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I was stunned to spot a story on the future of colonoscopy in Gizmodo a gadget blog that I read regularly. It's just not the place I find stuff to post up here. :) Apparently Invendo Medical has come up with the Invendoscopy System, a product that will Read More...
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A new study out of the Mayo Clinic published by the Annals of Internal Medicine has shown that Humira (adalimumab) is effective for adults that don't respond to Remicade (infliximab). While Remicade is still one of the top (if not the top) drug used in Read More...
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A new study was recently published in The American Journal of Gastroenterology suggesting that smoking may determine which part of the intestine is affected by Crohn's disease. The location of the diseases will also affect the treatment and may even make Read More...
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Jack Schnable, a senior who will graduate this spring from the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, got together with Baron Gottsacker a chef to write a cookbook for Crohn's disease. It was a senior year project for Schnable and not for sale but I Read More...
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A recent study found that folks with IBD may also be at a higher risk for developing nerve damage. The researchers found that those with inflammatory bowel disease were about four times more likely to develop neuromuscular conditions, including carpal Read More...
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I love to read stories of survivors who don't let their conditions hold them back. In this case, it would seem that Rob Hill's condition actually inspired him to dream even bigger and just go for it. This is one guy on a mission. He recently scaled the Read More...
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There are about 500 individuals who are in the process of suing drug maker Hoffman-La Roche claiming that the drug Accutane is the cause of of their inflammatory bowel disease. Accutane, or isotretinoin, is considered a huge breakthrough in treatment Read More...
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Here's an article from Wired about the benefits of probiotics. I found it interesting but it didn't tell me anything I didn't already know. I've tried a few different probiotics in the past but haven't seen any direct personal benefit. Of course, I'm Read More...
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Here's a nice story about Rolf Benirschke. Benirschke was a placekicker for the professional football team the San Diego Chargers. He had a great career playing for 10 years and setting all kinds of records. The really astounding part is that he played Read More...
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For many of sufferers of IBD it can be a pain to leave the house for fear that they won't be able to find a public restroom when the need arrives... and with IBD it often does. Some kids in Texas took it upon themselves to try an relive some of that pain Read More...
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Callisto Pharmaceuticals announced a few weeks back that they're feeling pretty good about Guanilib. So good, in fact, that they intend to move the drug into clinical trials in ulcerative colitis. They announced that they have new animal data that suggest Read More...
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Shooters all around! Researchers in Mexico report that certain compounds found in agave fruit (the fruit used to make tequila) may be effective in treating diseases of the colon including IBD, IBS and cancer. "This study shows that the agave fruit is Read More...
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Inverness Medical recently announced that they've added the TechLab enteric panel to their portfolio. This panel of tests enables helath professionals to distinguish rapdily patients with Infalmmatory Bowel Disease (IBD) from patients with Irratable Bowel Read More...
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I check out a lot of sites online looking for information about IBD but I never expected to find one on the Billboard web site. Yeah, that Billboard. I found this article about Pearl Jam's Mike McCready. He's done a ton of work to help the Northwest Chapter Read More...
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It was recently announced that Remicade was recommended by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) for use in Europe in treating severe active Crohn's disease in kids aged 6 to 17. That'll make Remicade the first therapy approved in Read More...
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In a recent audit of IBD patient care in the UK they found unacceptable variations in care. Not good for a disease that affects 1 person in 400 in the UK. They found the following: 44% of sites in the UK do not have an IBD clinical nurse specialist Very Read More...
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I just noticed that Humira was approved about a month ago for treatment of moderately to severely active Crohn's disease. That's good news for Crohn's suffers. Not only is Humira yet another alternative treatment, it's a lot easier to administer. Up until Read More...
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Pretty nice. The pharmaceutical company UCB has introduced a scholarship for folks living with Crohn's. If you need financial help for your schooling check this out soon as the deadline is May 18, 2007. UCB, Inc. announced today the national roll out Read More...
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This is a very short mention of a method to add fiber to IV feeding to help intestinal growth. Read More...
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For those of us with IBD, 'scopes are regular occurences but you never get used to them especially the horrible stuff you have to take to prepare for them. Virtual colonoscopies may one day make those things of the past. They're non-invasive and a lot easier to prepare for. Read More...
