Serum matrix metalloproteinase-7, Syndecan-1, and CA 19-9 as a biomarker panel for diagnosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Aims And Background: Matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) and Syndecan-1 (SDC1) are involved in multiple functions during tumorigenesis. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic performance of these serum proteins, as potential biomarkers, in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and benign pancreatic cysts.

Methods: In this case-control study, patients with newly diagnosed PDAC (N = 121) were compared with the benign cyst (N = 66) and healthy control (N = 48) groups.

Unsedated colonoscopy utilizing virtual reality distraction: a pilot-controlled study.

Background: Sedation increases colonoscopy risks and prolongs recovery time. We examined whether virtual reality (VR) can substitute for sedation. The primary outcome was the overall satisfaction of patients who underwent colonoscopy with VR headset compared with patients who underwent standard sedation.

Disproportionately Low Albumin and High Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Small Bowel Adenocarcinoma Patients With Long-Duration Crohn's Disease.

Introduction: Although Crohn's disease (CD) is a known risk factor of small bowel adenocarcinoma (SBA), early diagnosis remains a significant clinical challenge. Identification of biomarkers for SBA may lead to early detection.

Methods: This is a retrospective study comparing albumin levels and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) of patients with long-standing CD who underwent small bowel resection with and without malignancy.

Serum Syndecan-1: A Novel Biomarker for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.

Introduction: Syndecan-1 (SDC1) has multiple functions in tumorigenesis in general and specifically in pancreatic cancer. We aimed to evaluate SDC1 as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

Methods: In this case-control study, patients newly diagnosed with a biopsy-proven PDAC were enrolled alongside healthy individuals in a derivation-validation cohort design.

Prospective Observational Evaluation of Time-Dependency of Adalimumab Immunogenicity and Drug Concentrations: The POETIC Study.

Objectives: Adalimumab is usually self-injected at home, making prospective serial-sampling studies challenging and scarce. This has led to a gap in knowledge about evolution of anti-adalimumab antibodies (AAAs) over time and its correlation with clinical and inflammatory outcomes.

Methods: A program for home visits by physicians at induction, every 3 months and at event of relapse, was established prospectively for Crohn's disease (CD) patients.

Stenting in malignant colonic obstruction--is it a real therapeutic option?

Background: Malignant colonic obstruction is commonly treated surgically. Colonic stents are a therapeutic option for palliation or used as a bridge to surgery or chemotherapy.

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical success rate of stenting as a bridge to one-step surgery, chemotherapy, or as a palliative measure.

Ashkenazi Jewish origin protects against formation of antibodies to infliximab and therapy failure.

Infliximab is an anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) used for treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) as well as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and other inflammatory conditions. Antibodies to infliximab (ATI) develop in approximately 45% of infliximab-treated IBD patients and are correlated with loss of clinical response. Scarce data exist as to factors which predict infliximab immunogenicity.

[Curcumin add-on therapy for ulcerative colitis].

Ulcerative Colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disease of colon mucosa, which results from inappropriate inflammatory response. Pharmacological treatments that are used to manage UC are usually targeted to moderate the inflammatory response, however, they are associated with significant adverse effects, which call for finding additional treatment options. Curcumin is a polyphenol that is extracted from turmeric (Curcuma longa).

Curcumin in Combination With Mesalamine Induces Remission in Patients With Mild-to-Moderate Ulcerative Colitis in a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background & Aims: The phytochemical compound curcumin was reported to be effective in maintaining remission in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). We investigated curcumin's efficacy in inducing remission in patients with active mild-to-moderate UC.

Methods: We performed a multicenter randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study of 50 mesalamine-treated patients with active mild-to-moderate UC (defined by the Simple Clinical Colitis Activity Index [SCCAI]) who did not respond to an additional 2 weeks of the maximum dose of mesalamine oral and topical therapy.

Severe and morbid obesity in Crohn's disease patients: prevalence and disease associations.

