(Press-News.org) CHICAGO, IL (May 9, 2011) — Research being presented at Digestive Disease Week® (DDW) shows that psychological issues may play a role in the severity of gastrointestinal symptoms. Another study found that just an hour a week of low-intensity exercise decreases the risk for colon polyps, particularly among overweight and obese individuals. DDW is the largest international gathering of physicians and researchers in the field of gastroenterology, hepatology, endoscopy and gastrointestinal surgery.
"Research continues to show us how intricately the mind and body work together in patients with gastrointestinal illness and emphasizes how important it is to treat the whole patient, not just the disease," said Robynne Chutkan, MD, FASGE, assistant professor of gastroenterology at Georgetown University Hospital. "Exercise and meditation are just a few of the alternative techniques that healthcare providers can introduce to their patients to help prevent and control the pain of disease."
Therapeutic impact of mindfulness meditation on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): results of a randomized controlled trial (Abstract #219)
Mindfulness meditation has been reported to improve symptoms in chronic conditions such as fibromyalgia and depression and a recent study found benefits to IBS severity and symptoms. Investigators found that when compared with support group therapy, mindfulness meditation improved IBS severity and psychological symptoms more. After the same eight week period, symptom severity was reduced four times more in the meditation group. Mainstream medicine offers no cure for IBS and as many as half of patients do not see adequate improvement in their symptoms with conventional treatment. This research suggests mindfulness meditation as a widely available and inexpensive method that can provide individuals with skills they can use for the rest of their life.
Dr. Palsson will present these data on Saturday, May 7 at 2:15 p.m. CT in E451A, McCormick Place.
Predictors of Abdominal Pain in Depressed Pediatric Crohn's Disease Patients (Abstract #453)
Psychological factors, especially depression, play a significant role in abdominal pain in children and adolescents with Crohn's Disease (CD); especially when the disease activity is well-controlled, according to new
research from the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. The findings are important because they may help physicians develop more effective treatment strategies and prevent children from having recurring pain into adulthood, leading to improved quality of life and decreased medical costs. Investigators say this shows that the brain better controls pain than the gut in some adolescents with gastrointestinal disorders such as inactive inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); diarrhea and parental distress are less robust predictors.
Dr. Srinath will present these data on Sunday, May 8, at 10:30 a.m. CT in S402, McCormick Place.
Physical Activity Reduces Risk for Colon Polyps in a Multiethnic Colorectal Cancer Screening Population (Abstract #Su1545)
Even an hour per week of low-intensity exercise decreases the risk for colon polyps, particularly among overweight and obese individuals, according to researchers at New York University Langone Medical Center.
Previous research has indicated that physical activity may be a protective factor in the development of colon cancer, but studies have not looked at its impact within different racial and ethnic groups. This study enrolled 982 middle-aged patients at a municipal hospital that serves a diverse low-income community, more than half were Hispanic, 20 percent were Asian, and 15 percent were African American.
Dr. Sanchez will present these data on Sunday, May 8, at 8:00 a.m. CT in South Hall, McCormick Place.
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Digestive Disease Week® 2011 (DDW®) is the largest international gathering of physicians, researchers and academics in the fields of gastroenterology, hepatology, endoscopy and gastrointestinal surgery. Jointly sponsored by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, the AGA Institute, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, DDW takes place May 7 – May 10, 2011 in Chicago, IL. The meeting showcases more than 5,000 abstracts and hundreds of lectures on the latest advances in GI research, medicine and technology.
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CHICAGO, IL (May 7, 2011) – Research being presented at Digestive Disease Week® (DDW) shows that while there are significantly increased benefits for qualifying patients undergoing bariatric surgery, the potential side effects and outcomes need to be considered when determining whether the surgery is appropriate for patients.
DDW is the largest international gathering of physicians and researchers in the field of gastroenterology, hepatology, endoscopy and gastrointestinal surgery.
Bariatric Surgery Outcomes in the Elderly Population: An ACS NSQIP Study (Abstract #804)
Old ...
