Eosinophilic esophagitis: A new food-related allergic condition on the rise?
In the early 1990s, doctors began describing a new condition affecting the esophagus of patients who were predisposed to allergies including food allergy, asthma, and eczema, and who were having trouble swallowing. Today, we call this condition eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE).
What is EoE?
EoE is an allergic inflammation of the esophagus that causes a range of symptoms. Adolescents and adults most often experience it as difficulty swallowing, sometimes feeling like food moves too slowly through the esophagus and into the stomach. In some cases, food actually gets stuck (and may require urgent removal). Children and some adu...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - December 26, 2019 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: John Garber, MD Tags: Allergies Digestive Disorders Health Source Type: blogs
FDA Clears First Completely Disposable Duodenoscope
A few years ago it was discovered that duodenoscopes, which are used in Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio-Pancreatography (ERCP) procedures, were bacterial vectors, spreading disease between patients and even causing multiple deaths. This was due to insufficient processing, so some manufacturers put out devices that are easier to clean, while others developed snap on covers to protect the working ends from infection, and yet others made those ends disposable.
Boston Scientific just won FDA clearance for its EXALT Model D duodenoscope that’s entirely disposable, alleviating all need for cleaning, processing, and ...
Source: Medgadget - December 16, 2019 Category: Medical Devices Authors: Medgadget Editors Tags: GI Surgery Source Type: blogs
Concerning Findings About Cannabis Use
While recreational marijuana is legal in 11 states as of November 2019, more states gravitating toward legalizing the recreational use of the substance, and 33 states allowing medical marijuana, there’s apparently no stopping this trend. Cannabis, in the form of marijuana, hemp, and cannabidiol (CBD) is being used for pain relief, to alleviate stress, cope with anxiety, and a number of other mental health disorders and addictions.
Yet, there’s a dearth of clinical studies that have been conducted on the overall effects on a user’s health. Clearly, as Crain’s Detroit Business points out, more research on marijuan...
Source: World of Psychology - November 16, 2019 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Suzanne Kane Tags: Medications Substance Abuse Cannabis Marijuana Source Type: blogs
Electronic Pill Popping to Detect GI Bleeds: Interview With EnteraSense
Getting a clear view of your GI tract typically involves the uncomfortable process of having a long endoscope snaked down the esophagus. Thankfully, capsule endoscopy technology is replacing many procedures that have required an endoscope. These swallow-able devices are able to withstand the harsh, acidic environment of the gut, and can provide high-resolution images, as well as temperature, pH, and pressure data.
EnteraSense, an early-stage startup based in Galway, Ireland, has developed a device that utilizes the “Pill Cam” form factor to detect upper GI bleeds. The technology is elegant, but challenging, ...
Source: Medgadget - November 4, 2019 Category: Medical Devices Authors: Scott Jung Tags: Exclusive GI Source Type: blogs
GI Genius Automatically Identifies Possible Polyps During Colonoscopy
At the UEG (United European Gastroenterology) Week event in Barcelona, Spain, the first automatic polyp assistance system was unveiled by Medtronic.
The GI Genius intelligent endoscopy system monitors the live video feed from a colonoscope, outlining in real time potential signs of polyps. It certainly doesn’t diagnose anything, but serves, in Medtronic’s terms, as “an ever vigilant second observer”.
The software inside uses artificial intelligence algorithm techniques to spot abnormal tissue patterns that may be indicative of cancer or other diseases.
Medtronic reports that the GI Genius...
Source: Medgadget - November 4, 2019 Category: Medical Devices Authors: Medgadget Editors Tags: GI Oncology Surgery Source Type: blogs
MKSAP: 30-year-old man with ongoing symptoms of dysphagia
Test your medicine knowledge with the MKSAP challenge, in partnership with the American College of Physicians. A 30-year-old man is evaluated for ongoing symptoms of dysphagia. He was previously diagnosed with eosinophilic esophagitis on upper endoscopy and has completed an 8-week course of swallowed aerosolized fluticasone, which di d not alleviate his symptoms. He takes no other medications. […]Find jobs at Careers by KevinMD.com. Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now. Learn more. (Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog)
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - October 12, 2019 Category: General Medicine Authors: < span itemprop="author" > < a href="https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/post-author/mksap" rel="tag" > mksap < /a > < /span > Tags: Conditions Gastroenterology Source Type: blogs
Answer to Case 563
Answer to Parasite Case of the Week 563: Anisakid larva, notAnisakisspecies.As noted by Marc Couturier, this case has a " very nice and clearly defined intestinal caecum [or ' cecum ' for my United States readers]. Lips are visible on the worm and the general size would point again to an Anisakidae member. Coughing up and the abdominal pain are helpful clinical correlates as well. " Blaine also added some helpful information regarding the diagnostic features of anisakids: " Based on the anteriorly-directed cecum, this is eitherPseudoterranovaorContracaecum. Unfortunately it is not possible to definitively tell from the ima...
