Birth Control Pills, Hormone Therapy Linked to Digestive Diseases Stated by Researchers.

If you're on birth control pills and experience digestive problems or have been diagnosed with Crohn's or UC, you should read this. 

Birth Control Pills, HRT Tied to Digestive Ills

Researchers found apparent connections between estrogen treatments and Crohn's disease, colitis

May 21, 2012

By Kathleen Doheny
HealthDay Reporter
MONDAY, May 21 (HealthDay News) -- The use of oral contraceptives by younger women or hormone therapy by older women may be linked with inflammatory bowel disease, new research indicates.
Birth control pills are associated with a higher risk for Crohn's disease, said researcher Dr. Hamed Khalili, a clinical and research fellow of gastroenterology at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Crohn's causes inflammation of the lining and wall of the large or small intestine, or both. The lining can become so inflamed it bleeds.
Hormone replacement therapy taken by some women after menopause is linked with ulcerative colitis, the study found. It is a disease of the colon (large intestine) or rectum. It causes diarrhea, abdominal cramping and rectal bleeding.
Khalili presented the findings Sunday at the Digestive Disease Week meeting, in San Diego.
Of the two links they found, Khalili said, the association with birth control pills and Crohn's is the most relevant to patients.
That is especially true, he said, for long-term users. "If you took oral contraceptives for more than five years, you have a threefold increased risk of Crohn's disease," he said.
For the study in younger women, Khalili and his colleagues looked at about 233,000 women enrolled in the large U.S. Nurses Health Studies I and II.
He looked at data from the beginning of the first study, 1976, through 2008. He found 309 cases of Crohn's disease and 362 of ulcerative colitis.
He compared those who never used birth control pills to those who did. Current users had a nearly three times greater risk of Crohn's disease. Those who used birth control pills had no increased risk of getting ulcerative colitis compared with never-users.
In the second study, he looked at the data from nearly 109,000 women past menopause. They were enrolled in the Nurses Health Study that began in 1976.
He followed them through 2008. He found 138 cases of Crohn's disease and 138 of ulcerative colitis.
Those on hormone therapy had a 1.7 times higher risk of ulcerative colitis, compared to never-users. No link was found with Crohn's disease.
While the studies uncovered an association between the hormone-based therapies and digestive problems, it did not prove a cause-and-effect relationship.
Still, how to explain the apparent connections? "We probably don't have a clear mechanism," Khalili said.
In animal studies, he said, researchers have found that the colon is more vulnerable to inflammation when estrogen is given. It changes the permeability of the colon, he explained.
The link is probably of more concern in younger women, said Dr. David Bernstein, a gastroenterologist and chief of hepatology at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, N.Y.
In the study of older women, "the risk may be present, but it seems to be quite small," he said. The link appears stronger, he said, for oral contraceptive use and Crohn's disease.
Older women on hormone therapy probably do not need to be concerned, Bernstein said. More research may clarify that link.
However, "younger women on oral contraceptives need to be told that there is an increased risk," he added.
Khalili agreed. He said women on birth control pills who have a strong family history of IBD should especially be made aware of the research finding a link. A link is not a cause-and-effect relationship, but simply an association.
Still, he said, they should be aware, in case they want to pick another form of birth control.
Digestive Disease Week is jointly sponsored by four societies: the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, the American Gastroenterological Association Institute, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract.
A co-author on both studies reports consulting work for Pfizer, Millennium Pharmaceuticals and Bayer AG.
Because this research was presented at a medical meeting, the data and conclusions should be viewed as preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.
http://health.usnews.com/health-news/news/articles/2012/05/21/birth-control-pills-hrt-tied-to-digestive-ills?page=2

Updated w/ Full Article - Irritable Bowel Syndrome: New Dietary Guidelines - A Must Read for People With IBS

Good info to know if you suffer from IBS.

