Society News

Cardiovascular Medicine and Surgery

Use of hepatitis C donors in thoracic organ transplantation: Reportedly associated with increased risk of rejection

Mark Jay Zucker, MD, JD, FCCP

Vice-Chair

Transplanting organs from hepatitis C (HCV) antibody and/or antigen-positive donors is associated with a greater than 8%-90% likelihood that the recipient will acquire the infection. Several studies reported that if HCV conversion happened, the outcomes in both heart and lung recipients were worse, even if treated with interferon/ribavirin (Haji SA, et al J Heart Lung Transplant. 2004;23:277; Wang BY, et al. Ann Thorac Surg. 2010 May;89[5]:1645; Carreno MC, et al. J Heart Lung Transplant. 2001;20(2):224). Thus, despite the shortage of thoracic organ donors and high wait-list mortality, the practice was strongly discouraged.

In 2016, the successful use of a direct-acting antiviral (DAA) for 12 weeks to eliminate HCV in a lung transplant recipient of a seropositive organ was published (Khan B, et al. Am J Transplant. 2017;17:1129). Two years later, the outcomes of seronegative heart (n=8) or lung (n=36) transplant recipients receiving organs from seropositive donors were presented (Woolley AE, et al. N Engl J Med. 2019;380:1606). Forty-two of the patients had viremia within days of the operation. All patients were treated with 4 weeks of a DAA and, of the 35 patients available for 6-month analysis, viral load was undetectable in all. Of concern, however—more cellular rejection requiring treatment was seen in the lung recipients of HCV+ donors compared with recipients of HCV- donors. The difference was not statistically significant.

The largest analysis of the safety of HCV+ donors in HCV- thoracic organ transplant recipients involved 343 heart transplant recipients (Kilic A, et al. J Am Heart Assoc. 2020;9(2):e014495). No differences were noted in outcomes, strokes, need for dialysis, or incidence of treated rejection during the first year. However, the observation regarding rejection was not subsequently confirmed by the NYU team (Gidea CG, et al. J Heart Lung Transplant. 2020;39:1199). Of 22 HCV- recipients of an HCV donor with viremia, the rate of rejection was 64% vs 18% in 28 patients receiving a donor without viremia (through day 180 (P=.001)).

In summary, the ability of DAAs to render 97%-99% of immunosuppressed transplant recipients HCV seronegative has transformed the landscape and HCV viremia in the donor (or recipient) and is no longer an absolute contraindication to transplantation. However, more information is needed as to whether there is an increased incidence of rejection.


 

Cardiovascular Medicine and Surgery

Use of hepatitis C donors in thoracic organ transplantation: Reportedly associated with increased risk of rejection

Mark Jay Zucker, MD, JD, FCCP

Vice-Chair

Transplanting organs from hepatitis C (HCV) antibody and/or antigen-positive donors is associated with a greater than 8%-90% likelihood that the recipient will acquire the infection. Several studies reported that if HCV conversion happened, the outcomes in both heart and lung recipients were worse, even if treated with interferon/ribavirin (Haji SA, et al J Heart Lung Transplant. 2004;23:277; Wang BY, et al. Ann Thorac Surg. 2010 May;89[5]:1645; Carreno MC, et al. J Heart Lung Transplant. 2001;20(2):224). Thus, despite the shortage of thoracic organ donors and high wait-list mortality, the practice was strongly discouraged.

In 2016, the successful use of a direct-acting antiviral (DAA) for 12 weeks to eliminate HCV in a lung transplant recipient of a seropositive organ was published (Khan B, et al. Am J Transplant. 2017;17:1129). Two years later, the outcomes of seronegative heart (n=8) or lung (n=36) transplant recipients receiving organs from seropositive donors were presented (Woolley AE, et al. N Engl J Med. 2019;380:1606). Forty-two of the patients had viremia within days of the operation. All patients were treated with 4 weeks of a DAA and, of the 35 patients available for 6-month analysis, viral load was undetectable in all. Of concern, however—more cellular rejection requiring treatment was seen in the lung recipients of HCV+ donors compared with recipients of HCV- donors. The difference was not statistically significant.

The largest analysis of the safety of HCV+ donors in HCV- thoracic organ transplant recipients involved 343 heart transplant recipients (Kilic A, et al. J Am Heart Assoc. 2020;9(2):e014495). No differences were noted in outcomes, strokes, need for dialysis, or incidence of treated rejection during the first year. However, the observation regarding rejection was not subsequently confirmed by the NYU team (Gidea CG, et al. J Heart Lung Transplant. 2020;39:1199). Of 22 HCV- recipients of an HCV donor with viremia, the rate of rejection was 64% vs 18% in 28 patients receiving a donor without viremia (through day 180 (P=.001)).

