The Digestion Blog

Hydrogenotrophic microbes which convert hydrogen into other substances may play a key role in the development of diseases like Colon Cancer or Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Research lead by Professor Rex Gaskin & Dr. Eugene Greenberg at the University of Illinois is looking to map Hydrogenotrophic(hydrogen consuming) microbes that while making up a small portion of the microbial ecosystem might play a big part in the development of diseases such as Colon Cancer or Inflammatory Bowel Diseases such as Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis. Continue reading “Hydrogen Eating Microbes Play Important Role In Digestive System” »

Researchers at Kyushu University in Fukuoka, Japan have some interesting results from studying man’s best friend’s ability to help sniff out colon cancer. Researchers wanted to verify how accurate at detecting cancer was “Marine”, an 8 year old Black Lab who has been training since 2005 to become a cancer sniffing dog. The researchers compared breath and watery stool samples from people with known cancer against a control group that did not have cancer. The tests ran as such, Marine(the dog) would take a sniff of a known cancer sample and then have to find the corresponding sample at various stations the researchers had setup. When she found the station she felt matched the scent of the cancer she would lie down in front of it & an assistant would note down which sample the dog chose. Continue reading “Dogs May Be More Accurate At Detecting Colon Cancer Than Some Tests” »