Abbott Park, Illinois.(NYSE: ABT) – Abbott today announced that the European Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has issued a positive opinion for HUMIRA? (adalimumab) in adults with moderate to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC) who have not responded to, cannot tolerate or have medical contraindications to conventional therapies. Based on the CHMP's positive opinion, a final decision from the European Commission is anticipated in the next few weeks. upon final decision, HUMIRA will be the first and only self-injectable biologic therapy available for moderate to severe UC patients.

UC is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation in the colon and may lead to life-threatening complications. There is no known cure for UC other than surgical removal of the colon. it is estimated that UC affects up to 1.2 million people in the European Union and approximately 25 percent of UC patients will undergo some type of surgery to treat their symptoms during their lifetimes.

"a diagnosis of ulcerative colitis can be devastating — it can disrupt a patient's life and cause pain, bleeding and hospitalization," said John Leonard, M.D., senior vice president, Pharmaceuticals Research and Development, Abbott. "Today's positive opinion is a step forward in making HUMIRA available to patients with UC throughout the European Union and underscores our long-standing commitment to patients with IBD."

The positive opinion for HUMIRA for the UC indication was based on two Phase III clinical trials which evaluated clinical remission with HUMIRA in adult patients with moderate to severe UC. HUMIRA will be indicated for the treatment of moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis in adult patients who have had an inadequate response to conventional therapy including corticosteroids and 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) or azathioprine (AZA), or who are intolerant to or have medical contraindications for such therapies.

About UC

UC is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation in the rectum and colon, resulting in diarrhea, rectal bleeding and abdominal cramping. On average, people are diagnosed with UC in their mid-30s, though the disease can occur at any age. The symptoms of UC tend to come and go, with varying periods of clinical stability punctuated by episodic flares of disease activity. Common symptoms include frequent loose bowel movements and rectal bleeding. Severe flares of UC can necessitate hospitalization and can be life-threatening. Treatment may include medication and surgery.

About HUMIRA

Globally, uses and prescribing information vary; please refer to the individual country label for complete information.

Important Safety Information

HUMIRA is a TNF blocker that affects the immune system and can lower the ability to fight infections.

People treated with HUMIRA are at an increased risk for developing serious infections that may lead to hospitalization or death. Reported serious infections include tuberculosis (TB) and infections caused by viruses, fungi, or bacteria that have spread throughout the body. People should be tested for TB before HUMIRA use and monitored for signs and symptoms of TB during therapy. People at risk of TB may be treated with medicine for TB. Treatment with HUMIRA should not be started in a person with an active infection, unless approved by a doctor. HUMIRA should be stopped if a person develops a serious infection.

for people taking TNF blockers, including HUMIRA, the chance of getting lymphoma or other cancers may increase. some people have developed a rare type of cancer called hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma. This type of cancer often results in death.

other possible serious side effects with HUMIRA include hepatitis B infection in carriers of the virus, allergic reactions, nervous system problems, blood problems, certain immune reactions, including a lupus-like syndrome, liver problems and new or worsening heart failure or psoriasis. The use of HUMIRA with anakinra or abatacept is not recommended. People using HUMIRA should not receive live vaccines.

Common side effects of HUMIRA include injection site reactions (redness, rash, swelling, itching or bruising), upper respiratory infections (including sinus infections), headaches, rash and nausea.

As with any treatment program, the benefits and risks of HUMIRA should be carefully considered before starting therapy.

Abbott (NYSE: ABT) is a global, broad-based health care company devoted to the discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceuticals and medical products, including nutritionals, devices and diagnostics. The company employs approximately 91,000 people and markets its products in more than 130 countries.

Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes inflammation of the digestive tract lining. This inflammation often spreads deep into the layers of affected bowel tissues. Symptoms of Crohn’s disease can range from mild to severe and may develop gradually or come on suddenly, without warning.

