Triticum monococcum amylase trypsin inhibitors possess a reduced potential to elicit innate immune response in celiac patients compared to Triticum aestivum.

Scope: Several studies reported a role of amylase/trypsin-inhibitors (ATIs) of common wheat species in promoting immune reactions. Here, we investigated in celiac disease (CD), the immunogenic properties of ATIs from diploid compared to common hexaploid wheats after an in vitro proteolytic hydrolysis.

Methods And Results: ATIs purified from two lines of diploid Triticum monococcum (TM), Monlis and Norberto-ID331, and from Triticum aestivum (TA), Sagittario, were digested with pepsin-chymotrypsin (PC) enzymes and analyzed using a proteomic approach, and subsequently their immune stimulatory properties were investigated on jejunal biopsies and T-cell lines from CD patients.

Adult autoimmune enteropathy in autoimmune hepatitis patient. Case report and literature review.

Autoimmune enteropathy (AIE) is a rare disease characterized by prolonged diarrhea, vomiting and weight loss; although it is mainly a rare pediatric disease, over the years a number of adults have also been found to be affected. In this study, we present a case report of a 73-year-old woman with a history of autoimmune hepatitis, antinuclear (ANA) and positive anti-enterocyte antibodies (AEA), who has suffered two months of intractable diarrhea, nausea, anorexia and severe weight loss. The histological examination of the endoscopic duodenal mucosa biopsies revealed severe shortening and flattening of the villi, resulting in mucosal atrophy.

IBD: Role of intestinal compartments in the mucosal immune response.

Background And Aims: Laser capture microdissection (LCM) is a powerful tool for the isolation of specific tissue compartments. We aimed to investigate the mucosal immune response that takes place in different intestinal compartments of IBD patients, dissected by LCM, analyzing cytokines expression profile and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress markers.

Methods: Frozen sections of gut were obtained from patients with Crohn's disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC) and from controls.

Gliadin-Specific CD8 T Cell Responses Restricted by HLA Class I A*0101 and B*0801 Molecules in Celiac Disease Patients.

Initial studies associated the HLA class I A*01 and B*08 alleles with celiac disease (CD) susceptibility. Subsequent analyses showed a primary association with HLA class II alleles encoding for the HLA DQ2.5 molecule.

Early precut sphincterotomy for difficult biliary access to reduce post-ERCP pancreatitis: a randomized trial.

Background And Study Aim: Precut sphincterotomy is a technique usually employed for difficult biliary cannulation during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for the treatment of bile duct disease. It is a validated risk factor for post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP), but it is not clear whether the risk is related to the technique itself or to the repeated biliary cannulation attempts preceding it. The primary aim of the study was to assess the incidence of PEP in early precut compared with the standard technique in patients with difficult biliary cannulation.

Extensive in vitro gastrointestinal digestion markedly reduces the immune-toxicity of Triticum monococcum wheat: implication for celiac disease.

Scope: The ancient diploid Triticum monococcum is of special interest as a candidate low-toxic wheat species for celiac disease patients. Here, we investigated how an in vitro gastro-intestinal digestion, affected the immune toxic properties of gliadin from diploid compared to hexaploid wheat.

Methods And Results: Gliadins from Triticum monococcum, and Triticum aestivum cultivars were digested using either a partial proteolysis with pepsin-chymotrypsin, or an extensive degradation that used gastrointestinal enzymes including the brush border membrane enzymes.

Incidence and distribution of coeliac disease in Campania (Italy): 2011-2013.

Background: There exists a wide variation in the reported incidence of coeliac disease in recent decades. We aimed to evaluate the incidence rate of coeliac diagnoses performed in an Italian region, Campania, between 2011 and 2013 and its variation therein.

Methods: All coeliac diagnoses made from 2011 to 2013 and registered within the Campania coeliac disease register (CeliacDB) were identified.

Immunogenicity of monococcum wheat in celiac patients.

