Acute diverticulitis occurring more frequently in younger patients in urban U.S. populations

Acute diverticulitis, a disease in which pouches called diverticula protrude through weak spots in the colon and become inflamed, is more widespread among younger U.S. urban populations than is currently believed, says a new study by researchers from the University of Maryland in Baltimore.

The study, conducted by Eram Zaidi, MD, and Barry Daly, MD, evaluated the records of 100 patients diagnosed with acute diverticulitis within a recent four-year period, 77 of whom had severe enough diverticulitis to warrant hospital admission. Fifty of the patients in the study were between the ages of 20 and 50, with 19 of those patients being younger than 40 years old, and fifty were over the age of 50. The results showed that the disease occurred just as often in the younger age bracket as in the older patients, with the disease frequently being severe in both age groups.

According to Dr. Daly, the results were surprising in light of what is commonly understood about this disease. "Traditionally, acute diverticulosis has been considered a disease of the over 50 year age group. Many radiologists and other physicians do not recognize that acute diverticulitis is now a disease that may occur at any age in adult life and do not consider it as a possible cause when younger adults present with abdominal pain."

The cause of this trend is currently under study. "We are examining the relationship between acute diverticulitis and overweight body habitus, as there appears to be a strong association between the rising incidence of acute diverticulitis in younger adults and the evolving obesity epidemic in this country," said Dr. Daly.

According to the study, the disease may likely become an even greater health problem in the U.S. "The results of this study may help change the perception that acute diverticulitis is a disease that only affects those over 50, and also highlight the value of CT in making this diagnosis. Acute diverticulitis is already a common disease and may become an even greater health problem if patients start to develop it at an earlier age--recurrent attacks and need for surgical resection of the colon are more likely to occur," said Dr. Daly.

This article is a reprint of http://psychcentral.com/news/archives/2004-05/arrs-ado042804.html The time or date displayed reflects when an article was added to Google News

Scientists Find How Bacteria in Cows' Milk May Cause Crohn's Disease

Cow's Milk has been implicated in many health problems including, but not limited to: allergies, asthma, bone and joint diseases, constipation, type-1 diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders, nervous system disorders, and skin rashes. Now research shows that Cow's Milk may also be the underlying cause of Crohn's Disease.

Scientists at the University of Liverpool have found how a bacterium, known to cause illness in cattle, may cause Crohn's disease in humans. Crohn's is a condition that affects one in 800 people in the UK and causes chronic intestinal inflammation, leading to pain, bleeding and diarrhoea.

The team found that a bacterium called Mycobacterium paratuberculosis releases a molecule that prevents a type of white blood cell from killing E.coli bacteria found in the body. E.coli is known to be present within Crohn's disease tissue in increased numbers.

It is thought that the Mycobacteria make their way into the body's system via cows' milk and other dairy products. In cattle, it can cause an illness called Johne's disease - a wasting, diarrhoeal condition. Until now, however, it has been unclear how this bacterium could trigger intestinal inflammation in humans.

Professor Jon Rhodes, from the University's School of Clinical Sciences, explains: "Mycobacterium paratuberculosis has been found within Crohn's disease tissue but there has been much controversy concerning its role in the disease. We have now shown that these Mycobacteria release a complex molecule containing a sugar, called mannose. This molecule prevents a type of white blood cells, called macrophages, from killing internalised E.coli."

Scientists have previously shown that people with Crohn's disease have increased numbers of a 'sticky' type of E.coli and weakened ability to fight off intestinal bacteria. The suppressive effect of the Mycobacterial molecule on this type of white blood cell suggests it is a likely mechanism for weakening the body's defence against the bacteria.

Professor Rhodes added: "We also found that this bacterium is a likely trigger for a circulating antibody protein (ASCA) that is found in about two thirds of patients with Crohn's disease, suggesting that these people may have been infected by the Mycobacterium."

The team is beginning clinical trials to assess whether an antibiotic combination can be used to target the bacteria contained in white blood cells as a possible treatment for Crohn's disease.

The research was funded by Core and the Medical Research Council and is published in Gastroenterology.

This article is a reprint of
http://www.naturalnews.com/022673_bacteria_disease_cows_milk.html

FDA confirms 3 new infections linked to Tysabri

NEW YORK — The Food and Drug Administration says it confirmed three new cases of a potentially lethal brain inflammation linked to the multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri.

