Endoscopy is one of the most fascinating and fast growing fields of medicine which enables accurate detection and treatment of alimentary or digestive tract diseases. Over the last several years, this discipline has advanced enormously and this has resulted in a boon for patients who are able to get non-surgical treatment in case of alimentary tract pathological conditions that not long ago used to be within the domain of surgery.
Modern diagnostics of the alimentary tract takes advantage of the most modern endoscopic visualization techniques. These include high-resolution endoscopy, magnifying or zoom endoscopy, double balloon enteroscopy, capsule endoscopy, chromoendoscopy, fluorescein endoscopy, narrow band imaging, endosonography and other radiological techniques such as virtual colonoscopy.
One of the major advancements that helps patients is Capsule Endoscopy. In this, a miniature capsule is used to record images through the digestive tract for use in the diagnosis of digestive disorders. The capsule, also known as a capsule camera, is the size and shape of a large vitamin pill used to visualize the gastrointestinal tract. The capsule includes a miniature color video silicon chip camera, a light, a battery and a transmitter. The images captured by the video camera are transmitted to sensors attached to the patient's body and recorded digitally on a device similar to a walkman that is worn around the patient's waist.
Capsule endoscopy is not a substitute for regular endoscopy. It serves as an additional diagnostic tool for patients who have been suffering from unexplained GI disorders especially of the small bowel. Capsule endoscopy is helpful in cases of unexplained GI bleeding, suspected small bowel obstruction, Crohn's disease or tumours or unexplained chronic diarrhoea or pain abdomen. The limitations include high cost (around Rs.20,000 per capsule), limited availability, inability to have therapeutic potential and small but definite chance of capsule retention in a patient of suspected bowel obstruction.
Another new helpful technique is Videoenteroscopy - a new endoscopic visualization of the small intestine. A typical double balloon enteroscope is composed of a 200-cm long endoscope, 145-cm long semielastic external tube and two latex balloons to better fix the endoscope inside the small intestine and for easier penetration. The technique is effective in up to 86 per cent cases and so far there have been few complications described. In addition to diagnostic possibilities, enteroscopy allows biopsy and endoscopic therapy, where it scores over capsule endoscopy. Considerably long time of the examination, sedation and use of fluoroscopy may pose some limitations to the procedure.
The good news for patients is that in the new endoscopic area, we have invented better endoscopes that can go farther and deeper and at that the same time with miniature pill cameras, we can explore uncertainties of human intestine with great certainty. This has led to better understanding, diagnosis and treatment of many digestive disorders considered uncommon or difficult to treat.
Monday, March 16, 2009
UNIQUE LIVER TRANSPLANTS
New Delhi, February 20: 22-month old boy Shourya and two-year old girl Siya Thakur have got a fresh lease of life, thanks to the ‘domino liver transplant’. Two of them are perhaps the world’s youngest patients to have had such an operation.
A team of 20 specialists from Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, successfully performed the domino liver transplant that entails sequential surgery, on January 31. The procedure went on for about 16 hours.
The transplant that made use of 20 percent of his aunt’s liver, has healed Shourya who was suffering from Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD).
Meanwhile, his own liver was transplanted to 2-year old Siya, who was struggling for life due to an uncommon liver failure condition called Langerhans’s cell histiocytosis (LCH).
Numerous chemotherapy sessions however helped Siya in checking LCH; the process damaged her liver to such an extent that a transplant was the only solution left.
According to doctors, Shourya is the first patient in India and youngest in the world to receive a living donor liver transplant for curing MSUD. And Siya, she is the youngest in the world to get a domino liver transplant.
The operation was conducted upon Shourya, his aunt Mukta and Siya in three distinct theatres. Initially, the donor liver was removed followed by removal of Shourya’s liver. Thus, the boy got his aunt’s liver, and his liver in turn was transplanted into Siya.
Dr. AS Soin, director of liver transplantation at Ganga Ram Hospital, and the chief surgeon involved in the transplants, remarked, “Domino transplants are rare because there are very few conditions in which you can cure the patient with a transplant and then transplant his or her organ into someone else without passing on the disease.”
MSUD is the outcome of the deficiency of an enzyme in the body. A liver transplant can enable the patient to tide over its shortfall in other body parts by making sufficient amount of the enzyme in the new organ.
A patient suffering from MSUD has an otherwise normal liver that can be transplanted into somebody else without the risk of communicating the disease.
