DeCure's autonomous Rare AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for pyloric stenosis — screening already-approved drugs against its 26-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease modulePyloric stenosis maps to a 26-gene Open Targets module — the target space DeCure's AI scientist screens approved drugs against.
DeCure.ai methodSignature reversal (LINCS) plus network proximity (STRING) rank already-approved drugs likely to perturb this module — the same engine that produces DeCure.ai's repurposing hypotheses.
Repurposing thesisScreening approved medicines against this disease module, then publishing the evidence for the strongest candidate. Known pharmacology and human exposure data make the first question sharper — they do not establish safety or efficacy in a new indication.
Research record
01
ResearchComing soon
Candidate research + dossier — target rationale, drug-repurposing thesis and evidence pack.proof: Published dossier + on-chain hash
02
ValidationComing soon
In-vitro biological validation at a contract research org (CRO).proof: CRO contract + in-vitro report
03
Peer review & paperComing soon
Peer-reviewed paper published open-access (preprint + journal).proof: DOI + open-access link + on-chain hash
Current lead
No approved-drug candidate for pyloric stenosis is corroborated in the literature DeepSearch retrieved. Some conditions are managed with non-pharmacological care — a device, surgery or physical therapy — rather than a medicine; that may be the case here, or the literature we found may simply be too sparse yet to support a drug-repurposing angle.
Molecular view
phosphodiesterase 4D (PDE4D) — PDE4D is one of the genes genetically linked to this disease in Open Targets — shown as context, not as a drug target we're pursuing: no approved-drug candidate for this disease is yet corroborated in the literature we found.
Loading structure…
helix sheet difluoromethoxydrag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 5WH6 · 1.6 Å · ligand 1-[4-(difluoromethoxy)-3-{[(3S)-oxolan-3-yl]oxy}phenyl]-3-methylbutan-1-one (AKJ). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
A 2010 meta-analysis of three randomised controlled trials totalling 492 infants found no significant difference in complications between laparoscopic and open pyloromyotomy for infantile pyloric stenosis. Odds ratios for wound infection were 1.77 (95% CI 0.58–5.35), mucosal perforation 0.96 (95% CI 0.22–4.26), incisional hernia or granuloma 1.39 (95% CI 0.41–4.73), incomplete pyloromyotomy 0.13 (95% CI 0.02–1.07), substantial vomiting 0.67 (95% CI 0.30–1.52), and total complications 0.91 (95% CI 0.54–1.53). Time to full feeds, length of stay, and operating time showed no significant difference in the combined analysis, though one study reported shorter times for the laparoscopic approach. The authors concluded both procedures are equally safe and effective.
A 2018 retrospective review of 140 patients (123 boys, 17 girls) treated surgically for pyloric stenosis at Oslo University Hospital between 2004 and 2016 reported that pyloromyotomy was curative in all patients. Ultrasound sensitivity at that hospital was 96% (135/140). Perioperative and postoperative complications occurred in 22 patients (16%), with four serious postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo grade IIIb and IVa) that caused no sequelae. Mucosal perforation occurred in two patients and was sutured postoperatively; wound infection occurred in seven patients.
A 1969 report on medical management of pyloric stenosis described 16 patients treated medically, five of whom required surgery after the medical programme failed. Success or failure of medical management did not correlate with severity of clinical findings or pre-treatment abnormalities. Roentgenographic follow-up of 14 patients six months to seven years after treatment showed no difference in condition between those treated surgically or medically. A 1990 analysis of 100 consecutive adults with pyloric outlet obstruction found 37% were due to peptic ulcer disease, 42% to malignant neoplasm, and only one case of primary hypertrophic pyloric stenosis. A 2010 overview states that in paediatric general surgery, hypertrophic pyloric stenosis now has nearly a 100% success rate with treatment, but the cause remains poorly understood.
What is still missing is a clear understanding of the disease’s cause, which remains unknown. The evidence for medical management is limited to a small 1969 series with no modern replication. No randomised trial has compared medical versus surgical treatment in the current era. No drug treatment is mentioned in any of these abstracts.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
European Journal of Pediatric Surgery · 2010 · 71 citations
Open versus Laparoscopic Pyloromyotomy for Pyloric Stenosis: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
AbstractOBJECTIVE: Aim of the study was to compare the outcomes after laparoscopic pyloromyotomy (LP) with those of open pyloromyotomy (OP) for infantile pyloric stenosis. METHOD: We conducted searches until February 2009 in multiple databases and identified randomized controlled trials comparing LP with OP for pyloric stenosis. Results were expressed using the odds ratio (OR) for categorical variables and standard weighted mean differences (SMD) for continuous outcomes. Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane Handbook 5.0.1 guidelines and statistical analysis was performed using RevMan 5.0.8 software. RESULTS: 3 studies totaling 492 infants were included. The results showed no significant differences in complications between the groups with regard to wound infection (OR: 1.77, 95% CI 0.58-5.35), mucosal perforations (OR: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.22-4.26), incisional hernia or granuloma (OR: 1.39, 95% CI: 0.41-4.73), incomplete pyloromyotomy (OR: 0.13, 95% CI: 0.02-1.07), substantial vomiting (OR: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.30-1.52) and total complications (OR: 0.91, 95% CI: 0.54-1.53). Although the combined result of 2 studies also indicated an insignificant discrepancy in time-related outcomes for full time to feeds, length of stay after surgery and operating time (SMD: 0.78, 95% CI: -0.50-2.06; SMD: 1.27, 95% CI: -1.56-4.10; SMD: -0.46, 95% CI: -1.11-0.20, respectively), another study indicated shorter times for LP procedures (p=0.002, 0.027, and 0.008, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Only a few trials were available for analysis. Heterogeneity was seen between studies, but the available trials were of high quality. The present study shows that both OP and LP are equally safe and effective procedures for the management of pyloric stenosis in children. However, there was a trend in LP toward shorter time time-related outcomes.
