https://medicalxpress.com/gastroenterology-news/ en-us Latest medical news and research in Gastroenterology It's widely understood that the microbiome—especially microbes found in the mouth and the gut—can have a profound effect on health. In a study published in the journal Cell Host & Microbe on Aug. 20, researchers report that by analyzing the makeup of oral microbes, they may be able to detect signals associated with gastric (stomach) and colorectal cancer. These findings could lead to the development of new, less invasive screening tests for gastrointestinal cancers. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-simple-mouth-stomach-colorectal-cancer.html Thu, 20 Aug 2026 11:00:08 EDT news706281781 The liver is a jack-of-all-trades and a master of all. From removing harmful substances and secreting bile to metabolizing proteins, carbohydrates and fats and managing the immune system, the liver does it all. As we age, liver cells undergo major structural changes, making the body prone to metabolic liver diseases such as fatty liver and inflammation, which, over time, can increase the risk of liver cancer. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-citrus-compound-reverses-liver-aging.html Thu, 20 Aug 2026 10:40:03 EDT news706437945 Mayo Clinic researchers have estimated the risk that pancreatic cysts with worrisome or high-risk features will progress to pancreatic cancer or advanced precancerous changes within three years. The findings, published in Gastroenterology, could help physicians and patients better assess risk and make more informed decisions about whether to monitor a cyst or consider surgery. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-cancer-patients-pancreatic-cysts-advancing.html Thu, 20 Aug 2026 09:00:01 EDT news706352221 Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is more often associated with ulcerative colitis (UC) than Crohn's disease (CD), according to a study published online July 24 in Crohn's & Colitis 360. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-lung-disease-common-ulcerative-colitis.html Wed, 19 Aug 2026 16:40:01 EDT news706372981 Researchers from Skoltech and their colleagues from the N.N. Petrov National Medical Research Center of Oncology have identified proteomic markers for monitoring liver injury and confirmed the hepatoprotective effects of plant polyphenols. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-mouse-reveals-candidate-proteins-liver.html Wed, 19 Aug 2026 15:40:04 EDT news706372681 Why does inflammation persist in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, even as the body is trying to bring it under control? Researchers in Kiel and the United States have identified a mechanism that offers a surprising answer: Inflammation itself disrupts a key metabolic pathway needed to supply the intestinal lining with energy. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-crohn-disease-ulcerative-colitis-inflammation.html Wed, 19 Aug 2026 14:40:01 EDT news706368002 Every RNA virus—from stomach bugs and influenza to measles and the common cold—has its own story to tell, with a unique combination of symptoms, transmission rates, duration and chemical blueprint. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-norovirus-vaccine-approach-strategies-rna.html Wed, 19 Aug 2026 13:00:06 EDT news706358581 For most people, a Salmonella infection causes gastroenteritis, an inflammation of the stomach and intestines that can mean several miserable days of diarrhea, cramps, fever or vomiting. Most people recover within a week. But severe diarrhea and dehydration can still be dangerous, even while the bacteria remain confined to the gut. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-salmonella-illness-people.html Wed, 19 Aug 2026 13:00:01 EDT news706362602 For patients with Crohn's disease (CD), heat-not-burn tobacco (HNBT) and possibly electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use are associated with increased postoperative endoscopic recurrence of CD, according to a study published in the August issue of the American Journal of Gastroenterology. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-tobacco-cigarettes-linked-postoperative-recurrence.html Tue, 18 Aug 2026 19:40:04 EDT news706284954 Crohn's disease, a condition characterized by widespread inflammation in the gut, may arise from a weakened immune response, according to new research from the University of Toronto's Temerty Faculty of Medicine. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-immune-defect-crohn-disease-motion.html Tue, 18 Aug 2026 17:40:05 EDT news706287121 Patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) have an increased risk of incident psoriasis, according to a study published online Aug. 7 in the Journal of Global Health. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-term-incident-psoriasis-elevated-bowel.html Tue, 18 Aug 2026 14:40:01 EDT news706275508 Liver disease often progresses silently until it becomes a serious condition. By the time symptoms such as fatigue, abdominal discomfort and jaundice develop, liver disease has often progressed beyond its earliest and most treatable stages. Researchers at The University of Toledo have found a way to identify one of its earliest warning signs before symptoms appear, with a simple blood test. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-blood-overlooked-marker-liver-disease.html Tue, 18 Aug 2026 08:00:05 EDT news706257782 Approximately 65% of U.S. adults report consuming one or more sugar-sweetened beverages every day. Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute researchers found that consuming these drinks daily was associated with an increased risk of developing gastric cancer, while artificially sweetened beverages were not associated with an increased risk. Results are published in the journal Gastro Hep Advances. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-people-consume-sugar-sweetened-beverages.html Mon, 17 Aug 2026 12:40:11 EDT news706189144 A study published in JCI Insight and led by Northwestern Medicine scientists has uncovered new clues about why people with systemic sclerosis, also known as scleroderma, frequently develop debilitating esophageal complications. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-cellular-clues-complications-scleroderma.html Mon, 17 Aug 2026 07:20:07 EDT news706164301 Much of how genetic risk leads to disease has remained hidden. In many cases, genetic variants linked to disease do not act on nearby genes along the chromosome. Instead, they influence genes located far away along the DNA sequence. This happens because DNA is folded inside the cell, bringing distant regions into physical contact. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-approach-rare-immune-cells-genetic.html Sat, 15 Aug 2026 14:50:02 EDT news705073353 Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital have uncovered an intervention that could potentially improve outcomes for children with malnutrition, a condition that contributes to nearly half of all deaths among children younger than 5. The study appears in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-intervention-potentially-outcome-children-malnutrition.