Indigo Ointment May Help Treat Patients With Psoriasis Nov 28, 2008
"Indigo naturalis is one of the Chinese herbal remedies that has been reported to exhibit potential antipsoriatic efficacy. However, long-term systemic use has been occasionally associated with irritation of the gastrointestinal tract and adverse hepatic [liver] effects.". Yin-Ku Lin, M.D., of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan, and colleagues conducted a randomized trial of an ointment containing indigo naturalis in 42 patients with treatment-resistant... (Science Daily)
Local dentists offer halitosis help Nov 20, 2008
It might be an infection in the tonsils or respiratory or gastrointestinal tract problems. "Other people just seem to have a problem with bad breath," Halbur said. (Sioux City Journal, IO)
To tame the belly, manage the brain Nov 19, 2008
"What's changing with all the new biomedical research capabilities is we recognize now the importance of the signaling system in the gastrointestinal tract, in the brain," said Richard Mattes, a professor of food and nutrition at Purdue University. Much of this work is driven by interest in pure science, but food research is never far from a practical application. (Boston Globe)
Indigo plant may treat chronic skin disease Nov 19, 2008
Long-term systemic use has been linked to irritation of the gastrointestinal tract and liver problems, the researchers said. They called for more studies on ways of improving absorption of the ointment. (MSNBC -- Health)
Immune System And Intestinal Bacteria: The Key To Balanced Cohabitation Nov 19, 2008
11, 2000) A team of Emory University pathologists has discovered that non-pathogenic bacteria within the gastrointestinal tract may be responsible for blocking an immune pathway that otherwise could cause an. (Mar. (Science Daily)
Patheon Provides AcuForm(TM) Technology To Its Customers Through Ongoing Partnership with Depomed(TM) Nov 18, 2008
AcuForm(TM) technology enables targeted, extended release of pharmaceutical ingredients to the upper gastrointestinal tract. This allows increased bioavailability, less frequent dosing and fewer side effects than presently seen with other formulations. (Canada Newswire)
Allergies help check cancer Nov 13, 2008
WASHINGTON: Sneezing, coughing and itching may just help prevent cancer affecting colon, skin, bladder, mouth, throat, uterus and cervix, lung and gastrointestinal tract, according to a new study. These cancers involve organs that are exposed to the external environment, said Paul Sherman, professor of neurobiology and behaviour at Cornell University, who led the study. (India Times, India -- Health/Science)
Allergies May Help Prevent Cancer Nov 12, 2008
There may be a silver -- and healthy -- lining to the miserable cloud of allergy symptoms: Sneezing, coughing, tearing and itching just may help prevent cancer -- particularly colon, skin, bladder, mouth, throat, uterus and cervix, lung and gastrointestinal tract cancer, according to a new Cornell study. These cancers, interestingly, involve organs that "interface directly with the external environment," said Paul Sherman, Cornell professor of neurobiology and behavior, who led the study. (Newsmax)
Half-broken Gene Is Enough To Cause Cancer Nov 11, 2008
(May 20, 1998) A gene causing familial juvenile polyposis (FJP), a disorder that causes the growth of polyps in the colon or upper gastrointestinal tract, has been identified. (Oct. (Science Daily)
Predictors of gastrointestinal lesions on endoscopy in iron deficiency anemia without gastrointestinal symptoms Nov 10, 2008
Upper gastrointestinal tract lesions were found in 41% of patients with bleeding related lesions. On multivariable logistic regression; advancing age, low mean corpuscular volume (MCV[less than or equal to] 60 fl), and positive fecal occult blood test were predictive factors for bleeding related GI lesions and cause of IDA. (BioMed Central)
Eurand Reports Recent Developments and Third Quarter and Year-to-Date 2008 Financial Results Nov 7, 2008
EUR-1073 was developed using a drug delivery system that targets the lower gastrointestinal tract, providing a sustained release of drug upon delivery that is intended to preserve the efficacy of classical corticosteroids while reducing the risk of the known side effects commonly associated with their use. Chiesi is nearing completion of patient enrollment in a Phase IIIb clinical study in Europe comparing Clipper to the current standard of care in ulcerative colitis. (Primezone Releases)
Researchers describe how chronic inflammation can lead to stomach cancer Nov 6, 2008
"This study shows that accumulation of IL-1 , which is induced by infection with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) in the gastrointestinal tract, is a significant contributor to the onset of stomach cancer," said lead author Timothy C. Wang, M.D., chief of the Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases and the Dorothy L. and Daniel H. Silberberg Professor of Medicine at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. "We show in this study that IL-1 works by activating a type... (EurekAlert!)
