Polly,
Well I'll be . . . I'm not Mike, so I can't speak for him, but I sure didn't know that the dang things had to go to school first. LOL. So that's the key. Certain formalities have to be taken care of before anything can happen. That reminds me of the old Monty Python skit about the two Brits who were alone in a room, but wouldn't speak to each other, because they hadn't been formally introduced. LOL.
I recall reading about C. diff treatments that involved fecal enemas, based on "donated" fecal matter from a spouse. I've even seen where in Norway, for example, rather than using an enema, they do it by using an endoscope and putting a spray catheter down the biopsy port. They release the fecal mixture just below the stomach, into the first portion of the duodenum. From what I read, some version of this will probably soon be, (if it's not already), the preferred treatment for recurrent C. diff problems.
And to think that we've been flushing all this valuable "stuff" away, for all these years. Based on the price of most pharmaceuticals, if we were as good at merchandising as the big drug companies, instead of flushing away several fortunes during our lifetimes, we would be zillionaires. LOL.
Love,
Tex
P S Maybe we should try to cash in on the coming revolution in probiotic treatments, by starting a "school" for germs. Or maybe we can experiment by crossing them with homing pigeons, so that even if they leave, they'll come back. Hahahahahaha.
Probiotics, continued
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Hi Polly,Polly wrote:Some more info on probiotics:
I was reading about why you have to keep taking them forever - IOW, why they don't establish themselves permanently in the gut.
We first get our gut bacteria from our mother during the birth process. These bacteria DO establish themselves. However, the reason that probiotics don't do this is because the bacteria have to be "educated" (which means have to first pass through another individual's gut) where they somehow "learn" that they must establish themselves permanently.
Now, most humans have an aversion to coprophagia (eating poop), but I read about some researchers in the UK who are taking bacteria from a human gut and trying to remove any bad bacteria and and then grow the remainder to be made into a probiotic. Theoretically, this bacteria would take up permanent residence in another human's gut. Apparently there is a precedent for this in treating diarrhea in horses and also for treating C. difficile. Interesting, huh?
Mike, did you know about this?
Polly
Well hell! I did know parts of this, but I didn't know that they needed to be educated. That does make some sense though. Where'd you read this I'd like to read more about this.
This is also another reason why I really think that there are a lot more diseases that studies think are genetic where it's really the bacteria that are being passed on (or not passed on) by the mother. This is why being born cesarean can be problematic as some of the bacteria are injested when passing through the birth canal. Why breast feeding is a very important part of this.
This really does point to the fact that antibiotics should be a last resort in many many cases. Shesh! They give out the stuff like candy now. If anything this would call for an antibiotic that has a pretty short life in the body, like say 3 hours or less and then it no longer works.
Very interesting indeed. Thanks again Polly.
Mike
And literally flushing them away with antibiotics as well. "First do no harm." Ha! :(tex wrote:Polly,
Well I'll be . . . I'm not Mike, so I can't speak for him, but I sure didn't know that the dang things had to go to school first. LOL. So that's the key. Certain formalities have to be taken care of before anything can happen. That reminds me of the old Monty Python skit about the two Brits who were alone in a room, but wouldn't speak to each other, because they hadn't been formally introduced. LOL.
I recall reading about C. diff treatments that involved fecal enemas, based on "donated" fecal matter from a spouse. I've even seen where in Norway, for example, rather than using an enema, they do it by using an endoscope and putting a spray catheter down the biopsy port. They release the fecal mixture just below the stomach, into the first portion of the duodenum. From what I read, some version of this will probably soon be, (if it's not already), the preferred treatment for recurrent C. diff problems.
And to think that we've been flushing all this valuable "stuff" away, for all these years. Based on the price of most pharmaceuticals, if we were as good at merchandising as the big drug companies, instead of flushing away several fortunes during our lifetimes, we would be zillionaires. LOL.
Love,
Tex
P S Maybe we should try to cash in on the coming revolution in probiotic treatments, by starting a "school" for germs. Or maybe we can experiment by crossing them with homing pigeons, so that even if they leave, they'll come back. Hahahahahaha.