Latest news with #Chron
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Researchers find a link between gut bacteria and genes in colitis flare-ups
Researchers have identified a gut-genetic interaction that could trigger an overactive immune response in the colon — offering one possible explanation for the pain and bleeding of ulcerative colitis, and why it behaves so differently from patient to patient. Their research is published Friday in the journal Science Immunology. Ulcerative colitis is a chronic disease that affects more than 1.2 million people in the United States, according to a 2023 study of medical claims data. It falls under the umbrella of inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD — a group of conditions that includes Chron's disease and is marked by unpredictable flare-ups, long-term discomfort, and treatments that often work inconsistently. 'This study demonstrates that it's not just an imbalance of microbes in your gut or genetics that induce intestinal inflammation — but the interaction between the two,' said Hisako Kayama, an associate professor of immunology at Osaka University and co-senior author of the study. At the center of that inflammatory response is a protein called STING that helps the body recognize the DNA of bacteria and viruses and mount an immune response. Healthy people are able to keep this response under control with the help of a gene called OTUD3, which acts as a biological brake. But in some people, their OTUD3 gene variant leads that brake to fail — causing the immune system to treat harmless bacteria as a threat. Unchecked, the protein can drive chronic inflammation, particularly in the gut, which is home to many different types of "good" bacteria. The protein STING is very important in fighting bacterial infections, said co-author Dr. Kiyoshi Takeda, a professor of immunology at Osaka University. 'But the problem is that the overactivation of STING causes inflammation.' To explore how this interaction plays out, the researchers studied mice bred specially to have a genetic vulnerability to colitis similar to humans. When feces from the ulcerative colitis patients was transferred to the colons of the mice, they developed more severe colitis symptoms than mice with a normal version of the gene. If they didn't have the gene variant or the microbial trigger, the disease didn't develop. In total, researchers used tissue and gut bacteria from 124 patients — including 65 with ulcerative colitis and 59 with colorectal cancer — plus 12 healthy people as controls. The culprit was a molecule called cGAMP, which is made by certain gut bacteria. In healthy mice, researchers know that OTUD3 helps break down excess cGAMP so the immune system doesn't overreact. But in mice without a working version of that gene, cGAMP built up, overactivating STING and causing inflammation. The findings could help explain why some patients respond poorly to current ulcerative colitis treatments, which typically suppress the immune system as a whole. By pinpointing a single inflammatory pathway, the study opens the door to more precise, personalized therapies — especially for patients who carry this specific gene variant. Still, the researchers caution that any treatment targeting the STING protein directly must be used carefully, since suppressing it too much could leave patients vulnerable to infection. Alternative approaches, such as targeting cGAMP-producing bacteria, could allow STING to keep doing its job in the rest of the body while dialing down inflammation in the colon. The variant gene that colitis sufferers have is common. According to past genome-wide studies, it appears in about 53% of Europeans, 52% of Americans and 16% of Japanese people. Not everyone with it develops the disease, lending credence to the idea that it's the interaction between genes and microbes that triggers inflammation. 'This study is helpful in demonstrating a specific example — a genetic variant and a microbial signal — that leads to inflammation,' said Dr. Jonathan Jacobs, a gastroenterologist and microbiome researcher at UCLA who was not involved with the study. 'That's exciting," he said, because it offers a clear mechanism that ties together many of the risk factors scientists have long observed in inflammatory bowel disease. Even if it turns out not many people are vulnerable to this particular gut-genetic interaction, he said, the research could lead to more personalized treatment. 'It moves us closer to precision medicine,' Jacobs said. The shift toward more targeted treatment could make a world of difference for patients like Anderson Hopley, a volunteer with the Orange County and Los Angeles chapter of the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation who was diagnosed with Crohn's this year. 'I know people who have medication that'll work for a couple years, maybe even just a couple months, and then it kind of randomly stops,' he said. 'They have to adjust everything.' Although Hopley has Crohn's, not ulcerative colitis, he said the new study still resonates. 'I think it'd be really nice to know what causes this,' he said. 'Even if there's not a cure yet, just having an answer — some clarity — would be a step in the right direction.' This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Solve the daily Crossword
