AMSTERDAM — New predictors will help find the one in 20 people with ulcerative colitis who will go on to develop colorectal neoplasia, according to a large retrospective cohort study. “The problem with cancer surveillance in ulcerative colitis is the higher relative risk of developing cancer, compared with the general population, although the absolute risk…
At this point, there’s really no need to harp on the statistics revealing the obesity epidemic in America. We’ve been bombarded by numbers—but the truth is all you need to do is walk through an airport terminal or shopping mall to get a sense of how pervasive our weight issues really are. So there’s of…
Top scientists at Roche Holding AG and AstraZeneca Plc are sizing up potential allies in the fight against cancer: the trillions of bacteria that live in the human body. “Five years ago, if you had asked me about bacteria in your gut playing an important role in your systemic immune response, I probably would have…
More than half of the Australian population is overweight or obese. Yet, despite all the steps we’re taking to battle the bulge, we are still fat. We’ve tried cutting carbs, switching sugary drinks for diet varieties, saying no to fat and banning dairy. That, combined with vigorous exercise — and still nothing. As a result,…
Popular heartburn pills known as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) may be making some people more prone to bacterial infections by altering the types of bugs that grow in the gut, a U.K. study of twins suggests. These pills work by stopping cells in the stomach lining from producing too much acid, which can prevent ulcers…
First doctor: “This morning for breakfast he requested something called ‘wheat germ, organic honey and tiger’s milk.’” Second doctor: “Oh, yes. Those are the charmed substances that some years ago were thought to contain life-preserving properties.” Fans of Woody Allen may recognize that snippet of dialogue from his 1973 comedy, “Sleeper.” The main character, a…
When Carmel Price’s mother had an operation six years ago, Price helped her in the hospital but never really knew what the procedure was for. “I heard that she was having ‘reconstructive surgery,’ like that her organs had moved around and they were putting them back where they belonged,” said Price, a sociology professor at…
That chronic cough may not be what it seems. Does the thought of a plate full of pasta drenched in tomato sauce sound delicious or make you wince? For those living with heartburn, door No. 2 is typically true. An antacid may be a quick fix, but for many folks, that burning chest pain is…
Every Thanksgiving, lots of people loosen their belts and reach for antacids to quell an overstuffed tummy. But for some, turkey day is just another day of severe or persistent heartburn, and that chronic digestive trouble may be a sign of a condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), an expert says. In GERD, the contents…
The low FODMAP diet is often used in those with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The diet could be possibly used in those with similar symptoms arising from other digestive disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease. This diet will also limit fiber as some high fiber foods are also high in FODMAPs (Fiber is a component…