American Gastroenterological Association - Advancing the Science and Practice of Gastroenterology

News from the Literature | Practice | Awards | Policy | Research | Education & Meetings | Journals & Publications | Announcements

LEADING THE NEWS

NEWS FROM THE LITERATURE

IBD Patients Face Increased Skin Cancer Risk

There are limited data on the risk of nonmelanoma skin cancer among individuals with IBD, including those with or without exposure to immunosuppressant medications. A study in Gastroenterology found that the risk of basal cell skin cancer could be increased among individuals with IBD. Use of thiopurines increases the risk of squamous cell skin cancer among individuals with IBD.

Gastroenterology 2011: 141(5): 1612-1620

IL-5 Has Role in EoE Pathogenesis

The role of interleukin (IL)-5 in the pathogenesis of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) has been established in animal models; anti-IL-5 therapy has been reported to be effective in adults. IL-5 is involved in the pathogenesis of EoE in children, reported doctors in a study appearing in Gastroenterology. Mepolizumab, an antibody against IL-5, reduces esophageal eosinophilic inflammation in these patients.

Gastroenterology 2011: 141(5): 1593-1604

Liver Transplantation Improves Survival for Alcoholic Hepatitis

A six-month abstinence from alcohol is usually required before patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis are considered for liver transplantation. Patients whose hepatitis is not responding to medical therapy have a six-month survival rate of approximately 30 percent. Since most alcoholic hepatitis deaths occur within two months, early liver transplantation is attractive but controversial. According to study results published in the New England Journal of Medicine, early liver transplantation can improve survival in patients with a first episode of severe alcoholic hepatitis not responding to medical therapy.

New England Journal of Medicine 2011: 365: 1790-1800

Cannabinoid Agonist Reduces Fasting Colonic Motility

Cannabinoid receptors are located on cholinergic neurons. Genetic variants that affect endocannabinoid metabolism are associated with colonic transit in patients with IBS with diarrhea. In patients with IBS with diarrhea or IBS alternating, dronabinol reduces fasting colonic motility, according to data published in Gastroenterology. Fatty acid amide hydrolase and CNR1 variants could influence the effects of this drug on colonic motility.

Gastroenterology 2011: 141(5): 1638-1647

PRACTICE

CGH Image of the Month

A 12-Year-Old Boy with Poor Appetite
Patrick Buehr, Christian P. Braegger

A 12-year-old boy was admitted to a hospital with a four-week history of poor appetite. A few days before admission, he started to vomit two to three times daily. He had no other gastrointestinal symptoms and no fever. The boy was diagnosed with autism at the age of two years. He had developed a total lack of spoken language and severely impaired social interaction. During weekdays, he was looked after in a home for mentally disabled children, and during weekends and holidays he was at home with his parents. Clinical examination, which was limited because of poor cooperation, revealed no abnormal findings. Abdominal radiograph showed multiple radiopaque foreign bodies (figure).

Read more in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

AWARDS

World-Renowned Hepatologist to Receive AGA’s Highest Honor

The AGA Governing Board is pleased to announce that the 2012 Julius Friedenwald medal, AGA’s highest honor, will be awarded posthumously to Emmet B. Keeffe, MD, AGAF. The Friedenwald, which is given at DDW^®, recognizes a physician for lifelong contributions to the field of gastroenterology.

Dr. Keeffe was a world-renowned hepatologist and an indomitable spirit who gave selflessly to AGA. He died peacefully in August, after a sudden illness. His family will be invited to DDW 2012 in San Diego, CA to accept the Friedenwald medal on his behalf. In remembrance of Dr. Keeffe, the AGA Research Foundation has also created the new AGA-Emmet B. Keeffe Award in Translational or Clinical Research in Liver Disease to support young physician investigators working in liver disease research.

Read more about Dr. Keeffe in this profile written in 2004 when he became president of AGA.

POLICY

ASCs Will Benefit from New Payment Rates for 2012

AGA has reviewed the final rule for payments to ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) and hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs) for 2012 and prepared an in-depth analysis of the impact to GI.

Payments to ASCs will increase by 1.6 percent, and payment rates under the outpatient protective payment system will increase by 1.9 percent, effective Jan. 1, 2012. Review AGA’s payment analysis for GI codes paid under the ASC and the HOPD systems. 

