Christchurch Hospital’s Department of Paediatric Surgery has developed a way to grow smooth muscle cells which may lead to new treatment options for those with bowel diseases or defects.
Research lead by Dr. Atsushi Yoshida & Prof. Spencer Beasley has developed a technique that allows them to grow smooth muscle which exhibits muscle contractions similar that of bowel muscle. The breakthrough allows the researchers to convert pluripotent stem cells into sheets of this smooth muscle tissue.
“This is a significant breakthrough because until now being able to achieve contracting sheets of smooth muscle cells has proved very difficult,” – Dr. Atushi Yoshida Continue reading “Christchurch Hospital On It’s Way To Generating Smooth Bowel Muscle” »
Stanford University’s new Gastrointestinal Pain Program is showing how efficient communication between Gastroenterologists & Pain Management specialists can lead to better results for patients.
It’s all too often that patients with chronic conditions find themselves in the position of treatment manager, coordinating communications between their general practitioner & the multiple specialists they may have to see. Patients in this situation will often feel lost in a sea of doctors appointments, ensuring tests & medical records get transferred properly as well as researching & managing their own illness. Those patients may also feel as though no one in the medical community is really taking a lead in ensuring their wellbeing as often doctors who don’t work within the same medical practice(or even those who do) are distant, with communication not being their strong suit. Continue reading “Communication Key To Managing Gastrointestinal Pain” »
Lexicon Pharmaceuticals recently announced their new drug LX1033 passed Phase I drug safety trials allowing it to move forward into Phase II testing.
Lexicon Pharmaceuticals’ LX1033 is a Irritable Bowel Syndrome drug meant for those with diarrhea predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms or mixed symptoms that include diarrhea. LX1033 works by targeting the hydroxylase enzyme which is also known as TPH. TPH is essential for the production of serotonin within the body & it comes in two forms TPH1 & TPH2. TPH1 lives mainly in the digestive system, while TPH2 lives in the nervous system & the brain. LX1033 specifically targets TPH1 only & leaves TPH2 alone to avoid nervous system or psychoactive effects. Serotonin levels do seem to play a role in Irritable Bowel Syndrome, but how much is not fully understood. Continue reading “Lexicon Pharmaceuticals Drug LX1033 For Irritable Bowel Syndrome” »
Hydrogenotrophic microbes which convert hydrogen into other substances may play a key role in the development of diseases like Colon Cancer or Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
Research lead by Professor Rex Gaskin & Dr. Eugene Greenberg at the University of Illinois is looking to map Hydrogenotrophic(hydrogen consuming) microbes that while making up a small portion of the microbial ecosystem might play a big part in the development of diseases such as Colon Cancer or Inflammatory Bowel Diseases such as Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis. Continue reading “Hydrogen Eating Microbes Play Important Role In Digestive System” »
On July 15th the US Department of Veterans Affairs announced that disability regulations will be changing regarding how the Department of Veterans Affairs views Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders(FGIDs/FGIMDs) such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
The new regulations will now list FGIDs as being a “presumed” result of military service during operations within Southeast Asia during the Persian Gulf War that occurred in the early 1990s. This essentially means that a veteran making a disability claim should have an easier task of claiming that their Irritable Bowel Syndrome or Functional Dyspepsia(chronic indigestion) was a result of their service, even if symptoms developed after they had left the military. In the past a veteran had to prove that their symptoms were apparent while they were actively serving during the Gulf War. This made it complicated for many veterans who developed severe gastrointestinal disorders after their tours of duty ended. Continue reading “US Veterans Affairs Disability Regulations More Accepting of IBS” »
After relatively successful Phase III trials Ironwood Pharmaceuticals’ has applied for final FDA approval of their flagship drug, Linaclotide, which is for the treatment of constipation & pain related Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms.
Continue reading “Ironwood Pharmaceuticals’ Linaclotide IBS Drug Looking For Final FDA Approval” »
Those trying to improve their health may actually be making it worse or even risking severe injury by taking colon cleansing products which are often costly & have dubious benefit.
A few months ago I wrote about my negative thoughts on colon cleansing products & how I felt they weren’t healthy, safe or cost effective treatment for digestive system problems. Of all the bogus health products out there colon cleansing is probably at the top of the list for deceiving people about it’s potential benefits. Continue reading “Colon Cleansing Offers Little Benefit & Dangerous For Some” »
Health Canada is strengthening the required side effect warnings on prescriptions of Reglan so that they include more information regarding the likelihood of someone developing debilitating Tardive dyskinesia.
Reglan is the brand name of the drug Metoclopramide which has been used for decades to as an anti-emetic & prokinetic drug. Health Canada is the department which sets health policy within Canada. Health Canada has come out with stronger warnings regarding the major side effect of Tardive dyskinesia. The new warnings will now be required for all prescriptions of Reglan. Continue reading “Reglan Tardive Dyskinesia Side Effect Warnings Boosted In Canada” »
About a month ago I contacted my local congressman, David Wu, asking for his support on “H.R. 2239 – Functional GI and Motility Disorders Research Enhancement Act of 2011“. He recently sent a response back outlining his views on the pending legislation.
Just to recap here is the original letter I sent to David Wu via his website.
I would just like to bring your attention to the house bill HR 2239 “Functional Gastrointestinal and Motility Disorders Research Enhancement Act of 2011”.
I have personally suffered from Irritable Bowel Syndrome for 14 years and went through an acute case of Gastroparesis for 3 months. Both of these diseases have had a profound & lasting affect on my life. Motility related digestive illnesses greatly affect a person’s quality of life & they greatly impact a person’s social, educational & career endeavors. With almost 20% of Americans facing some form of digestive motility disorder, it’s a shame that there isn’t more funding given to researching these diseases.
I ask that you please become a cosponsor of H.R. 2239 by contacting Amy Bos in the office of Congressman James Sensenbrenner, Jr.
Thank you,
Gabriel Hedges Continue reading “David Wu Responds To My H.R. 2239 Inquiry” »
A recent minor spat between the University of Iowa & the University of Melbourne brings awareness to the roles that prunes, sorbitol & FODMAPs play in Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
Prunes were the topic of discussion in a recent debate over their effectiveness in treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome constipation. The debate started over a bit of research done by the University of Iowa’s Department of Gastroenterology which suggested that prunes were possibly a more effective treatment option than psyllium husks for those with Irritable Bowel Syndrome constipation. Continue reading “Irritable Bowel Syndrome & The Great Prune Debate” »