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The common wisdom among the medical community is that IBD is an autoimmune disorder but a few doctors and researchers are challenging that notion with some interesting results. Some are convinced that it's more likely caused by our bodies reacting to bacteria. A similar debate raged in the medical community in the 90's around the causes of peptic ulcers until it was proven that most ulcers are indeed caused by bacteria. At any rate, the idea that IBD may be caused by bacteria has led to some interesting new treatments including probiotics or very long very high doses of antibiotics. The author of this article is also the author of an interesting new book I'm reading called, "Bacteria for Breakfast: Probiotics for Good Health". Read More...
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A new book by James Lang descibes his battle and triumph over Crohn's Disease. The book, "Learning Sickness: A Year with Crohn's Disease", is about the worst year in his life when the disease almost completely disabled him. He devotes different chapters to the many lessons he learned that year including topics about God, family, truth, and personal responsibility. Read More...
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Yet another interesting development this month from Toronto. Scientists looking for trends studied medical records dating back to 1977 of Toronto children who developed IBD before their 15th birthday. The data shows Crohn's disease has become more common than ulcerative colitis over the past two decades, with both of these diseases observed across all ethnic groups. Read More...
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The idea that parasites can actually be helpful in treating IBD has been talked about for a few years but mostly in theory or in studies that used very small samples. Well, another much larger study will soon be released that shows remarkable success in inducing remission in both Crohn's and Colitis. There is even a firm in Europe that is planning to launch a drink that could be used in treatment. This is one area of research to watch. Read More...
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Scientists continue to zero in on the causes of Crohn's. There have been a number of recent discoveries that point to specific genes that predispose people to getting Crohn's Disease. Scientists at the University of Toronto have isolated yet another. I can't say that I unerstood much of the medical geek-speak in the actual article abstract but the press release here is pretty clear. We're not there yet but we are heading in the right direction and we're one step closer. Read More...
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The personal story of an artist. In creating, this Crohn's sufferer finds relief from the painful disease. Read More...
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Probiotics have been getting all kinds of good press lately both in the US and Europe. This recent article from The Scotsman does a great job of explaining some of the basics. It goes into the history and tries to explain some of the possible reasons behind the benefits. Read More...
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A recent danish study shows that an appendectomy reduces the risk of getting ulcerative colitis. It also shows that once you have ulcerative colitis, removing the appendix has no effect. Read More...
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Don't you wish you could do a little more to help eradicate IBD? If you are anywhere near Northern California I strongly encourage you to sign up for the Pace Setter Walk coming up on May 8th in San Francisco, Palo Alto and Sacramento. I walked in the Palo Alto event last year and will definitely walk again this year. In fact, if you have the time, consider volunteering to help make the event an even bigger success than it was last year. My son and I helped out at last year's event and we had a great time. Pencil it into your schedule now before you forget. Read More...
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A new study has confirmed what had been previously suspected... that people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are more than three times as likely to develop blood clots in their veins. Read More...
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We've mentioned a couple of times that Mike McCready of the rock band Pearl Jam had come out publicly about his battle with Crohn's Disease. This story is a summary of an interview he gave recently in Seattle about his battle. Read More...
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Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may help pediatricians better diagnose children with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, according to a study by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Children's Center. That could go a long way toward starting appropriate drug treatment earlier and possibly avoiding surgery when it's not appropriate. Read More...
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A study on Remicade (known generically as infliximab) shows that it helps significantly with fistulas. If only it weren't so damn expensive, though... Read More...
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In a recent article in Gastroenterology a study of the effects of long-term cases of ulcerative colitis (specifically the severity of colonic inflamation) is linked to colorectal cancer. Read More...
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A study published in Psychosomatic Medecine shows a clear link between depression and anxiety and flares of IBD. Read More...
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Hadassah's approach to Crohn's disease goes back 2,000 years... straight from the Talmud, which sanctions the eating of an unkosher animal to heal oneself. Read More...