As you know diet is 90% of the battle and IS important to improving your health and being healthy while living with IBS.  If your doctor says "eat whatever you want", find a new doctor.. seriously, that's terrible advice.

PS:  Let me know when these links don't give you the info you need.  I noticed this one was broken. Now you don't have to worry about linking anywhere.  The whole article is below.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome: New Dietary Guidelines

May 15, 2012 — The British Dietetic Association (BDA) has issued evidence-based guidelines for the dietary management of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in adults. The new recommendations were published online April 10 and in the June print issue of the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics.

"[IBS] is a chronic and debilitating functional gastrointestinal disorder that affects 9–23% of the population across the world," write Y.A. McKenzie, MSc, from Nuffield Health the Manor Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom, and colleagues from the BDA Gastroenterology Specialist Group. "Diet and lifestyle changes are important management strategies. The aim of these guidelines is to systematically review key aspects of the dietary management of IBS, with the aim of providing evidence-based guidelines for use by registered dietitians."

A guideline development group wrote questions concerning diet and IBS symptom management, such as the role of milk and lactose, nonstarch polysaccharides (NSP), and fermentable carbohydrates in abdominal bloating; use of probiotics; and empirical or elimination diets. To identify pertinent studies, the investigators electronically searched the Cinahl, Cochrane Library, Embase, Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science databases from January 1985 to November 2009.

On the basis of their comprehensive literature search and critical appraisal of 30 studies, the group developed evidence statements, clinical recommendations, good practice points, and research recommendations. The resulting dietetic care pathway followed a logical sequence of treatment, including 3 lines of dietary management:

• First-line dietary management: clinical and dietary evaluation and healthy eating and lifestyle management, with some general advice on lactose and NSP.
• Second-line dietary management: Advanced dietary interventions to alleviate symptoms resulting from NSP and fermentable carbohydrates, and use of probiotics.
• Third-line dietary management: Elimination and empirical diets.

The group also made research recommendations mandating sufficiently powered, well-designed, randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Clinical Recommendations

Specific clinical practice recommendations, and their grade of recommendation, include the following:

• To improve IBS symptoms, remove milk and dairy products. When milk sensitivity is suspected and a lactose hydrogen breath test is unavailable or appropriate, attempt a trial period of a low-lactose diet, particularly in individuals in ethnic groups associated with a high prevalence of primary lactase deficiency (D).
• Treat individuals in whom lactose hydrogen breath test is positive with a low-lactose diet (D).
• When milk is suspected to be a problem food and symptoms do not improve on a low-lactose diet, consider the contribution of other components of milk, such as cow's milk protein. Consider a milk-free diet or use of an alternative mammalian milk (D).
• Avoid dietary supplementation with wheat bran. Individuals with IBS should not increase their wheat bran intake above their usual dietary intake (C).
• A 3-month trial of dietary supplementation of ground linseeds is recommended for individuals with constipation-predominant IBS, as symptom improvement may be gradual (D).
• Consider reducing intake of fermentable carbohydrates for individuals with IBS and suspected or diagnosed fructose malabsorption (B).
• Consider reducing intake of fermentable carbohydrates for individuals with IBS and abdominal bloating, abdominal pain, and/or flatulence (D).
• Individual tolerance levels to fermentable carbohydrates may vary. A planned and systematic challenge of foods high in fermentable carbohydrates can identify both individual tolerance levels and which foods can be reintroduced to the diet (D).
• After the above steps, consider probiotics, selecting 1 product at a time and monitoring the effects, as there is considered to be no harm associated with probiotics for individuals with IBS (B).
• Each probiotic trial should last a minimum of 4 weeks at the manufacturer's recommended dose (B).
• Particularly for patients with diarrhea-predominant IBS, consider an elimination or empirical diet when food appears to be a trigger for IBS symptoms (D).
• If symptoms do not improve within 2 to 4 weeks, the specific foods eliminated are an unlikely cause of IBS symptoms (D).