Source: Creepy Dreadful Wonderful Parasites - October 6, 2019 Category: Parasitology Source Type: blogs
Case of the Week 562
This week ' s case was generously donated by Dr. David Hernandez Gonzalo. The patient is a middle-aged male who presented with abdominal discomfort and nausea. An endoscopy was performed which revealed the following object in the gastric antrum:The worm was sent to pathology and was sectioned, revealing the following (H&E):Identification? (Source: Creepy Dreadful Wonderful Parasites)
Source: Creepy Dreadful Wonderful Parasites - September 30, 2019 Category: Parasitology Source Type: blogs
New medication advances treatment for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps
Chronic rhinosinusitis is a long-lasting medical condition, usually caused by infection or exposure to irritants, such as allergies, that affects one in seven American adults. Symptoms include nasal obstruction, nasal congestion, nasal drainage, loss of smell and taste, and facial pain and pressure. Some people with chronic rhinosinusitis also develop additional symptoms, such as asthma and nasal polyps, that are exacerbated by underlying allergies. A nasal polyp is a noncancerous tumor that grows from the lining of the nose or sinuses and affects the drainage system of the sinuses.
While chronic rhinosinusitis is not a li...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - September 19, 2019 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Alice Maxfield, MD Tags: Allergies Cold and Flu Drugs and Supplements Ear, nose, and throat Health Source Type: blogs
MKSAP: 35-year-old man with persistent heartburn
Test your medicine knowledge with the MKSAP challenge, in partnership with the American College of Physicians. A 35-year-old man is evaluated during a follow-up appointment for persistent heartburn with chronic cough. He has a 1-year history of gastroesophageal reflux disease and takes pantoprazole twice daily. He reports no nausea, vomiting, or dysphagia. Upper endoscopy performed 1 year […]Find jobs at Careers by KevinMD.com. Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now. Learn more. (Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog)
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - August 10, 2019 Category: General Medicine Authors: < span itemprop="author" > < a href="https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/post-author/mksap" rel="tag" > mksap < /a > < /span > Tags: Conditions Gastroenterology Source Type: blogs
Into The Future of Gastroenterology With Digestibles And Microbiome Testing
Gluten? Lactose? Stomach pain? Digestive troubles? Way too many people suffer from gastrointestinal issues, and much less are aware of the digital technologies that can come to their aid. Did you know that digestibles could successfully replace the dreaded colonoscopy? Or have you heard about microbiome testing? What about the swarm of health apps supporting dietary restrictions? We took a deep breath and jumped into the universe of digital technologies just to bring you as much information about the future of gastroenterology as possible. Will you jump after us?
IBS,
colorectal cancer, and other animals
Referring to...
Source: The Medical Futurist - July 4, 2019 Category: Information Technology Authors: nora Tags: Future of Medicine Genomics Health Sensors & Trackers diet dieting digestibles digestion digital health gastro gastroenterologist gastroenterology gastrointestinal gluten gut Innovation lactose microbiome stomach techno Source Type: blogs
Robot Navigates Tiny Ultrasound Pill Through Colon
While endoscopes give physicians a view into the interior of the GI tract, they are limited in the areas that they can reach and the imaging they can provide. Miniaturized imaging devices in the form of swallowable electronic pills have been around for a few years now. They move through the entirety of the GI tract, but there’s no way to focus their attention on a specific spot or to pause their movement.
Now, a collaboration of scientists from the U.S. and U.K. has developed an ingestible ultrasound imaging device that can be accurately moved around the colon using an external robot. The Sonopill, as the device is c...
Source: Medgadget - June 20, 2019 Category: Medical Devices Authors: Medgadget Editors Tags: GI Source Type: blogs
Pure-Vu GEN2 FDA Cleared to Clean Colons During Colonoscopy Exams
Motus GI, a company now headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has won FDA clearance for the latest version of its Pure-Vu colon cleansing system. Designed for use during colonoscopies, the system is designed to clear out debris left in the colon that can hinder proper visualization of potential polyps.
Patients are advised to fast and follow a few guidelines prior to their colonoscopies, but too many fail to do so properly and even those that do are often left with a dirty colon. This can result in unnoticed polyps, cancelled and rescheduled procedures, delayed treatments, and frustrated physicians who are not able t...
Source: Medgadget - June 12, 2019 Category: Medical Devices Authors: Medgadget Editors Tags: GI Source Type: blogs
“ What if I just ignore my SIBO? ”
By just engaging in the basic strategies in the Wheat Belly Total Health, Wheat Belly 10-Day Grain Detox, or Undoctored programs, many mild cases of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, SIBO, reverse. These efforts thereby restore your ability to ingest prebiotic fibers without diarrhea, bloating, gas, abdominal discomfort, joint pain, and dark emotional feelings. Many people thereby are relieved of irritable bowel syndrome symptoms, fibromyalgia, or restless leg syndrome, or have greater power in reversing autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Unfortunately, not everybody enjoys reversal of SIBO with our b...
Source: Wheat Belly Blog - May 27, 2019 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr. Davis Tags: SIBO grain-free probiotic undoctored wheat belly Source Type: blogs
Scope Pro-tech Coming Out to Protect Endoscope Tips
Meditech Endoscopy, a company out of Essex, England, just won FDA clearance for its Scope Pro-tech endoscopic tip protector. The device is designed to protect the optics found on the tips of endoscopes while they’re in storage or when they’re moved from place to place.
The design of the Scope Pro-tech is such that air can come in and out of the endoscope’s channels, preventing any moisture build-up that can help to host pathogens. An array of protruding wings helps to avoid any direct contact between the endoscope tip and anything else.
Olympus has signed up to be the distributor of the Scope Pro-tech si...
Source: Medgadget - May 22, 2019 Category: Medical Devices Authors: Medgadget Editors Tags: GI Medicine Public Health Thoracic Surgery Source Type: blogs
