NEW TREATMENT OPTION - SIMPONI® Receives Approval in UK for the Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis/ #UC

I just read that today Simponi was approved for the treatment of ulcerative colitis in the UK.  This may be a successful treatment option for people that have not been able to obtain remission with mainstream treatments for the disease.  Some people, like myself, have tried them all with no improvement.  It's very frustrating to hit that wall and run out of effective treatments..... actually, safe effective treatments.  If you just can't seem to get the inflammation and toll taking symptoms under control and you've taken into consideration the risks vs. the benefits, some people may find relief with this new drug.  This particular article does include the potential health risks from TNF-blocking therapies, toward the end of the article.  

If you are considering Simponi (or any immunesuppressing drug), please know everything about it before agreeing to the treatment.   Everyone should know what the risks are versus the benefits before beginning any kind of treatment like this.  Your doctor will not tell you everything about these drugs and from personal experience, most doctors down play the risks and don't even look at  family history/genetics when deciding if these treatments are appropriate.   It's disturbing when you know that the information you completed for your file, (providing family history) and screams *HIGH RISK*, and the doctor recommends the treatment anyway.   Sadly, it's probably because the doctor didn't even scan over this little piece of information that says a lot.  Another reason is because TNF-blocking therapies have become the conventional prescribing treatments for IBD now, despite their high side-effect profile.   

Personally, I would never consider being treated with an immune suppressing drug of this potency because of the numerous possible health problems that could result.  It's not worth it to me to put my entire body at risk of developing something life altering (conditions worse than what I'm treating) with the awareness that there are life changes that I can make that will encourage healing and repair of my digestive tract.  It takes determination to make the changes that are necessary and it takes longer to heal, but in my opinion, it's my overall health that I care about.  You will get there, I did.

Most doctors will say that diet is not a big contributor to IBD however,  it infact makes a huge difference in respects to your success with reaching remission. What foods you choose to eat WILL affect your health negatively or positively, it's a decision that you can control that will have a significance on your overall quality of life.  If you struggle with diet and need some guidance, send me an email.  Years ago I was clueless about what to eat and what not to eat.   I was blessed to have connected with a few very knowledgeable people that helped me in the area of diet.  I'm always willing to help people that need some support and suggestions, so feel free to contact me if you need some support.     

PR Newswire UK: SIMPONI® Receives European Commission Approval for Treatment of Moderately to Severely... -- LEIDEN, The Netherlands, Sept. 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --:

-- First and Only Subcutaneous Biologic Treatment Administered Every Four Weeks Approved for Ulcerative Colitis

Fecal Transplantation Helps Kids w/ Ulcerative Colitis #UC study shows

Sounds promising from everything i've read and continue to read.  

• How do they get the fecal microbes into the person? According to the article, this is how it's done.  "To perform the transplant, a stool sample must be provided by a healthy adult, usually a family member or close friend. It is mixed with a saline solution and filtered to remove particles that could block the tube. It is given to the patient as an enema in a process that takes more than an hour." 

"Hey sheester, can you s*** in this cup please?"  How does one go about obtaining someones poop?  Hand them the bag with the sample cup and say "# 2 ..not 1."  If they look at you weird and they will, i'm certain.  Say "just do it, it's for a good cause"  

The ultimate probiotic: Unusual treatment helps kids with ulcerative colitis, study shows | MLive.com:

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Life can be miserable for a kid who has ulcerative colitis.

Bouts of severe diarrhea, cramping and pain can cause them to miss school or avoid social activities. Medications to treat the condition can cause severe complications. The disease can delay growth. Some kids eventually have to undergo surgery to remove their colon.

That is why an alternative, drug-free treatment is raising hope – even as it raises eyebrows among those unfamiliar with it.

At  Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, a pediatric gastroenterologist is getting good results for patients using fecal transplants. Stool from a healthy donor – often a parent - is given to the patient through an enema in an attempt to restore healthy bacteria in the child’s intestine.

“It’s the ultimate probiotic,” said Dr. Sachin Kunde.

Kunde conducted the first clinical trial in the country to study the use of fecal microbial transplantation on children with ulcerative colitis. Only 10 patients were involved in the trial, but the results were promising.