When the disease is active, the most common symptoms are severe diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramping, blood in the stool, ulcers in the intestinal walls, and reduced appetite and weight loss as a result of digestive discomfort and the body’s reduced ability to absorb nutrients. Other symptoms that may accompany Crohn’s diease include fever, fatigue, arthritis, eye inflammation, skin disorders, and inflammation of the liver or bile ducts.

the cause of Crohn's disease remains unknown but it is believed to be caused by a combination of heredity and a malfunctioning immune system. Diet, stress, and certain medications may aggravate the condition.

there is also no known medical cure for Crohn's disease, and medical treatment focuses on reducing the inflammation in order to relieve symptoms and if possible to promote long-term remission. Treatment for Crohn's disease usually involves medications such as anti-inflammatories, immune system suppressors, and antibiotics, combined with other medications to help with the symptoms. In severe cases, surgery may be performed to remove a section of the intestinal tract.

because Chinese medicine developed independently from Western medicine, it has its own disease classifications that do not always correspond with Western medical classifications. TCM diagnosis is based on the collective symptoms that a person is experiencing, and together these symptoms create a picture that leads us to the cause. Depending on symptoms, we may classify Crohn’s disease as a type of abdominal pain or diarrhea, or both.

because Crohn’s disease affects the body’s digestive system, it may involve a weakness or disorder of the stomach, spleen, large intestine, and/or kidneys. This is usually due to a constitutional weakness (genetics) that can be aggravated by diet, environment, emotional stress, overwork, or chronic illness, leading to the development of this condition.

Acupuncture treatments can help to relieve the symptoms of a flare-up of Crohn’s disease. Diarrhea and abdominal pain particularly respond well to acupuncture. not only does acupuncture help with the symptoms of a flare-up, but it can also help to strengthen the body and correct functioning to promote faster remission and a reduction in the frequency and severity of future flare-ups.

because we are dealing with a more complex, chronic condition, recovery from Crohn’s disease with acupuncture will be a gradual and steady process, rather than an instant fix. Acupuncture engages the healing process, and each treatment builds on the progress of the last. Conditions like Crohn’s disease that develop over a longer period of time take more time to reverse and undo. However, acupuncture is a positive option that can help sufferers of Crohn’s disease live more symptom-free and experience a better quality of life.

(Prudent Press Agency) Since early 2000s, a number of studies have linked the acne drug, Accutane, with several adverse health effects such as inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. the accutane lawsuit alleges that the drug manufacturing company neither tested the drug accurately and nor did it warn users about the possible risks such as IBD (inflammatory bowel disease), ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease. Statistics show that more than 5000 people who have suffered with hair loss, blindness, depression, birth defects, inflammatory bowel disease, Chohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis due to intake of Accutane have filed Accutane lawsuits in the hope of getting justice. the well known PH Law Firm, a Seattle-based law agency has come up with an Accutane Lawsuit website that not only offers legal services, but also helps Accutane victims and their families with free case evaluation. This law firm does not charge any fee till the time clients receive compensation. In case you took Accutane a few years back and are suffering now due to its side effects, you can file a lawsuit against the drug manufacturing company and seek compensation. you can always seek a free evaluation from attorneys in the PH Law Firm and find out if you are entitled to get the compensation. Alternatively, you may directly call Accutane Attorneys at 1-888-604-3438. the initial consultation is absolutely free and if you wish to continue with the association, you will be required to pay. Opting for a free case evaluation is not difficult. you simply have to fill out the form available at the Accutane website and answer a few simple questions. these are simple details like your name, address, phone number including some questions about your symptoms and disease. the idea behind this new website by PH Law Firm is justice for Accutane sufferers. AccutaneLawsuit.net features frequently asked questions on Accutane Lawsuit. the idea is to make people aware of the choices and decisions they need to take to claim compensation and rebuild their life. For more information on the PH Law Firm, its services or any information on Accutane Lawsuits, visit TheAccutaneLawsuit.net.

