A comparison of likelihood ratios calculated from surface DNA mixtures using MPS and CE Technologies.

This study evaluates the performance of analysing surface DNA samples using massively parallel sequencing (MPS) compared to traditional capillary electrophoresis (CE). A total of 30 samples were collected from various surfaces in an office environment and were analysed with CE and MPS. These were compared against 60 reference samples (office inhabitants).

A comprehensive characterization of MPS-STR stutter artefacts.

Interpretation of DNA evidence involving mixtures is challenging when alleles from minor contributors coincide with stutters from major contributors. To accommodate this, it is important to have a good understanding of stutter sequence formation trends. Here, multiple stutter types were characterized based on massively parallel sequencing (MPS) data from 387 single source samples, using the Verogen ForenSeq™ DNA Signature Prep kit.

Effect of sprouting on the proteome of chickpea flour and on its digestibility by ex vivo gastro-duodenal digestion complemented with jejunal brush border membrane enzymes.

The demand for sustainably produced proteins is increasing with the world population and is prompting a dietary shift toward plant sourced proteins. Vegetable proteins have lower digestibility and biological value compared to animal derived counterparts. We explored sprouting of chickpea seeds as a strategy for improving digestibility.

Determination of shedder status: A comparison of two methods involving cell counting in fingerprints and the DNA analysis of handheld tubes.

The shedder status of an individual may be important to consider in the context of DNA transfer, persistence and recovery and in Bayesian networks where a person's shedder status may have an impact on the outcome. In this study we compared two methods to determine shedder status: the handheld tube (HH) method and a fluorescent cell count (CC) method. A poor association was observed between the numbers of detected cells in a fingerprint using the CC method and the strength of the DNA result with the HH method.

An LR framework incorporating sensitivity analysis to model multiple direct and secondary transfer events on skin surface.

Bayesian logistic regression is used to model the probability of DNA recovery following direct and secondary transfer and persistence over a 24 h period between deposition and sample collection. Sub-source level likelihood ratios provided the raw data for activity-level analysis. Probabilities of secondary transfer are typically low, and there are challenges with small data-sets with low numbers of positive observations.

Ancestral Wheat Types Release Fewer Celiac Disease Related T Cell Epitopes than Common Wheat upon Ex Vivo Human Gastrointestinal Digestion.

Celiac disease (CeD) is an autoimmune enteropathy triggered by immunogenic gluten peptides released during the gastrointestinal digestion of wheat. Our aim was to identify T cell epitope-containing peptides after ex vivo digestion of ancestral (einkorn, spelt and emmer) and common (hexaploid) wheat (Fram, Bastian, Børsum and Mirakel) using human gastrointestinal juices. Wheat porridge was digested using a static ex vivo model.

Fecal Calprotectin Responses Following Induction Therapy With Vedolizumab in Moderate to Severe Ulcerative Colitis: A Post Hoc Analysis of GEMINI 1.

Background: In patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), fecal calprotectin (FC) concentrations correlate with endoscopic inflammation evidence. This study investigated the effect of vedolizumab induction on FC concentrations and whether FC concentrations could be a reliable surrogate measure of disease status.

Methods: Data from the placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial GEMINI 1 were used to evaluate week-6 relationships between outcomes (including clinical remission, mucosal healing [MH], and endoscopic remission) and both absolute FC concentration values and relative FC concentration changes from baseline (%FC0-6).

Real-life chromoendoscopy for dysplasia surveillance in ulcerative colitis.

Aim: To evaluate the use of chromoendoscopy for surveillance of ulcerative colitis in a real-life community hospital setting.

Methods: Patients with extensive ulcerative colitis, having disease duration of more than 8 years and who presented between the years of 1999 to 2013, were offered enrolment in this single cohort prospective study. All participants underwent standard bowel preparation with sodium phosphate and chromoendoscopy.

Analysis of DNA Methylation at Specific Loci in Stool Samples Detects Colorectal Cancer and High-Grade Dysplasia in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Background & Aims: Patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, are at increased risk for colorectal cancer (CRC). Analyses of DNA methylation patterns in stool samples have been reported to detect CRC in patients with IBD. We sought to validate these findings in larger cohorts and assess the accuracy of analysis of DNA methylation patterns in stool for detection of CRC and high-grade dysplasia (HGD) normalized to methylation level at ZDHHC1.

Multi-target stool DNA test in the surveillance of inflammatory bowel disease: a cross-sectional cohort study.

Background And Aim: Colonoscopic surveillance is recommended in patients with longstanding inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) as they are at increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). Non-invasive surveillance may improve compliance and access. Multi-target stool DNA (MT-sDNA) has been validated for screening of sporadic CRC but has not been assessed in IBD.

Exploring Gut Microbiota Composition as an Indicator of Clinical Response to Dietary FODMAP Restriction in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Background: A diet low in fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols (FODMAPs) may relieve symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). However, nutritional counseling is resource-demanding and not all patients will benefit.

Aims: To explore whether gut microbial composition may identify symptom response to a low-FODMAP diet in patients with IBS.

Fecal Calprotectin: A Reliable Predictor of Mucosal Healing after Treatment for Active Ulcerative Colitis.

Objectives: Mucosal healing has become the new goal of treatment in ulcerative colitis. Fecal calprotectin has been demonstrated to differentiate between mucosal inflammation and mucosal healing. With this project, we investigated whether a reduction in f-calprotectin to <250 g/g after medical treatment for active ulcerative colitis could predict mucosal healing.

