Diet and nutrition against inflammatory bowel disease: Trick or treat(ment)?

Even if the relationships between nutrition and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) remain underexplored, the current literature is providing, day by day, much more evidence on the effects of various diets in both prevention and treatment of such illnesses. Wrong dietary habits, together with other environmental factors such as pollution, breastfeeding, smoke, and/or antibiotics, are among the theoretical pathogenetic causes of IBD, whose multifactorial aetiology has been already confirmed. While some of these risk factors are potentially reversible, some others cannot be avoided, and efficient treatments become necessary to prevent IBD spread or recurrence. Furthermore, the drugs currently available for treatment of such disease provide low-to-no effect against the symptoms, making the illnesses still strongly disabling. Whether nutrition and specific diets will prove to effectively interrupt the course of IBD has still to be clarified and, in this sense, further research concerning the applications of such dietary interventions is still needed.     

疏肝健脾法治疗腹泻型肠易激综合征1例

肠易激综合征（IBS）是一种常见的功能性疾病，中医病名为"肠郁"。郭朋教授根据IBS生理、病理特点，以疏肝健脾法调和肝脾，辨证施治，取得良好疗效。文章从病因病机、辨证论治及经典案例介绍等几个方面对郭教授治疗IBS经验进行系统阐述，以期为中医药治疗IBS提供理论和方法学参考。     

Adopting Review,Reflect and Re-focus [Triple R] sessions to support pre-registration therapeutic radiography students post clinical placement

IntroductionEducation and training strategies in Therapeutic Radiography are challenged in recruiting and retaining students in the profession. Clinical oncology centres are often viewed as stressful environments for students due to rapid advances in technology and reported bullying and harassment. Educators continue to work with clinical partners in developing strategies to promote resilience and reduce negative attitudes. The overall aim of this project was to explore the use of Triple R sessions as a new method of student reflection.MethodsThe Review, Reflect and Re-focus (Triple R) sessions were designed to enable students to learn from their clinical experiences and; apply their understanding and positivity when they return to clinical placement. Eleven sessions were completed across 7 student cohorts in one academic year. Qualitative data was collected from feedback forms, as well as academic field notes, and analysed thematically.ResultsTwo main themes focused on: (1) staff interactions and (2) student expectations. Results showed that Triple R sessions were helpful in drawing out the experiences of students in a positive way to reflect on their own development. The sessions enabled critical self-analysis and improved problem-solving skills, particularly evident during peer discussions.ConclusionTriple R sessions explored the influence of a positive approach on students' perceptions of their overall placement. Evaluation of the data indicated that, following academic and peer discussion, students' perceptions tended to be a more positive overall view of their placement.Implications for practiceTriple R sessions can be used in academic and clinical environments to enable positive student interactions.     

Exposición solar en la enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal ambulatoria: factores predictivos y correlación con la concentración sérica de vitamina D

IntroductionSunlight exposure is the main source of vitamin D. Our aim was to describe both sun exposure and sun protection behaviour in a series of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and to study their potential association with vitamin D concentration.Patients and methodsA cross sectional, observational study. The clinical-demographic variables were obtained via clinical interviews and medical history review. The sunlight exposure assessment was carried out using the Sun Exposure Questionnaire and the concentration of 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25OHD) was measured by an electro-chemiluminescence immunoassay. Questionnaires were conducted on quality of life, physical activity, weekly vitamin D intake and sun protection behaviour.Results149 patients were included. In 69% of patients, deficient or insufficient 25OHD values were recorded. 67% showed low sun exposure. A modest significant correlation was observed between the total score of the solar exposure questionnaire and the 25OHD concentration in the complete series (r = 0.226, P = .006) and in the summer (r = 0.274, P = .01). The sun protection behaviour questionnaire score did not influence the 25OHD concentration. In the multivariate analysis, only the presence of clinical activity was associated with low sun exposure (OR = 3.23).DiscussionSun exposure according to the questionnaire used was low, was associated with the presence of clinical activity and was weakly correlated with serum 25OHD concentration. More studies are needed to explore the use of individual questionnaires for sun exposure and its relationship with vitamin D in patients with IBD.     

Risk factors and management of stoma-related obstruction after laparoscopic colorectal surgery with diverting ileostomy

BackgroundStoma-related obstruction (SRO) is defined as small bowel obstruction occurring around the limbs of diverting ileostomy (DI). This study was aimed to investigate the incidence, risk factors, and management of SRO after laparoscopic colorectal surgery with DI creation.MethodsThis study included 155 patients who underwent laparoscopic colorectal surgery with DI creation for rectal cancer (n = 138), ulcerative colitis (UC) (n = 14), and familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) (n = 3) between 2011 and 2019. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify the risk factors of SRO.ResultsThe incidence of SRO was 7.7% (n = 12), and it was significantly lower (P < 0.01) in patients with lower anterior resection or intersphincteric resection (4.3%) than in those with ileal-pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA) (35.2%). The multivariate analysis revealed that IPAA was independently associated with the development of SRO (P = 0.001; odds ratio, 9.4; 95% confidence interval, 2.5–35.4). Eleven of 12 patients (92%) with SRO required trans-stomal tube decompression, and 8 of those (67%) underwent early stoma closure.ConclusionIPAA was an independent risk factor of SRO in laparoscopic colorectal surgery with DI creation. Early stoma closure was needed in most cases of SRO.     

Improving Prenatal Diagnosis of Coarctation of the Aorta

Background

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the association between fetal echocardiographic measurements and the need for intervention (primary coarctation repair, staged coarctation repair, or catheter intervention) in prenatally diagnosed coarctation of the aorta.

Rural barriers to early lung cancer detection: Exploring access to lung cancer screening programs in New Hampshire and Vermont

BackgroundRural populations face many health disadvantages compared to urban areas. There is a critical need to better understand the current lung cancer screening landscape in these communities to identify targeted areas to improve the impact of this proven tool.MethodsData from the County Health Rankings of New Hampshire and Vermont was reviewed for population density, distribution of adult smokers, and level of education compared to the distribution of Lung Cancer Screening Facilities throughout these two states.ResultsScreening programs in southern counties of Vermont with lower levels of education have decreased access. In New Hampshire, there are no programs within 30 miles of the areas with the largest distribution of smokers, and decreased access in some areas with the lowest levels of education.ConclusionsImproving equitable access to high-quality screening services in rural regions and the creation of targeted interventions to address decreased access in areas of high tobacco use and low education is vital to decreasing the incidence of latestage presentations of lung cancer within these populations.