BY THE NUMBERS

Ulcerative colitis is a type of inflammatory bowel disease that affects the lining of the large intestine and rectum.• 1.4 million Americans suffer from inflammatory bowel disease
• 700,000 have ulcerative colitis
• One in four patients is diagnosed in childhood
SOURCE: CCFA 

The symptoms cleared up in three of the children – and they stayed symptom-free for at least a month. Another six saw improvements, which also lasted at least a month. For example, the number of daily bowel movements may have dropped from 10 to five, Kunde said. One child was unable to retain the enema.

The results of the study were published online by the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition and will be featured in the June print edition.

The study has stirred excitement among parents of children and young adults with ulcerative colitis, a form of inflammatory bowel disease that affects the lining of the large intestine or rectum.

“We had at least 50 patients in one year calling to be enrolled in the study,” Kunde said. “They want it because they don’t want medication. They think this is a fix.”

But Kunde balanced hope with caution. A larger study is needed to test the treatment’s effectiveness, he said. He has applied for funding for further research and is looking into whether the experimental treatment can be offered outside of a research setting.

Kunde said he first thought of using fecal transplants to treat ulcerative colitis during his fellowship at Emory University in Atlanta. They have previously been used experimentally to treat C. difficile infections.

Within a month of joining DeVos Children’s Hospital in 2011, he proposed the clinical trial to the Spectrum Health institutional review board. He also had to obtain approval from the Food and Drug Administration, because human stool is considered a drug and a biologic.

To perform the transplant, a stool sample must be provided by a healthy adult, usually a family member or close friend. It is mixed with a saline solution and filtered to remove particles that could block the tube. It is given to the patient as an enema in a process that takes more than an hour.

“We believe that the procedure may restore ‘abnormal’ bacteria to ‘normal’ in patients with ulcerative colitis,” Kunde said.

The pilot study involved 10 children and young adults, ages 7 to 20. They received a treatment a day for five days, and then their symptoms were evaluated.

Hospital staff made sure the patients did not see or smell the fecal transplant, which decreased anxiety and uneasiness about it. Kunde said awareness about the treatment is needed so people will readily see it as an acceptable option.

However, many struggling with severe symptoms of ulcerative colitis – adults and children – don’t need convincing, Kunde said. The disruption of life can be a significant psychological burden on patients and their families.

“People want this to be gone,” he said. “I don’t know if it will be gone or not. But it is a new hope for them.

“If we can help at least 30 percent of the patients, that is important.”

Contact Sue Thoms: Email. Twitter. Facebook.

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2013/04/fecal_transplant_-_the_ultimat.html

Medicinal Marijuana- Studies Show It Helps Crohn's Disease & Ulcerative Colitis (#IBD) - Pass the Pot Please!

I would certainly try this.  Pass the dutch NY!

Article Highlights

• "....cannabidiol (a non-psychoactive and healthful ingredient in marijuana), “is a very promising compound” because it does not have any psychotropic effects, and that it is a “potential candidate for the development of a new class of anti-IBD drugs.”

• "...people who had had IBD for a long time responded favorably to marijuana, experiencing an increase in appetite, weight gain, better social functioning, improved ability to work, and an improvement in depression and pain after three months of treatment..."

By Deborah Mitchell on December 26, 2012 - 5:33am

Marijuana Helps Crohn's Disease, Ulcerative Colitis

Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, the two main types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), are a challenge to treat. Among the potential treatment options is marijuana, and several recent studies indicate that this unconventional option offers some significant benefits.

How we treat inflammatory bowel disease

The current treatment options for the more than 1.5 million Americans and millions more who suffer with inflammatory bowel disease include dietary measures (e.g., olive oil extract, vitamin D, probiotics) and a variety of drugs. These treatments attempt to alleviate the diarrhea, rectal bleeding, fever, weight loss and abdominal pain and cramps associated with the disease.

The more common treatments for IBD include anti-inflammatory drugs, such as sulfasalazine, corticosteroids (which have significant side effects and are only suitable for short-term use), mesalamine (e.g., Apriso, Dipentum, Lialda), immune system suppressors (e.g., azathioprine, cyclosporine, infliximab, adalimumab, certolizumab, methotrexate), which can have significant side effects, and antibiotics, which are of questionable benefit. Beyond these drugs are others that can address specific symptoms such as diarrhea, constipation, or pain, or address nutritional deficiencies (e.g., iron, calcium, vitamin B12). Surgery is a last resort.

