Curated GI articles January 7th, 2022: New deals – GI Alliance, Gastro Health, US Digestive Health, Virgo

GI Alliance Grows West Presence with Washington Gastroenterology Partnership (PR Newswire)
GI Alliance announced a partnership with Washington Gastroenterology, expanding GI Alliance’s western presence to Washington and the Pacific Northwest.

Gastro Health kicks off 2022 with 2 deals in Florida, Maryland (Becker’s GI & Endoscopy)
Miami-based Gastro Health is starting off the new year with two major deals in Maryland and Florida.

U.S. Digestive Health Expands Presence in Southeast PA (News Direct)
Amulet-backed US Digestive Health Management continues its rapid expansion by partnering with Northeast Philadelphia-based Gastrointestinal Specialists.

GI Alliance Partners with Digestive Disease Consultants (PR Newswire)
This expansion complements GI Alliance’s presence as the leading provider of independent GI care in the state and the Midwest.

Younger, older patients with metastatic colorectal cancer have similar survival outcomes (Healio)
Younger and older patients with metastatic colorectal cancer had similar survival outcomes despite differences in fitness levels and treatment intensity.

Virgo Raises Series A Financing to Expand Its Clinical Trial Acceleration Network for Endoscopy (Newswire)
Virgo Surgical Video Solutions will use this financing to expand the VirgoTrials platform and further accelerate distribution in the United States and internationally.

Artificial Intelligence for Disease Assessment in IBD: How Will it Change Our Practice? (AGA)
This review covers general concepts for AI in IBD with descriptions of common machine learning methods including decision trees and neural networks.

Long-Term Outcome of Multidisciplinary Versus Standard Gastroenterologist Care for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (MedPage Today)
The randomized trial aims to demonstrate if multidisciplinary care resulted in superior clinical and cost outcomes when compared with standard gastroenterologist-only care at end of treatment.

Are GI hospitalists the future of inpatient care? (MDedge)
The article discusses GI hospitalist service. Is this the new ideal, allowing for more efficient care?  Or are traditional or alternative models more appropriate?

Neurogastroenterology – Focus on the Gut-Brain Axis (Frontiers Media)
The issue highlights articles covering a broad range of investigations including the pathophysiology of functional disorders, the microbiome-gut-brain axis, and treatment options.

Crohn’s Strictures May Respond to Immunosuppressive Drug Therapy (Medscape)
Symptomatic strictures related to Crohn’s disease may respond to immunosuppressive drug therapy, with improvements in symptoms and stricture morphology.

Gut Microbiome and Gastrointestinal Cancer (Wolters Kluwer Health)
The link between the gut microbiome and GI cancer has been basically attributed to persistent activation of the host’s immune system by gut microbiota.

What will digital health M&A look like in 2022? (Medcity News)
Four experts shared their predictions on which sectors will see the most M&A, and which companies are likely to get together in the future.

FDA grants Breakthrough Designation to intestinal management system (Medtech News)
The MOWOOT device, with its patented ‘Intermittent Colonic Exoperistalsis’ technology, offers a purely physical, non-drug and non-invasive treatment for patients.

No benefits seen with clipping after endoscopic resection in large serrated polyps (Healio)
Among patients with large serrated polyps, the risk for bleeding after endoscopic mucosal resection was low, with no significant benefit seen with resection clipping, according to a study.

Predictions 2022: Covid-19 And Public Health (Forbes)
Omicron won’t be the last variant of concern. With very high levels of infection worldwide, mutations are inevitable, and so is the emergence of new variants of concern.

The Greatest Healthcare Hurdles for 2022 (MedPage Today)
Medical groups, health systems, and their physicians and staff must continue to develop forward-looking plans so they can provide high-quality, and accessible healthcare.

No Surprises Act faces multiple lawsuits against billing dispute provision (Healio)
The No Surprises Act, which officially took effect Jan. 1 as a way to protect patients from unexpected medical bills, already faces several lawsuits from health care organizations.

The challenges of reprocessing reusable flexible gastrointestinal endoscopes (Ambu Global)
Inadequate reprocessing may increase the risk of cross-contamination. The Whitepaper explores the contamination challenges posed by reprocessed gastrointestinal endoscopes.

January Issue of The American Journal of Gastroenterology Features Updated ACG Clinical Guidelines on Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (Newswise)
The inaugural issue includes articles on topics including CRC risk and screening, bariatric and metabolic therapies for obesity, endoscopic technique, pediatrics, IBD, GI symptoms in COVID-19, and more.

More Hot headlines in GI

Mainz Biomed Licenses mRNA Biomarkers for Colorectal Cancer (GenomeWeb)

Here are the Flexible Endoscopy Trends to Watch in 2022 (Single-use Endoscopy)

Gene Sequencing for IBD Patients Identifies Thromboembolic Risk (Gastroenterology & Endoscopy News)

Gastrointestinal Symptoms Linked to Severe COVID-19 Outcomes in Pediatric Patients (HCP Live)

5 priorities for the healthcare CFO of the future (Becker’s Hospital Review)

Screening: Young Adults and the Alarming Rise of Colorectal Cancer (Providence)

Crohn’s & Colitis Congress LIVE in Las Vegas January 20-22, 2022 (Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation)

Sleeping Position Matters in Patients With GERD (Medscape)

Data Promising, Inconclusive on JAK Inhibitors for Crohn’s Disease (HCP Live)

Sosei Heptares and Verily to collaborate on immune-mediated disease treatments
(Pharma Times)

Videos: Interviews with GI Leaders  (NextServices)