Posted by Rachel Jones on Tue, Jan 03, 2012 @ 08:54 AM
Study: Acid Reflux on the Rise
Obesity Increase Likely to Blame, Researchers Say
By Salynn Boyles
WebMD Health News
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD
Dec. 22, 2011 -- Heartburn and other symptoms of acid reflux seem to be much more common than they were a decade ago.
The prevalence of weekly heartburn and other symptoms of acid reflux rose nearly 50% over the last decade, according to one of the largest studies ever to examine the issue.
The study followed more than 30,000 people in Norway for 11 years. When the study started, 11.6% of the people reported acid reflux symptoms at least once a week. That percentage rose to 17.1% by the end of the study. That's a 47% increase.
Obesity May Explain Reflux Rise
The study doesn't explain why heartburn and other acid reflux symptoms rose, but obesity is the most likely reason for the findings. And that makes the finding relevant to the U.S. and other industrialized countries, says researcher Eivind Ness-Jensen of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.
The findings are particularly troubling, Ness-Jensen says, because people who've had acid reflux for a long time may be more likely to develop cancer of the esophagus -- a once rare, but increasingly common malignancy.
Jensen's study didn't track esophageal cancer, and most people who have acid reflux don't develop esophageal cancer.
The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2011, nearly 17,000 new cases of esophageal cancer were diagnosed in the U.S. and almost 15,000 Americans died of the disease.
Along with heartburn, a defining symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), is acid reflux, which occurs when stomach contents leak backward into the esophagus.
About 1 in 5 Reflux Patients Had Symptoms Resolve on Their Own
In Jensen's study, the number of people reporting any acid reflux symptoms rose by 30%, and the prevalence of the most severe symptoms rose by 24%.
Among the other findings:
* Among women, new cases of acid reflux symptoms rose with age.
* Women younger than 40 were least likely to report acid reflux symptoms.
* Older men and women were equally likely to report new cases of acid reflux symptoms.
* About 1 in 5 patients had their symptoms resolve on their own, independent of medication.
The study appears online in the journal Gut.
Not All GERD Patients Overweight
More research is needed to understand why some patients get better over time, says New York City gastroenterologist Anthony Starpoli, MD.
“This is a very common problem, and it is interesting that there appear to be patients who get better,” he says. “We don’t know if it is because they were more careful about what they ate or if they lost weight, but it is worth finding out.”
Starpoli, who is associate director of esophageal endotherapy at New York’s Lenox Hill Hospital, says he is seeing a growing number of patients with GERD and esophageal cancer.
Not All GERD Patients Overweight continued...
Many are overweight and have eating habits that go hand-in-hand with acid reflux, but others are not overweight and are very careful to eat well.
“This is not just a disease of older people and people who are overweight,” Starpoli says. “I have many young patients whole weight is normal and they still have terrible reflux.”
In addition to weight loss, lifestyle factors that can improve acid reflux include:
* Avoid large meals before bedtime. Eating meals at least two to three hours before lying down will give food time to empty from the stomach before bed.
* Avoid overeating. Eating four to five small meals is better than three large ones for avoiding heartburn and reflux.
* Avoid personal heartburn triggers. For some people it might be chocolate and caffeine. For others it might be fruit juices or high-fat foods.
* Stop smoking and avoid alcohol.
SOURCES:
Ness-Jensen, E., Gut, Dec. 21, 2011.
Eivind Ness-Jensen, doctoral candidate, HUNT Research Center, Department of Public Health and General Practice, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Levanger, Norway.
Anthony Starpoli, gastroenterologist, associate director of esophageal endotherapy, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York, N.Y.
Press release, BMJ Group.
© 2011 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.
©2005-2007 WebMD, Inc. All rights reserved.
WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Anthony A. Starpoli, MD
www.starpoli.com
Posted by Rachel Jones on Wed, Dec 21, 2011 @ 01:02 PM
In some respects, the U.S. is winning the war on cancer. Recent reports show an overall decline in the number of new cancer cases and fewer cancer deaths.
But those gains aren't being shared by everyone. A case in point: A new study shows that rates of colon and rectal cancers have climbed in younger adults over the last decade.
That's happening even as colorectal cancer rates have dropped steadily in adults over 50, the age most people are advised to start screening for the disease.
