Real-life Anti-tumor Necrosis Factor Experience in More Than 500 Patients: High Co-immunosuppression Rates But Low Rates of Quantifying Treatment Response.

Objective: The aim of this study was to measure the effectiveness, safety, and use of anti-tumor necrosis Factor (TNF) therapy in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease in the United Kingdom (UK).

Methods: Prospective UK audit of patients newly starting anti-TNF therapy. Disease severity was assessed using Physician Global Assessment +/or the Paediatric Crohn Disease Activity Index.

Safety and efficacy of parenteral iron in children with inflammatory bowel disease.

Aims: Iron deficiency anaemia frequently complicates inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in children and adults. Oral iron may exacerbate gastrointestinal symptoms and absorption may be insufficient in intestinal inflammation. Even where oral iron is successful, repletion of iron stores can be unacceptably slow.

Age-related alterations in blood and colonic dendritic cell properties.

Background: Dendritic cells (DC) determine initiation, type and location of immune responses and, in adults, show decreased Toll-like receptors and some increased cytokine levels on ageing. Few studies in children have characterised DC or explored DC-related mechanisms producing age-related immune changes.

Results: The pDC marker BDCA2 (but not CD123) was absent in pre-pubertal children and numbers of pDC decreased with age.

Evolution of in vitro cow's milk protein-specific inflammatory and regulatory cytokine responses in preterm infants with necrotising enterocolitis.

Background: We have previously reported evidence of in vitro sensitisation to cow's milk protein in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in preterm infants with necrotising enterocolitis (NEC). In the present study, we document the changes in the PBMC responses to stimulation with mitogen (phytohaemagglutinin) and cow's milk proteins β-lactoglobulin (β-lg) and casein over time: from the acute presentation of NEC, to initial recovery (reinitiation of enteral feeds), to full recovery (full feeding).

Methods: Of the 14 preterm infants recruited with acute NEC, 12 were followed until fully enterally fed (2 died during the acute phase).

Disease phenotype at diagnosis in pediatric Crohn's disease: 5-year analyses of the EUROKIDS Registry.

Background: It has been speculated that pediatric Crohn's disease (CD) is a distinct disease entity, with probably different disease subtypes. We therefore aimed to accurately phenotype newly diagnosed pediatric CD by using the pediatric modification of the Montreal classification, the Paris classification.

Methods: Information was collected from the EUROKIDS registry, a prospective, web-based registry of new-onset pediatric IBD patients in 17 European countries and Israel.

In vitro cow's milk protein-specific inflammatory and regulatory cytokine responses in preterm infants with necrotizing enterocolitis and sepsis.

Enteral feeding with cow's milk formula is associated with neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and sepsis. Dietary antigen sensitization may play a role in promoting and/or sustaining inflammation in both conditions. Aiming at investigating cow's milk protein (CMP)-specific cytokine responses in preterm infants with NEC and sepsis, 14 babies with NEC, 14 matched healthy controls, and 10 septic controls were recruited.

Control of systemic and local inflammation with transforming growth factor beta containing formulas.

Enteral nutrition therapy with liquid diet has been shown to be effective in achieving clinical remission in intestinal Crohn's disease. The mechanism of action of this therapy, however, is still poorly understood. As part of our assessment of the action of 3 related polymeric enteral therapies, we have used a variety of techniques to document the histological and cytokine responses, in the mucosa and, systemically, to these treatments.