Gastrointestinal Health News and Research

Latest Gastrointestinal Health News and Research

'Fight' between bacteria in the intestines linked to chronic disease

Results from a study conducted at Georgia State University suggest that a "fight" between bacteria normally living in the intestines and the immune system, kicked off by another type of bacteria, may be linked to two types of chronic disease.

3 Aug 2012

Screening tool could help oral cancer detection

Indian researchers report the development of a novel, simple screening tool with a high degree of accuracy for the detection of oral premalignancies that can be used in a general health setting without the need for much training or clinical experience.

2 Aug 2012

Women with vulvodynia more likely to also have other chronic pain conditions

Millions of women suffer from unexplained vulvar pain so severe it can make intercourse, exercise and even sitting unbearable. New research now shows that women with this painful vaginal condition known as vulvodynia are two to three times more likely to also have one or more other chronic pain conditions, including irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia (musculoskeletal pain) and interstitial cystitis (bladder pain).

2 Aug 2012

Around 1.4 million of Americans with celiac disease are unaware of it

Roughly 1.8 million Americans have celiac disease, but around 1.4 million of them are unaware that they have it, a Mayo Clinic-led analysis of the condition's prevalence has found.

1 Aug 2012

Freiburg scientist receives ERC Starting Grant for NutrImmune project

The microbiologist and immunologist Prof. Dr. Andreas Diefenbach, Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Freiburg Medical Centre, has been awarded a European Research Council "Starting Grant" for his project "NutrImmune". The ERC Starting Grant is one of Europe's most prestigious grants for young investigators.

1 Aug 2012

Flap design affects recovery from wisdom tooth surgery

The design of the mucoperiosteal flap created during surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molars can affect patient recovery, show study findings.

31 Jul 2012

Enoxaparin prevents PVT in advanced cirrhosis

Enoxaparin significantly reduces portal vein thrombosis and increases overall survival in patients with advanced cirrhosis, the results of an Italian study show.

30 Jul 2012

Antioxidants and pancreatic cancer risk: an interview with Dr Andrew Hart

The antioxidants that we mainly looked at were selenium, vitamin C and vitamin E. They are chemicals which inactivate pro-oxidants or free radicals. Smoking and normal metabolism can lead to the production of free radicals.

30 Jul 2012

Takeda, Sucampo file AMITIZA sNDA with FDA for treatment of opioid-induced constipation

Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A. Inc. today announced the filing of a supplemental new drug application (sNDA) with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seeking approval for a new indication for AMITIZA (lubiprostone) for the treatment of opioid-induced constipation (OIC) in patients with chronic, non-cancer pain.

26 Jul 2012

Vitamin B12 supplements and hepatitis C treatment: an interview with Gerardo Nardone and Alba Rocco

Since its discovery in 1989, hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been recognized as a major cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. The most recent WHO estimate of the prevalence of HCV infection is 2%, representing . about 150 million people. Every year, 3–4 million new people are infected with the hepatitis C virus, of those, approximately 60–80% develop chronic hepatitis, and 30% of them progress to cirrhosis and to end-stage liver disease.

26 Jul 2012

Molecular explanation for increased susceptibility to intestinal inflammation in malnutrition

More than one billion people in poor countries are starving, and malnutrition remains a major problem even in rich countries, making it a leading cause of death in the world. For over a hundred years, doctors have known that a lack of protein in the diet or low levels of amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, can lead to symptoms like diarrhoea, inflamed intestines and other immune system disorders, which weaken the body and can be fatal. However, the molecular mechanism which explains how malnutrition causes such severe symptoms has been largely unexplored.

26 Jul 2012

Follow-up exams for patients with celiac disease are often inadequate and highly variable

Follow-up exams for patients with celiac disease are often inadequate and highly variable, according to a new study in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, the official clinical practice journal of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA).

26 Jul 2012

Reprieve for intraoperative nitrous oxide

A large analysis challenges the view that intraoperative nitrous oxide use should be avoided.

25 Jul 2012

Giving patients a new immune system can cure Crohn's disease

Researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center have opened a clinical trial to test the theory that giving a patient a new immune system can cure severe cases of Crohn's disease, a chronic inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract.

25 Jul 2012

EMA COMP issues positive opinion to Albireo for A4250

Albireo AB, a biopharmaceutical company specializing in gastroenterology, today announced that the European Medicines Agency Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products (COMP) has issued a positive opinion on an application for orphan medicinal product status for the company's lead hepatology candidate, A4250.

25 Jul 2012

Colonoscopy with polypectomy decreases colorectal cancer incidence and mortality

A study from researchers in Switzerland found that colonoscopy with polypectomy significantly reduces colorectal cancer incidence and colorectal cancer-related death in the general population.

25 Jul 2012

Esophageal biopsy advised in children with foreign body impaction

Study findings suggest that a considerable number of children with esophageal foreign body or food bolus impaction have eosinophilic esophagitis.

24 Jul 2012

Endoscopy, better tissue sampling required to improve care for patients with oesophageal cancer

The world's largest review of all the evidence on the best way of managing and treating common pre-cancerous and cancerous conditions of the oesophagus (gullet) has found that good endoscopy equipment, more endoscopic surgery, and more tissue sampling are required to improve care for patients.

24 Jul 2012

Study represents new use of bone marrow transplantation

24 Jul 2012

Aspirin use appears to reduce risk of Barrett's esophagus

Aspirin use appears to reduce the risk of Barrett's esophagus (BE), the largest known risk factor for esophageal cancer, according to a new study in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, the official clinical practice journal of the American Gastroenterological Association.

24 Jul 2012