Researchers aren't sure what's causing the increase in younger adults. But they say they hope their study will raise awareness among younger patients and their doctors, who may dismiss cancer as a cause of symptoms.
"These young people are getting ignored. They've had symptoms for a year or a year and a half before they finally get diagnosed," says researcher Y. Nancy You, MD, a surgeon at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.
Tracking Trends in Colon Cancer
The study looked at nearly 600,000 colorectal cancer cases reported to a national registry between 1998 and 2007.
As expected, cancer was much more common in the older age group. About 89% of the cases were seen in adults over age 50.
But while colorectal cancer cases have dropped steadily in adults over 50, they increased by more than 2% each year in younger adults.
The increase was highest for rectal cancers, which jumped nearly 4% each year. Colon cancer rates rose nearly 3% per year.
To compound the problem, doctors say many people may not suspect cancer when symptoms like bleeding, abdominal pain, or a change in bowel habits strike someone in their 30s or 40s.
"Most young people, when they have these types of symptoms, they are not thinking that they have cancer. Then they go to their physician and the physician isn't thinking that they have cancer," says Rebecca Siegel, MPH, an epidemiologist with the American Cancer Society in Atlanta.
The result is often a delay in diagnosis.
The study found that younger adults were more likely than older adults to be diagnosed with late-stage cancers, which are harder to treat.
People in their 30s were about 20% more likely than other age groups to be diagnosed when their cancers were stage III or IV, with stage IV being the most severe grade of the disease. Other factors that increased the risk for having an advanced cancer at diagnosis were being African-American or lacking health insurance.
"It's cause for concern," says Siegel, who was not involved in the study. "And hopefully, it will spur additional research to try to identify what's causing this trend."
The study is published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. It isn't the first to spot the uptick, but it is the largest so far to note the increase.
Advice to Patients
Experts say the message to patients is clear: "Just because you're under 50 doesn't mean you're not at risk," says Anthony Starpoli, MD, a gastroenterologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.
"If you have a family history, go talk to your doctor," Starpoli tells WebMD, especially if that relative got colon cancer before they were 50.
By Brenda Goodman, MA
Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD
SOURCES:You, NY. Archives of Internal Medicine. Dec. 12, 2011.Y. Nancy You, MD, surgical oncologist, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston.Rebecca Siegel, MPH, epidemiologist, American Cancer
Anthony A. Starpoli, MD
www.starpoli.com
Posted by Rachel Jones on Wed, Dec 07, 2011 @ 02:43 PM
High-Fiber Diet May Help Thwart Colon Cancer
Review of studies suggests cereals, whole grains deliver health benefits
November 11, 2011 RSS Feed Print
FRIDAY, Nov. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Eating a high-fiber diet may reduce your risk of colorectal cancer, especially if the fiber is from cereal and whole grains, according to a new review.
British and Dutch researchers analyzed 25 studies that included a total of nearly 2 million people. Compared with the lowest levels of fiber consumption, each 10 gram per day increase in intake of total dietary fiber and cereal fiber was associated with a 10 percent reduced risk of colorectal cancer.
Consuming 90 grams more a day (three servings, or three and one-quarter ounces) of whole grains was associated with about a 20 percent lower risk.
The review did not find significant evidence of a link between fruit or vegetable fiber and colorectal cancer risk.
A previous analysis did find that a high intake of fruit and vegetables was associated with a reduced risk of colorectal cancer, which suggests that components other than fiber in fruits and vegetables may play a role, the researchers said.
The study appears online Nov. 11 in BMJ.
"In summary, our meta-analysis suggests that a high intake of dietary fiber, particularly from cereal and whole grains, is associated with a reduced risk of colorectal cancer," the researchers wrote in a journal news release.
They also noted that a high-fiber diet may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, overweight, obesity and possibly overall risk of death.
One expert said there may be a physiological basis for the anti-cancer benefit of a high-fiber diet.
"This study highlights the importance of a diet rich in fiber," said Dr. Anthony Starpoli, a gastroenterologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. "We know that soluble is most helpful in improving colon transit times. As the contents of the colon move at a better rate, there is thought to be less toxic exposure to the interior of the colon thereby reducing risk of developing colon cancer," he explained.