MSUD is characterized by vomiting, poor feeding, weight loss, convulsions and finally results in coma. High acid levels in the urine cause it to smell like burnt sugar- the reason why it is named Maple Syrup Urine Disease.
SOURCE:-
http://www.themedguru.com/articles/unique_liver_transplant_gives_fresh_life_to_kids-86120738.html
DOMINO LIVER TRANSPLANT
It was like a game of passing the parcel. Only, the parcel was a precious life-saver.
Doctors at New Delhi's Sir Ganga Ram Hospital performed a rare 'domino liver transplant' on two children, believed to be the world's youngest patients to undergo such an operation.
Domino liver transplant involves sequential surgery. About 20 specialists performed the surgery on 22-month-old boy Shourya Verma and two-year-old girl Siya Thakur on January 31. The operation lasted 16 hours.
Shourya has been cured of maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) through the transplant that used 20% of his aunt's liver; his own liver was given to Siya, who was battling liver failure owing to a rare condition called Langerhans's cell histiocytosis (LCH).
Siya had many sessions of chemotherapy to contain LCH, and though her disease went into remission her liver was irreversibly damaged, making a transplant the only option.
Doctors at the hospital claimed that Shourya is India's first and the world's youngest recipient of a living donor liver transplant for MSUD, while Siya is the world's youngest recipient of a domino liver transplant.
For the surgery, Shourya's aunt Mukta, Shourya, and Siya were operated upon in three different theatres. First the donor liver and then Shourya's liver were removed. Shourya got a transplant; then his liver was transplanted into Siya.
SOURCE:::---
http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1232560
"Domino transplants are rare because there are very few conditions in which you can cure the patient with a transplant and then transplant his or her organ into someone else without passing on the disease," said Dr AS Soin, the chief surgeon who conducted the transplants and director of liver transplantation at Ganga Ram Hospital.
MSUD is caused by the lack of an enzyme in the body. Once the patient gets a liver transplant, he is able to make enough of the enzyme in the new organ to overcome the shortfall elsewhere in the body.
In turn, an MSUD patient's liver, which is otherwise normal, can be transplanted into someone else without passing on the disease as other cells in the patient can make the enzyme lacking in the liver.
Shourya was born with MSUD. The disease causes vomiting, poor feeding, weight loss, and convulsions and ultimately leads to coma. High levels of acids in the urine give it the smell of burnt sugar; hence the name Maple Syrup.
With his survival at stake, Shourya's parents moved to the US where they put him on an MSUD diet. But they realised it would severely cramp his life as he grew up, besides making it difficult for them to return to India.
"This made the family go ahead with the transplant," said Dr Neelam Mohan, chief paediatric hepatologist at the hospital. "Now, for the first time in his life, Shourya can eat like any other child."
Doctors at New Delhi's Sir Ganga Ram Hospital performed a rare 'domino liver transplant' on two children, believed to be the world's youngest patients to undergo such an operation.
Domino liver transplant involves sequential surgery. About 20 specialists performed the surgery on 22-month-old boy Shourya Verma and two-year-old girl Siya Thakur on January 31. The operation lasted 16 hours.
Shourya has been cured of maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) through the transplant that used 20% of his aunt's liver; his own liver was given to Siya, who was battling liver failure owing to a rare condition called Langerhans's cell histiocytosis (LCH).
Siya had many sessions of chemotherapy to contain LCH, and though her disease went into remission her liver was irreversibly damaged, making a transplant the only option.
Doctors at the hospital claimed that Shourya is India's first and the world's youngest recipient of a living donor liver transplant for MSUD, while Siya is the world's youngest recipient of a domino liver transplant.
For the surgery, Shourya's aunt Mukta, Shourya, and Siya were operated upon in three different theatres. First the donor liver and then Shourya's liver were removed. Shourya got a transplant; then his liver was transplanted into Siya.
SOURCE:::---
http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1232560
"Domino transplants are rare because there are very few conditions in which you can cure the patient with a transplant and then transplant his or her organ into someone else without passing on the disease," said Dr AS Soin, the chief surgeon who conducted the transplants and director of liver transplantation at Ganga Ram Hospital.
MSUD is caused by the lack of an enzyme in the body. Once the patient gets a liver transplant, he is able to make enough of the enzyme in the new organ to overcome the shortfall elsewhere in the body.
In turn, an MSUD patient's liver, which is otherwise normal, can be transplanted into someone else without passing on the disease as other cells in the patient can make the enzyme lacking in the liver.
Shourya was born with MSUD. The disease causes vomiting, poor feeding, weight loss, and convulsions and ultimately leads to coma. High levels of acids in the urine give it the smell of burnt sugar; hence the name Maple Syrup.
With his survival at stake, Shourya's parents moved to the US where they put him on an MSUD diet. But they realised it would severely cramp his life as he grew up, besides making it difficult for them to return to India.
"This made the family go ahead with the transplant," said Dr Neelam Mohan, chief paediatric hepatologist at the hospital. "Now, for the first time in his life, Shourya can eat like any other child."
LIVER TRANSLANT ON 11TH MONTHS OLD CHILD
Doctors at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital (SGRH), New Delhi have once again created history in the field of liver transplantation in India. After an 8-year-old child Arif Mischaal was saved by being airlifted and performing emergency liver transplantation a year back, another child, 11-month-old Siddharth became India's youngest liver transplant recipient. Siddharth's aunt Saroja has donated the left lateral part of her liver to Siddharth. The transplant was performed by a team of surgeons led by Head of Liver Transplant, Dr AS Soin on 15th February, this year.
Siddharth, a resident of Chennai, developed jaundice at two days of life. "However, it was only at the age of five months that he was diagnosed to have biliary atresia, a condition in which the bile ducts of the liver (responsible for draining the bile produced in the liver into the intestinal tract for digestion) are absent. The bile is trapped within the liver cells rapidly causing damage, scarring up and cirrhosis ultimately resulting in liver failure and death," informed Dr Soin.
He underwent an operation in Chennai at the age of five months attempting to correct it, but at the time of surgery his liver was already diagnosed to be cirrhotic. Doctors in Chennai informed them that the only chance for his survival was a liver transplant. Thus, the child landed at SGRH.
Dr Neelam Mohan, Consultant Paediatric Haepatologist and Physician Incharge Paediatric Liver Transplantation said that the child was in a very sick condition with severe infection. "We had to toil for a few weeks and high level of intensive medical and nutritional care was necessary to get him to shape for the surgeons to do the surgery. The child's liver's main blood supply was irreparably blocked due to the late stage of his disease. A graft was used between the donor's liver and the patient's portal vein," she added.
The post operative period was relatively smooth except a mild infection which would be well tackled, added Dr Mohan. Siddharth was discharged after three weeks.
Last year, the hospital claims to have performed over 90 liver transplants and have completed over 235 liver transplants with over 90 per cent success rate.
Siddharth, a resident of Chennai, developed jaundice at two days of life. "However, it was only at the age of five months that he was diagnosed to have biliary atresia, a condition in which the bile ducts of the liver (responsible for draining the bile produced in the liver into the intestinal tract for digestion) are absent. The bile is trapped within the liver cells rapidly causing damage, scarring up and cirrhosis ultimately resulting in liver failure and death," informed Dr Soin.
He underwent an operation in Chennai at the age of five months attempting to correct it, but at the time of surgery his liver was already diagnosed to be cirrhotic. Doctors in Chennai informed them that the only chance for his survival was a liver transplant. Thus, the child landed at SGRH.
Dr Neelam Mohan, Consultant Paediatric Haepatologist and Physician Incharge Paediatric Liver Transplantation said that the child was in a very sick condition with severe infection. "We had to toil for a few weeks and high level of intensive medical and nutritional care was necessary to get him to shape for the surgeons to do the surgery. The child's liver's main blood supply was irreparably blocked due to the late stage of his disease. A graft was used between the donor's liver and the patient's portal vein," she added.
The post operative period was relatively smooth except a mild infection which would be well tackled, added Dr Mohan. Siddharth was discharged after three weeks.
Last year, the hospital claims to have performed over 90 liver transplants and have completed over 235 liver transplants with over 90 per cent success rate.
LIVER RE-TRANSPLANT IN INDIA
A terminally ill lawyer has been brought back from the jaws of death, thanks to two rare gifts by his sons. Each son donated half a
liver to the man in what is claimed to be the country's first successful re-transplant using living donor liver.
Fifty-four-year-old Suman Kapoor is now back to normal life after doctors at the capital's Gangaram Hospital conducted a second liver transplant on him, a year and a half after the first.
Kapoor's woes began in 2006, when he was diagnosed with cryptogenic cirrhosis (cirrhosis due to unidentified causes) and needed an immediate liver transplant. His younger son, 20-year-old Kanv, then donated the right half of his liver to save his father.
Though Kapoor made steady progress after the surgery, ill fate struck once again. His liver failed in December 2007 after getting infected with hepatitis E.
And this time, it was his elder son, Aayush, who immediately came forward as donor.
Dr A S Soin, head of liver transplantation at Gangaram, told TOI, "The re-transplant was conducted on January 9 and both Kapoor and Aayush did well after the 15-hour surgery. Today, all the three male members of the family are hale and hearty and have returned to normal life."
He added, "There is only 10% possibility that a transplanted liver would fail twice due to new infections. When Kapoor returned to the ICU fighting for his life in January 2008, I felt that the only option was a re-transplant, which had never been successfully done in India before. So, I sought opinions from my colleagues at two of the world's best transplant centres — UPMC, Pittsburgh, and King's College, London. They also agreed that a re-transplant was the only option."
SOURCE:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Sons_donate_half_a_liver_each_to_dad/articleshow/2886180.cms
liver to the man in what is claimed to be the country's first successful re-transplant using living donor liver.
Fifty-four-year-old Suman Kapoor is now back to normal life after doctors at the capital's Gangaram Hospital conducted a second liver transplant on him, a year and a half after the first.
Kapoor's woes began in 2006, when he was diagnosed with cryptogenic cirrhosis (cirrhosis due to unidentified causes) and needed an immediate liver transplant. His younger son, 20-year-old Kanv, then donated the right half of his liver to save his father.
Though Kapoor made steady progress after the surgery, ill fate struck once again. His liver failed in December 2007 after getting infected with hepatitis E.
And this time, it was his elder son, Aayush, who immediately came forward as donor.
Dr A S Soin, head of liver transplantation at Gangaram, told TOI, "The re-transplant was conducted on January 9 and both Kapoor and Aayush did well after the 15-hour surgery. Today, all the three male members of the family are hale and hearty and have returned to normal life."
He added, "There is only 10% possibility that a transplanted liver would fail twice due to new infections. When Kapoor returned to the ICU fighting for his life in January 2008, I felt that the only option was a re-transplant, which had never been successfully done in India before. So, I sought opinions from my colleagues at two of the world's best transplant centres — UPMC, Pittsburgh, and King's College, London. They also agreed that a re-transplant was the only option."
SOURCE:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Sons_donate_half_a_liver_each_to_dad/articleshow/2886180.cms
APOLLO LIVER SURGERY UNIT
Apollo Liver Surgery Unit (ALSU)
deals with complex gastrointestinal surgery. Surgical Gastroenterology was coming in to its own in various teaching hospitals all over India in the late eighties. The first to be established in North India was the Unit of Gastrointestinal Surgery in All India Institute of Medical Sciences under Professor S. Nundy in 1985. This unit has its roots from this institution.
This unit now has an outstanding reputation for all aspects of liver surgery. Complex liver resection can be carried with a mortality and morbidity comparable to the best centers in the world. There is also can an active interventional radiology setup that deals with chemoembolization, radiofrequency ablation and percutaneous alcohol injection into tumour tissue.
This centre is very active in liver transplantation and is equipped for both cadaveric and living related transplant. It has to its credit first successful reduced liver transplant from an adult cadaveric liver to a paediatric recipient.
Pancreatic surgery is also carried out in great numbers and possibly we have one of the largest series of pancreaticoduodenectomy operation for cancers of the periampullary region. The unit has treated patients from all over India as well as patients from Middle East, Africa and South East Asia. Apart from malignancies this unit has considerable skills in dealing with surgical management of all aspects of pancreatitis. Its faculty consists of nationally and internationally known consultants.
This unit has a reputation for shunt surgery for patients who have bled from varices. In situations where the liver is not diseased, then shunt surgery is quite an appropriate form of treatment. Often because of blockage of hepatic veins mesocaval shunts can reverse the damage to liver.
This unit is a referral centre for patients who have been operated elsewhere and has developed a complication. One such common condition is intestinal fistula and these have been managed very successfully here. A paper from our unit was awarded the best paper in one of the recent Indian Society of Gastroenterology meetings. The unit has a very active Stoma Clinic, which deals with wound care in intestinal fistulae.
Colorectal cancer is another active area of our unit and there is a major emphasis on sphincter saving surgery either using staplers or by intersphincteric resection. Ulcerative colitis generally can be treated by medicine but surgery has a major role in certain situation. The entire diseased colon is removed and the end of small intestine folded on itself and joined to create a pouch, which is then joined to the anus so that the patient can pass stool normally.
