Hepatitis C Treatment Breakthroughs, Advances in Fecal Microbiota Transplantation for C. difficile, Drug-Induced Liver Injury Warnings among Featured Topics Presented at the American College of Gastroenterology's 79th Annual Meeting

BETHESDA, Md., Oct. 20, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Promising new research in the area of hepatitis C (HCV) therapy that suggests more patients, including those with cirrhosis, will be cured from this common cause of potentially fatal viral liver disease;  as well as a number of abstracts that advance understanding of the safety and effectiveness of fecal microbiota transplantation for Clostridium difficile, are among the highlights of the American College of Gastroenterology's (ACG) 79^th Annual Scientific Meeting , which will be held this week in Philadelphia. More than 4,000 gastroenterologists, physicians and other health care professionals from around the world will convene at the Pennsylvania Convention Center to review and present the latest scientific advances in gastrointestinal research, treatment of digestive diseases and clinical practice management.

"This year is perhaps one of the strongest and best ever in terms of the quality of the science being presented, as well as depth and breadth of the educational sessions," said John R. Saltzman, MD, FACG, Chair of the ACG Educational Affairs Committee.  "Abstract selection was an extremely competitive process this year. Of the 2,265 abstracts accepted, 68 will be presented as oral papers. But if you look at posters of distinction, all are outstanding and worthy of oral presentations if there was enough time."  Dr. Saltzman, who is Director of Endoscopy at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, offers his insight on ACG 2014's most groundbreaking research, educational sessions and must-see lectures in this virtual press briefing.   Listen now

New for ACG 2014, the College offers a series of pre-recorded virtual press briefings which feature the insights of leading gastroenterology experts on several key abstracts that will be unveiled relating to hepatitis C, inflammatory bowel disease, drug induced liver injury, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, fecal microbiota transplantation and C. difficile. Notable case reports related to protein shakes, chia seeds, and use of other supplements where consumers' good health intentions go bad are also featured. In these briefings, ACG experts offer their perspectives on the significance of the findings as well as tips for clinicians and patients. Links to author commentary and full-text of the abstracts are available for each study featured in the briefings.

All of the press briefings are available for instant access on the new ACG Blog  (http://acgblog.org ) along  with additional ACG 2014 abstract highlights that include notable clinical research such as  increased incidence of young onset colorectal cancer, new data regarding Lynch syndrome and importance of screening, breath detection of potential biomarkers for IBS, risk of eosinophilic esophagitis in patients with celiac disease, and findings from a two-year safety study of  patients on linaclotide.

Author insights, breaking meeting news, expert commentary, featured sessions and more are also available on the ACG Blog.

Virtual Press Briefings Include Expert Commentary, Author Insight on the Following Abstracts:

Hepatitis C (HCV)   Listen to the briefing

Oral Paper 4 SVR12 (sustained virologic response 12 weeks post-treatment) of 99% Achieved with a Ribavirin-Free Regiment of ABT-450r Ombitasvir and Dasabuvir in HCV Genotype 1b-Infected Patients  

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Oral Paper 5 Normalization of Liver-Related Laboratory Parameters in HCV Genotype 1-Infected Patients with Cirrhosis after Treatment With ABT -450/R/Ombitasvir, Dasabuvir and Ribavirin

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Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Listen to the briefing

Poster 454 Outcomes of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation for C. difficile Infection in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease    Read author insight and access abstract

Oral Paper 61 Association of Mean Vitamin D Level with Clinical Status in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A 5-Year Prospective Study   Read author insight and access abstract

Poster 1654 Pediatric Crohn's Disease, Unrealized Height and Diminished Lifetime Earnings

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Poster 573 A Randomized, Controlled Trial of Yoga in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Preliminary Findings   Read author insight and access abstract

Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) and C. difficile   Listen to the briefing

Oral Paper 72 Fresh, Frozen, or Lyophilized (freeze-dried) Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) for Multiple Recurrent C. difficile Infection (CDI)     Read author insight and access abstract

Poster 939 Safety Outcomes After Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) For C. difficile Infection (CDI)  Read author insight and access abstract

Oral Paper 71 C. difficile Associated Risk of Death Score (CARDS): A Novel Risk Score to Predict Mortality Among Hospitalized Patients With C. difficile Infection 

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Poster 1639 Fecal Microbiota Transplant for Treatment of Refractory C. difficile Colitis: Long-Term Follow-Up of 58 Patients    Read author insight and access abstract

Drug Induced Liver Injury and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)   Listen to briefing

Oral Paper 28 Association Between Aspirin Use and Prevalence of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study From the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Read author insight and access abstract

Oral Paper 31 Idiosyncratic Drug-Induced Liver Injury (DILI) in the United States: A Report of 1,257 Prospectively Enrolled Patients     Read author insight and access the abstract

Poster 1441 Association Between Caffeine Consumption and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis     Read author insight and access the abstract

Health "No Nos":  Listen to the briefing

Poster  280  First Case of Fatal Renal and Fulminant Hepatic Failure from Muscle Building Supplements   Read author insight and access the abstract

Poster 643 Watch It Grow: Esophageal Impaction With Chia Seeds  

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Poster 1296 Protein Shakes: An Unusual Cause of Gastric Phytobezoar in a Health Obsessed Person   Read author insight and access the abstract

Poster 1579 Getting Burned by Activated Charcoal: A Case of Colitis Associated with Activated Charcoal Use   Read author insight and access the abstract

Poster 369 Supplement-Induced Acute Colonic Pseudo-Obstruction in Healthy Young Male

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Poster 1261 Desiccant-Induced Esophageal Obstruction: An Emerging Patient Safety Issue
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About the American College of Gastroenterology

Founded in 1932, the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) is an organization with an international membership of more than 12,000 individuals from 80 countries. The College's vision is to be the pre-eminent professional organization that champions the evolving needs of clinicians in the delivery of high quality, evidence-based, and compassionate health care to gastroenterology patients. The mission of the College is to advance world-class care for patients with gastrointestinal disorders through excellence, innovation and advocacy in the areas of scientific investigation, education, prevention and treatment. www.gi.org. Visit the ACG Blog for all news, featured research and expert insights related to the annual scientific meeting. Follow ACG on Twitter and share your live updates #acg2014.

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SOURCE American College of Gastroenterology