Previously unknown immune cell may help those with Crohn's and colitis Nov 4, 2008
"NK-22 cells are already present in the mucosal tissue of the gastrointestinal tract, and as soon as they see a pathogen, they react," Cella says ... "If we can develop methods to culture NK-22 cells, we may be able to use them to promote healing and protect the gastrointestinal tract.". (EurekAlert!)
25 Years Later: Can HIV Be Cured? Oct 29, 2008
As David I. Watkins notes in The Vaccine Search Goes On, starting on page 69, HIV preferentially infects immune cells called helper T lymphocytes, which mostly reside in the lymph nodes and connective tissue of the gastrointestinal tract but also occupy other lymph nodes and circulate in the blood. In the course of fighting most kinds of viral infections, the bulk of helper T cells involved in the fight die off when they are no longer needed. (Scientific American)
Parion lands $25M drug development deal with Kainos Medicines Oct 29, 2008
Parion says that its treatment is a therapeutic agent developed to maintain and stimulate hydration on the body s mucosal surfaces, such as the surfaces of the lung, mouth, nose, eye and gastrointestinal tract. Parion will oversee the clinical development program while Kainos will provide chemistry, manufacturing and controls expertise. (Raleigh Triangle Business Journal, NC)
Chronic Inflammation Can Help Nurture Skin Cancer, Study Shows Oct 24, 2008
IDO's "firefighter" role probably resulted from the body's need to control inflammation in areas such as the gastrointestinal tract. The GI tract is constantly bombarded by food and microbes which could lead to debilitating and deadly inflammation. (Science Daily)
Health Benefits of Mangoes Oct 17, 2008
Other population studies, including the European Prospective Investigation of Cancer, have identified a strong link between eating lots of fibre and a lower risk of cancers of the gastrointestinal tract. Low Calorie. (Suite101.com)
Ono Enters into License Agreement with Progenics Oct 17, 2008
MNTX is a peripherally acting mu-opioid receptor antagonist that decreases the constipating effects of opioid pain medications in the gastrointestinal tract without affecting their ability to relieve pain. "We already filed an antiemetic drug for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, and are developing anti-cancer biologics and cancer anorexia/cachexia drug in oncology area. We are glad to further expand our oncology pipeline by in-licensing MNTX from Progenics. We will... (JCN Network, Japan)
Behavioral Modification Helps Obese... Oct 15, 2008
Since these fats are not absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, they are eliminated through the gut which leads to complications. The most common complaints are abdominal cramps, flatulence, and fecal soiling. (Suite101.com)
Gut Reaction To Arsenic Exposure Simulated Oct 13, 2008
"We can't tell you how much arsenic gets absorbed into the blood with the in-vitro method, but we can tell you how much dissolves from the soil in the gastrointestinal tract. Arsenic can't get into the blood unless it dissolves," said Nicholas Basta, professor of soil and environmental chemistry and lead developer of the testing method ... Only a handful of labs in the world are equipped to use animals to test contaminated soil and whether the arsenic in those soils dissolves in the... (Science Daily)
Tranzyme Pharma mulls cash options to test drug Oct 13, 2008
Vipin Garg, the Durham company s president and CEO, says phase III clinical trials on Tranzyme s lead drug, a treatment to help restore the gastrointestinal tract to normal function following abdominal surgery, are scheduled to start early next year. Garg says his company is talking with six large pharmaceutical companies based in the United States and abroad about a partnership or even a sale of the company that could take Tranzyme s drugs all the way to commercialization. (Raleigh Triangle Business Journal, NC)
Pectin power Oct 13, 2008
Population studies such as EPIC, the European Prospective Investigation of Cancer, identified a strong link between eating lots of fibre and a lower risk of cancers of the gastrointestinal tract. But exactly how fibre exerts a protective effect is unknown. (EurekAlert!)