"These guidelines provide evidence statements, recommendations and practical considerations for dietitians on the effective dietary management of IBS in adults and will improve evidence-based practice," the authors conclude. The guidelines will also "increase standardisation in clinical practice, thus improving patient outcomes in relation to the dietary management of this disorder."

"Because much of the evidence is of poor quality and limited by the lack of suitable papers for inclusion, research recommendations were also proposed," the authors add, stating that future research should involve "[a]dequately powered and well designed RCTs, with long-term follow-up," and "should focus on the clinical effectiveness and/or safety of dietary treatments using objective symptom assessment and taking into consideration IBS-subtype."

The General Education Trust of the BDA partly funded this project. All members of the IBS dietetic guideline development group signed conflict-of-interest forms annually during the development of these guidelines.

J Hum Nutr Diet. 2012;25:260-274. Abstract

FDA Approves Bristol-Myers Squibb For The Production of Biologic Drugs

This article is a bummer!

The need for more companies to endorse the production of the bullshit biologic drugs.  Every time I pass Bristol-Myers Squibb now, I'll think about that toxic drug that I do not support due to the large list of potentially dangerous/deadly side-effects.  

How funny....the word "green" and "biologics" used in the same article. You're talking about a clean, environmentally sound building in contrast to a toxic (possibly dangerous to some people) chemical. 

PRESS RELEASE

May 15, 2012, 11:00 a.m. EDT

U.S. FDA Approves Bristol-Myers Squibb Devens Biologics Manufacturing Facility for Production of ORENCIA(R) (abatacept)

State-of the art Manufacturing Facility Supports Company's Growing Focus on Biologics

NEW YORK, May 15, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Bristol-Myers Squibb Company BMY +0.12% announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the company's biologics manufacturing facility in Devens, Massachusetts for commercial production of ORENCIA(R) (abatacept).

The Devens facility, a state-of-the-art bulk biologics manufacturing facility, employs roughly 300 scientists, engineers, bioprocess operators, quality specialists and other skilled workers.

"The approval of our Devens site is an important milestone for Bristol-Myers Squibb as part of our strategic focus on delivering innovative biologic medicines for patients with serious disease," said Lou Schmukler, president, Global Manufacturing & Supply, Bristol-Myers Squibb. "The increased manufacturing capacity from the Devens site will support market demand for ORENCIA and positions us well for future production of additional biologic medicines."

Bristol-Myers Squibb currently manufactures its biologic medicines in a company-owned facility in Syracuse, NY and through third party suppliers, and finishes and packages them in Manati, Puerto Rico. The Syracuse site will remain a key component of the company's biologics strategy and will serve as a center of excellence in process development and early product launch for the company's biologic medicines.

"Bristol-Myers Squibb is committed to building a strong manufacturing capability to support our growing biologics portfolio, and Devens is a key component of this strategy," said Peter Moesta, senior vice president, Biologics Manufacturing and Process Development.

In 2010, the company announced the Devens facility received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED(R)) Silver certification while the laboratory and office building at the same facility received LEED Gold certification in December 2009. LEED certification, established by U.S. Green Building Council and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute, is the nation's preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.

About Bristol-Myers Squibb

Bristol-Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases. For more information, please visit http://www.bms.com or follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/bmsnews .

SOURCE: Bristol-Myers Squibb Company

Just Launched - YouTube Channel Dedicated to IBD Patients ~ Read for more info...

Sweet!  Spread the word and open up people's minds to invincible diseases like crohn's and ulcerative colitis. I've noticed in the past few months that there is more awareness out there in the world regarding digestive diseases and opportunities for people to learn more about ibd to get a better understanding 

Read the article below about the just launched YouTube channel and what it entails. 

the new youtube channel called "you and ibd", dedicated to educate and provide expert advice, patient stories, medication information and important information that patients should be aware about.

