Activated HLA-DR+CD38+ Effector Th1/17 Cells Distinguish Crohn's Disease-associated Perianal Fistulas from Cryptoglandular Fistulas.

Background: Perianal fistulas are a debilitating complication of Crohn's disease (CD). Due to unknown reasons, CD-associated fistulas are in general more difficult to treat than cryptoglandular fistulas (non-CD-associated). Understanding the immune cell landscape is a first step towards the development of more effective therapies for CD-associated fistulas.

Sacral neuromodulation in children and adolescents with chronic constipation refractory to conservative treatment.

Purpose: Functional constipation in children and adolescents is a common and invalidating condition. In a minority of patients, symptoms persist despite optimal conservative therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the short-term effects of sacral neuromodulation (SNM) in children and adolescents with constipation are sustained over prolonged period of time.

Outcome after anal intrasphincteric Botox injection in children with surgically treated Hirschsprung disease.

Objectives: A nonrelaxing internal anal sphincter is present in a relatively large proportion of children with surgically treated Hirschsprung disease (HD) and can cause obstructive gastrointestinal symptoms. The short- and long-term outcome and adverse effects of intrasphincteric botulinum toxin (Botox) injections in children with obstruction after surgically treated HD are evaluated.

Methods: The outcome of children with surgically treated HD treated with intrasphincteric Botox injections for obstructive symptoms was analyzed with a retrospective chart review between 2002 and 2013 in the University Medical Centers of Maastricht and Nijmegen.

Relaparotomy following complications of feeding jejunostomy in esophageal surgery.

Background: After recognition of the importance of early postoperative enteral feeding, placement of a feeding jejunostomy as an adjunct to gastrointestinal surgery has become widely accepted. However, little attention has been paid to surgical complications and their consequences. Feeding jejunostomy as an adjunct to esophageal resection and reconstruction can lead to serious surgical complications.