Effect of SonoVue on the synovial membrane in rabbit knees.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of intra-articular injection of SonoVue (sulfur hexafluoride with a phospholipid shell; Bracco SpA, Milan, Italy) on the synovial membrane in an animal model.

Methods: Twenty-one New Zealand White rabbits (42 knees) were used in this study. We injected the knees with normal saline (saline group; n = 21) and SonoVue (SonoVue group; n = 21).

Low pH acts as inhibitor of membrane damage induced by human islet amyloid polypeptide.

Human islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) is the major component of the amyloid deposits found in the pancreatic islets of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. After synthesis, IAPP is stored in the β-cell granules of the pancreas at a pH of approximately 5.5 and released into the extracellular compartment at a pH of 7.

Volatile fraction composition and physicochemical parameters as tools for the differentiation of lemon blossom honey and orange blossom honey.

Background: Volatile fraction profile and physicochemical parameters were studied with the aim of evaluating their effectiveness for the differentiation between lemon blossom honey (Citrus limon L.) and orange blossom honey (Citrus spp.).

Therapeutic effect of antisecretory factor-rich egg yolk on the late phases of 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid colitis in mice.

Antisecretory factor (AF) is expressed in all tissues of mammals, inhibits intestinal hypersecretion and has anti-inflammatory properties as well. Endogenous AF synthesis may be stimulated by feeding hydrothermally processed cereals. Alternatively, freeze-dried egg yolk can be used as a source of exogenous AF.

Perianal disease in patients with ulcerative colitis: A case-control study.

Background: Patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and concomitant perianal disease (PAD) are occasionally seen, but the impact of PAD on UC outcome has been scarcely assessed.

Aims: To evaluate the prevalence, clinical features and outcomes of PAD among UC patients.

Methods: Patients with an initial diagnosis of UC who ever developed PAD were identified from three IBD hospital databases.

Long-term durability of response to adalimumab in Crohn's disease.

Background: Adalimumab is an effective treatment for Crohn's disease (CD), but may also be associated with loss of response. Few reports provide insight into the durability of treatment of CD with adalimumab for periods longer than 12 months in clinical practice.

Aims: To evaluate the long-term durability of adalimumab maintenance treatment and to identify predictive factors associated with loss of response.

Idiopathic myointimal hyperplasia of mesenteric veins and pneumatosis intestinalis: a previously unreported association.

Idiopathic myointimal hyperplasia of mesenteric veins is a very rare disease occurring in young male patients, with no more than eight cases reported in the world literature. It causes venous ischemia in the sigmoid colon and rectum that clinically resembles inflammatory bowel disease. Pneumatosis intestinalis is also a rare condition usually associated to a wide range of diseases including bowel ischemia.

Decision tree for early introduction of rescue therapy in active ulcerative colitis treated with steroids.

Background: Corticosteroids are the treatment of choice for moderate-to-severe active ulcerative colitis (UC) but up to 30%-40% of patients fail to respond. It has been reported that early clinical-biological parameters may identify those patients at high risk of colectomy. The aim was to identify predictors of rapid response to systemic steroids in moderate-to-severe attacks of UC.

High-definition colonoscopy and risk factors for recurrence of advanced adenomas in patients with a personal history of polyps.

Background And Aims: Postpolypectomy surveillance is one of the most common reasons for performing colonoscopy. Our purpose was to assess characteristics of basal adenomas related to the recurrence of advanced adenomas, and to compare the patterns observed in recurrent adenomas with the use of conventional colonoscopy (CC) (1995-1998 period) or high-definition colonoscopy (HDC) (2005-2008 period).

Methods: Analyses were based on 612 patients with recurrent adenomas (n=306) or no adenomas (control group; n=306), with at least two follow-up colonoscopies.

Systemic amyloidosis in inflammatory bowel disease: retrospective study on its prevalence, clinical presentation, and outcome.

Background: Systemic amyloidosis is a rare but life-threatening complication of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), most cases being reported among Crohn's disease (CD) patients. The only two available retrospective studies showed a prevalence ranging from 0.9% to 3% among CD patients.

Spinal dermal sinus and pseudo-dermal sinus tracts: two different entities.

Background: Occult spinal dysraphism (OSD) encompasses various conditions. A dermal sinus tract (DST) consists of a duct communicating to the skin with deep structures that carries an important risk of infection. A different lesion consisting of a translucent skin opening and a fibrous tract that lacks a lumen can also be found in OSD.