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 18:00:07 EDT news705859921 Since its development at the University of Michigan more than two decades ago, histotripsy has progressed from an experimental method for mechanically destroying tissue to a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)–cleared treatment for liver tumors. The noninvasive technique uses short, high-pressure ultrasound pulses to generate microscopic bubble clouds that break apart targeted tissue without heat. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-intermediate-histotripsy-dose-boosts-tumor.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 16:40:06 EDT news705852602 A compound produced by bacteria in many people's digestive tracts increases the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and speeds cognitive decline in dementia patients, making it a potential target for a treatment that could reduce Alzheimer's risk, according to a new study published in Nature Communications https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-gut-alzheimer.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 14:40:01 EDT news705843563 An international research team coordinated by the Berlin Institute of Health at Charité (BIH) has created the most comprehensive single-cell atlas of the human pancreas to date. As part of a Human Cell Atlas project led by Professor Roland Eils, the team analyzed more than 4 million cells and cell nuclei from pancreatic tissue samples donated by 57 individuals. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-cell-atlas-reveals-plasticity-human.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 13:40:05 EDT news705843403 Calls to poison centers involving liver injuries caused by medications, supplements, alcohol and other substances jumped nearly 400% between 2000 and 2024, according to a new study from UVA Health published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-poison-center-liver-injuries-acetaminophen.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 06:00:02 EDT news705765282 Scientists have combined artificial intelligence (AI), genetics and gut microbiome analysis to shed new light on one of the most serious complications of Crohn's disease: intestinal fibrosis, the irreversible scarring of the bowel that often leads to surgery. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-ai-routes-earlier-diagnosis-treatment.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 14:30:01 EDT news705753169 Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system reacts to gluten. More than 1% of the population in Germany is affected. In these individuals, gluten proteins found in wheat, rye and barley trigger inflammation in the small intestine, which can damage the intestinal villi and promote disease outside the intestinal tract. Despite following a gluten-free diet, up to 30% of patients with celiac disease still experience symptoms. This is usually due to unavoidable gluten contamination in their daily diet. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-humanized-mouse-significantly-preclinical-drugs.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 12:00:01 EDT news705747157 Organs don't just grow in early life; they can change in response to physiological or environmental challenges in adulthood. Researchers have now identified an active role for the intestinal muscles in remodeling the gut after reproduction. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-female-gut-muscles-reshape-demands.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 11:40:03 EDT news705753421 An organized fecal immunochemical testing (FIT)-based colorectal cancer (CRC) screening program is associated with a sustained decline in CRC mortality, according to a study published online Aug. 5 in JAMA Network Open. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-biennial-fecal-immunochemical-based-screening.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 18:00:03 EDT news705678820 Researchers at McMaster University have discovered that a naturally occurring hormone best known for suppressing appetite and promoting weight loss also helps protect the liver from inflammation through a previously unknown signaling pathway, opening new possibilities for treating advanced fatty liver disease. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-appetite-suppressing-hormone-liver-inflammation.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 16:20:08 EDT news705587701 Liver cancer experts at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center and 16 other cancer centers have compiled new guidance on the best treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in North America. The resource, called BEACON-HCC, was published in the journal Hepatology. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-liver-cancer-experts-author-treatment.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 13:40:12 EDT news705585822 The nationwide cyclospora outbreak is very likely a result of sewage contamination in the food supply, according to scientific researchers and public health officials. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-cyclospora-human-food.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 12:20:06 EDT news705581521 Microplastics have become nearly impossible to avoid. They have been detected in oceans, drinking water and even the human body, but scientists are still uncovering how they affect human health. Now, researchers at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) have uncovered evidence that one of the world's most common plastics may do more than pollute the environment. Their findings suggest that polyethylene may contribute to fatty liver disease and worsen the condition when combined with an unhealthy diet. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-everyday-packaging-plastic-compound-fatty.html Fri, 07 Aug 2026 20:40:01 EDT news705030100 In the past year, the U.S. has seen a jump in frequent marijuana users going to the hospital with a nausea and vomiting condition, according to a report released Thursday. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-big-nausea-cases-frequent-marijuana.html Fri, 07 Aug 2026 03:10:01 EDT news705288717 I often reflect on the advice of an outdated article on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and pregnancy from 1956. It stated: "There should be no doubt that a woman with ulcerative colitis who wishes to have a child should be advised to postpone until the colitis is inactive—sometimes this may mean waiting forever." https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-canadians-inflammatory-bowel-disease-children.html Thu, 06 Aug 2026 14:00:22 EDT news705238862