Outlook For Crohn's Disease Improves Thanks To New Therapies Oct 11, 2008
Crohn's disease is an inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract that affects an estimated 500,000 people in the United States. Symptoms include abdominal pain, fever, nausea, vomiting, weight loss and diarrhea. (Science Daily)
Tranzyme mulls $64M question Oct 10, 2008
Vipin Garg, the Durham company s president and CEO, says phase III clinical trials on Tranzyme s lead drug, a treatment to help restore the gastrointestinal tract to normal function following abdominal surgery, are scheduled to start early next year ... Following intestinal surgery, the gastrointestinal tract sometimes can cease functioning normally, says Dr. Greg Waters, a colorectal surgeon at ... Garg says TZP-101 activates receptors in the gastrointestinal tract to restore intestinal... (Raleigh Triangle Business Journal, NC)
Natural Remedies For Acid Reflux Sep 24, 2008
It works by encouraging the production of new cells in the gastrointestinal tract, while helping to dispose of damaged cells. Faster healing of irritated tissue in the digestive tract is the result. (Suite101.com)
Seven Years Later: Electrons Unlocked Post-9/11 Anthrax Mail Mystery Sep 20, 2008
But it was Sandia's next discovery that marked a critical turning point in the feds's probe of the mysterious mailings, which killed five people, injured 17 and prompted thousands more who were potentially to take potent antibiotics in particular, Ciprofloxacin (known to irritate the gastrointestinal tract and cause joint swelling). Using highly sensitive transmission electron microscopy () and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), the researchers came to a startling realization: The... (Scientific American)
Cells that mediate steroid-resistant asthma identified by scientists at Children's Hospital Sep 20, 2008
Th17 cells are part of the immune system and are found where the body comes in contact with the external environment, such as the lungs and the lining of the gastrointestinal tract. "Identifying Th17 cells as a potential mechanism by which steroid-resistant asthma gives us a potential new target for the development of drugs that focus on these cells and lead to better overall control of asthma," said Dr. Kolls, the Niels K. Jerne Professor of Pediatrics and Immunology at the University of... (EurekAlert!)
UC Davis researchers find decrease in hysterectomy complications Sep 18, 2008
For example, the risk of gastrointestinal tract complication following total abdominal hysterectomy was 50 percent higher in black women when compared to non-Hispanic white women. The findings are consistent with those from other researchers showing that black women undergoing surgery for the removal of fibroids are twice as likely to suffer complications. (EurekAlert!)
Bovine Colostrum And Fermented Cabbage Can Help Restrict Infections Sep 17, 2008
17, 2008) Researcher Susanna Rokka of MTT Agrifood Research Finland has shown in her doctoral thesis that antibodies extracted from bovine colostrum as well as lactobacilli extracted from fermented cabbage and other sources prevent the action of pathogenic bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract ... Rokka studied the effects of bovine colostrum, of specific antibodies produced in the bovine colostrum by vaccinating cows, and of lactobacilli on infections in the gastrointestinal tract ... The... (Science Daily)
Natural History of HIV Sep 14, 2008
For cancer in AIDS patients, the most common is Kaposi's sarcoma, a tumor that can appear in the skin, oral cavity, gastrointestinal tract, or respiratory tract. AIDS also increases the likelihood of lymphoma and cervical cancer. (Suite101.com)
Acid Reflux & Your Children Sep 12, 2008
It has to do with development of the gastrointestinal tract in this age group, Schwarz told FOXNews. com. (Fox News)
Kids at high risk of lead poisoning Sep 8, 2008
As the gastrointestinal tract is not well developed in children, 50% of ingested lead is absorbed as compared to 5-10 % in adults. Lead accumulates and gets stored in bones. (Times of India)
No Fire in the Hole!: Firefighters Use Flame-Retardant Grenades Sep 6, 2008
Of course, , used in the production of soap and glass, must be handled carefully; it can be dangerous if inhaled (by irritating the respiratory tract and causing coughing and shortness of breath) or swallowed, potentially damaging the gastrointestinal tract and causing nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. The odorless chemical can also severely irritate the eyes or skin if it comes in contact with either. (Scientific American)
