Rubin Lab

NEWS

Newly Discovered Vascular Barrier in the Brain May Explain IBD-Related Anxiety, Depression

A newly discovered vascular brain barrier that blocks the passage of inflammatory molecules triggered by gut bacteria may be why patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at increased risk for certain mental health disorders, including anxiety and depression, early research suggests.

Click here to read the full article, and here to read the publication “Identification of a choroid plexus vascular barrier closing during intestinal inflammation” in Science.

Rectal Compliance Lower Than Normal in Ulcerative Colitis, but Recovery Is Possible

“The findings did not surprise us, but supported our hypothesis that patients with UC have reduced compliance of their rectum, even when they are in remission,” Dr. Rubin told Reuters Health by email. “The exciting new finding is that those who normalized their histology – i.e., biopsies show no evidence of chronic colitis – had compliance similar to the non-colitis control group.”

Click here to read the full article, and here to read the publication “Ulcerative colitis patients have reduced rectal compliance compared with non-IBD controls” in Gastroenterology.

Special Edition VGR: COVID-19 Vaccine Update

Click here to watch Dr. David Rubin and his colleagues explain the data behind the various vaccines, clinical recommendations, allergy and safety recommendation, and describe COVID-19 vaccine special issues in underrepresented minorities.