Update a record without first querying?

Lets say I query the database and load a list of items. Then I open one of the items in a detail view form, and instead of re-querying the item out of the database, I create an instance of the item from the datasource in the list.

Is there a way I can update the database record without fetching the record of the individual item?

Here is a sample how I am doing it now:

dataItem itemToUpdate = (from t in dataEntity.items
                                 where t.id == id
                                 select t).FirstOrDefault();

Then after pulling the record I update some values in the item and push the record back:

itemToUpdate.itemstatus = newStatus;
dataEntity.SaveChanges();

I would think there would be a better way to do this, any ideas?