crohn’s disease

Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are part of the group of conditions known as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Prior to the 20th century, before the rise of hygiene and urbanization, inflammatory bowel disease was quite rare. Currently, IBD is found in developed countries and is believed to be caused by a lack of germ resistance ...click here to read more

Unbeknownst to most people, our intestines are full of bacteria. Most of our Western culture has demonized bacteria, blaming them for causing infections and inconvenience. However, we as a species would not be able to survive without them, as they help to break down the food we eat into molecules your body recognizes. Intestinal ecosystem ...click here to read more

A drug known as ustekinumab (Stelara) has been found to show promise in treating Crohn’s disease in cases where other treatments have been unsuccessful. Stelara blocks inflammatory agents interleukin-12 and interleukin-23. It has been used to treat psoriasis – and most recently, approved to treat Crohn’s disease. Coauthor of the study Dr. William Sandborn explained, ...click here to read more

This week’s health news roundup presents articles discussing irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease, kidney stones, inflammatory bowel disease, and cataracts. This week we discuss how IBS symptoms may be lowered with modified rye bread, natural treatments for Crohn’s disease, higher risk of kidney stones in ankylosing spondylitis, and how cataract surgery can help extend seniors’ ...click here to read more

In Crohn’s disease, genetic variants prevent “good” gut bacteria from working. Co-author of the study Dr. Dermot McGovern said, “Bacteria historically have been regarded as an enemy of the body, but more recently we have been identifying bacterial types that seem to be beneficial to health, especially in the case of IBD.” The researchers uncovered ...click here to read more

Blood in stool is a possible symptom for ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Blood in stool that is a result of an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) will appear red or bright red, whereas if the blood is coming from the upper digestive tract, it will appear dark or even black. Bleeding from the rectum is ...click here to read more

The colon cancer vs. Crohn’s disease debate is generating a lot of interest in the medical community, and rightly so. Every year in the U.S., approximately 57,000 people die from colorectal cancer and 147,000 new cases are diagnosed. According to the journal Oncology, there is a substantial body of evidence demonstrating that chronic inflammation is ...click here to read more

Shingles risk can increase with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), according to the research. A cohort study of 108,604 patients has found that the risk of contracting herpes zoster risk is greater in IBD patients than non-IBD patients. Those taking antitumor necrosis factor-alpha agents (TNF) were found to be particularly prone to the virus. Herpes zoster ...click here to read more

Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis risk was found to be associated with the long-term use of oral contraceptives. Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, are more common in women than men, and previous research has linked their occurrence with the use of birth control pills. The original 2012 study found clear ...click here to read more

Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and colon cancer can be treated with experimental breakthrough therapy. The findings come from UCLA where researchers have found a way to suppress the development of ulcerative colitis by using a chemical inhibitor capable of blocking an RNA molecule (microRNA-214) involved in the transmission of genetic information. High levels of microRNA-214 ...click here to read more

Ulcerative colitis and colon cancer risk has been found to be linked to certain proteins and sugars produced by the body. Hepatocyte nuclear factor 4-alpha (HNF4-alpha) plays a role in both inflammatory bowel disease like ulcerative colitis and colon cancer. Transcription factors like HNF4-alpha promote DNA transcription into RNA, which is then translated into proteins ...click here to read more

Celiac disease and Crohn’s disease both cause inflammation of the intestines, and although there are some overlapping symptoms each condition has its own unique disease course that requires a very specific form of treatment. Distinguishing celiac disease and Crohn’s disease based on symptoms alone could be quite difficult. Additional testing is required for determining the ...click here to read more

Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis incidences are much higher in asthma and COPD patients, according to research. Lead author Paul Brassard said, “These findings have important implications for the early detection of [inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD)] in airway disease patients. Although a link has previously been suggested, this is the first study to find significantly ...click here to read more

Crohn’s disease can originate from specialized intestinal cells. The researchers suggest that small intestinal Crohn’s disease may be a specific type of disorder of the Paneth cells, which are specialized cells in small intestine. The study was led by researchers at the University of Cambridge and Harvard University, and this finding can lead to new ...click here to read more