Current Opinion in Gastroenterology · 2006 · 53 citations
Endoscopic therapy of benign pyloric stenosis and gastric outlet obstruction
AbstractPURPOSE OF REVIEW: To examine the short and long-term success rates of balloon dilation of pyloric stenosis. RECENT FINDINGS: Several large studies have demonstrated high rates of success for the relief of symptoms from pyloric stenosis using through-the-scope balloons. These dilating balloons readily increase the diameter of the stenotic pylorus on average from 6 to 16 mm. Patients who require more than two dilations are at high risk of endoscopic failure and the need for surgical intervention. Rapid re-stenosis rates are observed in patients with malignant pyloric obstruction. Since many patients with benign pyloric stenosis have underlying ulcer disease, helicobacter infection is a relatively common finding. Eradication of this infection at the time of balloon dilation will ensure higher long-term success rates. SUMMARY: In summary, benign pyloric stenosis can be readily treated with endoscopic balloon dilation and should be the first-line therapy.
Primary Hypertrophic Pyloric Stenosis in the Adult
AbstractAnalysis of 100 consecutive patients with pyloric outlet obstruction revealed that 37% of the obstructions were secondary to peptic ulcer disease and 42% were caused by malignant neoplasm. Only a single patient with primary hypertrophic pyloric stenosis was identified, and whether this lesion is a cause or effect of peptic ulcer disease remains unclear. Similarly, the association of this entity with congenital pyloric stenosis is unknown.
Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health · 2017 · 14 citations · open access
The treatment of pyloric stenosis: Evolution in practice
AbstractOver the last hundred years, idiopathic hypertrophic pyloric stenosis has undergone an evolution in treatment, with subsequent improvements in outcome. Initially, it was treated by physicians with antispasmodics and various alternative feeding and resuscitation modalities. The evolution of surgical approaches led to a revolution in outcome, from almost certain death to complete cure. The progression of surgical and medical treatments is reviewed in this article until, ultimately, Ramstedt's pyloromyotomy is reached. This distilled operation has remained the gold-standard procedure for over a century.
AbstractSixteen patients were treated medically for pyloric stenosis. Five had surgery after failure of the medical program which, with one exception, was associated with failure to carry out a specified feeding regimen and supportive procedures. Success or failure of medical management did not seem to correlate with severity of clinical findings or with abnormalities present before treatment. Results of roentgenographic examinations of 14 patients six months to seven years after treatment demonstrated no difference in the condition of those treated surgically or medically.
An overview of infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis
AbstractIn paediatric general surgery hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (HPS) is well-researched and documented (Dudgeon 2005, Panteli 2009). Significant medical advances have improved its diagnosis, treatment and prognosis, and there is now almost a 100 per cent success rate (Panteli 2009). However, the cause of this disease process remains poorly understood (Dudgeon 2005, Panteli 2009). This article reviews the literature on the cause and management of HPS.
Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening · 2018 · 3 citations · open access
Kirurgisk behandling av pylorusstenose
AbstractBACKGROUND: Pyloric stenosis is one of the most common surgical conditions in infants. This study aims to investigate diagnostics and results of surgical treatment for pyloric stenosis at Oslo University Hospital Ullevål. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A retrospective review of patient records for those undergoing surgery for pyloric stenosis in the period 2004-2016 was conducted. Preoperative symptoms and findings, diagnostics, treatment and postoperative results were recorded. Postoperative complications were classified according to the Clavien-Dindo classification. RESULTS: We identified 140 patients, 123 boys and 17 girls. The sensitivity for ultrasound examination at Oslo University Hospital was 96 % (135/140). Pyloromyotomy was curative in all the patients. A total of 12 perioperative and 12 postoperative complications were determined in 22 patients (16 %). There were four serious postoperative complications (grade IIIb and grade IVa), none of which caused sequelae. Mucosal perforation occurred in two patients and was diagnosed and sutured postoperatively. Postoperative wound infection occurred in seven patients. INTERPRETATION: The diagnosis of pyloric stenosis was confirmed by ultrasound examination in 96 % of the patients who underwent surgery for pyloric stenosis. Pyloromyotomy was curative in all the patients and there were few serious complications.
Disease module: DeepOracle (Open Targets). Structures: RDKit from PubChem SMILES. Literature: retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works (targeted per-candidate search), resolved on OpenAlex.
DeCure is a research and publication project, not medical advice and not a treatment. "DeCure for X" describes a research goal, not a claim that a cure exists. Backing a cure is a contribution to fund the research — it is not an investment, and confers no yield, royalty, equity or IP ownership. Papers are published open-access by the DeCure.ai DAO.
