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A quiet medical consultation room with a backlit anatomical diagram showing both lung lobes and intestinal structures on a frosted glass partition, a stethoscope coiled on an empty desk beside an open clinical binder, soft violet ambient light from ceiling diffused panels, no people visible, no text on surfaces, depopulated clinical setting, photographic

Sourced explainer· Reviewed 16 July 2026

IBD and Lung Health: What a 2026 Systematic Review Found About the Connection

A 2026 systematic review and meta-analysis of 30 observational studies found bidirectional associations between inflammatory bowel disease and obstructive lung conditions including COPD and asthma. A plain-language explainer of what this means for IBD patients.

A person's torso and hands visible, face not shown, standing near a large window in soft morning light, wearing a loose white linen shirt, violet ambient light filtering through thin curtains onto pale walls, a small green succulent plant on the windowsill, intimate and calm, no medical devices, no text, photographic depopulated warmth

Sourced explainer· Reviewed 5 July 2026

Body Image After Ostomy Surgery for Cancer: What a 2026 Systematic Review Found

Body image concerns are one of the most consistent findings in research on life after ostomy surgery for cancer. A systematic review published in July 2026 maps the patterns: what most people report, what makes adjustment harder, and what the evidence says actually helps.

An empty pre-operative hospital consultation room with a glowing anatomical diagram of the colon and small intestine on a wall-mounted light board, soft violet ambient light filtering through frosted glass windows, a cleared examination table with sterile draping folded at one end, no people, no text on surfaces, photographic, depopulated clinical setting

Sourced explainer· Reviewed 2 July 2026

When Surgery Becomes Part of the Conversation: What ECCO's 2026 UC Guidelines Say

The European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation has published updated surgical treatment guidelines for ulcerative colitis. A plain-language look at when surgery is considered, what the options are, and what patients can ask their care team.

A calm community clinic room at dawn, a clean white counter holding a single sealed single-dose vial and an unopened syringe in sterile packaging, soft violet ambient light falling through a frosted window, a small potted plant on the sill, no people visible, no text, no labels, photographic, depopulated healthcare setting

Sourced explainer· Reviewed 29 June 2026

Vaccines and IBD: What the Guidelines Say About Timing Around Biologics and Immunosuppression

For people with inflammatory bowel disease on immunosuppressive treatment, vaccination is a planned, timing-sensitive part of care. International guidelines agree on a few clear principles: sort out vaccines early, give live vaccines before treatment where possible, and rely on inactivated vaccines once treatment has started.

Empty paediatric hospital consultation room, two padded chairs and a low desk with a closed binder and a cup of pencils, large window with sheer curtains letting in natural afternoon light with a soft violet ambient cast, no people, no visible text, photorealistic documentary style, clean and warm

Sourced explainer· Reviewed 27 June 2026

Anti-TNF Drugs for Children With Crohn's Disease: What a 2025 Cochrane Systematic Review Found

A 2025 Cochrane systematic review examined the randomised controlled trial evidence on tumour necrosis factor-alpha antagonists, including infliximab and adalimumab, for treating Crohn's disease in children and adolescents, a population in which treatment decisions carry particular weight given the needs of a developing body.

Empty wooden reading desk in a quiet study, an open notebook with a fountain pen resting across it, a small potted fern plant to one side, soft violet ambient light streaming from a frosted window to the left, no people, no legible text visible on notebook pages, photographic

Sourced explainer· Reviewed 26 June 2026

Can IBD Affect Memory and Thinking? A 2026 Systematic Review of 66 Studies Investigates

A systematic review published in the Journal of Crohn's & Colitis in May 2026 searched PubMed and Scopus through August 2024, analysing 66 studies from population research, genetic investigations, and preclinical models, and found that patients with IBD may exhibit impaired cognitive function, particularly in memory, attention, and executive processing, with disease activity, chronic inflammation, and psychological stress among the contributing factors identified.

Empty morning kitchen counter with a tall glass of water and a small glass jar with a wooden spoon resting across its rim, trailing ivy plant in a terracotta pot at the edge, soft violet ambient light from a frosted window to the left, white tile backsplash, no people, no text, photographic

Sourced explainer· Reviewed 22 June 2026

The Gut-Brain Axis in IBD: What a 2026 Systematic Review of 1,040 Patients Found About Microbiota and Mood

A systematic review published in Frontiers in Microbiology in June 2026 analysed ten studies involving 1,040 IBD patients and found that anxiety and depressive symptoms were associated with reduced gut microbial diversity and enrichment of pro-inflammatory bacterial taxa, with authors concluding the relationship may be bidirectional.

Empty counselling room with two upholstered armchairs angled toward each other, a small side table between them holding a closed notebook and pen, soft violet ambient light from a tall frosted glass window, pale plaster walls, pale wooden floor, no people, no text

Sourced explainer· Reviewed 21 June 2026

Beyond the Bowel: What a 2025 Cochrane Review Found About Psychological Interventions in IBD

A 2025 Cochrane systematic review and meta-analysis by Tiles-Sar and colleagues examined the randomised trial evidence for psychological interventions in inflammatory bowel disease, assessing whether approaches such as cognitive behavioural therapy, mindfulness, and stress management affect disease activity, quality of life, and psychological wellbeing.

Empty consultation room with a round table, two chairs, and a closed printed booklet and pen, soft violet ambient light from a frosted glass window, white walls, pale polished floor, no people, no text

Sourced explainer· Reviewed 18 June 2026

Learning to Live With IBD: What a Cochrane Review Found About Patient Education Programs

A 2023 Cochrane systematic review examined the trial evidence for structured patient education interventions in inflammatory bowel disease, assessing whether programmes delivered by nurses, clinicians, or digital tools affect disease activity, quality of life, and patients' ability to manage their own condition.

A quiet, empty consultation desk with a glass of water and a small sealed medication box, soft violet ambient light from a side window, no people, no text, calm clinical setting

Sourced explainer· Reviewed 17 June 2026

Telehealth for IBD: What a Cochrane Review Found About Remote Care

A Cochrane systematic review evaluated whether digital and remote care tools, including apps, telephone follow-up, and web-based monitoring platforms, change outcomes for people living with inflammatory bowel disease. Here is what the evidence found, and why certainty still matters.

Empty sun-lit clinical consultation room with a glass of water on a wooden desk, violet ambient light from a high window, polished floor, no people, no text

Sourced explainer· Reviewed 16 June 2026

Urostomy Care: What a 2026 Evidence Synthesis Means for Patients

A June 2026 study in BMC Nursing used a systematic review of evidence and a modified Delphi consensus process with nursing specialists to identify and validate the core components of nursing care for adult patients living with a urostomy.

A quiet pharmacy counter at dawn: a single closed white blister pack of unlabeled tablets resting flat on a white surface, soft violet ambient light from frosted glass window, no people, no text visible

Sourced explainer· Reviewed 14 June 2026

Azathioprine and 6-MP for Ulcerative Colitis: A 2025 Cochrane Review on Long-Term Remission

A 2025 Cochrane systematic review synthesises randomised trial evidence on azathioprine and 6-mercaptopurine for maintaining remission in ulcerative colitis. These widely used medications have decades of clinical history, but patients often have questions about what the evidence actually shows and what routine monitoring involves.

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