Top Story

• A dietitian looks back at what was learned last year
  Americans are still obese but are realizing the importance of healthy lifestyle behaviors, such as adequate sleep and low stress levels, registered dietitian Nicole German writes. Some other lessons: Organic doesn't always mean healthy, and apples have the highest pesticide levels of any produce. Diet-Blog.com (12/31)

Guide to Healthy Living

• Review: Slightly obese patients show lower mortality risk
  Researchers reviewing nearly 100 studies found further evidence of the "obesity paradox" -- the notion that being somewhat overweight is associated with better health. People who were overweight or slightly obese showed a 6% lower mortality risk than normal-weight patients, according to the study. However, severe obesity was associated with a 29% higher mortality risk, and researchers said the paradox could be a statistical anomaly or an indication that body mass index is a flawed metric. Reuters (1/1)

• Fructose intake may promote hunger, study finds
  A Yale University study found fructose did not help lower blood flow in the appetite-regulating regions of the brain, and failed to prompt satiety signals, whereas glucose did. The findings suggest that fructose may contribute to the obesity epidemic by promoting hunger, food intake and insulin resistance, researchers said. The Daily Mail (London) (1/2)

Diagnosis & Treatment

• Review: Few HCV patients continue treatment to SVR
  A review of 25 studies found 3% of patients with hepatitis C and 6% of those with HCV and HIV continued treatments to the point of achieving a sustained virologic response. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center researchers said while new HCV drugs can cure the disease, the side effects can be greater than those seen with older antiviral medications, possibly lowering adherence. They recommended that physicians address treatment concerns with patients to ensure compliance. News-Medical.Net/Medwire News (12/31)

• Constipation drug meets clinical trial objectives
  An experimental drug for treatment of chronic constipation met its main and secondary goals, when compared with a placebo, Synergy Pharmaceuticals reported. Results from the 12-week study showed that more patients on Synergy's drug plecanatide had a complete emptying of bowels, compared with those on a placebo. Reuters (1/2)

• Genetic mapping technique IDs 200-plus Crohn's genes
  Researchers at University College London found more than 200 genes linked to Crohn's disease using a new genetic mapping technique. Many of the genes are associated with immune and inflammatory mechanisms. News-Medical.Net/Medwire News (12/31)

• Research may hold promise for earlier celiac diagnosis
  Researchers at the University of California, Santa Barbara, have identified new celiac disease antibodies and a method for capturing them in an effort to develop earlier tests and help people avoid significant intestinal damage from undiagnosed disease. Statistical tests based on the research suggest the novel approach can identify 85% of people who have celiac disease and 91% of those who don't, a level of accuracy that is nearly as good as existing diagnostics. Chemical & Engineering News (1/2)

Policy Watch

• Conflicting HCV screening recommendations spark debate
  Controversy arose in 2012 when the CDC recommended that all adults born from 1945 through 1965 be screened for hepatitis C, but the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force made a softer draft recommendation, saying HCV screening should be considered for baby boomers. Forty-five to 85% of adults with chronic HCV are unaware they have the disease, and 76.5% of Americans who have HCV are baby boomers, the CDC says. However, the USPSTF said routinely screening baby boomers would not yield a high benefit. MedPage Today (free registration) (12/27)

• Congress moves to postpone physician fee cuts
  Congress has voted to delay for one year scheduled Medicare physician payment cuts as part of a "fiscal cliff" deal, extending current Medicare rates by one year. The cost of the temporary fix is covered through changes to other Medicare initiatives, including some that affect hospitals. MedPage Today (free registration) (1/1), Modern Healthcare (free registration) (1/1)

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The Last Word

News and information from the American College of Gastroenterology

• Colon cancer: Have you been screened?
  If you are 50 or over or have a family history of colon cancer, you should be screened. African-Americans should be screened beginning at age 45. Colon cancer is one of the most preventable -- and curable -- types of cancer when detected early. Since the risk of colon cancer increases with age, getting screened is essential. Learn more about colon cancer, who is at risk and when you should get tested. If you have a colonoscopy scheduled or would like to learn more about what to expect during the procedure, see the video, What to Expect During a Colonoscopy.

SmartQuote

Birds sing after a storm; why shouldn't people feel as free to delight in whatever remains to them?" --Rose Kennedy, American philanthropist