Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Int Immunopharmacol 2019 Apr 17;72:264-274. Epub 2019 Apr 17.

Department of Stomatology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 1277 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan 430022, Hubei, China. Electronic address:

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted by bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) have shown repairing effects in tissue damage. However, their efficacy and mechanism in the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC), a type of chronic inflammatory bowel disease, are unclear. To investigate the effects and possible mechanism of EVs in UC treatment, we established an in vitro model using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated macrophages and an in vivo dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced mouse model to mimic UC. Read More

Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2019 May;17(6):1213

Division of Gastroenterology, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2019 May;17(6):1213-1214

Department of Gastroenterology, University Hospital Heraklion, Crete, Greece.

Int J Mol Sci 2019 Apr 18;20(8). Epub 2019 Apr 18.

Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 1200 North Everett Drive, ETNP7504, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA.

Intestinal inflammatory diseases, such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and necrotizing enterocolitis, are becoming increasingly prevalent. While knowledge of the pathogenesis of these related diseases is currently incomplete, each of these conditions is thought to involve a dysfunctional, or overstated, host immunological response to both bacteria and dietary antigens, resulting in unchecked intestinal inflammation and, often, alterations in the intestinal microbiome. This inflammation can result in an impaired intestinal barrier allowing for bacterial translocation, potentially resulting in systemic inflammation and, in severe cases, sepsis. Read More

PLoS One 2019 19;14(4):e0215033. Epub 2019 Apr 19.

Computational Biology, GlaxoSmithKline, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, United States of America.

Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) are signaling lipids produced by cytochrome P450 epoxygenation of arachidonic acid, which are metabolized by EPHX2 (epoxide hydrolase 2, alias soluble epoxide hydrolase or sEH). EETs have pleiotropic effects, including anti-inflammatory activity. Using a Connectivity Map (CMAP) approach, we identified an inverse-correlation between an exemplar EPHX2 inhibitor (EPHX2i) compound response and an inflammatory bowel disease patient-derived signature. Read More

Inflamm Bowel Dis 2019 Apr 19. Epub 2019 Apr 19.

Department of Gastroenterology & Clinical Nutrition, The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Australia.

Background: In recent years, treatment strategies for ulcerative colitis have evolved with an early step-up approach, the availability of biologicals, and therapeutic drug monitoring.We carried out this study to evaluate the effect of these changes on disease outcomes.

Methods: In this retrospective review, 2 time periods were defined: Group 1 (2005-2010) and Group 2 (2011-2016). Read More

J Crohns Colitis 2019 Apr 19. Epub 2019 Apr 19.

Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.

Background: The population of older patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increasing. Patient age does not fully account for poor outcomes and its clinical utility for risk stratification is limited. Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA), comprising a somatic, functional, mental and social assessment or frailty, could be a predictor tool. Read More

Front Genet 2019 3;10:257. Epub 2019 Apr 3.

The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Center for Applied Genomics, Philadelphia, PA, United States.

Successful searching for epistasis is much challenging, which generally requires very large sample sizes and/or very dense marker information. We exploited the largest Crohn's disease (CD) dataset (18,000 cases + 34,000 controls) and ulcerative colitis (UC) dataset (14,000 cases + 34,000 controls) to date. Leveraging its dense marker information and the large sample size of this IBD dataset, we employed a two-step approach to exhaustively search for epistasis. Read More

Front Hum Neurosci 2019 3;13:107. Epub 2019 Apr 3.

Department of Radiology, XinQiao Hosptial, Third Military Medical University, ChongQing, China.

: Patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) usually display cognitive impairments, such as memory loss, attention deficits, and declining executive functions, particularly during the active stage of the disease. However, the potential neurological mechanisms of these symptoms remain unclear. : Forty-one patients with mildly to moderately active UC, as well as 42 matched healthy controls, were recruited for an examination using psychological scales, cognitive function tests and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). Read More

Dig Liver Dis 2019 Apr 15. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

Digestive and Lifestyle Diseases, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Japan.

Clin Case Rep 2019 Apr 12;7(4):782-788. Epub 2019 Mar 12.

Department of Medicine Shiga University of Medical Science Otsu Japan.

