Exposure to oral contraceptives increases the risk for development of inflammatory bowel disease: a meta-analysis of case-controlled and cohort studies.

Background: The oral contraceptive pill (OCP) is a widely used method of contraception. There have been conflicting studies linking the use of OCPs to the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The intent of this meta-analysis is to better define the association between OCP exposure and the risk for development of IBD.

Does exposure to isotretinoin increase the risk for the development of inflammatory bowel disease? A meta-analysis.

Background: Isotretinoin is a treatment option for severe nodulocystic acne. However, its use has inconsistently been associated with the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This meta-analysis aims to elucidate the association between isotretinoin exposure and the risk for IBD.

Low-residue versus clear liquid diet before colonoscopy: a meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials.

Background And Aims: Colonoscopy is extremely important for the identification and removal of precancerous polyps. Bowel preparation before colonoscopy is essential for adequate visualization. Traditionally, patients have been instructed to consume only clear liquids the day before a colonoscopy.

Does alvimopan enhance return of bowel function in laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgery? A meta-analysis.

Background: Postoperative ileus (POI) remains a major impediment in patient recovery and leads to longer lengths of stay at the hospital, readmission rates, and hospital costs. Alvimopan, a mu-opioid receptor antagonist, lowers POI incidence following open gastrointestinal surgery, however, little is known about its role on POI prevention among patients undergoing laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgery.

Methods: A comprehensive search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, CINAHL, and Cochrane databases was performed (December 2014).

Specialized enteral nutrition therapy in Crohn's disease patients on maintenance infliximab therapy: a meta-analysis.

Objectives: Many patients with Crohn's disease on infliximab maintenance therapy have recurrent symptoms despite an initial clinical response. Therefore, concomitant therapies have been studied. We conducted a meta-analysis to assess the effect of specialized enteral nutrition therapy with infliximab versus infliximab monotherapy in patients with Crohn's disease.

Optimizing the use of anti-tumor necrosis factor in the management of patients with Crohn's disease.

Since the approval of the first anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapy in late 1998, the treatment for Crohn's disease (CD) has been revolutionized. Anti-TNF therapy has been consistently shown in numerous clinical trials to be effective for patients with more aggressive perianal, internal penetrating, and fistulizing CD. However, the loss of clinical remission is frequent and only one-third of patients remain in clinical remission at 1 year.

Effect of Immunosuppressive Therapies for the Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease on Response to Routine Vaccinations: A Meta-Analysis.

Background: Several studies have evaluated the effect of immunosuppressive therapy for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) on response to routine vaccinations. The overall effect of specific classes of medications (i.e.

pANCA positivity predicts lower clinical response to infliximab therapy among patients with IBD.

Objectives: Several studies have been performed evaluating the role of perinuclear anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (pANCA) to predict early clinical response among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) who are undergoing infliximab therapy. The results of these studies are variable, however, and the effect of pANCA+ as a predictor of clinical response to infliximab remains largely undefined. The goal of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the role of pANCA in predicting poor responders to infliximab.

Outcomes of initial medical compared with surgical strategies in the management of intra-abdominal abscesses in patients with Crohn's disease: a meta-analysis.

Background: Several studies have also evaluated the efficacy of initial medical management compared with initial surgical management strategies with regard to abscess resolution with variable results.

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of initial medical management compared with surgical management of Crohn's disease (CD)-related intra-abdominal abscesses.

Data Sources: A comprehensive search of multiple databases (MEDLINE/PubMed, Cochrane databases, CINAHL, Scopus, and Google Scholar) was performed in August 2014.

Antitumor necrosis factor α is more effective than conventional medical therapy for the prevention of postoperative recurrence of Crohn's disease: a meta-analysis.

Background: There have seen several studies evaluating the efficacy of anti-tumor necrosis factor α (anti-TNFα) compared with conventional therapy (i.e. immunomodulators, mesalamine, or placebo) at preventing postoperative Crohn's disease (CD) recurrence.

Apo and calcium-bound crystal structures of cytoskeletal protein alpha-14 giardin (annexin E1) from the intestinal protozoan parasite Giardia lamblia.

Alpha-14 giardin (annexin E1), a member of the alpha giardin family of annexins, has been shown to localize to the flagella of the intestinal protozoan parasite Giardia lamblia. Alpha giardins show a common ancestry with the annexins, a family of proteins most of which bind to phospholipids and cellular membranes in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner and are implicated in numerous membrane-related processes including cytoskeletal rearrangements and membrane organization. It has been proposed that alpha-14 giardin may play a significant role during the cytoskeletal rearrangement during differentiation of Giardia.

Apo and calcium-bound crystal structures of Alpha-11 giardin, an unusual annexin from Giardia lamblia.

Alpha-11 giardin is a member of the multi-gene alpha-giardin family in the intestinal protozoan, Giardia lamblia. This gene family shares an ancestry with the annexin super family, whose common characteristic is calcium-dependent binding to membranes that contain acidic phospholipids. Several alpha giardins are highly expressed during parasite-induced diarrhea in humans.

Expression, purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of alpha-11 giardin from Giardia lamblia.

Alpha-11 Giardin, a protein from the annexin superfamily, is a 35.0 kDa protein from the intestinal protozoan parasite Giardia lamblia which triggers a form of diarrhea called giardiasis. Here, the cloning, expression, purification and the crystallization of alpha-11 giardin under two different conditions and in two different space groups is reported.