Small Intestine News and Research

RSS

First Europe-wide analysis reveals widespread raccoon roundworm infection

The raccoon roundworm Baylisascaris procyonis can cause severe diseases in humans, including fatal brain damage.

19 Dec 2025

Specific gut bacterium reduces weight gain and improves metabolic health

The gut microbiome is intimately linked to human health and weight. Differences in the gut microbiome-the bacteria and fungi in the gut-are associated with obesity and weight gain, raising the possibility that changing the microbiome could improve health.

16 Dec 2025

A multi-gene mouse model reveals new mechanisms of Hirschsprung disease

During development of the digestive system, a complex network of nerves forms around it, creating a "second brain" - the enteric nervous system (ENS) - which controls the movement of food and waste through the gut.

16 Dec 2025

Over-contracted gut muscles drive gastrointestinal symptoms in myotonic dystrophy

Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is the most common form of adult-onset muscular dystrophy, affecting about 1 in 8,000 people. While it is well known for causing muscle weakness and stiffness, DM1 also affects other organs, including the brain, heart and gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

12 Dec 2025

Study reveals how Ebola and Marburg viruses damage the human gut

Ebola (EBOV) and Marburg virus (MARV) are highly lethal viruses that cause severe disease in infected patients by extensively damaging the body.

11 Dec 2025

Discovery links human M cells to early steps of celiac disease

The human small intestine absorbs nutrients while protecting us from potentially harmful microbes. One of the cell types that plays a key role in this protection is the microfold cell, or M cell.

10 Dec 2025

AGA issues updated guidance for pharmacologic treatment of moderate-to-severe Crohn's disease

The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) has released a comprehensively updated clinical guideline on the pharmacological management of moderate-to-severe Crohn's disease.

20 Nov 2025

Gut immune cells follow an atypical pathway to provide long-lasting antiviral protection

A new study led by University of Toronto researchers has shown that immune cells in the gut follow an atypical pathway to produce antibodies that provide long-term protection against viruses.

17 Nov 2025

Mathematical models explain food movement and churning in the digestive tract

Synchronization abounds in nature: from the flashing lights of fireflies to the movement of fish wriggling through the ocean, biological systems are often in rhythmic movement with each other.

31 Oct 2025

Intraoperative radiation reduces the recurrence rate of pancreatic cancer

Using targeted radiation during surgery - referred to as intraoperative radiation - to eliminate pancreatic cancer cells that have spread to areas around the pancreas, investigators at Johns Hopkins have been able to reduce the recurrence rate around the pancreas to 5%.

30 Oct 2025

Preliminary study shows intraoperative radiation's success against pancreatic cancer spread

29 Oct 2025

Ingestible capsule developed for the diagnosis of acute mesenteric ischemia

Researchers led by investigators at Mass General Brigham and Massachusetts Institute of Technology have validated an ingestible capsule in preclinical models for the diagnosis of acute mesenteric ischemia, a condition caused by blocked or reduced blood flow to the intestines.

22 Oct 2025

Does eating watermelon lower blood pressure?

Researchers reviewed the role of watermelon as a natural source of L-citrulline and its potential to improve cardiovascular health by enhancing nitric oxide production. While promising effects on blood pressure and arterial stiffness were seen in at-risk groups, long-term and dose-specific studies are still needed to confirm clinical benefits.

15 Oct 2025

Reelin protein may help heal both "leaky gut" and severe depression

What if a protein could be injected to help heal both "leaky gut" and severe depression? New research from the University of Victoria (UVic), published in Chronic Stress, shows that a glycoprotein called Reelin may one day be able to do just that.

7 Oct 2025

Researchers discover how HIV hides in different parts of the body

Researchers at Western University and the University of Calgary have discovered how HIV hides in different parts of the body by embedding itself into the DNA of cells in a tissue-specific manner, offering new insights into why the virus is so difficult to eliminate and cure – even decades after infection and treatment.

6 Oct 2025

AGA releases new clinical guideline for diagnosing and managing gastroparesis

The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) has released a new clinical guideline with 12 conditional recommendations for diagnosing and managing gastroparesis, a serious and often debilitating disease.

19 Sep 2025

Early diagnosis and modern therapies improve Crohn’s disease prognosis

Crohn's disease, a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), impacts millions worldwide. The disease is chronic and highly unpredictable, manifesting symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea — sometimes with blood — and severe fatigue.

13 Sep 2025

Kids with fluctuating gut microbiome show poorer growth

Malnutrition is a leading cause of death in children under age 5, and nearly 150 million children globally under this age have stunted growth from lack of nutrition.

9 Sep 2025

Study: Not all dietary proteins are digested equally in the gut

As protein-rich diets become increasingly popular, a new study suggests that categorizing dietary proteins as either animal- or plant-based fails to effectively capture the source-specific differences in their composition, digestive efficiency and accessibility to the gut microbiota.

4 Sep 2025

Daily probiotic reduces pouchitis risk after colon removal surgery but may not be cost-effective

A new UCLA Health study found that taking an 8-strain probiotic daily may reduce the risk of pouchitis, a common inflammatory condition that occurs after colon removal surgery for ulcerative colitis, but the treatment may not be worth the cost depending on a patient's likelihood of flare-ups.

3 Sep 2025