Clinical trials

The goal of this prospective observational study is to explore the role of the gut microbiome in patients with gallstone disease. The main question\[s\] it aims to answer are: * if there is a relationship between the gut microbiome and the development of complications associated with gallstone disease (such as pancreatitis and acute cholecystitis) * if there are changes in the gut microbiome following cholecystectomy and the relationship with patient outcomes. Participants will be asked to provide stool samples at fixed time points (recruitment, pre- and post-cholecystectomy if applicable and at 6 months and 3 years. They will also be asked to provide stool samples if they represent to hospital with complications associated with their gallstone disease.

Crohn's disease is a long-term condition that causes inflammation in the bowel. Many people with Crohn's will need surgery at some point to remove damaged sections of intestine. Although surgery can improve symptoms, the disease often comes back near the join (anastomosis) where the bowel has been reconnected. Surgeons use different techniques to reconnect the bowel. One newer approach, called the Kono-S anastomosis, is designed to reduce the risk of Crohn's disease returning. Early results are promising, but it is still not fully understood why it may work better than traditional methods. This project aims to explore how the bowel heals after surgery by looking at oxidative stress, a type of tissue damage caused by an imbalance of harmful molecules in the body. The investigators will focus on a protective protein called glutathione peroxidase-4 (GPX4), an anti-oxidative enzyme that reduces oxidized phospholipids in biomembranes. By analysing tissue samples taken before and after surgery, the investigators will compare patients who had the Kono-S technique with those who had standard surgical joins. The investigators want to see whether differences in healing at a microscopic level could explain why some patients do better than others. The findings from this study could: * Improve understanding of why Crohn's disease comes back after surgery. * Help surgeons choose the best technique for each patient. * Support the development of new treatments aimed at improving healing. Ultimately, this research aims to reduce the risk of disease recurrence and improve long-term outcomes for people living with Crohn's disease.