New Advances and Insights in Gastroenterology Presented at College's 74th Annual Meeting

New Advances and Insights in Gastroenterology Presented at College's 74th
Annual Meeting

BETHESDA, Md., Oct. 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Many of the world's
preeminent gastroenterologists will gather for the American College of
Gastroenterology's (ACG) 74th Annual Scientific Meeting at the San Diego
Convention Center starting Monday, October 26, 2009, to review the latest
scientific advances in gastrointestinal research, treatment of digestive
diseases and clinical practice management.

Presentations at the meeting will focus on new technologies being developed to
diagnose and treat digestive diseases, new insights into digestive diseases,
their causes and how they impact various sectors of the population. A press
kit with highlights of important new science to be presented at the meeting
will be available online at the ACG Web site www.acg.gi.org.

NOTE: News from the meeting is embargoed until Monday, October 26, 2009, at
11:00 a.m. EDT/8:00 a.m. PDT.

Highlights from this year's ACG Scientific Meeting include:

Effects of World Trade Center Cleanup Still Being Felt
In a six year study of World Trade Center workers, researchers probed the
connection between the high frequencies of gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) and
mental health disorders (MHD) reported among exposed workers during the post
9/11 cleanup. Their findings suggest that mental health disorders play an
important role in the genesis and persistence of GERD among these workers and
therefore treatment of the underlying mental health disorder may be necessary
to resolve the physical manifestation of GERD.

For Bigger Athletes: Potential Future Health Risks
New primary research comparing the signs of metabolic syndrome in professional
baseball and football players reveals that the larger professional athletes -
football linemen - may encounter future health problems despite their rigorous
exercise routines. These findings may have implications for younger athletes,
and the general public facing rising obesity rates, as well.

Chronic GI Problems after Infectious Gastroenteritis for Military Personnel
Researchers from the United States Navy examining functional gastrointestinal
disorders (FGD) within the active military population and their connection to
of infectious gastroenteritis (IGE) found not only a significant association
between IGE and FGD, but also that almost 3 out of 10 military personnel
studied still received FGD related-care two years after their initial
diagnosis.

In Combat Zone, Gastroenterologists' Skills Put to Test
Gastroenterologists working in Joint Base Balad, Iraq, present special cases
that put their endoscopic skills to test while on deployment to diagnose and
treat military dogs that provide vital protective roles in security and
munitions detection.

Possible Link Between Inflammatory Bowel Disease Treatment and Non-Melanoma
Skin Cancer
Findings from a new retrospective cohort study indicate that patients with
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), especially those receiving the thiopurine
class of medications to treat IBD, may be at risk for developing non-melanoma
skin cancer (NMSC). In light of these findings, the American College of
Gastroenterology is encouraging physicians treating patients with IBD to
provide appropriate counseling and monitoring for NMSC.

Technologies to Advance Diagnosis by Colonoscopy
Several studies on new colonoscopic technologies reveal some imaging
modalities fare better than others at improving detection of potentially
pre-cancerous growths in the colon known as adenomas.

New Combination Therapy Looks Promising Against Ulcer Bacteria
Results of a new study reveal that LOAD therapy is superior to LAC at
eliminating the bacterium in patients with gastritis and peptic ulcers.
Helicobater pylori, a bacteria implicated in peptic ulcers and gastritis, was
eradicated in 95 percent patients who took a 7-day course of combination
therapy with levofloxacin, omeprazole, nitazoxanide (Alinia(R)) and
doxycycline (LOAD) compared to eradication in only 80.9 percent of patients on
lansoprazole, amoxicillin and clarithromycin (LAC) for seven days.

Capsule Endoscopy Safe for Patients with Implantable Cardiac Devices
A study of 91 patients with implantable cardiac devices such as pacemakers,
implantable defibrillators or left ventricular assist devices found that
performing capsule endoscopy in these patients is safe and that the devices in
general do not interfere with images captured by the capsule. Capsule
endoscopy is most often performed for occult GI bleeding, a condition not
uncommon among elderly patients, who also have the highest number of
implantable cardiac devices.

Bowel Preparation Impacts Follow-up Timetable for Colonoscopy
After studying records on some 788 patients, researchers concluded that
inadequate bowel preparation by the patient before colonoscopy resulted in a
recommended follow-up colonoscopy 17.1 months earlier than average. By
comparison, finding an adenoma during the procedure resulted in a recommended
follow-up examination 17.2 months earlier than average.

