The PREVENT 2 study enrolled 592 patients with a history of diverticulitis, a condition in which pouches develop in the intestine that become inflamed and infected. The two-year study compared the impact of three different doses of SPD476 versus placebo on the rate of diverticulitis.

It found no significant difference between the two groups at any of the dosages tested on either the primary or secondary endpoints, according to the company.

“We will continue to analyze these data and those of the second study, PREVENT1, which was similar in design to PREVENT2 and will report later in the year,” commented Dr Jeffrey Jonas, Shire’s senior vice president of R&D.

“Although the results of the second trial are pending, it is our current intention not to pursue a regulatory filing for this indication,” he added.

Consuming foods like grains, fresh produce, nuts, seeds and legumes is normally a healthy practice. However, people with certain intestinal disorders will actually benefit from not eating them. By selecting foods that are easy to digest, symptoms are reduced because bowel movements are smaller and less frequent.

A low-residue diet is particularly helpful for controlling symptoms in people with diverticulitis, Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis. Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis are the two most common intestinal disorders and require great care and effort to manage the associated symptoms.

The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America recommends people with IBD include a broad range of nutritious foods in their diet. Because some foods may exacerbate symptoms, a food journal and a nutritionist’s guidance are valuable tools.

Because most IBD patients are able to absorb nutrients normally, diet changes are usually only short-term. However, should inflammation occur in the ileum, it may become difficult for food to pass and result in abdominal pain. Temporarily eating a low-residue diet can help.

Raw fruits and vegetables, corn hulls, nuts and seeds are rich in cellulose and are very difficult for the digestive system to break down. As a result, they leave behind a residue in the intestines. On a low-residue diet, such things are avoided. When the patient’s condition returns to a normal state after treatment, they may resume a typical diet.

The diet may also be beneficial to people with diverticulitis. Diverticulitis is a disorder in which the pockets lining the intestines become inflamed. Common symptoms include nausea, decreased appetite, gas, diarrhea, abdominal pain and fever. Seeds, corn and nuts should be avoided as they may become lodged in these pockets.

Although some schools of though maintain that a high-fiber diet is best for diverticulitis sufferers, a temporary low-residue diet may be necessary when symptoms become unmanageable. In such an event, appropriate treatments may include a liquid diet, medication and a gradual shift back to a normal diet.

Another use for the low-residue diet is in the treatment of partial intestinal obstructions. Obstructions that entirely block the intestine are a serious emergency and warrant surgical intervention, but partial blockages can often be remedied with an appropriate diet.

Obstructions are frequently the result of adhesions or scar tissue that causes other tissues to grow together. This can cause the intestines to deviate from their normal position and result in crimping or total strangulation. When this happens, digested food can’t pass and results in nausea and vomiting, abdominal cramps, gurgling, inability to flatulate, bloating and constipation.

The surgery is usually recommended if the person had several severe attacks of diverticulitis. The surgery is also advisable for people suffering from impaired immune system, people who are less than 40 or if a fistula forms between the colon and a neighboring organ, such as the vagina, bladder or uterus. Doctors may perform the surgery if the person suffers from complications due to an infected diverticulum, infection in the abdomen, obstructed bowel, sepsis or profuse bleeding.

Over the years, medical science and associated technology have advanced quite a bit. The surgery can be done either by making an incision in the abdomen or it can be done using laparoscopy. The method of surgery depends on how severe the disease is. Usually, if there are no associated complication due to diverticulitis, surgeons prefer to use laparoscopy, which means a shorter hospital stay, shorter period of recovery and fewer chances of post-surgery complications.

Facts about Diverticulitis Surgery

Diverticulitis surgery can be performed in two ways. One involves just a single step wherein the diseased part of the colon is surgically removed and the two ends are then joined together. The second type may involve first removing the affected part of the colon and attaching the upper part to an abdominal opening. This is known as colostomy. The stools are eliminated from the body via the opening into a bag. This opening is maintained until the infection in the colon gets better. Thereafter, another surgery is done to rejoin the two ends of the colon. However, the type of surgery that a person requires is only decided at the time of the actual surgical procedure.

