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Digestive System


Latest articles on Digestive System

Understanding and Preventing Urinary Tract Infections

Many people have had urinary tract infections (UTIs), sometimes getting them repeatedly. What are they, where do they come from, and how do you get rid of them?   

Noroviruses: Widespread and Easy to Catch

Interest in the noroviruses is growing as researchers learn how often they make people sick - they have recently been implicated in outbreaks on military and cruise ships and in hotels, restaurants, daycare centers, nursing homes, and hospitals.  

Botulism and Home Canning

Before eating canned foods, be sure that the jar seal is still intact, and that the food has normal color, smell, and appearance, advises Deidre L. Faust, MD.  

Avoiding E. Coli Infection

There are hundreds of harmless E. coli strains, but some can cause illness or even death. Outbreaks have been traced to ground beef, leafy vegetables, unpasteurized fruit juices, bean sprouts, and contaminated drinking water.  

Choice of Hospital Affects IBD Surgery Results

According to a recent study by MCW researchers, hospitals with higher annual volumes of inflammatory bowel disease patients who undergo surgery have lower in-hospital mortality rates than hospitals with lower volumes of IBD patients.  

Ongoing Outbreak from An Unusual Salmonella

An outbreak of illness caused by Salmonella Saintpaul is linked to certain types of raw red tomatoes and the products containing them. The infection, which is preventable with good hygiene, causes fever, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps.  

Nodules, Polyps and Cysts Can Affect Voice and Lifestyle

"Hoarseness and voice problems affect people's lives, socially and professionally," says Dr. Joel Blumin. "We have a world-class otolaryngology department here at the Medical College and there are things that we can do to help."  

Prevent Diverticulosis with Fiber and Exercise

Most patients are unaware that they have diverticulosis until they have symptoms or when the condition is found incidentally on a CT scan or during a colonoscopy for colon cancer screening.   

Iron Supplements Can Cause Discomfort for Some

Dr. Deirdre Faust explains how even people who are sensitive to supplemental iron can find ways to tolerate it.  

New Institute Supports Clinical and Translational Research

The Medical College's Clinical and Translational Science Institute is a new and innovative resource to support and advance education, collaboration and research in clinical and translational science.  

Conventional vs. Virtual Colonoscopy

Dr. Charles Marn discusses two of the alternatives available for colorectal cancer screening. "Offering patients options is a smart thing," he says. "The only bad option is to do nothing."  

Heartburn Drugs: Let Your Doctor Make Treatment Choices

Reza Shaker, MD, is heading up a new research effort to study the mechanisms that govern the biological interaction between the esophagus and the airway, and their changes due to disease or injury.   

Kidney Stones Are Painful, Yet Treatable

"The Medical College has been one of the major centers of kidney stone research for several decades," says Jeffrey A. Wesson, MD, PhD. "Our work is aimed at understanding the processes that lead to stone formation."   

Amino Acid Supplements Rarely Needed

Average Americans get adequate amino acids from their usual diet. They are in foods that one considers protein-rich: meats, fish, dairy, eggs, nuts, seeds, and legumes like black beans.  

Embarrassed? Talk to Your Doctor Anyway

Before recommending any kind of treatment, the first step is to be sure the diagnosis is actually hemorrhoids. It is worth a trip to the doctor.   

Rotavirus Vaccine Prevents Most Cases in Infants and Children

Rotavirus is very contagious, spreading easily from children who are already infected. In fact, nearly every child in the US has been infected by age 5.  

Excellent Care Makes Inflammatory Bowel Disease Manageable

"Our goal is to devise a unique treatment strategy for each patient to help them achieve excellent quality of life and durable remission."  

Medical and Psychosocial Factors of Weight Loss Surgery

Medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and sleep apnea are all substantially improved by surgical weight loss, says Dr. James Wallace. "The effects of the surgery are remarkable, and quite profound in all areas."  

Popular Diets Rarely Offer Long-Term Success

Dr. Shane Phillips has observed that many diets work in the beginning because they are designed around rapid weight reduction. "But typically," he cautions, "it is difficult to maintain the same rate of weight loss for long."  

Urinary Incontinence Can Usually Be Controlled

Dr. Mary Cohan offers many methods to help patients manage incontinence. "It is not considered a normal part of aging and there are simple ways to treat it," she notes. "Don't wait to seek treatment."   


 
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