Researchers Evaluate New Bowel Prep Approaches
In December 2008, a popular OTC bowel preparation for colonoscopy, which
contained phosphosoda, was recalled from the market. ACG researchers
presented papers evaluating new bowel preparation formulations and approaches.

In a pilot study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Polyethelne Glycol
(PEG) plus ascorbic acid (Moviprep) compared to magnesium citrate for bowel
preparation before colonoscopy, researchers found that overall colon
preparation was excellent or good for the vast majority of those receiving
either solution. The study also showed a significant improvement in the
quality of bowel preparation when using split dosing with either preparation.

Researchers also evaluated a new oral sulfate solution (SUPREP(R)) compared to
a large volume polyethylene glycol (PEG) and electrolytes solution
(NuLYTELY(R)) in the ability to cleanse the proximal, or right colon, which
has received increased attention as an important site of missed adenomas. In
each case, the oral sulfate solution outperformed the PEG and electrolytes
solution.

Largest Cohort Study to-Date Examines Barrett's Esophagus Prevalence Among
Latinos
In the largest cohort study to-date, researchers studying the prevalence of
Barrett's Esophagus (BE) in the Latino population found that the prevalence of
BE among Latino males was on par with non-Latino White males, the segment of
the population in which BE has historically been most prevalent.

Racial and Gender Disparities in Colon Cancer
Two new retrospective and cohort studies explore disparities in race and
gender in the incidence and epidemiology of colorectal cancer. Female
patients, in particular female Hispanic patients, are being diagnosed with
more right-side, or proximal, colon cancers compared to the population in
general. In addition, African-American patients, in particular
African-American males, are reported to have the greatest proportion of
advanced colon cancers compared to all groups. A related study shows that
African-American patients are more likely than other ethnic groups to have
multiple polyps, as well as polyps located on the proximal side of the colon.

Lunchtime media briefings are being planned on the following topics:

Monday, October 26, 2009, 12:30 p.m. PDT
New Technologies Advance GI Practice: From Diagnosis to Online Collaboration

Co-Moderators:
Walter J. Coyle, M.D., FACG, Scripps Clinic
Samuel A. Giday, M.D., FACG, Johns Hopkins University

Invited Technology Panelists:
Charles J. Kahi, M.D., Indiana University
Daniel C. DeMarco, M.D., FACG, Baylor College of Medicine
Kenneth R. DeVault, M.D., FACG, Mayo Clinic Jacksonville
David A. Greenwald, M.D., FACG, Montefiore Medical Center

Tuesday, October 27, 2009, 12:30 p.m. PDT
Impact of Workplace Stress and Exposure on GI Disorders: Occupations that
Take Guts

Co-Moderators:
Cmdr. Brooks D. Cash, M.D., FACG, National Naval Medical Center
Col. Roy K.H. Wong, M.D., FACG, Walter Reed Army Medical Center

Invited Panelists:
Mark Riddle, M.D., United States Navy
Cmdr. Leon Kundrotas, M.D., FACG, Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland Air
Force Base
Douglas L. Brand, M.D., FACG, SUNY Stonybrook
Yvette Lam, M.D., SUNY Stonybrook

About the American College of Gastroenterology
Founded in 1932, the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) is an
organization with an international membership of more than 11,000 individuals
from 80 countries. The College is committed to serving the clinically
oriented digestive disease specialist through its emphasis on scholarly
practice, teaching and research. The mission of the College is to serve the
evolving needs of physicians in the delivery of high quality, scientifically
sound, humanistic, ethical, and cost-effective health care to gastroenterology
patients. www.acg.gi.org

View releases on this and other research set to break at the ACG meeting at
www.acg.gi.org/media/press.asp

SOURCE American College of Gastroenterology

Jennifer Burke Labriola, Burke PR, +1-203-405-1479, burkepr@gmail.com, for
American College of Gastroenterology; or Anne-Louise Oliphant of American
College of Gastroenterology, +1-301-263-9000, mediaonly@acg.gi.org; As of
Sunday October 25, 2009 at ACG Press Room, San Diego Convention Center ,
+1-619-525-6418