ScienceDaily: Gastrointestinal Problems News

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.

Vitamin C does not lower uric acid levels in gout patients, study finds

Thu, 16 May 2013 06:37:37 EDT

Despite previous studies touting its benefit in moderating gout risk, new research reveals that vitamin C, also known ascorbic acid, does not reduce uric acid (urate) levels to a clinically significant degree in patients with established gout. Vitamin C supplementation, alone or in combination with allopurinol, appears to have a weak effect on lowering uric acid levels in gout patients, according to the results of a new study.

Intestinal bacterium Akkermansia curbs obesity

Wed, 15 May 2013 11:37:37 EDT

A dominant and useful bacterium called Akkermansia muciniphila is present in the intestinal system of all humans, from babies to the elderly. This microorganism is found in the intestinal mucus layer that protects against intruders. Even more remarkable is that this bacterium has a favorable effect on the disrupted metabolism associated with obesity.

Genetic variations associated with susceptibility to bacteria linked to stomach disorders

Tue, 07 May 2013 16:42:42 EDT

Two genome-wide association studies and a subsequent meta-analysis have found that certain genetic variations are associated with susceptibility to Helicobacter pylori, a bacteria that is a major cause of gastritis and stomach ulcers and is linked to stomach cancer, findings that may help explain some of the observed variation in individual risk for H pylori infection.

Endogenous antibiotic discovered in the brain

Mon, 06 May 2013 09:52:52 EDT

Scientists have discovered that immune cells in the brain can produce a substance that prevents bacterial growth: namely itaconic acid. Until now, biologists had assumed that only certain fungi produced itaconic acid.Scientists have now shown that even so-called microglial cells in mammals are also capable of producing this acid.

Gastric bypass findings could lead to diabetes treatment

Wed, 01 May 2013 09:06:06 EDT

Scientists have shed new light on why gastric bypass often sends diabetes into remission rapidly, opening the door to developing treatment with the same effect.

No more reflux: New surgery in fight against reflux for patients whose medication no longer works

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 14:20:20 EDT

A new procedure involving a magnetic ring of beads that fits around your pinky has been shown to stop GERD in people whose medication stopped working.

Possible alternative to bariatric weight loss surgery

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:15:15 EDT

An experimental procedure successfully tested in obese laboratory rats may provide a less-invasive alternative to bariatric weight-loss surgery. Scientists used a catheter to redirect the flow of bile from the bile duct into the small intestine, producing the same metabolic and weight-loss benefits as bariatric surgeries such as gastric by-pass.

Gastric bypass surgery alters hormones to relieve diabetes symptoms

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:14:14 EDT

Gastric bypass surgery alters the hormones and amino acids produced during digestion, hinting at the mechanisms through which the surgery eliminates symptoms of type 2 diabetes, according to a recent 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.

Painkillers taken before marathons linked to potentially serious side effects

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 11:06:06 EDT

Attempts to ward off pain in marathons and other endurance sports by taking over the counter painkillers may be ill advised, because these drugs may cause serious side effects in these circumstances, suggests new research.

High-salt diet and ulcer bug combine to increase risk of cancer

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 16:23:23 EDT

Numerous epidemiologic studies have shown that a diet high in salt is associated with an increased risk of gastric cancer. Now researchers have shown that high dietary salt combined with infection by the ulcer-causing bacterium Helicobacter pylori greatly increases the risk of cancer.

Common osteoporosis drug slows formation of new bone

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 16:46:46 EDT

Although the drug zoledronic acid slows bone loss in osteoporosis patients, it also boosts levels of a biomarker that stops bone formation, according to a recent study.

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.

Overcoming a major barrier to medical and other uses of 'microrockets' and 'micromotors'

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 10:39:39 EDT

An advance in micromotor technology akin to the invention of cars that fuel themselves from the pavement or air is opening the door to new medical and industrial uses for these tiny devices, scientists say. Their update on development of the motors -- so small that thousands would fit inside this "o" -- was part of a recent conference presentation.