Exclusion of other disorders

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has some common symptoms as gallbladder disease, including difficulties with digestion of fatty foods. However, in IBS, a pain usually occurs in the lower abdomen. Acute appendicitis, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis), pneumonia, ulcer of the duodenum or stomach, pancreatitis, hepatitis, kidney stones, urinary tract infections, diverticulitis, even complications of pregnancy and heart attack may be similar to gallbladder attacks.

Clinical examination

Physical examination often reveals pain in the upper right abdomen in acute cholecystitis and sometimes in biliary colic. Chronic cholecystitis is usually without pain.

Laboratory testing

Results of laboratory tests are usually normal in people with simple biliary pain or chronic cholecystitis. However, with acute cholecystitis, especially with stones in the main bile duct, liver blood tests show elevated enzyme, alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin. Bilirubin is an orange-yellow pigment contained in bile. High levels cause jaundice, which gives a yellowish skin color. Doctors will also check blood levels of liver enzymes known as aspartate (AST) and alanine (ALT) aminotransferase, which are increased when stones are present in the main bile duct. the high number of white blood cells (leukocytosis) is a common finding, but does not appear in significant minority of patients with cholecystitis.

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Ulcerative colitis
Published by Bupa's health information team, April 2008.

This factsheet is for people who have ulcerative colitis, or who would like to find out about it.

Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease that affects about one in every 500 people in the UK. it is a chronic (long-lasting) condition that causes inflammation and ulcers to develop in the lining of your large intestine (colon) and rectum.

If you have ulcerative colitis you may have inflammation problems in other areas of your body, such as arthritis or red and painful skin or eyes.

Ulcerative colitis can occur at any age and affects men and women equally.

About ulcerative colitis
Symptoms
Complications
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Living with ulcerative colitis
Further information
Sources
Related topics
About ulcerative colitis
No one knows exactly what causes ulcerative colitis. it may run in the family – about one in seven people with ulcerative colitis have a close relative who also has the condition. most experts think that things in your environment, such as certain foods or an infection, are also needed to trigger it.

Will it clear up itself?
Ulcerative colitis is known as a "relapsing and remitting" condition. This means that your symptoms can disappear and then flare up again from time to time. you may have weeks or even months with few or no symptoms at all.

A recent survey of patient members of the National Association for Colitis and Crohn's Disease found that 55 percent of people with ulcerative colitis have flare-ups every few months, with some people having monthly or even weekly recurrences. Others have more flare-ups less often.

Symptoms
The main symptom of ulcerative colitis is frequent, watery diarrhoea that sometimes has blood and/or mucus in it. you may also have cramping abdominal during bowel movements.

Other symptoms include:

feeling like you haven't finished on the toilet
nausea
loss of appetite
weight loss
tiredness
inflammation (redness or pain) in the eyes, skin or joints.
These symptoms aren't always due to ulcerative colitis but if you have them you should visit your GP.

Complications
Having ulcerative colitis increases your risk of developing colon cancer. the risk depends on how long you have it for, and how extensive it is.

Because of this, if you have ulcerative colitis you should have regular colonoscopy's (See Tests) to check for any signs of cancer developing. If these are present you may need surgery to remove the affected area of colon. Talk to your GP or gastroenterologist (doctor who specialises in conditions that affects the digestive system) for more information about this.

Causes
Ulcerative colitis is caused by inflammation and ulcers in the lining of your large intestine and rectum. you get diarrhoea because water isn't easily absorbed by your inflamed colon. sometimes ulcerative colitis only affects the rectum – this is called proctitis. Proctitis is less severe than ulcerative colitis. you may not have diarrhoea, but will still tend to have rectal bleeding.

Diarrhea that may contain blood and mucus, pain in the abdomen when it's time to go or while going, anemia. It's not fun. the anemia would come from the blood in your stool. Symptoms of anemia would be tiredness/lack of energy, being cold, and feeling weak. If you have any of these, please see a doctor.

vomiting,pain,mucus in your poop,nausea, i pray you don't have that it is ugly to have that.