There have been 13 reported cases of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, or PML, since mid-2006. The reports are the first confirmed new cases since June. While the disease is rare, the FDA says the risk appears to increase as patients remain on Tysabri.

Tysabri is marketed by Biogen Idec Inc. and Elan Corp. PLC, for multiple sclerosis and Crohn's disease. All the PML cases are linked to its use in multiple sclerosis.

The drug was approved in November 2004 and pulled from the market the next year due to PML reports. It was reintroduced in July 2006, and Biogen said it is used by 43,000 patients.

This article is a reprint of
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ippwxxzjAF82sudsjYmdZBIvYhdwD9ASDEU80/ The time or date displayed reflects when an article was added to Google News. Sep 23, 2009‎

Multiple Sclerosis and Crohn’s Disease Drug Tysabri Linked to Rare, Deadly Brain Infection

Tysabri, a drug prescribed to tens of thousands of multiple sclerosis patients and also used to a lesser extent to treat the form of irritable bowel syndrome called Crohn’s disease, has been linked to more than a dozen cases of a potentially deadly opportunistic infection of the brain.


Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a viral brain infection that has been reported in at least 13 Tysabri patients since 2006 when marketing of the drug resumed, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Tysabri was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in November 2004, but was quickly removed from the market after some users developed PML. The drug was later allowed back on the market after stronger warning labels about the risks of PML were added to Tysabri’s labeling.

Tysabri is approved to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis and moderate to severe cases of Crohn’s disease. However, less than two percent of Tysabri use in the United States is for Crohn’s disease and the vast majority of patients taking the drug are being treated for multiple sclerosis.

Also, no cases of PML have been reported in patients taking the drug for Crohn’s disease. All of the infections have been reported in multiple sclerosis patients taking Tysabri.

The use of Tysabri also has been found to cause liver toxicity and malignant melanoma in some users. The problems developed shortly after the drug was administered.

By most estimates, more than 43,000 patients around the world are currently taking Tysabri, including more than 30,000 who have been taking the drug for more than a year and another 10,000 who have been on it for more than three years. The drug is made by Biogen Idec Inc.

Drug safety officials have taken repeated actions against Tysabri to warn users and prescribing physicians about the risks of injury from the drug.

In April 2009, federal regulators warned Biogen about Internet advertisements for Tysabri the FDA said falsely promoted the drug without emphasizing the risks of PML and other serious health complications.

Then, in September 2009, a new study concluded that Tysabri put patients at greater risk of developing PML by awakening the virus that causes the disease and making the virus even stronger.

This article is a reprint of http://www.attorneyatlaw.com/2009/09/multiple-sclerosis-and-crohns-disease-drug-tysabri-linked-to-rare-deadly-brain-infection/ The time or date displayed reflects when an article was added to Google News. Sep 18, 2009‎

What is IBD?

IBD encompasses two main diseases, ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease. However, there are important differences between the two conditions. Crohn's disease can show up in any portion of the digestive tract from the rectum up to the esophagus, while ulcerative colitis is limited to the colon. IBD is a chronic disease that typically causes inflammation and pain in the intestines, but especially the colon. The degree of inflammation varies between individuals but is characterized by intestinal bleeding, diarrhea, abdominal bloating, pain, weight loss, and sometimes fever. IBD does not remain static over time. People experience flare-ups and then periods of relative calm.

Obesity may increase risk of diverticulitis

Obese people appear to be at increased risk for diverticulitis and for bleeding diverticula, results of a new study indicate.

Diverticula are small pouches that form in the lining of the colon and are very common in older adults. Diverticulitis occurs when the diverticula become inflamed and infected, which can be a serious, even life-threatening, problem. Diverticula may also bleed, which can be an equally serious problem.

"A number of digestive diseases have been associated with obesity," note Dr. Lisa L. Strate, of the University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, and colleagues. "Some of the obesity-related (factors) believed to play a role in these disorders may also influence diverticular complications, most notably the link between obesity and chronic inflammation."

To investigate further, the team examined data for 47,228 men enrolled in the Health Professionals Follow-up study. They were between the ages of 40 and 75 years and free of diverticular disease when the study began in 1986 and were followed until 2004.

A total of 801 cases of diverticulitis and 383 cases of diverticular bleeding occurred during follow-up, according to the report, published in the journal Gastroenterology.

