Crohn's Disease Relief

Kidney donors use software to match up for their loved ones

5-way kidney swap offers hope for unmatched donors - CNN.com

How cool is this? 5 people who needed a kidney but didn't have a family member or loved one with a match all got together and with the help of a computer program were able to make it all work out.

Someone with a kidney to donate was matched with someone needing a kidney, and their donor gave a kidney to the first donor's person. Just like a major 5 team sports player swap, but with organs.  :-)  Wow - computers are handy to have around, aren't they?

University of Florida 10Minute Online Survey for people with IBD

I received this in an email from UCB...

Researchers at the University of Florida are interested in evaluating the use of preventive services for patients with inflammatory bowel disease. As part of this investigation, they are looking for individuals, 18 years or older, with inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis) to complete a 10-minute survey. It includes questions about your health, what medications you’re taking, and what kind of preventive care you’re receiving from your doctors. No personal information that can identify you is being collected, and all responses will remain anonymous. If you prefer, you can complete only the questions you feel comfortable answering.

Hypnotherapy Helps Crohn's Disease

A study conducted in Europe included 266 participants with Crohn's disease. The researchers found that hypnotherapy and psychotherapy improve the treatment of the disease. The study found that emotional conflicts such as stress, depression, and anorexia effect the transgression of the disease. Relaxation techniques used in hypnotherapy and psychotherapy were found to give patients greater control over their symptoms.

via www.naturalnews.com

Here is an interesting article about how a European study showed that hypnotherapy and psychotherapy were found to assist in treatment of Crohn's disease. This is probably no surprise to those with Crohn's at least not to me. It's quite obvious that there is a strong mind/body connection at work with Crohn's disease. I will tend to flare up during times of high stress in my life. Also, there is nothing like having a Crohn's flare to get your mood in a downward spiral.

Readers, have you tried hypnotherapy, or other alternative treatments? What about psychotherapy or counseling? I would like to try acupuncture, as it has been recommended for the migraines I suffer from.

Klebsiella Bacteria Studied in Relation to Colic and Crohn's

A new study published in the Journal of Pediatrics, by J Marc Rhoads, MD, and colleagues has identified Klebsiella bacterium as a possible suspect in colic in babies. 

Klebsiella are a common bacteria, but a study of 36 babies, half of whom were colicky, only those with colic were found to have Klebsiella in their intestines.  In the small study non colicky babies had more bacteria in their instestines, but not Klebsiella.

Klebsiella has been discussed in relation to Crohn's disease as well as ankylosing spondylitis.  Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic, inflammatory arthritis and autoimmune disease that many Crohn's patients have an an ancillary disease and which shares some treatments with Crohn's such as immunosupressents and anti-TNF drugs.

According to the study, there may be some possibility of treating colic with probiotics, the idea being that if you populate the digestive tract with good bacteria it will force out the inflammation causing klesiella.

This extract from the European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology which discusses the role of klebsiella bacteria in Crohn's and Ankylosing Spondylitis mentions  that the role of this bacteria might explain why some patients get relief from a low starch and lactose free diet.  Here is a quote from the abstract:

A link exists between high dietary starch intake and the growth of intestinal microflora, involving especially Klebsiella microbes. Increased exposure to Klebsiella in the gut as the result of high starch intake would lead to high production of antiKlebsiella antibodies as well as autoantibodies to the cross-reactive self-antigens with the resultant inflammation at the pathological sites. Eradication of these microbes from the gut in patients with Crohn's disease with the use of low-starch diet and antibacterial agents as well as immunomodulatory measures could be beneficial in the management of this disease.

Klebsiella is a lactose eating bacteria, so it makes sense that it you don't give it the food it likes it could lower the concentration of the bacteria in the colon.  It seems to make sense to me as well, that taking strong probiotics would also force out the other bacterias and replace the flora with the bacterias that don't cause inflammation.  This actually makes a great case for the Specific Carbohydrate diet, and Makers Diet plans which many IBD patients find work for them.

