Health News

Rx Treats the Gut, but Upsets the Blood
Patients with ulcerative colitis can be treated effectively with a class of medications called thiopurines . But taking these medications over a long period of time can have some negative effects.
Calming the Cancer of Inflammation
Inflammatory bowel diseases ( IBD ) such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are major risk factors for colorectal cancer. Why? Because these diseases cause constant inflammation - something cancer thrives on.
FDA Focus on TNF Blockers
A class of drugs is now under suspicion of causing cancer in children, adolescents and young adults under the age of 30. These are called Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) blockers, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently released an update regarding its ongoing safety review of these drugs.
FDA Drug Safety Communication: TNF blockers
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is informing the public that it continues to receive reports of a rare cancer of white blood cells (known as h epatosplenic T-Cell lymphoma or HSTCL ), primarily in adolescents and young adults being treated for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis with medicines known as tumor necrosis factor ( TNF ) blockers, as well as with azathioprine , and/or mercaptopurine . Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis cause inflammation of the digestive system. Common symptoms are pain in the abdomen, cramps, and diarrhea. Bleeding from the rectum, wei...
Yummy Yogurt Silences the Rumbly in Your Tummy
Scientists have discovered that a genetically altered version of a probiotic found in yogurt and cheese can be used to treat inflammatory bowel diseases (IBS) such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
A Snort of Prevention
Researchers have identified a potential vaccine capable of reducing the colonization of the bacterium Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), a known cause of gastritis, ulcer disease and cancer.