February 28, 2011 02:27 AM Eastern Time 

PLANEGG-MARTINSRIED, Germany–(BUSINESS WIRE)–4SC AG (Frankfurt, Prime Standard: VSC), a drug discovery and development company focused on autoimmune and cancer indications, announces the final data from the ENTRANCE Phase IIa trial in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with vidofludimus, an oral inhibitor of interleukin-17 (IL-17) release and DHODH, including the secondary endpoints comprising the analysis of CDAI (Crohn’s disease, CD) and CAI (ulcerative colitis, UC) disease scores, change of prednisolone intake and threshold doses, safety, pharmacokinetics and biomarkers. the data support the previously reported top-line primary endpoint result, which was achieved with a total response rate of 88.5%. these were presented last week at the 6th ECCO IBD Conference in Dublin, Ireland.

* Primary objective of the ENTRANCE study in 26 CD and UC patients was to assess vidofludimus’ remission maintenance potential in steroid-dependant IBD patients upon steroid weaning

* Primary endpoint was met with an 88.5% total response rate (complete and partial responders), supported by secondary endpoint results demonstrating a clear clinical benefit for treated IBD patients

* Required relapse-free prednisolone doses at the end of vidofludimus therapy were significantly lower than average doses needed prior to study entry * Average prednisolone consumption dramatically dropped over the course of the treatment period

* Prednisolone threshold doses of partial responders at the end of the treatment were significantly reduced compared to documented threshold doses prior to study entry

* Vidofludimus was safe and well tolerated by all patients

ENTRANCE TRIAL FINAL DATA

the top-line results from the exploratory, open-label, single-arm ENTRANCE Phase IIa study, announced in November 2010, demonstrated a 88.5% total response rate with vidofludimus versus an average placebo response rate of approximately 20% across published benchmark clinical trials, in steroid-dependant IBD patients. 53.9% (14 out of 26) of patients were complete responders, 34.6% (9 out of 26) of patients were partial responders (34.6%), and 11.5% (3 out of 26) of patients were evaluated as non-responders. no variation in response rates across the sub-disease populations of Crohn’s disease (85.7%) and ulcerative colitis (91.7%) over the 12 week treatment period was observed.

CDAI/CAI disease score development was in-line with the assignment of patients to the categories complete, partial, and non-responders. All 26 evaluable patients, excluding the three non-responders, reached a relapse-free prednisolone dose which was significantly (p<0.001) lower than their individual threshold doses at which they experienced relapses prior to entering into the study. In addition, the decrease of prednisolone intake over the 12 week treatment period indicates a strong steroid-sparing effect from vidofludimus. mean prednisolone consumption was significantly (p<0.001) lowered from 26.5 mg/day (± 8.0) at treatment start to 1.0 mg/day (± 2.7) at week 12. In addition to complete responders who by definition were in steroid-free remission at the end of the study, also partial responders experienced a significant clinical benefit. the mean prednisolone threshold dose of partial responders significantly (p<0.001) dropped from 12.5 mg/day (± 3.1) before study start to 1.4 mg/day (± 2.5) at the end of the study. As expected, due to the inclusion of patients in remission and on concomitant treatment with prednisolone, biomarker data (IL-17, C-reactive protein CRP, erythrocyte sedimentation rate ESR, and calprotectin) revealed poor or no correlation with patients’ disease activity. However, these biomarkers are expected to be valuable parameters to characterize the disease status and to potentially stratify patient populations in future IBD trials with vidofludimus.

Vidofludimus was safe and well tolerated by all patients. no clinically relevant changes of pulse rate, blood pressure, electrocardiography, body temperature, hematology and biochemistry were recorded. a total of 75 adverse events (AEs) were reported (53 mild, 18 moderate, 4 severe) of which 19 AEs were judged by investigators as ‘possibly’ or ‘probably’ drug-related. these included isolated cases of nasopharyngitis, abdominal pain, fatigue, insomnia, glucosuria, leucocyturia, microhematuria, musculoskeletal pain, myalgia, tachycardia, and dyspepsia. no drug-related serious adverse events (SAEs) were reported.