In summary, the ability of DAAs to render 97%-99% of immunosuppressed transplant recipients HCV seronegative has transformed the landscape and HCV viremia in the donor (or recipient) and is no longer an absolute contraindication to transplantation. However, more information is needed as to whether there is an increased incidence of rejection.


 

Cardiovascular Medicine and Surgery

Use of hepatitis C donors in thoracic organ transplantation: Reportedly associated with increased risk of rejection

Mark Jay Zucker, MD, JD, FCCP

Vice-Chair

Transplanting organs from hepatitis C (HCV) antibody and/or antigen-positive donors is associated with a greater than 8%-90% likelihood that the recipient will acquire the infection. Several studies reported that if HCV conversion happened, the outcomes in both heart and lung recipients were worse, even if treated with interferon/ribavirin (Haji SA, et al J Heart Lung Transplant. 2004;23:277; Wang BY, et al. Ann Thorac Surg. 2010 May;89[5]:1645; Carreno MC, et al. J Heart Lung Transplant. 2001;20(2):224). Thus, despite the shortage of thoracic organ donors and high wait-list mortality, the practice was strongly discouraged.

In 2016, the successful use of a direct-acting antiviral (DAA) for 12 weeks to eliminate HCV in a lung transplant recipient of a seropositive organ was published (Khan B, et al. Am J Transplant. 2017;17:1129). Two years later, the outcomes of seronegative heart (n=8) or lung (n=36) transplant recipients receiving organs from seropositive donors were presented (Woolley AE, et al. N Engl J Med. 2019;380:1606). Forty-two of the patients had viremia within days of the operation. All patients were treated with 4 weeks of a DAA and, of the 35 patients available for 6-month analysis, viral load was undetectable in all. Of concern, however—more cellular rejection requiring treatment was seen in the lung recipients of HCV+ donors compared with recipients of HCV- donors. The difference was not statistically significant.

The largest analysis of the safety of HCV+ donors in HCV- thoracic organ transplant recipients involved 343 heart transplant recipients (Kilic A, et al. J Am Heart Assoc. 2020;9(2):e014495). No differences were noted in outcomes, strokes, need for dialysis, or incidence of treated rejection during the first year. However, the observation regarding rejection was not subsequently confirmed by the NYU team (Gidea CG, et al. J Heart Lung Transplant. 2020;39:1199). Of 22 HCV- recipients of an HCV donor with viremia, the rate of rejection was 64% vs 18% in 28 patients receiving a donor without viremia (through day 180 (P=.001)).

In summary, the ability of DAAs to render 97%-99% of immunosuppressed transplant recipients HCV seronegative has transformed the landscape and HCV viremia in the donor (or recipient) and is no longer an absolute contraindication to transplantation. However, more information is needed as to whether there is an increased incidence of rejection.


 

The AGA GI Patient Center has released a new brochure entitled “Biologic and biosimilar medicines: What you need to know.” The new brochure includes interactive elements like quizzes, medication sheets, symptom tracker, and the option of audibly listening to the pages.

The brochure provides patients with:

• An overview of the immune system.

• Background on immune-mediated conditions.

• Biologics and biosimilars: What are they?

• Information on biosimilars and generics.

• Cost of biologics and biosimilars.

• The importance of adhering to their treatment plan.

• Tips to start the conversation with their provider.

• Safety of biologics and biosimilars.

Share this new resource with your patients by printing, linking from your practice website, or emailing the link to your patients. Visit the AGA GI Patient Center page dedicated to biosimilars for more at gastro.org/biosimilars.

AGA members will also receive print copies of the new brochure this month. Order additional copies for your practice at http://www.agaresources.com/order_biosimilars.php. The brochure was reviewed by Jami Kinnucan, MD, and Rajeev Jain, MD, AGAF, AGA Patient Education Adviser.

View the interactive brochure at https://bit.ly/2JYE5tI.This brochure was funded by an independent medical education grant from Pfizer Inc.

[email protected]

The AGA GI Patient Center has released a new brochure entitled “Biologic and biosimilar medicines: What you need to know.” The new brochure includes interactive elements like quizzes, medication sheets, symptom tracker, and the option of audibly listening to the pages.

The brochure provides patients with:

• An overview of the immune system.

• Background on immune-mediated conditions.

• Biologics and biosimilars: What are they?

• Information on biosimilars and generics.

• Cost of biologics and biosimilars.

• The importance of adhering to their treatment plan.

• Tips to start the conversation with their provider.

• Safety of biologics and biosimilars.

Share this new resource with your patients by printing, linking from your practice website, or emailing the link to your patients. Visit the AGA GI Patient Center page dedicated to biosimilars for more at gastro.org/biosimilars.

AGA members will also receive print copies of the new brochure this month. Order additional copies for your practice at http://www.agaresources.com/order_biosimilars.php. The brochure was reviewed by Jami Kinnucan, MD, and Rajeev Jain, MD, AGAF, AGA Patient Education Adviser.

