Appendix Has Function, Protects Good Germs

[Guest guest]

** ** rpautrey2

 

Vindication! Troublesome appendix has function

Researchers think organ produces, protects good germs

 

Associated Press

Saturday, October 6, 2007

 

 

WASHINGTON -- Some scientists think they have figured out the real

job of the troublesome and seemingly useless appendix: It produces

and protects good germs for your gut.

 

 

That's the theory from surgeons and immunologists at Duke University

Medical School, published online in a scientific journal this week.

 

 

For generations the appendix has been dismissed as superfluous.

Doctors figured it had no function. Surgeons removed them routinely.

People ive fine without them.

 

 

And when infected the appendix can turn deadly. It gets inflamed

quickly and some people die if it isn't removed in time. Two years

ago, 321,000 Americans were hospitalized with appendicitis, according

to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

 

 

The function of the appendix seems related to the massive amount of

bacteria populating the human digestive system, according to the

study in the Journal of Theoretical Biology. There are more bacteria

than human cells in the typical body. Most of it is good and helps

digest food.

 

 

But sometimes the flora of bacteria in the intestines die or are

purged. Diseases such as cholera or amoebic dysentery would clear the

gut of useful bacteria. The appendix's job is to reboot the digestive

system in that case.

 

 

The appendix " acts as a good safe house for bacteria, " said Duke

surgery professor Bill Parker, a study co-author. Its location --

just below the normal one-way flow of food and germs in the large

intestine in a sort of gut cul-de-sac -- helps support the theory, he

said.

 

 

Also, the worm-shaped organ outgrowth acts like a bacteria factory,

cultivating the good germs, Parker said.

 

 

That use is not needed in a modern industrialized society, Parker

said. If a person's gut flora dies, they can usually repopulate it

easily with germs they pick up from other people, he said. But before

dense populations in modern times and during epidemics of cholera

that affected a whole region, it wasn't as easy to grow back that

bacteria and the appendix came in handy.

 

 

In less developed countries, where the appendix may be still useful,

the rate of appendicitis is lower than in the U.S., other studies

have shown, Parker said.

 

 

He said the appendix may be another case of an overly hygienic

society triggering an overreaction by the body's immune system.

 

 

Even though the appendix seems to have a function, people should

still have them removed when they are inflamed because it could turn

deadly, Parker said. About 300 to 400 Americans die of appendicitis

each year, according to the CDC.

 

 

Five scientists not connected with the research said that the Duke

theory makes sense and raises interesting questions.

 

 

The idea " seems by far the most likely " explanation for the function

of the appendix, said Brandeis University biochemistry professor

Douglas Theobald. " It makes evolutionary sense. "

 

 

**The theory led Gary Huffnagle, a University of Michigan internal

medicine and microbiology professor, to wonder about the value of

another body part that is often yanked: " I'll bet eventually we'll

find the same sort of thing with the tonsils. " **

 

 

© 2008 The E.W. Scripps Co.

[Guest guest]

, " rpautrey2 "

<rpautrey2 wrote:

>

> ** ** rpautrey2

>

> Vindication! Troublesome appendix has function

> Researchers think organ produces, protects good germs

>

> Associated Press

> Saturday, October 6, 2007

>

>

> WASHINGTON -- Some scientists think they have figured out the real

> job of the troublesome and seemingly useless appendix: It produces

> and protects good germs for your gut.

>

>

> That's the theory from surgeons and immunologists at Duke

University

> Medical School, published online in a scientific journal this week.

>

>

> For generations the appendix has been dismissed as superfluous.

> Doctors figured it had no function. Surgeons removed them

routinely.

> People ive fine without them.

>

>

> And when infected the appendix can turn deadly. It gets inflamed

> quickly and some people die if it isn't removed in time. Two years

> ago, 321,000 Americans were hospitalized with appendicitis,

according

> to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

>

>

> The function of the appendix seems related to the massive amount of

> bacteria populating the human digestive system, according to the

> study in the Journal of Theoretical Biology. There are more

bacteria

> than human cells in the typical body. Most of it is good and helps

> digest food.

>

>

> But sometimes the flora of bacteria in the intestines die or are

> purged. Diseases such as cholera or amoebic dysentery would clear

the

> gut of useful bacteria. The appendix's job is to reboot the

digestive

> system in that case.

>

>

> The appendix " acts as a good safe house for bacteria, " said Duke

> surgery professor Bill Parker, a study co-author. Its location --

> just below the normal one-way flow of food and germs in the large

> intestine in a sort of gut cul-de-sac -- helps support the theory,

he

> said.

>

>

> Also, the worm-shaped organ outgrowth acts like a bacteria factory,

> cultivating the good germs, Parker said.

>

>

> That use is not needed in a modern industrialized society, Parker

> said. If a person's gut flora dies, they can usually repopulate it

> easily with germs they pick up from other people, he said. But

before

> dense populations in modern times and during epidemics of cholera

> that affected a whole region, it wasn't as easy to grow back that

> bacteria and the appendix came in handy.

>

>

> In less developed countries, where the appendix may be still

useful,

> the rate of appendicitis is lower than in the U.S., other studies

> have shown, Parker said.

>

>

> He said the appendix may be another case of an overly hygienic

> society triggering an overreaction by the body's immune system.

>

>

> Even though the appendix seems to have a function, people should

> still have them removed when they are inflamed because it could

turn

> deadly, Parker said. About 300 to 400 Americans die of appendicitis

> each year, according to the CDC.

>

>

> Five scientists not connected with the research said that the Duke

> theory makes sense and raises interesting questions.

>

>

> The idea " seems by far the most likely " explanation for the

function

> of the appendix, said Brandeis University biochemistry professor

> Douglas Theobald. " It makes evolutionary sense. "

>

>

> **The theory led Gary Huffnagle, a University of Michigan internal

> medicine and microbiology professor, to wonder about the value of

> another body part that is often yanked: " I'll bet eventually we'll

> find the same sort of thing with the tonsils. " **

>

>

> © 2008 The E.W. Scripps Co.

>

FROM BRIDGEFREAK: I AGREE!! I had my severed appendix removed and I

seem to be even sicker with high fever and slimy mucus in my stool!!

It was severed by a HUGE hernia I had and at the same time I had an

ostomy reversal!! I can't figure out why I am so sick!! I still think

it is becuase my appendix is gone and the NEW anastomosis may be

infected. I also have chunks of white stuff which may or may not be

tapeworm segments as my dog has them and also my mom.I AM seeing my

surgeon tomorrow and am going to insist on a stool test.Does that

seem logical??? I hate bein so sick!! I had this surgery last

week.Also I have(and WILL get this removed!!)A colonic stent for a

stricture I have.It has been causing severe spasms!!