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Link shown between Crohn's disease and virus

A new study reveals that all children with Crohn's disease have a common enterovirus in their intestines, suggesting an important connection between the virus and the chronic inflammatory intestinal disorder. The findings could pave the way for a better understanding of the disease's cause.

SourceUppsala University·JournalClinical and Translational Gastroenterology·DateJun 27, 2013

Healing by the clock

Researchers found that intestinal stem-cell regeneration in fruit flies varies with the time of day, with gut healing being more effective at certain times. This study sheds light on how circadian rhythms control daily functions and has potential applications for human health, including optimizing chemotherapy timing.

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalCell Reports·DateApr 11, 2013

A new genetic fingerprint lives in your belly

Researchers analyzed microbial DNA in 252 stool samples to catalog genetic variation, finding over 10 million single-letter changes in collective DNA. The data could aid understanding of how human genes interact with microbes to maintain health or cause disease.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalNature·DateDec 5, 2012

Prebiotic may help patients with intestinal failure grow new and better gut

A study found that adding the prebiotic fructooligosacharide (FOS) to the diets of pediatric patients with intestinal failure can increase gut growth and function. The prebiotic converts into butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid that enhances nutrient digestion and absorption.

SourceUniversity of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences·JournalJournal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition·DateOct 15, 2012

La Jolla Institute discovers novel mechanism for preventing infection via body's mucosal borders

Researchers at the La Jolla Institute identified a previously unknown mechanism generating protective immune memory cells to fight recurring infections at mucosal linings. This discovery could lead to the creation of new and more effective vaccines by triggering the newly identified mechanism, particularly for Listeria and HIV.

SourceLa Jolla Institute for Immunology·JournalNature Immunology·DateOct 2, 2011

Could a tumor suppressor also fight obesity?

Scientists at Thomas Jefferson University found that silencing the hormone receptor GCC affects appetite in mice, inducing obesity, while mice expressing the receptor know when to stop eating. This new neural-gut axis provides a potential therapeutic target for controlling appetite and obesity.

SourceThomas Jefferson University·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateAug 25, 2011

UT Southwestern scientists unmask mysterious cells as key 'border patrol agents' in the intestine

Researchers discover gamma deltaintraepithelial lymphocytes (γδ IEL) play a crucial role in maintaining friendly relations between gut microbes and intestinal lining. These cells patrol intestinal borders, sensing microbial invasion and producing antibiotic proteins to prevent rogue bacteria from spreading to deeper tissue.

SourceUT Southwestern Medical Center·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 9, 2011

Will this be the end of hamburger disease?

A recent study published in Environmental Microbiology and Nature Reviews Microbiology reveals that E.coli O157:H7 can thrive in cow intestines due to its ability to scavenge ethanolamine, a nutrient not found by other bacteria. This breakthrough could lead to non-medical methods to eradicate the bug, reducing food contamination and hu...

SourceUniversity of Montreal·JournalEnvironmental Microbiology·DateNov 25, 2010

Proton-powered pooping

Scientists discovered that bare subatomic protons can act like neurotransmitters, making gut muscles contract in round worms. The researchers identified genes and proteins involved in the process and found proton pumps and receptors in human intestinal cells and brains.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalCell·DateJan 9, 2008

Life savers in the gut

Researchers from EMBL discovered that proteins regulating iron metabolism play a vital role in ensuring nutrient and water absorption in the intestine. The study found that mice lacking these proteins suffer from weight loss, dehydration, and impaired nutrient absorption.

SourceEuropean Molecular Biology Laboratory·JournalCell Metabolism·DateJan 9, 2008

Protein's role in lipid absorption may be important to future weight-loss strategies

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine have found that protein CD36 facilitates the uptake of fatty acids and cholesterol in the proximal part of the intestine. The team believes that targeting this process may provide a useful tool for obesity treatment, as animals without CD36 absorb fat less efficiently and eat less.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateJul 5, 2007

First trial on life-threatening condition finds two surgical approaches have same results

A multicenter randomized controlled trial involving 117 premature infants found that laparotomy and bowel resection and peritoneal drainage surgical approaches have essentially the same major outcomes in terms of patient survival. The study ends three decades of speculation and debate over which approach is more effective.

SourceChildren's Hospital of Pittsburgh·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateMay 25, 2006

Newly identified gut protein kills bacteria

Researchers have discovered a novel protein, Ang4, produced by Paneth cells in the intestinal lining that can kill certain types of gut microbes. This finding suggests that Ang4 may play a crucial role in maintaining gut health and preventing infection.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalNature Immunology·DateJan 26, 2003

Deadly copper disease in infants targeted

Menkes' disease is a fatal illness caused by copper deficiency, affecting male infants typically, causing death by age 3. Researchers now study the normal function of the gene involved in development and what causes its absence or defect., The disease is named for John Menkes who first described it at Columbia University in 1962.

Bugs Can Ward Off The 'Bends'

Deep-sea divers may benefit from bacterial supplements that reduce dissolved hydrogen in their blood, mitigating the risk of decompression sickness. Researchers have found that methane-producing microorganisms can help alleviate symptoms.

SourceNew Scientist·JournalThe New Scientist·DateApr 28, 1999