View the interactive brochure at https://bit.ly/2JYE5tI.This brochure was funded by an independent medical education grant from Pfizer Inc.

[email protected]

The AGA GI Patient Center has released a new brochure entitled “Biologic and biosimilar medicines: What you need to know.” The new brochure includes interactive elements like quizzes, medication sheets, symptom tracker, and the option of audibly listening to the pages.

The brochure provides patients with:

• An overview of the immune system.

• Background on immune-mediated conditions.

• Biologics and biosimilars: What are they?

• Information on biosimilars and generics.

• Cost of biologics and biosimilars.

• The importance of adhering to their treatment plan.

• Tips to start the conversation with their provider.

• Safety of biologics and biosimilars.

Share this new resource with your patients by printing, linking from your practice website, or emailing the link to your patients. Visit the AGA GI Patient Center page dedicated to biosimilars for more at gastro.org/biosimilars.

AGA members will also receive print copies of the new brochure this month. Order additional copies for your practice at http://www.agaresources.com/order_biosimilars.php. The brochure was reviewed by Jami Kinnucan, MD, and Rajeev Jain, MD, AGAF, AGA Patient Education Adviser.

View the interactive brochure at https://bit.ly/2JYE5tI.This brochure was funded by an independent medical education grant from Pfizer Inc.

[email protected]

The AGA GI Patient Center has released a new resource to support patients infected with C. difficile. The resource includes “Understanding C. diff infection” video and a patient brochure entitled “Navigating Your C. diff Diagnosis.”

C. diff, a bacterium known to cause bad GI symptoms like nausea and watery diarrhea, infects nearly 500,000 Americans every year and often calls for hospitalization. The AGA GI Patient Center has curated a new patient education page to assist and to share directly with your patients to prepare them for their visit. The article includes C. difficile-specific guidance on:

• Symptoms.

• Risk factors.

• Getting tested.

• Treatment.

• Complications.

Share this new resource with your patients by printing, linking from your practice website, or emailing the link to your patients. Visit gastro.org/cdiff to view the new video and brochure.

The “Navigating Your C. diff Diagnosis” brochure was reviewed by Rajeev Jain, MD, AGAF, AGA Patient Education Advisor, Texas Digestive Disease Consultants, Dallas, and Alexander Khoruts, MD, AGA Center for Gut Microbiome Research and Education Scientific Advisory Board, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. AGA members will also receive print copies of the new brochure this month.

This program was supported by an independent educational grant from Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

[email protected]

The AGA GI Patient Center has released a new resource to support patients infected with C. difficile. The resource includes “Understanding C. diff infection” video and a patient brochure entitled “Navigating Your C. diff Diagnosis.”

C. diff, a bacterium known to cause bad GI symptoms like nausea and watery diarrhea, infects nearly 500,000 Americans every year and often calls for hospitalization. The AGA GI Patient Center has curated a new patient education page to assist and to share directly with your patients to prepare them for their visit. The article includes C. difficile-specific guidance on:

• Symptoms.

• Risk factors.

• Getting tested.

• Treatment.

• Complications.

Share this new resource with your patients by printing, linking from your practice website, or emailing the link to your patients. Visit gastro.org/cdiff to view the new video and brochure.

The “Navigating Your C. diff Diagnosis” brochure was reviewed by Rajeev Jain, MD, AGAF, AGA Patient Education Advisor, Texas Digestive Disease Consultants, Dallas, and Alexander Khoruts, MD, AGA Center for Gut Microbiome Research and Education Scientific Advisory Board, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. AGA members will also receive print copies of the new brochure this month.

This program was supported by an independent educational grant from Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

[email protected]

The AGA GI Patient Center has released a new resource to support patients infected with C. difficile. The resource includes “Understanding C. diff infection” video and a patient brochure entitled “Navigating Your C. diff Diagnosis.”

C. diff, a bacterium known to cause bad GI symptoms like nausea and watery diarrhea, infects nearly 500,000 Americans every year and often calls for hospitalization. The AGA GI Patient Center has curated a new patient education page to assist and to share directly with your patients to prepare them for their visit. The article includes C. difficile-specific guidance on:

• Symptoms.

• Risk factors.

• Getting tested.

• Treatment.

• Complications.

Share this new resource with your patients by printing, linking from your practice website, or emailing the link to your patients. Visit gastro.org/cdiff to view the new video and brochure.

The “Navigating Your C. diff Diagnosis” brochure was reviewed by Rajeev Jain, MD, AGAF, AGA Patient Education Advisor, Texas Digestive Disease Consultants, Dallas, and Alexander Khoruts, MD, AGA Center for Gut Microbiome Research and Education Scientific Advisory Board, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. AGA members will also receive print copies of the new brochure this month.

