Gastrointestinal problems, mechanisms and possible therapeutic directions in Gulf war illness: a mini review
Abstract By its nature, Gulf war illness (GWI) is multisymptomatic and affects several organ systems in the body. Along with other symptoms, veterans who suffer from GWI commonly report chronic gastrointestinal issues such as constipation, pain, indigestion, etc. However, until recently, most attent...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-09-01
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| Series: | Military Medical Research |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40779-021-00341-4 |
| _version_ | 1818608254971805696 |
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| author | Diana A. Kimono |
| author_facet | Diana A. Kimono |
| author_sort | Diana A. Kimono |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract By its nature, Gulf war illness (GWI) is multisymptomatic and affects several organ systems in the body. Along with other symptoms, veterans who suffer from GWI commonly report chronic gastrointestinal issues such as constipation, pain, indigestion, etc. However, until recently, most attention has been focused on neurological disturbances such as cognitive impairments, chronic fatigue, and chronic pain among affected veterans. With such high prevalence of gastrointestinal problems among Gulf war (GW) veterans, it is surprising that there is little research to investigate the mechanisms behind these issues. This review summarizes all the available works on the mechanisms behind gastrointestinal problems in GWI that have been published to date in various databases. Generally, these studies, which were done in rodent models, in vitro and human cohorts propose that an altered microbiome, a reactive enteric nervous system or a leaky gut among other possible mechanisms are the major drivers of gastrointestinal problems reported in GWI. This review aims to draw attention to the gastrointestinal tract as an important player in GWI disease pathology and a potential therapeutic target. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-16T14:39:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5638ef12f989400d83e5683ab4deded6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2054-9369 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-16T14:39:44Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Military Medical Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-5638ef12f989400d83e5683ab4deded62022-12-21T22:27:58ZengBMCMilitary Medical Research2054-93692021-09-01811810.1186/s40779-021-00341-4Gastrointestinal problems, mechanisms and possible therapeutic directions in Gulf war illness: a mini reviewDiana A. Kimono0NYU Langone Medical CenterAbstract By its nature, Gulf war illness (GWI) is multisymptomatic and affects several organ systems in the body. Along with other symptoms, veterans who suffer from GWI commonly report chronic gastrointestinal issues such as constipation, pain, indigestion, etc. However, until recently, most attention has been focused on neurological disturbances such as cognitive impairments, chronic fatigue, and chronic pain among affected veterans. With such high prevalence of gastrointestinal problems among Gulf war (GW) veterans, it is surprising that there is little research to investigate the mechanisms behind these issues. This review summarizes all the available works on the mechanisms behind gastrointestinal problems in GWI that have been published to date in various databases. Generally, these studies, which were done in rodent models, in vitro and human cohorts propose that an altered microbiome, a reactive enteric nervous system or a leaky gut among other possible mechanisms are the major drivers of gastrointestinal problems reported in GWI. This review aims to draw attention to the gastrointestinal tract as an important player in GWI disease pathology and a potential therapeutic target.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40779-021-00341-4Gulf war illnessGWIMicrobiomeEnteric nervous systemGastrointestinalGI |
| spellingShingle | Diana A. Kimono Gastrointestinal problems, mechanisms and possible therapeutic directions in Gulf war illness: a mini review Military Medical Research Gulf war illness GWI Microbiome Enteric nervous system Gastrointestinal GI |
| title | Gastrointestinal problems, mechanisms and possible therapeutic directions in Gulf war illness: a mini review |
| title_full | Gastrointestinal problems, mechanisms and possible therapeutic directions in Gulf war illness: a mini review |
| title_fullStr | Gastrointestinal problems, mechanisms and possible therapeutic directions in Gulf war illness: a mini review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gastrointestinal problems, mechanisms and possible therapeutic directions in Gulf war illness: a mini review |
| title_short | Gastrointestinal problems, mechanisms and possible therapeutic directions in Gulf war illness: a mini review |
| title_sort | gastrointestinal problems mechanisms and possible therapeutic directions in gulf war illness a mini review |
| topic | Gulf war illness GWI Microbiome Enteric nervous system Gastrointestinal GI |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40779-021-00341-4 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT dianaakimono gastrointestinalproblemsmechanismsandpossibletherapeuticdirectionsingulfwarillnessaminireview |