Gastrointestinal Health News and Research

Latest Gastrointestinal Health News and Research

CMV infection found to worsen necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants

Researchers say they found that infection with a common virus that can be transmitted from mother to fetus before birth significantly worsens an often-fatal complication of premature birth called necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in experiments with mice.

24 Feb 2025

Your home is full of mold, but daycares are teeming with yeast—here’s why

Researchers found that daycares have a higher abundance of yeasts, while private houses contain more spore-producing molds, with occupant density and ventilation playing key roles in fungal distribution.

23 Feb 2025

Discovery paves way for new hepatitis B treatment

In their effort to answer a decades-old biological question about how the hepatitis B virus (HBV) is able to establish infection of liver cells, research led by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), Weill Cornell Medicine, and The Rockefeller University identified a vulnerability that opens the door to new treatments.

22 Feb 2025

New frailty index helps predict hospitalization and death risks in older adults

Investigators at Mass General Brigham have developed a tool that can identify older adults at increased risk of emergency healthcare needs, rehospitalization or death.

21 Feb 2025

Boston University professor receives grant for preeclampsia drug discovery research

Wendy Kuohung, MD, associate professor of obstetrics & gynecology at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, has been awarded a two-year, Discovery Research Grant from March of Dimes.

21 Feb 2025

CBD boosts endurance in mice by reshaping gut bacteria and enhancing muscle performance

Study shows that cannabidiol (CBD) enhances endurance exercise in mice by reshaping gut microbiota, boosting mitochondrial function, and altering muscle fiber composition for improved performance.

20 Feb 2025

Can chili peppers improve ADHD symptoms? Scientists explore their gut-brain connection

Chili peppers may influence ADHD symptoms by modulating the gut microbiome, with capsaicin, vitamin C, and omega-3 fatty acids showing potential effects on neurotransmitters and inflammation. However, clinical trials are needed to confirm their efficacy.

20 Feb 2025

Breakthrough discovery unveils potential treatment for hepatitis B

In their effort to answer a decades-old biological question about how the hepatitis B virus (HBV) is able to establish infection of liver cells, research led by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), Weill Cornell Medicine and The Rockefeller University identified a vulnerability that opens the door to new treatments.

20 Feb 2025

Unfolded protein response disruptions contribute to colorectal cancer and gut-related disorders

The intestinal epithelium is a highly dynamic barrier that regulates digestion, absorption, immune responses, and communication between the gut microbiota and the nervous system.

20 Feb 2025

Do prenatal antibiotics weaken breast milk immunity? A new study aims to find out

A new study will investigate whether prenatal antibiotic use impairs breast milk immune function and disrupts neonatal gut microbiota, potentially affecting infant health. Researchers aim to assess how prolonged antibiotic exposure in late pregnancy alters breast milk IgA and neonatal immune development.

19 Feb 2025

Can the carnivore diet trigger kidney stones? Case study raises red flags

A case study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition examines how one patient’s switch to a carnivore diet increased kidney stone risk by raising calcium, uric acid, and oxalate levels while reducing protective citrate.

19 Feb 2025

Scientists track diet through stool DNA, revealing a new way to monitor nutrition

Scientists developed MEDI, a method to estimate dietary intake from food DNA in human stool, offering a more accurate alternative to self-reported food tracking.

19 Feb 2025

New method uses stool DNA to track diet and health

Scientists have developed a breakthrough method to track diet using stool metagenomic data.

19 Feb 2025

Milk boosts gut-friendly bacteria while cheese alters microbiome balance, study reveals

Researchers found that dairy consumption influences gut microbiota composition, with milk promoting beneficial bacteria and cheese altering microbial diversity in distinct ways.

18 Feb 2025

Senolytic agent ABT-263 mitigates GI cancer risk after radiation exposure

A new research paper was published by Aging (Aging-US) on January 8, 2025, in Volume 17, Issue 1, titled "Senolytic agent ABT-263 mitigates low- and high-LET radiation-induced gastrointestinal cancer development in Apc1638N/+ mice."

18 Feb 2025