This program was supported by an independent educational grant from Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

[email protected]

As the new year begins, we hope you’ll consider including a gift to the AGA Research Foundation in your will or living trust.

It’s simple – just a few sentences in your will or trust are all that is needed. The official bequest language for the AGA Research Foundation is: “I, [name], of [city, state, ZIP], give, devise and bequeath to the AGA Research Foundation [written amount or percentage of the estate or description of property] for its unrestricted use and purpose.”

Including the AGA Research Foundation in your will is a popular gift to give because it is:

• Affordable. The actual giving of your gift occurs after your lifetime, so your current income is not affected.
• Flexible. Until your will goes into effect, you are free to alter your plans or change your mind.
• Versatile. You can give a specific item, a set amount of money, or a percentage of your estate. You can also make your gift contingent upon certain events.

Want to learn more about including a gift to the AGA Research Foundation in your future plans? Visit our website.

[email protected]

As the new year begins, we hope you’ll consider including a gift to the AGA Research Foundation in your will or living trust.

It’s simple – just a few sentences in your will or trust are all that is needed. The official bequest language for the AGA Research Foundation is: “I, [name], of [city, state, ZIP], give, devise and bequeath to the AGA Research Foundation [written amount or percentage of the estate or description of property] for its unrestricted use and purpose.”

Including the AGA Research Foundation in your will is a popular gift to give because it is:

• Affordable. The actual giving of your gift occurs after your lifetime, so your current income is not affected.
• Flexible. Until your will goes into effect, you are free to alter your plans or change your mind.
• Versatile. You can give a specific item, a set amount of money, or a percentage of your estate. You can also make your gift contingent upon certain events.

Want to learn more about including a gift to the AGA Research Foundation in your future plans? Visit our website.

[email protected]

As the new year begins, we hope you’ll consider including a gift to the AGA Research Foundation in your will or living trust.

It’s simple – just a few sentences in your will or trust are all that is needed. The official bequest language for the AGA Research Foundation is: “I, [name], of [city, state, ZIP], give, devise and bequeath to the AGA Research Foundation [written amount or percentage of the estate or description of property] for its unrestricted use and purpose.”

Including the AGA Research Foundation in your will is a popular gift to give because it is:

• Affordable. The actual giving of your gift occurs after your lifetime, so your current income is not affected.
• Flexible. Until your will goes into effect, you are free to alter your plans or change your mind.
• Versatile. You can give a specific item, a set amount of money, or a percentage of your estate. You can also make your gift contingent upon certain events.

Want to learn more about including a gift to the AGA Research Foundation in your future plans? Visit our website.

[email protected]

Physicians with difficult patient scenarios regularly bring their questions to the AGA Community to seek advice from colleagues about therapy and disease management options, best practices, and diagnoses. The upgraded networking platform now features a newsfeed for difficult patient scenarios and regularly scheduled Roundtable discussions with experts in the field.

In case you missed it, here are some clinical discussions and Roundtables in the newsfeed this month:

Which of the following patients needs a liver biopsy and why? (https://community.gastro.org/posts/23108)

Next steps for a Crohn’s patient (https://community.gastro.org/posts/23000)

Fecal calprotectin versus histology (https://community.gastro.org/posts/22969)

Collecting and sending specimen for disaccharidase assay (https://community.gastro.org/posts/23092)

Roundtables (https://community.gastro.org/discussions)
Q&A with CRC task force: Endoscopic Recognition and Management Strategies for Malignant Colorectal Polyps

View all upcoming Roundtables in the community at https://community.gastro.org/discussions.

Physicians with difficult patient scenarios regularly bring their questions to the AGA Community to seek advice from colleagues about therapy and disease management options, best practices, and diagnoses. The upgraded networking platform now features a newsfeed for difficult patient scenarios and regularly scheduled Roundtable discussions with experts in the field.

In case you missed it, here are some clinical discussions and Roundtables in the newsfeed this month:

Which of the following patients needs a liver biopsy and why? (https://community.gastro.org/posts/23108)

Next steps for a Crohn’s patient (https://community.gastro.org/posts/23000)

Fecal calprotectin versus histology (https://community.gastro.org/posts/22969)

Collecting and sending specimen for disaccharidase assay (https://community.gastro.org/posts/23092)

Roundtables (https://community.gastro.org/discussions)
Q&A with CRC task force: Endoscopic Recognition and Management Strategies for Malignant Colorectal Polyps

View all upcoming Roundtables in the community at https://community.gastro.org/discussions.

Physicians with difficult patient scenarios regularly bring their questions to the AGA Community to seek advice from colleagues about therapy and disease management options, best practices, and diagnoses. The upgraded networking platform now features a newsfeed for difficult patient scenarios and regularly scheduled Roundtable discussions with experts in the field.