Background: Research is intense to find wheat of low or null toxicity for patients with celiac disease (CD). Among candidates, there are diploid wheat species.

Objective: We compared the immunological properties of 2 lines of diploid monococcum wheat (Triticum monococcum ssp.

Reintroduction of gluten following flour transamidation in adult celiac patients: a randomized, controlled clinical study.

A lifelong gluten-free diet (GFD) is mandatory for celiac disease (CD) but has poor compliance, justifying novel strategies. We found that wheat flour transamidation inhibited IFN-γ secretion by intestinal T cells from CD patients. Herein, the primary endpoint was to evaluate the ability of transamidated gluten to maintain GFD CD patients in clinical remission.

Immunogenicity of two oat varieties, in relation to their safety for celiac patients.

Objective: Most of the recent studies suggest that oats are well tolerated by celiac disease (CD) patients. However, it is still possible that different oat cultivars may display different biological properties relevant for CD pathogenesis. We aimed to investigate biological and immunological properties of two oat varieties, Avena genziana and Avena potenza, in relation to their safety for CD patients.

IL-15 interferes with suppressive activity of intestinal regulatory T cells expanded in Celiac disease.

Objectives: Celiac disease (CD) is a condition in which the regulation of the mucosal immune response to dietary gliadin might be altered. The transcription factor forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) has been identified as a marker of a subset of regulatory T cells (Treg). In this study, we have investigated the presence and the suppressive function of Treg cells in the celiac small intestinal mucosa, their correlation with the disease state, and the inducibility by gliadin in an organ culture system; moreover, we tried to define whether interleukin 15 (IL-15), overexpressed in CD, could influence the regulatory activity of such cells.

Risk factors for post-ERCP pancreatitis in high- and low-volume centers and among expert and non-expert operators: a prospective multicenter study.

Objectives: Prospective studies have identified a number of patient- and procedure-related independent risk factors for post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) pancreatitis, with different conclusions, so various questions are still open. The endoscopist's expertise, case volume, and case mix can all significantly influence the outcome of ERCP procedures, but have been investigated little to date.

Methods: We identified patient- and procedure-related risk factors for post-ERCP pancreatitis and the impact of the endoscopist's experience and the center's case volume, using univariate and multivariate analysis, in a multicenter, prospective study involving low- and high-volume centers, over a 6-month period.

Gliadin activates HLA class I-restricted CD8+ T cells in celiac disease intestinal mucosa and induces the enterocyte apoptosis.

Background & Aims: The extensive infiltration of CD8(+) T cells in the intestinal mucosa of celiac disease (CD) patients is a hallmark of the disease. We identified a gliadin peptide (pA2) that is selectively recognized by CD8(+) T cells infiltrating intestinal mucosa of HLA-A2(+) CD patients. Herein, we investigated the phenotype, the tissue localization, and the effector mechanism of cells responsive to pA2 by using the organ culture of CD intestinal mucosa.

Capsule endoscopy is useful and safe for small-bowel surveillance in familial adenomatous polyposis.

Background: Duodenal cancer and ampullary cancer are major causes of death after a prophylactic colectomy in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). Forward-viewing endoscopy and side-viewing endoscopy are recommended in patients with FAP for surveillance of periampullary and duodenal polyposis. The study of polyps distal to the duodenum in FAP is limited.

Gliadin-specific type 1 regulatory T cells from the intestinal mucosa of treated celiac patients inhibit pathogenic T cells.

Celiac disease (CD) results from a permanent intolerance to dietary gluten and is due to a massive T cell-mediated immune response to gliadin, the main component of gluten. In this disease, the regulation of immune responses to dietary gliadin is altered. Herein, we investigated whether IL-10 could modulate anti-gliadin immune responses and whether gliadin-specific type 1 regulatory T (Tr1) cells could be isolated from the intestinal mucosa of CD patients in remission.

Twice-daily standard dose of omeprazole achieves the necessary level of acid inhibition for Helicobacter pylori eradication. A randomized controlled trial using standard and double doses of omeprazole in triple therapy.

