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In recent years, researchers have reported that the microbiome of the gut is associated with inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn disease (NEJM JW Gen Med Dec 31 2013). In various studies, not all researchers have identified the same microbiome “fingerprint” (the pattern of increased or decreased numbers of bacterial species). However, these reports have involved small numbers of patients, studied before and (often) after treatment, which makes interpreting the data difficult.
In a new multi-institutional study, investigators prospectively collected ileal and rectal biopsy specimens (and, often, stool specimens) from 447 children with new-onset, untreated Crohn disease and from 221 children with noninflammatory abdominal conditions. T…