The unit has skilled consultants who are backed by a huge team of experienced registrars, theatre personnel and equipment such as ultrasonic aspirator, argon beam coagulator and thromboelastograph which all helps in conducting major surgery.
The Unit of Surgical Gastroenterology and Liver transplantation has a proven track record of dealing with complex gastrointestinal cases and is at the forefront of clinical medicine and liver surgery in India.
http://transplantliverindia.com/
deals with complex gastrointestinal surgery. Surgical Gastroenterology was coming in to its own in various teaching hospitals all over India in the late eighties. The first to be established in North India was the Unit of Gastrointestinal Surgery in All India Institute of Medical Sciences under Professor S. Nundy in 1985. This unit has its roots from this institution.
This unit now has an outstanding reputation for all aspects of liver surgery. Complex liver resection can be carried with a mortality and morbidity comparable to the best centers in the world. There is also can an active interventional radiology setup that deals with chemoembolization, radiofrequency ablation and percutaneous alcohol injection into tumour tissue.
This centre is very active in liver transplantation and is equipped for both cadaveric and living related transplant. It has to its credit first successful reduced liver transplant from an adult cadaveric liver to a paediatric recipient.
Pancreatic surgery is also carried out in great numbers and possibly we have one of the largest series of pancreaticoduodenectomy operation for cancers of the periampullary region. The unit has treated patients from all over India as well as patients from Middle East, Africa and South East Asia. Apart from malignancies this unit has considerable skills in dealing with surgical management of all aspects of pancreatitis. Its faculty consists of nationally and internationally known consultants.
This unit has a reputation for shunt surgery for patients who have bled from varices. In situations where the liver is not diseased, then shunt surgery is quite an appropriate form of treatment. Often because of blockage of hepatic veins mesocaval shunts can reverse the damage to liver.
This unit is a referral centre for patients who have been operated elsewhere and has developed a complication. One such common condition is intestinal fistula and these have been managed very successfully here. A paper from our unit was awarded the best paper in one of the recent Indian Society of Gastroenterology meetings. The unit has a very active Stoma Clinic, which deals with wound care in intestinal fistulae.
Colorectal cancer is another active area of our unit and there is a major emphasis on sphincter saving surgery either using staplers or by intersphincteric resection. Ulcerative colitis generally can be treated by medicine but surgery has a major role in certain situation. The entire diseased colon is removed and the end of small intestine folded on itself and joined to create a pouch, which is then joined to the anus so that the patient can pass stool normally.
The unit has skilled consultants who are backed by a huge team of experienced registrars, theatre personnel and equipment such as ultrasonic aspirator, argon beam coagulator and thromboelastograph which all helps in conducting major surgery.
The Unit of Surgical Gastroenterology and Liver transplantation has a proven track record of dealing with complex gastrointestinal cases and is at the forefront of clinical medicine and liver surgery in India.
http://transplantliverindia.com/
Thursday, March 12, 2009
PROBIOTICS : NEXT BIG THING
What are probiotics?
Probiotics are live microorganisms (small single-celled bacteria) that are similar to the beneficial microorganisms found in the human gut. According to the currently adopted definition by FAO / WHO, probiotics are: ‘Live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host’. Popularly known as friendly or good bacteria, these bacteria are said to be beneficial for the body. Theoretically, bacteria are categorised by genus, species and strain names. Most probiotic foods contain bacteria of the species like Lactobacillius and Bifidobacterium. These are said to benefit the host by improving the balance of the intestinal microflora, upon ingestion. They also secrete enzymes that aid in digestion and enhance the workings of immune-system cells in the digestive tract. It is said that consuming probiotics helps maintain a healthy balance of good bacteria in the digestive tract. Probiotics can have immunomodulatory and anticarcinogenic effects as well. Often, nutritionists recommend them after a course of antibiotics or as part of the treatment for gut related candidiasis.
How do probiotics work?
Human body contains miniature ecology of microbes, collectively known as the gut flora. Most of these bacteria are harmless and are said to contribute to our growth and health. It is important that the balance of microbes is maintained to promote the beneficial bacteria over the potentially harmful ones. Due to the use of antibiotics, excess alcohol, stress, or exposure to toxic substances, a number of these bacterial types can get thrown out of balance. In such cases, the bacteria that suit our body can decrease, allowing the harmful ones to thrive and pose a threat to our health. This can be prevented by improving the quality of our food intake. By including foods rich in probiotics, we can maintain a healthy gut flora and thereby, avoid potential health problems.
