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Physiology and Pathophysiology of the Digestive Tract

The group of Physiology and Pathophysiology of the Digestive Tract focuses its research activity on the functioning of the digestive tract as a whole, including the functions of secretion, motility, absorption and barrier both in healthy individuals and in the presence of disease. The application of knowledge to clinical practice is a priority for the group.

Research in digestive motility encompasses disorders of visceral sensitivity, the brain-gut axis and intestinal allergy. Research on inflammation also includes the pancreas.

We have also launched a cross-sectional research program that focuses on the role of the gut microbiota in inflammation and gut function. 

 

Team

Virginia Robles Alonso

Virginia Robles Alonso

Predoctoral researcher
Physiology and Pathophysiology of the Digestive Tract
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Xavier Serra Ruiz

Xavier Serra Ruiz

Research technician
Physiology and Pathophysiology of the Digestive Tract
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Virginia Robles Alonso

Virginia Robles Alonso

Predoctoral researcher
Physiology and Pathophysiology of the Digestive Tract
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Xavier Serra Ruiz

Xavier Serra Ruiz

Research technician
Physiology and Pathophysiology of the Digestive Tract
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Publications

Genome-wide multi-trait analysis of irritable bowel syndrome and related mental conditions identifies 38 new independent variants.

PMID: 37085903
Journal: Journal of Translational Medicine
Year: 2023
Reference: J Transl Med. 2023 Apr 21;21(1):272. doi: 10.1186/s12967-023-04107-5.
Impact factor:
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Alemany, Silvia; Alonso-Cotoner, Carmen; Cabana-Dominguez, Judit; Fakhreddine, Dana; Gonzalez-Castro, Ana Maria; Llonga, Natalia; Lobo, Beatriz; Palacio, Judit; Ramos-Quiroga, Josep Antoni; Ribases, Marta et al.
DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-04107-5

Bariatric Evaluation Through AI: a Survey of Expert Opinions Versus ChatGPT-4 (BETA-SEOV).

PMID: 37889368
Journal: OBESITY SURGERY
Year: 2023
Reference: Obes Surg. 2023 Oct 27. doi: 10.1007/s11695-023-06903-w.
Impact factor:
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Aguilar, Ariadna; Alqahtani, Aayed R; Billy, Helmuth Thorlakur; Chiappetta, Sonja; Da Silva Ribeiro, Rui Jose; Gawdat, Khaled; Ghanem, Omar M; Haddad, Ashraf; Jazi, Amir Hossein Davarpanah; Kasama, Kazunori et al.
DOI: 10.1007/s11695-023-06903-w

Monitoring of antimicrobial consumption in paediatrics.

PMID: 37923493
Journal: Enfermedades infecciosas y microbiologia clinica (
Year: 2023
Reference: Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin (Engl Ed). 2023 Nov;41(9):527-528. doi: 10.1016/j.eimce.2023.06.005.
Impact factor:
Publication type: Editorail in international publication
Authors: Dimitrova, Emiliya; Elenski, Kiril; Etropolska, Zlatka; Fernandez-Polo, Aurora; Petrisor, Diana Corina; Santos, Javier et al.
DOI: 10.1016/j.eimce.2023.06.005

Stepwise management of COPD: What is next after bronchodilation?

PMID: 37936381
Journal: Therapeutic Advances in Respiratory Disease
Year: 2023
Reference: Ther Adv Respir Dis. 2023 Jan-Dec;17:17534666231208630. doi: 10.1177/17534666231208630.
Impact factor:
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Alcala Gonzalez, Luis Gerardo; Dreher, Michael; Malagelada, Carolina; Matsunaga, Kazuto; Miravitlles, Marc et al.
DOI: 10.1177/17534666231208630

A Qualitative Research for Defining Meaningful Attributes for the Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease from the Patient Perspective.

PMID: 31997116
Journal: Patient-Patient Centered Outcomes Research
Year: 2020
Reference: Patient. 2020 Jun;13(3):317-325. doi: 10.1007/s40271-019-00407-5.
Impact factor: 3.226
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Novak, Kerri, Donnet, Xavier, Easton, David, Saldana, Roberto, Protze, Katja, Tzur, Eyal, Alperovich, Gabriela, Casellas, Francesc, Hart, Ailsa, Bettenworth, Dominik et al.
DOI: 10.1007/s40271-019-00407-5

Mucosal microbial load in Crohn's disease: A potential predictor of response to faecal microbiota transplantation.

