What does the appendix do? Biologists explain the complicated evolution of this inconvenient organ
Most people know only two things about the appendix: You don't need it—and if it bursts, you need surgery fast.
Mar 9, 2026
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Digestive System: News and Research on Lower Gastrointestinal Tract
MeSH tree: A03.556.249
Hyaluronic acid could be key to improving gynecological cancer treatment
A world-first study led by Austin Health's clinician-researchers has demonstrated the feasibility and safety of using stabilized hyaluronic acid (sHA) gel as a rectal spacer during radiation treatment for gynecological cancers.
Jan 17, 2026
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Why the appendix is much more important than we once thought
You may have heard that astronauts have their appendix removed before leaving Earth. After all, people say you can live without this organ because it serves no purpose, but how much truth is there in this belief?
Jun 12, 2025
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Bindi Irwin was rushed to hospital for appendix surgery. But what is appendicitis?
Bindi Irwin has reportedly been rushed to hospital in the United States to undergo emergency surgery for a ruptured appendix.
May 12, 2025
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Impact of changes in gut environment on bacteria may help explain why we react differently to the same food
A new study from the Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports at the University of Copenhagen increases our knowledge about the gut and the life of gut bacteria. The study shows, among other things, that changes in the ...
Dec 2, 2024
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Researchers discover how high-fiber foods make people feel fuller
In a study published in Science Translational Medicine, researchers at Imperial have found that a higher-fiber diet stimulates the release of a key appetite-reducing hormone, in the ileum, part of the small intestine.
Jun 20, 2024
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Why do I poo in the morning? A gut expert explains
No, you're not imagining it. People really are more likely to poo in the morning, shortly after breakfast. Researchers have actually studied this.
Jun 17, 2024
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Removing gut bacteria's potential 'safe house' may lower risk of colorectal cancer subtype
The appendix, once dismissed as an unnecessary human organ, has more recently been shown to play a role in the immune system. However, we lack a clear understanding of how its removal to treat appendicitis affects long-term ...
May 9, 2024
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Know the signs of irritable bowel syndrome
April is IBS Awareness Month, which makes this a good time to learn about the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS.
Apr 26, 2024
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Researchers identify abrupt epigenetic aging of the colon
DNA methylation data provide extremely accurate age predictors, but so far, little is known about the dynamics of this epigenomic biomarker over the course of life.
Apr 22, 2024
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