Dr Bernd Hentsch, Chief Development Officer of 4SC, commented, ‘The ENTRANCE study has produced encouraging data with vidofludimus in inflammatory bowel disease, an indication that is underserved for patients and is lacking effective and safe drugs especially in long-term remission maintenance therapy. these data provide early evidence that our oral therapy vidofludimus could provide such an alternative and we look forward to assessing the potential of this compound in further IBD trials.’

Copies of the poster are available on the 4SC website under: 4sc.de/product-pipeline/publications-posters.

Notes to Editor:

about Vidofludimus

Vidofludimus (4SC-101) is a novel, orally administered small molecule for the treatment of autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease. the therapeutic efficacy of vidofludimus is based on a dual principle. Vidofludimus inhibits the expression of interleukin- 17 (IL-17), a pro-inflammatory cytokine that has a crucial pathogenic role in a variety of autoimmune diseases. Vidofludimus also inhibits dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH), a key enzyme of the pyrimidine biosynthesis, thereby halting the proliferation of activated T and B cells which are involved in the pathology of autoimmune disorders. the combination of two mechanisms of action provides an innovative therapeutic approach with broad clinical potential in various autoimmune diseases.

In addition to the Phase II study in inflammatory bowel disease, Vidofludimus is also currently being evaluated in the randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase IIb COMPONENT study in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in combination with methotrexate. Preliminary results are expected to be reported in Q2 2011.

about Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of inflammatory conditions of the gastrointestinal tract. the main forms are Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). these chronic diseases are constituted by acute-disease flare ups which include abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, diarrhoea, weight loss, fatigue and other extra-intestinal symptoms and symptom-free phases. It is assumed that a deregulated immune response results in inflammatory mediators that attack the patient’s intestinal mucosa and trigger the symptoms. for both, CD and UC, the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-17 (IL-17) has been demonstrated to play a crucial role in pathogenesis.

CD is characterised by an inflammatory affliction of part or the whole of the digestive tract and is currently incurable. Approximately 0.9 million people in the seven major industries suffer from various CD symptoms and mostly contract the disease between the ages of 20 and 40. CD leads to a considerable reduction in quality of life, but may also involve severe complications requiring immediate surgery. Current therapeutic options for patients are largely limited to the use of anti-inflammatory corticosteroids or immunosuppressants applied either systemically or locally for the treatment of the symptoms, as well as the application of biological agents (e.g. TNF-alpha targeting antibodies).

UC afflicts specifically the large intestine or colon that includes characteristic ulcers or open sores. UC occurs in approximately 1.4 million patients in the seven major industries and is currently treated with anti-inflammatory drugs, immunosuppressants and biological agents targeting specific components of the immune response. Colectomy (partial or total removal of the large bowel through surgery) is occasionally necessary and is considered to be a cure for the disease.

about 4SC

4SC AG (ISIN DE0005753818) is a drug discovery and development company focused on autoimmune and cancer indications. Vidofludimus (4SC-101), a small molecule, is currently in Phase II development in rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), for which positive results from a Phase IIa study were recently reported. the company’s lead oncology compound, resminostat (4SC-201), a pan-histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, is in Phase II trials in hepatocellular carcinoma, Hodgkin’s lymphoma and KRAS-mutant colorectal cancer. two further oncology compounds, 4SC-203 and 4SC-205, are in Phase I studies. 4SC develops drug candidates until proof-of-concept in order to generate value creating partnerships with the pharmaceutical industry in return for advance and milestone payments as well as royalties.

Founded in 1997, 4SC has 94 employees and has been listed on the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange since December 2005.

for further information, please visit 4sc.com.

