Gastroenteritis News and Research

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Gastroenteritis (also known as gastro, gastric flu, and stomach flu) refers to inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, involving both the stomach and the small intestine and resulting in acute diarrhea. The inflammation is caused most often by infection with certain viruses, less often by bacteria or their toxins, parasites, or adverse reaction to something in the diet or medication.

Study reveals unique norovirus characteristic of hiding from host immune system

Noroviruses are the leading cause of non-bacterial gastroenteritis in the world and are estimated to cause 267 million infections and 20,000 deaths each year. This virus causes severe diarrhea, nausea, and stomach pain.

11 Oct 2017

Studies reveal link between autism and severe maternal infection during pregnancy

Two studies conducted at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the University of Massachusetts Medical School indicated that mothers who were affected with severe infections that required hospitalization are at an increased risk of having an autistic child.

15 Sep 2017

New online calculator estimates impact of changes in breastfeeding rates on population health

In a new study published in Breastfeeding Medicine, researchers have created an online calculator to estimate the impact of changes in breastfeeding rates on population health.

14 Sep 2017

Study shows sustained impact and effectiveness of rotavirus vaccine program

Following the introduction of routine childhood vaccination against rotavirus, a common cause of diarrheal illness, more than 380,000 children avoided hospitalization for diarrhea from 2008 to 2013 in the U.S., thus saving an estimated $1.2 billion in direct medical costs.

10 Aug 2017

Ultra-sensitive C. difficile toxin assay may be critical tool for improving diagnosis of infectious disease

Findings presented at the American Society for Microbiology's ASM Microbe conference show that the ultra-sensitive Clostridium difficile toxin A/B assay in development for use on the Sgx Clarity™ system offers excellent sensitivity and may be a critical tool for improving the diagnosis of this life-threatening infection.

29 Jul 2017

Study finds high levels of antibiotic-resistant pathogens in chickens raised on farms in India

A new study from India raises questions about the dangers to human health of farming chicken with growth-promoting antibiotics--including some of the same drugs used in raising millions of chickens in the United States and worldwide.

20 Jul 2017

Pathogen linked to seafood poisoning disarms key host defense system by paralyzing cell's skeleton

The leading cause of acute gastroenteritis linked to eating raw seafood disarms a key host defense system in a novel way: It paralyzes a cell's skeleton, or cytoskeleton.

23 Jun 2017

Rotavirus vaccination in babies, young children linked to slightly increased risk for intussusception

Rotaviruses are the commonest cause of diarrhea in infants and young children worldwide. To protect against rotavirus infection, in 2013 the Standing Committee on Vaccination in Germany recommended rotavirus vaccination for all infants.

22 May 2017

Are your bowel symptoms serious?

Very common – most of us will experience bowel symptoms from time to time, but usually the symptoms last only a few days. You should see your GP if they persist for more than three weeks (sooner if they are severe) or if your symptoms keep coming back.

24 Apr 2017

New test can quickly and accurately diagnose dangerous colistin-resistant bacteria

New research suggests it is possible to quickly and accurately diagnose some the most dangerous and drug-resistant types of bacterial infections, using equipment already owned by most hospitals.

24 Apr 2017

Innovative strategy uses genetically modified viruses to selectively attack tumor cells

Scientists at the IDIBAPS Biomedical Research Institute and at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine lead a study in which they have designed a new strategy to get genetically modified viruses to selectively attack tumor cells without affecting healthy tissues.

16 Mar 2017

IDIBELL scientists develop oncolytic virus capable of redirecting immune system to attack cancer cells

Researchers of the Cancer Virotherapy Research Group of Bellvitge Biomedicine Research Institute, led by Dr. Ramon Alemany, have developed an oncolytic virus capable of redirecting the patient's immune system against their tumor cells.

16 Feb 2017

Researchers identify new mechanism that protects from bacterial infections

An international team led by the University if Barcelona has identified a new antibacterial mechanism that protects macrophages - defense cells in the immune system- from the infection of the bacteria Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, a pathogen associated with several gastrointestinal diseases.

2 Feb 2017

New research finds link between heartburn drugs and increase in risk of infectious gastroenteritis

New research has found a link between popular heartburn drugs and an increase in the risk of infectious gastroenteritis -- an illness that results in 13.1 million lost days of work in Australia a year.

12 Jan 2017

Pasteurised intestinal bacterium could stop progression of obesity and diabetes in mice

The intestinal bacterium Akkermansia proves to offer enduring benefits for the intestines of overweight mice and diabetic animals.

30 Nov 2016

Würzburg researchers develop novel technique to provide new insight into Salmonella infection process

Technological advances are making the analysis of single bacterial infected human cells feasible, Würzburg researchers have used this technology to provide new insight into the Salmonella infection process.

18 Nov 2016

Identifying foods that trigger IBS: an interview with Dr Bill Chey

IBS is a common medical condition which is diagnosed in the presence of characteristic gastrointestinal symptoms including recurring bouts of abdominal pain and diarrhea and/or constipation. IBS patients also commonly report bloating and abdominal distension or swelling.

15 Nov 2016

GUMC to honor health professional Roger I. Glass with 2016 Cura Personalis Award

Georgetown University Medical Center will honor Roger I. Glass, MD, PhD, with the 2016 Cura Personalis Award at its Ninth Annual GUMC Convocation on Thursday, Nov. 17. Glass also will be the Convocation keynote speaker.

11 Nov 2016

Poor, remote Indigenous Australians have increased risk of sexually transmissible infections

A unique 21-year study of more than 2.4 million cases of infectious disease across Australia reveals a major social divide where being poorer, living remotely or being an Indigenous Australian means having an increased risk of sexually transmissible infections (STIs).

25 Oct 2016

Common food-poisoning bacteria linked to increased risk of Crohn's disease

People who retain a particular bacterium in their gut after a bout of food poisoning may be at an increased risk of developing Crohn's disease later in life, according to a new study led by researchers at McMaster University.

7 Oct 2016