Background: Crohn's disease (CD) is frequently associated with weight loss and malnutrition. However, as the prevalence of obesity increases worldwide, it may become a clinical problem even in CD.

Aim: To assess the prevalence of severe/morbid obesity in CD patients and to compare their disease characteristics to nonobese CD patients.

Detection of infliximab in breast milk of nursing mothers with inflammatory bowel disease.

Introduction: Limited data suggest the absence of infliximab in breast milk, thereby implying the safety of this drug during breast-feeding. We aimed to re-evaluate the presence of infliximab in breast milk of nursing IBD patients.

Methods: Serum and breast milk were obtained post-partum from 3 breast-feeding patients with Crohn's disease before and after re-initiation of infliximab.

Impact of cannabis treatment on the quality of life, weight and clinical disease activity in inflammatory bowel disease patients: a pilot prospective study.

Background And Aims: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients suffer from significant morbidity and diminished life quality. The plant cannabis is beneficial in various gastrointestinal diseases, stimulating appetite and causing weight gain. Our aims were to assess whether treatment with inhaled cannabis improves quality of life, disease activity and promotes weight gain in these patients.

Travel-associated health risks for patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Background & Aims: There are few data on risk of travel for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We assessed rates of illness while traveling among patients with IBD.

Methods: We performed a retrospective, case-controlled study of illnesses among 222 patients with IBD and 224 healthy individuals (controls) during 1099 total trips.

Familial ulcerative colitis in Israeli Jews: its prevalence and clinical severity compared to sporadic disease.

Background: A family history of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is present in some ulcerative colitis (UC) patients. We aimed to investigate the familial occurrence of UC and its impact on disease severity.

Methods: A structured questionnaire was distributed to patients with UC.

Lidocaine inhibits epithelial chemokine secretion via inhibition of nuclear factor kappa B activation.

Aim: To study the antiinflammatory effect of lidocaine in intestinal epithelial cells.

Methods: HT-29 and T-84 cells were grown in culture with and without TNF-alpha, lidocaine, aconitine and veratridine. The secretion of IL-8 and IP-10 was measured by ELISA.

Familial clustering of Crohn's disease in Israel: prevalence and association with disease severity.

Background: There is limited data addressing the severity of Crohn's disease (CD) in patients with a family history of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) compared to sporadic cases.

Methods: We investigated the familial occurrence of IBD and its correlation with disease behavior in CD patients attending the Israeli IBD Foundation meeting using a structured questionnaire.

Results: The study group consisted of 181 CD patients with a total of 825 1(st) degree relatives.

Functional voltage-gated sodium channels are expressed in human intestinal epithelial cells.

Background And Aim: Local anesthetics which preferentially interact with voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) were shown to have a clinical beneficial effect in ulcerative colitis and to regulate the secretion of inflammatory mediators from intestinal epithelial cells. However, expression of VGSCs in epithelial cells was not demonstrated. Herein we assessed whether intestinal epithelial cells express VGSCs.

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) before gastric polyp resection: is it mandatory?

Introduction: Gastric polypectomy is associated with increased risk of bleeding. The use of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) before polypectomy to decrease the rate of bleeding in such patients has not been studied.

Methods: All gastric polyps excised by snare polypectomy were evaluated.

[Clinical and communication simulation workshop for fellows in gastroenterology: the trainees' perspective].

Background: The continuing development in computer-based medical simulators provides an ideal platform for simulator-assisted training programs for medical trainees. Computer-based endoscopic simulators provide a virtual reality environment for training endoscopic procedures. This study illustrates the use of a comprehensive training model combining the use of endoscopic simulators with simulated (actor) patients (SP).

Increasing the infliximab dose is beneficial in Crohn's disease patients who responded to a lower dose and relapsed.

Background: Relapse after an initial response to infliximab therapy poses a problem for maintenance treatment.

Aim: To assess the effects of increasing the infliximab dosage in Crohn's disease (CD) patients who initially responded but flared during maintenance therapy.

Methods: This was an observational study.