Visit the Microscopic Colitis Foundation Website
http://tinyurl.com/m74akc
Mary Beth
Interesting article on function of appendix
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Mary Beth,
That's an interesting concept. Dr. Parker, and his crew, first published their findings roughly 2 years ago, (I believe), but not much, (of medical value), seems to have happened since then. The current article, (in the Journal of Evolutionary Biology), discusses the seemingly universal evolutionary aspects of the appendage, but if that explanation is true, (and I have no reason to doubt that it's true), one would think that someone in the field of medical research would be attempting to determine the parameters by which "restocking" of the intestines actually occurs, and trying to develop guidelines for utilizing this restorative function, by patients who have a need to re-establish a beneficial intestinal gut bacteria population.
There are some very important questions that seem to remain unanswered: What species of bacteria does the appendix sequester? Is it capable of repopulating the small intestine also, or just the colon? (Obviously, each section has different bacteria species requirements).
If someone were to pursue this line of research, and actually come up with some practical guidelines, it could prove to be very, very beneficial to a huge percentage of the populations of the developed countries, especially, (where antibiotics are frequently used). Of course, since this would probably destroy the reason for the existence of the newly-emerging probiotics industry, and it shouldn't require any drugs to make it work, there's no monetary incentive to get this show on the road. Consequently, I'll be surprised if anything worthwhile ever comes out of this research.
The bottom line is that the medical industry is so often, not about improving people's health, so much as showing a profit. That's a real pity, because if the appendix could be made to do what it was supposedly designed to do, it could eliminate a lot of unnecessary suffering, and a lot of expensive treatment, for a lot of people.
Thanks for posting the link. Do you have any thoughts on the significance of the appendix, or the implications of this research?
Tex
That's an interesting concept. Dr. Parker, and his crew, first published their findings roughly 2 years ago, (I believe), but not much, (of medical value), seems to have happened since then. The current article, (in the Journal of Evolutionary Biology), discusses the seemingly universal evolutionary aspects of the appendage, but if that explanation is true, (and I have no reason to doubt that it's true), one would think that someone in the field of medical research would be attempting to determine the parameters by which "restocking" of the intestines actually occurs, and trying to develop guidelines for utilizing this restorative function, by patients who have a need to re-establish a beneficial intestinal gut bacteria population.
There are some very important questions that seem to remain unanswered: What species of bacteria does the appendix sequester? Is it capable of repopulating the small intestine also, or just the colon? (Obviously, each section has different bacteria species requirements).
If someone were to pursue this line of research, and actually come up with some practical guidelines, it could prove to be very, very beneficial to a huge percentage of the populations of the developed countries, especially, (where antibiotics are frequently used). Of course, since this would probably destroy the reason for the existence of the newly-emerging probiotics industry, and it shouldn't require any drugs to make it work, there's no monetary incentive to get this show on the road. Consequently, I'll be surprised if anything worthwhile ever comes out of this research.
The bottom line is that the medical industry is so often, not about improving people's health, so much as showing a profit. That's a real pity, because if the appendix could be made to do what it was supposedly designed to do, it could eliminate a lot of unnecessary suffering, and a lot of expensive treatment, for a lot of people. Thanks for posting the link. Do you have any thoughts on the significance of the appendix, or the implications of this research?
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Tex did a poll awhile back:
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=7481
Maybe the Newbies would like to join in.
Pat
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=7481
Maybe the Newbies would like to join in.
Pat