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Ronald J. Vender, M.D., FACG was elected by the membership as the 2012-2013 President of the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG), a national medical specialty society representing more than 12,000 clinical gastroenterologists and other specialists in digestive diseases. Dr. Vender officially took his position as President during the College’s 77th Annual Scientific Meeting, held this week in Las Vegas, NV. As president, Dr. Vender will direct ACG’s programs which include continuing medical education in the clinical, scientific and patient-related skills of gastroenterology, policies involving national and state medical affairs, managed care issues and clinical investigation.

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Many of the world’s preeminent gastroenterologists have convened this week for the American College of Gastroenterology's (ACG) 77th Annual Scientific Meeting at The Venetian Resort, Las Vegas, NV to review the latest scientific advances in gastrointestinal research, treatment of digestive diseases and clinical practice management. New technologies for treating conditions like gastroesophageal reflux (GERD), Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and gastroparesis; groundbreaking insights in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that explore racial disparities as well as the overlap of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) symptoms; reviews of a national health databases to document epidemiological shifts in C. difficile-associated infectious diarrhea and a downward trend in inpatient mortality due to upper gastrointestinal bleeding; a wealth of new research that helps advance understanding of esophageal and colorectal cancer risks; as well case reports that aim to raise public awareness about the po

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Marijuana use—both natural and synthetic—may cause cannabinoid hyperemesis (CH) a little-known but costly effect that researchers suggest is a serious burden to the health care system as it often leads to expensive diagnostic tests and ineffective treatments in an effort to find the cause of a patient’s symptoms and provide relief, according to two separate case reports unveiled today at the American College of Gastroenterology’s (ACG) 77th Annual Scientific meeting in Las Vegas. Cannabinoid hyperemesis is characterized by a history of chronic cannabis use followed by a cyclic pattern of nausea, vomiting and colicky abdominal pain. Interestingly, compulsive hot baths or showers temporarily relieve symptoms, another characteristic which aids clinicians in diagnosis.

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Highlights of new clinical science on emerging technologies that are advancing treatment of various gastrointestinal disorders, including electrical stimulation of the lower esophageal sphincter for treatment of GERD; confocal laser endomicroscopy for diagnosing Irritable Bowel Syndrome; P.O.E.M (peroral endoscopic myotomy) for the swallowing disorder achalasia; and experimental use of Hemospray™ for GI bleeding.

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The American College of Gastroenterology will hold a special briefing for journalists at its 77th Annual Scientific meeting in Las Vegas that will focus on the groundbreaking science around the risk factors associated with colorectal cancer and esophageal cancer. The briefing will highlight new research findings on various risk factors related to colorectal cancer such as family history, endometrial cancer, and body mass index in African Americans. New science related to esophageal cancer risks also will be presented that demonstrates the protective effect of statins and whether bone-building drugs increase or reduce esophageal cancer risk.

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MEDIA AVAILABILITY Lawrence J. Brandt, MD, MACG who is presenting this year’s The American Journal of Gastroenterology lecture, “Fecal Transplantation for Persistent C. difficile Infection."

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The American College of Gastroenterology has created a special online resource center that features the College’s wealth of scientifically-based education material and information, the latest related research from The American Journal of Gastroenterology and expert insight to help patients understand common gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and how these symptoms should be appropriately treated and managed.

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The American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) and the Campaign to End Obesity are joining forces to highlight the potentially deadly link between higher Body Mass Index (BMI) and colorectal cancer during March Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.

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The risk of hepatitis transmission through non-single use instruments – such as nail files, nail brushes, finger bowls, foot basins, buffers, razors, clippers, and scissors – during nail salon and barbershop visits cannot be excluded, according to the results of a new report unveiled today.

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Fecal Transplants, Hepatitis C, Efficacy of Probiotics, Smoking’s Impact on GI Health, Vitamin D in IBD Therapy, Adult IBS and Childhood Trauma Link among featured science at ACG 2011.

