Press release: Six Month Data from alfapump Pivotal POSEIDON Study in Treatment of Recurrent or Refractory Ascites due to Liver Cirrhosis Published in American Journal of Gastroenterology
2025-01-07 - 2025-01
Six Month Data from alfapump Pivotal POSEIDON Study in Treatment of Recurrent or Refractory Ascites due to Liver Cirrhosis Published in American Journal of Gastroenterology alfapump system is effective in controlling ascites in decompensated cirrhosis with recurrent or refractory ascites by reducing or even eliminating the need for therapeutic paracentesis1 Reduction was associated with a significant improvement in quality of life1,2 10 additional good health days per month in these patients1 Safety events consistent with those observed for this patient population1 Overall survival of alfapump patients was higher than reported for standard of care and not worse compared to TIPS1,3, 4 US PMA approval5 received in December 2024 and US commercial launch planned for H2 2025
Ghent, Belgium Sequana Medical NV (Euronext Brussels: SEQUA, the "Company" or "Sequana Medical"), a pioneer in the treatment of drug-resistant fluid overload in liver disease, heart failure and cancer, today announces the publication of "The Effects of alfapump on Ascites Control and Quality of Life in Patients with Cirrhosis and Recurrent or Refractory Ascites" in the prestigious peer-reviewed journal, American Journal of Gastroenterology. The publication covered the six month data for the forty implanted patients in the pivotal cohort of the POSEIDON study, the multicenter, open-label, single arm study with a within-subject crossover design conducted in patients with cirrhosis and recurrent or refractory ascites. The publication is available online here.
Professor Florence Wong, University of Toronto, Hepatologist at Toronto General Hospital, Ontario, Canada and Principal Investigator for the POSEIDON study, commented: "Patients with recurrent or refractory ascites have a very poor quality of life and reliance upon large volume paracentesis (LVP) imposes a substantial burden on them, as well as their caregivers and the health care system. The results from the POSEIDON study in this publication have shown that the alfapump system effectively contolled ascites, which improved quality of life2, with complication rates similar to the expectation in patients with refractory ascites at six months post-implantation1. Results from the literature indicate that the overall survival of patients with the alfapump was not worse as compared to TIPS3,4 and was higher than reported for standard of care (LVP)."
Dr Gijs Klarenbeek, Chief Medical Officer of Sequana Medical NV, who has led the POSEIDON study for the Company, continued: "We are delighted with this thoughtful publication of the six month results from our POSEIDON study, and we thank all of the investigators and study teams. In addition to the reduction or virtual elimination of the need for the therapeutic paracentesis6, we are very pleased with the results highlighting the additional 10 good health days per month, which we believe is of great importance to these patients and their desire to take back control of their lives. T
Study: Three gastrointestinal subtypes of hEDS/HSD discovered
2025-01-03 - 2025-01
Scientists have discovered three subgroups related to different gastrointestinal problems among people with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) and hypermobility spectrum disorder (HSD), a study reveals.
Some people had hEDS or HSD without the symptoms, while others also had irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a condition associated with abdominal cramps, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation. A third group was characterized by both IBS and functional foregut disorders (FFDs), including indigestion, difficulty swallowing, heartburn, chronic nausea, and vomiting.
"Within hEDS/HSD, subgroups exist with a high prevalence of FFD and IBS," the researchers wrote. "Further research should focus on healthcare utilization, management and prognosis in hEDS/HSD and [gastrointestinal] overlap."
The study, "A machine learning approach to stratify patients with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome/hypermobility spectrum disorders according to disorders of gut brain interaction, comorbidities and quality of life," was published in Neurogastroenterology & Motility.
the most common type of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, hEDS is marked by overly mobile joints, soft and fragile skin, and spinal deformities (scoliosis). When the symptoms overlap, HSD is diagnosed when hEDS has been ruled out.
Several studies report gastrointestinal (GI) problems among hEDS/HSD patients. For example, children and young adults with hEDS have a higher prevalence of constipation and digestive symptoms, and teens with hEDS are more than twice as likely to develop IBS.
"While there is a known association between hEDS/HSD and gastrointestinal issues, not all individuals with hEDS/HSD experience these symptoms," wrote researchers who were led by scientists at Queen Mary University of London, who used machine learning methods to identify groups of patients with distinctive patterns of GI-related symptoms. The clinical dataset included 1,044 people, ages 18-75, with hEDS/HSD; most being women (87.8%). "Identification of such specific disease clusters may have implications for understanding [disease development] and for improving management of these complex disorders."
