Australians Win Nobel For Linking Bug To Ulcers

New Scientist ^ | 10-3-2005 | Andy Coghan

[bellas_sister]

My husband has the same sort of story. We had just met in the early 90's and had so many problems with his stomach. We saw a show about this very thing and he mentioned it to his Dr. now he has never had a stomach ache since.

[neverdem]

Thanks for the ping. FWIW here's the NY Times version of the story yesterday. Australians Receive Nobel for Bacterium Work

Here's yesterday's URL, after Googling the title:

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/03/science/04cnd-nobel.html?hp&ex=1128398400&en=2631f547ccc36dea&ei=5094&partner=homepage

Here's today's elaboration of the same story by the same author, who happens to use the M.D. suffix as he pleases. Two Win Nobel Prize for Discovering Bacterium Tied to Stomach Ailments

Today's URL:

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/04/science/04nobe.html?pagewanted=1

What I find odd is that when you enter the author's name into the NY Times' own search engine, you don't find yesterday's story. Here's their search URL:

http://query.nytimes.com/search/query?query=LAWRENCE%20K%2e%20ALTMAN&date_select=full&srchst=nyt

Go figure.

[rudyudy]

I have heard of that before. I think you are correct. I think kefir might do the same thing but don't know for sure.

[SunkenCiv]

Hey, at least it's still the newspaper of broken record.

;')

[MamaLucci]

By revealing a simple cure, the researchers also threatened to destroy huge and lucrative global markets for the existing anti-ulcer drugs, which simply eased symptoms.

Makes me wonder what else (arthritis and other autoimmune diseases
come to mind) the medical establishment would rather treat, than cure......
Kudos to these Aussie researchers.

[blam]

"Makes me wonder what else (arthritis and other autoimmune diseases come to mind) the medical establishment would rather treat, than cure......"

Yes, I agree. There is a test, PCR or PRC (can't remember which) that I've read is a better indicator of 'heart problems' than cholestorel levels. PRC/PCR is a measure of whole-body inflamation.

In the article I read, one doctor suggested that once people get to a certain age, they should all be placed on a low level of daily antibotics.

I told my doctor that and he laughed.

[MamaLucci]

I told my doctor that and he laughed.

Don't you just love to pay someone to do that? ;)

[MamaLucci]

ping!

[blam]

"Don't you just love to pay someone to do that? ;)"

LOL. They especially don't like me to ask them questions about something new that I had just read in one of my science magazines. But, I do anyway.

[Ghengis]

A backwoods West Virginia Doctor cured my Grandfather of ulcers with a several weeks regimen of sauerkraut juice and goat's milk. The Doc claimed that it balanced the bacteria in the gut which caused ulcers.

That was sometime between 1910 and 1915.

[ctdonath2]

Notably, Marshall proved in 1985 that the bacteria caused gastric inflammation by infecting himself, then curing his condition with antibiotics.

I believe we have here the opportunity for a remarkable first:
for a scientist to win both a Nobel Prize and IgNobel Prize the same year for the same work! a Nobel Prize for proving ulcers are caused by bacteria, and an IgNobel Prize for doing so by deliberately giving himself a wicked-bad stomach ache and then curing it!