Typically, the single step surgery involves a hospital stay of 4 to 7 days, as long as there are no post-surgery complications. However, if the person undergoes laparoscopic surgery, the hospital stay time reduces. On the other hand, if the person undergoes the second type of surgery, the hospital stay is substantially longer, around 6 to 12 weeks.

The recovery time after a diverticulitis surgery is around 6 to 8 weeks. The surgery has a success rate of 89 percent. In other words, 12 out of 100 people may end up getting diverticulitis again after the surgery. However, these people may not require another surgery. Also, when the surgery is performed in two stages, some people may not have the second stage of the surgery, as the colon may not heal properly.

Possible Risks of Diverticulitis Surgery

As the surgery is performed under general anesthesia, there is a risk of complications due to the anesthesia. Other possible risks include profuse bleeding; post-surgery infection; injury or trauma to the neighboring organs, such as ureters, blood vessels or urinary bladder; or leaking of feces from the part of the colon where the two ends are joined.

Should You Have Diverticulitis Surgery?

It is best to have the surgery when the person does not suffer from an attack. This is because the chances are extremely high that the surgery will be done in a single step. On the other hand, an emergency surgery for diverticulitis may have to be done in two stages.

A person may not require the surgery if the attacks are not often and they do not have any associated complications. In such a case, the diverticulitis can be managed through intake of high fiber diet.

What is Diverticulosis?

Diverticulosis occurs when defects appear in the walls of the large intestine. These defects are known as pockets. When a person does not eat enough fiber, the muscle action of the colon is not sufficiently spread out by fecal matter that forms in hard chunks. As a result, the inner lining of the intestine herniates and pockets form.

The condition alone is not dangerous. However, it leaves a person prone to inflammation and infection. The chance of inflammation increases when waste matter accumulates in these pockets. This can lead to bowel obstruction and an actual perforation of the bowel. Studies suggest that around 5 to 20 percent of people with this condition will eventually develop diverticulitis, which is the medical name for the infection that arises from diverticulosis.

Treating Diverticulosis

Fortunately, people with diverticulosis can treat themselves with a high likelihood of success and avoid diverticulitis. A high-fiber diet will not cure the problem but it can keep further complications from developing. There are no restrictions on this diet. It is only necessary that patients include a great deal of fiber in their daily diet.

A high-fiber diet includes whole grains and a high quantity of vegetables and fruit. Often patients believe that they are eating a lot of fiber because they do not know how much is required by the human body. They are also unaware of the fiber content of the food that they eat.

A healthy person requires about 14 grams of fiber in a 2,000 calorie diet. While it is not necessary to avoid processed foods, people should not count on getting all this fiber from them. Instead, people diagnosed with diverticulosis should ensure that they include a lot of natural products, especially fruits and vegetables, in their daily diet. This will reduce the chances of digested food becoming trapped in the pockets in their colon and lessen the likelihood of inflammation.

Researchers are claiming that physicians should not prescribe antibiotics to patients with minor bouts of diverticulitis. These antibiotics are not likely speed up the recovery of these cases.

In a research study with more than 600 patients with minor diverticulitis and no severe complications, Swedish researchers found that those who were treated with antibiotics stayed in the hospital for approximately the same amount of time as those who were not using antibiotics. Both groups stayed for about three days. Even when patients had used antibiotics for a total of one year, there was no evidence that the medication helped to cause fewer complications. The medications also did not appear to make a different in the type of bowel activity in the diverticulitis patients.

According to the findings of this new research study, the way that diverticulitis is currently treated could change for those with just minor cases. Currently antibiotics are prescribed to patients who do not have any complications with their condition, but the findings suggest this may not be especially helpful. Antibiotics are also unlikely to prevent diverticulitis from occurring again in the future.

Dr. Abbas Chabok, the surgeon leading this study at Sweden’s Uppsala University, claimed that antibiotics should only be given to patients who are experiencing complications of diverticulitis. The doctor claims that it is just not necessary to provide these medications to those with uncomplicated conditions.

The reason why antibiotics are likely not helpful, according to Dr. John O’Malley, is that diverticulitis is not caused by an infection. Instead, it is the result of an inflammation, according to the most recent research pertaining to the condition.

The doctor also claimed that we are too quick to accept antibiotics as a solution. The correct way to treat diverticulitis, he claims, is to focus on diet and giving the bowels a break. Anti-inflammatory medications are likely better solutions to the health problem.