Scientists ID 2 New Genes for Bowel Disease in Kids Sep 6, 2008
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a painful, chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. It affects about 2 million children and adults in the United States. (U.S. News & World Report)
New Genes Found For Inflammatory Bowel Disease In Children Sep 2, 2008
IBD is a painful, chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, affecting about two million children and adults in the United States. Of that number, 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 intestine ... (July 18, 2007) Pediatrics researchers have identified a gene variant that raises a child's risk of Crohn's disease, a chronic and painful condition attributed to... (Science Daily)
Noninvasive test accurately identifies advanced liver disease without biopsy Sep 1, 2008
Founded in 1897, the AGA is one of the oldest medical-specialty societies in the U.S. Comprised of two non-profit organizationsthe AGA and the AGA Instituteour more than 16,000 members include physicians and scientists who research, diagnose and treat disorders of the gastrointestinal tract and liver. The AGA, a 501(c6) organization, administers all membership and public policy activities, while the AGA Institute, a 501(c3) organization, runs the organization's practice, research and... (EurekAlert!)
Measles on Rise as Parents Question Vaccine Aug 31, 2008
When the CDC and ACIP start investigating why some kids are getting vaccine-strain measles in lesions lining their gastrointestinal tract, they might earn back some public trust. Instead vaccine-injured children are written off as collateral damage in the war on disease, and families are left twisting slowly in the wind going broke handling these illnesses and disabilities. (Washington Post)
authors & referees @ NPG Aug 29, 2008
Coverage includes pathology, diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, liver, pancreas, gall bladder and biliary tract, such as functional gastrointestinal disorders, inflammatory diseases, cancer, infection and nutritional disorders. Nature Clinical Practice Oncology. (Nature News Service)
GI Motility online Aug 29, 2008
High-level summaries. Textbook-style articles providing introductions to basic science and clinical aspects of GI motility. (Nature News Service)
Vaccine Cures Dangerous Yeast Infections in Mice Aug 28, 2008
The yeast Candida albicans normally lives in the mouth, gastrointestinal tract and vagina without causing trouble but antibiotics or other drugs can cause an overgrowth. When Candida organisms enter the blood, they can be disseminated throughout the body, causing severe illness. (MEDLINEplus)
Diabetes therapies take new approach Aug 26, 2008
One of the two studies suggests that some current treatments for autoimmune diseases such as Crohn's disease, which affects the gastrointestinal tract, may be taking the wrong approach and doing active harm to some patients. The two reports, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, each aim to correct some of the things that go wrong to cause type 1 diabetes, which is caused when immune cells mistakenly destroy the cells in the pancreas that make insulin. (Boston Globe)
Newsweek: Is there a surgical cure for diabetes? Aug 26, 2008
He also knew that the gastrointestinal tract produces, among other things, at least two hormones called "incretins" involved in diabetes. So Rubino wondered whether some part of the digestive system might be malfunctioning and causing diabetes, and whether he could cure the disease simply by removing that part. (MSNBC -- Health)
Avantis names new CEO and CFO, following FDA OK for colonoscopy aid Aug 26, 2008
The retroscope is a tiny camera, smaller than the width of a ballpoint-pen refill, that allows doctors to see behind folds in the gastrointestinal tract during colonoscopies, giving them a more comprehensive view of potential danger spots, Lowe said. The device can be attached to a standard colonoscope, so it doesn t require a large investment by specialists, according to Avantis, which is gearing up for growth now that it has FDA approval to market the retroscope. (San Francisco Business Times, CA)
Avantis names CEO, CFO Aug 26, 2008