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.

Retinoic acid gradient visualized for the first time in an embryo

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 13:31:31 EDT

In a ground-breaking study, researchers report a new technique that allows them to visualize the distribution of retinoic acid in a live zebrafish embryo, in real-time. This technique enabled them to observe two concentration gradients going in opposing directions along the head-to-tail axis of the embryo, thus providing long-awaited evidence that retinoic acid is a morphogen.

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.

Esophageal cancer risk may be reduced through a variety of lifestyle factors -- from taking aspirin to losing belly fat

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 14:31:31 EDT

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center is home to the Seattle Barrett's Esophagus Program, a multidisciplinary effort conducted in collaboration with researchers at Brigham & Women’s College and the University of California at San Francisco. This research team has shown that a systematic approach to early cancer detection can boost five-year survival rates from about 15 percent to more than 80 percent.

Over-diagnosis of reflux in infants leads to needless medication, research finds

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 10:44:44 EDT

Calling gastroesophageal reflux a disease increases parents’ wish for medication, symptoms are frequently over-treated in infants, according to new research.

How diabetes drug delays aging in worms

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 12:51:51 EDT

A widely prescribed type 2 diabetes drug slows down the aging process by mimicking the effects of dieting, according to a study using worms to investigate how the drug works.

C. diff infection risk rises with antihistamine use to treat stomach acid

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 13:13:13 EDT

Patients receiving antihistamines to suppress stomach acid are at greater risk of infection from Clostridium difficile, or C. diff, a common cause of diarrhea, particularly in health care settings, researchers have found.

Other stomach microbiota modulate resistance to H. pylori-driven ulcers

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 13:53:53 EDT

Mice with different naturally occurring stomach bacteria have distinct susceptibilities to disease caused by Helicobacter pylori, the well-known cause of ulcers in humans, according to a new study. This is the first study to document (in mice) that the presence of certain bacteria in the stomach microbiota can prevent pathology from H. pylori.

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.

Molecular ‘signature’ for rapidly increasing form of esophageal cancer discovered

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 15:18:18 EDT

New research may offer clues to why rates of esophageal adenocarcinomas (EAC) have risen so sharply. The findings point to abnormal genes and proteins that may be lynchpins of EAC cell growth and therefore serve as targets for new therapies.

Charges for emergency room visits often based on incorrect assumptions

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 15:51:51 EDT

Visits to the ER are not always for true medical emergencies – and some policymakers have been fighting the problem by denying or limiting payments if the patient’s diagnosis upon discharge is for “nonemergency” conditions.

Strong anti-cancer properties discovered in soybeans

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 09:50:50 EDT

Proteins found in soybeans could inhibit the growth of colon, liver and lung cancers. Soybean meal is a bi-product following oil extraction from soybean seeds. It is rich in protein, which usually makes up around 40% of the nutritional components of the seeds and dependent on the line, and can also contain high oleic acid (a monounsaturated omega-9 fatty acid).

Somatic symptom disorder: New disorder could classify millions of people as mentally ill

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 20:23:23 EDT

Millions of people could be mislabeled as mentally ill when psychiatry's bible of diagnoses is updated in May, warns a doctor.

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.

Tomatoes that mimic actions of good cholesterol created

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 14:41:41 EDT

Researchers have genetically engineered tomatoes to produce a peptide that mimics the actions of good cholesterol when consumed. In this early study, mice that were fed these tomatoes in freeze-dried, ground form had less inflammation and plaque build-up in their arteries.

Alcohol, fibromyalgia, and quality of life

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 07:46:46 EDT

Low and moderate drinkers of alcohol reported lower severity of symptoms of fibromyalgia than teetotallers, finds a study. Too much alcohol reversed this effect. The chronic pain of fibromyalgia is thought to affect one in 20 people worldwide but there is no known cause or cure. It often goes hand in hand with fatigue and sleep problems, headaches, depression and irritable bowel and bladder problems. Treatment is based around pain management and lifestyle changes.

