Snapshot of the GI Tract Could Expand Possibilities in Gut Treatment
Like a checking account or a tight-rope walker, a healthy gut relies on balance. An unbalanced gut has difficulty processing food and eliminating waste. If you have ongoing digestive issues, your doctor might suggest testing your gut microbiota, in an effort to identify the root of the problem. You may be great at multiple choice or fill-in-the blank tests, but this is nothing like that. Currently, the only way your gut microbes can be tested is by having a stool sample analyzed or via colonoscopy or endoscopy. But stool samples can’t capture all the microorganisms in the upper GI tract, and colonoscopy and endoscopy are invasive procedures, which deters some patients.
Just Passing Through. Fortunately, researchers are working on another option. A group of Danish scientists have developed an ingestible capsule—or pill—that captures bacteria and other biological samples while passing through the GI tract. So far it’s been tested on animals. The researchers say when the pill is exposed to intestinal fluid, its contents form a gel that traps the microbes in its surroundings and essentially creates an instant snapshot of the intestine. The capsules, which have not caused inflammation or toxicity, are then surgically removed.
The researchers say the plan is for natural elimination to replace the surgical removal, and suggest that the technology could advance understanding of GI disease progression and gut therapies.
The post Snapshot of the GI Tract Could Expand Possibilities in Gut Treatment appeared first on University Health News.
Read Original Article: Snapshot of the GI Tract Could Expand Possibilities in Gut Treatment »