What are the benefits of probiotics?
Probiotics have a lot of benefits for our health. At times, the balance between the good and the bad bacteria can get haywire due to the use of antibiotics and other toxic substances. Foods rich in probiotics can offset their side effects and also prevent further infections. They can also ease symptoms of lactose intolerance, where certain active strains may help lactose intolerant individuals tolerate more lactose. Probiotics could also halt the unfriendly bacteria and suppress their growth and activity in conditions like diarrhoea, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, skin and vaginal infections. It is also said that certain strains of probiotics can exert anti-carcinogenic effects by decreasing the activity of enzymes that generate carcinogens. They can exert a positive influence on the gastrointestinal environment and also reduce the risk of cancer. Besides, some types of probiotics can also lower cholesterol levels, by breaking down bile in the gut and thus, inhibiting its reabsorption. The benefits of probiotics can also include their role in improving the body’s immune function. There are cells in the digestive tract that are connected to the immune system. By introducing probiotic bacteria, one can alter these microorganisms that influence the immune system's defenses and thereby help in building immunity.
What are their side effects?
There is an ongoing debate on the safety of the use of probiotics in young children, elderly people and people with compromised immune systems. Side effects of probiotics tend to be mild and digestive (like gas or bloating). But they can also be serious leading to infections and unhealthy metabolic activities, if taken in excess. Some people also question the idea that the bacteria taken by mouth can survive the process of human digestion. Thus, along with their benefits, there also exist questions that challenge some of the claims made for probiotics.
What are the foods that contain probiotics?
Probiotics are available in foods as well as dietary supplements. They can be found in fermented food products such as yoghurt, fermented and unfermented milk, cabbage kimchee and soybean-based miso and natto (fermented traditional Japanese health foods). Some probiotic foods date back to ancient times, such as fermented foods and cultured milk products.
source
http://doctor.ndtv.com/topicsh/Probiotics.asp
Probiotics are live microorganisms (small single-celled bacteria) that are similar to the beneficial microorganisms found in the human gut. According to the currently adopted definition by FAO / WHO, probiotics are: ‘Live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host’. Popularly known as friendly or good bacteria, these bacteria are said to be beneficial for the body. Theoretically, bacteria are categorised by genus, species and strain names. Most probiotic foods contain bacteria of the species like Lactobacillius and Bifidobacterium. These are said to benefit the host by improving the balance of the intestinal microflora, upon ingestion. They also secrete enzymes that aid in digestion and enhance the workings of immune-system cells in the digestive tract. It is said that consuming probiotics helps maintain a healthy balance of good bacteria in the digestive tract. Probiotics can have immunomodulatory and anticarcinogenic effects as well. Often, nutritionists recommend them after a course of antibiotics or as part of the treatment for gut related candidiasis.
How do probiotics work?
Human body contains miniature ecology of microbes, collectively known as the gut flora. Most of these bacteria are harmless and are said to contribute to our growth and health. It is important that the balance of microbes is maintained to promote the beneficial bacteria over the potentially harmful ones. Due to the use of antibiotics, excess alcohol, stress, or exposure to toxic substances, a number of these bacterial types can get thrown out of balance. In such cases, the bacteria that suit our body can decrease, allowing the harmful ones to thrive and pose a threat to our health. This can be prevented by improving the quality of our food intake. By including foods rich in probiotics, we can maintain a healthy gut flora and thereby, avoid potential health problems.
What are the benefits of probiotics?
Probiotics have a lot of benefits for our health. At times, the balance between the good and the bad bacteria can get haywire due to the use of antibiotics and other toxic substances. Foods rich in probiotics can offset their side effects and also prevent further infections. They can also ease symptoms of lactose intolerance, where certain active strains may help lactose intolerant individuals tolerate more lactose. Probiotics could also halt the unfriendly bacteria and suppress their growth and activity in conditions like diarrhoea, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, skin and vaginal infections. It is also said that certain strains of probiotics can exert anti-carcinogenic effects by decreasing the activity of enzymes that generate carcinogens. They can exert a positive influence on the gastrointestinal environment and also reduce the risk of cancer. Besides, some types of probiotics can also lower cholesterol levels, by breaking down bile in the gut and thus, inhibiting its reabsorption. The benefits of probiotics can also include their role in improving the body’s immune function. There are cells in the digestive tract that are connected to the immune system. By introducing probiotic bacteria, one can alter these microorganisms that influence the immune system's defenses and thereby help in building immunity.
