USC researchers identify gene variant associated with both autism and gastrointestinal dysfunction

... that links increased genetic risk for autism with gastrointestinal (GI) conditions. The findings suggest that ... a syndrome that includes autism and co-occurring gastrointestinal dysfunction, says principal investigator Pat ... disruption and inflexible behavior. While gastrointestinal conditions are common among individuals with ...

Robotic surgery lowers risk of a rare but serious complication of gastric bypass

... one significant difference that stood out was the gastrointestinal leak rate. None of the patients in the robotic-assisted surgery group experienced a gastrointestinal leak, while six in the laparoscopy group suffered ... Minimally Invasive Surgeons of Texas group. A gastrointestinal leak, which can occur when the small intestine is ...

Study findings show infection control intervention helps keep kids in school

... Researchers found absenteeism rates for gastrointestinal illnesses were nine percent lower in classrooms ... illness was not affected by this intervention. gastrointestinal illnesses are extremely common for school-age ... fact, the bacteria and viruses that cause these gastrointestinal infections can be easily passed from one person ...

Nitrates in vegetables protect against gastric ulcers

... and the minor damage that often occurs in the gastrointestinal tract as a result of ingestion of ... effects in the form of bleeding and ulcers in the gastrointestinal tract. With the aid of a nitrate-rich diet you ... an important role in the normal functions of the gastrointestinal tract is not entirely new. It is currently an ...

Study uncovers clues to cystic fibrosis gene dysfunction and gastrointestinal disease

... cystic fibrosis gene plays in the development of gastrointestinal disease. The cystic fibrosis transmembrane ... gene that can control the genes expression in the gastrointestinal tract. They also identified three important and ... treatments for cystic fibrosis and other gastrointestinal diseases, said lead author Thankam Paul, M.D., a ...

Five outstanding young gastroenterologists receive AGA Foundation 2009 Research Scholars Award

... who promise to make significant strides in the field of gastrointestinal research. "With the current economic times, research funding remains ... MD, MPH, University of Colorado, Denver: The effect of macronutrients on gastrointestinal hormones and gastric emptying in obesity Michele Battle, PhD, Medical ...

Gutsy germs succumb to baby broccoli

... ) Sulforaphane appears to trigger cells in the body, including in the gastrointestinal tract, to produce enzymes that protect against oxygen radicals, ... Classified a carcinogen by the World Health Organization, H. pylori is a gastrointestinal tract germ that manages to thrive in the lining of the stomach despite the ...

Review of probiotic trial research finds only Bifantis able to claim efficacy for IBS symptoms

... "Probiotics are gaining popularity for the treatment of multiple gastrointestinal disorders, including IBS," said Brenner, MD. "After assessment of the ... clinical evidence of Bifantis efficacy in helping to manage a range of gastrointestinal issues including abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, gas and ...

Research uncovers promising target to treat chronic abdominal pain

... about the protein's potential to treat the pain caused by a variety of gastrointestinal disorders suffered by millions of Americans. The most common condition ... is published in a recent issue of the American Journal of Physiology gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology . Stephens and colleagues tested the effects of ...

Gene mutation increases drug toxicity, rejection risk in pediatric kidney transplants

... Adverse side effects most commonly linked to MMF have included gastrointestinal complications (such as diarrhea) or leukopenia a drop in white blood cell ... and diarrhea the most common side effect linked to MMF suggesting gastrointestinal reactions to the drug may be caused by other factors. Some previous ...

Dog owners more likely to share germs with pets by not washing hands than by sleeping with dog

... Stenske's study centered on E. coli bacteria, which is common in the gastrointestinal tracts of both dogs and humans. "People have it, dogs have it, and it ... from this is that antibiotics really do affect the bacteria within our gastrointestinal tract, and we should only take them when we really need to -- and always ...

The medium is the message: Manipulating salmonella in spaceflight curtails infectiousness

... rod-shaped, motile bacterium and occasional unwelcome visitor to the human gastrointestinal tract, where it is a leading cause of food poisoning and related ... the low fluid shear conditions found in vivo, particularly in the gastrointestinal tractSalmonella's favored site of infection. One result of spaceflight ...

