Tag Archives: Inflammation

Multispectral Optoacoustic Tomography (MSOT) can now more reliably detect early stages of inflammation

GERMANY, Mar-30-2017 — /EPR HEALTHCARE NEWS/ — Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are the most common inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Globally, more than 4 million people suffer from recurring inflammation of the intestinal mucosa. To date, non-invasive methods have not been able to detect these forms of IBD reliably. Researchers at the University Hospital Erlangen (Germany) have now shown for the first time how Multispectral Optoacoustic Tomography (MSOT) can more reliably detect early stages of inflammation when compared with other non-invasive diagnostic methods. These results have recently been published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Evaluating the inflammatory activity of the intestines early and accurately helps to prevent complications associated with IBD and guide an optimal therapy regime. Currently, doctors frequently rely on an invasive endoscopy procedure to assess the intestinal mucosa of patients with IBD. Additionally, non-invasive imaging methods are increasingly used in the clinic. For example, ultrasound allows clinicians to examine the structure, thickness and blood perfusion of the intestinal wall with changes in perfusion patterns indicating an onset of inflammation.

“With the MSOT procedure, we additionally use laser light, by which we can detect inflammation earlier than previously possible with ultrasound”, explains Prof. Dr. Maximilian Waldner, Professor at the University Hospital Erlangen. “The earlier we detect signs of an upcoming flare – i.e., a change in blood content – the quicker we can react and start a preventive treatment”. The MSOT technology was developed by iThera Medical in Munich, and was first used on IBD patients last year.

The researchers of the University Hospital Erlangen have recently published their results in the renowned New England Journal of Medicine. “We examined 108 patients with Crohn’s disease using the MSOT technology and compared the results to established non-invasive diagnostic procedures as well as endoscopy and histology”, says Prof. Waldner. “We were able to demonstrate that hemoglobin values in the tissue measured with MSOT indicate very accurately the inflammatory activity in the intestines. The method appears to be superior to other non-invasive procedures, as MSOT for the first time was able to detect even low levels of inflammation without having to perform endoscopy”.

Dr. Ferdinand Knieling, a physician at the University Hospital Erlangen, adds: “We are hoping that this principle can be applied to many applications and, in particular, also be used to enable safe evaluations of children and adolescents. With this new examination method, many of the currently invasive procedures might become obsolete.”

In optoacoustic imaging, the physician scans the intestines transabdominally through the skin, applying pulsed laser light in the near-infrared region. The energy of the light absorbed in tissue is converted into acoustic signals which are then acquired by an ultrasound detector. Christian Wiest, CEO of iThera Medical, comments: “MSOT is a new diagnostic imaging modality that can detect changes in tissue composition associated with a variety of diseases, without the use of contrast agents. The technology has already been applied in other clinical feasibility studies, e.g. for the detection of melanoma metastasis in sentinel lymph nodes or for the assessment of suspicious breast lesions”.

The results of the IBD study at the University Hospital Erlangen were published on March 30th 2017 in the New England Journal of Medicine (Volume 376, Issue 13, pg.1292-1294).

SOURCE: EuropaWire

Nutrit Meal Replacement To Start Crowdsource Campaign

We are pleased to announce that Nutrit Meal Replacement is starting a Crowdtilt Campaign for its initial production run.

On the heals of the successful campaign for Soylent, Nutrit promises a meal replacement product that has been totally reimagined. Nutrit provides a complete days nutrition while helping a person avoid processed ingredients, soy, wheat, dairy, GMOs, and Dairy. Nutrit is made up of organic proteins and fats, flavored with organic cocoa. Nutrit costs less than fast food, is easier to make than instant noodles, and tastes similar to chocolate milk.

Meal replacement as an idea is a sound one. In a fast paced society, its hard to avoid problem ingredients and at the same time get the nutrition one requires to stay healthy. Its all too easy, in a pinch, to reach for something in a vending machine or fall back on take out food. To date, meal replacement products and protein concoctions offer an unmeasured nutrient value, and mostly contain ingredients that can cause inflammation. Nutrit has solved those problems by being an easy mix powder, that offers an organic, non-GMO ingredient list that mirrors RDA requirements.

Nutrits Crowdtilt campaign is primarily being undertaken to provide funds to meet our vendors initial minimum order quantities. The merits of this product stand on there own, and we feel it is important to get it out there. Nutrit can help the average person avoid problem ingredients, and control calorie intake, all while getting more complete nutrition than is afforded by a standard diet.

Find out more at our site; www.nutritmr.com and get involved at:https://www.crowdtilt.com/campaigns/nutrit.
Only with your help can we bring this truly novel product to market and the world.

Contact Details:

Paul Wolos
paul.wolos@nutritmr.com

Via EPR Network
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