Los Angeles Times
18-07-2025
- Health
- Los Angeles Times
Researchers find a link between gut bacteria and genes in colitis flare-ups
LOS ANGELES — Researchers have identified a gut-genetic interaction that could trigger an overactive immune response in the colon — offering one possible explanation for the pain and bleeding of ulcerative colitis, and why it behaves so differently from patient to patient. Their research is published Friday in the journal Science Immunology. Ulcerative colitis is a chronic disease that affects more than 1.2 million people in the United States, according to a 2023 study of medical claims data. It falls under the umbrella of inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD — a group of conditions that includes Chron's disease and is marked by unpredictable flare-ups, long-term discomfort, and treatments that often work inconsistently. 'This study demonstrates that it's not just an imbalance of microbes in your gut or genetics that induce intestinal inflammation — but the interaction between the two,' said Hisako Kayama, an associate professor of immunology at Osaka University and co-senior author of the study. At the center of that inflammatory response is a protein called STING that helps the body recognize the DNA of bacteria and viruses and mount an immune response. Healthy people are able to keep this response under control with the help of a gene called OTUD3, which acts as a biological brake. But in some people, their OTUD3 gene variant leads that brake to fail — causing the immune system to treat harmless bacteria as a threat. Unchecked, the protein can drive chronic inflammation, particularly in the gut, which is home to many different types of 'good' bacteria. The protein STING is very important in fighting bacterial infections, said co-author Dr. Kiyoshi Takeda, a professor of immunology at Osaka University. 'But the problem is that the overactivation of STING causes inflammation.' To explore how this interaction plays out, the researchers studied mice bred specially to have a genetic vulnerability to colitis similar to humans. When feces from the ulcerative colitis patients was transferred to the colons of the mice, they developed more severe colitis symptoms than mice with a normal version of the gene. If they didn't have the gene variant or the microbial trigger, the disease didn't develop. In total, researchers used tissue and gut bacteria from 124 patients — including 65 with ulcerative colitis and 59 with colorectal cancer — plus 12 healthy people as controls. The culprit was a molecule called cGAMP, which is made by certain gut bacteria. In healthy mice, researchers know that OTUD3 helps break down excess cGAMP so the immune system doesn't overreact. But in mice without a working version of that gene, cGAMP built up, overactivating STING and causing inflammation. The findings could help explain why some patients respond poorly to current ulcerative colitis treatments, which typically suppress the immune system as a whole. By pinpointing a single inflammatory pathway, the study opens the door to more precise, personalized therapies — especially for patients who carry this specific gene variant. Still, the researchers caution that any treatment targeting the STING protein directly must be used carefully, since suppressing it too much could leave patients vulnerable to infection. Alternative approaches, such as targeting cGAMP-producing bacteria, could allow STING to keep doing its job in the rest of the body while dialing down inflammation in the colon. The variant gene that colitis sufferers have is common. According to past genome-wide studies, it appears in about 53% of Europeans, 52% of Americans and 16% of Japanese people. Not everyone with it develops the disease, lending credence to the idea that it's the interaction between genes and microbes that triggers inflammation. 'This study is helpful in demonstrating a specific example — a genetic variant and a microbial signal — that leads to inflammation,' said Dr. Jonathan Jacobs, a gastroenterologist and microbiome researcher at UCLA who was not involved with the study. 'That's exciting,' he said, because it offers a clear mechanism that ties together many of the risk factors scientists have long observed in inflammatory bowel disease. Even if it turns out not many people are vulnerable to this particular gut-genetic interaction, he said, the research could lead to more personalized treatment. 'It moves us closer to precision medicine,' Jacobs said. The shift toward more targeted treatment could make a world of difference for patients like Anderson Hopley, a volunteer with the Orange County and Los Angeles chapter of the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation who was diagnosed with Crohn's this year. 'I know people who have medication that'll work for a couple years, maybe even just a couple months, and then it kind of randomly stops,' he said. 'They have to adjust everything.' Although Hopley has Crohn's, not ulcerative colitis, he said the new study still resonates. 'I think it'd be really nice to know what causes this,' he said. 'Even if there's not a cure yet, just having an answer — some clarity — would be a step in the right direction.'
