Pancreatitis News and Research

RSS

Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas. The pancreas is a large gland behind the stomach and close to the duodenum—the first part of the small intestine. The pancreas secretes digestive juices, or enzymes, into the duodenum through a tube called the pancreatic duct. Pancreatic enzymes join with bile—a liquid produced in the liver and stored in the gallbladder—to digest food. The pancreas also releases the hormones insulin and glucagon into the bloodstream. These hormones help the body regulate the glucose it takes from food for energy.

Normally, digestive enzymes secreted by the pancreas do not become active until they reach the small intestine. But when the pancreas is inflamed, the enzymes inside it attack and damage the tissues that produce them.

Pancreatitis can be acute or chronic. Either form is serious and can lead to complications. In severe cases, bleeding, infection, and permanent tissue damage may occur.

Consumption of alcohol the risk of several common cancers

An article appearing in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis presents definite evidence of these findings amongst other papers as part of an open forum discussion on wine, alcohol, and cardiovascular risk.

19 Jan 2005

New IBM technology could bring the promise of personalized medicine one step closer

Using a basic computer language, the researchers created a "smart" DNA stream that contains a patient's entire medical record

8 Sep 2004

UK Rates of acute pancreatitis have doubled over the past 30 years

Rates of acute pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) have doubled over the past 30 years, particularly among younger age groups, finds a study in this week's BMJ.

17 Jun 2004

FDA requires pancreatic extract manufacturers to get approval to remain on the market

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today formally notified manufacturers of pancreatic insufficiency products that these drugs must get approval by FDA within the next four years in order to remain on the market.

28 Apr 2004

AMT Obtains Orphan Drug Designation for Its LPL Gene Therapy Product

AMT today announced that its adeno-associated viral vector (AAV) expressing lipoprotein lipase (LPL) product has been designated as an orphan medicinal product for the treatment of LPL deficiency by the European Commission. This decision follows a positive recommendation by the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products.

22 Mar 2004