Top Story

• Behavioral factors raise CRC risk among poor, study says
  Between one-third and nearly one-half of colorectal cancers among people with a low socioeconomic status can be attributed to behavioral factors such as diet, smoking, lack of exercise and being overweight, University of Pennsylvania researchers report. In an accompanying commentary, experts said the results underscore the need for better public health strategies to promote exercise and better nutrition. Medscape (free registration) (9/5)

Guide to Healthy Living

• Cut cancer with lifestyle changes, researcher says
  Lifestyle changes -- such as eating a healthy diet, exercising and not smoking -- could help prevent more than half of cancer cases, researcher Graham Colditz of the Washington University School of Medicine told a cancer conference. He said widespread immunizations for hepatitis B and human papillomavirus, and potentially the future development of a hepatitis C vaccine, could lead to a 100% reduction in viral-related cancer incidence, and that aspirin therapy and screenings can reduce mortality from colorectal cancer. Medscape (free registration) (9/5)

• Experts explain when a gluten-free trial may be worthwhile
  People who do not have celiac disease or gluten sensitivity but who have chronic digestive problems might consider a gluten-free trial period if they have exhausted all other options, experts say. Gastroenterologist Dr. Joel Mason of Tufts University said that even if these patients feel better while on the gluten-free plan, there still may be other explanations. The Boston Globe (tiered subscription model) (9/10)

• Cranberry juice may prevent recurrence of pediatric UTIs
  Children with a history of urinary tract infections who drank cranberry juice rich in proanthocyanidins were less likely to experience recurrent UTIs than those who consumed noncranberry juices, a Canadian study found. Dr. Hiep Nguyen of Boston Children's Hospital commented that ensuring children have good bathroom habits, including tackling constipation problems, also is important in warding off UTIs. Chicago Tribune/Reuters (free registration) (9/6)

• 22% of children are food insecure, USDA says
  Nationwide in 2011, about 22% of children lived in a home that could not provide "adequate, nutritious" food, according to a report by the USDA Economic Research Service. "While the majority of Americans have consistent, dependable access to nutritious food, food insecurity ... continues to be a challenge among certain low-income households at times during the year," said Kevin Concannon, undersecretary for food, nutrition and consumer services. The Washington Post/All We Can Eat blog (9/5)

• CDC: More Americans get their cholesterol checked
  The portion of adults who had been screened for high cholesterol increased from 2005 to 2009, CDC officials reported. The report was based on data from the Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System survey. Washington, D.C., led the U.S. with 84.5% of adults saying they had been tested, with Idaho the lowest at 67.7%. WebMD (9/6)

• Many childhood vaccines hit target rates, CDC says
  Vaccination coverage for several recommended routine vaccines exceeded the Healthy People 2020 target of 90% or more among young children in the U.S. in 2011, CDC researchers wrote in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. However, measles vaccination rates in 15 states were below 90%. HealthDay News (9/6)

Diagnosis & Treatment

• Study links probiotics to reduced IBS symptoms
  A small study in China found patients with irritable bowel syndrome who took a probiotic treatment containing the Bifidobacterium longum and Lactobacillus acidophilus bacteria over four weeks had reduced symptoms compared with a control group that took a placebo. Researchers found levels of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus bacteria were higher at the end of the study in the group that was given the probiotic treatment. DailyRx.com (9/6)

• Study: Raloxifene may boost HCV therapy in older women
  A Japanese study found adding raloxifene to the standard hepatitis C treatment of pegylated interferon alpha 2a and ribavirin led to better outcomes for some postmenopausal women. Pegylated interferon therapy, which is more effective in younger women, may be linked to estrogen secretion while raloxifene is a drug that may function as a protective estrogen agonist. Medscape (free registration) (9/3)

Clinical Trial Monitor

A selection of U.S. based clinical trials seeking participants

• Quality of Life in Barrett's Esophagus and GERD
  Missouri. clinicaltrials.gov

• Autoimmunity in Neurologic Complications of Celiac Disease
  Maryland, New York. clinicaltrials.gov

• Betrnet Stem Cells and the Origins of Barrett's Esophagus Project 3 RF Ablation (BetrnetRF)
  New York, Pennsylvania. clinicaltrials.gov

• HCV-TARGET- Hepatitis C Therapeutic Registry and Research Network
  California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio. clinicaltrials.gov

• Dose Ranging Study of Pegylated Interferon Lambda in Patients With Hepatitis B and Positive for the Hepatitis B e Antigen (LIRA-B)
  California, Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, South Korea, Netherlands, Singapore, Taiwan. clinicaltrials.gov

The Last Word

News and information from the American College of Gastroenterology

• Got gas? Get relief
  Although intestinal gas is unavoidable and can be embarrassing at times, you can control the symptoms by simply watching what you eat. Here are the 10 tips for relief of gas and bloating from the American College of Gastroenterology.

SmartQuote

Spend the afternoon. You can't take it with you." --Annie Dillard, American author