PRESS RELEASE

May 17, 2012, 5:47 p.m. EDT

New YouTube Channel Helps People Living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

LOS ANGELES, May 17, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Cornerstones Health Inc., a nonprofit organization working to improve communication between patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and physicians who treat IBD, in collaboration with Imedex, LLC and Mechanisms in Medicine Inc., announced the launch of the new YouTube "You and IBD" - Animated IBD Patient Channel. The channel gives patients with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis quick access to a wide range of videos and animations featuring the latest IBD information, discussions of important topics, patient stories, expert advice.

"We have addressed what we believe to be a major limitation in other IBD Web resources," said Dr. David Rubin, co-founder of Cornerstones Health Inc. "The type of education we're offering empowers patients with the knowledge needed to take charge of their disease and to have important discussions with their health care team about what is the right course of action for them."

The YouTube "You and IBD" - Animated IBD Patient Channel is a companion to the You and IBD website, and part of an overall initiative dedicated to providing IBD patients with educational content, expert advice and tools to help them effectively manage their IBD and achieve the best quality of life.

"IBD patients who visit our site will walk away with a greater understanding of topics that range from how IBD medications work to alternative medicines because of the impact visual reinforcement will have on their existing knowledge," said Dr. Marla Dubinsky, co-founder of Cornerstones Health Inc.

This channel was developed in conjunction with Imedex, LLC, an accredited medical education company based in Alpharetta, Georgia and Mechanisms in Medicine, a medical animation and e-learning company based in Toronto, Canada. "This project is part of an ongoing collaboration between our organizations aimed at enabling patients to be more informed with regard to their disease and treatment options so that they are able to have more active dialogue with their physicians about how to best manage their disease," said Christopher Bolwell, VP and Compliance Officer of Imedex, LLC. "We are pleased to have been part of producing this valuable patient education resource."

About Cornerstones

Cornerstones Health Inc. is a nonprofit organization founded by physicians Marla Dubinsky and David Rubin in 2008. It was established to provide a new paradigm in patient care by utilizing novel approaches to improve the communication between physicians and patients. Offering state-of-the-art educational content, expert-based instruction, and creative communication techniques, Cornerstones enhances and transforms the relationships among health care providers, industry partners and patients. Contact Cornerstones at info@cornerstoneshealth.org, or visit them on the Web at www.cornerstoneshealth.org .

About Imedex

Imedex, LLC is an ACCME accredited medical education company based in Alpharetta, GA, which has been producing physician education programs for over 25 years. Imedex contributes to the quality and cost efficacy of medical care by increasing the knowledge of healthcare professionals. Our team of dedicated and knowledgeable professionals work in specialized therapeutic areas to develop and implement high quality, effective medical education programming that translates the latest research into clinical practice. All activities are delivered in healthcare professionals' preferred formats (live meetings and enduring activities) all the while upholding the high standards set forth by the ACCME and related governing bodies. Contact Imedex, LLC at officeofcme.com, or visit them on the web at www.imedex.com

About Mechanisms in Medicine Inc.

Mechanisms in Medicine Inc. is a medical animation and e-learning company based in Toronto, Canada. We provide a unique approach to online health education through visually compelling animation and video resources that are designed to ease the understanding of complex medical concepts. We work to facilitate improved health outcomes by increasing the knowledge and awareness levels of patients and healthcare professionals, for multiple diseases and health issues. Contact Mechanisms in Medicine at mail@mechanismsinmedicine.com, or visit them on the Web at www.MechanismsInMedicine.com .

# # #

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Tweet this

Check out new @IBDpatient YouTube Channel at http://bit.ly/Hj0trf ! #Crohns #colitis (82 characters; bit.ly URL)

News Facts

-- Cornerstones, in collaboration with Imedex, LLC and Mechanisms in Medicine Inc., announces launch of new YouTube "You and IBD" - Animated IBD Patient Channel, giving IBD patients quick access to patient and expert videos, and IBD animations.

