ScienceDaily: Colitis News

How immune system peacefully co-exists with 'good' bacteria

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:09:09 EDT

The human gut is loaded with helpful bacteria microbes, yet the immune system seemingly turns a blind eye. Now, researchers know how this friendly truce is kept intact. Innate lymphoid cells directly limit the response by inflammatory T cells to commensal bacteria in the gut of mice. Loss of this ILC function effectively puts the immune system on an extended war footing against the commensal bacteria a condition observed in multiple chronic inflammatory diseases.

Biomarkers discovered for inflammatory bowel disease

Tue, 21 May 2013 19:42:42 EDT

Researchers have identified a number of biomarkers for inflammatory bowel disease, which could help with earlier diagnosis and intervention in those who have not yet shown symptoms.

Intestinal bacteria protect against E. coli O157:H7

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:42:42 EDT

A cocktail of non-pathogenic bacteria naturally occurring in the digestive tract of healthy humans can protect against a potentially lethal E. coli infection in animal models according to new research.

Anti-depressant link to Clostridium difficile infection

Tue, 07 May 2013 06:10:10 EDT

Certain types of anti-depressants have been linked to an increase in the risk of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) finds a new study. Awareness of this link should improve identification and early treatment of CDI.

Breast milk ingredient could prevent deadly intestinal problem in preemies

Mon, 06 May 2013 18:16:16 EDT

An ingredient that naturally occurs in breast milk might be used to prevent premature babies from developing a deadly intestinal condition that currently is largely incurable, according to researchers.

Targeted screening for C. difficile upon hospital admission could potentially identify most colonized patients

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:13:13 EDT

Testing patients with just three risk factors upon hospital admission has potential to identify nearly three out of four asymptomatic carriers of C. difficile, according to a new study.

Frequently used biologic agents might cause acute liver injury

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:49:49 EDT

A commonly used class of biologic response modifying drugs can cause acute liver injury with elevated liver enzymes, according to a new study.

Roundworm quells obesity and related metabolic disorders

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 16:45:45 EDT

Researchers have shown in a mouse model that infection with nematodes (also known as roundworms) can not only combat obesity but ameliorate related metabolic disorders.

First vaccine to help control some autism symptoms

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 11:23:23 EDT

A first-ever vaccine for gut bacteria common in autistic children may also help control some autism symptoms.

Contact killing of Salmonella by human fecal bacteria

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 11:08:08 EDT

Researchers have recently found a novel mode of interaction between Salmonella, a foodborne pathogen, and the bacteria that live in our guts. Fecal bacteria collected from healthy donors effectively inactivated Salmonella, when they were allowed close contact. Mathematical modelling of this interaction is now being used to find new ways of controlling Salmonella.

Genetics defines a distinct liver disease

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 15:24:24 EDT

A large-scale genetic study has defined the relationship between primary sclerosing cholangitis and other autoimmune diseases.

Differences in staging and treatment likely to be behind UK's low bowel cancer survival

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 21:47:47 EDT

Incomplete diagnostic investigation and failure to get the best treatment are the most likely reasons why survival for bowel cancer patients is lower in the UK than in other comparable countries, according to new research.

Biomarker for devastating intestinal disease, necrotizing enterocolitis, found in early preterm infants

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 20:49:49 EDT

Researchers have discovered a biomarker that may help prevent a devastating intestinal disease that occurs in one of every 10 early preterm infants. The study may help prevent necrotizing enterocolitis, a condition primarily seen in preemies in which bowel tissue dies.

Scientists use 'the force' (atomic force microscopy) to decode secrets of our gut

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 13:24:24 EDT

A new technique based on atomic force microscopy was developed to help "read" information encoded in proteins that make up the mucus layer that lines our gut.

Healing by the clock: In fruit flies, intestinal stem-cell regeneration fluctuates with the time of day

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 12:39:39 EDT

Genetic screening in flies reveals that the circadian clock regulates intestinal regeneration in response to damage, meaning that gut healing fluctuates according to the time of day.

Adding intestinal enzyme to diets of mice appears to prevent, treat metabolic syndrome

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 15:29:29 EDT

Feeding an intestinal enzyme to mice kept on a high-fat diet appears to prevent the development of metabolic syndrome -- a group of symptoms associated with type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and fatty liver -- and to reduce symptoms in mice that already had the condition.

