Trending News Today: Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer Increasing Most Rapidly in West

Recent data indicate early onset colorectal cancer (CRC) is rising most rapidly in western US states, The American Cancer Society reported. According to a press release, a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute showed early-onset CRC incidence increased over the most recent 10 data years by 1.1% per year. The increase varied in magnitude across states, with average growth exceeding 2.5% per year in 10 states, 6 of which were in the western United States, according to the findings.

New research suggests that monitoring the microbiome may help predict long-term health, The Associated Press reported. According to the article, National Institutes of Health studies tracked 3 microbiome-related health conditions: inflammatory bowel disease, premature birth, and type 2 diabetes, to determine how changes in the microbiome may affect health. In all conditions, changes in microbial activity showed early warning signs that led to disease development, indicating that monitoring gut bacteria could potentially be useful in identifying individuals at risk for certain diseases, the article reported.

A recent study found that fecal calprotein and c-reactive protein may serve as biomarkers of clinical and endoscopic response in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) receiving etrasimod, MD Magazine reported. According to the article, the findings revealed that patients receiving etrasimod 2 mg had a significant decrease in calprotein and c-reactive protein during treatment. Reductions in both c-reactive protein and fecal calprotein were highly correlated among patients who achieved clinical remission, the article reported.