Finnish study says about 40% returned positive results in review of national program. Colorectal cancer screening detects 40 percent of cancers and should be carefully planned to be more effective, say Finnish Cancer Registry researchers.

Study finds up to 30% of beneficial species, strains are significantly affected. Antibiotic treatment, especially when prolonged or repeated, may have a negative impact on beneficial bacteria that live in the gut, according to a new study.

Experts offer advice on how to get ready for a colonoscopy. Women may have a harder time prepping for colonoscopy than men, a new study suggests.  Patients must empty their colon to increase the rate of success in the procedure.

These older treatments may sometimes work best, researchers say For some patients, the best therapy for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may be older, cheaper drugs such as fiber, antispasmodics and peppermint oil, a new study finds.

What causes them, and how to stop them Hiccups can be annoying and even uncomfortable, and they can last for a long time. Hiccups can be annoying and even uncomfortable, and they can last for a long time.

Cox-2 drugs, like Celebrex, less safe than Cox-1 drugs, like naproxen, study says.  The increased risk of heart attack that comes with the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to treat arthritis pain is directly related to the specific pain-causing molecule they act against, a new study finds.

Finding suggests new treatments for bowel diseases, study says. Researchers have identified specific types of bacteria in the intestine that trigger the creation of pro-inflammatory immune cells.

International analysis finds 11% issued 'black box' warnings by FDA New research shows that almost one-quarter of biologic therapies approved in the United States and Europe since 1995 have been the subject of at least one safety-related regulatory action in the decade since they were approved.

H. pylori could help prevent some esophageal adenocarcinomas, study suggests. A common stomach bacteria may protect against a certain form of esophageal cancer, a new review suggests.

Those with certain digestive illnesses should have levels monitored, study says. People with inflammatory bowel disease or chronic liver disease may be at increased risk of developing vitamin D deficiencies, new research says.

Remicade alone or in combo with azathioprine better therapy for inflammatory disorder. Infliximab (Remicade) alone or in combination with azathioprine is more effective in treating Crohn's disease than azathioprine alone, researchers report.

Finding could improve cancer, diabetes treatments, study suggests. If bitter-tasting food makes you feel ill, it may just be your digestive system doing its job, a new report says.

Three leading medical associations have created guidelines to help heart disease patients cut their risk of ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding from the condition's most common treatments -- antiplatelets and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin.

Study found it detected twice as many malignancies, serious precancerous polyps. A new and improved DNA stool sample test to screen for colon cancer is twice as effective at catching cancer and serious precancerous polyps than either current blood stool sample tests or an older version of DNA testing, new research reveals.

Difference is most pronounced among black women, study finds.  Black people undergoing colon cancer screening are more likely to have large precancerous polyps than are whites.

Watching your diet can help Stomach pain can be caused by factors including diet and lifestyle, illness and infections. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, the following actions can help prevent many stomach aches

Menopausal women who take hormones face greater chance of GERD, study finds. Women who take hormones to relieve symptoms of menopause have a higher risk of developing symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

But officials say patients taking meds on Web site shouldn't overreact or stop taking them. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has started listing on its Web site drugs being evaluated for potential safety issues, the agency said Friday.

Officials want stronger labeling about fungal infection risk. Federal health authorities have asked the manufacturers of four widely used immunosuppressive drugs to bolster safety warnings on the risk of developing opportunistic fungal infections.

Study disputes conventional wisdom, but other experts say those foods cause pain for some. People with diverticular disease, a common digestive disorder, are typically told to avoid eating popcorn, nuts, seeds and corn so they don't get painful attacks.

It appears to act as 'sham feeding' that stimulates digestive nerves, U.K. study suggests. Chewing gum helps improve recovery of intestinal function after all or part of the colon has been surgically removed, according to British researchers who reviewed data from five clinical trials involving 158 patients.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic illness of the digestive tract. There are two main types: Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says. The agency offers these suggestions to help keep IBD under control.

Cryoablation attractive option for older patients with other medical issues, team says. A new method of freezing damaged cells in the esophagus to prevent them from turning cancerous is being used by gastroenterologists at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas.

Number tripled, and they find a link to other conditions such as asthma, diabetes. Researchers have identified 21 new genetic regions implicated in Crohn's disease, bringing to 32 the total number of genes and loci -- regions of the genome typically including one or more genes that are known to increase susceptibility to the disease.

In patients who've had surgery for stomach cancer, removing Helicobacter pylori bacteria from the stomach greatly reduces the risk of cancer recurrence, a Japanese study finds.

Gas can cause abdominal discomfort, belching, flatulence, and other symptoms. Here's a list of gas-causing foods and activities, courtesy of the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse

Finding could offer new treatments for other autoimmune disorders, study says. Researchers believe they have finally answered a basic question about the cause of celiac disease -- where in the body does the wheat protein gluten enter one's system?

A woman's lung tumor disappears after anti-TNF medications are stopped, doctors report. An unusual case involving a sudden remission of lung cancer highlights the carcinogenic potential of certain drugs used to treat Crohn's disease, experts say.

But taking the therapy in a non-oral form seems to cut the odds, study finds. A postmenopausal woman who uses hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may boost her risk for gallbladder disease, researchers say, although the risk appears to vary depending on how she receives the hormones.

And the risk seems bigger if certain painkillers are used, study says.  The widely prescribed class of antidepressants known as SSRIs may be associated with bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract, especially when taken with painkillers called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, a new study says.