22.7 C
Vientiane
Monday, May 12, 2025
spot_img
Home Blog Page 1910

Hong Hong Baptist University-led research discovers new therapeutic target for irritable bowel syndrome

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 4 January 2023 – A research study led by scientists from the School of Chinese Medicine (SCM) at Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) has shown for the first time that the human gut bacterium Ruminococcus gnavus is a major trigger factor of diarrhoea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D). Based on this discovery, a new therapeutic target for the disease’s treatment was identified. The study also found that low-protein food items such as fresh fruits, vegetables and bread may help reduce the gut motility in IBS-D.

The research team of Professor Bian Zhaoxiang, Director of the Clinical Division and Tsang Shiu Tim Endowed Professor in Chinese Medicine Clinical Studies (middle); Dr Xavier Wong Hoi-leong, Assistant Professor of the Teaching and Research Division (right); and Dr Zhai Lixiang, Post-Doctoral Research Fellow (left) of SCM at HKBU, has shown for the first time that the human gut bacterium Ruminococcus gnavus is a major trigger factor of diarrhoea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome.
The research team of Professor Bian Zhaoxiang, Director of the Clinical Division and Tsang Shiu Tim Endowed Professor in Chinese Medicine Clinical Studies (middle); Dr Xavier Wong Hoi-leong, Assistant Professor of the Teaching and Research Division (right); and Dr Zhai Lixiang, Post-Doctoral Research Fellow (left) of SCM at HKBU, has shown for the first time that the human gut bacterium Ruminococcus gnavus is a major trigger factor of diarrhoea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome.

The research findings have been published in the internationally renowned scientific journal Cell Host & Microbe.

Curative treatment for IBS-D needed

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional bowel disorder characterised by stool irregularities, abdominal discomfort and bloating. It has been estimated that about 7% of adults in Hong Kong are affected by IBS. IBS-D is the most common type of IBS and there is no known cure for the disease. Most clinical treatments for IBS-D focus on relieving symptoms.

Previous research has demonstrated that the increased production of serotonin, a key neurotransmitter involved in the regulation of gut motility, contributes to the gastrointestinal symptoms displayed in IBS-D. It has also been shown that gut microbiota play a role in regulating the levels of serotonin. However, the bacterial species concerned and the molecular mechanism by which the gut microbiota modulate serotonin production remain unclear.

Phenethylamine and tryptamine produced by Ruminococcus gnavus trigger IBS-D

To explore curative treatment options for IBS-D, a research team co-led by Professor Bian Zhaoxiang, Director of the Clinical Division and Tsang Shiu Tim Endowed Professor in Chinese Medicine Clinical Studies; Dr Xavier Wong Hoi-leong, Assistant Professor of the Teaching and Research Division; and Dr Zhai Lixiang, Post-Doctoral Research Fellow of SCM at HKBU, screened thousands of food components and their breakdown products in the fecal samples of 290 patients with IBS-D. They found that phenethylamine and tryptamine, two aromatic trace amines produced by the microbial digestion of dietary proteins, are highly enriched in IBS-D faeces, and they are associated with the severity of diarrheal symptoms in patients with IBS-D.

Probing further, the researchers found that mice which had been fed with either phenethylamine or tryptamine experienced increased stool frequencies and colonic secretions, which are major symptoms of IBS-D.

On the other hand, the team found that the gut bacterium Ruminococcus gnavus, which is enriched in IBS-D faecal samples, is a primary producer of phenethylamine and tryptamine. Furthermore, mice with this bacterium transplanted into their guts go on to develop IBS-D diarrheal symptoms. These results suggest that phenethylamine and tryptamine produced by Ruminococcus gnavus trigger IBS-D in mammals without the involvement of other risk factors of IBS-D.

Phenethylamine and tryptamine stimulate serotonin production

The research team further conducted a series of experiments to understand the mechanism by which phenethylamine and tryptamine lead to IBS-D. The results showed that phenethylamine and tryptamine directly stimulate the production of serotonin from the enterochromaffin cells in the gut through the activation of a trace amine-associated receptor (TAAR1), thereby stimulating gut motility and secretion disorders in IBS-D.

The team then explored the therapeutic potential of targeting the phenethylamine/tryptamine/TAAR1 pathway for the treatment of IBS-D. It was discovered that inhibition of TAAR1 activation through the use of a specific inhibitor effectively alleviated the diarrheal symptoms in mice which had been transplanted with IBS-D faecal samples.

