Gastrointestinal Health News and Research

Latest Gastrointestinal Health News and Research

Children with chronic medical conditions more likely to use alternative medicine

Children who regularly see specialists for chronic medical conditions are also using complementary medicine at a high rate, demonstrates recently published research from the University of Alberta and the University of Ottawa.

15 Jan 2013

Dental diversion plan eases burden in busy EDs

Hospital emergency departments may benefit from having a diversion plan in place to deal with dental patients, say US researchers writing in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

14 Jan 2013

Fingolimod could potentially eliminate or reduce progression of colitis-associated cancer

After uncovering a mechanism that promotes chronic intestinal inflammation and the development of colorectal cancer, scientists from Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center have found that fingolimod, a drug currently approved for the treatment of multiple sclerosis, could potentially eliminate or reduce the progression of colitis-associated cancer (CAC).

10 Jan 2013

New publication focuses on microbiome research in environmental, agricultural and biomedical areas

Two prominent microbiologists have launched a new peer-reviewed publication focusing on microbiome research in environmental, agricultural, and biomedical areas. Eric Wommack, from the University of Delaware's College of Earth, Ocean and Environment and Jacques Ravel, from the University of Maryland School of Medicine's Institute for Genome Sciences are the Editors-in-Chief of Microbiome, a BioMed Central (BMC) publication, which launched its first issue this week.

9 Jan 2013

Simple education program increases doctor's ADR rate and reduces risk of colorectal cancer

Most people know a colonoscopy requires some preparation by the patient. Now, a Mayo Clinic physician suggests an additional step to lower the risk of colorectal cancer: Ask for your doctor's success rate detecting easy-to-miss polyps called adenomas.

9 Jan 2013

Link between IRGM gene and composition of human gastrointestinal bacteria

New research led by the Karolinska Institutet, Sweden and the University of Glasgow, Scotland, has identified a link between a human gene and the composition of human gastrointestinal bacteria.

9 Jan 2013

Trauma, infection link with stroke seen in children

Research shows that trauma and acute infection are significant risk factors for arterial ischemic stroke in children.

8 Jan 2013

Periodontal disease may predispose men to impotence

Men in their thirties with chronic gum disease are at significantly increased risk for erectile dysfunction, suggests a study by Turkish researchers.

7 Jan 2013

Study reveals large microbial diversity in breast milk

Spanish researchers have traced the bacterial microbiota map in breast milk, which is the main source of nourishment for newborns. The study has revealed a larger microbial diversity than originally thought: more than 700 species.

4 Jan 2013

Treatment relieves oxidative stress in periodontitis

Nonsurgical periodontal therapy significantly reduces oxidative stress in individuals with chronic periodontitis, research shows.

3 Jan 2013

Craniofacial morphology linked to childhood sleep-disordered breathing

Children with abnormal craniofacial morphology are at increased risk for having sleep-disordered breathing, say researchers.

3 Jan 2013

Novel implant for craniofacial reconstruction has mixed results

A single-stage, surface-mounted implant designed using the principles of the intraosseous transcutaneous amputation prosthesis is an effective bone anchor for an external prosthesis but may not produce good cosmetic outcomes in complex craniofacial reconstruction, researchers say.

3 Jan 2013

Refined mapping finds over 200 Crohn’s Disease genes

Researchers have used a genetic mapping technique to identify more than 200 genes associated with Crohn’s Disease, making it the most well-characterized disorder to date.

31 Dec 2012

Surgeons: Support your low-income neighbor

Patients with cancer in low-income nations present for surgical treatment at a young age, advanced stage of disease, and often receive palliative rather than curative procedures, suggests a study in Malawi.

28 Dec 2012

DNA adducts linked to oral cancer in smokers

Having a high susceptibility to certain types of DNA damage caused by tobacco smoking could significantly increase the risk for oral cancer, show results of a Taiwanese study.

28 Dec 2012

Ulcerative colitis impairs work capacity

Patients with ulcerative colitis have higher rates of sick leave or disability pension than the general population, show findings published in Gastroenterology.

28 Dec 2012

Genome sequencing may help identify new targets to treat Pneumocystis pneumonia

Scientists have sequenced the genome of the fungus Pneumocystis jirovecii, an advancement that could help identify new targets for drugs to treat and prevent Pneumocystis pneumonia, a common and often deadly infection in immunocompromised patients.

26 Dec 2012

Coffee habit improves survival chances with oral cancer

Drinking more than four cups of coffee per day lowers the risk for death from oral/pharyngeal cancer by almost half compared with drinking none, according to US study findings.

20 Dec 2012

SR9238 compound can reverse effects of fatty liver disease

Scientists from the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have developed the first synthetic compound that can reverse the effects of a serious metabolic condition known as fatty liver disease. True to its name, the disease involves an abnormal buildup of fat in the liver.

20 Dec 2012

Probiotic supplements can benefit body during and after antibiotic use

Recent data suggests that the average American is bombarded with up to 5,000 varying media messages on a daily basis, which can make it tricky to discern fact from fiction. When it comes to your health, there should be absolutely no doubt that the products you select are effectively working to produce the desired results. This is especially true when it comes to the use of probiotics with antibiotics, because some forms are less effective when combined with antibiotics.

19 Dec 2012