Research
Risk for reduced bone mineral density in patients with ulcerative colitis
In order to assess the relationship between UC and BMD, the investigators collected data from 13 cross-sectional studies published before August 2019 by searching PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library. The meta-analysis comprised 570 patients with UC and 584 control individuals. The included studies, when pooled, indicated a decrease in BMD in patients with UC on the […]
Research
A protein that controls inflammation
Inflammatory autoimmune diseases Inflammatory autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel diseases, psoriasis, and multiple sclerosis are amongst the most common diseases. Their prevalence has been rapidly expanding over the last few decades, which means that currently millions of patients are under constant treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs to keep their condition under control. As […]
Research
Air pollution exposure takes a heavy toll on gut bacteria
The study, published online in the journal Environment International, is the first to link air pollution to changes in the structure and function of the human gut microbiome—the collection of trillions of microorganisms residing within us. The gaseous pollutant ozone, which helps make up Denver’s infamous “brown cloud”—is particularly hazardous, the study found, with young adults exposed […]
News
Trial implicates MAP as treatable cause of Crohn’s disease
The drug, a fixed-dose combination of clarithromycin, rifabutin and clofazimine (RHB-104, RedHill Biopharma) is yet to be approved for Crohn’s. However, the findings strengthen the case that MAP infection may be the cause of at least some cases of the disease. Infection with MAP has been a suspected, if controversial, cause of Crohn’s since the disease was […]
News
Using artificial intelligence to assess ulcerative colitis
Assessments of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), which is a type of inflammatory bowel disease, are usually conducted via endoscopy and histology. But now, researchers from Japan have developed a system that may be more accurate than existing methods and may reduce the need for these patients to undergo invasive medical procedures. In a study […]
News
Etrasimod offers orally delivered therapy option in UC
In the study, researchers randomly assigned patients to 12 weeks of therapy with 1 mg or 2 mg once-daily etrasimod (APD334, Arena Pharmaceuticals) or placebo. Patients had a modified Mayo score between 4 and 9, endoscopic subscores of at least 2 and rectal bleeding subscores of at least 1. The primary endpoint was an increase in the […]
Research
The fate decision between pathogenic and regulatory T cells
Destructive Th17 cells that mediate chronic inflammation are elevated, and regulatory T cells, or Treg cells, which suppress inflammatory responses and play a protective role in autoimmune disorders, are diminished. Both cells differentiate from the same precursors — naïve CD4 T cells — and the beginning of their change to either Th17 or Treg cells […]
News
Striking differences in patients’ and physicians’ treatment goals and disease management expectations
The IBD Global Assessment of Patient and Physician Unmet Needs Survey (IBD GAPPS) captured insights and perspectives from more than 2,000 patients and 600 physicians, exploring the physician-patient relationship, how patients and physicians define remission, their treatment expectations and levels of satisfaction with current therapies, as well as the impact of ulcerative colitis (UC) and […]
News
Don’t hate your guts – heal them
Each one of us carries about 38 trillion bacteria around with us in our gut every day – if you wanted to count them all, it would take you more than a million years. How can such a veritable zoo of microbes reside peacefully in our guts without triggering our immune systems to attack them, […]
News
Scientists examine how a gut infection may produce chronic symptoms
Keeping inflammation in checkIn a healthy gut, the immune system must strike a careful balance between responding to threats and keeping that response in check to avoid damage.“Inflammation helps the gut ward off an infection, but too much of it can cause lasting harm,” says Daniel Mucida, an associate professor and head of the Laboratory of Mucosal […]
Latest Articles
-
ResearchRisk for reduced bone mineral density in patients with ulcerative colitis
Patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) have reduced bone mineral density (BMD), regardless of steroid use, according to results from a meta-analysis. -
Personal StoryTahlia Giumelli reveals her private battle with Crohn’s
“Crohn’s disease doesn’t stop me. In fact, it motivates me to achieve anything." -
NewsCumulative doses of oral steroids associated with increased hypertension
High cumulative use of oral glucocorticoids was associated with excess incidence of hypertension, according to research published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
