Gastroenterology

Cytomegalovirus, or CMV, is a common cause of disease in the transplant population. In some patients who are diagnosed with CMV and are on antiviral treatment for infections, the virus may develop resistance to the drugs. This “Hot Topic” will provide an overview of a new test developed by Mayo Clinic Laboratories, which uses next-generation sequencing technology to identify mutations in the genome of CMV that may be associated with antiviral resistance.

Joseph Yao, M.D., gives an overview of this new test available through Mayo Clinic Laboratories. He discusses when this testing should be ordered, how this testing improves upon other testing approaches, and what clinical action can be taken due to the results of this testing.

Nikola Baumann, Ph.D., gives an overview of the new NASH-FibroTest available through Mayo Clinic Laboratories. She discusses when this testing should be ordered, how this testing improves upon previous testing approaches, and what clinical action can be taken due to the results of this testing.

This week’s Research Roundup highlights the identification of prognostic phenotypes of esophageal adenocarcinoma in two independent cohorts.

This week’s Research Roundup determines the clinical validity of hereditary colorectal cancer and polyposis susceptibility genes using the clinical genome resource clinical validity framework.

This week’s Research Roundup highlights gastrointestinal and extra-intestinal manifestations of IgG4-related disease.

In this month’s “Hot Topic,” Robin Patel, M.D., will discuss the bacteria that cause pertussis, also known as whooping cough. Pertussis is highly contagious and spreads rapidly through families, schools, and hospitals. While adults and children may have relatively mild symptoms, the disease can be deadly for infants and newborns.

Many patients may have flare-ups of their disease, or they may stop responding to treatment. In these situations, the clinician may choose to increase the dose administered or recommend more frequent injections. One cause of decreased response to treatment is the appearance of anti-drug antibodies or “immunogenicity.”

This week’s Research Roundup highlights how fasting blood glucose levels provide an estimate of duration and progression of pancreatic cancer before diagnosis.

This week’s Research Roundup highlights gastrointestinal and extra-intestinal manifestations of immunoglobulin G4-related disease.

This week’s Research Roundup features highly discriminant methylated DNA markers for the non-endoscopic detection of Barrett's esophagus.

This week’s Research Roundup highlights how fasting blood-glucose levels provide estimate of duration and progression of pancreatic cancer before diagnosis.

This week’s Research Roundup highlights the development of a microscopic colitis disease activity index.