Prospects for new therapeutic options

“With a full outline of the mechanism of how gut microbiota associate with gut motility disorders, our research results suggest that the phenethylamine/tryptamine-mediated TAAR1 pathway is a new therapeutic target for IBS-D,” said Dr Zhai Lixiang.

“IBS-D patients experience frequent episodes of diarrhea with accompanying abdominal pain, which reduce the quality of life. The research discoveries offer promising potential for the development of therapies for IBS-D based on the inhibition of the pathway,” said Professor Bian Zhaoxiang.

The research team also found that a diet low in phenylalanine, an amino acid and a dietary precursor of phenethylamine, suppresses gut motility in mice by reducing the microbial production of phenethylamine and tryptamine. Low-protein food items such as fresh fruits, vegetables and bread have relatively low levels of phenylalanine.

“Developing strategies to reduce the microbial transformation of dietary amino acids into phenethylamine and tryptamine, such as dietary intervention with reduced consumption of high-protein food items which usually have high phenylalanine levels, may represent a feasible approach for the management of IBS-D,” said Dr Xavier Wong.

Hashtag: #HongKongBaptistUniversity #HKBU

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Covid Insurance Now Mandatory for Foreign Workers in Laos

Thavisub Insurance Office at the Friendship Bridge
Thavisub Insurance Office at the Friendship Bridge

A new regulation issued by the Ministry of Public Security sees all foreign workers entering Laos required to purchase Covid-19 insurance.

Students Set School on Fire Following E-Cigarette Confiscation

The teenagers who set the school on fire (photo: allinlaos)

Local police said on Tuesday that they had arrested three students for setting fire to their school in Savannakhet’s Kaysone Phomvihane city last month.

Thai Baht Expected to Strengthen in 2023

Thai baht reaches five-month high

The Thai baht is expected to have a strong year in 2023, buoyed by an influx of Chinese tourists and slowed US rate hikes.

Laos Sees 26 Deaths from Road Accidents Around New Year

People gather at the damaged car after an accident occured (photo: Top Laos Story)

During the New Year celebration period, 26 people lost their lives in road accidents across Laos.

Local retail giant Pet Lovers Centre establishes joint venture with pet crematorium Mandai Pets Sanctuary

The smokeless and odourless cremation facility expands PLC’s suite of offerings for the pet community, and ensures the preservation of the old Nee Soon Post Office heritage building

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 4 January 2023 – Pet Lovers Centre (PLC), the first and largest pet care retail chain in Singapore and Southeast Asia, has announced a joint venture with the first pet crematorium and columbarium in Singapore – Mandai Pets Sanctuary (MPS), broadening their suite of services for pet parents. With a smokeless and odourless cremation facility, a memorial garden and columbarium, MPS will provide grieving pet owners with a tranquil space to send their pets off with respect and dignity.

MPS occupies the former Nee Soon Post Office building along Mandai Road, which has, in the past, served the community for decades. The two-storey colonial-style post office building is one of Singapore’s earliest post offices in the 1800s, and is one of the two cultural heritage buildings located in the Springleaf vicinity. Its conservation is a part of the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s plan for the precinct.

This strategic investment in MPS will further strengthen PLC’s standing as an all-encompassing pet business, which currently includes supplies for pets of all ages, pet health services, grooming centres, pet boarding and transportation, dog training classes, a dog bakery and animal-interest publication – Pets Magazine. The synergies of this new joint venture are expected to lead to a 20% increase in revenue in MPS in 2023.

“Our extensive experience in the pet industry lends us a deeper and keen understanding of the needs of pet parents. With our synergistic joint venture with MPS, PLC is looking beyond offering products and accessories that enhance a pet’s life and the basic services that furkids require, like pet boarding, grooming, relocation and transportation. This next step in our journey with MPS extends our suite of services to meet the entire spectrum of pet ownership needs from cradle to grave. MPS has been a trusted and professional pet crematorium since 1987, and we look forward to working with them to further elevate the exceptional level of care and support to bereaved loved ones as they bid farewell to their beloved pets, in a respectable and deserving way as part of the family,” said Ng Whye Hoe, Group Managing Director of PLC. “We are also honoured to be a part of Singapore’s heritage through the preservation of the former Nee Soon Post Office, providing customers and visitors a sense of nostalgia and tranquillity against a backdrop of lush greenery.”

Key features

The PLC-MPS joint venture will offer the following thoughtfully designed services to ensure a modern, respectful and comforting experience.