This document may contain projections or estimates relating to plans and objectives relating to our future operations, products, or services; future financial results; or assumptions underlying or relating to any such statements; each of which constitutes a forward-looking statement subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. Actual results could differ materially, depending on a number of factors.

Language:   English Company: 4SC AG am Klopferspitz 19a 82152 Martinsried Deutschland Phone: +49 (0)89 7007 63-0 Fax: +49 (0)89 7007 63-29 E-mail: Internet: ISIN: DE0005753818 WKN: 575381 Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr in Berlin, Düsseldorf, München, Stuttgart

Public release date: 6-Feb-2011 [ | E-mail | Share ] Contact: William Raillant-Clarkw.raillant-clark@umontreal.ca514-343-7593University of Montreal

An international team of researchers has made new links between 29 regions of the genome and ulcerative colitis ? a common form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). the new findings increase the total number of genome regions known to be associated with inflammatory bowel disease to 99.

The results point to several biological processes, including the way that our bodies maintain the lining of the intestinal wall, which are likely to play an important role in the development of ulcerative colitis.

The causes of inflammatory bowel disease are not fully understood, although it is thought that patients with inflammatory bowel disease have an overactive immune response against typical gut contents. Together, ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease ? the two primary causes of inflammatory bowel disease ? affect one in 250 people in Europe, North America and Australasia.

Unlike Crohn’s disease, which can impair any part of the human digestive tract, ulcerative colitis is restricted to the large bowel. up to 20 per cent of ulcerative colitis patients will require surgery to remove the entire large bowel.

“The outcomes and quality of life for patients with ulcerative colitis can be bleak”, says Dr. John Rioux, from the Montreal Heart Institute and the Universit? de Montr?al, senior author on the paper, and co-chair of the International IBD Genetics Consortium. “To understand the genetic causes of the disease, we carried out the largest study of the disease to date ? taking a magnifying glass to over one million sites in the genomes of more than 26,000 people.”

“Ultimately, we hope that unmasking the genetic processes that give rise to the disease will minimise the need for surgical outcomes, by opening the door for new therapies that can stop the disease in its tracks.”

“With one in 160 Canadians living with either Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, we have among the highest rates of IBD in the world,” says Dr. Kevin Glasgow, Chief Executive Officer of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada. “Given the often limited treatment options and quality of life for patients with ulcerative colitis, the Canadian IBD community welcomes this research breakthrough and looks forward to its therapeutic application.”

The team carried out a genome-wide scan to look for changes in the genetic code common to patients with ulcerative colitis. they did this by looking at genetic data from more than 32,000 apparently healthy people, and more than 16,000 people suffering from ulcerative colitis.

Using the technique, the team homed in on 29 new regions that are associated with the disease ? bringing the total number for ulcerative colitis to 47 and the total for inflammatory bowel disease to 99.

Like signposts, these regions pointed the researchers towards several genes that might play an important role in ulcerative colitis.

“The genomic regions we have identified give us an insight into the biology underlying ulcerative colitis,” says Dr. Carl Anderson, from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and first author on the paper. “These important initial discoveries are the building blocks on which we can begin to derive better IBD treatments, though much further work is needed before these become a clinical reality. ”

“To give us a better understanding of IBD biology, we compared the results of this ulcerative colitis study to those of a similar study we recently completed looking at Crohn’s disease, and the results were very informative.”

The team found significant overlap between the genetic regions associated with each disease, with at least 19 of the total 47 ulcerative colitis regions also associated with Crohn’s disease.

The researchers show that many of the overlapping regions include genes involved in expanding and maintaining a group of T-cells involved in our immune response. the finding supports the idea that the way our immune system responds to the natural bacteria found in the gut could be an important part of the disease profile of inflammatory bowel disease.

The researchers suggest that the candidate genes ? including several key members of the ‘IL23 pathway’ ? could provide good targets for researchers developing therapeutic interventions against the disease.

As well as finding genes that point towards a shared biology ? the researchers also found evidence of genetic events that might be unique to ulcerative colitis.

