CP101, an investigational microbiome therapeutic, restored microbiome diversity and prompted a sustained clinical cure among patients with recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection, according to a presentation at this year’s ACG in Las Vegas. “(The c. dif) therapies lead to significant microbiome disruptions which impairs colonization resistance,” Jessica R. Allegretti, MD, MPH, FACG, the director of fecal
Individuals with inflammatory bowel disease had a 4.1% increased incidence of dementia
A study in JAMA Network Open found that higher AST to ALT liver enzyme ratios, reduced ALT levels, and higher alkaline phosphatase readings were associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Specific markers such as poor cognition, elevated amyloid-beta accumulation, increased brain atrophy, and lower brain glucose metabolism were noted. The findings were based on PET, MRI, and
Dr. Lisa Strate from the University of Washington discusses this difficult topic in the attached video. At ACG 2018, Dr. Strate described the various presentations of symptomatic diverticular disease and reviewed current therapeutic approaches. See the video at the ACG Universe here.
Patients with both Clostridiodes difficile infection and inflammatory bowel disease showed improvement after fecal microbiota transplantation, Jessica Allegretti, MD, director of the FMT program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, said during a presentation at Digestive Disease Week. The ICON study took place at four sites across the US. Results for FMT in C. dif alone
As a new pet owner (meet Jaxon!) I immediately noticed how much “overlap” there is with dog life and my life. Licks, kisses, and paws on you that have been…God knows where. And while I wouldn’t trade it for the world, the infectious-conscious doctor in me wonders if this is a good thing or bad
Two-thirds of patients with IBS attribute their symptoms to dietary factors. Most traditional approaches involving pharmaceuticals are only modestly effective and patients are left seeking alternative approaches, including dietary manipulation. The article referenced below aims to review dietary restrictions as a non-pharmaceutical management approach for IBS. See the article by Drs. Afrin Kamal and Mark
Dr. Hecht is Professor of Medicine and Microbiology/Immunology and Chief, Gastroenterology and Nutrition at Loyola University Chicago. She is the former President of the American Gastroenterological Association. In a guest commentary in cooperation between the American Gastroenterological Association and Healio, Dr. Hecht offers advice on how health care professionals can best discuss probiotics with their patients. See the article
Most clinical trials show antioxidants do not help healthy individuals
How does the US supplement market get so big? In the US supplements are reviewed by the FDA, but not approved for any specific use by the organization. That means they are basically keeping an eye out for harmful products, but look the other way on everything else. Since most supplements are proprietary, you aren’t even
A study recently published in the seminal scientific journal Nature suggests that byproducts of microorganisms living in the gut may influence the progression of neurodegenerative diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS). The proposed mechanism is via control of the interaction of microglia and astrocytes. Microglia and astrocytes modulate inflammation and neurodegeneration in the central nervous system (CNS). The findings may