In case you missed it, here are some clinical discussions and Roundtables in the newsfeed this month:

Which of the following patients needs a liver biopsy and why? (https://community.gastro.org/posts/23108)

Next steps for a Crohn’s patient (https://community.gastro.org/posts/23000)

Fecal calprotectin versus histology (https://community.gastro.org/posts/22969)

Collecting and sending specimen for disaccharidase assay (https://community.gastro.org/posts/23092)

Roundtables (https://community.gastro.org/discussions)
Q&A with CRC task force: Endoscopic Recognition and Management Strategies for Malignant Colorectal Polyps

View all upcoming Roundtables in the community at https://community.gastro.org/discussions.

Power Outage: An Ignored Risk Factor for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ExacerbationsBy Dr. Wangjian Zhang, et al.



PROPHETIC: Prospective Identification of Pneumonia in Hospitalized Patients in the ICU By Dr. Stephen P. Bergin, et al.



Chronic Beryllium Disease: Update on a Moving Target By Dr. Maeve MacMurdo, et al.



Development of Learning Curves for Bronchoscopy: Results of a Multicenter Study of Pulmonary Trainees By Dr. Nha Voduc, et al.



Bias and Racism Teaching Rounds at an Academic Medical Center By Dr. Quinn Capers, IV, et al.

Power Outage: An Ignored Risk Factor for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ExacerbationsBy Dr. Wangjian Zhang, et al.



PROPHETIC: Prospective Identification of Pneumonia in Hospitalized Patients in the ICU By Dr. Stephen P. Bergin, et al.



Chronic Beryllium Disease: Update on a Moving Target By Dr. Maeve MacMurdo, et al.



Development of Learning Curves for Bronchoscopy: Results of a Multicenter Study of Pulmonary Trainees By Dr. Nha Voduc, et al.



Bias and Racism Teaching Rounds at an Academic Medical Center By Dr. Quinn Capers, IV, et al.

Power Outage: An Ignored Risk Factor for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ExacerbationsBy Dr. Wangjian Zhang, et al.



PROPHETIC: Prospective Identification of Pneumonia in Hospitalized Patients in the ICU By Dr. Stephen P. Bergin, et al.



Chronic Beryllium Disease: Update on a Moving Target By Dr. Maeve MacMurdo, et al.



Development of Learning Curves for Bronchoscopy: Results of a Multicenter Study of Pulmonary Trainees By Dr. Nha Voduc, et al.



Bias and Racism Teaching Rounds at an Academic Medical Center By Dr. Quinn Capers, IV, et al.

On Dec. 3, AGA brought together the GI community in an effort to fund health disparity research with the goal of improving care for the patients who rely on us.

The patients we serve face racial health disparities daily. It’s our responsibility to take action. With money raised through this campaign, the AGA Research Foundation will fund research projects that help understand health disparities and create strategies for overcoming them.

AGA Giving Day was the opportunity to do something about this important societal issue as it directly relates to our field. We all have a role to play in creating a just world free of health disparities in digestive diseases and free of inequities in access and effective health care delivery.

The AGA Research Foundation’s AGA Giving Day effort will help support state-of-the-art research that aligns with the realities of the current multicultural patient population and disease states to achieve health equity for all.

Learn more at gastro.org/agagivingday.

[email protected]

On Dec. 3, AGA brought together the GI community in an effort to fund health disparity research with the goal of improving care for the patients who rely on us.

The patients we serve face racial health disparities daily. It’s our responsibility to take action. With money raised through this campaign, the AGA Research Foundation will fund research projects that help understand health disparities and create strategies for overcoming them.

AGA Giving Day was the opportunity to do something about this important societal issue as it directly relates to our field. We all have a role to play in creating a just world free of health disparities in digestive diseases and free of inequities in access and effective health care delivery.

The AGA Research Foundation’s AGA Giving Day effort will help support state-of-the-art research that aligns with the realities of the current multicultural patient population and disease states to achieve health equity for all.

Learn more at gastro.org/agagivingday.

[email protected]

On Dec. 3, AGA brought together the GI community in an effort to fund health disparity research with the goal of improving care for the patients who rely on us.

The patients we serve face racial health disparities daily. It’s our responsibility to take action. With money raised through this campaign, the AGA Research Foundation will fund research projects that help understand health disparities and create strategies for overcoming them.

AGA Giving Day was the opportunity to do something about this important societal issue as it directly relates to our field. We all have a role to play in creating a just world free of health disparities in digestive diseases and free of inequities in access and effective health care delivery.

The AGA Research Foundation’s AGA Giving Day effort will help support state-of-the-art research that aligns with the realities of the current multicultural patient population and disease states to achieve health equity for all.

Learn more at gastro.org/agagivingday.

[email protected]

Physicians with difficult patient scenarios regularly bring their questions to the AGA Community (https://community.gastro.org) to seek advice from colleagues about therapy and disease management options, best practices, and diagnoses. The upgraded networking platform now features a newsfeed for difficult patient scenarios and regularly scheduled Roundtable discussions with experts in the field.

