General

Crohn's Disease

Patients Misunderstand Written Screening Tests - [10/14/08]

Summary: The majority of physicians require patients to answer written questions while in the waiting room to visit the doctor. However, a new survey has revealed the gap between doctors and patients in the process of answering the written questions. Because of the difference in literacy between patients and physicians, most patients are confused, or don't understand most of the questions. According to Dr. Master, one of the authors of this survey, the predominant reason for this is illiteracy.

Comment: Illiteracy is becoming more common in American which is causing great problems to physicians. Not only is there a problem with illiteracy but also with patients who are innumerate. By answering the surveys to the best of your abilities, you will receive better diagnosis or treatment of crohn's disease.

Read article - Medical News TODAY October 14, 2008

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Internet Consulted More Often Than Doctors - [10/12/08]

Summary: New market research shows that over the past year more adults went to the internet to get health information than consulted a doctor. This trend may likely be the product of an increasing consumer comfort in using the web to find reliable medical information. In addition, rising costs of healthcare coverage and visits to the doctor may be adding to the preference for first looking for information online.

Comment: The impacts of this trend, as well as others, will be discussed in an online seminar entitled "Is TV Dead? How the New New Media Changes Pharmaceutical DTC Advertising". The event is scheduled for October 14th at 11am EST and October 16th at 3pm EST.

Read article - Medical News Today. October 12, 2008.
Read article - Register for the Seminar

Vitamin D Linked to Overall Health - [10/10/08]

Summary: Vitamin D has been linked to improved overall health. This vitamin affects 36 organ tissues in the body including bone marrow, breast, colon, intestine, kidney, lung, prostate, retina, skin, stomach and uterus tissues. It has also been linked to improving immune systems, insulin secretion, heart health, blood pressure, muscle, brain activity, and decreased risk of cancer. For most adults 200-600 IU of daily vitamin D is recommended, but some experts recommend up to 2000 IU daily.

Comment: Vitamin D has previously been thought to improve bone health, but this study shows that it can affect all areas of health. By increased intake of vitamin D people with Chron's disease can experience improved health.

Read article - Medical News TODAY October 10, 2008

Medicare Eliminates Coverage for 10 "Reasonably Preventable" Errors - [10/02/08]

Summary: New regulations, which will take effect next Wednesday, have Medicare halting payment for 10 errors which they have deemed "conditions that could reasonably have been prevented." Expected to affect hundreds of thousands, the new rules will mostly likely not result in a major reduction in expenses.

Comment: This new decision comes on the heels of announcements by four state Medicaid organizations last year in which they eliminated 28 "never events", preventable errors, from coverage. The trend seems to be growing and could have negative ramifications for millions of Americans. Among others, healthcare professionals have begun expressing concern about the decision.

Read article - Medical News Today. October 2, 2008.

Efforts to Reduce Ethnic and Racial Disparities - [09/29/08]

Summary: This article outlines current efforts are being made to reduce racial and ethnic health care disparities. These include the Respira program, which focuses on providing asthma education and outreach to Hispanic communities. Another program is a lecture that seeks to improve knowledge of blood pressure management and diabetes. Other efforts involve grants to increase levels of minority students in medical programs, and campaigns to increase medical literacy in minority communities.

Comment: Racial and ethnic disparities exist in most areas of medical care including Chron's disease. These disparities can often be dangerous to the health of minority people. These programs are aiming to close the gaps in health care, which can result in better care for people with Chron's disease.

Read article - Medical News TODAY September 29, 2008

Safety Gaps During Sign Out - [09/22/08]

Summary: Patients may experienced lower quality of care during sign outs, which is the transfer of a patients during a shift change. Researchers used oral sign-outs and written sign-outs to compare to reports of subsequent errors. It was found that doctors are often more confused about the patient information rather than factual details. Examples of such problems are doctors not fully understanding the clinical condition, or doctors not knowing the reasoning behind a test.

Comment: It is suggested that sign-out procedures become a part of medical school curriculum to raise the quality of patient care. Patients should also be aware that after and during a sign-out their doctors may not be fully informed about their conditions and test. Being able to close these safety gaps at sign-out can allow patients to receive the best care possible.

Read article - HealthNewsDigest.com September 22, 2008

Another Case of False Positive Ostreoscan in Crohn's Disease Patient - [09/22/08]

Summary: Ostreoscans are frequently used in the detection of carcinoid tumors, due to their sensitivity of almost 90%. However, Crohn's disease has, in two recent cases, caused a false positive result in Ostreoscans. In addition, after immunohistochemical studies were performed, in neither case were somatostatin receptors, whose existence plays a major part in the function of Ostreoscans, overexpressing.

Comment: The authors of the article and those who conducted tests after the false positive test are, at this point, unsure of causes. They caution physicians to be aware of the possibility that Crohn's disease may cause false positives in Ostreoscans, and to look out for possible explanations.

Read article - Medical News Today. September 22, 2008.

Cause of Early Inflammatory Bowel Disease Onset Identified - [09/03/08]

Summary: The gene which influenced whether a child develops Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis early in life has recently been identified, and may lead to new treatments. This discovery comes in addition to previous identification of two other genes associated with the diseases, but this research is the first to focus specifically on the relationships between genes, Crohn's and colitis, and childhood onset.

Comment: The value of most studies, this new research included, is often found in the potential they may create for new treatment. Identifying specific genes and their role in the cause and/or development of the disease, as this study has worked to discover, is a key first step leading towards these new therapies, treatments, or even cures.

Read article - Medical News Today. September 3, 2008.

The Voices of Those with Crohn's Disease - [09/02/08]

Summary: A NYtimes.com interactive feature details the stories of seven patients suffering from Crohn's disease, allowing them to expound upon their struggles, triumphs, and day to day lives. Their stories are available online now and those who wish may offer feedback through the website.

Comment: Beginning to cope with a new diagnosis, or making daily strides in living a normal life with a chronic disease, can all start with hearing stories of success, as well as frustration, from others suffering with the disease. It is important emotionally to be able to identify with those experiencing similar struggles.

Read article - Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America. September 2, 2008.
Read article - The New York Times Online.

Half Marathon Training Program to Benefit Digestive Disease Research - [09/02/08]

Summary: During September and October people from all over the nation can sign up to participate in the ING Miami Half Marathon and participate in the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation's Team Challenge program. The program aims to raise funds for researching cures for both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, as well as giving participants the opportunity to train with a professional at 16 communities nationwide.

Comment: Last year this program raised over $2 million dollars and sent 509 participants across the finish line in the Napa-to-Sonoma Wine Country Half Marathon.

Read article - Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America. September 2, 2008.
Read article - Crohn's & Colitis Foundation's Team Challenge Program.