Newsweek
02-07-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Texans Allowed to Pay Using Gold and Silver
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Texans are to be allowed to pay with with gold and silver for everyday transactions after Governor Greg Abbott signed House Bill 1056 into law. The law, which was championed by Republican state representative Mark Dorazio, designates the precious metals as legal tender in the state. Texans will be able to use their gold and silver holdings, stored in the state's bullion depository, for payments through electronic systems such as mobile apps or debit cards. The provision comes after legislative debate, and takes effect on May 1, 2027, enabling transactions based on the state comptroller's valuation of the metals at the time of sale. Newsweek contacted Abbott and Dorazio for comment - via email and online inquiry form respectively - on Wednesday outside regular office hours. Why It Matters The decision by Texas lawmakers to recognize gold and silver as functional money marks a significant experiment in alternative currency in the United States. For decades, the U.S. has operated on fiat currency, and while federal law already recognizes U.S. gold and silver coins as legal tender, their actual commercial use has been rare and logistically challenging. Supporters, like Dorazio, say the move provides Texans with added protection from inflation and expands financial autonomy beyond federally backed dollars. The Republican also cited the Bible in his efforts. Chron, a Houston-based news outlet, quotes him as saying: "If you go back to the scripture in Genesis 2, it gives you a reason how God intended us to be able to effectively engage in commerce. And that reason was: 'In the land of Havilah, I place the gold.'" Critics, including industry groups and independent observers, warn of substantial costs, legal complexities, and potential consumer risks associated with managing gold- and silver-based transactions. How Will Payments Using Gold and Silver Work? The bill authorizes the Texas comptroller to establish electronic payment systems for gold and silver held in the state depository. Consumers will not spend physical gold and silver coins or bars, but rather use digital systems representing their holdings. The new legislation does not require merchants to accept gold or silver for transactions, not does it eliminate U.S. currency. Consumers may choose to continue standard payments. Stock photograph showing gold bullion bars at the ABC Refinery in Sydney on August 5, 2020. Stock photograph showing gold bullion bars at the ABC Refinery in Sydney on August 5, 2020. DAVID GRAY/AFP/GETTY An earlier version of the bill would have created a new gold- and silver-based digital currency, but this component was removed before it passed the Texas Legislature. According to Chron, the bill was opposed by both the Texas Bankers Association and the Independent Bankers Association due to consumer protection concerns. What People Are Saying On Sunday Governor Abbott wrote on X, formerly Twitter: "I signed a law authorizing Texans to use gold & silver as legal tender in day-to-day financial transactions. "It fulfills the promise of Article 1, Section 10 of the U.S. Constitution." I signed a law authorizing Texans to use gold & silver as legal tender in day-to-day financial transactions. It fulfills the promise of Article 1, Section 10 of the U.S. Constitution. — Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) June 29, 2025 Article 1, Section 10 of the Constitution states that no American state can "make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts." Speaking to the Dallas Morning News, Dorazio said: "In short, this bill makes gold and silver functional money in Texas. It has to be functional, it has to be practical and it has to be usable." Where Else Are Gold and Silver Legal Tender? Other states such as Utah and Arizona have recognized gold and silver as legal tender. However, these measures are largely symbolic; most states do not require or provide the infrastructure for retail transactions using precious metals. The practice remains rare outside Texas. In May, Republican lawmakers in Missouri added an amendment to a broader finance bill that would make gold and silver legal tender in the state. The value of gold soared to an all time high on April 1 amid traders' concerns over President Trump's tariff policy, strengthening the precious metal's reputation as a relative safe haven. What Happens Next? House Bill 1056 is due to come into effect on May 1 2027. On the same day Abbott signed House Bill 1056, he also approved Senate Bill 21, which instructs the creation of a new Texas Strategic Bitcoin Reserve to hold the cryptocurrency among its financial portfolio.
