Colic

Researchers have identified a mechanism that causes severe gastrointestinal problems with immune-based cancer treatment, also finding a way to deliver immunotherapy's cancer-killing impact without the unwelcome side effect. Researchers at the University of Michigan Health Rogel Cancer Center have identified a mechanism that causes severe gastrointestinal problems with immune-based cancer treatment. They also found a way to deliver immunotherapy's cancer-killing impact without the unwelcome side effect. The findings are published in Science. "This is a good example of how understanding a mechanism helps you to develop an alternative therapy that's more beneficial. Once we identified the mechanism causing the colitis, we could then develop ways to overcome this problem and prevent colitis while preserving the anti-tumor effect," said senior study author Gabriel Nunez, M.D., Paul de Kruif Professor of Pathology at Michigan Medicine. Immunotherapy has emerged as a promising treatment for several types of cancer. But immune checkpoint inhibitors can also cause severe side effects, including colitis, which is inflammation in the digestive tract. Colitis can cause severe gastrointestinal discomfort, and some patients will discontinue their cancer treatment because of it. The problem facing researchers was that while patients were developing colitis, the laboratory mice were not. So researchers couldn't study what was causing this side effect. To get past this, the Rogel team, led by first author Bernard C. Lo, Ph.D., created a new mouse model, injecting microbiota from wild-caught mice into the traditional mouse model. In this model, the mice did develop colitis after administration of antibodies used for tumor immunotherapy. Now, researchers could trace back the mechanism to see what was causing this reaction. In fact, colitis developed because of the composition of the gut microbiota, which caused immune T cells to be hyper-activated while regulatory T cells that put the brakes on T cell activation were deleted in the gut. This was happening within a specific domain of the immune checkpoint antibodies. Researchers then removed that domain, which they found still resulted in a strong anti-tumor response but without inducing colitis. "Previously, there were some data that suggested the presence of certain bacteria correlated with response to therapy. But it was not proven that microbiota were critical to develop colitis. This work for the first time shows that microbiota are essential to develop colitis from immune checkpoint inhibition," Nunez said. To follow up what they saw in mice, researchers reanalyzed previously reported data from studies of human cells from patients treated with immune checkpoint antibodies, which reinforced the role of regulatory T cells in inducing colitis. The antibody they used to stop the colitis was developed by Takeda Pharmaceuticals. The Rogel team plans additional studies to further understand the mechanisms causing colitis and seeks clinical partners to move this knowledge to a clinical trial. Additional authors are Ilona Kryczek, Jiali Yu, Linda Vatan, Roberta Caruso, Masanori Matsumoto, Yosuke Sato, Michael H. Shaw, Naohiro Inohara, Yuying Xie, Yu Leo Lei and Weiping Zou. Funding for this work is from National Institutes of Health grants R01 DK121504, R01 DK095782, R01 DE026728, R01 DE030691, P30 CA046592; Takeda Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Canadian Institutes of Health, Crohn's and Colitis Foundation, National Science Foundation grant IOS-2107215. This work was supported by these Rogel Cancer Center Shared Resources: Single Cell Spatial Analysis, Tissue and Molecular Pathology

CHINO, Calif., Dec. 5, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A study published in the Global Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology finds adding the probiotic, Bacillus coagulans LBSC (SEB LBSC), to food products offers promising health benefits while maintaining the food's appearance, aroma, taste and texture. The objective of the study, titled "Stability of Bacillus coagulans LBSC and Effect on Sensory Attributes in Tortillas, Tortilla Chips, and Chocolate," was to determine the stability of Bacillus coagulans LBSC in tortillas, tortilla chips and chocolate with ganache, as well as evaluating its impact on sensory attributes when compared to control products (with no probiotic added). "The findings of this research point to a significant opportunity for food manufacturers," said Vic Rathi, President of Enzyme Innovation. "They can add consumer-desired ingredients, offering real health benefits, without negatively impacting the quality of the finished product or their bottom line." Known for being heat-stable and spore-forming, Bacillus coagulans LBSC demonstrated robust stability when added to the tested food products, with a survival rate ranging from 42 to 98% (depending on the food). Results showed the test food items were rated similar in quality parameters such as aroma, taste, texture, acceptability and likeability when compared to their corresponding controls, indicating this probiotic seamlessly integrates into foods without altering their sensory appeal. Bacillus coagulans LBSC was added using conventional processes without the need for specialized equipment, making it a cost-effective option for various food items and promoting widespread accessibility. Published clinical trials on Bacillus coagulans LBSC found it offers significant gut and immune health benefits, including help recovering from digestive discomfort, and supporting microflora balance and regularity. The full research paper, authored by Sophia Leung, Malissa Keo, Amber Montes, Angel Go, Dr. Assad Al-Ammar, Dipak Roda, and Vic Rathi, can be found in Volume 11, Number 1 (2023) of the Global Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology. Visit EnzymeInnovation.com/baking-milling/probiotics/ for more information, and contact the company to add it to your product line! About Enzyme Innovation Enzyme Innovation is a research-driven manufacturer with 60 years of manufacturing experience and unparalleled expertise in industrial probiotics and enzymes. The company provides clean-label, eco-safe solutions to more than 25 industries, including baking and milling, craft and brewing, animal nutrition and protein hydrolysis. Products are produced in Enzyme Innovation's state-of-the-art, GMP-certified manufacturing facilities, which boast a long list of elite accreditations, including NSF GMP, FSSC 22000, GFSI, NSF Gluten-Free, ISA Halal, OK Kosher and The Non-GMO Project. Products are tested in a full-service ISO-17025 certified laboratory. SOURCE Enzyme Innovation

