Gastroenterology

A study in the January issue of Gastroenterology sought  to determine whether infliximab therapy can be safely interrupted in patients with Crohn's disease who have undergone a period of prolonged remission. The authors assessed the risk of relapse after infliximab therapy was discontinued in patients on combined maintenance therapy with antimetabolites and identified factors associated with relapse  Dr. Kuemmerle speaks to first author Prof. Edouard Louis of the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liège, Liège, Belgium; Plus, a rundown of top stories from this month's issue of GI and Hepatology News.

Advances in the understanding of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) life cycle have led to the development of many promising direct-acting antiviral agents (DAA) in the last decade. An editorial in the December issue of Gastroenterology looks at the development of DAAs directed at multiple targets in the HCV life cycle and asks, “Are we ready for interferon-free treatment regimens?” Dr. Kuemmerle speaks to editorial co-author Dr. Anna S. Lok of the University of Michigan Health System; Plus, a rundown of top stories from this month's issue of GI and Hepatology News.

A study in the November issue of Gastroenterology looks at the risk of nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) among individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including those with or without exposure to immunosuppressant medications.  Dr. Kuemmerle speaks to author Dr. Harminder Singh of the University of Manitoba; Plus, a rundown of top stories from this month's issue of GI and Hepatology News.

Two studies in the September issue of Gastroenterology look at the effects of vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) on metabolism. The first study examines whether or not beneficial effects of VSG on plasma lipid levels are weight independent.  The second study investigated alterations in glucose metabolism in rats following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and VSG.  Dr. Kuemmerle speaks to two co-authors of both studies, Dr. Randy J. Seeley and Dr. Darleen A. Sandoval, both of the University of Cincinnati Metabolic Diseases Institute; Plus, a rundown of top stories from this month's issue of GI and Hepatology News.