Inflammatory bowel disease can be life-threatening and thus deserves focused attention. Ulcerative colitis typically affects only the large intestine (colon) and rectum and usually develops gradually over time. Crohn’s disease can occur anywhere along the intestinal tract and can infiltrate the tissues.

Studies of marijuana and IBD
A review of investigations into the use of cannabis for inflammatory bowel disease reveals that its use “in the clinical therapy has been strongly limited by their psychotropic effects.” The authors of this recent Italian study, however, point out that cannabidiol (a non-psychoactive and healthful ingredient in marijuana), “is a very promising compound” because it does not have any psychotropic effects, and that it is a “potential candidate for the development of a new class of anti-IBD drugs.”

A 2012 study published in Digestion noted that people who had had IBD for a long time responded favorably to marijuana, experiencing an increase in appetite, weight gain, better social functioning, improved ability to work, and an improvement in depression and pain after three months of treatment with inhaled cannabis. Earlier studies have also indicated positive effects.

For example, an Israeli study was the first to show that use of marijuana in people with Crohn’s disease could provide a positive result. Twenty-one of the 30 patients in the study experienced significantly improvement after using marijuana, and the need for drugs was significantly reduced as well.

In yet another study, Canadian researchers evaluated 100 people with ulcerative colitis and 191 with Crohn’s disease and their use of marijuana. The investigators found a significant level of marijuana use among people with ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease (about 50% in each group). People who had a history of surgery for IBD were more likely to use marijuana (60%) than were those who had not undergone surgery (32%).

The bottom line appears to be that use of marijuana among people who have inflammatory bowel disease may be beneficial. If you have ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease, you should ask your healthcare provider or another healthcare professional about the possibility of using marijuana for symptom relief.

SOURCES:
Esposito G et al. Cannabidiol in inflammatory bowel disease: a brief overview. Phytotherapy Research 2012 July; doi:10.1002/ptr.4781
Lahat A et al. Impact of cannabis treatment on the quality of life, weight and clinical disease activity in inflammatory bowel disease patients: a pilot prospective study. Digestion 2012; 85(1): 1-8
Lal S et al. Cannabis use amongst patients with inflammatory bowel disease. European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology 2011 Oct; 23(10): 891-96
Naftali T et al. Treatment of Crohn’s disease with cannabis: an observational study. Israel Medical Association Journal 2011 Aug; 1(8): 455-58

Marijuana Helps Crohn's Disease, Ulcerative Colitis:

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#Colectomy - No Improvement Before & After #Surgery for Ulcerative Colitis (#UC) Patients

How discouraging!! I thought surgery is supposed to cure UC?? IDK... It's a pretty large study and these numbers just straight up SUCK!

ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS

• when followed over the long term, 12.4% of colectomy patients were fully work disabled 3 years after surgery, compared with 5.9% 3 years before. This compares with a rate of 7.2% in the general population.
• In total, 33% of UC patients had a registered sick leave episode or claimed disability pension during 2005 compared with 22% in the general population during 2005.
• Absence rates for colectomized UC patients were even higher, with 43% of these patients having at least one sick leave episode during 2005.

