What Did the Research Discover? This study investigated the association between proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use and kidney stone risk in U.S. adults using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 2007 and 2018. PPIs, commonly prescribed for acid-related conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), ulcers, and...
Can starting immunotherapy before surgery change the future of stomach and esophageal cancer treatment? A 2024 study called the PANDA trial, published in Nature Medicine, tested this very idea—and the early results are promising. Researchers found that combining immunotherapy with chemotherapy before surgery may dramatically improve tumor response and long-term outcomes.
What Did the Research Discover? Gastric and gastroesophageal junction (G/GEJ) cancers are among the deadliest cancers, and while immunotherapy has become a standard treatment for advanced cases, its role in earlier-stage disease is not well understood. The PANDA trial investigated whether neoadjuvant (before surgery) immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy could...
What Did the Research Discover? Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a rare liver disease that gradually damages the bile ducts, leading to liver scarring. If left untreated, it can progress to cirrhosis and severe liver disease. The current first-line treatment, ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), does not work for up to 40% of patients, and the second-line option,...
What Did the Research Discover? Researchers in Japan conducted a large online survey with 10,000 adults to study how common belching disorders are and what factors might be linked to them. The study found that 1.5% of participants (151 people) had belching disorders. These conditions, which cause frequent and bothersome belching, are classified as gastroduodenal...