The appendix gets a glow up

• Other recent studies have found links between the appendix and the immunological functions of the human colon or improved gut health following an infection.
• These and other recent findings have researchers looking at ways to treat appendicitis without completely removing the organ, Heather Smith, a professor of anatomy at Midwestern University, recently told NPR.

The latest: Epic researchers examined data from over 57,000 patients who had their appendix removed between 2010 and 2021.

• Their risk of infection from Clostridioides difficile, or C. diff, more than doubled.
• The correlation was slightly stronger in males, the study found.