Blog

Bay Biosciences provides fresh frozen (-80°) high quality, clinical grade human serum (sera), plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) for research, development and drug discovery.  

Moreover the samples processed from patient’s fresh whole-blood with matching biopsy samples from unique patients diagnosed with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), Ulcerative Colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Overview

Long-term conditions that involve inflammation of the digestive tract or gut are referred to as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Consequently, a range of digestive symptoms can arise from it.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), IBD currently affects up to  up to 3.1 million  people in the United States. Interestingly, most individuals with IBD receive their diagnosis before reaching 30 years of age.

In this context, the different types of IBD and the comparison of this condition with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are explored in this article. Furthermore, IBD’s symptoms, causes, and treatment options are covered.

What is Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)?

Conditions affecting the intestines fall under the umbrella term IBD. Specifically, when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells in the bowel, IBD occurs. This leads to inflammation and symptoms like changes in bowel movements and pain. Although IBD is a chronic or long-term condition, available treatments can ease symptoms and prevent flare-ups.

Types of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

There are two main types of IBD, which are ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. 

Ulcerative Colitis

Specifically, inflammation in the large intestine or colon is caused by ulcerative colitis. Furthermore, several different classes of ulcerative colitis exist, depending on location and severity. For instance, these include:

• First, ulcerative proctitis: In this type, inflammation remains confined to the rectum, typically representing the mildest form of ulcerative colitis.
• On the other hand, universal colitis, or pancolitis: This type involves inflammation that spreads throughout the entire colon. Additionally, proctosigmoiditis: This type is characterized by inflammation affecting both the rectum and the lower end of the colon.
• Moreover, distal colitis: This type occurs when inflammation extends from the rectum and up the left colon. Lastly, acute severe ulcerative colitis: This is a rare type that causes inflammation across the entire colon, leading to severe symptoms and pain.

Crohn’s Disease

Any part of the digestive tract between the mouth and the anus can be affected by Crohn’s disease. However, it is most commonly developed in the final section of the small intestine and colon.

Moreover, over time, this type of IBD has become more common. In fact, it is estimated that around 1 million people in the United States have it, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). 

Indeterminate Colitis

On the other hand, indeterminate colitis is classified when the two main types of IBD cannot be distinguished by a doctor. Furthermore, lymphocytic colitis and collagenous colitis are among other types of IBD.

Difference Between IBD and IBS

In comparing IBD and IBS, some similarities exist between the two. For example, changing bowel habits and abdominal pain can both occur. Similarly, the symptoms of both also flare up for short periods and then go into remission. Ultimately, a cure that can completely resolve the condition does not exist for either.

For these reasons, IBD is often confused with IBS. However, the two conditions differ in the following ways:

• First, IBD is characterized as a more severe condition that may lead to several complications, including malnutrition and damage to the bowel.
• Furthermore, an overactive immune system causes IBD, leading to inflammation throughout the gut and gastrointestinal tract. In contrast, IBS typically develops from digestive problems or an oversensitive gut.
• Moreover, treatment for IBD includes medications that reduce inflammation, while symptoms of IBS can be alleviated by changes to diet or lifestyle.

Causes of IBD

In addition, the development of IBD can be contributed to by several factors. For example, an irregular response of the immune system to bacteria, viruses, or food particles may result in its occurrence. Consequently, an inflammatory reaction in the gut can be triggered by this.

Interestingly, Escherichia coli has also been linked to Crohn’s disease through research.

Currently, no single confirmed cause of IBD exists; however, several potential factors can increase a person’s risk of developing an IBD condition.

Risk Factors for Ulcerative Colitis

• Age: A diagnosis is typically received by most individuals at around the age of 15 to 30 years or, alternatively, after 60.
• Ethnicity: Moreover, a higher risk of ulcerative colitis appears to be present among individuals of Jewish descent compared to other ethnic groups.
• Genetics: Additionally, a higher risk of developing ulcerative colitis is associated with having a close relative who has the condition.

Risk Factors for Crohn’s Disease

While Crohn’s disease is not fully understood by health professionals, several factors have been identified that may increase a person’s risk of developing it, including:

• Genetics: Specifically, the likelihood of developing Crohn’s disease is higher for individuals with a parent or sibling who has the condition
• Medications: Furthermore, the risk of Crohn’s disease may increase with the use of certain medications, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs), birth control, and antibiotics.
• Smoking: In addition, the risk of developing Crohn’s disease can double due to this habit.
• Diet: Lastly, high levels of fat in the diet can also contribute to an increased risk of Crohn’s disease.

Symptoms of IBD

The variability of IBD symptoms depends on the type, location, and severity.

Periods of symptom worsening (flares) and periods with few or no symptoms (remission) may be experienced. The amount, intensity, and duration of flares can differ.

The CDC indicates that the following symptoms are common to both main types of IBD:

• Bloody in stools
• Fatigue
• Persistant diarrhea
• Weight Loss

Complications of IBD

A number of complications have been linked to IBD by health professionals. **Furthermore**, some of these could be life threatening.

According to the NIDDK, possible complications of Crohn’s disease include:

Similarly, it is also suggested that ulcerative colitis can cause the following complications:

Diagnosis of IBD

Finally, some other medications that can reduce IBD symptoms include:

• Antibiotics
• Antidiarrheal drugs
• Laxatives
• Vitamin and mineral supplements for cases of nutritional deficiency due to IBD.

Surgery

In some cases, it may be necessary to perform surgery to treat IBD or its complications. For example, surgery may be recommended to widen a narrow bowel or remove any fistulas.

Additionally, surgery may be needed for people with ulcerative colitis to remove the colon and rectum. Similarly, a procedure may be necessary for those with Crohn’s disease to remove certain portions of the intestines.

