All news from Gastroenterology

Gastric Bypass Patients With Alcohol Problems

Alcohol consumption cutoffs are unreliable in the setting of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery, researchers report. "Because RYGB changes the way that alcohol is metabolized and experienced, such that alcohol has a stronger effect post-surgery, we hypothesized that the best alcohol frequency and quantity cutoffs for identifying alcohol problems would be lower among post-surgery patients," said Dr. Wendy C. King from University of Pittsburgh

Prebiotic Galacto-oligosaccharide's Effect on Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction

Surgery-induced neuroinflammation plays an important role in postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD). Gut microbiota is a key regulator of neurological inflammation. Nurturing with prebiotics is an effective microbiota manipulation that can regulate host immunity and cognition.

The aim of the present study was to test whether administration of the prebiotic Bimuno® (galactooligosaccharide (B-GOS) mixture) could ameliorate POCD and attenuate surgery-induced neuroinflammation through the microbiota-brain-axis.

Spectator Injuries at Sporting Events, UAB's First-Ever Study

Injuries are part of the game. That is a common refrain in sports, usually referring to the athletes. But sometimes it is the spectators who get hurt. "You do not expect to be injured when you attend a sporting event as a spectator," said Amit Momaya, a sports medicine orthopaedic surgeon. "You certainly do not expect to die, yet there are any number of cases where spectators are injured, some fatally, at sporting events ."

Primary Healthcare Right Must be Given to All States, Experts

The Union government's policy push for developing health and wellness centers is a well thought out step for renewing focus on comprehensive primary care. The experiences of several countries show that investing in primary healthcare leads to allocative efficiency by bringing to a range of preventive, curative, promotive and rehabilitative services closer to the people. Countries with greater primary care orientation have a lower rate of mortality and better health outcomes

Health-security Interface in Geneva: Sri Lanka Highlights the Priorities

"Preventing the threat of use of biological agents is a key priority for Sri Lanka," stressed Sri Lanka Permanent Representative in Geneva Ambassador Azeez, addressing the International Seminar convened by the Geneva Center for Security Policy (GCSP) and the Implementation Support Unit (ISU) ) of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) on 'The importance of disease surveillance and alert mechanisms: Lessons for the BWC' held on 20 November.

Use of Supercomputere to See Stress, New Research

Supercomputer simulations show that at the atomic level, material stress does not behave symmetrically. Widely-used atomic stress formulae significantly underestimate stress near stress concentrators such as dislocation core, crack tip, or interface, in a material under deformation. Supercomputers simulate force interactions of Lennard-Jones perfect single crystal of 240,000 atoms. Study findings could help scientists design new materials such as glass or metal that does notice up.

Nerve Cell Insulation: Switch for The Regeneration

An international research team has discovered a mechanism that regulates the regeneration of the insulating layer of neurites. This insulation coating, also referred to as myelin sheath, is crucial for rapid signal transmission among cells. Damages to the myelin sheath, such as are caused by multiple sclerosis, can considerably inhibit the function of the nervous system.