Researchers have mapped out the diversity of bat ears in a hope to inspire the design of new intuitive methods of manipulating waves with physical shapes, such as SONAR and RADAR.
Published today, Tuesday, 10 May, in IOP Publishing's journal Bioinspiration & Biomimetics, the study provides key insights into the variability of the shapes of bat ears that exists between different species, and shows how this variability may affect the functionality of one of the most impressive navigational systems in nature.
Bats are one of a few animal groups that demonstrate biosonar—the ...
CHICAGO, IL (May 9, 2011) — Research being presented at Digestive Disease Week® (DDW) focuses attention on the needs of pediatric patients, including screening for obesity and raising awareness of the increase risk of functional gastrointestinal disorders in athletes. Additional research emphasizes the need for more research in treating pediatric liver disease patients and shows the benefit of using smaller colonoscopies in young patients. DDW is the largest international gathering of physicians and researchers in the field of gastroenterology, hepatology, endoscopy and ...
Even short-term use of some painkillers could be dangerous for people who've had a heart attack, according to research published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
Researchers analyzed the duration of prescription non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) treatment and cardiovascular risk in a nationwide Danish cohort of patients with prior heart attack. They found the use of NSAIDs was associated with a 45 percent increased risk of death or recurrent heart attack within as little as one week of treatment, and a 55 percent increased risk ...
Overall, roughly half of U.S. children taken to hospital emergency departments (EDs) for a head injury receive a head CT scan, often to ease worried parents' concerns. Yet true traumatic brain injury is uncommon. A multi-center study of more than 40,000 children with minor blunt head trauma, led by Children's Hospital Boston and UC Davis, shows that allowing a period of observation can reduce the use of head CT by as much as half without compromising care – and without exposing children to ionizing radiation. Results appear in the June 2011 issue of Pediatrics (published ...
Despite the fact that silver has made less than optimistic headlines over the last few days, analysts predict that, in the medium to long term, the metal will continue to rise in value. Silver trading has been volatile recently, but the underlying economic and political conditions, that have supported its meteoric rise, remain unchanged. Debt issues in the US and many European countries have not disappeared, and the US dollar remains weak, following a brief rebound in the wake of the news of Bin Laden's death. Inflation fears also remain high, indicating continued support ...
Older, sicker heart-transplant recipients are significantly more likely to be alive a year after their operations if they have their transplants at hospitals that do a large number of them annually new Johns Hopkins research suggests. These patients fare less well at low-volume centers, the research shows.
The findings, to be presented May 9 at the American Association of Thoracic Surgeons' annual meeting in Philadelphia, add more support to the notion that patients do better when treated at medical centers that handle a higher number of cases similar to theirs.
"There's ...
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 9, 2011 – Unrealistic and uninformed media portrayals of weight not only can negatively influence individual behavior, but can impact how policymakers approach issues of weight and health. The result, according to experts from the Strategies to Overcome and Prevent (STOP) Obesity Alliance and the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), is a continued belief that these issues are largely a matter of personal responsibility and that little can or should be done in policy to address them.
Susan Dentzer, editor of Health Affairs, moderated a panel ...
Joe Altman, president of Altmans Winnebago, announced today that the Altman family has made the difficult decision to wind down their dealership operations beginning today, May 6, 2010.
In 1971, Altmans opened its doors in Baldwin Park, California and grew to become a trusted fixture within the RV industry.
"Our family has experienced 40 years of great and challenging times," notes Altman, "but current market conditions suggest it's time to end this chapter of our business."
Over the next month or so, Altmans will be liquidating the remaining ...
Los Angeles, CA (APRIL XX, 2011) Despite contrary belief, reducing unemployment in locations with active insurgencies does not decrease the rate of insurgent attacks against government and allied forces. Additionally, it was found that unemployment in these same locations also had no impact in reducing the deaths of civilians.
A new study released in the recent issue of the Journal of Conflict Resolution (published by SAGE) found that there is no correlation that aiding countries with high rates of unemployed young men leads to a decrease in political violence. Additionally, ...
