Articles tagged with Digestive Disorders
A study published in Gastroenterology reveals the top gastrointestinal and liver diseases causing financial burden, with GERD being the most expensive at $9.3 billion annually. The study estimates a total of $36 billion in direct costs and $22.8 billion in indirect costs, affecting millions of Americans.
Researchers developed an experimental drug that reversed the effects of Fabry disease in mice, reducing glycolipid levels and eliminating toxic side effects. The treatment has potential applications for other lysosomal storage diseases affecting thousands of people in the US.
Dr. Achilles A. Demetriou will present information on the bioartificial liver (BAL), an external device that cleanses blood plasma through synthetic and biologic materials, during Digestive Disease Week. The BAL has completed a Phase I clinical trial at Cedars-Sinai and is now in a large multi-center study.
A large study of over 13,000 participants found an inverse relationship between blood levels of vitamin C and the prevalence of gallbladder disease in women. Women with higher vitamin C levels had a lower risk of symptomatic gallbladder disease and asymptomatic gallstones.
A new study investigates the association between emotional abuse and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in women. The research found that those who experienced emotional abuse scored higher on measures of self-blame and self-silencing, leading to increased stress which exacerbates IBS symptoms.
A small study of 20 smokers found no statistically significant differences in heartburn incidences between days of wearing different nicotine patches. The researchers controlled for diet and confirmed cigarette abstention, ruling out the possibility of heartburn caused by smoking withdrawal.
Researchers at Yale University have found that healthy bullfrog tadpoles can distinguish the odors given off by infected animals and keep their distance. This ability may be widespread among animals, enabling them to avoid diseases and reducing the spread of infection.
Family history may play a role in developing gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), with those having a family member with significant heartburn or esophagus/stomach disease twice as likely to experience it themselves. Obesity, smoking, and alcohol consumption are also risk factors for GERD.
Rockefeller University researchers identify a critical link between autoantibodies and inflammation, suggesting novel ways to uncouple this connection. They found that preventing the activation of antibody receptors by autoantibodies is an effective way to treat autoimmune diseases like lupus.
Researchers have identified a gene responsible for late infantile Batten disease, a devastating genetic disorder that affects about 300 children in the US. The CLN2 gene codes for an enzyme that degrades proteins and its discovery may lead to effective treatment and new insights into the aging process.
A recent study conducted among Native Americans has found that periodontal disease significantly increases the risk of developing heart disease in the future. The research revealed a powerful association between periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease, with diabetes being the only factor showing a stronger association.