Reduced expression of aquaporins in human intestinal mucosa in early stage inflammatory bowel disease.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between aquaporin (AQP) water channel expression and the pathological features of early untreated inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in humans.

Methods: Patients suspected to have IBD on the basis of predefined symptoms, including abdominal pain, diarrhea, and/or blood in stool for more than 10 days, were examined at the local hospital. Colonoscopy with biopsies was performed and blood samples were taken.

Gut bacterial profile in patients newly diagnosed with treatment-naïve Crohn's disease.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to define the composition of the gut bacterial flora in Norwegian patients with early stage Crohn's disease (CD).

Methods: By using a nonselective metagenomics approach, the general bacterial composition in mucosal biopsies from the ileum and the colon of five subjects, four patients with different phenotypes of CD, and one noninflammatory bowel disease control, was characterized. After partial 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing, BLAST homology searches for species identification and phylogenetic analysis were performed.

Evaluation of disease activity in IBD at the time of diagnosis by the use of clinical, biochemical, and fecal markers.

Objective: The present population based adult cohort was part of a new prospective study of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in South-Eastern Norway, the Inflammatory Bowel South-Eastern Norway II study, investigating disease characteristics in an attempt to improve our knowledge regarding factors related to early clinical phenotype and disease activity.

Material And Methods: Patients suspected to have IBD on the basis of predefined symptoms, including abdominal pain, diarrhea, and/or blood in stool for more than 10 days were examined at the local hospital. Colonoscopy with biopsies was performed and blood and stool samples were taken.

Clinical and pathophysiological consequences of on-demand treatment with PPI in endoscopy-negative reflux disease. Is rebound hypersecretion of acid a problem?

Objective: Rebound acid hypersecretion after withdrawal of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) may lead to symptom aggravation and difficulties in withdrawing anti-reflux medication. The aim was to investigate pathophysiological and clinical consequences of on-demand treatment with PPI in patients with endoscopy-negative reflux disease.

Material And Methods: Twenty-six patients with endoscopy-negative reflux disease were investigated for rebound effects of lansoprazole 15 mg, used on-demand, maximum 4 capsules daily during a 6-month period.

Paucity of mycobacteria in mucosal bowel biopsies from adults and children with early inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: The presence of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) has previously been inferred in the genesis of Crohn's disease (CD), and a higher incidence of MAP PCR positivity has been demonstrated in the gut and peripheral blood of CD patients than in healthy individuals. The objective of this prospective study was to assess the potential etiological role of MAP in the pathogenesis of CD.

Methods: The presence of mycobacteria was assessed in bowel biopsies from newly diagnosed, treatment naïve Norwegian patients with IBD, including CD and ulcerative colitis (UC), as compared to a hospital-based cohort of CD and UC patients.

Widespread but not localized neoplasia in inflammatory bowel disease worsens the prognosis of colorectal cancer.

Background: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). Recently, new phenotypes of CRC in IBD have been suggested. Studies of the prognosis of CRC in IBD have shown conflicting results.

A characterization in childhood inflammatory bowel disease, a new population-based inception cohort from South-Eastern Norway, 2005-07, showing increased incidence in Crohn's disease.

Objective: Owing to rising incidence rates in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), there has been increased interest in causal relationships in pediatric disease. The present population-based inception cohort was recruited in the Oslo area from 2005 to 2007, with the aim of conducting a detailed characterization of treatment-naive patients at diagnosis.

Material And Methods: After an invitation was extended to all general practitioners in the catchment area, patients aged <18 years with suspected IBD were diagnosed by proximal and distal endoscopy, MRI, demographic, clinical, and histological and molecular characteristics.

Two distinct groups of colorectal cancer in inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: The histological variability in colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CRC in inflammatory bowel disease [IBD]) and the association to clinical factors is unknown.

Methods: In population-based material including 67 patients with CRC in IBD, histopathology of the cancers and tissue samples from different colorectal localizations were reevaluated, and relationships to clinical factors analyzed.

Results: Forty-three of 60 patients (75%) showed dysplasia in the colorectum apart from the cancer, while 17 (25%) had no dysplasia at cancer diagnosis.

Relationship between clinical parameters and the colitis-colorectal cancer interval in a cohort of patients with colorectal cancer in inflammatory bowel disease.

Objective: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC), but more knowledge is needed about the possible relationship between clinical parameters and the time to development of cancer in IBD. The aim of the study was to determine the variability of the colitis-CRC interval and to analyze the association with clinical variables in an attempt to gain information on predictive factors of time to cancer within a relatively large cohort of CRC patients.

Material And Methods: Patients diagnosed with IBD prior to 1 May 2005 at three university hospitals in Oslo were matched against the CRC files at the Cancer Registry of Norway.

Incidence and clinical presentation of IBD in children: comparison between prospective and retrospective data in a selected Norwegian population.

Objective: The results of recent research suggest that there is an increasing incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) among children. Newly diagnosed IBD was compared between two consecutive 6-year periods in the same catchment area of southeastern Norway.

Material And Methods: Children subjected to endoscopy from 1993 to 2004 were recorded retrospectively in the first 6-year period and prospectively for the subsequent period.

High-dose ursodeoxycholic acid in primary sclerosing cholangitis: a 5-year multicenter, randomized, controlled study.

Background & Aims: There is no medical treatment of proven benefit for primary sclerosing cholangitis. This study aimed at studying the effect of a higher dose of ursodeoxycholic acid than previously used on survival, symptoms, biochemistry, and quality of life in this disease.

Methods: A randomized placebo-controlled study was performed in tertiary and secondary gastroenterology units.

On-demand PPI requirements in patients with endoscopy-negative GERD.

Goals: To evaluate the need for on-demand treatment with proton pump inhibitor in patients with endoscopy-negative GERD.

Background: Studies indicate that on-demand therapy is suitable for patients without mucosal disease, but the need for PPI in a monotherapy situation is not known.

Study: Forty-one patients with heartburn and/or acid reflux of more than 3 months duration participated in the study.