Philadelphia, Pa. (March 22, 2013) –  Every five years, the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) gathers top researchers in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) to set the research agenda for the next five years.  The findings and recommendations of these expert workgroups are presented in a series of detailed “Challenges in IBD Research” reports, now available in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, official journal of the CCFA.  The journal is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health.

Each workgroup is assigned to specific topic areas including genetics, epidemiology and environmental factors, the “microbiome” (intestinal bacteria), epithelial cell biology, innate and adaptive immunity, clinical classification and prognostic models, and optimizing medical therapy.  A special “Challenges in IBD Research” progress report appears in the March issue of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.  The complete workgroup reports are available for direct download at http://links.lww.com/IBD/A77.

Experts Outline New Agenda for IBD Research

Based on a thorough review in each area, the workgroups have defined key research priorities for the next few years, including:

• Defining clinically relevant subgroups of IBD patients—using different types of information to predict aggressiveness of disease, complications, and response to treatment.
• Understanding the environmental factors affecting the risk and course of IBD—including environmental “triggers” and a specific focus on the role of diet.
• Clarifying the complex interrelationships among genes, bacteria, and epithelial and immune responses—focusing on cellular pathways and critical cell types that may lead to new “therapeutic targets.”
• Determining the optimal treatment approaches and strategies through comparative effectiveness studies.

The workgroup reports also identify the resources needed to carry out this ambitious research agenda, including a “centralized and distributable infrastructure” for integrated studies of IBD in humans and long-term follow-up studies of children and adults with IBD.

“Through development of the ambitious research goals outlined in this document, the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America has again led the effort to further the understanding of IBD,” said Dr. Lee Denson of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.  “CCFA is keen to advance this research agenda in 2013 and beyond.”

Building on Recent Scientific and Clinical Advances

The CCFA research agenda builds on recent advances in scientific and clinical research.  They include major strides in IBD genetics—more than 160 genes affecting susceptibility to Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis have now been identified. Using sophisticated techniques, researchers have gained new insights into the complex interactions between intestinal bacteria and immune responses, including the role of specific types of immune cells.

Clinical studies have improved the ability to predict the response to IBD treatment in children and to track the short- and long-term adverse effects of IBD treatments.  Progress has also been made in understanding the risks and benefits of medical and surgical treatments for key patient subgroups, including pregnant women and newborns.  These studies point the way toward future efforts to optimize treatment for individual patients with IBD.

About Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

Inflammatory Bowel Diseases brings the most current information in clinical and basic sciences to physicians caring for patients with inflammatory bowel diseases, and investigators performing research in IBD and related fields. Each issue contains cutting-edge original basic science and clinical articles on diagnosis, treatment, and management of IBD from clinicians and researchers around the world. Coverage includes articles highlighting the unique and important issues in pediatric IBD, as well as articles pertaining to adult patients.

About the CCFA

The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America is a non-profit, volunteer-driven organization dedicated to finding the cures for Crohn’s Disease and ulcerative colitis. It was founded in 1967 by Irwin M. and Suzanne Rosenthal, William D. and Shelby Modell, and Henry D. Janowitz, M.D.  Since our founding over four decades ago, CCFA has remained at the forefront of research in Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Today, we fund cutting-edge studies at major medical institutions, nurture investigators at the early stages of their careers, and finance underdeveloped areas of research.

About Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Lippincott Williams & Wilkins (LWW) is a leading international publisher of trusted content delivered in innovative ways to practitioners, professionals and students to learn new skills, stay current on their practice, and make important decisions to improve patient care and clinical outcomes.

LWW is part of Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading global provider of information, business intelligence and point-of-care solutions for the healthcare industry. Wolters Kluwer Health is part of Wolters Kluwer, a market-leading global information services company with 2012 annual revenues of €3.6 billion ($4.6 billion).

Contacts:

Robert Dekker
Director of Communications
Wolters Kluwer Health
+1 (215) 521-8928
Robert.Dekker@wolterskluwer.com

Connie Hughes
Director, Marketing Communications
Wolters Kluwer Health Medical Research
+1 (646) 674-6348
Connie.Hughes@wolterskluwer.com

Philadelphia, Pa. (September 4, 2012) – Children who swallow powerful neodymium magnets are at risk of serious complications, requiring emergency evaluation and possible treatment.  That’s the message of a new clinical algorithm published in the September issue of The Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, official journal of the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition and the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (NASPGHAN).  The journal is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health

Developed by an NASPGHAN expert panel, the algorithm provides doctors with a recommended, step-by-step approach to managing children who have swallowed these powerful magnets.  “The algorithm is a concise guide to the evaluation and treatment of magnet ingestions meant to reduce the gastrointestinal complications in children,” commented lead author Dr R. Adam Noel of Children’s Hospital of New Orleans.

Informal Survey Identified More Than 80 Cases

“Neodymium or rare earth magnets are not our grandfather’s magnets,” Dr Noel and coauthors write.  “Composed of iron, boron & neodymium, they are at least five to ten times more powerful than traditional magnets.”  Used in many industrial products, the powerful magnets are also marketed as “desk toys” or “stress relievers” for adults.

Because of their “formidable” attractive force, neodymium magnets pose a serious health hazard if swallowed.  That’s because ingested magnets can “find each other” even if they are in different areas of the digestive system.  “The magnets can therefore cause two pieces of bowel to stick together with great strength and do not separate,” the authors explain.  This can result in gastrointestinal perforation or obstruction, sometimes requiring surgery.

An informal survey of NASPGHAN members highlighted the frequency and seriousness of the problem.  Pediatric gastroenterology specialists responding to the survey reported more than 80 children with magnet ingestion.  Most patients required endoscopy to remove the magnets or surgery to repair damage to the bowels.  Twenty-six children had bowel perforation; three needed major surgery to remove a section of damaged intestine.

Emphasis on Rapid Medical Evaluation of Swallowed Magnets

In response, a NASPGHAN task force was formed to develop a new algorithm for evaluation and management of ingested neodymium magnets.  X-rays are needed to confirm that the child has swallowed magnets and to show their location.  Because the magnets are usually small, there may be no or only mild symptoms.

 A critical step is determining how many magnets the child has swallowed.  A single magnet will likely pass through without causing any harm.  However, if two or more magnets have been swallowed (or a magnet with another piece of metal), attraction between them may result in serious complications.  Because magnets may overlap, multiple x-rays from different angles are needed.

Rapid evaluation is critical, as complications appear more common if the child is not seen within twelve hours.  The algorithm recommends removal of the magnets using an endoscope, if possible—although this can be difficult because the magnets can get stuck on the sides of the removal instrument.  Surgery may be needed if medical care is delayed, if the magnets pass out of the stomach, or if complications occur.

While the new article was being prepared for publication, the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) took action to ban the sale of neodymium magnets as toys.  But Dr Noel notes that the CPSC action affects only the small magnets that make up adult magnet toys and that the biggest company selling the toys is resisting.  In addition, the ban won’t apply to magnets used in other products, such as children’s toys and tools.

“Therefore there will be a significant exposure to the extremely small powerful magnet for the foreseeable future,” commented Dr Noel.  “I hope for our children’s sake that the CPSC action will stick.  But even so, the magnets that are already in our environment are a clear and present danger.”

Coauthor Dr Mark Gilger of Texas Children’s Hospital agrees, suggesting that cases of magnet ingestion in children may even increase over the short term.  He added, “If one used a risk/benefit analysis on neodymium magnet desk toys, it’s quite simple:  the risk of injury to children is high and the population benefit is little or none.  Do we need this toy, really?”   

About The Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition

The Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition provides a forum for original papers and reviews dealing with pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition, including normal and abnormal functions of the alimentary tract and its associated organs, including the salivary glands, pancreas, gallbladder, and liver. Particular emphasis is on development and its relation to infant and childhood nutrition.

About Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Lippincott Williams & Wilkins (LWW) is a leading international publisher of trusted content delivered in innovative ways to practitioners, professionals and students to learn new skills, stay current on their practice, and make important decisions to improve patient care and clinical outcomes. LWW is part of Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading global provider of information, business intelligence and point-of-care solutions for the healthcare industry. Wolters Kluwer Health is part of Wolters Kluwer, a market-leading global information services company with 2011 annual revenues of €3.4 billion ($4.7 billion).

Contacts:

Robert Dekker
Director of Communications
Wolters Kluwer Health
+1 (215) 521-8928
Robert.Dekker@wolterskluwer.com

Connie Hughes
Director, Marketing Communications
Wolters Kluwer Health Medical Research
+1 (646) 674-6348
Connie.Hughes@wolterskluwer.com

New York, NY (August 27, 2012) – Wolters Kluwer Health and the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America, Inc. (CCFA) announced today an agreement to publish Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. Effective with the January 2013 issue, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins (LWW), part of Wolters Kluwer Health, will be the journal’s publisher of record.

Inflammatory Bowel Diseases® (IBD), the official journal of the CCFA, is the first journal dedicated exclusively to IBD. The journal covers topics of interest to the professional clinician or researcher in this burgeoning field with original, peer-reviewed articles in clinical and basic science areas, as well as invited in-depth reviews of key treatment issues and groundbreaking research. IBD covers the unique and important issues in pediatric IBD, as well as articles pertaining to adult patients.

“We are delighted to be selected by the highly regarded Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America as the publisher of IBD journal,” said Karen Abramson, President & CEO of Wolters Kluwer Health Medical Research. “IBD is a leading journal and critical resource among gastroenterology practitioners. Our partnership with the CCFA will help them to expand the journal’s reach and impact globally, and engage new and existing CCFA members through innovative publishing solutions and strategies.”

“The CCFA chose to partner exclusively with Wolters Kluwer Health and are excited about our partnership to elevate IBD’s impact globally,” said Marjorie Merrick, Vice President of Research and Scientific Programs at the CCFA.  “The LWW publishing team has taken a leadership position in innovating digital journal strategies, and we believe this is the best team to further develop and advance IBD as a leading resource accessible to our members and practitioners when and where they need access to inform clinical decisions and patient care.”

IBD is currently available for institutional access exclusively through Ovid’s medical research platform, OvidSP, used by more than 12,000 institutions globally. Ovid is part of Wolters Kluwer Health.

About CCFA

The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) is the largest voluntary nonprofit health organization dedicated to finding cures for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD). CCFA’s mission is to cure Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, and to improve the quality of life of children and adults who suffer from these diseases. The Foundation works to fulfill its mission by funding research, providing educational resources for patients and their families, medical professionals, and the public, and furnishing supportive services for those afflicted with IBD. For more information, visit www.ccfa.org,

About Wolters Kluwer Health and Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Lippincott Williams & Wilkins (LWW) is a leading international publisher of trusted content delivered in innovative ways to practitioners, professionals and students to learn new skills, stay current on their practice, and make important decisions to improve patient care and clinical outcomes. LWW is part of Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading global provider of information, business intelligence and point-of-care solutions for the healthcare industry. Wolters Kluwer Health is part of Wolters Kluwer, a market-leading global information services company with 2011 annual revenues of €3.4 billion ($4.7 billion).

Contacts:

Robert Dekker
Director of Communications
Wolters Kluwer Health
+1 (215) 521-8928
Robert.Dekker@wolterskluwer.com

Connie Hughes
Director, Marketing Communications
Wolters Kluwer Health Medical Research
+1 (646) 674-6348
Connie.Hughes@wolterskluwer.com