Biopsy samples from patients with irritable bowel syndrome, but not from those with mastocytosis or unspecific gastrointestinal complaints reveal unique nerve activation in all gut regions independent of mast cell density, histamine content or specific gastrointestinal symptoms.

Introduction: We previously showed enteric nerve activation after application of colonic mucosal biopsy supernatants from patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The question remains whether this is a region-specific or a generalized sensitization. We tested the nerve-activating properties of supernatants from large and small intestinal regions of IBS patients with diarrhea (IBS-D) in comparison to those from mastocytosis patients with diarrhea (MC-D) or non-IBS/non-MC patients with GI-complaints.

Mechanisms involved in the muscle relaxing effects of STW 5 in guinea pig stomach.

Introduction: The herbal preparation STW 5 ameliorates functional dyspepsia partly by relaxing smooth muscle of the proximal stomach, thus improving gastric accommodation. We explored the unknown pathways responsible for this effect by testing targets known to modulate gastric smooth muscle relaxation.

Methods: STW 5-induced relaxation of smooth muscle strips from guinea pig gastric corpus before and after pharmacological interventions were recorded with force transducers in an organ bath.

Enteric neuroanatomy and smooth muscle activity in the western diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox).

Background: Gastrointestinal (GI) functions are controlled by the enteric nervous system (ENS) in vertebrates, but data on snakes are scarce, as most studies were done in mammals. However, the feeding of many snakes, including Crotalus atrox, is in strong contrast with mammals, as it consumes an immense, intact prey that is forwarded, stored, and processed by the GI tract. We performed immunohistochemistry in different regions of the GI tract to assess the neuronal density and to quantify cholinergic, nitrergic, and VIPergic enteric neurons.

Contribution of the Enteric Nervous System to Autoimmune Diseases and Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Anti-neuronal autoantibodies can lead to subacute gastrointestinal dysmotility, presenting with various symptoms typical of intestinal pseudoobstruction, achalasia, gastroparesis, or slow intestinal transit, among others. Such autoantibodies may be produced in response to a remote tumor and accelerate the diagnosis of malignancy, but in other cases they appear without an identifiable underlying cause. One example is the type I anti-neuronal nuclear antibody (ANNA-1 otherwise known as anti-Hu), which is usually linked to small cell-lung carcinoma.

Metabotropic 5-HT receptor-mediated effects in the human submucous plexus.

Background: Serotonin (5-HT) is an important mediator in the gastrointestinal tract, acting on different neuronal 5-HT receptors. The ionotropic 5-HT receptor mediates immediate but transient spike discharge in human enteric neurons. We studied the role of the metabotropic 5-HT , 5-HT , and 5-HT receptors to activate human submucous neurons.

Region-specific effects of the cysteine protease papain on gastric motility.

Background: Papaya is a traditional remedy for gastrointestinal complaints in the folk medicine. On this basis, papain, a cysteine protease of the fruit, is sold as a nutritional supplement, although scientific data on its effects in the gastrointestinal tract are lacking. We aimed to explore the effect of papain on gastric motility in vitro.

Tryptase potentiates enteric nerve activation by histamine and serotonin: Relevance for the effects of mucosal biopsy supernatants from irritable bowel syndrome patients.

Background: We previously showed that mucosal biopsy supernatants from irritable bowel syndrome patients activated neurons despite low concentrations of tryptase, histamine, and serotonin which individually would not cause spike discharge. We studied the potentiating responses between these mediators on excitability of enteric neurons.

Methods: Calcium-imaging was performed using the calcium-sensitive dye Fluo-4 AM in human submucous plexus preparations from 45 individuals.

Anti-Hu antibodies activate enteric and sensory neurons.

IgG of type 1 anti-neuronal nuclear antibody (ANNA-1, anti-Hu) specificity is a serological marker of paraneoplastic neurological autoimmunity (including enteric/autonomic) usually related to small-cell lung carcinoma. We show here that IgG isolated from such sera and also affinity-purified anti-HuD label enteric neurons and cause an immediate spike discharge in enteric and visceral sensory neurons. Both labelling and activation of enteric neurons was prevented by preincubation with the HuD antigen.

