Page 29 - Christiana Care Focus January 2018

UPCOMING EVENTS
“I encourage patients suffering with constipation to talk about it with their health care providers, because we do have medications and treatment options to help.”
Sarina Pasricha, M.D., MSCR
professor of medicine and associate chief for clinical affairs in
the Division of Gastroenterology at the University of Pennsyl- vania, reported on the safe use of these medications in reducing the amount of acid made by glands in the stomach. They agreed there may be some reason to worry about patients with a history of serious kidney disease and patients at risk for C. diff. However, proton pump inhibitors are overwhelmingly safe and significantly improve a patient’s quality of life. Moreover, evidence for side effects is mostly the result of retrospective studies, and fears about the use of the medications are overblown.
Approaches to celiac disease, an immune system reaction
to wheat proteins, and Crohn’s disease, inflammation of the digestive tract, were also discussed. Celiac disease was once considered rare, but there has been a growing diagnosis of
the disease in the last 50 years. The autoimmune condition now affects 1 percent of Americans (3 million people), though marketers estimate that 30 percent of the population wants to cut down on gluten, according to Stephanie M. Moleski, M.D., assistant professor of medicine at Thomas Jefferson University.
With Crohn’s disease, treatment involves assessing a patient’s overall inflammation and selecting a therapy that depends on whether a patient is of low or high risk for further disease progression, said Faten N. Aberra, M.D., MSCE, associate professor of medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.“Based on what we know, the drug infliximab appears to be consistently beneficial,” Dr. Aberra said.
Finally, Neil Nandi, M.D., FACP, director of the Center for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases at Drexel University College of Medicine, spoke on fecal microbiota transplant, a centuries-old technique receiving new interest as an experimental practice because of success in the treatment of C. diff in patients when there are repeated occurrences of the infection. As an example, Dr. Nandi cited a 2012 longitudinal study looking at 77 patients receiving a colonoscopic fecal transplant. The study reported a 91 percent success rate in eliminating C. diff.
In Dr. Butt’s appraisal of the symposium, clinical scenarios of importance to both generalists and specialists were addressed. “We hope today leads to better clinical care, improved education and more effective communication between patients and their providers,” he said. ●
JANUARY 18
LESLIE AND EDWARD GOLDENBERG, M.D., DISEASE PREVENTION AND HEALTH PROMOTION LECTURESHIP
8 – 9 a.m.
John H. Ammon Medical Education Center
The featured speaker for this Grand Rounds lecture will be Dr. Kara Odom Walker, Secretary of the Delaware Department of Health and Services.
JANUARY 25
FREE WOMEN’S HEALTH LECTURE SERIES — HEALTHY EATING FOR A BUSY LIFESTYLE
6 – 7:30 p.m.
John H. Ammon Medical Education Center
Julianna Yi, RD, Christiana Care registered dietitian, shares strategies for quick nutritious meals at home, how to read food labels and helpful information on diabetes prevention and management. Register at events.christianacare.org/ womenslectures-healthy-eating or 800-693-CARE (2273).
FEBRUARY 1
BOOT CAMP FOR NEW DADS
5:30-7 p.m.
Wilmington Hospital Annex, Room 100, 1400 N. Washington Street, Wilmington
This informational meeting is scheduled in advance of the national Boot Camp for Dads program launch slated on March 3. The session targets fathers with 6-9 month-old infants as participating learners and experienced dads with older children as coaches. Dinner will be provided. If interested, contact Todd Hartsock at 302-320-1379.
JANUARY 2018 FOCUS • 29
CONTINUED
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