Research Finds Gut Microbiota Plays Important Role in Functional Bowel Disorders

by Kathy Jones on February 28, 2013 at 8:10 PM

Functional bowel disorders (FBD), such as dyspepsia or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affect an estimated 50 per cent of patients consulting a gastroenterologist.

It is characteristic for these conditions that underlying physiological mechanisms are hard to be found. "However, recent research shows that the gut microbiota is a likely candidate for filling some of the gaps in the causal chain leading to FBD," says Professor Fernando Azpiroz, Chairman of the Gut Microbiota & Health Section of the European Society of Neurogastroenterology & Motility (ESNM). Further information on this issue — ¬one of three topics to be presented at Tuesday's online press conference on the occasion of the 2nd World Summit "Gut Microbiota For Health" in Madrid, Spain

Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis is characterized by bouts of diarrhea, bleeding per rectum and pain, which remits and relapses. Fulminant colitis is a possibility, which may require colectomy.

World-leading experts will inform about the gut microbiota's impact on health during an online press conference on Tuesday, 26 February 2013, 8 a.m. ET (14.00-5.30 h CET), moderated by UK media medic Dr Mark Porter, best known for his television and radio work for the BBC. The following questions will be dealt with:

In what way does the gut microbiota influence functional bowel disorders?
Speaker: Prof. Fernando Azpiroz, Barcelona, Spain
Can faecal microbiota transplantation be used to treat recurrent Clostridium difficile infection?
Speaker: Prof. Lawrence Brandt, New York, USA
The gut-brain axis: can probiotics have a positive effect on mental health?
Speaker: Prof. Emeran Mayer, Los Angeles, USA

Digestive Tract Ulcers Symptom Evaluation

A break in the mucus membrane lining of the digestive tract results in ulcers.

Attend the press conference from your office If you would like to attend, please write an email to gutmicrobiota@impressum.de. The online press conference will be held in English. Details on how to access the press conference will be sent to you after your registration.

Source: Eurekalert