A pilot study on faecal MMP-9: a new noninvasive diagnostic marker of colorectal cancer.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading malignancies worldwide, therefore cheap noninvasive screening methods are of great importance. Matrix-metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) has a role in the progression of CRC, and its level is elevated in tumour biopsies. Faecal MMP-9 levels are increased in active ulcerative colitis patients, but in CRC patients, they have never been measured.

Optimal Endpoint of Therapy in IBD: An Update on Factors Determining a Successful Drug Withdrawal.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) are chronic inflammatory disorders, which require long term treatment to achieve remission and to prevent relapses and cancer. While current therapies are effective in most cases, they can have rare but serious side effects and are often associated with high costs. On the other hand, early discontinuation of an effective treatment may lead to a quick relapse and to complications at the restart of therapy.

The diagnostic value of a new fecal marker, matrix metalloprotease-9, in different types of inflammatory bowel diseases.

Background: Only limited data are available regarding the diagnostic accuracy of fecal matrix metalloprotease-9 [MMP-9] for inflammatory bowel disease [IBD]. The aims of our study were to assess the diagnostic accuracy of fecal MMP-9 in patients with active Crohn's disease [CD], ulcerative colitis [UC], and pouchitis, and to compare the diagnostic accuracy of fecal MMP-9 and fecal calprotectin [CP] in IBD.

Methods: Stool and blood samples were collected in 50 CD, 54 UC, and 34 ileal pouch-anal anastomosis patients before control endoscopies were performed.

Faecal matrix metalloprotease-9 is a more sensitive marker for diagnosing pouchitis than faecal calprotectin: results from a pilot study.

Background: Potential non-invasive markers of pouchitis would have a great deal of significance within clinical practice.

Aim: This study is aimed at assessing the diagnostic accuracy of fecal calprotectin and matrix metalloprotease-9 as potential markers in patients both with and without pouchitis.

Patients And Methods: Stool and blood samples were collected from 33 ileal pouch-anal anastomosis patients before a follow-up pouchoscopy.

Role of antispasmodics in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a long-lasting, relapsing disorder characterized by abdominal pain/discomfort and altered bowel habits. Intestinal motility impairment and visceral hypersensitivity are the key factors among its multifactorial pathogenesis, both of which require effective treatment. Voltage-gated calcium channels mediate smooth muscle contraction and endocrine secretion and play important roles in neuronal transmission.

Luminal cysteine-proteases degrade colonic tight junction structure and are responsible for abdominal pain in constipation-predominant IBS.

Objectives: Luminal serine-proteases lead to increased colonic paracellular permeability and visceral hypersensitivity in patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D). Other proteases, namely cysteine-proteases (CPs), increase airway permeability by digesting epithelial tight junction proteins. In this study, we focused on constipation-predominant IBS (IBS-C) and we aimed to (i) evaluate CP levels in two cohorts of IBS patients, (ii) test if IBS-C fecal supernatant (FSN) affects permeability, and visceral sensitivity after repeated administrations in mice, and (iii) evaluate occludin expression in IBS-C colonic biopsies.

Fecal MMP-9: a new noninvasive differential diagnostic and activity marker in ulcerative colitis.

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is characterized by frequent relapses, with the presence of colorectal inflammation and mucosal lesions. Matrix-metalloprotease 9 (MMP-9) is elevated in colonic biopsies, urine, and blood plasma of UC patients. MMP-9 has been suggested as a predictor of UC in the urine of children; however, 20% of the controls tested positive.

"Ulcerative crepitus" -- a case with subcutaneous emphysema and pneumomediastinum without colonic perforation or toxic megacolon in ulcerative colitis successfully treated conservatively.