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide, with 1.2 million new cases diagnosed each year, the news release noted.
The findings provide more evidence of the many health benefits of whole grains, but further research is needed to learn how this occurs, Anne Tjonneland, from the Danish Cancer Society, added in an accompanying editorial.
More information
The American Academy of Family Physicians outlines how to increase your fiber intake.
Copyright © 2011 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Anthony A. Starpoli, MD
www.starpoli.com
Posted by Rachel Jones on Wed, Dec 07, 2011 @ 01:36 PM
Dr. Starpoli recently lent his expertise to WebMD on the subject of PPI drugs. Read on:
Anti-Reflux Drugs, Antibiotics May Raise C. Diff Risk
Study Highlights Factors Associated With Risk for Diarrhea Bug
Nov. 2, 2011 -- About 500,000 people in the U.S. become infected with the potentially fatal diarrhea bug Clostridium difficile(C. diff.) each year. Now a new study sheds light on who is most at risk -- and why.
Some people show evidence of C. diff in their gut but never have any symptoms. Others develop a range of symptoms from mild diarrhea to severe diarrhea, abdominal pain, bleeding, and fever. C. diff is typically seen in the health care setting, such as hospitals.
In the study of 4,143 people who were hospitalized, 2.8% were infected with C. diff and 3% had evidence of the bacteria, but no symptoms (colonization).
The study shows that people who test positive for the NAP1 strain of C. diff are most likely to suffer the symptoms. People who don't develop symptoms likely have evidence of other strains of this bug. What's more, the use of antibiotics, acid-suppressing proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), and older age all increase the risk of C. diff infection.
"The findings add to the understanding of Clostridium difficile infection and colonization and have implications for prevention and therapy," conclude researchers who were led by Vivian G. Loo, MD, of McGill University Health Center in Montreal.
Antibiotics and Anti-Reflux Drugs
Antibiotics can wipe out bacteria, which can offset the balance between good and bad bacteria in the gut, setting the stage for C. diff infection.
PPIs such as Nexium, Prevacid, Prilosec, and Protonix may increase this risk in a different way. Stomach acid is one of the main defenses against bacteria. These drugs suppress acid, which may give bacteria the freedom to run rampant in your gut.
"We know the micro-organisms in the gut is a delicate balance of good and bad bacteria, which can be disrupted by many things," Robynne Chutkan, MD, says in an email. She is an assistant professor of medicine at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C. and founder and medical director at Digestive Center for Women in Chevy Chase, Md.
This includes the inappropriate or overuse of antibiotics, as well as changing the acidity level of the gastrointestinal tract with acid suppression. "We need to be more judicious with our prescribing patterns of these drugs," she says.
Anthony A. Starpoli, MD, agrees. He is the Associate Director of Advanced Esophageal Endotherapy at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.
"A single dose of antibiotics increases your risk of C. diff by upsetting the flora," he says. "We have people calling their doctor and saying, 'I have a cold and a runny nose and need an antibiotic.' This is a big problem."
Antibiotics are not effective in treating a common cold caused by a virus. They are effective against bacterial infections.
Anthony A. Starpoli, MD
www.starpoli.com
Posted by Anthony Starpoli on Fri, Oct 14, 2011 @ 10:40 AM
On September 7th and October 13th, 2011, the first two combined laparoscopic and transoral antireflux procedures were performed at the New York Univerisity Langone Medical Center in New York City.
The approach first involves a laparoscopic crural closure for patients with a significant diaphragmatic crural defect or hiatal hernia. The diaphragmatic crura are sling-like fibers at the level diaphragm that surround or line hiatus (the opening in the diaphragm through which the esophagus goes through). The crura surround the lower esophagus as it comes through the diaphragm and act as an external sphincter and offer additional support to the antireflux mechanism. The crural fibers can become loose and thereby form a widening of the diaphragmatic opening. As this hiatal opening becomes larger, the stomach can protrude through the diaphragm and rest on top of the diaphragm forming the well-known hiatal hernia. Not all crural defects lead to a hiatal hernia. However, most significant crural defects weaken the antireflux mechanism and lead to more reflux.
