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Scientists want a POO BANK to prepare for more faecal transplants

Depositing your poo to be stored on ice for use later in life could soon become the norm, if scientists get their way. 

Gut health researchers want to create a bank of stool samples, in a similar fashion to what is already done with umbilical cord blood.

They believe faecal microbiota transplants (FMT) — the transfer of healthy bacteria found in stools — offer 'greater potential' than cord blood. 

Umbilical cord blood, which is rich in stem cells, can be used to treat some cancers, immune system deficiencies, and certain genetic disorders.

But FMT could hold the key to treating conditions like asthma, multiple sclerosis and diabetes.

And they could also treat obesity and ageing in the future, experts believe.

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Provided by Daily MailScientists say people could one day use the good bacteria contained in poo samples collected when they are young to treat a variety of maladies they develop later in life 

Treatment of Clostridioides difficile Infection (CDI)

Treatment of CDI with the antibiotics Vancomycin or Fidaxomicin kills the C. difficile bacteria. However, in some people diarrhoea returns a few days after stopping the antibiotics, this is called a recurrence.

Recurrence happens when the normal gut bacteria do not return to healthy levels, allowing any remaining C. difficile bacteria to increase in numbers and cause symptoms again.

After one episode of CDI there is a up to a 1 in 5 chance that it will come back. People who have had CDI more than once are at an even greater risk of recurrence.

Treatment of recurrent episodes of CDI can be difficult as the antibiotics can be less effective. Longer courses, different antibiotics or other medications can be used, however, in a small number of cases this is not successful and your doctor may recommend an alternative treatment called FMT or faecal microbiota transplant.

What is a faecal microbiota transplant?

A faecal microbiota transplant (FMT) is a filtered suspension of donated faeces (stool) prepared in the laboratory at the University of Birmingham.

The normal bacteria in the donated faeces replaces the missing bacteria in the gut of the person with recurrent CDI with the aim of restoring a healthy balance.

The symptoms of C. difficile infection are stopped in around 91% of people who receive FMT treatment, compared to only 30 to 40% of people who receive antibiotic treatment for recurrent CDI. People usually see improvement in their diarrhoea within 24 to 72 hours after the FMT.

Flatulence, belching and/or constipation may be experienced in the days following FMT.

What are the risks of treatment with FMT?

Faecal donors are screened for common infections spread by blood and faeces and stopped from donating if any are detected. Donors undergo a clinical, social and travel risk assessment and are only allowed to donate if there are no additional risks for infection found. However, there may be unrecognised pathogens in the FMT, which could cause infection in the recipient. So far there have not been any documented cases of infection through FMT from the donor to the recipient.

The FMT is given through a nasogastric tube (a fine tube that goes up the nose and then into the stomach) and there is a very small risk of perforation from placement of the nasogastric tube. There is also a risk of misplacement of the nasogastric tube into the lungs.

Delivery of FMT into the lungs would cause a serious infection. Steps are taken by staff to ensure correct placement of the tube into the stomach to minimise this risk.

What will happen when I have FMT?

You will be asked to take an antibiotic (Vancomycin) for 4 days before the transplant, which will stop the evening before the procedure.

You will need to be ‘Nil by mouth’, which means no food or drink for 6 hours before the FMT.

You will be asked to take a tablet of Omeprazole on the morning of treatment. This will reduce the amount of stomach acid which could kill the bacteria being given in the FMT.

A tablet of Domperidone will also be given to help the stomach to empty into the small intestine.

The nasogastric tube is placed into the stomach the morning of the procedure and a syringe containing the FMT is connected to the nasogastric tube. The FMT is administered down the tube. You should not be able to smell or taste the FMT. The nasogastric tube is then flushed with a saline solution and will be removed 1 hour after the procedure.

Once the nasogastric tube has been removed you will then be able to eat and drink as normal.

What should I expect after FMT treatment?

If you are not an inpatient (staying on a ward) you can go home the same day. If you are an inpatient the doctors and nurses will continue to monitor your stool each day you are in hospital.

The gut often takes a few days to begin to get better. You should notice that your stool frequency (number of times a day you pass a stool) gradually reduces and your stools are more formed (less runny). After 5 to 7 days, you should be passing a nearly normal stool.

If your stool frequency and firmness has not improved 5 to 7 days after FMT please contact your GP and the Infection Prevention and Control Nurses at the hospital. Sometimes a second stool transplant is needed (1 in 5 people may need to have a second FMT).

Follow-up after FMT

FMT is a new treatment so therefore it is important to understand if it works.

In addition to any routine clinical follow up you may have, your doctor will complete a FMT specific questionnaire about your progress 90 days after your FMT treatment. To complete this questionnaire your doctor will ask you questions about your health after FMT, any side effects of the treatment and how satisfied you were with the treatment. This data will be collected by your doctor and sent to the University of Birmingham Microbiome Treatment Centre. Your treatment outcome data will be anonymised in this questionnaire.

Reference: John Ely Senior Health Reporter For Mailonline -

Blood clots: The two vitamin shortages linked to varicose veins and blood clotting risks

Varicose veins are bulged blood vessels that run beneath the surface of the epidermis. It is estimated that about half of all women and a quarter of men develop some degree of varicose veins as they grow older, but the condition isn't solely indicative of old age. Two vitamin deficiencies may be hinting at underlying issues relating to veins.