Pouchitis is one of the most common complications that develop after restorative proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis. Single fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) by colonoscopy was performed safely on three patients with pouchitis. However, the efficacy of FMT on pouchitis was limited. Read More

Sci Rep 2019 Apr 17;9(1):6212. Epub 2019 Apr 17.

Mucosal Immunology Laboratory, Department of Convergence Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine/Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

The regulatory properties of pyruvate kinase M2 isoform (PKM2), the key glycolytic enzyme, influence altered energy metabolism including glycolysis in cancer. In this study, we found that PKM2 was highly expressed in patients with ulcerative colitis or colorectal cancer (CRC). We then investigated the effectiveness of conditionally ablating PKM2 in Lgr5 intestinal stem cells (ISC) using a mouse model of colitis-associated CRC (AOM plus DSS). Read More

Pharmaceutics 2019 Apr 16;11(4). Epub 2019 Apr 16.

Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel.

In ulcerative colitis (UC), the inflammation is localized in the colon, and one of the successful strategies for colon-targeting drug delivery is the prodrug approach. In this work, we present a novel phospholipid (PL)-based prodrug approach, as a tool for colonic drug targeting in UC. We aim to use the phospholipase A (PLA), an enzyme that is overexpressed in the inflamed colonic tissues of UC patients, as the PL-prodrug activating enzyme, to accomplish the liberation of the parent drug from the prodrug complex at the specific diseased tissue(s). Read More

Immunity 2019 Apr;50(4):1029-1031

MRC Human Immunology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK; Translational Gastroenterology Unit, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK. Electronic address:

Genome-wide association studies in ulcerative colitis point to a role for FcγRIIA, a receptor for IgG. Castro-Dopico et al. (2019) find a profound induction of anti-commensal IgG in the colonic mucosa of UC patients and outline a pathway whereby FcγR activation by IgG triggers IL-1β production, type 17 immunity, and the exacerbation of inflammation. Read More

Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2019 Apr 17. Epub 2019 Apr 17.

Medicine, The University of Chicago, United States.

Previous studies suggest that the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is pathogenic factor for colitis. The goal of this study was to elucidate the molecular mechanism whereby angiotensin II (Ang II) promotes colonic inflammation. We found that renin was highly induced in colonic biopsies from patients with ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, and colonic renin and Ang II levels were markedly increased in 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis model, indicating that the colonic RAS is activated in colitis. Read More

Lab Med 2019 Apr 17. Epub 2019 Apr 17.

Faculty of Bioscience, Nagahama Institute of Bio-Science and Technology, Nagahama, Japan.

Background: The clinical significance of human S100A8/A9 (h-S100A8/A9) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is poorly understood.

Objective: To clarify whether serum S100A8/A9 is a sensitive biomarker for IBD.

Methods: Serum specimens from outpatients with IBD (n = 101) and healthy volunteers (HVs) (n = 101) were used in this study. Read More

J Clin Gastroenterol 2019 Apr 15. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

Department of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang City, Liaoning Province, China.

Objective: Persistent disease activity is associated with a poor prognosis in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. Therefore, monitoring of IBD activity can avoid the poor prognosis. Serum biomarkers reflect a summation of systemic host responses rather than being specific for intestinal inflammation. Read More

Autoimmunity 2018 Sep;51(6):288-296

a Department of Internal Medicine 1 - Gastroenterology, Pneumology and Endocrinology , Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Universitätsklinikum Erlangen , Erlangen , Germany.

Background: Anti-neutrophil-cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) are auto-antibodies directed against components of neutrophil granulocytes and may be found in various inflammatory conditions, like small-vessel vasculitis or ulcerative colitis (UC). Routine ANCA screening is performed on ethanol-fixed neutrophils using indirect immunofluorescence technique. Yet, how neutrophil granule proteins become available to immunologic presentation is a matter of debate. Read More

Dig Endosc 2019 Apr;31 Suppl 1:44-45

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Science, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan.

Dig Endosc 2019 Apr;31 Suppl 1:36-42

Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Iwate Medical University, Morioka, Japan.