PMID: 31901867
Journal: EBioMedicine
Year: 2020
Reference: EBioMedicine. 2020 Jan;51:102611. doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2019.102611. Epub 2020 Jan 2.
Impact factor: 5.736
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Varela, Encarna, Clark, Allison, Campos, David, Herrera, Claudia, Santiago, Alba, Machiels, Kathleen, Vermeire, Severine, Marti, Marc, Espin, Eloy, Manichanh, Chaysavanh et al.
DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2019.102611

Inter-breed diversity and temporal dynamics of the faecal microbiota in healthy horses.

PMID: 31523867
Journal: JOURNAL OF ANIMAL BREEDING AND GENETICS
Year: 2020
Reference: J Anim Breed Genet. 2020 Jan;137(1):103-120. doi: 10.1111/jbg.12441. Epub 2019 Sep 16.
Impact factor: 1.822
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Costa, Marcio, Massacci, Francesca Romana, Clark, Allison, Ruet, Alice, Lansade, Lea, Mach, Nuria et al.
DOI: 10.1111/jbg.12441

Critical role of interleukin (IL)-17 in inflammatory and immune disorders: An updated review of the evidence focusing in controversies.

PMID: 31734402
Journal: AUTOIMMUNITY REVIEWS
Year: 2020
Reference: Autoimmun Rev. 2020 Jan;19(1):102429. doi: 10.1016/j.autrev.2019.102429. Epub 2019 Nov 15.
Impact factor: 7.767
Publication type: Review in international publication
Authors: Ruiz de Morales, Jose Maria G, Puig, Lluis, Dauden, Esteban, Canete, Juan D, Pablos, Jose Luis, Martin, Antonio Olveira, Juanatey, Carlos Gonzalez, Adan, Alfredo, Montalban, Xavier, Borruel, Natalia et al.
DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2019.102429

Risk of pancreatic cancer associated with family history of cancer and other medical conditions by accounting for smoking among relatives.

PMID: 29329392
Journal: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY
Year: 2018
Reference: Int J Epidemiol. 2018 Apr 1;47(2):473-483. doi: 10.1093/ije/dyx269.
Impact factor: 8.36
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: O'Rorke, M, Tardon, A, Gress, T, Barbera, V M, Crnogorac-Jurcevic, T, Dominguez-Munoz, E, Munoz-Bellvis, L, Balsells, J, Costello, E, Huang, J et al.
DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyx269

miR-16 and miR-125b are involved in barrier function dysregulation through the modulation of claudin-2 and cingulin expression in the jejunum in IBS with diarrhoea.

PMID: 28082316
Journal: GUT
Year: 2017
Reference: Gut. 2017 Sep;66(9):1537-1538. doi: 10.1136/gutjnl-2016-311477. Epub 2017 Jan 12.
Impact factor: 16.658
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Martinez, Cristina, Rodino-Janeiro, Bruno K, Lobo, Beatriz, Stanifer, Megan L, Klaus, Bernd, Granzow, Martin, Gonzalez-Castro, Ana M, Salvo-Romero, Eloisa, Alonso-Cotoner, Carmen, Pigrau, Marc et al.
DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2016-311477

Reduced risk of pancreatic cancer associated with asthma and nasal allergies.

PMID: 26628509
Journal: GUT
Year: 2017
Reference: Gut. 2017 Feb;66(2):314-322. doi: 10.1136/gutjnl-2015-310442. Epub 2015 Dec 1.
Impact factor: 16.658
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Marquez, Mirari, Sharp, Linda, Hidalgo, Manuel, Carrato, Alfredo, Ilzarbe, Lucas, Michalski, Christoph, Molero, Xavier, Farre, Antoni, Perea, Jose, Greenhalf, William et al.
DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2015-310442

Mucosal pathobiology and molecular signature of epithelial barrier dysfunction in the small intestine in Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

