Weight Loss-Associated Decreases in Medical Care Expenditures for Commercially Insured Patients With Chronic Conditions.

Objective: Savings associated with weight loss for populations with chronic conditions are poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to estimate medical expenditure savings associated with weight loss among commercially insured adults with chronic medical conditions.

Methods The: 2001-2015 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data were used to estimate the effect of changes in body mass index (BMI) on health expenditures from instrumental variable regression models.

The emerging therapeutic role of probiotics in inflammatory bowel disease.

Nonpathogenic bacteria in a genetically susceptible individual play a suggestive role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Probiotics are living organisms that exert a protective effect on intestinal mucosa. Although evidence supporting their use for inducing or maintaining remission of IBD remains limited, it may be reasonable to use probiotics as an adjunct to standard therapy for mild-to-moderate disease.