Here is a link to the Probiotic I personally take.  The Primadophilus Reuteri is one of the strains that has been shown to help IBD, and these pearls from Nature's Way do not need refrigeration which helps me remember to take them.  If I keep them in the fridge I tend to forget to take them but if they are with my other medications I remember.

Does NOD2 gene mutation interact with mycobacteria to cause Crohn's?

A study by Dr. Marcel Behr, of the Research Institute of the MUHC and McGill Universit, seems to come one step further towards a possible understanding of what causes Crohn's disease.

According to a synopsis in Science Daily 25% of Crohn's patients have a mutation in what is called the NOD2 gene.  (Yes, isn't it great to be a mutant - where are the other X-Men?)  What has not been understood is what this gene does and how a change to it could cause Crohn's. 

This new study shows that the NOD2 gene allows cells to recognize harmful bacteria and trigger an immune response.  The gene in particular identifies "N-glycolyl-MDP, which is only found in a specific family of bacteria called mycobacteria."  Ah, I see your ears perking up.  Mycobacteria has been implicated in Johnne's disease in cattle and long suspected to be a trigger for Crohn's disease. 

Here is a quote from Dr. Behr that sums up the findings:

"Now that we have a better understanding of the normal role of NOD2, we think that a mutation in this gene prevents mycobacteria from being properly recognized by the immune system," explained Dr. Behr. "If mycobacteria are not recognized, the body cannot effectively fight them off and then becomes persistently infected."

Possible Future IBD Treatment Shows Promise

Biotech firm Compugen Ltd. announced today that their "novel peptide antagonist" called CGEN-25007 was shown to reduce IBD-type inflammation in mice. 

Apparently they induce colitis in the mice and then treat some of them with the peptide agent and some without.  The mice who were given the CGEN-25007 got better while the other mice suffered wasting disease.  (Poor mice!)

Here is a quote from the press release about   Compugen's new drug agent:

These results suggest that CGEN-25007 could have a potential therapeutic utility to treat IBD and other autoimmune diseases with a strong inflammatory component, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Fortune Article on Adult Stem Cell Treatments

I found a good informative article from Fortune magazine online about the future and current prospects of adult stem cell treatments.

Interesting Theory on Prochymal Study Placebo Effect

After yesterday's blog post about Osiris, I received a very interesting email from Lorie in Texas whose son was part of the Prochymal trials.  She posits that the people receiving the placebo may have reported a lessening of symptoms due to an anti-inflammatory property of the medium the stem cells is frozen in for stability which is called Dimethyl Sulfide (DMS for short.)  Because the stuff has a strong smell (like corn, I have heard people say) they also gave the placebo infusions in the same medium.

This is a very interesting idea to me.  Lorie also reported that her son had great results from the infusions he received.  Of course they do not know if he was on Prochymal or the Placebo, but they are very dissapointed that he has to wait to have further treatment. 

Considering the growing concerns about the downsides of the other biologic treatments currently used to fight severe Crohn's, I feel that the Prochymal trials should be put on as much of a fast track as is safe and appropriate.

The OSIRIS, Prochymal story just keeps getting more and more interesting, doesn't it.  It's a great story - it has a potentially life saving drug, questions about why the study ended early, a law firm nosing around, and angry patients accusing the FDA of killing Crohn's patients...  Top that off with the US Department of Defense stockpiling the medication for a purpose not yet needed.  It sounds like a mixture of Erin Brockovich, X-Files, House, and Boston Legal.

Here is the text of the email I received, which Lorie has given me permission to reprint for you.
--------

From: Lorie Conn
Date: Thu, 28 May 2009 13:34:08 +0000
To: Marianne Case
Subject: OSIRIS

I can give you a little bit of insight on the Prochymal Study, since my son was in the study for almost a year.

It is likely that the solution that they freeze the stem cells in to keep them stable,  (something called DMS (Dimethyl Sulfide), and it smells like fresh shucked corn) & which is also an anti-inflammatory agent in itself; if everybody is feeling better, it could be that the solution itself triggered a body response – with or without the stem cells in it.

However, if you DID get cells (it was a blind study, so who knows?) it was likely that you got better pretty fast – and that you KEPT getting better over time.