-- The YouTube channel is a companion to the You and IBD site, and part of an overall initiative dedicated to helping IBD patients achieve the best quality of life.

Images

-- Cornerstones logo

-- Imedex logo

-- Mechanisms in Medicine logo

-- Screen capture of YouTube channel

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50282672&lang=en

SOURCE: Cornerstones Health Inc.

Cancer Patients Are Encouraged To Research Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) As a Treatment Option!

Another positive article regarding the treatment of LDN (low dose naltrexone) for off label conditions.  Click the link below to read the details.

** People that have been able to obtain this medication and take it in low doses (1-4.5mg) have displayed great improvement.  It's a promising treatment for an array of diseases from MS, Crohn's Disease, different forms of cancers, autoimmune diseases, & the list goes on.

For people that would like to read up on what LDN is, how the drug works, how it could be obtained and the science behind the use of LDN for conditions other than what the drug was originally targeted to treat (opiate addiction), please see my sidebar links.  I also have several blog posts that give general information about the drug and blogs that have clinical trials that have been conducted and their findings.  

• PS:  If you need to find a doctor in your area that prescribes LDN, I can help you.  Send me a message and I'd be happy to assist you with this.  

Bonnie and Ken Shockey encourage cancer patients to research Low Dose Naltrexone

FDA Concerns Pertaining to The Risks, The Benefits & The Appropriateness of Tofacitinib to Treat Rheumatoid Arthritis

Hmmmm!! They ask questions???  I wonder who died.

"The FDA said tofacitinib might be associated with an increased risk of cancer such as lymphoma, and that it increased the risk of serious infections, some of which were fatal. The agency also said it couldn't make "definitive conclusions" regarding the drug's effectiveness on a measure that looked at disease progression."

The poor people that took the risk and didn't benefit?

Well, we will see on Wednesday if they make the logical decision based on the numbers they see showing disease advancement or decline. 

 

FDA:Questions Safety, Effectiveness Of Proposed Pfizer Arthritis Drug
 

Published May 07, 2012
 

Dow Jones Newswires
 

WASHINGTON –  The Food and Drug Administration questioned the safety and effectiveness of a proposed Pfizer Inc. (PFE) drug for rheumatoid arthritis.
The drug, tofacitinib, is designed to treat the disease in a different manner than currently approved therapies. The product will be reviewed on Wednesday by the FDA's arthritis drugs advisory committee.
The FDA said tofacitinib might be associated with an increased risk of cancer such as lymphoma, and that it increased the risk of serious infections, some of which were fatal. The agency also said it couldn't make "definitive conclusions" regarding the drug's effectiveness on a measure that looked at disease progression.
The FDA released a review of the product Monday in preparation for Wednesday's meeting. Tofacitinib works to inhibit a cell-signaling mechanism referred to as JAK and is a key drug in Pfizer's pipeline.
The company studied the drug in about 4,800 patients. Five studies were submitted to the FDA in support of the drug's approval. Most of the patients in the studies hadn't responded to initial therapy with a drug called methotrexate. One study focused on patients who had an inadequate response to newer drugs called TNF-inhibitors such as Remicade or Humira, which work to block a substance in the body called tumor necrosis factor that can cause inflammation and lead to immune-system diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
Pfizer has said it believes the side-effect profile of tofacitinib is similar to other treatments on the market. The labels for TNF-blockers warn of serious and sometimes fatal infections and a possible increased risk of getting certain types of cancer.
The FDA's panel, which is made up of non-FDA medical experts, will be asked to vote on whether it thinks the drug should be approved. The FDA isn't required to follow the advice of its panels but usually does.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disorder that usually affects small joints in the hands and feet.
Copyright © 2012 Dow Jones Newswires


Read more: http://www.foxbusiness.com/news/2012/05/07/fdaquestions-safety-effectiveness-proposed-pfizer-arthritis-drug/#ixzz1uBr92NAR

Ali Carter, Professional Pool Player - Visited by The Crohn During The World Championship

It figures.  Crohn's always comes to visit at the most inappropriate times.  I 

compare Crohn's Disease to that rude and obnoxious "friend" that over stays

their welcome and doesn't get the hint that it's time to leave.  
 