  • A 24-hour careline service, islandwide pickup service and round-the-clock safeguarding service will ensure the late pet’s smooth journey – starting from a home or a veterinary office, all the way to cremation.
  • Private and individual pet cremation services will ensure that each pet will get a dignified farewell, and a dedicated Send-Off Lobby with wake and prayer services will allow pet owners to have full privacy and comfort to spend the last moments with their pets before cremation.
  • Post-cremation, pet parents can choose from urn or keepsake options to commemorate and remember their late pets. Different urn designs, as well as columbarium niches, are available for selection. Other unique options include separate dog and cat columbariums, common burial ground services and sea scattering arrangements. In addition, there are future plans to offer combination or family niches for pet parents with multiple pets.
  • Using a QR code system on columbarium niches, pet parents can commemorate their pets after their passing by curating an album of photos and videos. Family members and visitors who visit the columbarium will also be able to scan the code to view these memories.
  • A Memorial Garden, with a serene and comforting atmosphere, will offer pet parents a dedicated space to mourn the loss of their pets before and after the cremation, or during their visits to the columbarium.

For more information, visit www.mandaipetssanctuary.com.

Hashtag: #PetLoversCentre #MandaiPetsSanctuary

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Pet Lovers Centre

(PLC) is collectively the largest and only pet care retail chain in South East Asia. PLC was founded in 1973, and is an award-winning household name today. Besides offering the widest and freshest range of products in the region, its themed “The Pet Safari” stores bring the best pet products and services together under one roof, together with vet-trained pet-care consultants who provide friendly, professional advice on pet care. It formed the Pet Lovers Foundation in 2009 to serve “Pets, People and our Planet”. Our eight subsidiaries represent the best of what the pet industry has to offer, from food and pharmaceuticals to vet care, grooming, travel and lodging.

About Mandai Pets Sanctuary

(MPS) is a pet crematorium and columbarium that offers pet parents professional and dignified end-of-life services for their pets. Having been the first to introduce standard cremation services in 1987, recognised and approved by the National Environment Agency, MPS operates smokeless and odourless cremation incinerators. Their personalised services include islandwide pickup, private and communal cremation services, and a wide range of urn and keepsake options.

India Makes RT-PCR Test Mandatory for Travelers from Thailand

After observing a surge in Covid-19 cases in China, India has made RT-PCR negative report compulsory for passengers traveling from the six countries of China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand which it deems as high-risk.

Victorio Villar joins MSIG Asia as Head of Technical Services overseeing Underwriting, Reinsurance and Claims

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 3 January 2023 – MSIG Asia today announces the appointment of Victorio Villar as Senior Vice President and Head of Technical Services. Villar is tasked to deliver technical excellence across Underwriting, Reinsurance and Claims to secure continuous profitable growth for the leading general insurer in the ASEAN region.

MSIG Asia’s new Head of Technical Services, Victorio Villar
MSIG Asia’s new Head of Technical Services, Victorio Villar

Based in the Singapore management office, Villar’s remit covers 13 countries and 15 MSIG business units in all 10 ASEAN countries, as well as Hong Kong and Oceania.

Villar brings with him over four decades of Asia Pacific & MENA experience for underwriting of complex Property risks and building large profitable portfolios in the challenging markets of Asia. As a chemical engineer by training, Villar is recognised in Singapore and across the region as one of the leading subject matter experts.

MSIG Asia’s Chief Executive Officer, Clemens Philippi, expresses: “We are very excited that Victorio has decided to join us. With his technical expertise, long-term experience and wide connections he is a great fit to enhance our value proposition. As we gain momentum and seek new areas of growth, Victorio’s in-depth knowledge for underwriting, reinsurance and risk engineering will make a huge difference to our operations.”

In the weeks to come, Villar will be actively involved in the business, engaging with his peers in the regional management office and across the markets. He says: “In today’s challenging and dynamic environment, it has never been more essential for insurers to build a resilient underwriting framework to mitigate volatility and create real value to all stakeholders. The road ahead will be exciting and I look forward to working closely with all MSIG colleagues across all countries and all functions, including Business Development & Digital, to deliver sustainable profitable growth.”

Hashtag: #MSIGAsia #RiskManagement

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About MSIG

MSIG (msig-asia.com) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co Ltd and a member of the MS&AD Insurance Group, Asia’s leading general insurance brand with presence in 50 countries and regions globally. The Group is amongst the world’s top insurance groups based on gross revenue and one of Japan’s leading insurer with A+ Stable credit rating. With over 40,000 employees world-wide, MSIG is represented in all ASEAN markets as well as in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, China, Korea, India and Taiwan.