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We're pretty lucky to have Laurel Garwin, a certified nutritionist, regularly attending meetings of the IBD support group I'm in (Palo Alto, CA). Recently she offered to let me post a paper she wrote on UC and Nutrition and so here it is. It's not published anywhere else so I guess that makes it an IBDanswers exclusive! She wrote the paper as the thesis for her Nutrition Consultant certification from Bauman College and it took her about 3 months to write and research. Although Laurel does not have IBD her stepmom does so it's a topic that's near and dear to her heart. In her own words: "I wanted to write it so that normal people could understand the current theories and what was going on (not that anyone really knows yet). I also wanted to give some practical advice or recommendations, and explanations as to why, so that anyone could implement without spending a fortune or doing a lot of expensive testing." If you are looking for nutrition advice, Laurel is a practicing nutrition consultant in the San Francisco Bay Area (contact info at the end of the article). She specializes in gastrointestinal disorders, food allergies, weight loss, diabetes, fibromyalgia, alcoholism, and depression. (Part 3 of 3) Read More...
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We're pretty lucky to have Laurel Garwin, a certified nutritionist, regularly attending meetings of the IBD support group I'm in (Palo Alto, CA). Recently she offered to let me post a paper she wrote on UC and Nutrition and so here it is. It's not published anywhere else so I guess that makes it an IBDanswers exclusive! She wrote the paper as the thesis for her Nutrition Consultant certification from Bauman College and it took her about 3 months to write and research. Although Laurel does not have IBD her stepmom does so it's a topic that's near and dear to her heart. In her own words: "I wanted to write it so that normal people could understand the current theories and what was going on (not that anyone really knows yet). I also wanted to give some practical advice or recommendations, and explanations as to why, so that anyone could implement without spending a fortune or doing a lot of expensive testing." If you are looking for nutrition advice, Laurel is a practicing nutrition consultant in the San Francisco Bay Area (contact info at the end of the article). She specializes in gastrointestinal disorders, food allergies, weight loss, diabetes, fibromyalgia, alcoholism, and depression. (Part 2 of 3) Read More...
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We're pretty lucky to have Laurel Garwin, a certified nutritionist, regularly attending meetings of the IBD support group I'm in (Palo Alto, CA). Recently she offered to let me post a paper she wrote on UC and Nutrition and so here it is. It's not published anywhere else so I guess that makes it an IBDanswers exclusive! She wrote the paper as the thesis for her Nutrition Consultant certification from Bauman College and it took her about 3 months to write and research. Although Laurel does not have IBD her stepmom does so it's a topic that's near and dear to her heart. In her own words: "I wanted to write it so that normal people could understand the current theories and what was going on (not that anyone really knows yet). I also wanted to give some practical advice
or recommendations, and explanations as to why, so that anyone could
implement without spending a fortune or doing a lot of expensive
testing." If you are looking for nutrition advice, Laurel is a practicing nutrition consultant in the San Francisco Bay Area (contact info at the end of the article). She specializes in gastrointestinal disorders, food allergies, weight loss, diabetes, fibromyalgia, alcoholism, and depression. (Part 1 of 3) Read More...
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Doctors are looking at nicotine as a possible treatment for an array of disorders, from brain disorders to pain to intestinal problems (like Ulcerative Colitis). But don't go buy your patch yet: nicotine is addictive, toxic, and can constrict blood flow, raising one's heart rate and blood pressure. Wait for the chemists to figure this one out a little better. Read More...
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Just what we're all waiting for: a drink of Gatorade and worms to fix our guts. But if it works? Sign me up... Read More...
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Keep having those yearly 'scopes if you've had IBD for a while: treatment with 5-aminosalicylate (5-ASA) does not prevent colorectal cancer in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Read More...
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Are antibiotics the chicken or the egg? There seems to be a link between antibiotic use and developing CD, but whether the antibiotics may be one of the factors tilting the IBD wheel in our direction remains to be seen. Read More...
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Another famous figure who is know to have had IBD is US president John F. Kenedy. He was diagnosed with colitis in 1934 at the age of 17. He also had many other health problems including severe back pain and Addison's Disease. In this PBS interview physician Jeffrey Kelman discusses the extensive health ailments President John F. Kennedy suffered during his lifetime. Read More...
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A story last week about Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready having Crohn's spurred me to look for a little more information. Sure enough, I found a story about his helping the Northwest Chapter of the CCFA last year with a fund raiser. He was first diagnosed at 21. He spoke for the first time publicly last year about having Crohn's and Colitis. Read More...