CMS finalized the recommendation of AGA, ASGE and ACG to create a new upper level gastroenterology procedure ambulatory payment classification (APC) code (0419). This new APC level will allow for more equitable payment across gastroenterology procedures and enables procedures to be placed into groups that will more accurately reflect shared clinical and resource homogeneity. CMS also increased payments for APC 0422 (level III upper GI procedures). By establishing the new APC and increasing payments for APC 0422, facilities will be able to cover costs, and patients will have access to important and lifesaving procedures.

AGA has also prepared a detailed summary of the rule. Important for GIs is a new quality reporting program for ASCs. The final rule adopts five quality measures, including four outcome measures and one surgical infection control measure beginning in calendar year (CY) 2012 for the CY 2014 payment determination.

The final rule will appear in the Nov. 30, 2011, Federal Register.

RESEARCH

AGA Research Foundation Honors Dr. Keeffe

The inaugural AGA-Emmet B. Keeffe Award in Translational or Clinical Research in Liver Disease will provide a young physician investigator $70,000 for one year to pursue research on viral hepatitis, liver transplantation or other liver disease-themed areas.

This award, in memory of Emmet B. Keeffe, MD, will allow physician investigators to pursue independent, productive research careers in translational or clinical research related to liver disease. The award is designed for an assistant professor or junior faculty member appointed to this position within two years or less from the time of application, or a senior fellow in a hepatology training program. Candidates must devote at least 50 percent effort to research related to liver disease, and must be AGA members at the time of application submission.

Award recipients will be selected based on the novelty, feasibility and significance of the research proposed. The research environment and the attributes of the candidate will also be considered. Applications for the AGA-Keeffe award are due on Feb. 3.

Take Advantage of Upcoming Grant Opportunities

The AGA Research Foundation announces two grant opportunities in early 2012:

The Elsevier Pilot Research Award will give $25,000 for one year to investigators piloting GI or hepatology projects in different research directions than their prior focus. This provides time for investigators to obtain new data that can eventually lead to subsequent grant applications for a greater funding amount and longer period of time. The recipient will be selected based on novelty, importance, feasibility, environment, institutional commitment and the overall likelihood that the project will lead to subsequent, more substantial grants. The application deadline for this grant is Jan. 12.

Please also note that the deadline for the AGA-Takeda Research Scholar Award in GERD has been extended to Jan. 13. This award provides $60,000 per year for two years to young investigators working toward independent careers in gastroenterology, hepatology or related areas.

Nominations Open: Council Section Research Mentor Awards

The AGA Institute Council is currently accepting nominations for the DDW^® 2012 Council Section Research Mentor Awards. The deadline to submit a nomination packet is Dec. 15. We encourage you to forward information about the award to individuals you think might be interested.

Awards will be presented at DDW 2012 for outstanding research mentors in the following areas:

• Clinical Practice.
• Hormones, Transmitters, Growth Factors and their Receptors.
• Imaging and Advanced Technology.
• Immunology, Microbiology and Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.
• Liver and Biliary.
• Pancreatic Disorders.

Nominate someone today.

Your AGA Research Foundation Gifts Support ...

 … Benjamin Fox, Boston University, who received a 2011 AGA-Stuart Brotman Student Research Fellowship Award.

"The AGA-Stuart Brotman Student Research Award allows me to continue my research on pancreatic adenocarcinoma. With this award, I will not only be able to conduct research, but I will be able to do so with a new sense of motivation. I am working as a distinguished student and must perform as such. Ultimately, I hope this award allows me, in conjunction with my team, to make strides on our project. I hope to perform research in a medical context using, in part, the science and skills learned during my research under the AGA award. This award is a strong start to a research career."

To make a donation, visit http://www.gastro.org/contribute.

Keep up with the Latest Research Funding News on the Go

Are you a faculty member in GI or hepatology at a teaching hospital working on a research project? Are you a GI fellow looking for research opportunities or to make the eventual transition to becoming a faculty member? Do you participate in research opportunities in your private practice?

Regardless of what stage you are in along the continuum of medical student, to fellowship, to public or private practice, looking for grant opportunities has never been easier. With AGA Mobile Tools, you can keep tabs on the latest AGA research funding grants in gastroenterology and hepatology anytime, anywhere. Using a Web-enabled mobile device, users can view a list of available awards and find out about the stipulations for applying for each award and when applications are due. Research subsidies and the objectives of various projects to advance the science and understanding of GI and hepatology are also explained.

