Photo: Gene Davis -- Smithsonian Institution

Should there be mass screening for celiac disease? Currently, there is no consensus among scientists or among public policy makers in favor of mass screening for celiac disease as a public health intervention. Advocacy for mass celiac disease screening remains somewhat controversial.

Photo: CC--Glenn Fleishmann

A research team recently set out to examine connections between childhood celiac disease and functional gastrointestinal disorder in children meeting Rome III criteria.

Photo: CC-sanofi_pasteur

A team of researchers recently set out to investigate structure-based selection of small molecules to alter allele-specific MHC Class II antigen presentation

Photo: CC -- spec-ta-cles

Celiac disease often results in "leaky" intestinal mucosa. This development may involve changes in hydrophobicity of the mucus surface barrier along with changes of the epithelial barrier.

PPhoto: CC - RamberMediaImages

A research team recently set out to determine whether loss of tolerance to gluten may develop at any age, to investigate possible long-term changes in celiac disease prevalence, and to better understand other celiac-related issues.

A research team recently set out to determine how vitamin D and K might influence bone mineral density and bone growth in children and adolescents with celiac disease.

A research team set out to examine the role of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor2 in gliadin-mediated toxicity in human Caco-2 intestinal cells and in gliadin-sensitive human leukocyte antigen-DQ8 transgenic mice (DQ8), along with assessing the protective activity of CLA.

Image: CC-Kalakuta Citizen

Very little study information exists concerning rates of celiac disease-predisposing, HLA-related genes in Arab populations. A research team recently investigated the distribution of HLA-DQ2 and -DQ8 genotypes in Libyan children with celiac disease, and in healthy control subjects.

Photo: CC- kaibara87

A discussion of the article "Identification of rothia bacteria as gluten-degrading natural colonizers of the upper gastro-intestinal tract," and its implications for the development of celiac disease.

Photo: CC- jimmedia

Results of various studies comparing mortality in undetected celiac disease compared with the general population have been contradictory. Some studies have suggested a fourfold increase in mortality compared with the general population, while others have found no increase at all.

Photo: CC-timbrauhn

A research team recently established a convenient fluorescence-based test to measure the activity of therapeutic enzymes live and in real time in the GI tract.

A research team recently examined bacterial differences in the upper small intestine in healthy adults with untreated celiac disease, healthy adults with celiac disease treated with a gluten-free diet, and children with untreated celiac disease, and children with celiac disease treated with a gluten-free diet.

Photo: PLoS ONE

So far, scientists know of more than forty genes associated with celiac disease, but exactly how these pathways act to trigger celiac disease in genetically predisposed individuals remains a mystery.

Photo: CC-ynse

People who use direct-to-consumer genetic tests sold by deCODEme and 23andMe frequently receive misleading results, because these tests do not accurately predict risk factors. So say two geneticists, who conducted two studies that assessed the accuracy of test predictions relative to various known disease risks.

Over the last two decades, there has been a marked increase in the prevalence of celiac disease, especially the sub-clinical celiac disease forms and non-celiac gluten sensitivity. Most people with celiac disease now present atypical or non-classical symptoms.

A British study reports that 40% of celiacs are unhappy on the gluten free diet and would welcome treatment options, but do not use alternative therapies more than the control population.

Gluten Intolerance as a separate entity from celiac disease has been viewed with skepticism by the scientific community, since there was no discernible explanation for it. Yet most researchers and clinicians now admit that it seems to be real.

Serological screening of asymptomatic people at risk for celiac disease is an effective method for spotting the disease and prompting early treatment, according to the results of a study by researchers from Finland.

Photo: CC-jayneandd

Children born in the spring or summer seem to have higher rates of celiac disease, according to a study of Massachusetts children. This higher rate could be tied to certain seasonal and environmental factors, according to researchers at the Massachusetts General Hospital for Children.

Romanian researchers suggest that the absence of HLA DQ2 and DQ8 haplotypes should not be used to rule out a diagnosis of celiac disease.