Vitamin K

Vitamin K helps to make various proteins that are needed for blood clotting and the build of bones, according to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

A deficit of the nutrient can therefore result in a shortfall of the appropriate proteins to prevent excessive bleeding, which poses substantial health risks.

This is why the main warning signs of a deficiency include bleeding, which may be visible or invisible to the eye.

Symptoms of a deficiency generally include bruising, excessive bleeding from wound punctures and injection.

According to the British Medical Journal: "Lack of vitamin K2 makes bones long and thin so increasing height through generations is due to poor nutrition and not improving nutrition.

"Low levels of vitamin K2 result in calcification of elastin, the cause of double chins, piles and varicose veins."

Varicose veins should not be confused with spider veins, which can reflect abnormally high pressure in larger veins, according to the

Vein health Clinics' website.

But by helping rebuild the vascular wall, vitamin K may help treat both conditions.

This is why the nutrient, abundant in green leafy vegetables such as kale, spinach and Swiss chard, is widely used as a topical treatment.

However, Neal Reynolds, MD, Founder of the Vein Clinic in South Carolina, told the health platform Prevention: "We have no evidence that vitamin K improves vein health."

Vitamin D

The second culprit implicated in the development of varicose veins is a deficit of vitamin D.

The Vein Clinics website explains: "When vitamin D levels are low, your veins will struggle to do their job correctly, and veins issues may arise.

"Vitamin D helps to keep your arteries and blood vessels loose enough and relaxed enough to support proper blood flow."

When the body suffers a shortfall of vitamin D, the blood vessels are likely to suffer, which can manifest in a number of ways.

The condition has wide-reaching implications for health, but unfortunately, symptoms of a deficiency can hard to spot due to their ill-defined nature.

Signs include depression, slow wound healing, increased fracture incidence and pain in the bones and joints.

"A lack of vitamin D can lead to bone deformities such as rickets in children and bone pain caused by a condition called osteomalacia in adults," notes the NHS.

© EXPRESS.CO.UKWhat vitamins do

Low levels of the nutrient have also been implicated in the risk of low-extremity deep vein thrombosis, the medical term given to a blood clot that has formed inside the vein.

The formation of the low usually occurs deep inside the veins in the lower leg, thigh or pelvis, and can become deadly if it travels to the lungs.

The authors of a medical report published in the International Journal of General Medicine, wrote; "A decrease in [Vitamin D] concentration has [...] been associated with an increased risk of venous thromboembolism."

Food sources of the nutrient include oily fish, red meat, liver, egg yolks, and fortified foods, such as some fat spreads and breakfast cereals, adds the NHS. 

Stroke: The undiagnosed 'major' risk factors found in more than 67 percent of patients

Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability in the UK, killing around 32,000 people each year. The injury usually results from years of cumulative vascular damage, which is highly treatable if caught early. In a new study, the majority of stroke patients were found to have at least one major risk factor that had not been diagnosed.

The alarming findings showed that many of those who suffer from an ischaemic stroke, without any previously diagnosed risk factors, have been found to have an underlying condition in the majority of cases.

A staggering 67.7 percent of stroke patients with no previously diagnosed risk factor had at least one major risk factor.

The most common risk factor found was dyslipidemia, an imbalance of blood fats, such as high cholesterol, or raised levels of triglycerides.

The discovery, presented at the European Academy of Neurology, was made during an analysis of health records from 4,354 stroke patients.

According to the data, 61.4 percent of stroke patients had dyslipidemia, while 23.7 percent had high blood pressure, and one in 10 had atrial fibrillation.

Doctor André Rêgo, said the findings may have strong implications for the prevention of stroke.

He added: "Our findings underline the importance of testing and treating blood fat imbalances such as high cholesterol and triglyceride levels, as well as blood pressure and identifying and treating those with atrial fibrillation and type 2 diabetes.

"Prior to our study, there was scarce clinical information about the frequency, patient profile and stroke mechanisms in patients with acute ischaemic stroke, with a previously undiagnosed vascular risk factor. 

"We hope that this study will help identify potential stroke patients that require more intensive prevention techniques and surveillance in the future."

How to avoid stroke

Foods high in potassium, which include sweet and white potatoes, bananas, tomatoes, prunes, melons and soybeans are ideal to maintain healthy blood pressure - a major risk factor for stroke.

Magnesium-rich foods, including spinach, are also recommended to minimise the risk.

Ideally, four to five cups of fruits and vegetables should be eaten daily, and one serving of fish up to three times a week.

Not all forms of vegetables are optimal for stroke prevention.

Pickled vegetables, for example, contain high volumes of salt and oil.

Both high salt and high-fat diets are risk factors for stroke, as they directly affect blood pressure.

© EXPRESS.CO.UKStroke

Salt is problematic because it triggers water retention, which increases the force exerted against arterial walls.

High blood pressure is the most significant contributor to the risk of stroke in both men and women, so it should be monitored closely.

Other risk factors for stroke include smoking and drinking in excess, as both these factors reduce oxygen levels in the blood.

Finally, exercise is also indispensable for the prevention of stroke. You should get at least 30 minutes of activity per day. 

Reference: Daily Express: Solen Le Net -

American men rush to get vasectomies after abortion ban 

Reference: The Telegraph: Rozina Sabur