Colectomy fails to ease ulcerative colitis sick leave burden

By Kirsty Oswald, medwireNews Reporter

Patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) take more time off work than the general population, even after undergoing colectomy, shows a large Swedish study.
Furthermore, in study patients who underwent colectomy, postoperative work loss did not return to pre-surgery rates.
The study, published in Gastroenterology, included 19,714 patients with UC during 2005, 16% of whom were colectomized. Patients who underwent colectomy between 1998 and 2002 were followed up for work loss for at least 3 years before and after surgery.
In total, 33% of UC patients had a registered sick leave episode or claimed disability pension during 2005 compared with 22% in the general population during 2005. There was also a significant association between the presence of UC and the number of work days lost, with adjusted analyses showing that UC patients lost 20 more days of work than the general population during the year.
Absence rates for colectomized UC patients were even higher, with 43% of these patients having at least one sick leave episode during 2005.
And, in patients who were followed up before and after colectomy, the mean annual work days lost increased from 58 in the year prior to colectomy to 112 the year after. Furthermore, when followed over the long term, 12.4% of colectomy patients were fully work disabled 3 years after surgery, compared with 5.9% 3 years before. This compares with a rate of 7.2% in the general population.
However, the authors highlight that more than 50% of patients did not experience any work loss in the 3 years before or after colectomy.
They say that their findings are unsurprising given the relapsing nature of the disease and the potential need for hospitalization and surgery.
"For many UC patients, keeping a job may depend on close access to a toilet, and patients with stomas or pouches might face additional practical obstacles," explain Martin Neovius (Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden) and colleagues.
"Furthermore, major surgery such as colectomy may have social as well as psychological consequences, both of which may increase work loss."

Licensed from medwireNews with permission from Springer Healthcare Ltd. ©Springer Healthcare Ltd. All rights reserved. Neither of these parties endorse or recommend any commercial products, services, or equipment.

Colectomy fails to ease ulcerative colitis sick leave burden:

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Study on Monkeys w/ - Probiotic Worm Treatment ~ Sounds Good!

Another study, very small study, testing parasite worm (Helminth) eggs that shows that the treatment is effective with improving the gut bacteria balance in monkeys. Awesome.   I have been reading more and more about this treatment.  I may actually inquire about this the next time i see my GI doctor.

ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS

•  In animal models of autoimmunity these worms have suppressed inflammation, and clinical trials indicate that helminth therapy can be beneficial in inflammatory bowel diseases.

Probiotic Worm treatment may improve symptoms of colitis by restoring gut bacteria to healthy state 

November 15, 2012 in Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes 

A new study on monkeys with chronic diarrhea that were treated by microscopic parasite worm (helminth) eggs has provided insights on how this form of therapy may heal the intestine. This condition in monkeys is similar to the inflammatory bowel diseases that affects up to 1.4 million Americans.  

The study, published today in the Open-Access journal PLOS Pathogens, shows that helminths can restore the balance of gut bacterial communities to the monkeys with chronic diarrhea. Inflammatory bowel diseases are driven by a misdirected immune response against gut bacteria (the microbiome) and are often associated with alterations in gut bacterial communities (known as dysbiosis). 

"The idea for treating colitis with worms is not new, but how this therapy might work remains unclear," says the study's senior corresponding author, P'ng Loke, PhD, assistant professor of microbiology at NYU Langone Medical Center. "Our findings suggest that exposure to helminths may improve symptoms by restoring the balance to the microbial communities that are attached to the intestinal wall." 

Because inflammatory bowel diseases are more common in countries with developed economies and is rare in developing countries, researchers have hypothesized that endemic helminth infections in developing countries may offer protection against this disease. In animal models of autoimmunity these worms have suppressed inflammation, and clinical trials indicate that helminth therapy can be beneficial in inflammatory bowel diseases. 

Juvenile monkeys kept in captivity often spontaneously develop chronic diarrhea that is difficult to treat by veterinarians. Dr. Loke and his colleagues treated 5 monkeys with chronic diarrhea with microscopic helminth eggs and collected tissue samples before and after treatment. 

Tissues samples taken before treatment from sick monkeys had many more attached bacteria than healthy monkeys and the types of attached bacteria were completely altered (dysbiosis). This attachment of altered bacteria was associated with a very strong inflammatory response. After treatment, the types of bacteria attached to tissue samples were much more similar to healthy monkeys, and 4 out of 5 monkeys had less diarrhea and started to gain weight. 

Dr. Loke and colleagues are now embarking on a new clinical trial designed to study how pig helminth eggs (TSO) may relieve symptoms of ulcerative colitis (UC) and have started enrolling patients at NYU Langone Medical Center. TSO is being used because it can be produced under pathogen free conditions certified by the FDA for clinical trials and cannot be transmitted from person to person.      

Journal reference: PLoS Pathogens 

THE LINK ---> Probiotic worm treatment may improve symptoms of colitis by restoring gut bacteria to healthy state:

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