In case you missed it, here are some clinical discussions and Roundtables in the newsfeed this month:

Practice update: Small intestinal bacteria overgrowth (SIBO) (https://community.gastro.org/posts/22838)

Case: Polypectomy with low neutrophils (https://community.gastro.org/posts/22844)

Case: Esophagus adenocarcinoma after sleeve gastrectomy (https://community.gastro.org/posts/22868)

Case: Restarting infliximab after shingles – when is it safe? (https://community.gastro.org/posts/22890)

Case: Flatulence in Colorado (https://community.gastro.org/posts/22901)

Case: Serrated epithelial change (SEC) in IBD (https://community.gastro.org/posts/22948)

Case: Multiloculated pancreatic cyst (https://community.gastro.org/posts/22935)

View all upcoming Roundtables in the community at https://community.gastro.org/discussions.

Physicians with difficult patient scenarios regularly bring their questions to the AGA Community (https://community.gastro.org) to seek advice from colleagues about therapy and disease management options, best practices, and diagnoses. The upgraded networking platform now features a newsfeed for difficult patient scenarios and regularly scheduled Roundtable discussions with experts in the field.

In case you missed it, here are some clinical discussions and Roundtables in the newsfeed this month:

Practice update: Small intestinal bacteria overgrowth (SIBO) (https://community.gastro.org/posts/22838)

Case: Polypectomy with low neutrophils (https://community.gastro.org/posts/22844)

Case: Esophagus adenocarcinoma after sleeve gastrectomy (https://community.gastro.org/posts/22868)

Case: Restarting infliximab after shingles – when is it safe? (https://community.gastro.org/posts/22890)

Case: Flatulence in Colorado (https://community.gastro.org/posts/22901)

Case: Serrated epithelial change (SEC) in IBD (https://community.gastro.org/posts/22948)

Case: Multiloculated pancreatic cyst (https://community.gastro.org/posts/22935)

View all upcoming Roundtables in the community at https://community.gastro.org/discussions.

Physicians with difficult patient scenarios regularly bring their questions to the AGA Community (https://community.gastro.org) to seek advice from colleagues about therapy and disease management options, best practices, and diagnoses. The upgraded networking platform now features a newsfeed for difficult patient scenarios and regularly scheduled Roundtable discussions with experts in the field.

In case you missed it, here are some clinical discussions and Roundtables in the newsfeed this month:

Practice update: Small intestinal bacteria overgrowth (SIBO) (https://community.gastro.org/posts/22838)

Case: Polypectomy with low neutrophils (https://community.gastro.org/posts/22844)

Case: Esophagus adenocarcinoma after sleeve gastrectomy (https://community.gastro.org/posts/22868)

Case: Restarting infliximab after shingles – when is it safe? (https://community.gastro.org/posts/22890)

Case: Flatulence in Colorado (https://community.gastro.org/posts/22901)

Case: Serrated epithelial change (SEC) in IBD (https://community.gastro.org/posts/22948)

Case: Multiloculated pancreatic cyst (https://community.gastro.org/posts/22935)

View all upcoming Roundtables in the community at https://community.gastro.org/discussions.

Articles include guidance on cancer progression in Barrett’s esophagus patients, CRC surveillance, and HCC incidence and risk.

Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology (CGH) is proud to release its first themed issue on GI cancers. This “issue within an issue” includes a collection of articles, selected by editor-in-chief Dr. Fasiha Kanwal, that will provide you with practical research to help guide cancer prevention, surveillance and treatment decisions for your patients.

View the themed issue on CGH’s website. and access other curated collections on cghjournal.org.

How can we combat health disparities in GI?

Hear from Craig Munroe, MD, on why we all need to donate to AGA Giving Day, now through Dec. 3, in order to fund GI health disparities research.

“Health disparities exist and negatively impact patients every day across our country. Working to solve these inequities for the good of our patients and workforce is fundamental to our calling as physicians,” says Craig A. Munroe, MD, associate chief for clinical innovation, University of California, San Francisco, AGA Diversity Committee member, AGA Equity Project advisory board member. “Although we have made tremendous strides over the decades, there is still much more that needs to be done. Disparate systems of care and legacies of inequality continue to cause great harm.”

That is why AGA is bringing together the GI community to fund health disparity research with the goal of improving care for all patients. With contributions raised through AGA Giving Day campaign, the AGA Research Foundation will fund research projects that help us understand health disparities and create strategies for overcoming them.

“I’m donating to AGA Giving Day because I believe the work being done will have an immediate positive impact, and will continue to benefit future generations of patients, physicians, scientists, health providers, and trainees.”

