New AGA Guideline; Imaging for HCC Surveillance; ‘Breakthrough’ Hepatitis D Drug

The American Gastroenterology Association (AGA) issued a new clinical guideline recommending antiviral drugs for patients at high risk for hepatitis B reactivation. (Gastroenterology)

Researchers identified the enzyme CMPK2 as a possible target for therapies aiming to prevent metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) from progressing to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). (Journal of Hepatology)

Meanwhile, modeling data predicted that by 2050 the prevalence of MASLD in the U.S. population would increase from 34% to 41%, while the prevalence of MASH among adults would increase from 6% to 8%. (JAMA Network Open)

A single-center trial favored non-contrast MRI over ultrasound for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance in patients with cirrhosis. (Gastroenterology)

And for inflammatory bowel disease patients undergoing colorectal cancer (CRC) surveillance, how does high-definition, white-light endoscopy with segmental re-inspection compare with high-definition, dye-based chromoendoscopy? The randomized HELIOS trial weighed in. (Gut)

High costs are deterring some young Americans from getting colonoscopies. (The BMJ)

Compared with body mass index, measures of waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio may better approximate the proportion of CRC cases attributable to obesity. (JAMA Network Open)

Oxidative balance score — an indicator of pro- and anti-oxidants in an individual’s diet — negatively correlated with constipation in men and with diarrhea in women, U.S. data showed. (BMC Gastroenterology)

A combination of biomarkers could help predict acute pancreatitis severity. (Scientific Reports)

The FDA granted a breakthrough therapy designation for brelovitug, a monoclonal antibody in development for chronic hepatitis delta, drugmaker Bluejay Therapeutics announced.

And the agency announced approval of sotorasib (Lumakras) in combination with panitumumab (Vectibix) for adults with KRAS G12C-mutated metastatic CRC after specific chemotherapy regimens.

In other cancer news, the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium kicked off on Thursday; check out MedPage Today‘s coverage here.

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