Fecal microbial transplantation found to be possible treatment for ulcerative colitis

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 11:28:28 EDT

A new clinical trial has found that fecal microbial transplantation (FMT) has resulted in the improvement or absence of symptoms in most pediatric patients with active ulcerative colitis.

Adult stem cells isolated from human intestinal tissue

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 13:51:51 EDT

For the first time, researchers have isolated adult stem cells from human intestinal tissue. The accomplishment provides a much-needed resource for scientists eager to uncover the true mechanisms of human stem cell biology.

Will cell therapy become a 'third pillar' of medicine?

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 14:14:14 EDT

Treating patients with cells may one day become as common as it is now to treat the sick with drugs made from engineered proteins, antibodies or smaller chemicals, according to UC San Francisco researchers. They have outlined their vision of cell-based therapeutics as a "third pillar of medicine."

Amniotic fluid stem cells repair gut damage

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 20:20:20 EDT

Stem cells taken from amniotic fluid were used to restore gut structure and function following intestinal damage in rodents, according to new research. The findings pave the way for a new form of cell therapy to reverse serious damage from inflammation in the intestines of babies.

Novel discovery reveals signals from brain aid the spread, persistence of pain

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 20:19:19 EDT

Treatments for pain at the site of an injury may not always be good enough, according to a novel study. The study results could change conventional thinking about pain management, they say.

Probiotics reduce stress-induced intestinal flare-ups, study finds

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 11:02:02 EDT

Stress has a way of significantly altering the composition of gut bacteria, which leads to inflammation and often times, belly pain for those with irritable bowel syndrome. But a new study shows how probiotics can reverse the effect of stress.

Anti-aging drug breakthrough

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 11:13:13 EST

Drugs that combat aging may be available within five years, following landmark work. The work finally demonstrates that a single anti-aging enzyme in the body can be targeted, with the potential to prevent age-related diseases and extend lifespans. Four thousand synthetic activators, which are 100 times as potent as a single glass of red wine, have been developed -- the best three are in human trials.

On the trail of mucus-eaters in the gut

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 13:10:10 EST

Microbiologists have for the first time succeeded in directly observing microorganisms feeding on the intestinal mucosa.

Gene discovery reveals importance of eating your greens

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 10:56:56 EST

Eating your greens may be even more important that previously thought, with the discovery that an immune cell population essential for intestinal health could be controlled by leafy greens in your diet. The immune cells, named innate lymphoid cells, are found in the lining of the digestive system and protect the body from 'bad' bacteria in the intestine. They are also believed to play an important role in controlling food allergies, inflammatory diseases and obesity, and may even prevent the development of bowel cancers.

Research supports promise of cell therapy for bowel disease

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 08:01:01 EST

Researchers have identified a special population of adult stem cells in bone marrow that have the natural ability to migrate to the intestine and produce intestinal cells, suggesting their potential to restore healthy tissue in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Common acne drug not associated with increased risk of IBD

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 09:20:20 EST

Doctors should not be discouraged from prescribing isotretinoin to adolescents for inflammatory acne, according to a new study showing the drug does not increase the risk of inflammatory bowel disease.

Diet of resistant starch helps the body resist colorectal cancer

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 14:07:07 EST

New research shows that resistant starch helps the body resist colorectal cancer through mechanisms including killing pre-cancerous cells and reducing inflammation that can otherwise promote cancer.

Gut bacteria linked to cholesterol metabolism

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 09:25:25 EST

Researchers have shown that cholesterol metabolism is regulated by bacteria in the small intestine. These findings may be important for the development of new drugs for cardiovascular disease.

Scientists find key to growth of 'bad' bacteria in inflammatory bowel disease

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 17:21:21 EST

Scientists have long puzzled over why "bad" bacteria such as E. coli can thrive in the guts of those with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), causing serious diarrhea. Now researchers have discovered the answer -- one that may be the first step toward finding new and better treatments for IBD.

Colon cancer exhibits a corresponding epigenetic pattern in mice and humans

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 17:21:21 EST

The epigenetic investigation of mice can as a result contribute to early diagnosis of cancer in humans.

How does fibrosis occur in Crohn's disease?

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 12:16:16 EST

New research has shown that a protein, known as IL-13, could be the key to the development of fibrosis in Crohn's disease.