New genes found for inflammatory bowel disease in children

... 31 in Nature Genetics . IBD is a painful, chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, affecting about two million children and adults in the United ... about half suffer from Crohn's disease, which can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract, and half have ulcerative colitis, which is limited to the large ...

Tooth loss strongly linked to risk of esophageal, head and neck, and lung cancer

... The oral cavity is a gateway between the external environment and the gastrointestinal tract and acts in both food ingestion and digestion, the researchers wrote. Oral hygiene potentially affects gastrointestinal flora and nutritional status and may thus have implications for the ...

Scientists successfully treat new mouse model of inflammatory bowel disease

... on, started to lose weight and we soon realized that they all had serious gastrointestinal issues." Allen decided to consult with Stappenbeck, an expert in IBD. ... colitis." Unlike prior models of IBD, the mice consistently develop gastrointestinal problems within a short time period and at a predictable point in their ...

Your gut has taste receptors

... to the tongue. Our work is an important advance for the new field of gastrointestinal chemosensation - how the cells of the gut detect and respond to sugars and ... to better control weight, said Dr. Margolskee. Sensing glucose in the gastrointestinal tract is the first step in regulating blood sugar levels. Having ...

Probiotics help gastric-bypass patients lose weight more quickly, Stanford study shows

... patients to more quickly lose weight and to avoid deficiency of a critical B vitamin. In a study published in the July issue of the Journal of gastrointestinal Surgery , John Morton, MD, associate professor of surgery at the medical school, showed that patients who take probiotics after the gastric-bypass ...

NIH expands Human Microbiome Project; funds sequencing centers and disease projects

... This group of researchers will examine the potential connection between the intestinal microbiome and the development of necrotizing enterocolitis, a gastrointestinal disorder that can damage the intestine, in premature infants. James Versalovic, M.D., Ph.D., Baylor College of Medicine, Houston Digestive ...

MSU researchers receive $400,000 in first wave of stimulus funding

... a project looking at the causes of high blood pressure. "The work specifically looks at how a high-salt diet affects the arteries and veins in the gastrointestinal system," Fink said of the project, which is in its seventh year at MSU. The money announced June 2 was part of $2.7 million in NIH funding that ...

First 'nanorust' field test slated in Mexico

... "One collateral benefit of the nanorust filters is that they may also help remove water-borne viruses that are responsible for a wide variety of gastrointestinal diseases." ...

Why the thumb of the right hand is on the left hand side

... these molecules Hedgehog controls the development of, for example, the extremities, the central nervous system, the teeth, eyes, hair, lung and the gastrointestinal tract. "What is most remarkable: The cells are told what to do not only because the molecule is present but also by the different concentrations of ...

LSUHSC public health researcher finds reason for weight gain

... may result in decreased pancreatic responses. Beverages also clear the stomach sooner than solid food and may induce weaker satiety signals in the gastrointestinal tract. "Our study supports policy recommendations and public health efforts to reduce the intake of liquid calories, particularly from ...

Olympus advances technology for laparo-endoscopic single-site surgery

... post-operative pain, less internal/external scarring and improved recovery for patients. The platform, introduced at the annual Society of American gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons meeting, combines existing Olympus and Gyrus ACMI endoscopic and laparoscopic technology with the new TriPort access system. ...

Translating the conversation between the brain and blood vessels

... discover how the brain uses hormones to orchestrate blood flow to different parts of the body. This helped explain how the brain sends blood to the gastrointestinal tract after eating, but redirects it to the heart and muscles if we start running, for example. Recently, his team has been looking at which genes ...

Mass Biologic Labs/UMass Med School and Medarex license C. difficile monoclonal antibody to Merck

... About Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) C. difficile is a spore-forming bacterium that is common in the environment and can colonize the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. It can be easily spread among hospitalized patients and residents of long-term care facilities, but also can be found in otherwise ...

Ocera Therapeutics licenses novel treatment for acute hepatic encephalopathy from UCLB

... is licensing the technology from us. In Ocera, we have found the perfect development and commercialisation partner. They specialise in liver and gastrointestinal drug development and have a demonstrated track record. I am excited to enter this relationship to tap into their extensive experience to bring this ...

