:: Gluten Free Works Blog ::

Liz Schau

According to the Centers for Disease Control, as of 2006, 33.1% of women were choosing to exclusively breastfeed their newborn from 0-3 months of age. At the one-year mark, only 22.7% of women were still breastfeeding their baby (non-exclusively).

The American Academy of Pediatrics Committee, the World Health Organization (WHO), the Canadian Pediatric Society, the Pediatric Society of New Zealand, and other similar organizations in various countries worldwide have all made statements on infant feeding and the appropriate time to introduce solid foods into a baby's diet. The current consensus is that solid food should not be introduced until at least the age of 4-6 months, if not later. (more…)

Dr. Joseph Murray of the Mayo Clinic explains his landmark study that tested blood samples from 50 years ago and compared them to people of the same ages today. The results: 1. Celiac disease is 5 times more prevalent than it was 50 years ago, 2. People with untreated celiac disease are 4 times more likely to die prematurely than the general population. This breaking information shows us that the rate of celiac disease is rising and people must be identified and diagnosed to insure good health. – John Libonati, Editor. Glutenfreeworks.com

The research below further supports the links demonstrated between celiac disease and psoriasis as noted in the book "Recognizing Celiac Disease." (www.recognizingceliacdisease.com) Although not the focus of this study, the link could be a genetic sensitivity to gluten itself, considering the resolution of symptoms seen by people with psoriasis who go on a gluten-free diet. In addition, the other disorders, diabetes type 1 and arthritis have been linked to celiac disease/gluten sensitivity reactions. – John Libonati, Glutenfreeworks.com

Psoriasis: 7 New Genetic Clues

Newly Discovered Genetic Variations May Make Psoriasis More Likely, Study Shows
By Miranda Hitti

WebMD Medical NewsReviewed by Louise Chang, MDApril 3, 2008 — Scientists have discovered seven genetic variations linked to psoriasis.

If confirmed in other studies, those gene variants may make good targets for new psoriasis drugs, note the researchers, who included Anne Bowcock, PhD, genetics professor at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

"Common diseases like psoriasis are incredibly complex at the genetic level," Bowcock says in a news release. "Our research shows that small but common DNA differences are important in the development of psoriasis. Although each variation makes only a small contribution to the disease, patients usually have a number of different genetic variations that increases their risk of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis."

Bowcock's team compared DNA from 223 psoriasis patients (including 91 with psoriatic arthritis) and 519 people without psoriasis, and also from two other large groups of people with and without psoriasis.

Through those comparisons, the researchers identified seven genetic variations linked to psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis and confirmed other variations already linked to psoriasis.

One of the newly discovered variants is in a genetic region tied to four other autoimmune diseases: celiac disease, type 1 diabetes, Grave's disease, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Further studies are needed to confirm the findings, Bowcock and colleagues note in the April 4 online edition of Public Library of Science Genetics.

View Article Sources
SOURCES:

Liu, Y. Public Library of Science Genetics, April 4, 2008; online edition.

News release, Public Library of Science.

© 2008 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.
http://www.webmd.com:80/skin-problems-and-treatments/psoriasis/news/20 080403/psoriasis-7-new-genetic-clues

6 March 2008

Mayo Clinic researchers in the US have found that endoscopy using a pill-sized capsule can help physicians detect and diagnose celiac disease, as well as measure intestinal healing following treatment. The findings are published in this month's issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

The capsule is approximately the size of a large vitamin, and it includes a miniature colour video camera, light, battery and transmitter. The patient swallows the capsule, which takes approximately eight hours to move through the small intestine.

As the capsule moves through the digestive tract, images recorded by the video camera are transmitted to a number of sensors attached to the patient's torso and recorded digitally on a device worn around the patient's waist. Then, the recording device is removed and its contents are downloaded to a computer for examination.

Approximately three million Americans, or about one in 100 people, are affected by celiac disease. Individuals who have celiac disease are intolerant to proteins (collectively called gluten) found in wheat, barley and rye grains. In these people, gluten stimulates an immune reaction in the small intestine, which causes intestinal damage and the subsequent inability to absorb certain nutrients from food.

Treatment is to avoid foods containing gluten (the so-called gluten-free diet). Untreated, celiac disease can cause many medical complications and increase the risk of death. However, when a medically supervised diet plan is implemented, patients can experience almost complete reversal of symptoms and complications from the disease.

"Capsule endoscopy allows us to look at the entire 30 feet of the small intestine, not just the first one to two feet that can be visualized with other types of endoscopy," says Joseph Murray, MD, the study's lead author and a gastroenterologist at Mayo Clinic.