Though it is likely that there is a need for further research as to what the potential effects of antibiotics actually are, it is necessary for patients struggling with diverticulitis to pay attention to the way their medications affect them.

Truth be told, autoimmune disease can attack any segment of the human body. For instance, the body’s immune system will disintegrate the insulin present in type 1 diabetes, and consequently developing cells of the pancreas. The immune system will destroy the membranes that are responsible for lining the joints in rheumatoid arthritis and will overreact to conventional intestinal bacteria and start an overzealous attack in Crohn’s disease. As a result, white blood cells will migrate into the intestines linings and will cause serious inflammation to happen.

Some other more prevalent autoimmune diseases are multiple sclerosis, celiac disease, ulcerative colitis as well as. To date, there are more than 80 autoimmune diseases identified.

Researchers have yet to unearth the source of autoimmune disease. Nevertheless, they discovered genetic links with autoimmune disease. However, genetics is not the sole factor causing autoimmune disease. Other important elements like infections, drugs, toxins, your diet regime as well as the environment also play a big part in causing autoimmune disease.

Vitamin D is also commonly known as the sunshine vitamin, mainly due to the fact that the sun’s ultraviolet rays can cause its growth in the skin, and this is probably one of those environmental reasons that lead to autoimmune disease. Researchers believed that insufficient Vitamin D intake will lead to autoimmune disease. Folks who were born and resided the initial decade of their lives in the south region are found to have a lower chance of getting multiple sclerosis throughout their life.

Further studies demonstrated that immune cells contain vitamin D receptors which permit the vitamin to go into the cell and this signifies that vitamin D has a position in there. This study further ascertains the role of vitamin D in causing autoimmune diseases. Researchers also discovered that folks who are stricken with type 1 diabetes, Crohn’s disease as well as lupus have significantly lower level of vitamin D than healthy folks.

Other form of dietary approaches that will reduce inflammation and improve balancing of the immune system are also beneficial for folks who are at risk of getting autoimmune diseases.

Steer away from the conventional American unhealthy diet which is typically full of calories, encompasses of overly processed as well as saturated and trans fats. Instead, opt for a more healthy diet which is abundant with fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices, fish as well as nuts, and improve immune balance. All these kind of food are filled with antioxidants, anti-inflammatory compounds as well as omega-3 fatty acids.

Burton-Freeman revealed in a study released in a 2011 issue of the British Journal of Nutrition that when overweight men and women eat strawberries (a fruit which is well known for its rich content of inflammatory compounds ) with a big , normal American breakfast, their inflammatory response will be reduced substantially compared to eating breakfast without the strawberries.

Gluten Triggers

Gluten is a type of protein which is commonly found in wheat, rye as well as barley. It is also an environmental source for the development of celiac disease, an autoimmune disease which is normally characterized by chronic diarrhea. In order for a person to have celiac disease, a person needs to take in gluten, be genetically susceptible to the disease, and also have a peculiar permeable intestinal wall which permits food particles which are not digested as well as other larger particles into the bloodstream.

Once the gluten is eliminated from the diet, signs and symptoms of the disease will gradually disappear until the patient takes in gluten again.

However, the American College of Gastroenterology has released a cautionary notification about the administration of all non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs , also known as NSAIDs. A recent research did an analytical study on the potential dangers of using aspirin in the long run . This research was done to examine on the positive aspects of the aspirin on the patient.

This research was carried out by the Health Professional Follow-Up Study, a department inside the Harvard School of Public Health. The research was carried out for an extended time period of 22 years and encompasses about 47,000 male participants. Within this group, about 14,000 men were regular aspirin users, while the other 2,500 were using non-aspirin NSAIDs. Analysts defined regular administration of the aspirin drug as consuming the aspirin drug twice every 7 days.

The Disadvantages

The research revealed that within the group of the participants who consumed aspirin or other kinds of NSAID, about 939 men was diagnosed with diverticulitis. Diverticulitis is actually an illness which causes swelling of the patient’s pouch in either the intestinal wall of the colon wall. About 256 participants had diverticular bleeding, an ailment associated with diverticulitis.