Cause of mussel poisoning identified

... and even death in extreme cases. Although "shellfish poisoning" can also be caused by pathogenic viruses and bacteria, many cases are due to gastrointestinal toxins and/or neurotoxins produced by certain marine microscopic plankton, the so-called "toxic algae". Mussels can filter a high amount of these ...

K-State researchers help Epitopix license the United States' first E. coli O157 vaccine for cattle

... currently on the market for control of Salmonella in dairy cows." E. coli , like other foodborne pathogens, is a bacteria that is present in the gastrointestinal tract of healthy cattle. Foodborne pathogens can contaminate meat or vegetable products. If food isn't properly cooked, the bacteria can harm the ...

GUMC young scientist selected postdoc Fellow at National Space Biomedical Research Institute

... on cellular and molecular parameters in the intestine. Exposures, such as during a solar storm, could impact crew performance by perturbing gastrointestinal function. "As the space program prepares for larger crews on the International Space Station and plans a return to the moon, America needs young ...

Parkinson's Disease Foundation awards $300,000 in bridge funding for innovative research projects

... several classes of medications already approved by the FDA for diseases other than Parkinson's to observe whether they are effective in improving gastrointestinal motility in Parkinson's. Despite the frequency and debilitating nature of this nonmotor symptom for people living with Parkinson's, there are no ...

Rural areas able to increase screening capacity for colorectal cancer

... with the second highest growth rate." Most of this growth will come from people who are 60 and older, and this group is also most at risk for gastrointestinal cancers, making the need for screening paramount. Benuzillo and colleagues surveyed 105 gastroenterologists and colorectal surgeons practicing in ...

New vaccine developed for preventing 'uncommon cold' virus

... was first seen in the 1950s and is associated with a wide spectrum of illnesses including conjunctivitis, upper respiratory infections, pneumonia and gastrointestinal disease. More than 50 unique serotypes of the virus have been identified, with even more expected to be isolated. Adenovirus outbreaks are ...

UD research study to shed light on emerging seaborne pathogen

... higher because labs rarely use the medium necessary to identify the organism, and cases go unreported. " Vibrio parahaemolyticus usually causes a gastrointestinal infection that lasts two to three days, although individuals with compromised immune systems who work around seawater and get infected from a cut or ...

DNA repair patterns may predict risk of pancreatic cancer

... identified in late stages, and thus is resistant to most available therapies. Scientists like Donghui Li, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of gastrointestinal Medical Oncology at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, are working to determine genetic profiles that can be used in identifying ...

New genetic markers for ulcerative colitis identified, researchers report in Nature Genetics

... intestine. The most common symptoms are diarrhea (oftentimes bloody) and abdominal pain. Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, another chronic gastrointestinal inflammatory disorder, are the two major forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). "Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are chronic conditions ...

Irritable bowel syndrome can have genetic causes

... Hospital have discovered this correlation. The causes of what is known as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), one of the most common disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, are considered unclear making diagnosis and treatment extremely difficult. The results from Heidelberg, which were published in the ...

Winter brings flu, summer brings bacterial infections

... The cause is not known, scientists said, but the seasonal variation is clear. "Gram-negative bacteria are a frequent cause of urinary tract, gastrointestinal and respiratory infections, as well as more serious things like pneumonia, wound or blood infections," said Jessina McGregor, an assistant professor ...

Escherichia coli bacteria transferring between humans and mountain gorillas

... Bwindi, Uganda November 24, 2008 A new study finds that mountain gorillas are at increased risk of acquiring gastrointestinal microbes, such as Escherichia Coli , from humans. The study, published in Conservation Biology , examines the exchange of digestive system bacteria ...

Stomach ulcer bug causes bad breath

... including hydrogen sulphide, methyl mercaptan and dimethyl sulphide. Doctors often measure the levels of these compounds to diagnose the problem. gastrointestinal diseases are also generally believed to cause halitosis." Patients who were carrying H. pylori had more blood in their saliva and were also ...

New journal shows half-broken gene is enough to cause cancer

... gene implicated in pancreatic and colorectal cancer. They found that having one mutated SMAD4 allele was associated with the development of gastrointestinal polyps. This research is the first to address the molecular and cellular consequences of SMAD4 damage on a genome-wide scale. This high quality ...