Digestive System News and Research

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New RNA-based liquid biopsy detects early colorectal cancer with high accuracy

Liquid biopsies are tests that detect signs of cancer through a simple blood draw. Unlike traditional biopsies, which require removing a piece of tissue, a liquid biopsy typically looks for mutations or modification changes in fragments of DNA from cancer cells circulating in the blood.

8 Jul 2025

Pesticides found to disrupt specific gut bacteria linked to inflammation

While emerging evidence suggests pesticides can be toxic to the mix of microorganisms in the digestive system, a new study is the first to map changes to specific gut bacteria based on interactions between human microbes and insect-killing chemicals observed in the lab and an animal model.

27 Jun 2025

Is aspartame safe for blood sugar? Study answers the big question

A major systematic review and meta-analysis found that aspartame has little to no effect on blood glucose, insulin, or appetite-regulating hormones in humans. Evidence certainty is very low, with no significant long-term metabolic impact identified.

25 Jun 2025

Time-restricted feeding restores microbial rhythms and boosts metabolism

The gut microbiome, a vast assortment of bacteria and other microorganisms that inhabit our digestive system, plays a critical role in converting food into energy.

19 Jun 2025

New study warns of long-term risks from fecal microbiota transplants

Fecal microbiota transplants (FMT) have been touted as a potential treatment for a variety of conditions, from inflammatory bowel diseases, obesity, and type 2 diabetes to autism.

6 Jun 2025

Ultrasonic cigarettes may pose significant health risks, study shows

A study by scientists at the University of California, Riverside shows ultrasonic cigarettes, or u-cigarettes, marketed as a less harmful alternative to traditional e-cigarettes, may pose significant health risks due to the presence of harmful metals in their liquids and aerosols.

28 May 2025

Researchers identify key cells behind peanut allergy prevention

A decade ago, a clinical trial in the U.K. famously showed that children who were exposed to peanuts in the early months of life had reduced risk of developing a peanut allergy compared with children who avoided peanuts.

15 May 2025

Study finds fewer H. pylori infections among Parkinson’s patients

A large case-control study from China found that people with Parkinson’s disease were significantly less likely to test positive for Helicobacter pylori infection compared to controls. The findings suggest a potential protective link between this common stomach bacterium and Parkinson’s disease, though causality remains unproven.

15 May 2025

Researchers secure funding to advance Chagas disease research

A team of researchers at Texas A&M University and the University of Georgia (UGA) has received more than $4 million from federal and non-governmental organizations to support research on Chagas disease prevalence, diagnostics and treatment to benefit both dogs and humans.

7 May 2025

Exercise helps mitigate cancer treatment side effects

Exercise can counter the detrimental effects of cancer treatment, such as heart and nerve damage and brain fog, suggests an overarching review of the existing pooled data analyses of the most recent research, published online in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

29 Apr 2025

Children with chronic conditions face higher RSV hospitalization risk

Young children with chronic conditions are more likely to be hospitalized for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) than healthy children, according to a new study.

25 Apr 2025

Gut imbalances in autism linked to brain and behavior changes

A new USC study suggests that gut imbalances in children with autism may create an imbalance of metabolites in the digestive system - ultimately disrupting neurotransmitter production and influencing behavioral symptoms.

14 Apr 2025

Cedars-Sinai study investigates diet's role in treating gut disorders

A new study from Cedars-Sinai examined whether a specialized diet could improve symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders linked to an imbalance in gut microbiota.

1 Apr 2025

Impact of excessive alcohol consumption on digestive health

Excessive alcohol consumption is a significant public health concern, responsible for approximately 6% of all deaths and contributing to 5.1% of the global disease burden.

12 Mar 2025

Inhalable gene therapy tested for cystic fibrosis treatment in the UK and Europe

An inhalable medicine with the potential to improve lung disease in people with cystic fibrosis, irrespective of their mutation type, is being tested in human trials in the UK and Europe.

20 Feb 2025

Do probiotics enhance sports performance?

Researchers found that probiotics may enhance endurance, recovery, and immune function in athletes, but the evidence for strength and power performance remains limited.

17 Feb 2025

Infants with cystic fibrosis show stunted gut microbiome development

Findings from a new Dartmouth-led study, published in the journal mBio, highlight key differences in the gut microbiome (communities of bacteria) of infants with cystic fibrosis (CF) compared to that of healthy infants, and how these alterations may adversely affect their health.

14 Feb 2025

Nanoscale plastic particles enhance toxin uptake in plants and human cells

Micro- and nanoscale plastic particles in soil and water can significantly increase how much toxic chemicals plants and human intestinal cells absorb, according to two new studies from Rutgers Health that raise fresh concerns about food safety from plastic pollution.

11 Feb 2025

Study reveals how beneficial gut microbe breaks down mucus for health

A microbe found in the lower part of the gut that is associated with good health has been comprehensively analyzed and found to have a focused diet breaking down sugars locked away in mucus.

31 Jan 2025

Fizzy water may aid weight loss but can't replace healthy lifestyle

Fizzy water might aid weight loss by boosting blood glucose uptake and metabolism-the rate at which the body uses and converts energy-but the effects are so small, drinking it can't be relied on alone to shed the pounds, concludes a brief analysis published in the open access journal BMJ Nutrition Prevention & Health.

21 Jan 2025