SILVER SPRING, Md., Nov. 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- From December 1 to 7, 2023, a coalition of organizations will mark the Ninth Annual Infantile Spasms Awareness Week (ISAW). The goal of ISAW is to increase awareness and understanding of infantile spasms by offering educational materials to providers, caregivers, and the public; announcing new and useful research and support initiatives; and informing patients and caregivers help is available. The campaign is supported by the Infantile Spasms Awareness Network (ISAN), a coalition of 37 international organizations that have come together to inform families, healthcare providers and caregivers about the signs of infantile spasms. "Because infantile spasms are a medical emergency, advocating for your baby is key and that's why Infantile Spasms Awareness Week is so important," said Kari Luther Rosbeck, President & CEO of the TSC Alliance®. "If you suspect your child may be showing symptoms of infantile spasms, inform your doctor immediately. Any delay in seeking emergency treatment can increase your child's risk for brain damage." Because infantile spasms are more subtle than a typical grand mal or "convulsion" seizure, ISAN developed a simple-to-remember mnemonic tool, called 'STOP' Infantile Spasms, to help people remember what's most important when recognizing the disease's subtle symptoms: S ee the signs: clusters of sudden, repeated, uncontrolled movements like head bobs or body crunching. T ake a video: record the symptoms and talk to your doctor immediately. O btain diagnosis: confirm an irregular brain wave pattern with an EEG test. P rioritize treatment: end spasms to minimize developmental delays. Infantile spasms (IS) are a rare, but serious type of seizure, occurring in 1 in 2,000 children, which can cause catastrophic, permanent damage to a child's developing brain. The seizures include repetitive, but often subtle movements including jerking of the mid-section, dropping of the head, raising of the arms or wide-eyed blinks. The onset of IS peaks between four and six months of age, although these seizures can begin anytime in the first two years. Infantile spasms are often overlooked or misdiagnosed for other conditions, including colic, reflux or a startle reflex. Worldwide, it is estimated a baby is diagnosed with IS every 12 minutes. 2023 ISAN members include: American Academy of Neurology | American Academy of Pediatrics | American College of Emergency Physicians | American Epilepsy Society | Association of Child Neurology Nurses | Be-TSC (Belgium) | Boston Children's Hospital | Bridge the Gap-SYNGAP | Child Neurology Foundation | CASK Research Foundation | Char Bear | Child Neurology Society | CURE Epilepsy | Danny Did Foundation | Duke University Hospital | Dup15q Alliance | Epilepsy Alliance America | Epilepsy Canada | Epilepsy Foundation of America | Epilepsy Ireland | Epilepsy Support Network of Orange County | FamiliesSCN2A Foundation | FundHemi | Global Genes | Hope for HIE| LGS Foundation | Mickie's Miracles | National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) | Pediatric Epilepsy Research Consortium | Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Alliance | RARE Science | Ring14 USA | Seizure Tracker | STXBP1 Foundation | Steunpunt Kinderepilepsie | TSC Alliance | The UK Infantile Spasms Trust Infantile Spasms Awareness Week includes social media campaigns, national and local media interviews and physician awareness projects. ISAW 2023 is supported by Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals and Upsher-Smith Laboratories, LLC. For more information, follow the hashtag #ISAW2023 and visit infantilespasms.org. CONTACT Jaye Isham Senior Vice President, Strategic Communications TSC Alliance (301) 562-9890 [email protected] SOURCE TSC Alliance