Abstract: Capsule endoscopy is now recognized as the first line examination for patients with obscure bleeding and in selected patients with various small bowel diseases. A capsule endoscope has been designed for exploring the colon. Two pilot studies and one large multicenter trial have shown that the colon capsule is feasible and safe and provides encouraging data although its sensitivity for detecting colonic polyps is lower than optical colonoscopy. Technological improvements of the capsule and adaptation of the colon preparation are expected to increase the sensitivity of the colon capsule. ... Read more

Abstract: Chronic infection with the bacterial pathogen Helicobacter pylori is closely linked to the development of gastric cancer. Experimental infection of the laboratory mouse strain C57Bl6 mimics the initiation and progression of the disease in humans. Using this model, we have identified a dual role for CD4⁺ IFN-γ-secreting T-cells in the control of Helicobacter infection as well as in the induction of preneoplastic gastric pathology. High gastric expression of IFN-γ was positively correlated with a low Helicobacter burden, and was essential for vaccine-induced protection; on the other hand, elevated levels of the cytokine also, either directly or indirectly, triggered the transformation of the normal gastric mucosa to atrophic, hyperplastic and metaplastic lesions. Based on similar patterns of gene expression changes induced by IFN-γ in vivo and in cultured gastric epithelial cells, we hypothesize that IFN-γ may act directly on epithelial cells to stimulate their hyperproliferation, and thus to predispose them to elevated mutation rates and an increased risk of malignant transformation. ... Read more

Abstract: Increasing efforts have recently been spent onto the accomplishment of oral colon targeting. Indeed, this has been related to a number of local as well as systemic highly interesting applications, such as a more effective and tolerable therapy of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the pharmacological prevention of colorectal adenocarcinoma, and a possible improvement in the oral bioavailability of peptide and protein drugs. For the purpose of colon targeting, a variety of delivery technologies have been described, which rely on typical variation patterns shown by selected physiological parameters throughout the gastrointestinal tract. In particular, this article is focused on time-based formulation approaches that exploit the relative consistency in the small intestinal transit time (SITT) of dosage forms. ... Read more

Abstract: Identification of the genetic determinants that underlie autoimmune diseases implicates new biochemical pathways in disease pathogenesis. The authors describe how recent advances in genetic knowledge of autoimmunity have pointed to aberrant negative regulation of autoreactive T-cells as a key step in autoimmunity. The tissue specificity of autoimmune attack is also under genetic control and variations in tissue-specific factors also appear to have a role. ... Read more

Abstract: Nearly all antibiotics aim at killing the bacteria, which eventually develop antibiotic resistance under 'survival pressure'. The pathology exerted by many pathologic bacteria is through secreting toxins. Probiotics, either harmless live bacteria or dead ones, can be molecularly engineered to express receptors for the toxins and absorb and eliminate them from binding to their natural receptors, thus reducing or eliminating the pathological impact of bacterial infection. ... Read more

Abstract: During and following a meal, the ingested nutrients come into contact with their respective receptors in the intestine. These contents trigger the release of a variety of peptide mediators that orchestrate a neural network feedback loop which alters the size of the current meal and subsequent eating behavior. ... Read more

Abstract: Empirical and scientific data support the phenomenon that infections can prevent and alleviate certain allergy and autoimmune diseases. The author discusses the mechanism behind it and how to maximize the benefits without revoking the deadly consequences of infections. ... Read more

Abstract: Gastric cancer may not affect a lot of people in North America and Europe, but it is one of the top killer cancers in Asia. A persistent infection with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori in the stomach contributes greatly to the occurrence of gastric cancer in Asia. It turns out that Asian bacterial strains are more potent in transforming normal cells to cancerous ones than "Western" or African strains. ... Read more

On Feb. 18, 2004, Elan and Biogen Idec announced their plan to submit a Biologics License Application (BLA) for Antegren (natalizumab) to the U.S. FDA for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) by the middle of this year. The surprise announcement was made after a consultation with the FDA of the drug’s one-year data from the two ongoing two-year Phase III trials in MS. The companies are committed to completing two-year trials and would not disclose the one-year data at this time, citing the necessity to protect the integrity of the results of the two-year trials, which will be submitted ... Read more

Colonoscopy saves life. This is partly because colorectal cancer develops slowly in stages over decades. Fortunately, if it is caught at any stage other than the terminal metastatic stage, it can be cured by surgery. Despite its unequivocal benefits, many people shun away from the unpleasant experience. “When it hits a corner, you know,” said Frank Rasada, 69, of La Quinta, CA who overcame the fear and experienced optical colonoscopy twice. About two thirds of the people who are recommended to get one evade the procedure.

Now there’s less excuse to avoid getting a colonoscopy. Dr. Perry J. Pickhardt and colleagues ... Read more