HONG KONG, Dec. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Chinese University of Hong Kong's Faculty of Medicine (CU Medicine) has, for the first time, discovered novel microbial signatures associated with inflammation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and transformed such signatures into clinically applicable non-invasive tests for early diagnosis and timely intervention. This invention can effectively differentiate common chronic gut disorders and is expected to minimise the need for endoscopies. Utilising nearly 6,000 faecal samples from different regions and ethnicities, the researchers have developed the world's first ddPCR test targeting selected unique bacterial species. This novel non-invasive diagnostic test is a reliable tool to differentiate irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and is expected to be ready for clinical use in 2027. The findings were published in Nature Medicine.
Lack of a reliable, accurate, non-invasive test for IBD diagnosis
IBD, a growing GI disease in Asia, often shares similar symptoms such as recurrent abdominal pain and diarrhoea with IBS, a common functional GI disorder. Delayed IBD treatment can lead to chronic inflammation of and ulcers in the digestive tract. Severe cases may require the removal of a damaged intestine or the creation of a stoma.
Professor Francis KL Chan, Choh-Ming Li Professor of Medicine and Therapeutics at CU Medicine, Director of the Centre for Gut Microbiota Research and Co-Director of Microbiota I-Center (MagIC), said: "Globally, over eight million people experience GI symptoms yearly and likely need endoscopies. Colonoscopy and histology with CT or MRI scans are commonly used for IBD diagnosis but there is not yet a reliable blood or stool test. Surging demand for colonoscopies may result in long waiting times and delayed treatment. There is an urgent need for a non-invasive, accurate diagnostic test for IBD."
Discovery of microbiome biomarkers for IBD diagnosis
CU Medicine researchers performed metagenomic sequencing of 5,979 faecal samples with or without IBD – ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease – from 11 countries, featuring different ethnicities. They identified microbiota alterations in IBD and uncovered 10 unique bacteria species associated with UC and nine associated with Crohn's disease.
Postdoctoral Fellow Dr Zheng Jiaying from the Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, said: "We found that IBD patients had more toxin-producing bacterial genes in the gut, such as Adherent-invasive E. coli and Proteus mirabilis, and they lacked a variety of bacterial species with anti-inflammatory functions."
Assistant Professor Wendy Zhang Jingwan from the same department, added: "We constructed machine learning diagnostic models for IBD based on the novel bacterial markers and found that the models performed well in diagnosing ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease with an area under the curve of over 0.94."
Transforming bacterial markers into a rapid, effective, clinically applicable innovation for IBD diagnosis
To transform findings into clinical applications, researchers developed multiplex ddPCR technology to facilitate rapid, effective IBD diagnosis. Validation in independent cohorts and a public dataset showed a sensitivity and specificity of nearly 90% for IBD diagnosis. The innovation has received the Silver medal in Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions 2024.
Professor Siew Ng, Croucher Professor in Medical Sciences and Director of MagIC, said: "The incidence of IBD is rising rapidly in Asia, and it is expected that the number of patients in China will exceed 1.5 million by 2025. CU Medicine has been a pioneer in the research of IBD diagnosis, treatment and prevention. We have now developed a first-in-class, microbiome-based, next-generation diagnostic tool for chronic intestinal diseases. We are also conducting large scale transethnic, multicentre studies to further explore the potential of these biomarkers in disease monitoring, drug response prediction and patient stratification in IBD."
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CU Medicine invents a non-invasive technology for people with uninvestigated bowel symptoms
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SEOUL, South Korea, Dec. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Pinkfong Company, the global entertainment company, announced today an exciting collaboration between the global phenomenon Baby Shark and the iconic Sesame Street friends. This special collaboration will feature exclusive merchandise, a holiday music video, and a playlist set to premiere on both the Pinkfong and Sesame Street English YouTube channels. This heartwarming collaboration brings together two of the most iconic names in family entertainment as they share a message of joy and togetherness leading up to Baby Shark's milestone 10th anniversary in 2025.
Set in a whimsical winter wonderland, the festive music video features a brand-new orchestral version of the world-famous "Baby Shark" song by Pinkfong. The updated arrangement is enriched with cheerful holiday elements—including the delightful sound of sleigh bells—that capture the magic of the season. Fans of all ages will enjoy seeing Sesame Street's Elmo, Cookie Monster, and Abby Cadabby join Baby Shark and William in a fun-filled game of tag, spreading holiday cheer with their playful energy.
"This collaboration is a wonderful celebration of friendship, joy, and the holiday spirit, embodying everything the holidays are about," said Bin Jeong, CEO of Pinkfong USA. "As Baby Shark approaches its 10th anniversary, we are thrilled to team up with Sesame Street, like-minded friends that have brought happiness to generations of families."
"Our previous collaboration with Baby Shark received an overwhelmingly positive response from families, and we are excited to expand on the vibrant music video to include a magical and meaningful holiday spin," said Jennifer Gioia, VP of Content and Programming at Sesame Workshop. "As Sesame Street celebrates our 55th anniversary, we are happy to be a part of Baby Shark's 10th anniversary milestone celebration year."
Adding to the festivities, a special Print on Demand Apparel and Accessories Collection celebrating the friendship between Baby Shark and Sesame Street will launch in December 2024 through a partnership with Mad Engine.
Building anticipation for Baby Shark's milestone anniversary, The Pinkfong Company released a special anniversary brand mnemonic that will kick off a year-long celebration filled with exciting surprises throughout 2025. The mnemonic combines Baby Shark's iconic melody with upbeat orchestral elements, while its vivid, crayon-sketch-style 2D animation captures both the brand's decade-long journey and its commitment to bringing everyday fun to kids and families around the world.
The special holiday music video is available on the official Pinkfong and Sesame Street YouTube channels.
About The Pinkfong Company
The Pinkfong Company is a global entertainment company that delivers content and entertaining experiences around the world. Driven by award-winning brands and IPs, the company has created and distributed a range of content across genres and formats including original animated series, world live tours, interactive games, and more. Believing in the power of entertaining and engaging content, The Pinkfong Company is committed to connecting people around the world and bringing joy and inspiration to worldwide audiences of all ages. For more information, please visit the website or follow the company on LinkedIn.
About Sesame Street
Sesame Street is the pioneering children's educational television program that debuted in 1969 and continues to reach children in more than 150 countries. Created by Joan Ganz Cooney and Lloyd Morrisett during the Civil Rights movement, the show blends live performance, musical numbers, puppetry, and animation to educate and engage young audiences on school-readiness skills and values like empathy, kindness, and inclusion. Featuring timeless characters including Big Bird, Elmo, Cookie Monster, and Oscar the Grouch, Sesame Street has become a standard-bearer for early childhood storytelling through carefully researched educational content that teaches literacy, numeracy, social skills, and cultural awareness. Sesame Street is produced by the global impact nonprofit organization Sesame Workshop.
Contacts
Natalie Kim, Communications Manager of The Pinkfong Company
Email: natalie@pinkfong.com
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Baby Shark and Sesame Street Team Up for a Magical Holiday Musical Celebration and Merchandise Collection
