Exploring the relationship between urinary phthalate metabolites and Crohn's disease via oxidative stress, and the potential moderating role of gut microbiota: A conditional mediation model.

Objective: Interactions between phthalic acid esters (PAEs) exposure and Crohn's disease (CD) were unknown. This study aims to examine the association between exposure to PAEs and CD activity and to explore the roles of oxidative stress and microbiota.

Methods: A cross-sectional study with 127 CD patients was conducted.

Resolvin D1 Prevents Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition and Reduces Collagen Deposition by Stimulating Autophagy in Intestinal Fibrosis.

Background: Intestinal fibrosis is the most common complication of inflammatory bowel disease; nevertheless, specific therapies are still unavailable. Resolvin D1 (RvD1), a typical endogenous ω-3 fatty acid-derived lipid mediator, has attracted wide attention due to its remarkable anti-fibrosis effects. However, the efficacy and mechanisms of RvD1 in intestinal fibrosis remain unclear.

Resolvin D1 ameliorates hepatic steatosis by remodeling the gut microbiota and restoring the intestinal barrier integrity in DSS-induced chronic colitis.

Background And Purpose: The maintenance of intestinalmucosalbarrier function plays an important role in hepatic steatosis. Increasing evidence has shown that resolvin D1 (RVD1) exerts a potential effect on hepatic steatosis. The aims of this study were to explore the mechanisms of RVD1 on hepatic steatosis based on the gut-liver axis and intestinal barrier function.

Association of stress and functional gastrointestinal disorders in high school graduates.

Background: Psychosocial factors are seemed as important causes of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs). However, the role of stress in FGIDs in high school students under the pressure of college entrance examination is largely unknown. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between the stress and FGIDs in high school graduates.

The Symptoms and Medications of Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Hubei Province after COVID-19 Epidemic.

Objectives: The COVID-19 epidemic triggered by coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is rapidly spreading around the globe. This study is aimed at finding out the suspected or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Hubei province, China. We also investigated symptoms, medications, life quality, and psychological issues of IBD patients under the ongoing pandemic.

IgA, albumin, and eosinopenia as early indicators of cytomegalovirus infection in patients with acute ulcerative colitis.

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection can significantly complicate and worsen the condition of acute severe ulcerative colitis (UC) patients. We aimed to explore the predictive risk factors to prevent and identify CMV infection at an early stage in acute UC patients.

Methods: A total of 115 moderate-to-severe active UC patients from 17 hospitals throughout China were enrolled.

Elemental Diet Enriched with Amino Acids Alleviates Mucosal Inflammatory Response and Prevents Colonic Epithelial Barrier Dysfunction in Mice with DSS-Induced Chronic Colitis.

Background: Clinical data suggest that enteral nutrition (EN) effectively decreases disease activity and maintains remission in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, the modulatory effects of EN on the intestinal mucosal immune system remain unclear.

Aims: This study first aimed at comparing the therapeutic effects of three EN formulas on ameliorating dextran sulfate sodium- (DSS-) induced chronic colitis; with the most effective formula, we then examined its influence on the mucosal inflammatory response and epithelial barrier function.

Estrogen receptor β activation ameliorates DSS-induced chronic colitis by inhibiting inflammation and promoting Treg differentiation.

Estrogen receptor (ER) β activation has anti-inflammatory activity. However, its effect on the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and the underlying mechanism have not been clarified. This study aimed to assess the clinical value of ERβCD4 T cells in IBD patients and examine the anti-inflammatory role of ERβ activation in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced chronic colitis in mice.

The culprit of mesalamine intolerance: case series and literature review.

Background: Mesalamine is a first-line drug in the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases, while its intolerance occasionally occurs in clinical practice. Most of adverse reactions are due to the active components, which may lead to step-up treatment, but excipients are sometimes regarded as the chief culprit and can be resolved by transferring to other preparations. Thus, distinguishing different kinds of intolerance is extremely important for clinical decision.

