by RMIT University Mucus is the first line of defence against bad bacteria in our gut. But could it also be part of our defence against diseases of the brain? Bacterial imbalance in the gut is linked with Alzheimer’s disease, autism and other brain disorders, yet the exact causes are unclear. Now a new research...
Structure of a double-bridged peptide that is not degraded by enzymes in the stomach and intestines. The two stabilizing chemical bridges are shown in red. Credit: C. Heinis (EPFL) Peptides are short chains of amino acids that occur in our body, in plants or bacteria to control diverse functions. Several peptides are used as drugs...
by Tracie White, Stanford University Medical Center Researchers found that, in addition to upper respiratory symptoms, a significant number of those sick with the new virus also suffered from loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. The study, one of the earliest on U.S. patients with the coronavirus, was published online April 10 in Gastroenterology....
There is a group of diseases the symptoms of which have a common origin: a lesion in the endothelial tissue that covers the inside of the blood vessels. This lesion, called TMA (Thrombotic Microangiopathy), causes a migration of platelets to cover the wound. Smaller blood vessels collapse, producing a series of symptoms such as anaemia,...
New insights into how the colon functions and expels contents FLINDERS UNIVERSITY New insights into how the colon functions and actually expels its contents have been revealed for the first time following decades of study by Flinders University researchers. It promises new diagnostics tools and treatments for gastrointestinal disorders to address problems with bowel movements...
CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES HEADQUARTERS Sarcomas – cancers that arise from transformed mesenchymal cells (a type of connective tissue) – are quite deadly. Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common human sarcoma and are initiated by activating mutations in the KIT receptor tyrosine kinase. Micro-GISTs are a smaller variation of clinical GISTs and are...
Posted Today Many drugs, especially those made of proteins, cannot be taken orally because they are broken down in the gastrointestinal tract before they can take effect. One example is insulin, which patients with diabetes have to inject daily or even more frequently. In hopes of coming up with an alternative to those injections, MIT engineers, working with scientists from Novo Nordisk, have designed a new drug capsule that can carry...
Doctors typically prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs to people suffering from inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis. These medications, however, leave much to be desired: they are often ineffective and can come with unpleasant side effects. What’s more, they tend to remedy the symptoms of the disease rather than fixing the underlying problem. Now, a multi-institutional study...
Our bodies are pretty good at telling us when we need to drink water. Credit: from www.shutterstock.com. It’s a message that’s been drummed into us since childhood. Drink water, especially when it’s hot, otherwise you’ll get dehydrated. But how do you know if you’re dehydrated? Who’s more at risk? And what can you do about it? What’s...
An over-the-counter and prescribed painkiller is associated with 50% increased risk of heart attack and stroke People who took this drug also had a higher risk of gastrointestinal bleeding Diclofenac was banned over-the-counter in the UK over heart concerns Researchers of the new study say it should only be available for prescription globally An over-the-counter...