The analysis showed that obese men were 78 percent more likely to develop diverticulitis and 219 percent more likely to develop diverticular bleeding than were normal weight men.

Similarly, a big waistline increased the odds of diverticulitis and diverticular bleeding by 56 and 96 percent, respectively.

Lastly a high waist-to-hip ratio was also linked to both problems, regardless of whether the man was obese or not.

"An association between body fat and diverticular complications has important clinical implications," they conclude, "given the increasing prevalence of these disorders and the considerable risk of recurrent complications."

SOURCE: Gastroenterology, January 2009.

Vitamin D Often High in Crohn’s Disease Patients

Contrary to expectations, people with the inflammatory bowel condition Crohn’s disease are likely to have excessive levels of the active form of vitamin D in their blood, researchers have found. This is associated with low bone mineral density, they report.

Dr. Maria T. Abreu from the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles led the study. She told Reuters Health, "Most doctors think that Crohn’s patients automatically have decreased vitamin D levels and encourage supplementation with vitamin D. We would like to urge doctors to check vitamin D levels before making that recommendation."

As Abreu’s team explains in the medical journal Gut, under certain circumstances too much active vitamin D can actually contribute to the breakdown of bone, leading to osteoporosis. The researchers found "inappropriately high" blood levels of the active form of vitamin D in 42 percent of the 138 people they studied with Crohn’s disease. This was true of only 7 percent of 29 patients with ulcerative colitis, another type of inflammatory bowel disease.

Also, the higher the blood levels of active vitamin D in Crohn’s patients, the lower was their bone density -- regardless of whether they were treated with steroids -- the investigators found. "We believe that high vitamin D levels are most likely a manifestation of the underlying gut inflammation," Abreu said. A high vitamin D level is "an additional risk factor predisposing to development of osteoporosis" for some Crohn’s disease patients, the team concludes. Treatment of the underlying inflammation, "may improve metabolic bone disease."


This article is a reprint of http://www.onlinenews.com.pk/details.php?id=151547 The time or date displayed reflects when an article was added to Google News. Sep 8, 2009‎

Low-fat, high-fiber diet good for the colon

People who have growths or "polyps" in the colon removed can cut their risk of developing recurrent polyps by strictly adhering to a diet low in fat and high in fiber, fruits and vegetables.
That's according to a new analysis of more than 1,000 adults who took part in The Polyp Prevention Trial, which tested the impact of a low-fat, high-fiber diet on the recurrence of colon polyps -- benign growths which may raise a person's risk of developing colon cancer.

After 4 years of the trial, researchers saw no difference in the rate of polyp recurrence between the intervention group and the control group. However, the number of dietary goals met by the intervention group varied greatly, which may account for the lack of observed effect.

To investigate this theory, Dr. Leah B. Sansbury of the National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, and colleagues revisited the data and looked at just how compliant the study subjects were with the low-fat, high-fiber diet.

They report in the American Journal of Epidemiology that of 821 participants in the intervention group who completed the study, 30 percent were classified as poor compliers, 45 percent as inconsistent compliers, and 26 percent as super compliers.

Subjects classified as super compliers consistently reported that they met or exceeded all of the dietary goals at all four yearly checkups.

Super compliers, Sansbury and colleagues discovered, had a 30% lower likelihood of developing a recurrent polyp, compared with controls, and nearly a 50 percent decreased odds of developing more than one recurrent polyp.

The findings support current recommendations to eat a low-fat, high-fiber diet for colon health and overall health.

SOURCE: American Journal of Epidemiology, September 1, 2009.

Appendectomy May Increase Risk of Crohn’s Disease

Crohn’s disease, a rare digestive disorder, is more likely to appear in people who have had their appendix removed, according to a recent study of 200,000 people.

The study compared people who had had an appendectomy with those who had not, and found that those who had undergone the surgery were 47 percent more likely to develop Crohn’s disease, not only soon after surgery but also 10 years later, than those who had not.

Researchers are not certain whether appendicitis increases the risk of Crohn’s disease or vice versa, but hope the association will lead to an increased understanding of both conditions.

There is no known cure for Crohn's disease, which is a type of inflammatory bowel disease with symptoms that include pain, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, bleeding and weight loss.

The causes of appendicitis are also unknown, though one theory associates the condition with a lack of fiber. Researchers note that this association has not been proven.

Information on crohn's treatment visit http://www.serovera.com/crohns-disease.php