Blocking digestive enzymes may reverse shock, stop multiorgan failure

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 14:42:42 EST

New research moves researchers closer to understanding and developing treatments for shock, sepsis and multiorgan failure. Collectively, these maladies represent a major unmet medical need: they are the number one cause of mortality in intensive care units in the United States, with hundreds of thousands of deaths annually. The new research provides novel results linking digestive enzymes to shock, sepsis and multiorgan failure.

Good bacteria in the intestine prevent diabetes, study suggests

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 06:47:47 EST

All humans have enormous numbers of bacteria and other micro-organisms in the lower intestine. New research suggests that the influence of the intestinal bacteria extends deep inside the body to influence the likelihood of getting diabetes. Scientists have been able to show that intestinal bacteria, especially in male mice, can produce biochemicals and hormones that stop diabetes developing.

Potential new treatment for gastrointestinal cancers discovered

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 10:58:58 EST

Researchers have identified a complex of proteins that promotes the growth of some types of colon and gastric cancers, and shown that medications that block the function of this complex have the potential to be developed into a new treatment for these diseases.

Unnecessary antimicrobial use increases risk of recurrent infectious diarrhea

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 15:12:12 EST

A new study found that many patients with Clostridium difficile infection are prescribed unnecessary antibiotics, increasing their risk of recurrence of the deadly infection. The retrospective report shows that unnecessary antibiotics use is alarmingly common in this vulnerable patient population.

Multiple sclerosis drug may one day treat colorectal cancer

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 10:59:59 EST

After uncovering a mechanism that promotes chronic intestinal inflammation and the development of colorectal cancer, scientists have found that fingolimod, a drug currently approved for the treatment of multiple sclerosis, could potentially eliminate or reduce the progression of colitis-associated cancer.

Synthetic stool can cure C. difficile infection, study suggests

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 20:16:16 EST

A newly developed synthetic "poop" can cure nasty gastrointestinal infections caused by Clostridium difficile, a toxin-producing bacterium, a new study suggests.

Human genes influence gut microbial composition, study suggests

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 08:26:26 EST

New research has identified a link between a human gene and the composition of human gastrointestinal bacteria. In a new study, scientists outline new evidence suggesting that the human genome may play a role in determining the makeup of the billions of microbes in the human gastrointestinal tract collectively known as the gut microbiota.

Rare genetic faults identified in families with bowel cancer

Sun, 30 Dec 2012 17:59:59 EST

Rare DNA faults in two genes have been strongly linked to bowel cancer by researchers, who sequenced the genomes of people from families with a strong history of developing the disease.

Host cholesterol secretion likely to influence gut microbiota

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 14:30:30 EST

For more than half a century, researchers have known that the bacteria that colonize the gastrointestinal tract of mammals influence their host's cholesterol metabolism. Now, researchers show that changes in cholesterol metabolism induced by diet can alter the gut flora.

Hypnosis should be offered to patients with IBS, Swedish research suggests

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 09:42:42 EST

Hypnotherapy helps fight IBS symptoms, according to research from Sweden which proposes implementing this treatment method into the care of severe sufferers of this common disease.

Dogs can accurately sniff out 'superbug' infections

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 19:31:31 EST

Dogs can sniff out Clostridium difficile (the infective agent that is responsible for many of the dreaded "hospital acquired infections") in stool samples and even in the air surrounding patients in hospital with a very high degree of accuracy, a new study finds.

'Two-faced' cells discovered in colon cancer

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 14:23:23 EST

A "two-faced" group of cells at work in human colon cancer can either suppress or promote tumor growth. These cells are a subset of T-regulatory (Treg) cells, known to suppress immune responses in healthy people. The discovery of Treg diversity in cancer and its role in control of cancer inflammation may lead to new approaches for therapeutics.

More than 200 genes identified for Crohn's Disease

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 12:18:18 EST

More than two hundred gene locations have now been identified for the chronic bowel condition Crohn's Disease, in a study that analysed the entire human genome.

Intestinal immune cells play an unexpected role in immune surveillance of the bloodstream

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 12:17:17 EST

Researchers have found that dendritic cells in the intestinal lining collect antigens from both intestinal contents and the circulation, leading to the generation of T cells that suppress inflammation. Disruption of that regulatory system may lead to the development of autoimmune disorders, inflammatory bowel disease or food allergies.

