Exploring the epigenetic changes in diverticular sepsis vs 1

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Exploring the epigenetic changes in diverticular sepsis (Explodes study)

• IRAS ID

  277920

• Contact name

  Frank McDermott

• Contact email

  f.mcdermott@nhs.net

• Sponsor organisation

  RD&E NHS FT

• Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier

  277920, IRAS

• Duration of Study in the UK

  0 years, 11 months, 31 days

• Research summary

  Diverticular disease is common and caused by small pouches in the large bowel that can bleed or become inflamed (diverticulitis). Some patients need simple treatments, while others may develop severe infection (sepsis) leading to emergency surgery; currently this is difficult to predict.

  We want to take a new approach and look at how environment (e.g. ageing, smoking and diet) may cause small changes to how our genes (DNA) work (epigenetics). By looking for epigenetic changes in blood samples from patients admitted with either mild diverticulitis or complicated perforated disease, and comparing them with those from healthy individuals, we hope to understand more about their impact on diverticular disease, and explain why some patients get mild disease and others life threatening sepsis.
  To do this we will collect a one off blood sample from patients admitted with either mild or complicated diverticulitis. This will taken as soon as possible after admission (it may be possible to take the extra sample at the time a routine sample is being taken). When this sample has been taken participants will have no further active part to play in the study. Healthy age and sex matched controls will be identified from existing research databases who have given permission to be contacted about further research. Samples will be used to explore epigenetic changes between groups.

  While we cannot change our DNA code (this is passed down from our parents) epigenetics looks at how small changes can alter how our genes work (e.g. switching them on and off). These changes can be reversed, so this research could be a first stage in helping identify patients with higher risk of sepsis, leading to earlier interventions and improved clinical outcomes.

• REC name

  Yorkshire & The Humber - Sheffield Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  20/YH/0078

• Date of REC Opinion

  17 Mar 2020

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion