A woman's symptoms of colitis emerged 27 years after she left the country where she was infected with a parasitic worm. Analysis revealed larvae of Strongyloides stercoralis caused her digestive issues, highlighting the importance of considering this rare disease in patients with cellular immune defects.
Researchers found that acute colitis was associated with decreased body weight, food intake, and fat content, while chronic colitis led to reduced bone mineral density and lower energy expenditure. Chronic inflammation also altered metabolism, reducing the use of nutrients as an energy source.
The IBDchip is an open tool that includes polymorphisms associated with the disease, predisposition, and evolution. Progenika has developed similar products, including the Lipochip for hypercholesterolemia diagnosis and the Bloodchip for genotyping blood donors.
The main thrust of a 1998 Lancet paper described an unexpected intestinal lesion in children, raising the possibility of a link between MMR vaccine and autism. Despite lack of evidence, the paper's interpretation sparked major implications for public health, leading to formal retraction by the authors.
Researchers found that loss of the NEP enzyme fuels inflammation in mice with colitis, leading to increased substance P levels and bowel inflammation. Administering the NEP enzyme or blocking substance P can dramatically reduce inflammation, suggesting potential treatments for humans.