Microbiota

Dyspepsia
The initial management of dyspepsia is well established, but managing those with continued symptoms is a challenge. Antidepressants and newer gastric motility agents show promise. Targeting the diet and gut microbiome is another area for future research in functional dyspepsia. Ford AC, Moayyedi P. Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 2013 Oct 4. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 24100727

Nutrition, microbiomes, and intestinal inflammation
Dietary compounds can have profound short-term and long-term effects on the assemblage of the gut microbiome, which in turn affects the host-microbe interactions critically important for intestinal, metabolic, and immune homeostasis. Until recently, the mechanisms underlying these effects were poorly understood. However, new insights have now been gained, made possible through the application of advanced technologies and bioinformatics, novel experimental models, and human research. As a result, our conceptual framework for understanding the impact of diet on the gut microbiome, health, and disease has advanced considerably, bringing the promise of better tools of risk assessment, diagnostics, and therapeutic intervention in an age of personalized medicine. Devkota S, Chang EB. Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 2013 Oct 4. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 24100722

Molecular signatures for the dynamic process of establishing intestinal host-microbial homeostasis: potential for disease diagnostics?
Exploring the time-resolved dynamics of the host responses to the newly colonizing gut microbiota provides mechanistically critical understanding of the sequential host-microbe response cascades that lead to a homeostatic relationship. Thereby, these approaches can provide novel diagnostic tools and therapeutic targets, or either of the two, in humans for specific disorders associated with intestinal dysbiosis and loss of homeostasis. El Aidy S, Kleerebezem M. Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 2013 Oct 4. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 24100720

Faecal microbiota transplantation for the treatment of recurrent Clostridium difficile infection: current promise and future needs
The use of faecal microbiota transplantation is a successful treatment for recurrent CDI when primary treatment options have failed. However, more work needs to define potential long-term consequences of this treatment and understand how specific members of the gut microbiota can restore colonization resistance against C. difficile. Koenigsknecht MJ, Young VB. Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 2013 Oct 4. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 24100717

Regulatory cell populations in the intestinal mucosa
Recent studies examining tolerogenic cell populations of the intestinal mucosa highlight the progress in understanding the function, regulation, and cross-talk of Treg and dendritic cell populations, and their interactions with the gut microbiota. Scientific advances in these areas will undoubtedly lead to the development of more effective therapeutic strategies for intestinal abnormalities such as inflammatory bowel disease. Goodman WA, Pizarro TT. Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 2013 Oct 4. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 24100716

Study examines probiotics to prevent or treat excessive infant crying
There still appears to be insufficient evidence to support using probiotics (Lactobacillus reuteri) to manage colic or to prevent crying in infants, especially in formula-fed babies, but it may be an effective treatment for crying infants who are breastfed exclusively and have colic, according to a study in JAMA Pediatrics by Valerie Sung, M.P.H., of the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute and Royal Children's Hospital, Australia, and colleagues. MedicalXpress