Ulcerative Colitis

In fact, they are often mistaken for one another.

Both conditions inflame the lining of the digestive tract, and both can cause severe bouts of watery diarrhea and abdominal pain.

"We don't know what exactly causes these diseases," said Camacho.

"However, the immune system and certain genetic and environmental factors may play a role." Loyola is currently recruiting 40 patients as part of the one-year study.

Patients will be randomized to either the 15-minute infusion, along with vitamin D and calcium versus calcium and vitamin D only.

Patients who receive the IV medication also would undergo tests to evaluate and measure bone formation, density and destruction at two weeks; one month; three months; six months and a year.

Zoledronic acid is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat hypercalcemia (high levels of blood calcium) that may occur in patients with some types of cancer, or in cancers that have spread to the bones.

Zoledronic acid works by acting on the cells that cause bones to be broken down.

In addition, zoledronic acid is used to treat multiple myeloma - tumors formed by the bone marrow cells.

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The CCFA thanks the Mankoff Family Foundation of Dallas for its support of this important effort.

The PSA campaign has four components:"Symptoms" television PSA "Symptoms" radio PSA - targeted to rock radio stations "Important Words" radio PSA "Symptoms" print PSA - for local newspaper and magazine placement Once again, Mike McCready, lead guitarist for the rock group Pearl Jam, has generously joined with the CCFA to create a spot for rock radio stations, lending his voice and music to the "Symptoms" radio PSA.

Watch and Listen!

View or listen to the PSAs at the CCFA's Web site at www.ccfa.org.

By mid-January 2006, "Symptoms" and "Important Words" will have been received by nearly every major TV and radio station nationwide ...

that's more than 8,000 stations!

The McCready "Symptoms" spot will be sent to an additional 1250 rock radio stations.

The CCFA never pays for airtime.

Airings of PSAs are donated by the stations, so please be sure to thank stations in your area for playing the PSAs if you get the opportunity.

Production of the campaign is a generous gift from the Mankoff Family Foundation.

If you have contacts at a TV or radio station that could help get the PSAs on the air, please get in touch with your local CCFA chapter.

You'll be helping to ge...

''It's part of this whole thing that's made everything so hard,'' Speed said in an interview.

The first American to reach F1 since Michael Andretti in 1993, however, will not be content to roll around at the rear of the grid.

Speed explains: ''I think realistically my personal goal is to become a world champion.

If this year helps me learn and helps me get closer to that, it will be a success.'' Related links News by MSulka Most read story in Formula 1 News: F1 Constructor & Driver Points Standings ...