Carter takes step closer to second World 

Championship final

Updated: Friday, 04 May 2012 22:42

Ali Carter nearly quit the game because of Crohn's disease

Ali Carter was considering retirement at the turn of the year, but now a second appearance in the World Championship final beckons for the 32-year-old from Tiptree.

He leads Stephen Maguire 14-10 overnight after dominating a large part of their two sessions today.

The final three frames of the day went Maguire's way though as he belatedly found some mental poise, but the Scot still faces a tall order when they play to a finish tomorrow afternoon.

As the effect of Crohn's disease, the condition Carter was diagnosed with nine years ago, began to take a drastic physical toll, he went to the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association to request a year-long sabbatical.

It did not come to that, and Carter's health has improved markedly thanks to a no-wheat, no-dairy diet, albeit with a setback this week when he complained of feeling badly bloated after eating a steak.

He vowed after beating Jamie Jones in the quarter-finals that illness would not obstruct his Crucible mission, and Carter used all his guile to back Maguire into a corner he will do well to fight his way out of.

In the morning session, which saw Carter move from 5-3 to 10-6 ahead, Maguire twice lost his cool, firstly with a wild attempt to escape from a snooker and then when he thumped the table to draw gasps from spectators. He later appeared to question the judgement of referee Leo Scullion, his fellow Glaswegian, when a foul was called against him.

Maguire fired a 142 break shortly before lunch, while 134 and 73 in the space of three frames tonight nudged Carter to 14-7.

A strategy hinging on safety-first tactics made Carter a frustrating opponent for Maguire, but when the Scot fired breaks of 72 and 70, before pinching the final frame of the day, he at least had a platform to build from tomorrow.

The winner of this match will meet either Ronnie O'Sullivan or Matthew Stevens. O'Sullivan leads 11-5.

Discoveries about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.. Interesting

This makes sense.  Sometimes I feel like I have CFS.

"the team found that people with CFS had less change in blood flow between winning and losing. What's more, people with more severe CFS had even less change in blood flow."

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Real, Weird, and Mysterious as Ever - The Atlantic

Another Technique to Test for MAP & Other Bacteria in IBD Patients

Great Read!

Our bodies immune system didn't just break one day.  Autoimmune Disease is the medical term that means - we don't know what is causing your pain/inflammation, so we will blame it on a malfunctioning immune response. 

 -ME

Professors’ work helps detect Crohn’s, other bowel diseases

Blending their research together into one effort, two UCF faculty members have created a scientific technique that may help doctors better understand diseases.

Professor Saleh Naser and Associate Professor J. Manuel Perez have developed a nanoparticle-based technique that allows doctors to effectively and quickly detect pathogens that cause Crohn’s disease and other inflammatory bowel diseases.

The technique, which was recently published earlier this month in PLoS ONE, a peer-reviewed scientific journal, builds off of a previous polymerase chain reaction DNA-based technique that Naser and Perez developed, by adding nanosensors labeled with probes that detect and bind themselves to certain bacteria.

Taking advantage of this nanotechnology, Naser hopes that this will help scientists better understand where hard-to-trace diseases, such as Crohn’s disease, come from.

“Crohn’s disease is a controversial disease,” said Naser, who teaches in the College of Medicine and the Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences. “There are different schools of thought about what causes the disease and the reason for the controversy is the lack of consistent, fast, diagnostic and reliable methods to find the bacteria in clinical samples. Now, with this technology we developed with Dr. Perez at UCF, we have a fast method, it is effective, it is specific, it is sensitive and ultimately it can give the doctor an answer within an hour and the doctor accordingly can give appropriate medication to his patients.”