Background And Aim: The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the efficacy of Japanese magnifying colonoscopic classifications for ulcerative colitis-associated neoplasia (UCAN).

Methods: We reviewed the colonoscopy records from 2011 to 2018 at our institutions and identified cases of endoscopically or surgically resected UCAN observed by magnifying narrow-band imaging (NBI) endoscopy and magnifying chromoendoscopy. Association between magnifying endoscopic classification and histopathological findings was investigated retrospectively. Read More

Dig Endosc 2019 Apr;31 Suppl 1:31-35

Department of Pathology, The Cancer Institute Hospital of Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research (JFCR), Tokyo, Japan.

In patients with ulcerative colitis, tumor development occurs with an increase in the duration of the disease. Such lesions, known as ulcerative colitis-associated neoplasia (UCAN), histologically show a broad variety of findings such as low-grade dysplasia, high-grade dysplasia, and invasive carcinoma. For pathologists, however, the histopathological diagnosis of UCAN is occasionally difficult. Read More

Dig Endosc 2019 Apr;31 Suppl 1:45-46

Department of Anatomic Pathology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.

Dig Endosc 2019 Apr;31 Suppl 1:26-30

Department of Pathology, The Cancer Institute Hospital of Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo, Japan.

Dig Liver Dis 2019 Apr 13. Epub 2019 Apr 13.

IBD Unit, Presidio Columbus, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy; Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy. Electronic address:

Background: Few data exist regarding the effectiveness of ustekinumab in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients treated for concomitant psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis.

Aims: to describe the outcomes of IBD patients who received subcutaneous ustekinumab through a dermatological or rheumatological prescription.

Methods: This multicenter, retrospective study included all IBD patients who were started on ustekinumab for concomitant active psoriasis/ psoriatic arthritis, irrespective of IBD activity. Read More

J Pediatr Surg 2019 Mar 28. Epub 2019 Mar 28.

Section of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX; USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX. Electronic address:

Background/purpose: Diagnostic delay or time to diagnosis, and its relationship with colectomy risk has been studied in adult Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), but rarely in pediatric IBD (PIBD), especially pediatric ulcerative colitis (P-UC), which often has a more severe course than adult UC. This study compared the relationship between diagnostic delay and colectomy in P-UC.

Methods: The medical records of P-UC patients, ages <18 years, diagnosed at Texas Children's Hospital from 2012 to 2018 were examined. Read More

BMC Gastroenterol 2019 Apr 16;19(1):55. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

Servicio de Aparato Digestivo. Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, C/ Dr. Esquerdo 46, 28007, Madrid, Spain.

Background: Severe haemorrhage is an uncommon but life-threatening complication of ulcerative colitis (UC). Superselective transcatheter embolization has shown to be an effective and safe therapeutic modality in patients with lower gastrointestinal bleeding of various aetiologies; nevertheless, its role in UC-related acute bleeding is unknown.

Cases Presentation: Efficacy and safety of selective transcatheter arterial embolization in three consecutive UC patients diagnosed with massive haemorrhage admitted in a tertiary institution are reported. Read More

Ultraschall Med 2019 Apr 16;40(2):132-162. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

Internal Medicine, Städtisches Klinikum Lüneburg gGmbH, Lüneburg, Germany.

Ultrasound should be the first-line imaging method in the medical care of patients with inflammatory bowel disease. It can be used to differentiate between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis and to detect numerous complications like stenoses, fistulas, and abscesses. As the method is also highly suitable for follow-up, stressful endoscopic procedures and examinations involving radiation are less necessary. Read More

Mol Pharm 2019 Apr 16. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

Silica mesoporous microparticles loaded with both rhodamine B (S1) or hydrocortisone (S2), and capped with an olsalazine derivative, are prepared and fully characterized. Suspensions of solids S1 and S2 in water at an acidic and a neutral pH show negligible dye/drug release, yet a notable delivery took place when the reducing agent sodium dithionite is added due to a hydrolysis of an azo bond in the capping ensemble. Besides, olsalazine fragmentation induces the release of 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA). Read More

Pathol Int 2019 Apr 16. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tokai University, School of Medicine, Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan.