Please join Dr. Munroe and your AGA colleagues in making a tax-deductible donation to the AGA Research Foundation to support AGA Giving Day today through Dec. 3. Contributors will be recognized as supporters of our fight to achieve equity and eradicate disparities in digestive diseases. www.Gastro.org/GivingDay
 

Articles include guidance on cancer progression in Barrett’s esophagus patients, CRC surveillance, and HCC incidence and risk.

Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology (CGH) is proud to release its first themed issue on GI cancers. This “issue within an issue” includes a collection of articles, selected by editor-in-chief Dr. Fasiha Kanwal, that will provide you with practical research to help guide cancer prevention, surveillance and treatment decisions for your patients.

View the themed issue on CGH’s website. and access other curated collections on cghjournal.org.

How can we combat health disparities in GI?

Hear from Craig Munroe, MD, on why we all need to donate to AGA Giving Day, now through Dec. 3, in order to fund GI health disparities research.

“Health disparities exist and negatively impact patients every day across our country. Working to solve these inequities for the good of our patients and workforce is fundamental to our calling as physicians,” says Craig A. Munroe, MD, associate chief for clinical innovation, University of California, San Francisco, AGA Diversity Committee member, AGA Equity Project advisory board member. “Although we have made tremendous strides over the decades, there is still much more that needs to be done. Disparate systems of care and legacies of inequality continue to cause great harm.”

That is why AGA is bringing together the GI community to fund health disparity research with the goal of improving care for all patients. With contributions raised through AGA Giving Day campaign, the AGA Research Foundation will fund research projects that help us understand health disparities and create strategies for overcoming them.

“I’m donating to AGA Giving Day because I believe the work being done will have an immediate positive impact, and will continue to benefit future generations of patients, physicians, scientists, health providers, and trainees.”

Please join Dr. Munroe and your AGA colleagues in making a tax-deductible donation to the AGA Research Foundation to support AGA Giving Day today through Dec. 3. Contributors will be recognized as supporters of our fight to achieve equity and eradicate disparities in digestive diseases. www.Gastro.org/GivingDay
 

Articles include guidance on cancer progression in Barrett’s esophagus patients, CRC surveillance, and HCC incidence and risk.

Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology (CGH) is proud to release its first themed issue on GI cancers. This “issue within an issue” includes a collection of articles, selected by editor-in-chief Dr. Fasiha Kanwal, that will provide you with practical research to help guide cancer prevention, surveillance and treatment decisions for your patients.

View the themed issue on CGH’s website. and access other curated collections on cghjournal.org.

How can we combat health disparities in GI?

Hear from Craig Munroe, MD, on why we all need to donate to AGA Giving Day, now through Dec. 3, in order to fund GI health disparities research.

“Health disparities exist and negatively impact patients every day across our country. Working to solve these inequities for the good of our patients and workforce is fundamental to our calling as physicians,” says Craig A. Munroe, MD, associate chief for clinical innovation, University of California, San Francisco, AGA Diversity Committee member, AGA Equity Project advisory board member. “Although we have made tremendous strides over the decades, there is still much more that needs to be done. Disparate systems of care and legacies of inequality continue to cause great harm.”

That is why AGA is bringing together the GI community to fund health disparity research with the goal of improving care for all patients. With contributions raised through AGA Giving Day campaign, the AGA Research Foundation will fund research projects that help us understand health disparities and create strategies for overcoming them.

“I’m donating to AGA Giving Day because I believe the work being done will have an immediate positive impact, and will continue to benefit future generations of patients, physicians, scientists, health providers, and trainees.”

Please join Dr. Munroe and your AGA colleagues in making a tax-deductible donation to the AGA Research Foundation to support AGA Giving Day today through Dec. 3. Contributors will be recognized as supporters of our fight to achieve equity and eradicate disparities in digestive diseases. www.Gastro.org/GivingDay
 

We’re proud to share the news of two AGA members elected to the prestigious National Academy of Medicine and three honored with the 2020 Sherman Prize.

Congratulations to AGA members Judy H. Cho, MD, and B. Mark Evers, MD, who were recently elected to the National Academy of Medicine.

Judy H. Cho, MD, professor of medicine at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, for “establishing that uncommon, loss-of-function variants in the microbial-sensing domain of NOD2 confer risk for Crohn’s disease, and identifying a loss-of-function allele in the IL-23 receptor that protects against Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, leading to new, approved therapies.”

B. Mark Evers, MD, physician in chief of oncology service at University of Kentucky Healthcare, for “his expertise on intestinal hormones and hormonal arcades in oncogenesis. His seminal insights defined the role of gut hormones on normal physiology and metabolism, pioneering innovative understanding of neuroendocrine cell biology and the role of neurohormonal pathways in the development and progression of neuroendocrine tumors.”

Being selected to the Academy is one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine and recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement and commitment to service.