Antibiotic resistances and level of acid inhibition may affect the outcome of eradicating regimens for H. pylori. To evaluate the impact of different degrees of acid inhibition on the efficacy of triple treatment, we treated 323 patients with H.

Recombinant human interleukin 10 suppresses gliadin dependent T cell activation in ex vivo cultured coeliac intestinal mucosa.

Background: Enteropathy in coeliac disease (CD) is sustained by a gliadin specific Th1 response. Interleukin (IL)-10 can downregulate Th1 immune responses.

Aim: We investigated the ability of recombinant human (rh) IL-10 to suppress gliadin induced Th1 response.

Coexpression of Helicobacter pylori's proteins CagA and HspB induces cell proliferation in AGS gastric epithelial cells, independently from the bacterial infection.

Adenocarcinoma of the stomach is the second most common cause of cancer mortality in the world. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential role in carcinogenesis of two secreted Helicobacter pylori's proteins, CagA and HspB, both shown to increase the risk of gastric carcinoma in patients infected with H. pylori-positive strain.

Role of endogenous endothelin-1 in ethanol-induced gastric mucosal damage in humans.

Gastric microcirculatory disturbances are involved in the ethanol-induced gastric mucosal damage. In this study in humans we evaluated the time course of plasma and gastric mucosal endothelin-1 (ET-1) concentrations after intragastric ethanol administration; furthermore we determined the correlation among changes in gastric tissue endothelin-1 and microscopic and gross gastric hemorrhagic damage. ET-1 concentrations in plasma and gastric mucosa were measured by radioimmunoassay.

Accuracy of stool antigen test in posteradication assessment of Helicobacter pylori infection.

Our aim was to evaluate the accuracy of HpSA test in the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection after the end of eradication therapy. In all 106 H. pylori-positive patients (55 men and 51 women, mean age 51 years, range 19-82) were treated with a course of eradicating regimen.

Accuracy of the stool antigen test in the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection before treatment and in patients on omeprazole therapy.

Aim: To evaluate the Helicobacter pylori stool antigen (HpSA) test in the assessment of H. pylori infection and the effect of omeprazole treatment on its accuracy.

Methods: Study 1: 140 dyspeptic patients were enrolled in the study and defined as H.

Antibody response to Helicobacter pylori CagA and heat-shock proteins in determining the risk of gastric cancer development.

Objective: To investigate whether the systemic antibody response to Helicobacter pylori heat shock protein B can be considered, in addition to anti cytotoxin-associated protein [CagA) antibody determination, a further serological marker of increased risk of gastric cancer development.

Methods: A total of 98 Giemsa positive Helicobacter pylori patients (28 with gastric cancer, 30 with duodenal ulcer and 40 with nonulcer dyspepsia) were studied. Serum samples obtained from all patients were tested for IgG antibodies to CagA (116 kDa), VacA [89kDa) and heat skock protein B (54 kDa) antigens of Helicobacter pylori by the Western blot technique.

Gastroprotection by 4-methylpyrazole against ethanol in humans.

4-Methylpyrazole (4-MP), a specific inhibitor of alcohol dehydrogenase, exerts gastroprotection of unusually long duration in rats. We tested the hypothesis that pretreatment with 4-MP might protect the human gastric mucosa against alcohol-induced acute injury. Fourteen healthy volunteers received pretreatment with either 4-MP, 15 mg/kg body weight dissolved in 50 ml of orange juice, or placebo and 2 hr later 100 ml of 40% ethanol.

Importance of showing HBsAg and HBcAg positivity in the liver for better aetiological definition of chronic liver disease.

Serum and tissue hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers were compared in 35 alcoholic and 23 non-alcoholic subjects affected by chronic liver disease. Seventeen point one per cent of alcoholic and 21.7% of non-alcoholic subjects had HBV tissue markers, but not serum markers, for this virus.