This study, the first of its kind, used capsule endoscopy to view intestinal damage in 37 patients with untreated, biopsy-proven celiac disease.

Ninety-two percent had visible damage detected by capsule endoscopy. Twenty-two patients had extensive damage in the duodenum (first portion of the small intestine) and patchy damage throughout the jejunum (the small intestine's middle portion). Twelve patients had damage limited to the duodenum, and one patient had only patchy damage throughout the jejunum. However, no association was shown between the extent of intestinal damage and the patients' symptoms. Six months after a gluten-free diet was implemented, capsule endoscopy showed improvement, or decreased intestinal damage, in most patients.

"This study confirmed our suspicions that the most extensive intestinal damage in celiac disease patients is primarily to the duodenum. However, we were surprised to discover no correlation between extent of intestine damage and patient symptoms," says Dr Murray. "Capsule endoscopy will now be another tool to diagnose celiac disease and detect intestinal damage both prior to and following treatment."

Source: http://www.mtbeurope.info/news/2008/803002.htm

Contact: Sally Webster
s.webster@qmul.ac.uk
44-207-882-5404
Queen Mary, University of London

Scientists who last year identified a new genetic risk factor for coeliac disease, have, following continued research, discovered an additional seven gene regions implicated in causing the condition. The team, lead by David van Heel, Professor of Gastrointestinal Genetics at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, have further demonstrated that of the nine coeliac gene regions now know, four of these are also predisposing factors for type 1 diabetes. Their research sheds light not only on the nature of coeliac disease, but on the common origins of both diseases. It is published online today (2 March 2008) in Nature Genetics.

Professor van Heel and his team, including collaborators from Ireland, the Netherlands, and the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, first performed a genome wide association study in coeliac disease. Genetic markers across the genome were compared in coeliac disease subjects versus healthy controls. They then assessed around 1,000 of the strongest markers in a further ~ 5,000 samples. Their results identified seven new risk regions, six of which harbour important genes critical in the control of immune responses, highlighting their significance in the development of the disease.

Coeliac disease is common in the West, afflicting around 1 per cent of the population. It is an immune-mediated disease, triggered by intolerance to gluten (a protein found in wheat, barley and rye containing foods), that prevents normal digestion and absorption of nutrients. If undetected it can lead to a number of often severe problems among them anaemia, poor bone health, fatigue and weight loss. Currently only a restricted diet can diminish symptoms.

Professor van Heel said: “So far our findings explain nearly half of the heritability of coeliac disease – now studies with many more samples from individuals with coeliac disease are needed to identify the precise causal genetic variants from each region, and understand how these influence biological processes.”

###

The research was funded by Coeliac UK and The Wellcome Trust. Coeliac disease case studies are available for interview from Coeliac UK upon request.

The paper, ‘Newly identified genetic risk variant for celiac disease related to the immune response’ is published online, on 2 March 2008, in Nature Genetics.

For case studies contact:
Kate Newman
Press Office
Coeliac UK
Tel: 020 8399 7478
Mobile: 07952 071014

Notes to editors:

Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry offers international levels of excellence in research and teaching while serving a population of unrivalled diversity amongst which cases of diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, TB, oral disease and cancers are prevalent, within east London and the wider Thames Gateway. Through partnership with our linked trusts, notably Barts and The London NHS Trust, and our associated University Hospital trusts – Homerton, Newham, Whipps Cross and Queen’s – the School’s research and teaching is informed by an exceptionally wide ranging and stimulating clinical environment.

At the heart of the School’s mission lies world class research, the result of a focused programme of recruitment of leading research groups from the UK and abroad and a £100 million investment in state-of-the-art facilities. Research is focused on translational research, cancer, cardiology, clinical pharmacology, inflammation, infectious diseases, stem cells, dermatology, gastroenterology, haematology, diabetes, neuroscience, surgery and dentistry.

The School is nationally and internationally recognised for research in these areas, reflected in the £40 million it attracts annually in research income. Its fundamental mission, with its partner NHS Trusts, and other partner organisations such as CRUK, is to ensure that that the best possible clinical service is underpinned by the very latest developments in scientific and clinical teaching, training and research.

Websites
www.coeliac.org.uk
www.coeliac.co.uk/about_us/press_office/writing_about_coeliac_disease/ 118.asp
http://www.wellcome.ac.uk
http://www.icms.qmul.ac.uk/
http://www.icms.qmul.ac.uk/Profiles/Gastro/van%20Heel%20David.htm
http://www.nature.com/ng/index.html