Easier Colon Exam Boosts Screening, But Insurers May Not Pay

TUESDAY, July 11, 2017 -- People with insurance that covers virtual colonoscopy are nearly 50 percent more likely to get screened for colon cancer, a new study shows.

Scientists Spot Genes Behind Crohn's, Ulcerative Colitis

THURSDAY, June 29, 2017 -- Researchers say they've come closer to pinpointing genes linked with inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's and ulcerative colitis.

For the study, the investigators examined the genomes of nearly 68,000 people. Of the regions of the genome associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), 18 could be traced to a single genetic variant with more than 95 percent certainty.

Can Your Heartburn Meds Shorten Your Life?

MONDAY, July 3, 2017 -- Popular heartburn medications like Nexium, Prilosec or Prevacid may increase your risk of early death when taken for extended periods, a new study suggests.

Further, the longer you take these drugs, known as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), the greater your risk of early death, said senior researcher Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly. He is a kidney specialist and assistant professor of medicine with the Washington University School of Medicine, in St. Louis.

U.S. Hospitals Still Prescribe Too Many Antibiotics: Study

THURSDAY, June 15, 2017 -- About 20 percent of U.S. hospital patients who receive antibiotics experience side effects from the drugs, researchers report.

The new study included nearly 1,500 hospitalized adults who were prescribed antibiotics. The findings revealed that one-fifth of those who experienced antibiotic-related side effects didn't require the drugs in the first place.

'Good' Donor Bacteria Can Last Long Term in Stool Transplant Patients

FRIDAY, June 16, 2017 -- Researchers say their small study offers the first proof that therapeutic donor microbes remain for months or years in patients who've undergone stool transplants.

Medically known as "fecal microbiota transplantation" (FMT), the procedure is used to treat severe diarrhea and colitis caused by repeated Clostridium difficile infections, the researchers explained.

The Water's Not Fine: U.S. Pool-Linked Infection Doubles in 2 Years

THURSDAY, May 18, 2017 -- Families seeking to cool off don't expect to pick up a nasty infection. Yet, outbreaks of a diarrhea-causing parasitic infection have doubled in recent years at swimming pools and water playgrounds in the United States, health officials warn.

At least 32 outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis were reported in 2016, compared with 16 outbreaks in 2014, according to a new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.