Upper endoscopy or a barium swallow x-ray help illustrate a crural defect and hiatal hernia. When determined to be significant, it is necessary to correct this defect prior to performing a fundoplication of any type. A fundoplication acts to augment the the intrinsic antireflux barrier. Transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF), utilizing the EsophyX surgical device, acts to recreate the gastroesophageal flap valve from within the stomach (through the mouth) whereas the laparaoscopic Nissen type of fundoplication requires and external wrapping of the upper stomach around the end of the lower esophagus thereby improving the antireflux properties of the lower esophageal sphincter.
The advantage to TIF is that no deep surgical dissection is performed as is the case in the Nissen fundoplication. The deeper level of laparoscopic surgery related to the Nissen procedure is felt to be related to most of the reported adverse events of Nissen antireflux surgery. These serious, potential adverse effects include gas-belch-bloat syndrome, swallowing difficulty and chronic diarrhea and can be avoided by utilizing TIF over standard laparoscopic Nissen antireflux surgery.
The hybrid approach allows for the laparoscopic closure of the diaphragmatic defect or hiatal hernia that is followed by a transoral approach for fundoplication, done without additional incisions as it is incisionless surgery. The TIF allows for the creation of a robust antireflux valve in the setting a corrected diaphragmatic crural defect that together will provide a more complete antireflux surgery.
Anthony A. Starpoli, MD
www.starpoli.com
Posted by Anthony Starpoli on Fri, Oct 07, 2011 @ 05:47 PM
In a retrospective study from Japan, the chronic use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), often used in the treatment of GERD, was found to be associated with a greater than 3-fold increased risk of developing Clostridium difficile–associated diarrhea (CDAD), Takatoshi Kitazawa, MD, assistant professor at Teikyo University in Tokyo, Japan, reported during a poster session at the 51st Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.
These findings add to the growing body of information about the potential long-term concerns of chronic proton pump inhibitor use. More structured, prospective, randomized studies are needed to accurately examine the relationship between PPI use and disturbances in mineral metabolism, risk of bone fracture, drug interactions as well as the aforementioned increased risk of this dreaded infectious diarrhea.
These realizations about the adverse effects of PPI warrant more consideration to antireflux procedures in appropriately selected patients who suffer from chronic GERD.
Anthony A. Starpoli, MD
www.starpoli.com
Posted by Anthony Starpoli on Tue, Jun 21, 2011 @ 06:47 AM
Today Dr. Starpoli will be hosted on the Doctor Radio show to discuss GERD and transoral incisionless fundoplication with EsophyX. This procedure serves as an alternative to chronic, long-term drug therapy that millions of people world-wide must take to control their reflux. Given new information on the perils of long-term drug therapy for reflux, antireflux surgery is being more considered every day.
Doctor Radio is a groundbreaking 24/7 national radio channel featuring live,
call-in shows hosted by leading NYU Langone Medical Center doctors from a vast
array of fields including: child psychology and psychiatry; sexual health;
plastic surgery; emergency room medicine; cancer; heart health; women's health;
dermatology; pediatrics; men's health; diet and nutrition; sports medicine;
psychiatry; and more.
SIRIUSXM and NYU have built a state-of-the-art broadcasting studio
in the lobby of the Manhattan-based NYU Langone Medical Center, bringing
listeners right into the middle of the medical world.
Anthony A. Starpoli, MD
www.starpoli.com
Posted by Anthony Starpoli on Sat, Jun 04, 2011 @ 10:43 AM
A report was published in the May 18 issue ofA report was published in the May 18 issue of Journal of the American Medical Association. In, what is referred to as the LOTUS (Long-Term Usage of Esomeprazole vs Surgery for Treatment of Chronic GERD) study, remission rates at five years were 92% (95% CI 89 to 96) for patients on esomeprazole and 85% (95% CI 81 to 90, P=0.048) for those who had laparoscopic antireflux surgery, according to Jean-Paul Galmiche, MD, of Nantes University in France, and colleagues.
The study, funded by Nexium's maker, AstraZeneca, included 554 people with GERD who had already responded well to Nexium in a three-month try-out period prior to their entry into the study. These participants were selected because, according to one outside expert, people with reflux who do not respond to a PPI probably have another condition other than GERD.