Predator-producing bacteria may be battling in human intestines

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 19:35:35 EST

Researchers have found that a bacteriophage unique to the Enterococcus faecalis strain V583 acts as a predator, infecting and harming similar, competing bacteria. They believe these lab results suggest what goes on in the human intestine.

Digested formula, but not breast milk, is toxic to cells, in vitro study finds

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 12:46:46 EST

Free fatty acids created during the digestion of infant formula cause cellular death that may contribute to necrotizing enterocolitis, a severe intestinal condition that is often fatal and occurs most commonly in premature infants, according to a new study. Bioengineers based their report on in vitro tests comparing the digestion of fresh human breast milk and nine different infant formulas.

New evidence for epigenetic effects of diet on healthy aging

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 12:22:22 EST

New research in human volunteers has shown that molecular changes to our genes, known as epigenetic marks, are driven mainly by aging but are also affected by what we eat. The study showed that whilst age had the biggest effects on these molecular changes, selenium and vitamin D status reduced their accumulation, and high blood folate and obesity increased them. These findings support the idea that healthy aging is affected by what we eat.

My microbes: New genetic fingerprint lives in your gut

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 13:21:21 EST

Our bodies contain far more microbial genes than human genes. And a new study suggests that just as human DNA varies from person to person, so too does the massive collection of microbial DNA in the intestine. The research is the first to catalog the genetic variation of microbes that live in the gut.

C. diff researchers reveal potential target to fight infections

Fri, 30 Nov 2012 11:05:05 EST

Researchers have discovered how a common diarrhea-causing bacterium sends the body’s natural defenses into overdrive, actually intensifying illness while fighting infection.

Traffic cops of the immune system

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 13:04:04 EST

A certain type of immune cell -- the regulatory T cell, or Treg for short -- is in charge of putting on the brakes on the immune response. In a way, this cell type might be considered the immune system's traffic cops.

Probiotic worm treatment may improve symptoms of colitis by restoring gut bacteria to healthy state

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 17:20:20 EST

A new study on monkeys with chronic diarrhea that were treated by microscopic parasite worm (helminth) eggs has provided insights on how this form of therapy may heal the intestine. This condition in monkeys is similar to the inflammatory bowel diseases that affects up to 1.4 million Americans.

Irritable bowel syndrome definitely isn’t 'all in the head'

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 12:21:21 EST

Irritable bowel syndrome is not "all in the head," as has been commonly thought. A new article describes a renaissance in the understanding of the condition, also known as IBS, and dismisses the notion that symptoms are specific to a single cause, and says symptoms are indications of several disturbed motor and sensory processes.

Awareness could eliminate inequalities in cancer diagnoses

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 08:36:36 EST

There are substantial inequalities in the stage at which cancer patients receive their diagnosis -- a critical factor for cancer survival -- a new study reveals. The researchers found that age, sex and income as well as the type of cancer influenced the risk of a patient being diagnosed at an advanced stage of the disease.

New bacteria to fight against intestinal inflammation

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 12:56:56 EST

Medical researchers have produced "beneficial bacteria" capable of protecting the body against intestinal inflammation.

New light on the genetic basis of inflammatory diseases

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 15:36:36 EDT

In one of the largest studies of its kind ever conducted, an international team of scientists has thrown new light on the genetic basis of the inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, the two most common forms of IBD, are chronic inflammatory digestive disorders.

New genetic links for inflammatory bowel disease uncovered

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 14:18:18 EDT

Researchers from the Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis communities have come together to share raw data as well as newly collected genetic information to dissect the biology of a group of conditions that affects millions of people. Their research centers on the two diseases, which are collectively known as inflammatory bowel disease and suggests a fundamental connection between risk of IBD and genes involved in other immune-related diseases and the immune system's response to pathogens.

C’est difficile: Researchers develop cocktail of bacteria that eradicates Clostridium difficile infection in mice

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 17:46:46 EDT

In a new study, researchers used mice to identify a combination six naturally occurring bacteria that eradicate a highly contagious form of Clostridium difficile, an infectious bacterium associated with many hospital deaths. Three of the six bacteria have not been described before. This work may have significant implications for future control and treatment approaches.

Increased use of colonoscopy screening could explain decrease in colorectal cancer rates

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 15:23:23 EDT

Use of colonoscopy for colorectal cancer screening could explain a significant decrease in the cancer's incidence over the past decade, according to a new study.