Naser said that, of the multiple theories of what causes Crohn’s disease, he believes that a bacterium known as Mycobacterium paratuberculosis, also known as MAP, is the cause of the intestinal disease.      (THANK YOU... ME TOO!! MAP IT IS)

Having studied Crohn’s disease for more than 20 years, Naser decided to test the technique with blood and tissue containing MAP, in an effort to detect the bacteria with the nanosensors and progress his theory. 

“My collaboration with Dr. Perez started a few years ago. We joint-submitted a successful grant proposal to the National Institute of Health and have been since working diligently on the development of nanosensors. Dr. Perez developed the nanoparticles and my lab provided him with specific probes and the biological systems to evaluate these sensors,” Naser said. “Throughout the process, we tested a large number of bacterial cultures as well as blood and tissue we obtained from patients at the University of Florida. We believe the concept of these nanosensors can be applied for the diagnosis of other microorganisms including bacteria and viruses. This technology really opened the door to so many possibilities.”

After tests were performed, Naser and Perez found that not only were they able to detect the bacteria, they were able to obtain the results much faster with the addition of these nanosensors. 

“These are very small particles, which we coated with DNA probes specific to MAP. The probes were then detected using a device which records the presence or absence of the bacteria in the patient sample,” Naser said. “The magic in all of this is that the entire process may be done within an hour. This is exciting because for the first time ever, we can report the presence of MAP in clinical samples in record time of minutes instead of weeks or months.”

Perez said it is vital to make the process faster in order to help doctors treat patients.

“It is all about giving medical professionals easy and reliable tools to better understand the spread of a disease, while helping people get treatment faster,” Perez said in a UCF Today article. “That’s my goal. And that’s where nanotechnology really has a lot to offer, particularly when the technology has been validated using clinical, food and environmental samples as is in our case.”

Richard Peppler, the associate dean for Faculty and Academic Affairs and the interim director for the Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, praised Perez, Naser and their research team for their hard work.

“I think it’s wonderful. I think it’s an example of the collaboration of faculty between two different units within the university,” Peppler said. “It’s showing how we can take something from the bench to the bedside and it’s gonna improve the health for patients with Crohn’s disease and other GI problems.”

Naser stressed that the real purpose of this hard work is to allow doctors to find these bacteria, leading to the elimination of the cause entirely through antibiotics.  (YES)

“Ultimately, the big winner in all of this will be the patients, because current treatment for Crohn’s disease is an anti-inflammatory, which are considered management medications; these medications are not given to the patient for a cure,” Naser said “Now, the patients can be tested for MAP using UCF nanosensors and if the patient is positive, then the doctor will be able prescribe antibiotics that we know are effective and lethal against the bacteria; this will lead to a cure.” (LOL does anyone else feel the truth in this article right now?? IBD can be cured not just managed.  You just need to find the right doctors that aren't satisfied with the current treatments either. Don't get discouraged by your doctors, family, friends and what they say.  You live with your body every day and ya know what I've noticed that the good doctors say to people with chronic illnesses ... "You know your body best" It's true.  Your doctor may know something, but your family knows NOTHING and your friends... lol they probably don't even know the definition of IBD or MAP ... they'd say "its....well I'm pretty sure it's a navigation tool that you can use when you don't have a GPS"............< my long stare of death because of your stupidity...say nothing please I'd rather hear silence >    then I say ......  " SHUT THE F*^% UP, DUMB ASS!! "   

Get Angry!!!  It helps to motivate me to be who I am, say with confidence what I believe to be true, and to say FU to the ones that were wrong.

Naser also said that he hopes the technique will eventually be licensed by a company that specializes in diagnosing and treating chronic diseases.

http://www.centralfloridafuture.com/news/professors-work-helps-detect-crohn-s-other-bowel-diseases-1.2733364#.T52nc8RYusQ