Adam, founder of iHaveUC & kicking colitis butt since Oct. 2008
I enjoy staying up on the latest research surrounding ulcerative colitis, and there is quite a bit happening as we speak. Yeah, sometimes it is absolutely boring, but other times it is relatively easy to understand, and I’m sure you can learn quite a bit too.
So far in 2017, there was a study just published about UC and stress. The study was titled:
We have talked about stress for many years here on iHaveUC, and many people with UC believe it plays a part in the symptoms coming and going.
The objective of this particular study was:
To determine if low psychosocial stress resilience in adolescence (increasing chronic stress arousal throughout life) is associated with an increased inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) risk in adulthood. Subclinical Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) can exist over many years and we hypothesise that psychosocial stress may result in conversion to symptomatic disease through its proinflammatory or barrier function effects.
Here was the follow up conclusion to the same study:
Lower stress resilience may increase the risk of diagnosis of IBD in adulthood, possibly through an influence on inflammation or barrier function.
If you would like to read the full study, you can do that by clicking your mouse here.
(My own personal belief on stress has evolved in the oast 8 years since my “you have ulcerative colitis” moment with the gastro doc who broke the news. I think stress plays an important role in our disease. The better we are at eliminating stressful situations in our lives, the more we can help our bodues find/remain in remission. It us a true challenge indeed)
Chinese Medicine is yet another topic that some users of the website have talked about for quite some time. Here are a few stories that have been submitted in the past:
- Brent wrote a story called “Chinese Herbs, A Cure?” back in 2012
- Ali, also back in 2012 wrote a story called “Miracle Healing”
- And Mindy wrote a story (also from 2012…wow…three in a row..) titled: “Drug Free, Symptom Free, Chinese Medicine“
So yes indeed, people with ulcerative colitis (and not even people from or living in China) have been using Chinese Medicine with the hope of getting their UC under control.
There is some good news in my opinion about Chinese Medicine, especially for all of the folks who think it is a bunch of you know what… There is now an official study which will be starting soon, if it hasn’t already, and the design (called the “study protocol”) has been published with some further details about the entire study for everyone to read.
Here is the study:
Traditional Chinese medicine combination therapy for patients with steroid-dependent ulcerative colitis: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial (you can read it here)
Biosimilars – Think of it as a generic form of a biologic medication like Remicade (Infliximab)
Here is a study abstract for:
Biosimilar Infliximab in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Outcomes of a Managed Switching Programme.
And the Conclusion:
A managed switching programme from originator infliximab to biosimilar CT-P13 in IBD, using a gain-share agreement, delivers significant cost savings and investment in clinical services while maintaining similar patient-reported outcomes, biochemical response, drug persistence, and adverse event profile.
I have emailed one of the doctors involved in this particular study to see if they would send me the full PDF version so I can publish it here for all of you…waiting at the moment for the response. Here is the link for what is easily available online from this Infliximab biosimilar study: click here
So there you go, some studies, both regarding ulcerative colitis. One about stress, another about Chinese medicine, hopefully interesting for you. And one about infliximab – Remicade.
Have a great day, and let me know of any thoughts you may have in the comments.
Best to you,
Adam
I started site shortly after being diagnosed in October of 2008 with severe pancolitis (when my whole colon was inflamed).
For me, it was a very rough start with severe symptoms. Getting bounced from medication to medication was not easy or too helpful. But, I did meet another UC’er, changes several parts of my diet, and of course the rest is history.
Leave a comment, ask a question, take advantage of our past experiences here, use the search boxes, they are your friends to0:)
I’ve written 2 different ulcerative colitis ebooks, you can check them out here.
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