We aimed to characterize the mucosal immune microenvironment and immune checkpoint of Ulcerative colitis (UC) by immunohistochemistry with correlation to prognosis: requirement of second-line steroid-therapy within the 2-years after diagnosis (SR). A series of 72 cases included 56 UC, 43 non-SR (with first-line treatment 5-ASA) and 13 SR, 11 infectious colitis and 5 normal colonic biopsies. Normal mucosa was characterized by low infiltrates but high BTLA and TNFRSF14. Read More

Cell Physiol Biochem 2019 ;52(5):1117-1138

Advanced Radiation Technology Institute, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Jeongeup, Republic of Korea,

Background/aims: New therapeutic strategies and the development of treatments against inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) require the initiation of immune tolerance and inhibition of excessive inflammation. Resveratrol, a polyphenolic compound, is a powerful immunosuppressor, but it can lead to apoptotic death of normal cells at high concentrations. When we induced a structural modification of resveratrol by gamma irradiation, we were able to investigate the potential tolerogenic and anti-inflammatory effect of a new radiolysis product (named γ-Res) during dendritic cell (DC) activation/differentiation. Read More

Nat Prod Res 2019 Apr 16:1-15. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

a Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences , University of Messina , Messina , Italy.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), with its major manifestations being Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, belongs to the gastrointestinal inflammatory disorders, whose main therapeutic approach is represented by synthetic anti-inflammatory drugs. However, they are often accompanied by many side effects that shifted the interest of the scientific community towards natural products. In this context, several studies asserted the anti-IBD effects of Citrus fruits and their flavonoids, thus the aim of the present review is to provide robust evidence favouring their role in the prevention and treatment of IBD. Read More

Appl Biochem Biotechnol 2019 Apr 15. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

Students at Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Pharmacy, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.

Ras-related domain family member 1 transcript variant A (RASSF1A) controls apoptosis and cell proliferation while p14/ARF gene has a regulatory role in cellular senescence. Failure of apoptosis and cellular senescence occurs during inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and colorectal cancer (CRC). To reveal the role of peripheral leukocyte promoter methylation of RASSF1A and p14/ARF in the pathogenesis of IBD subtypes and CRC we investigated the methylation state of the two genes by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP-PCR) in 60 CRC patients, 60 patients with IBD; 27 with ulcerative colitis and 33 had Crohn's disease and also in 30 healthy subjects. Read More

J Neurol 2019 Apr 12. Epub 2019 Apr 12.

Inserm, U1235, 1 rue Gaston Veil, 44035, Nantes, France.

While the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease is not fully understood, there is increasing evidence that inflammatory responses in the brain are implicated in both disease initiation and progression. The inflammatory process in Parkinson's disease is, however, not limited to the brain but also involves the gastrointestinal tract. High amounts of cytokines and inflammatory markers are found in the colon of Parkinson's disease patients and there is now strong epidemiological and genetical evidence linking Parkinson's disease to inflammatory bowel diseases. Read More

J Crohns Colitis 2019 Apr 16. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.

Background And Aims: Golimumab has an established exposure-response relationship in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). However, the association of serum golimumab trough levels (TL) with objective markers of disease activity, such as endoscopic and histologic activity scores and concentration of biomarkers, remains less understood. This report describes the relationship of serum golimumab TL at the end of induction period (week 6) with clinical, endoscopic, histologic and biomarker parameters. Read More

J Crohns Colitis 2019 Apr 16. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

Department of Gastroenterology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Background And Aims: Although the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increasing in Asia, data on long-term epidemiologic trends are limited. We performed a 30-year longitudinal study to investigate temporal trends in the epidemiology of Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) in Seoul, Korea.

Methods: This population-based study included 1431 IBD patients (418 CD, 1013 UC) diagnosed between 1986 and 2015 in the Songpa-Kangdong district of Seoul, Korea. Read More

Contemp Clin Trials Commun 2019 Jun 26;14:100345. Epub 2019 Mar 26.

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.

