I had no idea the rates of IBD in Scotland were that high. It seems like researchers and scientists everywhere are looking for the cause and a cure for this horrible chronic illness, but no one has found either. There are many suggested theories as to the cause of Crohn's and ulcerative colitis that involve the combination of environmental, immune system and bacterial factors effect the person/people that have genetic susceptibility. We are in desperate need to determine the cause of IBD. At least if the main cause is identified, scientific studies can be lead in the appropriate direction, with hopes that an effective cure would soon be developed.
It's frustrating to read all this literature on the studies being done (I'm sort of obsessed with researching this disease). I believe that scientists all over the world are not just twiddling their thumbs in the lab. I think there are some hard working, determined scientists all over the world, especially in countries that are seeing a growing population of people with this life changing disease, that are committed to finding the true & actual cause. The frustration, that I'm sure a lot of these people experience when they think they are on to something and feel confident in the results that were found, to just have those findings tossed in the trash because followup studies confirm something different. Oh, and not to mention the millions of dollars in research costs that is spent to conduct these studies.
I'd imagine this has happened thousands of times. It wasn't just yesterday that they started researching IBD.
I have hope though..Even although the cause has not been determined as of yet. I know that someone, sometime soon, will find those golden results that everyone has been anxiously waiting for. I pray that God would take any discouragement that may fester in the minds of these people, who have dedicated their lives to helping people get well. Let that passion to help people only increase and drive these brilliant people to find the answer. I pray that God would lead these researchers to that answer that will result in millions and millions of people getting better and having the life that was intended for them = HEALTH & COMPLETE WHOLENESS OF THE BODY!
It's frustrating to read all this literature on the studies being done (I'm sort of obsessed with researching this disease). I believe that scientists all over the world are not just twiddling their thumbs in the lab. I think there are some hard working, determined scientists all over the world, especially in countries that are seeing a growing population of people with this life changing disease, that are committed to finding the true & actual cause. The frustration, that I'm sure a lot of these people experience when they think they are on to something and feel confident in the results that were found, to just have those findings tossed in the trash because followup studies confirm something different. Oh, and not to mention the millions of dollars in research costs that is spent to conduct these studies.
I'd imagine this has happened thousands of times. It wasn't just yesterday that they started researching IBD.
I have hope though..Even although the cause has not been determined as of yet. I know that someone, sometime soon, will find those golden results that everyone has been anxiously waiting for. I pray that God would take any discouragement that may fester in the minds of these people, who have dedicated their lives to helping people get well. Let that passion to help people only increase and drive these brilliant people to find the answer. I pray that God would lead these researchers to that answer that will result in millions and millions of people getting better and having the life that was intended for them = HEALTH & COMPLETE WHOLENESS OF THE BODY!
Article Highlights
- "(IBD) – are common causes of chronic ill-health, especially in Scottish children, where the incidence of Crohn’s has increased by 500 per cent in the past 50 years."
- ".... Edinburgh University will work with two international teams of clinicians and scientists in the £15 million programme, to help identify tell-tale signs in the blood or bowels of patients that point towards the two diseases and could help early diagnosis."
- "...... molecules or proteins – known as biomarkers – that are specifically associated with the development of bowel diseases, .... to track how the illnesses progress in patients over time. In this way, the team hopes to spot the most markers for predicting progression of the disease."
- "The scientists will use cutting-edge scientific techniques – including DNA, protein and microbiological analysis."
- ".... biomarkers could also make it easier to predict how serious a patient’s illness could become, .. predict their response to treatment,... clues about the possible causes of IBD, ..... pinpoint new targets for better treatments."
- "Scotland has among the highest rates of IBD in the world"
Scientists develop warning system for bowel disease
Picture: Getty
Scottish researchers are moving closer to finding new ways of diagnosing and treating patients with debilitating bowel conditions.
Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis – together known as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) – are common causes of chronic ill-health, especially in Scottish children, where the incidence of Crohn’s has increased by 500 per cent in the past 50 years.
Researchers in Edinburgh are now taking part in studies to identify early changes in the bowels and blood of patients which would lead to earlier diagnosis, better treatment and more information on the potential causes of the conditions.
Symptoms of IBD include stomach pain, weight loss, diarrhoea and extreme tiredness. Drugs can be used to treat the symptoms, but often patients require major surgery to relieve their suffering.
Now researchers from Edinburgh University will work with two international teams of clinicians and scientists in the £15 million programme, to help identify tell-tale signs in the blood or bowels of patients that point towards the two diseases and could help early diagnosis.
They hope to identify molecules or proteins – known as biomarkers – that are specifically associated with the development of bowel diseases, and to track how the illnesses progress in patients over time. In this way, the team hopes to spot the most markers for predicting progression of the disease.
The scientists will use cutting-edge scientific techniques – including DNA, protein and microbiological analysis.
These biomarkers could also make it easier to predict how serious a patient’s illness could become, and to predict their response to treatment. As well as providing clues about the possible causes of IBD, the researchers hope to pinpoint new targets for better treatments.
Scotland has among the highest rates of IBD in the world, though the reasons behind this remain unclear.
It is thought environmental factors, such as diet or levels of vitamin D, may play a part in causing conditions which affect one in every 100 to 200 people.
Professor Jack Satsangi, professor of gastroenterology at Edinburgh University, said: “Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are now common causes of chronic ill-health throughout the world, and in Scotland incidences are increasing rapidly.
“The fact the EC has chosen to support two studies involving Scottish patients highlights the fact that the impact of diseases in this country is recognised to be high, and that current therapies are often not successful.”
Thousands of newly-diagnosed patients across Europe and North America are to be recruited for two research trials, which will be run by scientists and clinicians from the UK, Sweden, Belgium, Spain and Norway.