SON OF HARRY HOPE
2006-09-05 19:26:30 UTC
Irritable Bowel Syndrome's Possible Genetic Link
Researchers at Mayo Clinic studying irritable bowel syndrome say their
study of people with this disorder suggests genetic factors may play a
role. The study shows that the risk of having irritable bowel syndrome
is nearly double in the families of people with the disorder.
"The next challenge is determining nature versus nurture," said G.
Richard Locke, M.D., a Mayo Clinic gastroenterologist and one of the
authors of the study. "Is this due to a gene or genes or is it due to a
shared environmental factor? Our group is active in investigating these
issues." Check here for more information...
Electric Activity of the Colon in Irritable Bowel Syndrome
The etiology of irritable bowel syndrome is unknown. It presents with
crampy abdominal pain associated with alternating constipation and
diarrhea but with no anatomic abnormality on diagnostic testing.
Because the condition is related to motility disturbance, the
hypothesis that a disorder of the colonic electromyographic activity is
responsible for the colonic motile disorders in irritable bowel
syndrome, was investigated.
The study concluded that irritable bowel syndrome exhibited a
'tachyarrhythmic' pattern of electromyographic activity with higher
slow wave variables than normal and occasional AP. The resulting
elevated basal colonic pressure and tone may explain some of the
irritable bowel syndrome symptoms. Because diagnostic testing of the
irritable bowel syndrome shows no anatomic abnormalities, it is
suggested that the cause of irritable bowel syndrome is related to an
abnormal focus in one or more of the colonic pacemakers emitting these
abnormal waves. Check here for more information...
Bone Disease and Intestinal Problems May Share a Common Cause
Scientists have evidence that osteoporosis-like bone disorders and
inflammatory intestinal disorders are both caused by abnormal
regulation of a common protein. Dr. Simon R. Carding from the
University of Leeds in England and colleagues report their study in the
December issue of the journal Immunity. "Autoimmune associated bone
disease and intestinal inflammation are closely linked with
deregulation and hyperactivation of autoreactive CD4 T cells," they
write. "How these T cells are activated and mediate disease is not
clear." Check here for more information...
Visceral Perception Thresholds in Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Visceral hypersensitivity has been shown to be present in irritable
bowel syndrome (IBS). The current study sought to compare the
characteristics of visceral perception thresholds after rectal thermal
and pressure stimuli between IBS patients and healthy subjects.
Compared with healthy subjects, IBS patients demonstrated significantly
initially lower perception thresholds and defecation thresholds to
rectal thermal and pressure stimuli, particularly in patients with
diarrhea-predominant IBS. Visceral hypersensitivity may be one of the
important pathogenic mechanisms in IBS.
Researchers at Mayo Clinic studying irritable bowel syndrome say their
study of people with this disorder suggests genetic factors may play a
role. The study shows that the risk of having irritable bowel syndrome
is nearly double in the families of people with the disorder.
"The next challenge is determining nature versus nurture," said G.
Richard Locke, M.D., a Mayo Clinic gastroenterologist and one of the
authors of the study. "Is this due to a gene or genes or is it due to a
shared environmental factor? Our group is active in investigating these
issues." Check here for more information...
Electric Activity of the Colon in Irritable Bowel Syndrome
The etiology of irritable bowel syndrome is unknown. It presents with
crampy abdominal pain associated with alternating constipation and
diarrhea but with no anatomic abnormality on diagnostic testing.
Because the condition is related to motility disturbance, the
hypothesis that a disorder of the colonic electromyographic activity is
responsible for the colonic motile disorders in irritable bowel
syndrome, was investigated.
The study concluded that irritable bowel syndrome exhibited a
'tachyarrhythmic' pattern of electromyographic activity with higher
slow wave variables than normal and occasional AP. The resulting
elevated basal colonic pressure and tone may explain some of the
irritable bowel syndrome symptoms. Because diagnostic testing of the
irritable bowel syndrome shows no anatomic abnormalities, it is
suggested that the cause of irritable bowel syndrome is related to an
abnormal focus in one or more of the colonic pacemakers emitting these
abnormal waves. Check here for more information...
Bone Disease and Intestinal Problems May Share a Common Cause
Scientists have evidence that osteoporosis-like bone disorders and
inflammatory intestinal disorders are both caused by abnormal
regulation of a common protein. Dr. Simon R. Carding from the
University of Leeds in England and colleagues report their study in the
December issue of the journal Immunity. "Autoimmune associated bone
disease and intestinal inflammation are closely linked with
deregulation and hyperactivation of autoreactive CD4 T cells," they
write. "How these T cells are activated and mediate disease is not
clear." Check here for more information...
Visceral Perception Thresholds in Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Visceral hypersensitivity has been shown to be present in irritable
bowel syndrome (IBS). The current study sought to compare the
characteristics of visceral perception thresholds after rectal thermal
and pressure stimuli between IBS patients and healthy subjects.
Compared with healthy subjects, IBS patients demonstrated significantly
initially lower perception thresholds and defecation thresholds to
rectal thermal and pressure stimuli, particularly in patients with
diarrhea-predominant IBS. Visceral hypersensitivity may be one of the
important pathogenic mechanisms in IBS.