Diet, Microbes and Fat: A New Pathway Controlling Levels of Body Fat and Cholesterol
2025-01-08 - 2025-01
Lipid accumulation in a murine model of fatty liver disease, visualized by color-enhanced lipid droplets (pink) in liver tissue (green). Superimposed chemical structure of a newly discovered bile acid conjugate. Image courtesy of Dr. Mohammad Arifuzzaman, Dr. Christopher Parkhurst, Dr. Frank Schroeder, and Dr. David Artis.
Beneficial gut microbes and the body work together to fine-tune fat metabolism and cholesterol levels, according to a new preclinical study by investigators from Weill Cornell Medicine and the Boyce Thompson Institute at Cornell University's Ithaca campus.
The human body has co-evolved with the beneficial microbes that live in the gut (termed the microbiota), resulting in mutually favorable relationships that aid in the digestion of food and absorption of essential nutrients required for survival of the host and the gut microbes. A central aspect of these relationships is the production of bioactive molecules that promote the breakdown of food, enabling nutrient absorption by the host. One of the most important groups of such molecules are termed bile acids (also known as 'bile') which are produced from cholesterol in the liver and then delivered to the intestine where they promote fat digestion.
Scientists have known for some time that gut bacteria modify bile acids into a form that stimulates a receptor called FXR, which reduces bile production. The new study, published Jan. 8 in Nature, reveals that an enzyme produced by intestinal cells converts bile acids into a different form that has the opposite effect. This altered form, called bile acid-methylcysteamine (BA-MCY), inhibits FXR to promote bile production and help boost fat metabolism.
"Our study reveals there is a dialogue occurring between the gut microbes and the body that is vital for regulating bile acid production," said co-corresponding author Dr. David Artis, director of the Jill Roberts Institute for Research in Inflammatory Bowel Disease and the Friedman Center for Nutrition and Inflammation and the Michael Kors Professor in Immunology at Weill Cornell Medicine.
Bile acids help the digestive system break down fats into forms the body can take up and use. "But it now has become clear that bile acids are more than just digestive aids; they act as signaling molecules, regulating cholesterol levels, fat metabolism, and more," said co-corresponding author Dr. Frank Schroeder, a professor at the Boyce Thompson Institute and a professor in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology in the College of Arts and Sciences at Cornell University. "They do all this by binding to FXR, which acts like a traffic light, controlling cholesterol metabolism and bile acid production to avoid excess buildup."
Now the cross-campus collaboration between the laboratories of Dr. Schroeder and Dr. Artis has revealed the host body's role in this fundamental biological process. The study was co-led by Dr. Tae Hyung Won, a former postdoctoral associate in Dr. Schroeder's laborator
How sitting long hours is causing poor gut health: Here's what you need to do
2025-01-08 - 2025-01
Did you know that sitting for long hours at your workstation can result in poor gut health, slowing down digestion and reducing blood circulation? Sitting compresses the stomach and intestines, leading to sluggish bowel movements, increased bloating, gas and constipation, says Dr Sudeep Khanna, gastroenterologist at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, Delhi.
That's why, he says, regular physical activity, even in modest amounts, can improve digestive system function, reduce disease-causing inflammation and boost metabolism.
How does sitting for extended hours impact gut health?
Sitting or remaining stationary for extended hours decreases blood flow and increases pressure on the digestive tract. Your abdominal organs become compressed, cannot move as well as they should and reduce blood circulation. Poor posture can disturb the alignment of digestive organs, which can lead to slower digestion and gas buildup. It can even restrict the diaphragm's movement, which can affect digestion.
That's why a sedentary lifestyle is always linked with inflammatory bowel disease and can be a leading cause of constipation. Prolonged sitting can negatively affect the gut microbiome, potentially causing an imbalance in beneficial and harmful bacteria, which can lead to various digestive and health complications. The lack of movement creates a stagnant environment within the digestive system, preventing optimal functioning of good bacteria and nutrient absorption.
When the gut bacteria become imbalanced, there's disruption in normal digestive processes, leading to reduced movement of food and difficulty in eliminating waste. The longer stool stays in your intestines, the harder it gets. And that makes it harder to pass.
Reduced blood flow and increased abdominal pressure further exacerbate your condition. Factors like high-sugar diets, sedentary lifestyles, chronic stress and inadequate hydration can compromise gut health, making constipation more likely.
Why we must prioritise gut health?
Gut health influences immune function, hormone levels and weight management. It supports heart health, enhances brain function, regulates mood and potentially helps prevent certain chronic diseases.
The micro-organisms living in our digestive system outnumber our cellular composition and play a significant role in synthesising essential nutrients, regulating inflammation and producing neurotransmitters that directly affect psychological states.
What can one do to ensure good gut health?
Practise proper posture by sitting upright, keeping shoulders relaxed and maintaining alignment. Implement regular movement breaks, taking short intervals to walk, stretch or perform gentle mobility exercises. Incorporate dynamic workplace strategies like standing desks, walking meetings, or periodic movement sessions. Focus on consuming a nutrient-dense diet rich in diverse fibre sources, fermented foods, and probiotics.