“For many patients, ulcerative colitis means a lifetime of bloody diarrhoea and stomach pains,” says Dr. John Rioux. “The disease can be very severe in some patients resulting in life-threatening inflammation of the large bowel, and there is an increased risk of developing bowel cancer. This is a really unpleasant and intrusive illness that typically affects young adults, and for which we presently have no known cure. “

“We have some good medical therapies, but for many patients these are either not effective or poorly tolerated. We therefore have an urgent unmet therapeutic need and it is my great hope that we can translate our really exciting genetic findings into effective new therapies in the next five to ten years, ” said Dr. John Rioux.

The new findings open the door for further research to explore the candidate genes identified and their possible role in the development of the ulcerative colitis and inflammatory bowel disease.

###

Notes to Editors

About inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Inflammatory bowel disease is a term used to describe conditions that are characterised by inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. the term IBD is used predominantly to describe two diseases: Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. In Crohn’s disease, the inflammation can affect any part of the digestive tract. In ulcerative colitis, the inflammation affects only the colon. Together, ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease affect one in 250 people in Europe, North America and Australasia. Inflammatory bowel disease should not be mistaken for irritable bowel syndrome ? a separate disease which can present some similar symptoms.

Publication Details

Anderson C A et al. (2011) Meta-analysis identifies 29 additional ulcerative colitis risk loci, increasing the number of confirmed associations to 47. Nature Genetics. Published online before print at doi: 10.1038/ng.764

Funding A full list of funding agencies is available at the Nature Genetics website.

Participating Centres A full list of participating centres is available at the Nature Genetics website.

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Image: Kimberley Evason University of California, San Francisco

In 2007 parasite immunologist P’ng Loke sat down for lunch at a University of California, San Francisco, cafeteria with a patient who wanted help documenting his medical condition. The two shared an unusual interest: gut worms—specifically, tiny wormlike parasitic organisms called helminths.

Loke’s 35-year-old guest, who declined to be identified for reasons of patient confidentiality, explained that he suffered from an inflammatory bowel disease known as ulcerative colitis. While researching his condition a few years before, the man had read about helminthic therapy, which has not been approved by the FDA but which is a subject of active research by gastroenterologists and parasitologists. The idea is that people with autoimmune disorders can ease their symptoms by deliberately infecting themselves with parasitic worms such as hookworm or whipworm, both of which supposedly pacify the human immune system to survive inside the body. In numerous animal studies, these parasites ostensibly protected rodents from a wide variety of immunological disorders, including colitis, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, food allergies and type 1 diabetes. The man had convinced himself the therapy could work for him, and, since 2004, he had been ingesting whipworm eggs, which he obtained from Thailand. he was now virtually symptom-free. could Loke help him figure out how, if at all, the worms had treated his colitis?

Loke was skeptical at first but agreed. In a recent paper published in Science Translational Medicine, Loke, now at New York University, and his colleagues suggest that the whipworms are indeed effective in treating colitis. Repeated colonoscopies, for example, showed that wherever worms colonized the patient’s  colon, the signs of colitis—open sores and inflammation—were significantly reduced or nonexistent. more important, Loke showed through tissue analysis that the parasites may work by stimulating mucus production in the gut. Colitis, which is associated with decreased mucus production, is thought to occur when the immune system attacks benign bacteria living in the intestines. The extra mucus may help calm the immune system and prevent it from attacking the gut’s harmless microorganisms.

“this is not a double-blind study, but the pattern is highly suggestive that the worms helped this patient,” says Joel Weinstock, a gastroenterologist at Tufts University who has pioneered helminthic therapy research. “The major point of this paper is the potential mechanism—mucus production—which has not been looked at properly before.”

Crohn’s Disease is usually difficult to determine, as the signs mimic many other gastrointestinal disorders. nonetheless, when you recognize an inflammatory bowel disease, particular testing may be completed to find out if Crohn’s is an issue.

