Top Story

• Recent studies point to progress in war on cancer
  The war on cancer is entering its fifth decade and researchers found 51 studies released in the past year that point to progress being made. Their report, "Clinical Cancer Advances 2009," includes trials on therapies for gastric cancer, colon cancer and biliary tract cancer. MedPage Today (free registration) (11/9)

Guide to Healthy Living

• Expert discusses changing face of ulcer disease
  The U.S. has seen a significant drop in Helicobacter pylori infection and H. pylori-related ulcers due in part to cleaner water, better sanitation, and improved detection and treatment, gastroenterologist Dr. Nimish Vakil told The New York Times. Vakil, who helped write the ACG guidelines for managing upper abdominal pain, said the most important cause of ulcer disease in the U.S. is from the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, though immigrant populations still face high rates of peptic ulcer disease linked to H. pylori. The New York Times (11/5)

• GERD patient eager for Thanksgiving following surgery
  Connie Braswell of Jackson, Miss., plans to enjoy eating for the first time at Thanksgiving in five years, thanks to surgery to relieve gastroesophageal reflux disease. She had transoral incisionless fundoplication surgery in late October, which uses a EsophyX device that goes through a patient's mouth, rather than having the more traditional laparoscopic surgery. The Clarion-Ledger (Jackson, Miss.) (11/10)

Diagnosis & Treatment

• Statins may help protect against gallstones
  People who take statin medication for at least 18 months reduce their risk of getting gallstones and needing surgery for them, according to a Boston study. Researchers said the higher the dose of statin medication, the better the protection. Yahoo!/HealthDay News (11/10)

• More polyps found with early morning colonoscopy
  A study of 477 colonoscopy procedures found those done in the early morning detected more polyps than those performed later in the day. Researchers said the number of polyps found during the screening decreased hour by hour as the day progressed. U.S. News & World Report/HealthDay News (11/6)

• Some HCV treatment effects in kids reverse after therapy ends
  Children with hepatitis C who are on peginterferon alfa therapy can have significant changes in weight and body composition but they go away when treatment is stopped, researchers said. Growth, in terms of height, however, did not seem to rebound a year after treatment and needs longer-term study, researchers said. Medscape (free registration) (11/7)

• Vitamin E shows promise for NASH patients
  Researchers said 43% of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis patients taking vitamin E for two years met a clinical trial primary endpoint of improved liver function, decreased ballooning and stabilization of fibrosis, compared with less than 20% of patients on a placebo. NASH patients taking pioglitazone or Actos also improved but did not meet the trial's primary endpoint. MedPage Today (free registration) (11/6)

Policy Watch

• Obama urges swift approval of Senate's health care bill
  President Barack Obama called the House's passage of its health care bill a "courageous vote" and urged the Senate to act quickly and enact its version. Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has said that the Senate was "not going to be bound by any timelines." The New York Times (11/8) , Google/The Associated Press (11/9) , The Washington Post (11/8)

• Bill Clinton urges Senate Dems to "start the ball rolling" on reform
  Senate Democrats should overcome their differences to "start the ball rolling" on health reform as soon as possible, former President Bill Clinton told the lawmakers at their caucus luncheon. "There will be amendments to this effort, whatever they pass, next year and the year after and the year after, and there should be. It's a big, complicated, organic thing. But the worst thing to do is nothing," Clinton told reporters after the closed-door meeting. The Wall Street Journal (11/11) , Los Angeles Times (11/11) , The Washington Post/Capitol Briefing blog (11/10)

The Last Word

News and information from the American College of Gastroenterology

• Take the itch and burn out of hemorrhoids -- Tips to reduce pain and discomfort
  Are you tired of the itch and burn of hemorrhoids? While it's a fairly common condition, many patients may be too embarrassed to talk to their doctor about it. The ACG has tips to reduce the pain and discomfort of hemorrhoids.

SmartQuote

Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much." --Oscar Wilde, Irish writer