Of the 554 people selected into the trial, 372 completed five years of follow-up, including 192 randomly assigned to treatment with Nexium and 180 assigned to laparoscopic antireflux surgery.
People taking Nexium were allowed to increase their dose as needed, the investigators noted.
Five years after initiating treatment, the researchers found that GERD was in remission for 85 percent of the patients who had undergone surgery and 92 percent of the patients who were taking Nexium.
Those taking Nexium had similar levels of heartburn and acid regurgitation from the start to the end of the study. However, these symptoms lessened among those who had surgery, the researchers noted.
For example, at five years, 13 percent of those taking Nexium had acid regurgitation compared with 2 percent of those who underwent surgery. Yet, there was no significant difference between the groups in the severity of heartburn, abdominal pain or diarrhea, the investigators found.
In terms of complications, 11 percent of the surgery patients had difficulty swallowing, compared with 5 percent of those taking Nexium. Among those having surgery, more suffered bloating than those taking Nexium (40 percent versus 28 percent) and the same held for rates of (excess) flatulence (57 percent versus 40 percent), the researchers found.
In addition, about 29 percent of those who had surgery and 24 percent of those on Nexium experienced some serious adverse event.
Overall, however, "this large, multicenter randomized trial demonstrated that with modern forms of antireflux therapy, either by drug-induced acid suppression or after laparoscopic antireflux surgery, most patients remain in remission for at least five years," the study authors concluded.
It is important to note that surgery had a much greater impact on the GERD symptom of regurgitation when compared to acid suppression therapy alone. Some 35-55% of patients taking PPI therapy may have break through regurgitation. This finding makes a great deal of sense when one considers the mechanical aspect of reflux whereby PPI therapy as no effect on the lower esophageal sphincter function.
The known side effects of surgery that include bloating, swallowing difficulty, and diarrhea are not seen with transoral, incisionless fundoplication (TIF) with EsophyX. While laparoscopic fundoplication may have a slightly better success in the treatment of GERD over TIF, it does so at a price of a higher complication rate.
The above study was also conducted with laparoscopic surgeons who are considered experts in the field and it is reasonable to consider that a higher frequency of side effects could be seen in the general surgical community where there are a lower volume of cases being performed.
Anthony A. Starpoli, MD
www.starpoli.com
Posted by Rachel Jones on Mon, May 09, 2011 @ 02:21 PM
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer related deaths in the US. The risk of developing colon cancer increases exponentially with age, with 90% of cases diagnosed in patients over the age of 50.
Researchers and physicians have recently confirmed what they have suspected for some time: Exercise may be a key way to ward off this disease. Exercise, even as little as one hour per week, has been proven to reduce the risk of developing colon polyps- the precursors to colon cancer. 
While there are groups that are at higher risk for colon cancer, exercising decreases the risk in all demographic groups. "Exercise is a good thing," said Dr. David Weinberg, chairman of medicine at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia. "It matters in sick people and black people and skinny people and overweight people."
Although many previous studies have been done on this subject, not many looked at the effect of exercise in a multi-ethnic group.
"African-Americans are disproportionately impacted by colon cancer. Even within our own sample, blacks had the highest prevalence of polyps and adenomas [benign tumors that can become cancerous]," said study author Dr. Nelson Sanchez, attending physician at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. "Overweight and obese people are another segment of the population that is at increased risk of colon cancer and colon polyps."
This study included almost 1,000 patients of different ethnic and racial groups: 56.8 were Hispanic, 20.6 percent were Asian, 15.2 percent were black and 7 percent were white. The participants were middle-aged and at no increased risk for colon cancer or polyps. About two-thirds were overweight and about half exercised for at least an hour a week.
After performing screening colonoscopies, the researchers determined that people who exercised one or more hours a week had a 25.3 percent risk of polyps, versus 33.2 percent for those who didn't meet this exercise threshold.
The hour of weekly exercise lowered the risk of adenomas in people who were overweight and who were black. The risk of cancer was also lowered in black study participants.
Another contributing factor to colon cancer survival is a gene called CTNNB1 (cadherin-associated protein beta 1), in relation to a patients BMI. Obese patients (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) who were positive for nuclear CTNNB1 showed significantly better 5-year colorectal cancer-specific survival and overall survival compared with those with negative status (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR)=0.24 and 0.56, respectively).
