tract cancer offer potential targets for current or future precision therapies. This is demonstrated by a new study from Vienna.

News • Conversational AI

ChatGPT answers common patient questions about colonoscopy

AI, as used in ChatGPT, can generate credible medical information in response to common patient questions, a research team from Taiwan and the US found. However, some critical pitfalls remain.

News • Accuracy gain

Bowel cancer: double testing for better detection

Scientists from the University of Edinburgh have found that the accuracy of detecting bowel cancer is increased to almost 100% by carrying out a common test twice rather than once.

News • Product launch at ESGE Days

Debut for new video processor and endoscope series

At the ESGE Days 2023 in Dublin, Pentax Medical has launched its newest products: the Inspira premium video processor, and the i20c video endoscope series.

News • Reduced postoperative complications

Colorectal cancer surgery: gut microbiota helps healing

In a promising study, Canadian researchers have shown for the first time in mice that modifying intestinal flora before surgery could reduce postoperative complications in colorectal cancer patients.

News • Potential of immunotherapy explored

Surgery first for colon cancer? Not so fast, says new study

Immunotherapy prior to surgery is surprisingly effective for patients with a certain type of colorectal cancer (dMMR/MSI-H CRC). These new study results contrast current treatment regimens.

News • Intestinal distress

Multiple sclerosis: a closer look at the gut microbiome

Findings of bacteria with anti-inflammatory effects in the intestines of MS patients with no evidence of active disease indicate that diet, bacteria and disease progression are linked.

Innovating products that balance patient safety and environmental concerns

As transparency surrounding the eco-footprint of hospitals becomes more important, medical device manufacturers must recognize the need for action to tackle global challenges, such as climate change.

News • Increased infection risk

AMR: drug resistant bacteria can travel from gut to lung

A new Oxford University study provides the first direct evidence of antibiotic resistant bacteria migrating from a patient’s gut microbiome to the lungs, increasing the risk of deadly infections.

News • Bioprinting in cancer

3D printing patient-specific tumours

Bowel cancer patients could in future benefit from a new 3D bioprinting technology which would use their own cells to replicate the complex cellular environment of solid tumours in 3D models.

Article • Diagnostic assistant systems

AI in endoscopy: helper, trainer – influencer?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasing its foothold in endoscopy. Although the algorithms often detect pathologies faster than humans, their use also generates new problems. PD Dr Alexander Hann from the University Hospital Würzburg points out that the use of AI helpers can affect not only the reporting of findings – but also the person making the findings.

News • Prevention measure scrutinised

Colorectal cancer: colonoscopy screening not as effective as previously believed

A randomized study shows colonoscopy screening reduces the risk of colorectal cancer by 18 percent. The reduction is much smaller than experts previously assumed.

News • Drug delivery research

'Tunneling' capsule to enable oral insulin intake

A newly developed capsule that tunnels through mucus in the GI tract could be used to orally administer large protein drugs such as insulin.

News • Better outcomes, fewer costs

Experts propose less invasive bowel cancer treatment approach

New research suggests that providing a break in treatment to patients with advanced bowel cancer could not only benefit a patient’s quality of life but could also help reduce costs.

News • Automated adenoma analysis

AI finds more precancerous polyps than traditional colonoscopy

Colonoscopies performed with AI support may yield an increase in the overall rate of detection of adenoma, or cancerous and precancerous polyps, by 27% in average-risk patients, according to new data.

News • Prevention improvement

Bowel cancer: most cases diagnosed outside of screening programmes

More than 70% of patients with bowel cancer are not diagnosed using screening programmes meaning diagnoses are often made late, when the cancer is at an advanced stage, according to new research.

Video • Bowel cancer removal

Sustainability: UK surgeons perform first ‘net zero’ operation

Surgeons completed the first documented ‘net zero’ operation in the NHS, combining evidence-based approaches and documents using a carbon output calculator developed specifically for this task.

New test with simplified preanalytics for simultaneous detection of GDH and toxins of Clostridioides difficile in compliance with recommendations

Sofia 2 C. difficile FIA is a new solution to provide reliable and rapid test results with high clinical relevance before empiric therapy decisions are implemented.

News • Connection between genes and disease severity

E. coli: How does an intestinal germ become a pathogen?

In the human intestine, Escherichia coli is mostly harmless, but in certain conditions causes bladder infections and even sepsis - but why? Researchers went to the bottom of this transformation.

Article • Endoculus

Robotic ‘mini-tank’ to enhance colonoscopy techniques

A miniature colonoscopy robot on tank-like treads, which carries a camera and uses other small surgical tools, could have clear benefits for both patients and endoscopists.

News • Tissue regeneration

Repairing intestinal damage with 3D cell transplants

Researchers from Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) develop a protocol to transplant 3D cellular structures that could regenerate damaged intestine.

News • Colorectal cancer study

Covid-19 pandemic slashes CRC diagnoses by over 40%

The number of colorectal cancer (CRC) cases diagnosed fell dramatically by 40% in a year during the Covid-19 pandemic, new research presented at United European Gastroenterology (UEG) Week Virtual 2021 has shown. The research, which was conducted across multiple hospitals in Spain, compared data from the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic with data from the previous year. Of 1,385 cases of CRC…

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