In addition, the 2020 Sherman Prize was awarded to the following three AGA members:

David Rubin, MD, AGAF, chief, section of gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition at University of Chicago Medicine, for his “renown in the IBD community as a brilliant clinician, creative researcher, tireless advocate, and trailblazing educator.”

Gary Wu, MD, professor of medicine at University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, for “pioneering the study of the gut microbiome in IBD, publishing seminal research on the relationship between diet and the microbiome — enabling multiple areas of research into dietary interventions for IBD.“

Jessica Allegretti, MD, MPH, director of clinical trials at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, as a “highly regarded expert in the field of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) and microbiome therapeutics, establishing the therapy as an effective treatment in IBD patients with recurrent C. difficile.”

Presented by the Bruce and Cynthia Sherman Charitable Foundation, the Sherman Prize is awarded to experts in the field of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis who have exhibited their commitment to advancing inflammatory bowel disease care and have dedicated their careers to overcome these diseases.

[email protected]

We’re proud to share the news of two AGA members elected to the prestigious National Academy of Medicine and three honored with the 2020 Sherman Prize.

Congratulations to AGA members Judy H. Cho, MD, and B. Mark Evers, MD, who were recently elected to the National Academy of Medicine.

Judy H. Cho, MD, professor of medicine at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, for “establishing that uncommon, loss-of-function variants in the microbial-sensing domain of NOD2 confer risk for Crohn’s disease, and identifying a loss-of-function allele in the IL-23 receptor that protects against Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, leading to new, approved therapies.”

B. Mark Evers, MD, physician in chief of oncology service at University of Kentucky Healthcare, for “his expertise on intestinal hormones and hormonal arcades in oncogenesis. His seminal insights defined the role of gut hormones on normal physiology and metabolism, pioneering innovative understanding of neuroendocrine cell biology and the role of neurohormonal pathways in the development and progression of neuroendocrine tumors.”

Being selected to the Academy is one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine and recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement and commitment to service.

In addition, the 2020 Sherman Prize was awarded to the following three AGA members:

David Rubin, MD, AGAF, chief, section of gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition at University of Chicago Medicine, for his “renown in the IBD community as a brilliant clinician, creative researcher, tireless advocate, and trailblazing educator.”

Gary Wu, MD, professor of medicine at University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, for “pioneering the study of the gut microbiome in IBD, publishing seminal research on the relationship between diet and the microbiome — enabling multiple areas of research into dietary interventions for IBD.“

Jessica Allegretti, MD, MPH, director of clinical trials at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, as a “highly regarded expert in the field of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) and microbiome therapeutics, establishing the therapy as an effective treatment in IBD patients with recurrent C. difficile.”

Presented by the Bruce and Cynthia Sherman Charitable Foundation, the Sherman Prize is awarded to experts in the field of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis who have exhibited their commitment to advancing inflammatory bowel disease care and have dedicated their careers to overcome these diseases.

[email protected]

We’re proud to share the news of two AGA members elected to the prestigious National Academy of Medicine and three honored with the 2020 Sherman Prize.

Congratulations to AGA members Judy H. Cho, MD, and B. Mark Evers, MD, who were recently elected to the National Academy of Medicine.

Judy H. Cho, MD, professor of medicine at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, for “establishing that uncommon, loss-of-function variants in the microbial-sensing domain of NOD2 confer risk for Crohn’s disease, and identifying a loss-of-function allele in the IL-23 receptor that protects against Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, leading to new, approved therapies.”

B. Mark Evers, MD, physician in chief of oncology service at University of Kentucky Healthcare, for “his expertise on intestinal hormones and hormonal arcades in oncogenesis. His seminal insights defined the role of gut hormones on normal physiology and metabolism, pioneering innovative understanding of neuroendocrine cell biology and the role of neurohormonal pathways in the development and progression of neuroendocrine tumors.”

Being selected to the Academy is one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine and recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement and commitment to service.

In addition, the 2020 Sherman Prize was awarded to the following three AGA members:

David Rubin, MD, AGAF, chief, section of gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition at University of Chicago Medicine, for his “renown in the IBD community as a brilliant clinician, creative researcher, tireless advocate, and trailblazing educator.”

Gary Wu, MD, professor of medicine at University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, for “pioneering the study of the gut microbiome in IBD, publishing seminal research on the relationship between diet and the microbiome — enabling multiple areas of research into dietary interventions for IBD.“

Jessica Allegretti, MD, MPH, director of clinical trials at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, as a “highly regarded expert in the field of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) and microbiome therapeutics, establishing the therapy as an effective treatment in IBD patients with recurrent C. difficile.”

Presented by the Bruce and Cynthia Sherman Charitable Foundation, the Sherman Prize is awarded to experts in the field of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis who have exhibited their commitment to advancing inflammatory bowel disease care and have dedicated their careers to overcome these diseases.

[email protected]