A 19-year-old man with a 1-year history of ulcerative colitis presented with fever, bloody diarrhea and severe dehidration. He was on po.48 mg methylprednisolon and 3 g mesalazine daily, and has recently finished taking chlarythromycin for Campylobacter jejuni infection.

Leaky gut in patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome and inactive ulcerative colitis.

Background/aims: Defective epithelial barrier has been implicated in the pathogenesis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate gut permeability in patients with inactive ulcerative colitis (UC) and in patients with IBS.

Methods: IBS patients of the diarrhea-predominant (IBS-D) and of the constipation-predominant subgroup (IBS-C), patients with inactive UC and healthy subjects were enrolled.

Proteinase-activated receptor-4 evoked colorectal analgesia in mice: an endogenously activated feed-back loop in visceral inflammatory pain.

Background: Activation of proteinase-activated receptor-4 (PAR-4) from the colonic lumen has an antinociceptive effect to colorectal distension (CRD) in mice in basal conditions. We aimed to determine the functional localization of the responsible receptors and to test their role in two different hyperalgesia models.

Methods: Mice received PAR-4 activating peptide (PAR-4-AP, AYPGKF-NH(2)) or vehicle intraperitoneally (IP), and abdominal EMG response to CRD was measured.

Intracolonic infusion of fecal supernatants from ulcerative colitis patients triggers altered permeability and inflammation in mice: role of cathepsin G and protease-activated receptor-4.

Background: Cathepsin G (Cat-G) is a neutrophil serine-protease found in the colonic lumen of ulcerative colitis (UC) patients. Cat-G is able to activate protease-activated receptor-4 (PAR(4) ) located at the apical side of enterocytes, leading to epithelial barrier disruption. However, the mechanisms through which Cat-G triggers inflammation are not fully elucidated.

Luminal cathepsin g and protease-activated receptor 4: a duet involved in alterations of the colonic epithelial barrier in ulcerative colitis.

Impairment of the colonic epithelial barrier and neutrophil infiltration are common features of inflammatory bowel disease. Luminal proteases affect colonic permeability through protease-activated receptors (PARs). We evaluated: (i) whether fecal supernatants from patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) trigger alterations of colonic paracellular permeability and inflammation, and (ii) the roles of cathepsin G (Cat-G), a neutrophil serine protease, and its selective receptor, PAR(4), in these processes.

Fecal proteases from diarrheic-IBS and ulcerative colitis patients exert opposite effect on visceral sensitivity in mice.

Elevated colonic luminal serine-protease (Ser-P) activity of diarrhea-predominant IBS (IBS-D) patients evokes a proteinase-activated receptor (PAR)-2-mediated colonic hypersensitivity in mice. Despite similarly elevated Ser-P levels in feces, patients with IBD exhibit visceral hypo- or normosensitivity to rectal distension, as opposed to IBS-D. To explain these discrepancies we studied the effect of colonic infusion of fecal supernatants from ulcerative colitis (UC) patients to colorectal mechanical sensitivity of mice and explored the involvement of PAR-4 and its activator Cathepsin-G (Cat-G).

[Amyloidosis induced colonic stricture. The first symptom of myeloma multiplex. A case report].

Unlabelled: Systemic amyloidosis often involves the gastrointestinal tract and usually presents as ulceration or polypoid lesions. However, annular stricture of the colon due to amyloidosis is very rare. Amyloidosis develops in appr.

Pre-treatment and post-treatment with alpha-tocopherol attenuates hippocampal neuronal damage in experimental cerebral hypoperfusion.

Alpha-tocopherol, a potent antioxidant, has been widely investigated as a dietary supplement with which to reduce the risk of atherosclerosis, and has recently been considered as a potential supplement to moderate oxidative neuronal damage in Alzheimer's disease patients. Since alpha-tocopherol appears beneficial in vascular and neurodegenerative disorders, we set out to identify its neuroprotective action in a rat model of chronic cerebral hypoperfusion-induced brain injury. The bilateral common carotid arteries of male Wistar rats were permanently occluded (2VO).