The first symptom associated with Crohn’s Disease is diarrhea. the inflammation of the intestines experienced because of the dysfunction causes excessive quantities of salt and water to be produced that the physique cannot reabsorb. the body, in turn, makes an attempt to eliminate the excess fluid causing diarrhea. Intestinal contractions additionally contribute to this process. the severity of diarrhea will range by particular person, from mildly unfastened occurring barely extra continuously to extremely watery occurring multiple occasions a day.

One other signal of Crohn’s is bleeding of the intestines, typically seen within the stool of the sufferer. This is attributable to the swelling and inflammation of the intestinal wall, which turns into broken as waste passes through the body. Depending on the severity, this can be of main concern, inflicting anemia and different complications. Ranging in shade from vibrant purple to darker shades, blood in one’s stool should cause concern.

Stomach pain and cramping are additionally widespread with Crohn’s Illness, as irritation worsens. the swelling itself will be painful; nevertheless, the passage of waste through infected channels causes extra discomfort. the longer irritation lasts, the partitions of the intestinal tract grow to be thick with scar tissue, which worsens that matter.

Crohn’s victims additionally sometimes endure ulcers and sores on account of the disease. Additionally prompted as a result of irritation, the intestines can develop abrasions that enlarge into ulcers. This correlates with abdominal pain and cramping as well. nevertheless, it may additionally lead to infection and different complications.

Those who endure from this illness are generally affected in unlikely areas of their life as well. when somebody experiences digestive problems, they usually lose their appetite and desire to consume food. This coupled with absorption problems, resulting from irritation, may lead to malnutrition and weight loss.

Severe instances of Crohn’s Disease also exhibit fever, fatigue, and other points that do not relate to the intestines, comparable to arthritis or liver disorders. nevertheless, the intensity of signs skilled will fluctuate vastly from person to person. Whereas some could have extreme unwanted effects, others might have very few. as a result of this illness is a power dysfunction, signs can also disappear for prolonged durations of time, only to return unexpectedly.

In case you thirst for additional information about intestinal problems stop by the author’s website without delay!

Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease that can have painful and life-changing symptoms. in addition to being very painful, it can have life-threatening complications. in many cases, Crohn’s disease is so debilitating that it prevents a person from working. therefore, many sufferers are eligible for Social Security Disability benefits.

The most common symptoms of Crohn’s disease are diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramps, loss of appetite, weight loss, ulcers and internal bleeding. Severe cases of Crohn’s disease can involve inflammation of the liver, arthritis, fever, fatigue, skin problems and eye disorders. Crohn’s disease can also lead to severe intestinal problems including blockages and abnormal connections between different parts of the intestine. This can lead to malnutrition in people who suffer from Crohn’s disease.

While there is no cure for Crohn’s disease, there are treatments available that can alleviate symptoms and lead to long-term remission. Doctors often prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs as well as immune-system suppressors. Antibiotics are used to treat complications of Crohn’s disease, such as infections and ulcers.

Additionally, doctors will prescribe painkillers, laxatives, anti-diarrhea medication, and nutritional supplements. To combat malnutrition, supplements are often given through an IV, which can get nutrition into the body while bypassing the intestines. Diet is not believed to cause Crohn’s disease, but certain foods can aggravate Crohn’s disease symptoms. many physicians will alter a patient’s diet to minimize the risk of an attack.

In severe cases that do not respond to medication or diet changes, surgery is an option. However, relief from surgery is often only temporary and the disease can come back.

Because Crohn’s disease has such life changing effects, many sufferers are unable to work and can qualify for Social Security disability benefits. To qualify for benefits, an applicant must show that he or she has a disease that is expected to last one year or more and that the disease prevents him or her from working. If you have questions about disability benefits for victims of Crohn’s disease, an experienced disability attorney can help inform you of your legal rights.

Source: ask Dr. Gott, “Surgery may be best for teen with Crohn’s,” Dr. Peter Gott, 12/12/2010