FDA Approves First Disposable Duodenoscope, Reducing Infection Risk

FRIDAY, Dec. 13, 2019 -- Improperly cleaned duodenoscopes -- a type of endoscope used to diagnose illness in the pancreas and bile ducts -- have been linked to hundreds of cases of severe, sometimes fatal, infections in patients.

Now, U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of the first disposable duodenoscope should pave the wave for procedures that nearly eliminate that worry.

AHA News: Quitting Smoking Could Lead to Major Changes in Gut Bacteria

FRIDAY, Nov. 15, 2019 (American Heart Association News) -- Quitting smoking leads to major changes in intestinal bacteria, according to new research. But just what the changes mean will need further investigation.

The small pilot study, to be presented Monday during the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions in Philadelphia, comes in the wake of past research showing a link between bacteria in the gut and cardiovascular health. That past work has shown smoking is associated with a decrease in diversity in the types of beneficial bacteria living in the gut.

Popular Heartburn Drugs May Up Odds of Stomach Bug

WEDNESDAY, Nov. 27, 2019 -- If you're one of the millions who rely on medications known as proton pump inhibitors for relief from heartburn, you may be at higher risk of illness from a stomach bug, new research suggests.

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) include medications such as Nexium, Prevacid, Protonix and Prilosec.

Sooner Is Usually Better for Gallbladder Surgery

THURSDAY, Oct. 31, 2019 -- If someone is hospitalized for a painful gallbladder attack, new research suggests that surgery probably shouldn't wait.

Doctors may typically hold off on operating until gallbladder inflammation has gone down and antibiotics have started working on an infection. But the study found that waiting more than 72 hours for surgery led to a higher rate of complications and longer hospital stays.

Many Common Meds Could Alter Your Microbiome

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 23, 2019 -- Some widely used drugs alter the population of microbes in the gut, and a number raise the risk of antibiotic resistance, a new Dutch study shows.

The gut microbiome includes at least 1,000 species of bacteria and is influenced by a number of different factors, including medication. Research suggests that changes in the gut microbiome are associated with obesity, diabetes, liver diseases, cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.

Tainted Fecal Transplant Killed One Patient -- More Vigilance Needed

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 30, 2019 -- Fecal transplants can bring the promise of an improved microbiome in ill patients, but a new report suggests they are not risk-free.

In a fecal transplant, donated fecal matter is processed and put into capsules for patients to swallow. Once in the gut, the capsules dissolve, releasing new, healthy bacteria into the gut.