Spontaneous weight change during chronic hepatitis C treatment: association with virologic response rates.

Objective: We examined weight changes during chronic hepatitis C (CHC) therapy and association with virologic response.

Methods: Weight changes were compared between subjects achieving rapid, early, and sustained virologic response rates (RVR, EVR, and SVR). RVR, EVR and SVR were compared among patients with or without weight loss of ≥ 0.

Preventing bacteria-induced disease with bacteria.

Oral administration of a probiotic preparation was shown to be effective in preventing the recurrence of chronic pouchitis in a classic double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. This was a novel and unique approach to the care of these patients. Dysbiosis, a condition of microbial imbalance, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease.

Celecoxib-induced cholestatic liver failure requiring orthotopic liver transplantation.

Selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors are widely used due to their efficacy and good safety profile. However, recent case reports have described varying degrees of liver injuries associated with the use of COX-2 inhibitors. We report the case of a patient who developed acute cholestatic hepatitis progressing to hepatic failure requiring liver transplantation, following a 3-d course of celecoxib for treatment of generalized muscle aches and pains.

Dietary fatty acids modulate chronic colitis, colitis-associated colon neoplasia and COX-2 expression in IL-10 knockout mice.

Objective: The effects of different dietary oils on the development of colitis-associated colon cancer have not been studied. The present study examined the effect of different dietary oils on the severity of chronic colitis, development of colitis-associated premalignant changes, and colonic expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in interleukin-10 knockout (IL-10-/-) mice.

Methods: IL-10-/- mice were fed chow supplemented with corn oil (CO; control, n=28), olive oil (OO; n=29), or fish oil (FO; n=35) for 12 wk and their colons were studied for colitis score, premalignant changes, and COX-2 expression.

Short bowel syndrome: clinical guidelines for nutrition management.

Intestinal failure is a condition in which inadequate digestion or absorption of fluid, electrolytes, and nutrients leads to dehydration or malnutrition. The most common cause of intestinal failure is short bowel syndrome (SBS) defined as <200 cm of functional small intestine. SBS may result from congenital abnormalities or from surgical resection.

Celecoxib and rofecoxib potentiate chronic colitis and premalignant changes in interleukin 10 knockout mice.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs decrease sporadic colorectal carcinoma and adenomas in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis and in rodent models of sporadic colon cancer and familial adenomatous polyposis. Similarly, selective cyclooxygenase 2 inhibitors decrease adenomas in humans and rodents. However, their effects on chronic colitis and colitis-associated neoplasia are unknown.

Nutritional factors in inflammatory bowel disease.

Dietary antigens may act as important stimuli of the mucosal immune system and have led to the study of nutritional therapy for IBD. Patients with active CD respond to bowel rest, along with total enteral nutrition or TPN. Bowel rest and TPN are as effective as corticosteroids at inducing remission for patients with active CD, although benefits are short-lived.