So I wasn't familiar with what even a endoscopic balloon dilation (EBD) does. The procedure seems like it is mainly used for strictures and can be used as an alternative to surgery. In the study 43% of patients achieved long-term benefit from EBD.
Vitamin D and Crohn's: Sunlight Decreased of Crohn's Disease
In a study that looked at over 90,000 women in France higher levels of sun exposure was associated with an decrease in Crohn's but not ulcerative colitis.
Anti-inflammatory herb for IBD?
So it seems as if a Chinese herbal drug may have some benefits in people. The trial looked at just mice however showed that FAHF-2 may be a novel treatment for Crohn's.
Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in refractory Crohn's.
Stem cells has been used for Crohn's (however it can be quite dangerous and even deadly). In this trial 26 patients were included. Many patients in this study (which just looked at toxicity) experienced infections and the study recommends to use the stem cells only in extraordinary situations.
Early Detection of Crohn's With Laser
Recently it was announced that a pill camera was approved by the FDA to be used as a colonoscopy. Now it seems as if researchers are taking colonoscopy to the next step by using blue laser which can magnify the intestinal wall and magnify it 1,000 times and see the earliest abnormal cells. The laser is being used by Ohio State Medical Center. Dr. Razvan Arsenescu has been using the laser and the hope is the laser will be used not only to treat IBD but also lung, bladder, and other diseases.
Sweden Highest Rates (In Europe) of Crohn's Disease
Canada has the highest rates of Crohn's disease in the world and it looks like Sweden has the highest rate in Europe. The study showed that patients who had Crohn's for 40 years had an increased risk for surgery. The mean annual rate for Crohn's was 9.9 people/100,000/year (which is still a very small percentage of the population).