Info on medicine

[Ed P]

The Duke wrote:

Wife had C-dif, twice (or once recurring last year) spending about 9 weeks between the two spells in hospital through autumn. I teased her the whole time that I’d happily donate some healthy stuff if the medicine didn’t work. She was adamant their was no way she was having a poo transplant. However the doctors did mention that it was a possibility. Not mine of course. But I did wonder where they get healthy human manure from.

I do not know about this country, but it is one source of income for medical students in the US. I guess you need to both have people you can trust as well as easy access to microbiology facilities.

[edit] Just an added comment, there was also some research showing that if the Mum had antibiotics it had drastic impacts on the baby’s microbiome.

[The Duke]

If I was American I wouldnt ever throw any of my wastes out. you could probably make a living just donating the versions banks.

[Richard]

Ed P wrote:

Just to add to Richard’s note on metabolism, there is some research showing that the gut bacteria is different for individuals with autism. link.There is other research that shows that changes in gut bacteria can have long term impacts. However carrying out research on humans is notoriously difficult and medical researchers always seem to ignore the first rule of statistics: Correlation does NOT necessarily mean causation. Bottom line (no pun intended) I would be more inclined (on the basis of safety) to favour a healthy ‘poo transfusion’ than use of a fringe drug.

I have little scope for disagreement. Diet can change the gut flora, mood can change the gut flora, genetics, race and ethnicity can control the gut flora and when you touch on the last two the ground really shakes. They all really affect the metabolism along with many other as yet unknowns.

Some species also need to consume their own ‘waste’ while very young t get their digestive system started or they will have big problems, I understand especially this applies to rabbits but may swing either way with some other types of organism. So anything is possible though not necessarily attractive.

Edited to add the comment about other species.

[Ed P]

Applies to humans too. The very latest procedures for Caesarian births is to wipe some of the mother’s vaginal fluids around the baby’s mouth to ensure a healthy quota of bacteria in the gut of the baby. Without this apparently the baby’s gut biome is very abnormal they link this aabnormality to all sorts of problems varying from allergies through to coeliac disease in later life. (uproven – see problem in cause versus correlation, but they figure it does no more harm than a natural birth and might do some good)

 

[Richard]

Ed P wrote:

Applies to humans too. The very latest procedures for Caesarian births is to wipe some of the mother’s vaginal fluids around the baby’s mouth to ensure a healthy quota of bacteria in the gut of the baby. Without this apparently the baby’s gut biome is very abnormal they link this aabnormality to all sorts of problems varying from allergies through to coeliac disease in later life. (uproven – see problem in cause versus correlation, but they figure it does no more harm than a natural birth and might do some good)

Yep, the pressure of amniotic fluid being passed into the lungs during ‘normal delivery’ is thought to play a part in preparing the new born baby’s lungs and prevent premature collapse, a real threat with many new born Caesarian babies especially if they are premature. Having to suction them before feeds was a nerves inducing procedure, I only realised later it was supposed to be done by a qualified paediatric care giver, oops. I blamed the language barrier, honest; my Japanese was not that good and the staff did not like to question a gaijin . I spent weeks taking turns doing such things in the Yokohama regional children’s hospital until the eldest was ready to come home. Changing a tiny baby in an incubator is an art, the plastic cover distorts so much you cannot see the child so you might as well not try to look and do it all by judgement and touch. However, the results did need to be checked, to confirm both the cleaning and the new nappy were correctly in place – wrong end was not good!

We grew to really like the system they used in Japan with a nappy carrier plus an absorbent liner that really did its job. The cover made it virtually certain it only went in the correct way. Useful when you were virtually sightless while doing the task.

PS, She is now anxiously awaiting the birth of what should be her second child, though it is her fifth pregnancy and has not been without its troubles, so tense times all round.

[Bob Williams]

Ed P wrote:

Just to add to Richard’s note on metabolism, there is some research showing that the gut bacteria is different for individuals with autism. link.There is other research that shows that changes in gut bacteria can have long term impacts. However carrying out research on humans is notoriously difficult and medical researchers always seem to ignore the first rule of statistics: Correlation does NOT necessarily mean causation. Bottom line (no pun intended) I would be more inclined (on the basis of safety) to favour a healthy ‘poo transfusion’ than use of a fringe drug.

Ed, thank you for that, it raises more questions but it does answer a couple for our family.

Our son, whose 18 yo is Dyslexic, was also a sufferer, though not as deeply as his son. However, he was educated in the ’80’s and was taught by someone who actually told my wife that “..he will never amount to anything.” She actually said that! She was very lucky I was not there to hear it. We met this stupid, incompetent ‘teacher’ in a supermarket a few years later and I took great delight in telling her that the lad had in fact just passed City & Guilds Electrical with 2 Distinctions and a Merit. That happened after we taught him ourselves how to read and to write by using block capitals, after which he began to write in clear. His son, our gson, has an eidetic memory and astonishing mental arithmatic powers, but cannot write down how he works it out, because his brain processes the calculations so quickly and he finds writing hard anyway: but can use a keyboard at amazing speed, his fingers are a blur. His sister regularly asks him to check her wage slip and work out if it’s correct. Having grown up asking him Maths stuff and always getting correct answers, she does not check his responses.

The Gut bacteria factor sounds more than possible, considering the amount of junk kids eat today. Even ours are wont to ingest any old carp, nothing seems to sway them. With the exception of our youngest, who for the moment is listening to parents and grandparents and eats only that which pronounced “OK”. But I honestly believe that the young are different: I know every generation says that, but the ones I know, seem different in different ways, if you understand me. I now know a lot of young people: some from the days when I was reading to Primary school children, some from mates of my grandbrats. I was with a mate in Louth the other day when a few young people hailed me from across the road. My mate was gobsmacked, but I just love the fact that they feel they can talk to me. And they have some intelligent opinions, even though I have to ask them to slow down their speech. Which I also believe is evolving.

When the Thought Police arrive at your door, think -
I'm out.

[Author]

Posts