Gastroenterology - News & Articles

What is the best strategy for CRC screening?

As published in the NEJM, researchers in the COLONPREV study (Spain) have reported that fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) is as effective as colonoscopy in the detection of colorectal cancer (CRC). The study population was 50-69 years of age and comprised of 26,703 subjects who underwent a one-time colonoscopy and 26,599 subjects who underwent FIT every 2 years. The primary outcome measure was CRC deaths at 10 years. Participation in screening was greater in the FIT group than the colonoscopy group (34.2% vs. 24.6%). Detection of CRC was similar between the two groups (0.1%). Advanced and non-advanced adenomas were detected more frequently in the colonoscopy group than the FIT group (1.9% vs. 0.9% [OR=2.3] and 4.2% vs. 0.4% [OR=9.8], respectively).

PPIs increase risk of Clostridium difficile infection

Based on a meta-analysis involving 30 observational studies and 202,965 patients, proton pump inhibitor therapy has been shown to significantly increase the risk of infection with Clostridium difficile (OR = 2.15).

Metformin improves survival in patients with DM and CRC

In a single institution study involving 424 patients with DM and CRC, those patients treated with metformin had a 30% improvement in OS compared with patients not treated with metformin. Specifically, the metformin-treated patients had a mean survival of 76.9 months compared to 56.9 months.