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Researchers in Phoenix and Tucson are collaborating on a study to find the genetic roots of IBD. There has already been a connection made with one gene (NOD2) but that only accounts for about 10% of the cases of IBD so the researchers are trying to find the other genes involved. The study will look at families with two or more affected individuals, or families with a mother and father affected. If you fit the bill and are in Arizona, this sure does look like a worthwhile study. Read More...
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I had heard that Pearl Jam's lead guitarist Mike McCready had IBD but this is the first story I have come across about it. I think it's pretty cool that he's donating his name and his time to help the CCFA. Of course if you're in the Seattle area I encourage you to get your tickets early. Read More...
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I've heard many good things about the probiotic VSL#3. This is more good news for people having problems with pouchitis. In a new study in Gut VSL#3 appeared to do pretty good job helping to control pouchitis and generally improving the quality of life of UC patients with pouchitis. Warning: This is a press release so it may be biased and omit some of the negative bits. Read More...
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A new book entitled Bacteria for Breakfast: Probiotics for Good Health has been published that dives into the details of probiotics. It describes clinical trials in which these supplements have been used to prevent and treat Crohn's disease, colitis, diarrhea, vaginal infections, food allergies, eczema, and more. Probiotics are healthy bacteria that have been used to treat and prevent gastrointestinal diseases, as well as illnesses that affect the immune system. Read More...
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Probiotics have been getting more and more good press lately. In this story researchers say friendly bacteria can improve intestinal functioning and may be a source of treatment for a range of diseases including IBD. I wish there was a little more regulation in the area, though. One of the researchers in the story claims that many of the probiotics on the market don't actually contain all the bacteria they claim to. Read More...
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High blood levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a protein linked to heart attacks, might also be an early warning sign of colon cancer, a study found. People with diseases involving chronic intestinal inflammation, including ulcerative colitis, are known to face an increased colon cancer risk, and studies have shown that aspirin and other anti-inflammatory drugs can reduce that risk. Read More...
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Knowing how probiotics work could give scientists a way to identify and select which probiotic bacteria might be effective against such human ailments as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Probiotics have shown promise for treating such IBDs as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, both of which cause periodic intestinal inflammation. Read More...
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Dairy products, such as yogurt, can be supplemented with odd sugars called nondigestible oligosaccharides. Their large fiberlike molecules seem to enhance the body's absorption of bone-building calcium. This has just a brief mention that it might be beneficial to UCers or to those at risk of colon cancer for other [non-specified] reasons. It may be marketed differently in Europe (where they are more interested in intestinal health) versus US (where bone health/calcium is a better selling point). Both these benfits are a bonus for IBDers. Read More...
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A Swedish researcher has discovered a new form of inflammatory intestinal disease called Microscopic Colitis. It appears to be hard to spot but is, in fact, quite common. I have no idea how it relates to IBD but it does appear to have some differences (it shows signs of being an infectious disease, for instance). Read More...
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I always wonder what makes researcher head down the paths they do. Sometimes it seems like organized madness but if it leads to a more and better treatments for IBD I'm all for it. The latest thought is that plantain bananas contain an interesting protein that prevents bacteria gathering in the lining of the bowel. It's not even a product yet let alone being in clinical trials so it'll take a good long while before we see any results from this discovery. Read More...
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I'd heard that there was a probable link between stress and IBD so I found this recent study interesting in that it found a significant link between depression and relapse in IBD. Read More...
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Leukine continues to show promise as a new type of treatment for Crohn's. While most of the approved therapies try to suppress the immune system, Leukine actually revs it up. It's still too early (it's in phase 2 trials) to see where it'll lead but it does look promising. Read More...
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There are an awful lot of people out there who are not as fortunate as I am and could use some comfort or a helping hand. This story of a New York girl, sick and home-bound with Crohn's Disease, receiving gifts from Marines and their Toys for Tots program kind of brought the point home for me. I hope you had a happy and healthy holiday. Read More...
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For those of us that have had colonoscopies it might come as a suprise that the scope can only go so far and that there are parts of the small bowel that are just out reach meaning that it's sometimes difficult to diagnose problems. Capsule Endoscopy looks really interesting and will make it easier to have a look at parts of the digestive track that could not previously be seen. As study was published the latest issue of Radiology (I read 'em all, folks ;) ) looks at the effectiveness of this new technique. Read More...
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