PMID: 27087165
Journal: JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY
Year: 2017
Reference: J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2017 Jan;32(1):53-63. doi: 10.1111/jgh.13417.
Impact factor: 3.452
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Gonzalez-Castro, Ana M, Martinez, Cristina, Salvo-Romero, Eloisa, Fortea, Marina, Pardo-Camacho, Cristina, Perez-Berezo, Teresa, Alonso-Cotoner, Carmen, Santos, Javier, Vicario, Maria et al.
DOI: 10.1111/jgh.13417

Effect of inulin and fructo-oligosaccharide on the prevention of acute radiation enteritis in patients with gynecological cancer and impact on quality-of-life: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

PMID: 26603881
Journal: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NUTRITION
Year: 2016
Reference: Eur J Clin Nutr. 2016 Feb;70(2):170-4. doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2015.192. Epub 2015 Nov 25.
Impact factor: 2.935
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Hernandez, M, Garcia-Peris, P, Velasco, C, de la Cuerda, C, Breton, I, Camblor, M, Guarner, F, Paron, L, Lozano, M A et al.
DOI: 10.1038/ejcn.2015.192

Transportome profiling identifies profound alterations in Crohn's disease partially restored by commensal bacteria.

PMID: 26874350
Journal: Journal of Crohns & Colitis
Year: 2016
Reference: J Crohns Colitis. 2016 Jul;10(7):850-9. doi: 10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjw042. Epub 2016 Feb 13.
Impact factor: 6.585
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Perez-Torras, Sandra, Iglesias, Ingrid, Llopis, Marta, Lozano, Juan J, Antolin, Maria, Guarner, Francisco, Pastor-Anglada, Marcal et al.
DOI: 10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjw042

High Resolution Esophageal Manometry in Patients with Chagas Disease: A Cross-Sectional Evaluation.

PMID: 26848957
Journal: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
Year: 2016
Reference: PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2016 Feb 5;10(2):e0004416. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004416. eCollection 2016 Feb.
Impact factor: 3.948
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Moris, Maria, Sanchez-Montalva, Adrian, Accarino, Anna, Ramirez, Kathleen, Azpiroz, Fernando, Ruiz-de-Leon, Antonio, Molina, Israel, Salvador, Fernando, Mego, Marianela et al.
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004416

Diabetic neuropathy in the gut: pathogenesis and diagnosis.

PMID: 26643877
Journal: DIABETOLOGIA
Year: 2016
Reference: Diabetologia. 2016 Mar;59(3):404-8. doi: 10.1007/s00125-015-3831-1. Epub 2015 Dec 7.
Impact factor: 6.206
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Azpiroz, Fernando, Malagelada, Carolina et al.
DOI: 10.1007/s00125-015-3831-1

Biofeedback-Guided Control of Abdominothoracic Muscular Activity Reduces Regurgitation Episodes in Patients With Rumination.

PMID: 24768808
Journal: Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Year: 2015
Reference: Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2015 Jan;13(1):100-6.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2014.04.018. Epub 2014 Apr 24.
Impact factor: 7.896
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Barba, Elizabeth, Burri, Emanuel, Accarino, Anna, Malagelada, Carolina, Rodriguez-Urrutia, Amanda, Soldevilla, Alfredo, Malagelada, Juan-R, Azpiroz, Fernando et al.
DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2014.04.018

The administration of probiotics and synbiotics in immune compromised adults: is it safe?

PMID: 25304690
Journal: Beneficial Microbes
Year: 2015
Reference: Benef Microbes. 2015 Mar;6(1):3-17. doi: 10.3920/BM2014.0079.
Impact factor: 2.614
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Van den Nieuwboer, M, Brummer, R J, Guarner, F, Morelli, L, Cabana, M, Claassen, E et al.
DOI: 10.3920/BM2014.0079

Blog

News

Among the genes described, there are some related to digestive system functions, which reinforces the biological entity of irritable bowel syndrome as a digestive disease.

The international study, in which Vall d'Hebron participated, monitored patients who were hospitalized for COVID-19 for 12 months and compared their gastrointestinal symptoms with another group of patients diagnosed with other medical pathologies.

Els estudis avançaran en els camps de les malalties digestives, el VIH, la fatiga crònica, les patologies cardíaques, l’hepatitis, la diabetis i l’oftalmologia.