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Follow on Google News | Colitis in infants caused by their own intestinal flora?By: Austrian Science Fund FWF Distal allergic proctocolitis, as it is known, is an inflammation of the rectum and colon that rarely occurs in infants. The leading symptoms (bloody stools) are alarming for both parents and physicians, although the affected infants appear to be otherwise healthy. It is generally assumed that the cause of the disease is an allergic reaction to cow's milk proteins. Indeed, in most cases, the inflammation disappears when the infant's nutrition is changed. But Martin Hoffmann believes there is another cause – and will now investigate this in the context of a systematic study. Microbiome research "There are good reasons to assume that a change in the intestinal flora is the true cause of infant proctocolitis" Mounting evidence Hoffmann's assumption is, in fact, shared by international colleagues who likewise analysed the composition of the intestinal flora of infants with proctocolitis – and were able to detect clear changes. Further indications that the existing explanatory model of an allergic reaction should be questioned came from studies that searched for specific evidence of allergic reactions – and none could be found. Clarifying study To clarify more precisely whether the intestinal flora of infants with proctocolitis is comprehensively altered, an extensive study will now be conducted in Graz using stool samples from up to 130 infants. The study will compare stool samples of infants with and without proctocolitis. One of the challenges for the project is to register all the different types of bacteria. The tool of choice is a genetic method known as 16s-rRNA analysis. This method examines special genetic sections, making it possible to differentiate a broad range of different types of bacteria. Flexible intestinal flora Hoffmann explains a further challenge for the project: "In fact, the intestinal flora of children changes naturally over the course of their first year. Against this backdrop, it is difficult to register additional changes due to illness. We will therefore analyse for each child individually how the intestinal flora changes within an eight-week period – and we expect to detect different patterns in the two study groups. That would be a clear indication that a dysbiosis is indeed responsible for the infant proctocolitis." Personal Details Martin Hoffmann works in the Division of General Pediatrics at the Medical University of Graz. His current research focuses on early childhood enteritis. From 2003 to 2006 he was a visiting fellow at the National Institutes of Health, NIDDK, DDB, Bethesda, Maryland, USA. Thereafter, he completed his training as a specialist in pediatrics and adolescent medicine in Graz. End
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