Lifestyle Changes

Furthermore, certain dietary and lifestyle factors can worsen IBD symptoms. However, positive changes to these habits can assist in managing symptoms, reducing flares, and even maintaining remission.

Diet

Moreover, some dietary measures that may benefit people with IBD include:

• Avoiding or limiting the intake of spicy foods, caffeine, and alcohol
• Drinking plenty of water
• Eating frequent small meals rather than several large ones
• Keeping a food diary to track whether or not certain symptoms occur after eating certain foods
• Limiting the intake of dairy products
• Restricting the intake of unhealthy fats
• Taking vitamin and mineral supplements to prevent deficiencies
• Limiting the intake of high fiber foods, particularly if the bowel has narrowed

Stress

It is reported by many people with IBD that more severe symptoms are experienced during stressful periods. Consequently, managing stress may help in reducing the frequency and severity of these types of flares.

Smoking

Moreover, research  has established links between smoking and Crohn’s disease. Smoking is identified as a risk factor for developing the condition and may worsen the symptoms.

On the other hand, other research has suggested that smoking  may actually provide benefit for those with ulcerative colitis. However, the same researchers also found that the health risks associated with smoking far outweigh any benefits.

Emotional Support

In light of this, emotional support is crucial, as IBD can significantly impact emotions, especially for individuals experiencing severe symptoms. Therefore, it becomes essential to establish a robust support network through family and friends.

Additionally, considering joining a support group or participating in counseling sessions may also be beneficial for individuals with IBD.

Ultimately, the exact cause of IBD remains unclear, making prevention challenging.

Although genetic factors related to IBD are uncontrollable, individuals can still lower their risk by maintaining a nutritious diet.

Outlook

Although there is currently no cure for IBD, managing the condition with medical interventions and lifestyle changes may be possible. According to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, effective treatment may result in around 55% of people with inflammatory Crohn’s disease being in remission in any given year.

Specifically, mild symptoms may affect around 15% of people, while more severe symptoms may affect 30%. Furthermore, in any given year, remission may be experienced by  48% of people with ulcerative colitis, with 30% having mild symptoms. Notably, the longer remission is maintained, the less likely a flare is to occur during the following year.

In addition, IBD or its complications rarely cause death. Consequently, individuals with Crohn’s disease experience only a slightly higher overall mortality rate compared to those without it. Moreover, those diagnosed with mild to moderate ulcerative colitis do not have a higher mortality rate than individuals without IBD.

Summary

To summarize, the two primary forms of IBD are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, both of which can lead to changes in bowel habits and abdominal pain.

Ultimately, the management of IBD can be aided by medications and lifestyle modifications, such as dietary improvements and smoking cessation, in order to prevent flare-ups. In addition, around half of people with IBD are in remission in any given year.

Biospecimens

Bay Biosciences is a global leader in providing researchers with high quality, clinical grade, fully characterized human tissue samples, bio-specimens, and human bio-fluid collections.

Human biospecimens are available including cancer (tumor) tissue, cancer serum, cancer plasma, cancer peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). and human tissue samples from most other therapeutic areas and diseases.

Bay Biosciences maintains and manages its own biorepository, the human tissue bank (biobank) consisting of thousands of diseased samples (specimens) and from normal healthy donors for controls, available in all formats and types.

In fact, our biobank procures and stores fully consented, de-identified and institutional review boards (IRB) approved human tissue samples, human biofluids such as serum samples, plasma samples from various diseases and matched controls.

Also, all our human tissue collections, human biospecimens and human biofluids are provided with detailed, samples associated patient’s clinical data.

In fact, this critical patient’s clinical data includes information relating to their past and current disease, treatment history, lifestyle choices, biomarkers, and genetic information.

Additionally, researchers find the patient’s data associated with the human biospecimens extremely valuable and use it to help identify new effective treatments (drug discovery & development) in oncology, as well as in other therapeutic areas and diseases.

Bay Biosciences banks wide variety of human tissue samples and human biological samples, including fresh frozen human biospecimens cryogenically preserved at – 80°C.

For example fresh frozen tissue samples, tumor tissue samples, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE), tissue slides, with matching human bio-fluids, whole blood and blood-derived products such as human serum, human plasma and human PBMCs.

Bay Biosciences is a global leader in collecting and providing human tissue samples according to the specified requirements and customized, tailor-made collection protocols.

Please contact us anytime to discuss your special research projects and customized human tissue sample requirements.

Types of Biospecimens

Bay Biosciences provides human tissue samples (human specimens) and human biofluids from diseased and normal healthy donors which includes:

• Peripheral whole-blood
• Amniotic fluid
• Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL)
• Sputum
• Pleural effusion
• Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
• Serum (sera)
• Plasma
• Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC)
• Saliva
• Buffy coat
• Urine
• Stool samples
• Aqueous humor
• Vitreous humor
• Kidney stones (renal calculi)
• Other bodily fluids from most diseases including cancer.

Moreover, we can also procure most human biospecimens and human biofluids, special collections and requests for human samples that are difficult to find. All our human tissue samples and human biofluids are procured through IRB-approved clinical protocols and procedures.

In addition to the standard processing protocols, Bay Biosciences can also provide human biofluids such as  human plasma, human serum, and human PBMCs bio-fluid samples using custom processing protocols; you buy donor-specific collections in higher volumes and specified sample aliquots from us.

Bay Biosciences also provides human biospecimens from normal healthy donors; volunteers, for controls and clinical research, Contact us Now.

• 日本のお客様は、ベイバイオサイエンスジャパンBay Biosciences Japanまたはhttp://baybiosciences-jp.com/contact/までご連絡ください。