News &amp; Updates

Use of famotidine does not reduce the risk of COVID-19 outcomes among hospitalized patients as compared with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) or hydroxychloroquine, as shown in recent study.

Is famotidine effective against COVID-19?

High proteolytic activity in the faeces helps predict ulcerative colitis

There seems to be heightened faecal proteolytic activity that precedes the onset and diagnosis of ulcerative colitis, a recent study has found. This proteolytic signature, along with associated microbiota changes, may represent a noninvasive marker for gut inflammation to monitor at-risk populations.

High proteolytic activity in the faeces helps predict ulcerative colitis

Risk factors for Barrett’s oesophagus in patients with gastro‐oesophageal reflux

Among individuals with gastro‐oesophageal reflux symptoms, those with hiatal hernia and those who consume alcohol appear to have a high prevalence of Barrett's oesophagus, as reported in a study.

Risk factors for Barrett’s oesophagus in patients with gastro‐oesophageal reflux

Risk, protective factors for advanced colorectal neoplasia in IBD patients

Among patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), low-grade dysplasia, ulcerative colitis (UC; as opposed to Crohn’s disease [CD]), primary sclerosing cholangitis, and an extensive disease seem to aggravate the risk of advanced colorectal neoplasia, reports a recent meta-analysis.

Risk, protective factors for advanced colorectal neoplasia in IBD patients

Ramucirumab plus paclitaxel prolongs survival in metastatic gastric/lower oesophageal cancer

Treatment with paclitaxel plus ramucirumab beyond the first-line setting appears to improve overall survival (OS) among patients with metastatic gastric or lower oesophageal adenocarcinoma, results of a real-world study have shown.

Ramucirumab plus paclitaxel prolongs survival in metastatic gastric/lower oesophageal cancer

Cannabis shows antiemetic potential

Most individuals using marijuana for treating nausea are likely to experience relief within a relative short duration of time, although the level of antiemetic effect is influenced by the characteristics of the products consumed, a study has found.

Cannabis shows antiemetic potential

Old age, antiplatelet use, right colon polyp predict post-EMR bleeding in cirrhotics

Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) in patients with cirrhosis delivers an acceptable bleeding risk, as indicated in a recent study. Independent risk factors for bleeding included age >65 years, right colon polyp, polyp size >15 mm, and use of antiplatelets within 5 days.

Old age, antiplatelet use, right colon polyp predict post-EMR bleeding in cirrhotics

Infliximab comparable with ustekinumab for biologic-naïve CD patients

In the treatment of biologic-naïve patients with Crohn’s disease (CD), infliximab is as good as ustekinumab in terms of efficacy and speed of onset, according to a study.

Infliximab comparable with ustekinumab for biologic-naïve CD patients

Gut microbiota may influence COVID-19 vaccine efficacy and safety

15 Apr 2021 by

Modulation of gut microbiota may help enhance efficacy and reduce side effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines, preliminary data from the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) have shown.

Gut microbiota may influence COVID-19 vaccine efficacy and safety