What are their side effects?
There is an ongoing debate on the safety of the use of probiotics in young children, elderly people and people with compromised immune systems. Side effects of probiotics tend to be mild and digestive (like gas or bloating). But they can also be serious leading to infections and unhealthy metabolic activities, if taken in excess. Some people also question the idea that the bacteria taken by mouth can survive the process of human digestion. Thus, along with their benefits, there also exist questions that challenge some of the claims made for probiotics.
What are the foods that contain probiotics?
Probiotics are available in foods as well as dietary supplements. They can be found in fermented food products such as yoghurt, fermented and unfermented milk, cabbage kimchee and soybean-based miso and natto (fermented traditional Japanese health foods). Some probiotic foods date back to ancient times, such as fermented foods and cultured milk products.
source
http://doctor.ndtv.com/topicsh/Probiotics.asp
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
PROBIOTICS
What are probiotics?
They are ‘live’ micro-organisms, which when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host. If you are wondering how one can knowingly take in live bacteria, there are a few more facts to surprise you…
What are the benefits of healthy bacteria?
The resident bacteria (also called commensals) help guard the body against pathogenic bacteria. Of the many resident beneficial bacteria, lactobacillus has been the most widely studied. Lactobacillus strains prevent the adhesion and growth of urinary and intestinal pathogens and produce high concentration of hydrogen peroxide and lower the pH of the intestine, making it inhospitable for the harmful bacteria.
What causes disturbance in the intestinal flora?
Intestinal flora may be disrupted sometimes due to factors like prolonged use of antibiotics, stress and most importantly diets high in sugar and simple carbohydrates. Exposure to radiation and parasitic infestation may be the other causes. This precisely is the reason why probiotic preparations are sometimes recommended after a course of antibiotics, or as part of treatment.
Which probiotics are helpful?
Among the probiotics, S. boulardii, E. faecium and Lactobacillus sp. are useful in preventing antibiotic-related diarrhoea. Lactobacillus GG reduces the severity and duration of rotavirus diarrhoea in infants. Some lactic acid bacteria have immuno-regulatory effects that might protect against some allergic disorders. There is some evidence that some of these probiotic strains can reduce the intestinal inflammation associated with some food allergies. Some animal experiments have even shown that products containing L. acidophilus have cholesterol lowering effect. In addition, probiotics improve absorption of nutrients, improve synthesis of vitamins and essential fatty acids and also prevent some bacterial and yeast infections.
How do we take in healthy bacteria?
The best way is through dietary sources. In fact, for centuries our native diets have had a good proportion of fermented foods, some of which have probiotic health benefits. Curd, the lactobacillus fermented product, has also been part of the Indian diets for centuries. Similarly pickles, dhokla, butter, are also good sources.
What are the probiotic preparations available in the market?
Food products or supplements and pharmaceutical preparations containing viable probiotic strains are available in the market either as fermented foods or in lyophilised (freeze-dried) form.
A probiotic preparation can be effective only if the healthy bacteria are available in required concentration for consumption; there are concerns about the preservation of probiotic strains in these products and hence there are doubts about their health effects after consumption.
Can probiotics be liberally consumed by everyone?
Studies show that probiotics are contraindicated in those who are proven to be hypersensitive to such products. It is better that pregnant and nursing women use probiotic nutritional supplements only on the physician’s advice. Similarly, the use of probiotics for the treatment of any disorder must be medically supervised. Some commercial foods, which are being marketed as containing probiotics are very high in sugar and are empty calories (poor in vitamins and minerals). Such foods may be unhealthy because of their ‘junk’ nature.
Regulatory Issues?
There is a need for standardisation in order to sift the genuine products from the artificial ones. Considering this, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Ministry of Health has recently set up a committee to formulate guidelines for the probiotic foods.
Once the guidelines are out, the products claiming to be probiotic should go through stringent quality checks and disclosure on the labels so that the consumers can make more informed choices.
***
Did you know
Over 400 distinct species of micro organisms inhabit our digestive tract.
They make up nearly 2 kg of your total body weight.
The bacteria outnumber the cells in your body.
Several of these bacteria are beneficial to health and can boost immunity.
