This transcript has been edited for clarity. Hello. I’m Dr David Johnson, professor of medicine and chief of gastroenterology at Eastern Virginia Medical School and of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. Why is the oral microbiome important? As a gastroenterologist, why do I talk to my patients about it and recommend that you do … Read more
Excessive alcohol consumption is a significant public health concern, responsible for approximately 6% of all deaths and contributing to 5.1% of the global disease burden. Alcohol use is a major risk factor for over 200 diseases, including liver cirrhosis, pancreatitis, and esophageal cancer, with a particularly high incidence of gastrointestinal diseases. More than 50% of … Read more
The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) has released a clinical practice update synthesizing current available evidence and expert opinion on peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) to treat achalasia and other esophageal motility disorders. “Any patient suspected to have achalasia, or difficulty swallowing for that matter, should undergo a comprehensive diagnostic workup, and that should include clinical history, … Read more
TOPLINE: Esophageal Candida infection is linked to an 8.2-fold increased risk for esophageal cancer in patients with achalasia, according to results of a retrospective cohort study. Older age at diagnosis and male sex were also associated with an increased risk. METHODOLOGY: Researchers conducted a study in of 234 patients with achalasia between January 1980 and … Read more
TOPLINE: Dysbiosis of the oral microbiome is associated with various upper gastrointestinal (UGI) disorders and precancerous lesions, with specific microbial signatures varying by disease and oral site, research shows. METHODOLOGY: Emerging evidence suggests that the oral microbiota may contribute to the development of gastrointestinal malignancies, leading to efforts to identify biomarkers for early detection and … Read more
TOPLINE: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is not associated with the development of esophageal cancer in privately insured US adults younger than 65 years. METHODOLOGY: Because chronic inflammation is associated with several cancers, but some studies suggest that allergic inflammation, like that of EoE, might offer a protective benefit, researchers examined whether EoE is linked with esophageal … Read more