Top Story

• CDC: Data link colorectal cancer to obesity, inactivity
  Overall cancer rates declined in the U.S. from 2004 to 2008, including fewer incidences of and deaths from colorectal cancer, which is credited to increased screening, the CDC reported. However, data from thousands of studies have linked obesity and lack of physical activity to higher risks of colorectal cancer. WebMD (3/28)

Guide to Healthy Living

• Gluten-free's image improves
  The term "gluten-free" used to mean food did not taste good, but now it has shed its negative image, says Alice Bast, who is president of the National Celiac Awareness Foundation. However, the increased attention to and popularity of gluten-free food, even among people who do not have celiac disease, also has led to more processed food, unproven dietary claims and restaurant foods that do not live up to "gluten-free" claims. The Sacramento Bee (Calif.)/McClatchy Newspapers (free registration) (4/2)

• Book suggests lifestyle changes to fight acid reflux
  Gastroenterologist Jorge Rodriguez's book "The Acid Reflux Solution" offers simple ways to reduce symptoms. Suggestions include eating smaller but more frequent meals, reducing carbohydrate consumption, raising the head of the bed, sleeping on the left side, and reducing the use of alcohol and tobacco. U.S. News & World Report (3/30)

• "Antioxidant" is too generic, professor says
  The term "antioxidant" is too generic and should be banned from food labels in favor of detailed nutrient information, said professor Carl Keen of the University of California, Davis. He said specific information could be provided about which fruits and vegetables to eat and cardiovascular risk factors related to food. FoodNavigator (3/30)

• Undy5000 run/walk wraps up Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
  Hundreds of people in St. Louis wrapped up Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month by donning their underwear and participating in the Undy 5000 run/walk sponsored by the Colon Cancer Alliance to raise awareness of the disease. “I had no symptoms at all. I had no idea," said emcee Roche Madden, who was diagnosed with colon cancer during a routine colonoscopy. KTVI-TV (St. Louis) (3/31)

• Other News

• Water reduces constipation, improves health, dietitian says
  Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) (3/29)

Diagnosis & Treatment

• Study: 55% of CRC survivors get surveillance testing
  A study found 55% of colorectal cancer survivors got recommended surveillance testing and 73% had nonrecommended metastatic testing, according researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Lower rates of screening were found among colon cancer survivors ages 75 and older, while younger age and comorbidities were linked with higher rates of nonrecommended metastatic disease testing PhysiciansBriefing.com/HealthDay News (3/30)

• Study finds higher radiation exposure among GI disease patients
  Patients with gastrointestinal diseases showed increased levels of cumulative radiation exposure from 1999 to 2009, which reveals a need for evidence-based imaging guidelines, according to a study from Cork University Hospital in Ireland. Researchers said the benefits of diagnostic imaging for people with disorders of the GI tract, such as Crohn's disease, are clear bu,t for those with functional GI disorders the procedures may not be as beneficial. CMIO.net (3/30)

• Same-day bowel prep works well for some patients, physician says
  Dr. David Kastenberg of Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia uses a one-day bowel preparation regimen for some patients, which makes it easier to prepare for a colonoscopy to screen for colorectal cancer. He says it is as effective as the traditional preparation but is not for all patients, including people with diabetes. WPVI-TV (Philadelphia) (3/30)

Clinical Trial Monitor

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

• Pregabalin on Colonic Motor and Sensory Function in Constipation Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome
  Minnesota. clinicaltrials.gov

• Assessment of Efficacy and Safety in Relieving Opioid-induced Constipation in Patients With Cancer-related Pain
  Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Australia, Belgium, Czech Republic, Poland, Puerto Rico, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain. clinicaltrials.gov

• Low-Literacy Physician-Patient Intervention Promoting Colorectal Cancer Screening
  Illinois. clinicaltrials.gov

• Glutamine for the Treatment of Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome
  Ohio. clinicaltrials.gov

• Oral Zinc for the Treatment of Acute Diarrhea in US Children
  Massachusetts. clinicaltrials.gov

The Last Word

News and information from the American College of Gastroenterology

• Obesity: Do you know your GI risks?
  Do you weigh more than you should? Losing weight is more than about looking good, it is about being healthy. If your goal is to shed excess pounds, you're not alone. Millions of people suffer from obesity, which, if left untreated, could potentially lead to serious health problems. From ACG, Obesity: Do You Know Your GI Risks? will provide you information about obesity, its dangers, what you can do to improve your health and tools and tips to help you succeed. While exercise and diet are essential to weight loss, surgery may be necessary for severely obese patients. Learn more about laparoscopic obesity surgery here.

SmartQuote

Among those whom I like or admire, I can find no common denominator, but among those whom I love, I can: All of them make me laugh." --W.H. Auden, British-American poet