It has been discovered that aspirin users will have a high danger of getting diverticulitis,  about 1.25 and will have about 1.70 chances of getting diverticular bleeding. On the other hand, NSAIDs users will have a 1.72 potential of getting diverticular and 1.74 chance of getting diverticular bleeding. Moreover, the research revealed one additional case of diverticular implications for every 1000 person-years}.

The Advantages

The research demonstrated that the outcomes are in accordance with the physiological procedure of the medications. Even though the American College of Gastroenterology are still sending out warning notifications about the administration of aspirin as well as NSAIDs in the long run, primarily due to the fact that these medicines will significantly increase an individual chances of getting diverticular as well as ulcer damage, including bleeding, perforation and obstruction. The outcome of the research was these types of medicines can be used to stop secondary cardiovascular events and stroke, and this benefit which the medicine can bring about far outweighs the negative aspects these medicines will bring about}.

Nonetheless, analysts at the Health Professional Follow-Up Study further advise folks or family members with previous track record of contracting diverticulitis of diverticular bleeding to be cautious about the usage of these kinds of medicine, due to the fact that these medicines will spark off a more severe consequence for these patients.

It is undeniable fact that apples are great in helping to keep the body’s cholesterol level at a healthy level and those white fleshy fruits as well as vegetables are extremely beneficial in stroke prevention. A recent research showed that fruits and vegetables which are abundant with antioxidants as well as whole grains, teas and chocolates are beneficial to women by greatly reducing their chances of getting a stroke even if they previously are diagnosed with heart disease.

Antioxidants are chemicals which are found in foods that can neutralize the free radicals inside of the body that are affiliate with stroke , heart disease as well as other types of diseases.

Karolinska Institutet in Sweden researchers found:

One batch of the test subject was 31,035 women which had no heart disease problem while the other batch of the test subject was 5,680 women who had previously been diagnosed with heart disease. Analysts assessed the amount of antioxidant rich goods as well as beverages they intake. About 11.5 years later, women who were not diagnosed with heart disease or stroke had a diet which is made up of mostly fruits and vegetables and the chances of them getting any kind of stroke were reduced by 17%. Women who previously had heart disease and had taken a substantial amount of antioxidants had much lower risk of getting hemorrhagic stroke, about 46% to 57% lower. Both outcomes were compared to women who taken the least amount of antioxidants. The outcomes are the same even if the experts had take into consideration other habits like exercise as well as smoking. All these had a great impact on patients’ chances of getting stroke.

According to Harvard School of Public Health, apart from preventing heart disease as well as stroke, consuming plenty of fruits as well as vegetables can also regulate blood pressure level, and also stop other types of cancer.

Moreover, it can also stop a distressing intestinal illness known as the diverticulitis as well as protect us against cataract and macular degeneration; the two widely spread sources of lost vision.

Experts have tabulated and consolidated results they get from Harvard studies and other long-term studies which they get from the United States and Europe. In addition, they had also looked into heart disease and stroke individually and discovered the same shielding effect. Individuals who consumed more than five servings of fruit and vegetables a day had around a 20% lower risk of coronary heart disease and stroke compared to those who consumed less than three servings a day.

Below are some of the hints suggested by the Harvard School of Public Health, on how to incorporate more fruits as well as vegetables into your daily meal?

Ensure that 50% of your plate comprised of fruits or vegetables, try to eat some each meal every day, make an attempt to incorporate fruits or vegetables during your snack time, Check out the products department and go for something fresh, It is important to incorporate changes to your diet like green leafy vegetables; yellow, orange, red, tomatoes as well as citrus fruits.

Choose vegetables which are abundant with nutrients as well as those carbs which take a longer time to digest. Try new good recipes and try to make vegetables the core portion of your diet.

The USDA suggests you take action on these dietary guidelines by making specific changes in the following three areas.  Start today!

Balance Calories

• Enjoy your food, but eat less of it
• Avoid over-sized portions, or share your meals with a partner

Foods to Increase

• Make half your plate fruits and vegetables
• Make at least half your grains, whole grains
• Switch to fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk

Foods to Reduce

• Compare sodium in foods like soup, bread, and frozen meals and choose the ones with lower numbers
• Drink water, instead of sugary drinks