Sunnyvale-based Avantis is a visualization technology company focused on improved detection and prevention of cancers of the gastrointestinal tract. Dodson is a medical device executive with a 20-year career of leading large global teams for companies that include and. (San Jose Business Journal, CA)
Lt. Gov. Knoll's cancer is slow to grow Aug 22, 2008
About 70 percent of cases begin in the gastrointestinal tract, though the tumors can also be found in the lungs or other areas of the body, said Dr. Dulabh K. Monga, an assistant professor at Allegheny General Hospital's cancer center. Common sites include the adrenal glands, pancreas, chest and neck, Dr. Carty said. (Pittsburgh Post Gazette)
Breaking The 'Mucus Barrier' With A New Drug Delivery System Aug 22, 2008
Mucus, the slippery secretion lining the lung airways, surface of the eye, gastrointestinal tract, and female reproductive tract, may seem delicate. But it is a tenacious barrier, effectively keeping out most pathogens and limiting infections. (Science Daily)
Family favorite launches barbecue business Aug 21, 2008
"She had one son, but he died years ago. Hopefully, she's up there watching me ... and smiling." Aunt and nephew share a second connection: Crohn's Disease - defined by Crohn's is Foundation of America as "a chronic disorder that causes inflammation of the digestive or gastrointestinal tract." "Down the road a bit, I want to donate portions of my profits to Crohn's research in the hopes of finding a cure," Slater says. "I can't do this right now because there is a very fine line between my cost... (Springfield Sun, PA)
Sweet, Sour ... Or, Newfound Calcium Taste? Aug 21, 2008
" Tordoff's team used genetic methods to pinpoint two receptors involved in tasting calcium. A receptor is a molecule either on the surface of or inside a cell that serves as the binding or docking site for a specific substance. When that substance calcium, for instance attaches to the receptor, a specific effect occurs, such as a release of signals resulting in the sensation of taste. The research shows that the taste of calcium is detected by two receptors on the tongue. One is a... (Science Daily)
North Shore Walk-A-Thon to cure Scleroderma Aug 19, 2008
The disease, which literally means hard skin, can cause thickening and tightening of skin, as well as serious damage to internal organs, including the lungs, heart, kidneys, esophagus and gastrointestinal tract. Scleroderma occurs three to four times more often in women than in men, and the disease also attacks children and the elderly. (Danvers Herald, MA)
New Evidence On Benefits Of Breast Feeding Aug 13, 2008
12, 2008) Researchers in Switzerland and Australia are reporting identification of proteins in human breast-milk not present in cow's milk that may fight disease by helping remove bacteria, viruses and other dangerous pathogen's from an infant's gastrointestinal tract. See also. (Science Daily)
Pain in Chest, Upper Abdomen an Ominous Sign Aug 7, 2008
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Unexplained pain in the chest or upper gastrointestinal tract may signal an increased risk of death from alcohol-related causes, pneumonia or lung cancer, Danish researchers report. People with these symptoms are also more likely to be hospitalized for "ischemic" heart disease - the type of heart disease caused by restricted blood flow in heart arteries, Dr. Estrid Muff Munk and colleagues from Aarhus University Hospital found. (MEDLINEplus)
Bingo master carries on while wife still missing Aug 1, 2008
On Thursday, Feb. 28, Virginia Ratliff, 83, set off behind the wheel of a car - for only one of a few times in five or six years, due to bouts with dementia - toward Jackson to see her husband in the G. V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center, where he was staying for problems with his gastrointestinal tract. She hasn't been seen or heard from since. (Brookhaven Daily Leader, MS)
Pre-pregnancy diabetes tied to more birth defects Aug 1, 2008
The study also showed a wide range of birth defects that included malformation of the heart, spine, limbs and gastrointestinal tract. Diabetes is not discriminating in which birth defects it s linked to, said Dr. Adolfo Correa, a CDC epidemiologist who was the study s lead author. (Chippewa Falls Chippewa Herald, WI)
Study: Diabetes, Birth Defects Linked Jul 31, 2008