However, positive status for nuclear CTNNB1 was not significantly associated with colorectal cancer-specific survival or overall survival in non-obese patients.
The study also found that a high level of physical activity (≥18 hours of metabolic equivalent tasks [MET]/week) post-diagnosis was associated with significantly improved 5-year colorectal
cancer-specific survival in patients negative for CTNNB1 and cancer in stages I, II, or III (aHR=0.33 compared with patients engaging in <18 MET-hours/week). Among patients with a positive CTNNB1 status, however, there was no significant association between physical activity and survival.
Conclusion: Get up, get out, and get moving. It will positively impact your health in more ways than one, and can help ward off colon cancer.
Before beginning any exercise regimen, you should consult your physician. The findings of this study were released yesterday at Digestive Disease Week in Chicago, and should be viewed as preliminary until they can be published in peer-reviewed medical literature.
Sources: HealthDay Reporter Even a Little Exercise May Protect Against Colon Polyps Study found just one hour a week made a difference in risk By Amanda Gardner; Exercise, BMI May Affect CTNNB1 Association With Colorectal Cancer Survival. MedWire (5/9, Grasmo)
Anthony A. Starpoli, MD
www.starpoli.com
Posted by Rachel Jones on Wed, Apr 27, 2011 @ 11:33 AM
Bacteria. Microbes. Germs. The words tend to make us squirm or draw back in fear. But are they really all that bad? Recently, researchers have been looking for ways to make the bacteria and microbes we have work for our immune system instead of against it.
While it is absolutely true that bacterial infections can be extremely dangerous and that antibiotics have assisted in the treatment of particularly virulent infections, there may be more effective ways to treat infections that don’t have the same detrimental effect on our bodies. Rob Jackson, a biologist working with Duke University Medical Center, puts it this way: “When you use antibiotics, you are essentially dropping a bomb on a microbial community, hoping that your explosion will not harm anything useful.” An experiment using antibiotics on healthy individuals yielded the result that while a person’s colonic flora recovers from the treatment, it never returns to its original state.
A new attitude toward our internal microbial ecology may be warranted. Jackson goes on to report that “there is staphylococcus and E. coli in all of us but they don’t always cause problems. It is the balance that is important. A more normal population of microbes in the gut can offset the bad players.” A more diverse eco-system in the colon may be important in countering pathogens and malignant bacteria. Richard Ostfeld, a disease ecologist at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in New York, states: “The greater the diversity, the lower the probability that pathogens can invade and persist. If all the niches are taken up in the gut, it might be hard for them to get hold.”
Some physicians have recommended the use of a probiotic to help balance the microbial flora in the digestive system. Researchers are not sure that taking a probiotic is helpful, because it is introducing a few billion organisms into a system of
trillions of live organisms, so the ratio is quite high, but testing seems to indicate that the introduction of the new microbes might signal the existing community to become more active. These probiotics, however, are as yet unregulated by the FDA and any regimen should be discussed with your physician.
What about the treatment of severe and dangerous bacterial infections, such as Clostridium difficile, the number 1 cause of hospitalization for diarrheal illness in the US and Europe? Antibiotics have certainly been integral in treating and preventing the return of this type of infection, and in most cases, are still the most effective and safest way to treat them. However, as the disease becomes more prevalent, and people develop immunities to antibiotic treatments, more virulent strains become increasing difficult to cure. A team lead by University of Minnesota immunologist and gastroenterologist Alexander Khoruts has been producing excellent results with an obscure and poorly understood procedure: fecal transplants. In life-threatening cases of bacterial infection, Dr. Khoruts has found that transplanting a small amount of healthy stool from a donor balances the flora in the patients colon, with spectacular success. This procedure has been around since the 1950’s, but Dr. Khoruts team is the first to explore the effect on the microbial community of the patients.
It is exciting and fascinating to see the treatment options available today, and the implications of this type of research on the medical community.
All symptoms and treatment regimens should be discussed with your physician.
Sources: Discover Magazine 35 03.2011 "The Ecosystem Inside"; Medscape.com 4/7/11 C difficile: New Therapy for a Dangerous DiseaseAnthony A. Starpoli, MD
www.starpoli.com