Even nascent tummies of babies acquire some beneficial bacteria from the mother during the birth process, multiply in the gastrointestinal tract and boost the baby’s immunity.
Bifidobacteria infantis are the dominant bacteria in the infant’s digestive tract. They hinder the growth of rotaviruses, which cause diarrhoea and thrush, and protect the newborn against some common infections.
These bacteria help prevent lactose intolerance and increase absorption of minerals and B vitamins.
Breast-fed babies become dominated by bifidobacteria due to the favourable growth factors in breast milk.
source
http://www.hindu.com/mag/2009/03/01/stories/2009030150200600.htm
They are ‘live’ micro-organisms, which when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host. If you are wondering how one can knowingly take in live bacteria, there are a few more facts to surprise you…
What are the benefits of healthy bacteria?
The resident bacteria (also called commensals) help guard the body against pathogenic bacteria. Of the many resident beneficial bacteria, lactobacillus has been the most widely studied. Lactobacillus strains prevent the adhesion and growth of urinary and intestinal pathogens and produce high concentration of hydrogen peroxide and lower the pH of the intestine, making it inhospitable for the harmful bacteria.
What causes disturbance in the intestinal flora?
Intestinal flora may be disrupted sometimes due to factors like prolonged use of antibiotics, stress and most importantly diets high in sugar and simple carbohydrates. Exposure to radiation and parasitic infestation may be the other causes. This precisely is the reason why probiotic preparations are sometimes recommended after a course of antibiotics, or as part of treatment.
Which probiotics are helpful?
Among the probiotics, S. boulardii, E. faecium and Lactobacillus sp. are useful in preventing antibiotic-related diarrhoea. Lactobacillus GG reduces the severity and duration of rotavirus diarrhoea in infants. Some lactic acid bacteria have immuno-regulatory effects that might protect against some allergic disorders. There is some evidence that some of these probiotic strains can reduce the intestinal inflammation associated with some food allergies. Some animal experiments have even shown that products containing L. acidophilus have cholesterol lowering effect. In addition, probiotics improve absorption of nutrients, improve synthesis of vitamins and essential fatty acids and also prevent some bacterial and yeast infections.
How do we take in healthy bacteria?
The best way is through dietary sources. In fact, for centuries our native diets have had a good proportion of fermented foods, some of which have probiotic health benefits. Curd, the lactobacillus fermented product, has also been part of the Indian diets for centuries. Similarly pickles, dhokla, butter, are also good sources.
What are the probiotic preparations available in the market?
Food products or supplements and pharmaceutical preparations containing viable probiotic strains are available in the market either as fermented foods or in lyophilised (freeze-dried) form.
A probiotic preparation can be effective only if the healthy bacteria are available in required concentration for consumption; there are concerns about the preservation of probiotic strains in these products and hence there are doubts about their health effects after consumption.
Can probiotics be liberally consumed by everyone?
Studies show that probiotics are contraindicated in those who are proven to be hypersensitive to such products. It is better that pregnant and nursing women use probiotic nutritional supplements only on the physician’s advice. Similarly, the use of probiotics for the treatment of any disorder must be medically supervised. Some commercial foods, which are being marketed as containing probiotics are very high in sugar and are empty calories (poor in vitamins and minerals). Such foods may be unhealthy because of their ‘junk’ nature.
Regulatory Issues?
There is a need for standardisation in order to sift the genuine products from the artificial ones. Considering this, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Ministry of Health has recently set up a committee to formulate guidelines for the probiotic foods.
Once the guidelines are out, the products claiming to be probiotic should go through stringent quality checks and disclosure on the labels so that the consumers can make more informed choices.
***
Did you know
Over 400 distinct species of micro organisms inhabit our digestive tract.
They make up nearly 2 kg of your total body weight.
The bacteria outnumber the cells in your body.
Several of these bacteria are beneficial to health and can boost immunity.
Even nascent tummies of babies acquire some beneficial bacteria from the mother during the birth process, multiply in the gastrointestinal tract and boost the baby’s immunity.
Bifidobacteria infantis are the dominant bacteria in the infant’s digestive tract. They hinder the growth of rotaviruses, which cause diarrhoea and thrush, and protect the newborn against some common infections.
These bacteria help prevent lactose intolerance and increase absorption of minerals and B vitamins.
Breast-fed babies become dominated by bifidobacteria due to the favourable growth factors in breast milk.
source
http://www.hindu.com/mag/2009/03/01/stories/2009030150200600.htm
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