AGA Mobile Tools allows you to access real-time content from gastro.org and provides a way to monitor GI and hepatology research funding opportunities in real time. Best of all, it is free of charge. In addition to funding opportunities, AGA Mobile Tools serves as a convenient way for members and nonmembers to access handy, GI-specific reference tools, including AGA guidelines, the latest journal articles, news items, policy updates and more. Accessing AGA content has never been easier.
 
Add AGA Mobile Tools to your device today:

• iPhone/Blackberry/other devices — visit www.gastro.org/mobiletools on your mobile Web browser. The first time you access the site, you will be prompted to bookmark the page. Use your in-browser menu to add the bookmark.
• Android devices — download AGA Mobile Tools from the Android Marketplace.

EDUCATION & MEETINGS

Course Provides Strategies for Practice Management Success

Practice managers/administrators and physicians of all levels of experience should plan to attend the AGA Practice Management Course: New Strategies for Changing Times. The course will be held on Jan. 19 and 20, 2012, at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel, FL in conjunction with the AGA Clinical Congress. Led by a faculty of experienced physicians and practice management experts, the program will provide useful information on how to build a successful practice in a demanding health-care environment. Physicians can earn up to 8.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.

Focusing on strategies for successful practice management, attendees will learn how to:

• Implement financial and cost accounting best practices.
• Negotiate better managed care contracts.
• Identify new practice opportunities, including centers of excellence and new clinical service lines, and establish a women’s GI care center.
• Select the right electronic medical record.
• Recognize potential challenges and opportunities with accountable care organizations (ACOs).

As the congress sessions get underway on Friday morning for physicians, practice managers/administrators will participate in roundtable discussions where they will discuss common challenges facing GI practices and work to develop potential solutions. The course will conclude with a special session on the impact of health-care reform and ACOs in the GI practice.

Physicians who also register for the congress will receive a $100 discount on this course.

Learn more and register.

Discount on Functional GI Disorders Resources

AGA members will receive a 20 percent discount on the purchase of educational products from the Rome Foundation.

The Rome Foundation computer-based learning program is a collection of state-of-the-art slides that brings to life information from the Rome III book and updates this information from the recent scientific literature.

Designed by the world’s leading experts on functional GI disorders, the program is the product of a two-year effort by international clinicians and investigators. Using animations and videos, the slides illustrate concepts that can be difficult to explain verbally. Every image includes a clearly written description with key references.

The slides are available for purchase as a complete set of 825 images, as modules or as individual slides.

The Rome III book, available in English and Spanish, is designed for one-stop learning about functional GI disorders. It serves as a valuable resource to general and specialist physicians, mental health professionals, and basic and clinical investigators.

Both products can be purchased from the Rome Foundation’s online store. Enter the discount code AGAMEMBER to save 20 percent on your order.

Pre-Registration Deadline Approaching IBD Conference

Nov. 23, 2011, is the pre-registration deadline for the Advances in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s Clinical & Research Conference, which will be held Dec. 1–3, 2011, in Hollywood, FL. By registering by Nov. 23, registrants will save $100 on the registration fee.

This meeting is endorsed by leading organizations, including the AGA Institute; the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition; and the ACG. Visit the AGA booth at the meeting to learn how the AGA Digestive Health Outcomes Registry^® can help you monitor IBD patient care and track interventions. Not attending the meeting? Visit www.agaregistry.org.

JOURNALS & PUBLICATIONS

Call for Papers on Clinical Trials: Gastroenterology

Gastroenterology is committed to advancing clinical practice in the field of digestive disease. Recognizing that clinical trials generally have the greatest impact of all studies on clinical practice, Editor Anil K. Rustgi, MD, and his associate editors strongly encourage authors to submit their manuscripts on clinical trials (diagnostic validation, therapeutic efficacy) of drugs, biological materials and devices in digestive, liver and pancreatic diseases, including studies at Phases I, II and especially III, to Gastroenterology for consideration. The journal is also interested in publishing trials in endoscopic and imaging modalities.

There are several important reasons to submit clinical trial research for publication in Gastroenterology:

• With an impact factor of 12.9, Gastroenterology is the premier journal in the field.
• Gastroenterology is the journal that will directly reach the largest portion of physicians who care for and make treatment decisions for patients with GI or liver disease.
• Authors who submit their manuscripts to Gastroenterology typically will receive decisions within three weeks or fewer.
• Accepted manuscripts will be published online and indexed on PubMed within 10 days of acceptance.

To submit your manuscript to Gastroenterology, go to www.editorialmanager.com/gastro.