Prioritise stress management through mindfulness techniques, deep breat
GDXH - At the hospital, through endoscopy of the stomach and duodenum, doctors discovered hundreds of hookworms "residing" in the patient's duodenum.
2025-01-08 - 2025-01
Date 8/1, information from Central Hospital Thai Nguyen said that doctors at this unit had just received a patient with hundreds of hookworms in his digestive tract.
Accordingly, the female patient (49 years old, living in Yen Bai) was hospitalized because of repeated episodes of bright red blood in the stool. Through examination, doctors found that the patient was exhausted, severely anemic, had mucus and blood in the stool, and had bright red blood and blood clots in each bowel movement.
The patient had to be transfused with one liter of blood. To find out the cause of the gastrointestinal bleeding, the patient was prescribed an endoscopy of the stomach, duodenum and colon.
Endoscopy results showed that the patient's duodenal wall had many very small hookworms attached tightly. Photo: BVCC.
Endoscopy results showed that the patient's duodenal wall had many very small hookworms attached tightly. In the rectum and colon area, many white roundworms appeared attached to the mucosa, in some places the worms rolled together to form clumps. The entire colon mucosa was edematous, congested, and had bleeding spots.
Currently, after 10 days of treatment, the patient's health is gradually stabilizing.
BSCKII. Dinh Thi Anh Nguyet, Department of Gastroenterology, Thai Nguyen Central Hospital said: The appearance of worms, forming clumps that adhere tightly in the stomach and colon of patients is the main cause of gastrointestinal bleeding and chronic anemia. It is estimated that each day 1 hookworm can cause the patient to lose about 3ml of blood along with dangerous symptoms such as bloody stools, physical exhaustion...
According to Dr. Nguyet, although gastrointestinal bleeding caused by parasitic worms in the intestines is not common, it can still occur if we do not ensure personal hygiene, eat cooked food, drink boiled water, and deworm regularly.
When you see unusual symptoms in your body, you need to go to a specialized medical facility immediately for timely detection and treatment to avoid possible dangerous complications.
How antibiotics and other meds affect gut health - and what you can do about it
2025-01-08 - 2025-01
The gut - often referred to as the body's second brain - houses trillions of microorganisms that influence everything from digestion to mental health. However, this delicate balance can be easily disrupted by external factors, especially medication. While pharmaceutical intervention can be life-saving, experts tell The National the effects of meds on gut health can sometimes result in long-term challenges.
Pills and other medication interacts with the gut in various ways, whether beneficial or detrimental, says Dr Maria Alonso, the UAE's first Dubai Health Authority-licensed preventative doctor, who works at Maison Sante, a gut-focused clinic. These include commonly prescribed meds, such as antibiotics, antacids and certain diabetes treatments, which are among the biggest culprits behind gut issues, she says.
"Whatever you take, will get into your gut and it might have an effect," says Dr Alonso. "It could be a good one or a bad one, depending on what is in there and what is the way of action, so it's important to be aware of that."
A vicious cycle
This was UAE resident Tia Maher's reality for years. She was diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome, had seven stomach ulcers and chronic fatigue, and found herself caught in a cycle of medication that ultimately exacerbated her condition. Her symptoms included skin issues, chronic thrush and a significant decline in energy.
"I kept going to gastroenterologists and gynaecologists, and wondered what was happening to my body," she recalls. Doctors prescribed antacids for her ulcers and antifungals for the recurring yeast infections, but the root cause of Maher's symptoms - gut dysbiosis - remained unaddressed, she says.
Maher has since become a holistic health coach, working with people who, like her, have experienced first-hand the effects of medication on their gut. "I was on a lot of antibiotics and then I would have the probiotics thinking I've repopulated with the good stuff, whereas what actually happened was the entire microbiome had shifted," Maher says. "I kept leaning on meds and more meds to the detriment of my health."
"I kept going to gastroenterologists and gynaecologists, and wondered what was happening to my body," she recalls. Doctors prescribed antacids for her ulcers and antifungals for the recurring yeast infections, but the root cause of Maher's symptoms - gut dysbiosis - remained unaddressed, she says.
Maher has since become a holistic health coach, working with people who like her, have experienced first-hand the effects of medication on their gut. "I was on a lot of antibiotics and then I would have the probiotics thinking I've repopulated with the good stuff, whereas what actually happened was the entire microbiome had shifted," Maher says. "I kept leaning on meds and more meds to the detriment of my health."
How antibiotics affect the gut
Antibiotics, often necessary for treating infection, are particularly disruptive, wiping out not only harmful pathogens, but also t
