Microbiome in Tendinopathy (MINT)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Identifying a musculoskeletal subpopulation in perturbed microbiome patients.\n
IRAS ID
216720
Contact name
Navraj S Nagra
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Clinical Trials and Research Governance, University of Oxford
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 7 months, 1 days
Research summary
The human microbiome is composed of bacteria and and other types of microbes that reside in and on our bodies. These microbes have tremendous potential to impact upon our physiology, both in health and in disease. They contribute metabolic functions, protect against pathogens, educate the immune system, and, through these basic functions, affect directly or indirectly most of our physiological functions.\nGeneral health becomes affected when the microbiome becomes perturbed. Factors which have been implicated in altering the microbiome are antibiotic use [4] and and whether an individual was delivered by Caesarian section at birth.\n\nWhen the microbiome becomes perturbed disease processes may become established. Links have been demonstrated between gut and joint diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis [6] and and ankylosing spondylitis.At NDORMS we have an extensive research programme investigation tendon disease (tendons are the connecting tissue between muscle and bone). Tendinopathy has a huge national and global burden on patients’ wellbeing (‘Other Musculoskeletal Diseases’ are the tenth biggest contributer to the total burden of disease in the world).\n\nThere is growing evidence that there is an inflammatory process occurring within the tendon, however we have an incomplete picture as to what initially triggers this process. With the makeup of the bacteria in the bowel and gut wall inflammation implicated in other diseases, we aim to explore whether this is the case in tendinopathy. \n\nThe study will use a questionnaire for quantative analysis about general health status and specific validated assessment tools for assessing Achilles tendinopathy (VISA-A) and bowel health(UKIBDQ)(Appendix B). \n\nPatients will be given information about the study during clinic appointments and invited to take part when they have had time to consider the study information.\n\nPotential patients with significant scores (i.e. high UKIBDQ and low VISA-A scores) will be identified by clinical members of the research team and invited to participate in future studies, subject to subsequent ethical approval.\n\n
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/NW/0133
Date of REC Opinion
2 Mar 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion