The IC Underground

DALLAS – Nov. 19, 2009 – Contrary to current thinking, a condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) might not develop as a direct result of acidic digestive juices burning the esophagus, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers have found in an animal study.

Rather, gastroesophageal reflux spurs the esophageal cells to release chemicals called cytokines, which attract inflammatory cells to the esophagus. It is those inflammatory cells, drawn to the esophagus by cytokines, that cause the esophageal damage that is characteristic of GERD. The condition is manifested by symptoms such as heartburn and chest pain.

Research by Drs. Stuart Spechler and Rhonda Souza suggests that gastroesophageal reflux disease might actually be an immune-mediated injury rather than a direct result of acidic digestive juices burning the esophagus.
“Currently, we treat GERD by giving medications to prevent the stomach from making acid,” said Dr. Rhonda Souza, associate professor of internal medicine at UT Southwestern and lead author of the study appearing the November issue of Gastroenterology. “But if GERD is really an immune-mediated injury, maybe we should create medications that would prevent these cytokines from attracting inflammatory cells to the esophagus and starting the injury in the first place.”

In the study, researchers created GERD in rats by connecting the duodenum to the esophagus. This operation allows stomach acid and bile to enter the esophagus. Researchers were surprised to learn that esophagitis didn’t develop for a number of weeks after the operation.

“That doesn’t make sense if GERD is really the result of an acid burn, as we all were taught in medical school,” said Dr. Stuart Spechler, professor of internal medicine at UT Southwestern and senior author of the study. “Chemical injuries develop immediately. If you spill battery acid on your hand, you don’t have to wait a month to see the damage.”

About 40 percent of Americans suffer symptoms of GERD at some point, and 20 percent on a weekly basis, Dr. Souza said. Over the long term, GERD could eventually lead to esophageal cancer.

Previous studies had shown that if an animal esophagus is perfused with highly concentrated acid, esophageal damage develops quickly. In humans, however, the large majority of reflux episodes do not contain such highly concentrated acid, Dr. Souza said.

“In animal models of reflux esophagitis designed to mimic the human disease, researchers hadn’t looked at the early events in the development of esophageal injury,” Dr. Souza noted. “Most of those investigators have been interested in the long-term consequences of GERD, and we found virtually no published data about what happens later that induces gastroesophageal reflux.”

Dr. Souza, who is also a staff physician at the Dallas Veterans Affairs Medical Center and part of the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center at UT Southwestern, and Dr. Spechler, chief of gastroenterology at the Dallas VA, said the method they used to produce GERD in rats is a reasonable representation of how GERD develops in humans – acidic digestive juices from the stomach surge into the esophagus.

Soon after the operation, they expected to see the death of surface cells of the esophagus, and they expected to see the injury progress later to the deeper layers. Instead, they found the opposite. Three days after the surgery, there was no damage to surface cells, but the researchers did find inflammatory cells in the deeper layers of the esophagus. Those inflammatory cells didn’t rise to the surface layer until three weeks after the initial acid exposure.

The next step for researchers is to conduct additional studies in humans.

Other UT Southwestern researchers involved in the study included Dr. Xiaofang Huo, postdoctoral researcher in internal medicine; Dr. Vivek Mittal, postgraduate trainee in internal medicine; Dr. Susanne Carmack, postgraduate trainee in pathology: Dr. Huiying Zhang, instructor of internal medicine; Dr. Robert Genta, clinical professor of pathology and internal medicine; Dr. Kathy Hormi-Carver, assistant professor of internal medicine; and Dr. Xi Zhang and Dr. Chunhua Yu, both research associates in internal medicine.

The study was supported by the Dallas VA Medical Center and the National Institutes of Health.

Visit http://www.utsouthwestern.org/digestive to learn about UT Southwestern’s clinical services for digestive disorders.

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The ICN Medical Restroom Access card can be shown to flight attendants, shop keepers and anyone else who might help you gain access to a restroom. This is a vital part of your IC awareness arsenal. Not only will it help you gain access when you need it, but it can educate others about the true, and occaasionally desperate, need for restroom facilities for patients struggling with urological conditions.

Front side:
MEDICAL ALERT - Restroom Access Required
The holder of this card has a medical condition (interstitial cystitis, prostatitis or pelvic pain syndrome) that requires frequent and urgent restroom access. It is difficult, if not impossible, for this patient to ‘hold it’ without enduring severe pain and/or bladder spasms. Please provide restroom access to this patient. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

Back Side:
Interstitial cystitis (IC) and prostatitis affect millions of men, women and children who may struggle with frequency, urgency, pressure, pain and/or hematuria. Even if they don’t appear ill, they may have severe symptoms. Please help these patients manage their symptoms and maintain their dignity by providing restroom access.

The ICN provides support, encouragement and information to IC patients and providers throughout the world. You can meet other IC patients right now on the ICN website. Please join us!

Now Available at: http://www.icnsales.com/product.php?productid=354&cat=0&page=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZD5LTb05Ss

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPovbj3WuV0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrdlzNIJAOg

New IC/PBS Guidelines Revealed for India
Well this is very interesting. Dr. Nagendra Mishra, a doctor I greatly respect and know, has released some tentative guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of IC in India. It kinda makes you go “hmmm” for several reasons.

#1 - They are choosing the name IC/PBS rather than Bladder Pain Syndrome (Europe) or Hypersensitive Bladder Syndrome (Japan).

#2 - The diagnosis is very similar to what is currently done though they do not suggest a whopping three biopsy sites like Europe does.

#3 - Proposed treatments really surprised me as they put a therapeutic hydrodistention as #1 on the list. Yikes!

http://www.urotoday.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view_ua&id=2223754

If you struggle with bladder or prostate sensitivity, you’ve probably already learned that some foods can badly provoke more symptoms and discomfort. ICN President Jill Osborne discusses those foods which you should avoid if you are struggling with interstitial cystitis and/or prostatitis.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2YaUBw390k

We’ve produced almost 24 videos on interstitial cystitis now…. please check them out at: http://www.ic-network.com/videos/

Jill

It’s very normal to a couple to be challenged when one partner has a chronic illness such as interstitial cystitis. The true test of the maturity of that couple is measured by how well they work together, talk with each other and provide essential support to each other. A hug can be so healing when offered without strings and freely. ICN President Jill Osborne shares some strategies on how couples can work through the challenge of trying to talk with each other.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dY6gtdYl6hk