Purpose: The etiology of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) remains currently unknown but evidence would suggest that it results from a complex interplay between genetic susceptibility genes, the intestinal microbiome and the environment, resulting in an increased response towards microbial and self-antigens, followed by the development of pre-clinical intestinal inflammation as a precursor to overt clinical disease. Efforts are needed to provide insights into the characterization of the disease, the possible prediction of complications, and the detection of a pre-clinical disease state where, through early screening and intervention, disease course can be reversed, attenuated or even prevented. A consortium of academic, industry and governmental organization investigators initiated this study to enable an assessment of pre-disease biomarkers in patients newly diagnosed with Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Read More

Ultrasound Med Biol 2019 Apr 12. Epub 2019 Apr 12.

Division of Laboratory and Transfusion Medicine, Hokkaido University Hospital, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Japan.

This study was aimed at validating the inter-rater grading agreement for assessing disease activity in patients with established ulcerative colitis (UC) using transabdominal ultrasonography (US) versus colonoscopy (CS). Fifty-seven patients underwent US and CS at four facilities. UC disease activity was assessed using the original US grading system and CS Matts classification. Read More

Genes (Basel) 2019 Apr 4;10(4). Epub 2019 Apr 4.

Institute for Maternal and Child Health IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, 34137 Trieste, Italy.

The contribution of candidate genetic variants involved in azathioprine biotransformation on azathioprine efficacy and pharmacokinetics in 111 young patients with inflammatory bowel disease was evaluated. Azathioprine doses, metabolites thioguanine-nucleotides (TGN) and methylmercaptopurine-nucleotides (MMPN) and clinical effects were assessed after at least 3 months of therapy. Clinical efficacy was defined as disease activity score below 10. Read More

Foods 2019 Apr 4;8(4). Epub 2019 Apr 4.

Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Valencia, Avda. Vicente Andrés Estellés/n, 46100 Burjassot (Valencia), Spain.

The potential anti-inflammatory effect of plant sterols (PS) enriched milk-based fruit beverages (PS, 1 g/100 mL) (MfB) with/without galactooligosaccharides (GOS, 2 g/100 mL) (MfB-G) in an experimental mice model of chronic ulcerative colitis was evaluated. Beverages were orally administered to mice every day by gavage to achieve PS and GOS doses of 35 and 90 mg/kg, respectively, and experimental colitis was induced by giving mice drinking water containing 2% (/) dextran sulphate sodium (DSS) for 7 days, alternating with periods without DSS up to the end of the study (56 days). MfB beverage showed significant reduction of symptoms associated to ulcerative colitis and improved the colon shortening and mucosal colonic damage, but it was not able to reduce the increase of myeloperoxidase levels produced by DSS. Read More

Medicina (Kaunas) 2019 Apr 2;55(4). Epub 2019 Apr 2.

Department of Medical Biochemistry, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-368 Wroclaw, Poland.

: Oxidative stress signalling plays a monumental role in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Reduction of oxidative stress might control inflammation, block tissue damage, and reverse natural history of IBD. We assessed the serum concentrations of free thiols (FT) and uric acid (SUA), together constituting a large part of nonenzymatic serum antioxidant capacity, as well as total antioxidant status (TAS) with reference to IBD phenotype, activity, co-occurrence of anemia, and treatment with azathioprine (AZA) and corticosteroids (CS). Read More

Z Gastroenterol 2019 Apr 15. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

Klinik für Innere Medizin IV (Gastroenterologie, Hepatologie, Infektiologie, Interdisziplinäre Endoskopie), Universitätsklinikum Jena, Germany.

Although the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC) remains elusive, substantial progress in understanding its development and progression has been achieved in the past decades, and novel effective treatment strategies have been developed. Changes in gut microbiota, environmental triggers, deregulation of immunological responses, and genetic predisposition have been identified as pathogenic key factors. There are several lines of clinical observations, which support a close connection of altered gut microbiota with the development and course of UC. Read More

Colorectal Dis 2019 Apr 15. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

Department of Gastroenterology/Hepatology, the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA.

Aim: Ulcerative colitis (UC) patients have an unexplained higher incidence of pouchitis and a greater amount of peripouch fat, compared with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) patients. The aims of this study were to compare the peripouch fat areas between UC and FAP patients, and to explore its relationship with pouchitis and chronic antibiotic-refractory pouchitis (CARP).

