Back in March, patty reported here on a Chinese man who – after being born without one – received a surgically constructed artificial anus. Now scientists have gone one better and actually grown a working anal sphincter in the laboratory. The team, who hail from Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, grew the artificial orifices from cultured human muscle and nerve cells in about six weeks. Then, to test if they worked, the sphincters where implanted in laboratory mice. Ultimately, the scientists hope a patient’s own muscle and nerves could be used to create ‘personalized’ replacements, avoiding any immune response. In the near future, the “test tube” anus could be a boon for both the faecally incontinent and former porn stars alike (CBS News).
But an artificial exit may be just the start, as scientists are now one step closer to understanding the development of the entire intestine, in this case, why it coils the way it does. A rare collaboration between Harvard’s Medial and Engineering schools finally untangled the problem of why the intestine coils so predictably during the growth of the foetus while essentially unconstrained. Previously it had been thought that growth of the gut might be being restricted by the abdomen, but that didn’t explain why nearly everyone’s intestines fold into exactly the same shape. Then a chance conversation led Harvard Professor of Applied Mathematics, L. Mahadevan, to suggest a simpler hypothesis, the gut and its connective tissue, called the mesentry, grow at proportionally different rates. Now two teams, led by engineer Thierry Savin and biologists Natasza Kurpios and Amy Shyer, have confirmed that insight with a combination of computer and physical models and experiments, finally unravelling what makes our insides so loopy (Science Daily).
And speaking of loopy, what would you prescribe to someone with chronically inflamed bowels? Well for a growing number of people, the best medicine is a healthy(?) dose of parasites. The parasites in question are whipworms, also known as helminths, hence the name of the process, helminthic therapy. It has been known for over a century that some parasite infestations seem to reduce the symptoms of other diseases, but it is only fairly recently that any serious study has been made into why this is so. The current hypothesis is that the worms, which live in the human intestine, partially suppress the host’s immune response to protect themselves, and in doing so prevent the aggressive autoimmunity behind conditions such as Crohne’s disease and IBS, and so far the results have been startlingly good. However the success of the treatment is causing its own problems as some sufferers are refusing to wait on the medical establishment and are treating themselves by deliberately swallowing doses of the parasites’ eggs obtained over the internet. The worry for some is that the parasites, which are naturally infectious, might spread to very young or otherwise vulnerable people where they might have more serious effects (University of Massachusetts (PDF)).
Yet as one weird treatment rises, another shall fall. Colonic irrigation, the practice of repeatedly flushing out your lower intestines with water or various herbal infusions, has no medicinal benefit according to a study by doctors from the Georgetown University School of Medicine. Moreover, it can actually be harmful, carrying not just a risk if perforation of the bowel, but a list of side effects that range from intestinal cramps and nausea to renal failure. The team, lead by Dr. Ranit Mishori, looked at over 20 studies carried out in the past 10 years and found little to no evidence of any health improvements associated with the treatment, but a litany of problems, including cases of anaemia and increased liver toxicity. She also highlighted the dangers from poorly trained and regulated operators performing the procedure, and from “do-it-youself” detoxing kits that often combine a less invasive form of the therapy with strong laxatives (The Independent).
Rumination is the practice of bringing food back up from the stomach after it's been swallowed, rechewing it, and then swallowing it again. When cows do this, it's called "chewing the cud." When humans do it habitually, it's considered to be an eating disorder. The Wikipedia article on Rumination Syndrome tells us:
The disorder has been historically documented as affecting only infants, young children, and people with cognitive disabilities (where the prevalence is as high as 10% in institutionalized patients with various mental disabilities). Today it is being diagnosed in increasing numbers of otherwise healthy adolescents and adults, though there is a lack of awareness of the condition by doctors, patients and the general public.
But in an article by Johns Hopkins psychiatrist Leo Kanner, "Historical Notes on Rumination in Man" (Medical Life, 45, 1936) we learn a strange factoid. Kanner writes:
It is, indeed, a curious fact that not less than fourteen physicians are known to have been habitual ruminators. This is especially interesting in the light of the statistical evidence of the extreme rarity of this condition.
Kanner's list of ruminating physicians begins with a 17th century medical student who reported that rumination was "sweeter than honey and accompanied by a more delightful relish." The most famous name on the list is the 19th century French physician Edouard Brown-Séquard who developed a rumination problem after conducting a series of self-experiments in which he repeatedly swallowed a sponge and tried to vomit it back up.
Kanner's list was written in 1936, so it's possible there are now more ruminating physicians that could be added to it. Why physicians would ruminate in greater number than members of other professions, I have no idea.
In Japan, Microsoft and Burger King decided to celebrate the release of Windows 7 with a seven patty high burger. For only 777 yen (about $9) you can purchase this five inch tall, 2500 calorie burger. Daily Mail
Category: PSA's, Medicine, Psychology, Stomach