Giving Rise to a New Disease

According to Science Daily, researchers have used genetics to prove that a liver disease refered to as primary sclerosing cholangitis, better known as PSC, is a distinct disease. It was previously though that they disease was a part of irritable bowel syndrome as almost seventy percent of people who have PSC also suffer from IBS. As of yet sixteen genetic regions have been linked to PSC, this study shows that only half of those are also linked to IBS. This is the first definitive evidence that although linked, IBS and PSC are in fact two separate disorders.

PSC is a chronic and progressive disease that affects the bile ducts within the body. It can cause inflammation of the liver which leads to scaring and failure of the liver. This disease only affects one in ten thousand, however, it is currently the leading cause for liver transplant surgeries.

This study is the result of a large international study that took place in thirteen different countries. This study not only highlights the importance of international collaborations but also of genetics in medicine. Without these genetics studies doctors would still believe that PSC is the result of IBS. This new information will allow for the disease to be seen in a different light, perhaps making more treatments available before liver transplant is necessary.

Original Article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/04/130421152410.htm

Scholarly Article: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22117637

Genetics May Help Explain Placebo Effect, Researchers Say

The placebo effect is when a patient is given a treatment that they believe will help their condition, however the actually treatment has not really been proven to work (Freeman 2012). According to researchers, a patient's response to a placebo is based largely on genetics. In a trial dealing with irritable bowel syndrome, patients were given what they believed to be acupuncture treatment. One group received no treatment at all, a second group received fake acupuncture with little or no face to face contact with the specialist, and a third group received the same fake acupuncture, but was given more interaction with the acupunturist.



What was found was that patients containing two copies of the allele methionine showed a positive response to the placebo. Patients with two copies of the valine allele were less likely to response to the placebo. Interestingly, even the patients who contained the two alleles of methionine responded better to the fake acupuncture when they had more interaction with the caregiver. This suggests that personal interaction may have something to do with the response.

I would like to read more about the genetic relationship that the placebo effect has when used in the treatment of a different syndrome. I am skeptical because irritable bowel syndrome has been shown to be anxiety related, therefore the results could have been due to the patient feeling more relaxed about having received a treatment, or about speaking to a physician. The results may be different if the patients were instead complaining of arthritis, or something else musculoskeletal.

Freeman S. How the placebo effect works. 2012. [Internet.] http://health.howstuffworks.com/medicine/medication/placebo-effect.htm