Concurrence of inflammatory bowel disease with multiple sclerosis or Hodgkin lymphoma.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Epidemiologic evidence suggests that Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and multiple sclerosis (MS) share a common set of risk factors with Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). It was hypothesized that such shared risk factors would lead to clustering of the 4 diagnoses in the same patients. METHODS: All patients with HL, MS, CD, or UC were identified in the veterans population from 2016-2020 and the Medicare population from 1986 to 1989. In a case-control study, the observed concurrences amongst these 4 diagnoses were compared with their expected frequencies in the overall veterans or Medicare population during the same time period by calculating odds ratios (OR) with their 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: The study included 6 million veterans and 35 million Medicare patients. In the veterans population, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) was significantly associated with a concurrent diagnosis of HL (OR: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.15-1.71) and MS (1.34, 1.19-1.50). In the Medicare population, IBD was also significantly associated with HL (1.84, 1.07-3.17) and MS (2.31, 1.59-3.35). Similar trends were observed in CD or UC when analyzed separately in both datasets. In the veterans population, adjustment for the potentially confounding influence of ethnicity, sex, and age left all OR values largely unaffected and statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The concurrence of IBD with HL or MS could reflect on a common pathway in the etiology or pathogenesis of these 4 diseases.

Preliminary findings from an evaluation of the USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program in Wisconsin schools.

INTRODUCTION: In 2002, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) created the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) to improve nutrition and help reduce the prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity. The FFVP provides funding for students from selected schools in each participating state to receive a free fresh fruit or vegetable snack daily for an academic year. In November 2005, Wisconsin was added to this program. In this study, we evaluate whether the Wisconsin FFVP resulted in positive changes in children's attitudes and behavior related to eating fruits and vegetables. METHODS: In 2006, 25 Wisconsin schools were selected by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction for FFVP participation. Study measures included a pre-test and post-test survey given to 4th, 7th, and 9th graders in the intervention and controls schools. Post-test data from all 25 intervention schools were not yet available for analysis. Our sample, therefore, consisted of 1127 participants: 784 students in 10 intervention schools and 343 students in 10 control schools. Independent samples t tests and multivariate probit regression analyses were used to examine attitudinal and behavioral program effects. RESULTS: Compared to controls, intervention students reported an increased willingness to try new fruits (24.8% versus 12.8%, P<0.01) and vegetables (25.1% versus 18.4%, P=0.01) at school. CONCLUSIONS: Findings indicate positive changes in attitudes and behavior among children participating in the Wisconsin FFVP.