Eater
06-06-2025
- Business
- Eater
Legendary Beer Bar Tornado Might Not Be Getting Sold to a ‘Crypto Bro' After All
A contentious purchase of longtime Haight Street bar Toronado has gone Secret Lives of Mormon Wives . Days after would-be buyer Orion Parrott visited the bar with a San Francisco Chronicle reporter and photographer — a visit that devolved into chaos and shouts — current owner Dave Keene's lawyers told Parrot that the sale was off, supposedly because Parrot didn't waive 'certain contingencies within a given period of time,' the Chronicle reports. Parrott told the paper that he can't waive those contingencies because he's waiting on paperwork from Keene. So for now, the sale of a neighborhood institution and one of the city's most important beer bars is on ice. Toronado is closing because Keene, who opened the bar in 1987 and also founded the Barleywine Festival, is retiring. Parrott, a former Raytheon employee and current crypto entrepreneur, seemed like an odd match for Tornado, an old-school place that doesn't even take credit cards. When the San Francisco Standard broke the news in March that he was buying Tornado, the paper called him a 'tech bro' and quoted a group chat message where he said that he was trying to build 'the next great San Francisco food & beverage brand in the steps of Blue Bottle.' The Standard also reported that Parrott planned to launch a ToronadoCash crypto coin, but the reaction from the bar's regulars was so negative he gave up on the idea, he told the Chron . The reaction to Parrott himself also seems harsh. The Chron came to the bar with Parrott to interview and shoot photos on Friday, May 30. The atmosphere was tense, and bartenders cursed at Parrott, the reporter, and the photographer — they were particularly annoyed by the idea of the photographer taking pictures of staff and patrons. By the time they left, Keene was calling the reporter to make it clear he was still the owner. 'I own the Toronado! He does not!' Keene told the paper 'over and over.' Parrott told the Chron that his plans for the space included a 3,000-square-foot rooftop bar and that the former Rosamunde location next door is included in the $1.75 million asking price. Parrott plans to open that as a restaurant again. But now it's unclear whether any of those plans will come to fruition. Per the Chron, Keene and Parrott have not spoken directly, only worked together through the brokers handling the sale, and now Keene seems like he doesn't want to sell, or at least not to Parrott. Sign up for our newsletter.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Officials lock in nearly 7,000 acres of land for future generations: 'Adds a vital new link in the state's network of preserved natural spaces'
Chron, a division of the Houston Chronicle, reported that Texas is adding 6,900 acres of protected land to the state's network of preserved natural spaces. The establishment of this protected area "presents an opportunity for the conservation and management of an ecologically unique and important habitat," said Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) executive director David Yoskowitz. The TPWD announced that the newly-protected area is called the Trinity River Wildlife Management Area, and it is the first time in nearly 20 years that the state has added a significant mass of land to its protected area. These public lands, overseen by TPWD, have a goal to protect native wildlife and habitats and create outdoor recreation opportunities for visitors. The protected status was secured through a combination of public and private funding. In total, Texas has over 50 Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) of over 700,000 acres that cover different ecological regions. Having protected land is important because these areas are critical to preserving natural habitats and biodiversity. Wildlife can thrive in their natural environments, which helps the species become better-established and can revive endangered populations. Protected lands also help communities by maintaining natural landscapes that become areas of recreation and cultural significance, ensuring the lands are conserved for future generations. Chron reports that the new WMA borders more than 11 miles of the Trinity River, bringing together a conservation corridor connecting more than 21,000 acres of protected land, including bottomland hardwood forests and wetlands. The protected area will help naturally absorb and slow floodwater, reducing erosion and improving water quality downstream, having a positive impact on human health. The land is also providing a natural, protected habitat for migratory birds, pollinators that are vital to the health of the region, and other wildlife. TPWD is set to begin restoration efforts of this newly protected area and plans to revitalize the wetlands, bottomland hardwood forests, and upland prairie. In addition to providing a secure habitat for wildlife, the plan is to provide Texans and visitors from other areas more opportunities to connect with nature. The area, according to the article, "adds a vital new link in the state's network of preserved natural spaces." Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