Among the defects in children born to women with diabetes are heart problems, brain and spinal defects, oral clefts, kidney and gastrointestinal tract defects, and limb deficiencies. Diabetes diagnosed before pregnancy was linked with about 50% of the birth defect categories analyzed. (WebMD)
Mama Giraffe Was Pregnant When She Died Jul 31, 2008
Further tests will be needed to confirm the cause of death, but officials said that the necropsy showed several problems, including enlarged lymph nodes, inflammation within the giraffe's gastrointestinal tract and more than 100 black masses throughout the body. Gezi, who gave birth to a female calf in February, collapsed at 12:15 p.m. Tuesday, suffering from cardiac and respiratory arrest. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Weird News)
SF Zoo Giraffe Pregnant, Had 100 'Black Masses' In Body When Died Jul 31, 2008
The necropsy showed Gezi had enlarged lymph nodes, inflammation within her gastrointestinal tract and more than 100 "suspicious black masses" throughout her body, zoo officials said. They did not elaborate on what the masses might be. (NBC 11, CA)
5 things you didn't know about ... Myiasis Jul 30, 2008
Various forms of myiasis depend on the area affected skin, body cavity, gastrointestinal tract, wound. In the United States, myiasis is primarily seen in people who have recently traveled to Central or South America or Africa. (La Crosse Tribune, WI)
Pre-Pregnancy Diabetes Boosts Risk for Birth Defects Jul 30, 2008
This is the first study to identify the wide range of birth defects -- such as heart defects, brain and spine defects, oral clefts, limb deficiencies, and defects of the kidneys and gastrointestinal tract -- associated with pre-pregnancy diagnoses of type 1 or type 2 diabetes. The study was published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. (Health-Finder)
Acidic Drinks Don't Harm GI Tract Jul 30, 2008
A comprehensive new research review confirms that the upper gastrointestinal tract (GI) is naturally equipped to handle fruit juices, soft drinks, alcohol and other beverages with high acidity. The research, published in the Journal of Food Science, concludes that drinking liquids that are typically associated with low pH provide little or no harm to natural protective mechanisms of the lining of the upper human GI tract. (Newsmax)
Gallbladder removed without external incisions Jul 29, 2008
Natural-orifice surgery has been mainly confined to treating conditions within the gastrointestinal tract. However, the NOTES approach now goes a step further with this surgery -- into the patient's abdominal cavity. (EurekAlert!)
Garden Q&A: Soil and thrips can carry diseases that kill impatiens Jul 26, 2008
- Oleander: This common ornamental plant contains toxins that can irritate the gastrointestinal tract, cause hypothermia and potentially serious cardiac problems. - Sago palm: Another dangerous ornamental plant that causes depression, seizures, liver failure and worse. (Florida Times-Union)
New drug on PBS for Crohn's disease Jul 24, 2008
Crohn's disease is an inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract, which mostly affects people aged 15 to 35. Sufferers of Crohn's disease can experience chronic abdominal pain, diarrhoea and bowel movements containing blood. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
Ontario launches $741-million diabetes strategy Jul 23, 2008
The surgical procedure modifies the gastrointestinal tract to reduce food intake. The plan includes a campaign to raise awareness about the causes of diabetes, as well as focused education for higher-risk populations, including those in the aboriginal and south Asian communities. (Globe and Mail -- National)
Drug Trials on Cutting Edge at Pinehurst Medical Clinic Jul 21, 2008
Crohn's is a chronic auto-immune disorder that causes inflammation of the lining of the gastrointestinal tract. Patients usually suffer from abdominal pain, constipation and diarrhea, and are forced to follow a strict diet. (The Pilot Newspaper)
Predicting acute GVHD by gene expression could improve liver stem cell transplant outcomes Jul 21, 2008
Where tissue damage in the skin, liver and gastrointestinal tract is extensive, prognosis can be poor. Although clinicians can identify a well-defined pathophysiological mechanism for acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), being able to uncover molecular markers for a patient's potential to develop GVHD would be a significant breakthrough. (EurekAlert!)