Method: Patients with abdominal CT from our prospectively maintained Pouch Database were included. Read More

Riv Psichiatr 2019 Mar-Apr;54(2):75-83

Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy - Department of Gastroenterology, Humanitas Clinical Institute, Rozzano (Milan), Italy.

Background: Biopsychosocial models for both organic and functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorders can be found in the literature. To clarify the role of psychopathological factors and their relationship with GI symptom severity, several studies have examined them in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) - occasionally distinguishing between ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) - and in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), leading to unclear results.

Aims: We aimed to evaluate the psychopathological features of IBD and IBS patients in comparison with healthy individuals and assess the association with disease severity. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Apr;98(15):e15172

University Medical Center Göttingen, Department of Gastroenterology and Gastrointestinal Oncology, Robert- Koch-Str., Göttingen, Germany.

The incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increasing and the pathogenesis is still not completely understood. Micronutrients like vitamin D [25 (OH)D] and zinc play an important role in enzyme activities and the immune system. As the 25 (OH)D-receptor has been shown to be downregulated in patients with IBD, 25 (OH)D may emerge as a predictive marker for disease improvement. Read More

Case Rep Gastrointest Med 2019 7;2019:5347637. Epub 2019 Mar 7.

Lebanese University, School of Medicine, Lebanon.

Giant inflammatory polyps (GIPs) are a rare complication of IBD resulting from chronic regenerative and healing processes leading to a polypoid formation on inflamed mucosa. We reported a case of GIP in a patient with long standing left-sided ulcerative colitis (UC); a well circumscribed sessile GIP was found during a colonoscopy for colorectal cancer screening on a normal colonic mucosa in the cecum. After a severe flare of the left-sided colitis and due to partial response to steroids patient was treated with adalimumab; new colonoscopy after 6 months shows complete disappearance of the GIP previously described. Read More

Front Pharmacol 2019 29;10:305. Epub 2019 Mar 29.

Department of Systems Medicine, Gastroenterology, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.

Several molecular technologies aimed at regulating gene expression that have been recently developed as a strategy to combat inflammatory and neoplastic diseases. Among these, antisense technology is a specific, rapid, and potentially high-throughput approach for inhibiting gene expression through recognition of cellular RNAs. Advances in the understanding of the molecular mechanisms that drive tissue damage in different inflammatory diseases, including Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), the two major inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) in humans, have facilitated the identification of novel druggable targets and offered interesting therapeutic perspectives for the treatment of patients. Read More

World J Gastroenterol 2019 Apr;25(13):1603-1617

Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg 69120, Germany.

Background: Acute severe ulcerative colitis unresponsive to systemic steroid treatment is a life-threatening medical condition requiring hospitalization and often colectomy. Despite the increasing choice of medical therapy options for ulcerative colitis, the condition remains a great challenge in the field of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). The performance of the calcineurin inhibitor tacrolimus in this clinical setting is insufficiently elucidated. Read More

Ann Med 2019 Apr 13:1-7. Epub 2019 Apr 13.

a Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery , Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki , Helsinki , Finland.

Background: Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome (MRS) is often classified under the term orofacial granulomatosis (OFG). A part of OFG patients eventually develop Crohn's disease (CD), but the relationship between MRS and CD is unknown.

Goals: To evaluate the long-term outcomes of MRS patients, with specific interest in bowel-related symptoms. Read More

Am J Clin Nutr 2019 Mar;109(Supplement_7):838S-851S

Food and Nutrition Service, USDA, Alexandria, VA.

Background: During the Pregnancy and Birth to 24 Months Project, the USDA and US Department of Health and Human Services initiated an evidence review on diet and health in these populations.

Objective: The aim of these systematic reviews was to examine the relationships of never versus ever feeding human milk, shorter versus longer durations of any and exclusive human milk feeding, and feeding a lower versus a higher intensity of human milk to mixed-fed infants with diagnosed celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Methods: The Nutrition Evidence Systematic Review team (formerly called the Nutrition Evidence Library) conducted systematic reviews with external experts. Read More

J Crohns Colitis 2019 Apr 15. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

Department of Internal Medicine IV (Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases) University Hospital Jena, Jena, Germany.