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The lack of readily available information about cosmetic ingredients may cause patients with celiac disease who use lip, facial or body products to unknowingly expose themselves to gluten—an ingredient they need to avoid, according to the results of a new study.

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Antibiotics May Not Be Only Cause of Community-Acquired Clostridium difficile Infection and Nursing Home Residence May Allow for “On-Admission” Prediction Model of Disease Severity, according to the results of two separate studies released today.

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Cigarette smoking appears to impair pancreatic duct cell function--even for those who quit--putting all smokers at risk of compromised digestive function regardless of age, gender and alcohol intake, according to the results of a study unveiled today. In a separate smoking-related study also released today, researchers from the University of Connecticut found that the risk of advanced pre-cancerous tissue changes (neoplasia) was significantly elevated for women —even if they stopped smoking—but not for men--suggesting that the impact of smoking in women has a longer effect than in men.

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Growing evidence for the effectiveness of fecal microbiota transplants as a treatment for patients with recurrent bouts of Clostridium difficile (C.difficile) associated diarrhea is presented in three studies -- including a long-term follow-up of colonoscopic fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) for recurrent C. difficile Infection that included 77 patients from five different states-- unveiled today. In a fourth study, investigators from the Centre for Digestive Diseases in Australia explored fecal bacterial transplantation as a treatment for Inflammatory Bowel Disease. While this is a new area of research, results of this study show success in treating IBD when the fecal transplant is done recurrently.

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Just one drink per day for women—two for men—could lead to small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) and subsequently cause gastrointestinal symptoms like bloating, gas, abdominal pain, constipation and diarrhea, according to the results of a new study unveiled today.

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In four different studies presented at the American College of Gastroenterology’s (ACG) 76th Annual Scientific meeting in Washington, DC, researchers explored the effectiveness of probiotics for antibiotic-associated diarrhea; as an anti-inflammatory agent for patients with ulcerative colitis, psoriasis and chronic fatigue syndrome; and for people with abdominal discomfort and bloating who have not been diagnosed with a functional bowel disorder, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). These four studies will be featured during an ACG press briefing on Tuesday, November 1, 2011 entitled: “Good, Bad and Ugly Bugs: Mother Nature as a Treatment for Better Health in the GI Tract,” which will highlight new clinical science that explores the role of the “gut microbiota” –the bacterial composition of the GI tract – and the efficacy of probiotics and fecal microbiota transplantation in treating various GI conditions.

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Studies reporting on the effectiveness of new therapies for chronic Hepatitis C virus are among the clinical science presented at the American College of Gastroenterology’s 76th Annual Scientific Meeting, where investigators also presented findings from an age-based risk assessment and screening intervention for Hepatitis C among Baby Boomers, patients aged 50-65, who saw a gastroenterologist for routine colon cancer screening.

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The psychological and emotional traumas experienced over a lifetime--such as the death of a loved one, divorce, natural disaster, house fire or car accident, physical or mental abuse—may contribute to adult irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), according to the results of a study unveiled today at the American College of Gastroenterology’s (ACG) 76th Annual Scientific meeting in Washington, DC.

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New research points to a potential role for UV light exposure and vitamin D levels in chronic digestive conditions; Crohn’s disease, a serious inflammatory condition in the small intestine; and ulcerative colitis (UC), which similarly affects the colon. In two separate studies presented at the American College of Gastroenterology’s 76th Annual Scientific Meeting, a group of investigators from Massachusetts General Hospital probed the connection between geography, UV exposure and incidence of inflammatory bowel disease while another group from Weill Cornell Medical Center looked at different levels of supplementation with Vitamin D to determine impact on severity of Crohn’s disease.

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Physicians who listen to Mozart while performing colonoscopy may increase their detection rates of precancerous polyps, according to the results of a new study unveiled today at the American College of Gastroenterology’s (ACG) 76th Annual Scientific meeting in Washington, DC.