Smoking status and response to thiopurines in steroid-dependent inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: The influence of smoking on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) susceptibility and on its clinical course is well known, but not its impact on drug efficacy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the response to thiopurines in patients with steroid-dependent IBD according to their smoking habits.

Methods: The medical records of 163 IBD patients (103 Crohn's disease [CD], 60 ulcerative colitis [UC]) in whom thiopurines were started because of steroid-dependency were reviewed.

Liver dysfunction related to hepatitis B and C in patients with inflammatory bowel disease treated with immunosuppressive therapy.

Background: There is no information about the frequency of liver dysfunction in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treated with immunosuppressants and infected with hepatitis B (HBV) and/or C virus (HCV).

Aim: To assess the influence of immunosuppressants on the course of HBV and HCV infection in IBD.

Methods: Patients with IBD with HBV and/or HCV infection from 19 Spanish hospitals were included.

[Portal hypertension in patients with inflammatory bowel disease].

Portal hypertension (PH) is a complication that may occur in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In these patients, the etiology of PH may not be alcoholic or viral cirrhosis (which cause 90% of cases in the general population). Consequently, etiologic study of PH in patients with IBD should always include a wide spectrum of possibilities.

Infliximab safety profile and long-term applicability in inflammatory bowel disease: 9-year experience in clinical practice.

Background: Most available data on infliximab therapy come from large, short-term, pivotal RCTs and concerns about long-term safety profile still remain.

Aim: To evaluate the long-term safety profile of infliximab in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in a clinical practice setting.

Methods: Since 1999, all IBD patients treated with infliximab were registered and clinical outcomes prospectively recorded up to March 2008, loss of follow-up or patient's death.

Endoscopist experience as a risk factor for colonoscopic complications.

Aim: We aimed to determine the incidence of colonic perforation (CP) following colonoscopy and postpolypectomy bleeding (PPB) in a teaching hospital, assessing the influence of endoscopist experience as a risk factor.

Method: All colonoscopies performed between 1995 and 2008 were reviewed. Demographic data, endoscopic procedure information, incidence of CP and PPB, and endoscopist experience were recorded.

Clinical outcome of newly diagnosed Crohn's disease: a comparative, retrospective study before and after infliximab availability.

Background: Infliximab (IFX) could change the course of Crohn's disease (CD) by reducing steroid use, surgery or prompting earlier introduction of immunomodulators (IMM).

Aim: To evaluate the impact of IFX availability on the course of early CD.

Methods: Two cohorts of newly diagnosed CD patients were identified: The first cohort included patients diagnosed from January 1994 to December 1997 and the second from January 2000 to December 2003.

Increased oxidative stress levels and normal antioxidant enzyme activity in circulating mononuclear cells from patients of familial hypercholesterolemia.

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a clinical condition with high risk for developing atherosclerosis. Increased oxidative stress (OS) and FH have been related to atherosclerosis, but no data are available on levels of OS and antioxidant enzyme activity in circulating mononuclear cells (CMCs) from FH patients. Circulating mononuclear cells are important mediators in atherosclerosis development, and chronically increased blood OS present in FH can induce modification in CMC activity.

Top-down therapy: is the evidence strong enough?

Crohn's disease (CD) has usually been managed in an escalation manner, introducing more powerful (and toxic) drugs only once those with a better safety profile had failed. However, the natural history of CD under conventional therapeutic strategies results in high intestinal resection requirements and high rates of clinical relapse and steroid dependence. Indirect data seem to point at an improved efficacy of drugs when they are introduced early after disease diagnosis.

Effect of intermittent hypoxia on hematological parameters after recombinant human erythropoietin administration.

Recent publications reflect the anti-doping authorities' concern about the use of altitude simulator systems as violating the spirit of sport criterion (Levine 2006; Loland and Murray 2007; Spriggs 2005). The aim of our study was to determine whether intermittent hypoxic treatments could modify the hemoglobin, hematocrit, reticulocytes, and erythropoietic stimulation index (OFF-Hr Score) values after administration of rHuEPO-alpha. Although these hematological parameters are of secondary nature some international sport federations currently exclude athletes who show aberrant values of these parameters from competition.

[Apheresis in inflammatory bowel disease].

Apheresis systems have been used in inflammatory bowel disease with a view to immunomodulation. The technique employs a system of white cell extraction, filtration and adsorption mainly with two systems: granulocytapheresis and leukocytapheresis. One session weekly for 5-10 consecutive weeks is usually used to induce clinical remission, while a monthly session can be used as maintenance therapy.