Here are seven news updates for gastroenterologists to know for March 2, 2015.
Dr. John Allen advocates for GI on Capitol Hill.
John I. Allen, MD, MBA, AGAF, president of the American Gastroenterological Association Institute, recently travelled to Capitol Hill to discuss some of the most pressing issues in gastroenterology. The key issues Dr. Allen discussed include physician payment reform, NIH research funding, patient access to care and colonoscopy Medicare co-insurance.
UCLA patient sues Olympus over "superbug" infection.
A patient of Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles filed a lawsuit against Olympus in regards to the recent carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae outbreak linked to contaminated duodenoscopes.
FDA clears SpyGlass direct visualization system from Boston Scientific.
Boston Scientific received FDA 510(k) clearance for its SpyGlass DS Direct Visualization System. The system is cleared for use in the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatico-biliary disease. The first cases involving use of the system were cholangioscopy and pancreatoscopy procedures.
AGA Research Foundation to offer award for neuroenteric disease research.
The American Gastroenterological Research Foundations received a $2.25 million gift that will fuel neuroenteric disease research opportunities. The gift was given by San Francisco philanthropist Athena Blackburn. The resulting AGA-Athena Troxel Blackburn Research Scholar Award in Neuroenteric Disease will provide $270,000 over a three-year period to young researchers. The AGA plans to match this donation, resulting in a $2.25 million endowment.
Exact Sciences reports $1.5M in fourth quarter revenue.
Exact Sciences reported its financial results for the fourth quarter of 2014 and full-year. The company reported $1.5 million in revenue for the fourth quarter, up from $1 million during the fourth quarter of 2013. Exact Sciences' total revenues for the year were $1.8 million, down from $4.1 million in 2013.
Half of HCV-infected people born from 1945 to 1965 may have severe liver disease.
Around one-half of hepatitis C virus-infected people born between 1945 and 1965 have severe fibrosis or cirrhosis, according to a study the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention performed with Quest Diagnostics. In the United States, the CDC recommends one-time HCV antibody testing for persons born from 1945 to 1965 due to the higher prevalence of HCV infection in this group.
AGA, CDC forge new partnership for public education.
The American Gastroenterological Association partnered with the CDC in an effort to educate the public on the risks of tobacco use and its association with colorectal cancer. The collaboration will spawn a number of tools and online resources beginning this month.