Gastrointestinal Health News and Research

Latest Gastrointestinal Health News and Research

Alteration in gut microbiome may lead to hyperinflammation in severe COVID-19

A team of international scientists has recently identified a distinct set of proinflammatory mediators and metabolites associated with the fatal consequences of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Moreover, they have established a link between gut microbiome alteration and hyper-inflammatory response in patients with severe COVID-19. The study is currently available on the bioRxiv* preprint server.

1 Nov 2021

Research reveals how gut macrophages respond to prior infection by shielding enteric neurons

A simple stomach bug could do a lot of damage. There are 100 million neurons scattered along the gastrointestinal tract-;directly in the line of fire-;that can be stamped out by gut infections, potentially leading to long-term GI disease.

30 Oct 2021

Harnessing the genetics of hookworms to develop next generation of PPE for combat troops

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have received a grant to develop the next generation of personal protective equipment (PPE) for combat troops.

30 Oct 2021

Diet-associated molecules in the gut are linked with aggressive prostate cancer

Cleveland Clinic researchers have shown for the first time that diet-associated molecules in the gut are associated with aggressive prostate cancer, suggesting dietary interventions may help reduce risk. Findings from the study were published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.

28 Oct 2021

Structure of human-infecting canine coronavirus HuPn-2018 spike glycoprotein

As CCoV-HuPn-2018 has been recently isolated in a child's respiratory swab, researchers from the University Of Washington have been examining the structure of the virus.

28 Oct 2021

Study: Younger and older patients with metastatic colorectal cancer survive for same amount of time

Even though young patients with metastatic colorectal cancer tend to be more fit and receive more intensive treatment than older patients, both groups survive for roughly the same amount of time, according to a new study by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute investigators.

27 Oct 2021

Research reveals the microbial landscape of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE) is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system targets tissues of the body, causing widespread inflammation and affecting multiple organs such as the kidney and the brain.

27 Oct 2021

HCV treatment decreases protein activity levels involved in liver cirrhosis, research shows

Researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina report in the Journal of Viral Hepatitis that the activity levels of the proteins involved in liver scarring, or cirrhosis, begin to decrease immediately after treatment for the hepatitis C virus (HCV), suggesting the possibility of early healing.

26 Oct 2021

Safer, more effective therapies could help fight the obesity epidemic

Novel obesity treatments such as modulation of the gut microbiome and gene therapy are underutilized and could help fight the obesity epidemic, according to a new manuscript published in the Endocrine Society's journal, Endocrine Reviews.

26 Oct 2021

Mapping C. difficile: Advanced ribotyping technology helps researchers keep track of deadly disease

Interview with Seth Walk, Principal Investigator and Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University

From Promega Corporation 26 Oct 2021

Study finds link between genes and amount of bacterial toxins in the blood

Lipopolysaccharide, a virulence factor produced by bacteria, is a toxin that can cause a systemic inflammation via the circulation. In a recently completed study, genetic markers were discovered which are associated with a heightened lipopolysaccharide level in the blood.

25 Oct 2021

Study findings may lead to new treatments to fight deadly C. difficile infections

A University of California, Irvine-led study suggests that the glucosyltransferase domain (GTD) is an ideal molecular target for therapeutic interventions for Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). These findings may lead to new treatments to fight this deadly disease.

22 Oct 2021

Machine learning approach effective in predicting antibiotic resistance spread

Genes aren't only inherited through birth. Bacteria have the ability to pass genes to each other, or pick them up from their environment, through a process called horizonal gene transfer, which is a major culprit in the spread of antibiotic resistance.

22 Oct 2021

Study may help investigate the role of gut virome in health and disease

A new study has added numerous previously uncharacterized viral genomes and genes to the ever-increasing worldwide pool of human gut viromes.

19 Oct 2021

Researchers uncover the role of estrogen in exercise

Experts in sex as a biological variable are uncovering the role of estrogen in exercise. The researchers will present their findings virtually at the American Physiological Society's (APS) New Trends in Sex and Gender Medicine conference.

19 Oct 2021

New AI-based computer algorithm may enable quicker diagnosis of heart failure

A special artificial intelligence (AI)-based computer algorithm created by Mount Sinai researchers was able to learn how to identify subtle changes in electrocardiograms (also known as ECGs or EKGs) to predict whether a patient was experiencing heart failure.

19 Oct 2021