For important information on how to report clinical trials, go to www.gastrojournal.org/authorinfo. To review the current and past issues of the journal, go to www.gastrojournal.org.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Tweets Worth a Second Look

Here are some of last week's tweets that are worth a second look:

• There’s Never Been a Better Time to Be a Doctor via @Doctor_V: ow.ly/7lbsq.
• Will the low-Fodmaps diet gain traction in the U.S.? RT @gastromom: FodMaps Diet for #IBS (irritable bowel) ow.ly/7mEwf.
• A new FREE Image of the Month article describes the perforation of the small bowel by a toothpick. CGH: ow.ly/7ofN6.
• Is there really a growing trend among researchers, health officials to use #SoMe to examine public health & improve it? ow.ly/7opdF.
• Study reports gastro-jejunal bypass sleeve led to weight loss, improved comorbidities after a year. ow.ly/7mVLy.

Have any news that you would like us to share with our AGA members? Please send them to communications@gastro.org or share them on our social media channels:

• Become an AGA fan on Facebook.
• Join our LinkedIn group.
• Follow us on Twitter @AmerGastroAssn.
• Check out our videos on YouTube.

Classifieds

Place GI Position Listings and Activity Announcements

For as little as $82.50, you can place a classified ad of 100 words or less in AGA's weekly e-mail newsletter, AGA eDigest, or AGA's bi-monthly magazine, AGA Perspectives. If you place ads in both AGA Perspectives and AGA eDigest, you will receive a 10 percent discount. Advertising in either includes a free online classified listing. Learn more.

Global Probiotics Council — Young Investigator Grant for Probiotics Research
The Global Probiotics Council, a committee established in 2004 by DANONE and YAKULT HONSHA CO., LTD., has announced the fifth annual Young Investigator Grant for Probiotics Research. The purpose of the two annual grants of $50,000 each is to contribute to the advancement of probiotics and gastrointestinal microbiota research in the U.S., and to impact academic and career development of young investigators, attracting them into the field of probiotics and microbiota.

Deadline: Feb. 15, 2012.

The official announcement and description of this opportunity may be found at:
http://www.probioticsresearch.com/.

Florida
North Florida Gastroenterology
Orange Park, FL

An established and successful practice located in northeast Florida is seeking qualified gastroenterologists to join our group. There are two positions open at this time:

Hospital-based (GI hospitalist) associate

• Covering one hospital.
• No weekend night call.
• 1/3 weekend coverage.
• Generous salary and comprehensive benefit package.

Full-time associate

• Competitive salary.
• Generous benefits package.
• Area qualifies for a J1 waiver.

If interested in exploring joining our team, please contact A. Affan Quadri, MD, at:

• Direct line / 904-505-8384.
• Office phone / 904-298-2272.
• Office fax / 904-298-2282.
• Office e-mail / nflge@yahoo.com.

Kentucky
The division of gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition at the University of Louisville is seeking to expand its group of 17 academic faculty members in the areas of GI motility, IBD and therapeutic endoscopy. There is tremendous opportunity and support for clinicians, as well as translational and clinical researchers. Louisville is a very dynamic multicultural community. The University of Louisville is an equal opportunity affirmative action employer. Interested candidates are invited to submit a curriculum vitae to Kristine Krueger, MD, professor and chief, academic and clinical affairs, division of gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY 40292 or kristine.krueger@louisville.edu.

North Dakota
Regional Leaders in Gastroenterology
Immediate openings for BC/BE gastroenterologists interested in practicing in an organization experiencing dynamic growth and development. This procedure-oriented practice with Sanford Health Fargo offers you a great work-life balance with a call schedule of 1:8. Procedures preformed include ERCP, EUS, SpyGlass^® and capsule studies. Consults only in 583-bed level II trauma center with EMR and PACS. Opportunity to teach medical students and IM residents. Sanford Health Fargo consists of 585+ physicians located in Fargo and 34 regional primary care clinics.

Fargo, ND, with a metro population of 190,000, is a diverse, stimulating and family-oriented city with all the amenities that make for a satisfying and fulfilling life. We offer exceptional K-12 and higher education systems, world-class health care, affordable housing, low cost of living, and myriad cultural and entertainment opportunities.

Jean Keller, physician recruiter
Sanford Health Physician Placement
Phone: 701-280-4853
E-mail: Jean.Keller@sanfordhealth.org

J1 candidates accepted.