 I was really bummed that they stopped the study when they did, but I agree with you that if you find out something is wrong with your study you should stop it, redesign it & start over.  A clean study is needed for FDA approval!

 My son was in this study, and he changed from going to the bathroom 18 times a day,  down to 5 times – and boy what a change in his life! 

 I keep thinking, though, if they had given him more cells at one time that perhaps this could have been a permanent cure.  When they use Prochymal for the Graft vs Host infusions that’s what they do – one BIG infusion.  For some odd reason in the study for the Crohns patients they decided to only do a series of smaller infusions over a period of two weeks.   I think they’ve got a lot of testing yet to do – there will probably be no standard fix for every person. But the good news is it does seem to work! 

Lorie Conn

RICHARDSON, TEXAS

Osiris Therapeutics, Inc. OSIR - (NASDAQ)

I was laid off in December, after 10 years of working at the same company.  I had accumulated some money in my 401k there, and rolled it over into a rollover IRA.  My mom (the family investment maven with a proven track record) has been advising me on what to buy.  I asked her to check out Osiris for me, as I have been following the company's Crohn's Disease treatment trials for the stem cell product Prochymal.  When I read that Osiris had sold large amounts of Prochymal to the US Department of Defense for possible future use in case of a radiation emergency, I was intrigued.  That is an acutal sale, right?  My brain's wheels started clicking. 

Although it may be years before a new Crohn's Disease pahse III trial is completed and the drug approved, I still think that they may have something there.  Considering that the trials were scrapped because TOO MANY of the participants felt better, that is sure better than bad side effects, or it not working at all.  (Unfortunatelly almost all of the study participants reported feeling better - even the ones on the placebo.  They may have been effected by knowing that if they were on the drug and were doing better they would have a chance to continue taking it)  Also since Crohn's has a emotional component to it, they may have also had a feeling of elation at being part of the study and that may have made their symtoms get better for a time.  Anyone with Crohn's can tell you its an up and down situation.

Anyway, I bought just a little bit of Osiris, at about 12.15 a share earlier today.  I am a little bit excited and now I will be following them for the site as well as for myself.

I will still report negative as well as positive news about them.  By the way, there is a legal firl trying to investigate them for investor fraud due to the mishandling of the research trial.  (KaplanFox)  Seems kind of iffy to me, I don't think the company screwed up on purpose.  Not really in their best interests to do that.  The science of the study has to be clean.  If it was not set up properly, it has to be redone.  That is that.

Stock Information

OSIR - (NASDAQ) $12.15           - 0.17

3 Immune System Researchers Share Prestigious Medical Prize

Have you ever wondered who discovered the immune system cell components that create inflammation?  Then you will enjoy reading this article from the Albany NY Fox affiliate which describes the three scientists who are sharing the Albany Medical Center Prize for Medicine and BioMedical Research.

Immune system researchers share $500,000 prize for medicine and biomedical research

$500,000 Albany Medical Center Prize is being shared by Dr. Ralph Steinman of Rockefeller University, Dr. Charles Dinarello, of the University of Colorado, and Dr. Bruce Beutler, of The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, Calif.

What makes this important in terms of Crohn's disease is that each of these three made important discoveries that have lead to some of the most power treatments (biologics, etc) that we now have for this disease.

Some of their accomplishments as copied directly from the Fox17 article:

Steinman's discovery of dendritic cells and their role in immunity, has pushed research toward potential vaccine improvements, treatment of autoimmune disorders and cancer.

"It's very important to understand how your body resists infection," Steinman said.

Dinarello worked on therapies to block the immune system's inflammatory reaction when it's harmful.

Dinarello identified the molecule in the body that produces a fever, or inflammation. Since discovering that molecule, later called Interleukin-1, he's focused his work on blocking it to relieve inflammation. This, and discoveries of different Interleukins, has resulted in treatment for immune disorders, including Crohn's disease, diabetes, allergies and rheumatoid arthritis.

Beutler defined what another type of protein the dendritic cells produce does for immune systems. It's called Tumor Necrosis Factor, or TNF. He isolated TNF and explained that it also played a role in responding to inflammation.