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.

Some bacteria may protect against disease caused by stomach infection

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 13:47:47 EDT

Half of the world's human population is infected with the stomach bacteria called Helicobacter pylori, yet it causes disease in only about 10 percent of those infected. Other bacteria living in the stomach may be a key factor in whether or not H. pylori causes disease, according to a new study.

Magnet ingestion by young children serious and growing problem

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 12:39:39 EDT

Physicians and parents must be aware of the growing danger of magnet ingestion by children because magnets can adhere to each other and cause life-threatening problems such as bowel perforations, a new case study illustrates.

Killing cancer cells with acid reflux

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 11:07:07 EST

A chemist has come up with a unique way to kill certain cancer cells -- give them acid reflux. Kevin Belfield used a special salt to make cancer cells more acidic -- similar to the way greasy foods cause acid reflux in some people. He used a light-activated, acid-generating molecule to make the cells more acidic when exposed to specific wavelengths of light, which in turn kills the bad cells. The surrounding healthy cells stay intact.

Visceral fat causally linked to intestinal cancer

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 08:38:38 EST

Visceral fat, or fat stored deep in the abdominal cavity, is directly linked to an increased risk for colon cancer, according to new data from a mouse study.

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.

Mutation location is the key to prognosis

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 12:41:41 EST

The three most important factors in real estate are location, location, location, and the same might be said for mutations in the gene MECP2, researchers report in a new study.

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).

Unsolved puzzle in hepatology on the brink of resolution

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 08:10:10 EST

Primary sclerosing cholangitis is a currently incurable liver disease that mostly affects younger people aged between 30 and 40. There are now justified hopes that this disease could be cured using synthetically manufactured bile acids, a process under development.

New treatment for chronic reflux disease

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 09:22:22 EST

Clinical trial offer additional evidence that a new device may help relieve chronic heartburn symptoms that standard treatment cannot.

Effectiveness of magnetic device for treatment of reflux disease demonstrated

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 14:31:31 EST

A study published February 21st in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) provides clinical evidence of the safety and effectiveness of a new magnetic medical device to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Santiago Horgan, MD, professor of surgery at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and study co-author, was the first surgeon in the United States to implant the FDA-approved device.

Why sourdough bread resists mold

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 19:42:42 EST

Sourdough bread resists mold, unlike conventionally leavened bread. Now scientists show why. During sourdough production, bacteria convert the linoleic acid in bread flour to a compound that has powerful antifungal activity.

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.

Bracelet-like device may control chronic acid reflux

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 18:47:47 EST

A bracelet-like device with magnetic beads can control the chronic digestive disorder gastroesophageal reflux disease, according to a new study.

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.

Bone marrow cells used in bladder regeneration

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 16:42:42 EST

A new approach to bladder regeneration uses bone marrow cells to recreate the organ's smooth muscle, vasculature and nerve tissue.

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.

Gut microbes could determine the severity of melamine-induced kidney disease

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 07:55:55 EST

Microbes present in the gut can affect the severity of kidney disease brought on by melamine poisoning, according to a new study.

Cellular renewal process may underlie benefits of omega fatty acids

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 15:25:25 EST

A search for genes that change their levels of expression in response to nutrient deprivation has uncovered potential clues to the mechanism underlying the health benefits of omega fatty acids. Researchers report finding that feeding omega-6 fatty acids to C. elegans roundworms or adding them to cultured human cells activates a cellular renewal process called autophagy, which may be deficient in several important diseases of aging.

Lower autism risk with folic acid supplements in pregnancy

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 17:22:22 EST

Women who took folic acid supplements in early pregnancy almost halved the risk of having a child with autism. Beginning to take folic acid supplements later in pregnancy did not reduce the risk.