<p>Soon, get stomach ulcer diagnosed without that painful endoscopy session.<br />Researchers have developed a safer and non-invasive diagnostic technique for detecting ulcers in the stomach.<br /><br /></p>.<p>How?<br /><br />By sending some molecules to the gut to make the ulcer-causing bacteria light up in fluorescent green, said scientists from University of Southern Denmark.<br /><br />"Early diagnosis does not only prevent ulcers from developing, it can also prevent the development of cancer," said lead author Silvia Fontenete at University of Southern Denmark.<br /><br />Ulcers are often caused by the bacteria Helicobacter pylori in the stomach or duodenum.<br /><br />"Our laboratory experiments suggest that one day, it would be possible for doctors to send some specially designed molecules down in the stomach, where they will make H pylori glow brightly green," explained Fontenete.<br /><br />To see the green light, the doctor would send a small micro-camera into the stomach - so no need for retrieving a tissue sample from the stomach, said the study published in the journal PLOS ONE.<br /><br />The scientists made H pylori glow green in artificial tissue in the laboratory.<br /><br />"We believe that the same can happen in a real human stomach," added Fontenete.<br />The researchers faced two challenges.<br /><br />First was to create special molecules that can both detect H pylori bacteria and function at the temperature (37 degrees Celsius) of the human stomach.<br /><br />Second challenge was that the molecule should be able to function in the extremely acidic environment of the stomach.<br /><br />Both challenges were solved by working with the so-called Locked Nucleic Acid (LNA) - special synthetic molecules that are extremely stable and can operate at lower temperatures and in acidic environments, added the study.</p>
<p>Soon, get stomach ulcer diagnosed without that painful endoscopy session.<br />Researchers have developed a safer and non-invasive diagnostic technique for detecting ulcers in the stomach.<br /><br /></p>.<p>How?<br /><br />By sending some molecules to the gut to make the ulcer-causing bacteria light up in fluorescent green, said scientists from University of Southern Denmark.<br /><br />"Early diagnosis does not only prevent ulcers from developing, it can also prevent the development of cancer," said lead author Silvia Fontenete at University of Southern Denmark.<br /><br />Ulcers are often caused by the bacteria Helicobacter pylori in the stomach or duodenum.<br /><br />"Our laboratory experiments suggest that one day, it would be possible for doctors to send some specially designed molecules down in the stomach, where they will make H pylori glow brightly green," explained Fontenete.<br /><br />To see the green light, the doctor would send a small micro-camera into the stomach - so no need for retrieving a tissue sample from the stomach, said the study published in the journal PLOS ONE.<br /><br />The scientists made H pylori glow green in artificial tissue in the laboratory.<br /><br />"We believe that the same can happen in a real human stomach," added Fontenete.<br />The researchers faced two challenges.<br /><br />First was to create special molecules that can both detect H pylori bacteria and function at the temperature (37 degrees Celsius) of the human stomach.<br /><br />Second challenge was that the molecule should be able to function in the extremely acidic environment of the stomach.<br /><br />Both challenges were solved by working with the so-called Locked Nucleic Acid (LNA) - special synthetic molecules that are extremely stable and can operate at lower temperatures and in acidic environments, added the study.</p>