Persistent symptoms in patients with Crohn's disease in remission: An exploratory study on the role of diet.

Objectives: Patients with Crohn's disease (CD) often report food hypersensitivities with gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms despite being in clinical remission. We aimed to identify the most frequent symptoms and dietary triggers in such patients, and also explored whether a strict elimination diet may reduce their GI symptoms.

Methods: We assessed GI symptoms and dietary triggers in 16 patients with CD in clinical remission.

Usability of a home-based test for the measurement of fecal calprotectin in asymptomatic IBD patients.

Unlabelled: The aim of our work was to test the usability of fecal calprotectin (FC) home-based test in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients.

Methods: IBD patients were prospectively recruited. They had to measure FC with a dedicated tool and smartphone application, 5 times at two weeks intervals over an 8 weeks period.

Fecal Fermentation in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Influence of Dietary Restriction of Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides and Polyols.

Background/aims: Dietary restriction of fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols (FODMAPs) may relieve symptoms in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). We investigated whether this diet alters microbial fermentation, a process that may be involved in IBS symptom generation.

Methods: Patients with IBS were included consecutively to participate in a 4-week FODMAP restricted diet.

Clinical importance of faecal calprotectin variability in inflammatory bowel disease: intra-individual variability and standardisation of sampling procedure.

Objective: Faecal (f-) calprotectin is a biomarker of intestinal inflammation. Previous studies have described intra-individual day-to-day variability of this biomarker in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and morning samples have been suggested for standardisation purposes. With this project, we investigated if day-to-day variability differed from diurnal variability.

Prediction of endoscopic disease activity in ulcerative colitis by two different assays for fecal calprotectin.

Background And Aims: As mucosal healing is the goal of treatment in inflammatory bowel disease, defining a fecal [f-] calprotectin cut-off level for mucosal healing is crucial. Previous studies have presented different cut-off levels. The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of two f-calprotectin assays to differentiate mucosal healing from inflammation in ulcerative colitis.

INSPIRE study: does stress management improve the course of inflammatory bowel disease and disease-specific quality of life in distressed patients with ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease? A randomized controlled trial.

Background: The use of stress management psychotherapy is hypothesized to produce greater improvement in disease course and disease-specific quality of life (IBDQ) compared to usual medical care alone in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn's disease (CD) showing high levels of stress (based on the Perceived Stress Questionnaire [PSQ]).

Methods: Fifty-eight patients with UC and 56 patients with CD who had experienced continuous disease activity or had relapsed over the previous 18 months, with an activity index for UC or CD ≥ 4, a PSQ ≥ 60, and without serious psychiatric disorders or other serious medical conditions were randomized to receive either treatment as usual (TAU) or TAU plus stress management psychotherapy. Psychotherapy consisted of three group sessions (psychoeducation, problem-solving, relaxation) and 6-9 individual sessions based on cognitive behavior therapy-related methods with 1-3 booster sessions at 6 and 12 months follow-up.

[Measurement of calprotectin in faeces].

Background: Calprotectin is a calcium-binding protein found in neutrophils. Increased levels are found in stools after mucosal damage due to inflammation, which causes influx of neutrophils into the gut lumen.

Material And Method: This article is based on a review of the most pertinent publications found on Medline and our clinical experience from more than 10 years of using the test.

Technology insight: calprotectin, lactoferrin and nitric oxide as novel markers of inflammatory bowel disease.

Distinguishing patients with inflammatory bowel disease from those with irritable bowel syndrome can be difficult. A simple and reliable test that detects intestinal inflammation would therefore be very useful in the clinic. If such a test parameter correlated with the intensity of the inflammatory reaction it could also be used to monitor disease activity.

Mapping of a milk production quantitative trait locus to a 420-kb region on bovine chromosome 6.

A QTL affecting milk production traits was previously mapped to an interval of 7.5 cM on chromosome 6 in Norwegian dairy cattle. This article aimed to refine this position by increasing the map density in the region by a set of single-nucleotide polymorphisms and analyzing the data with a combined linkage and linkage disequilibrium approach.

[Increased cortisol levels, frostbite and effects on the muscles and skeleton during extreme polar conditions].

Background: We wanted to record physiological changes, injuries and illnesses during a long sledge expedition in North Canada.

Material And Methods: The expedition consisted of four men aged 41 to 50, and 16 polar dogs. Measurements of cortisol in saliva were performed before, during and after the expedition.

[A polar expedition in challenging circumstances--experiences and psychological reactions].

Four men, in the company of 16 dogs, skied for five weeks from Gåsefjord to Ellef Ringnes Land, North Canada. The expedition met with considerable unforeseen challenges such as extreme and prolonged cold, unmotivated Greenland dogs, and much pack ice. Psychological reactions were described and measured by a qualitative free text analysis and a test battery including GHQ-30 (General Health Questionnaire) and STAI State (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) before, during, and after the expedition.

Proactive sensitizing effects of acute stress on acoustic startle responses and experimentally induced colitis in rats: relationship to corticosterone.

In humans, some individuals develop a syndrome after trauma (post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD) characterized by increased startle responses and lower than normal cortisol secretion. We explored a rat model using the acoustic startle response (ASR) as a behavioral indicator of the effect of a short series of shocks. Because gastrointestinal disorders have been associated with prior stress, we also studied the rats' vulnerability to a chemically-induced colitis.