Probiotic Mixture VSL#3 Alleviates Dextran Sulfate Sodium-induced Colitis in Mice by Downregulating T Follicular Helper Cells.

Clinical trials have shown beneficial effects of probiotics on inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), although the exact mechanism remains unknown. VSL#3, a mixture of 8 probiotic bacteria, has been confirmed to have adjunctive therapeutic effects on colitis. T follicular helper (Tfh) cells, a new separate subset of CD4+ T helper cells, have been proved to play a vital role in autoimmunity.

Risk factors for colorectal neoplasia in patients with underlying inflammatory bowel disease: a multicenter study.

Background: This study sought to evaluate the risk factors for the development of colitis-associated neoplasia (CAN) in Chinese patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Methods: IBD patients who developed CAN between 1999 and 2016 were identified from eight medical centers. In addition to initial pathology evaluation, a CAN diagnosis was confirmed by two expert pathologists.

Inferior mesenteric arteriovenous fistula with nonpulsatile abdominal mass: A case report and a mini-review.

Rationale: Inferior mesenteric arteriovenous fistula (IMAVF) is a rare condition principally characterized by portal hypertension and ischemic bowel disease. Up to now, only 30 cases have been reported. Presented here is an IMAVF patient with nonpulsatile abdominal mass as the main manifestation.

Bidirectional Regulation of Circadian Disturbance and Inflammation in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Background: Tight crosstalk between the circadian and immune systems has been reported in several inflammatory diseases. We hypothesized that circadian timekeeping was perturbed in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and that the bidirectional regulation of circadian disturbance and inflammation may be involved in the pathogenesis of IBD.

Methods: Patients with ulcerative colitis (51) and Crohn's disease (39) and 42 healthy controls were recruited and their circadian gene expression levels evaluated.

Comparison of non-invasive biomarkers faecal BAFF, calprotectin and FOBT in discriminating IBS from IBD and evaluation of intestinal inflammation.

Faecal calprotectin and faecal occult blood test (FOBT) were widely used in the diagnosis and assessment of intestinal inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Recently we identified an excellent new biomarker B cell-activating factor (BAFF) for IBD. Here in this study we compared the efficacy of faecal BAFF, calprotectin and FOBT to find the "best non-invasive marker".

B Cell-Activating Factor as a New Potential Marker in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Background: B cell-activating factor (BAFF) has been proposed to be a regulator of B cell and T cell immune responses and be associated with inflammatory processes in autoimmunity and B cell malignancies. No study has reported the role of BAFF in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Aims: The purpose of this study was to investigate expression and concentrations of BAFF in IBD and determine its value to discriminate patients with IBD.

Cronkhite-Canada syndrome: a rare case report and literature review.

Background: Cronkhite-Canada Syndrome (CCS) is a rare non-inherited disease characterized by gastrointestinal polyposis and ectodermal abnormalities, the estimated incidence is about one per million. Recognizing and curing the disorder face great challenge.

Case Presentation: This report refers to a Chinese 52 year old man with gastrointestinal symptoms and ectodermal abnormalities.

Expression and implication of toll-like receptors TLR2, TLR4 and TLR9 in colonic mucosa of patients with ulcerative colitis.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) family may play important roles in inflammatory bowel disease. This study examined the expression of TLR2, TLR4 and TLR9 in the colonic tissues of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and explored their roles in the pathogenesis of UC. Colonic biopsies were taken from the colon of 30 patients with mild or moderate UC (at active phase) and 10 healthy controls during colonoscopy.

First prospective, population-based inflammatory bowel disease incidence study in mainland of China: the emergence of "western" disease.

Background: Previously a disease of the West and rarely seen in China, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is now increasing in incidence in China. However, its true incidence is unknown. The incidence of IBD in Wuhan, a major city in central China, was investigated using population-based methods.

[The relationship between major histocompatibility complex class I chain-related antigens A (MICA)-129 gene polymorphism, soluble MICA level and ulcerative colitis].

Objective: To investigate the association of the major histocompatibility complex class I chain-related antigens A (MICA)-129 gene polymorphism and soluble MICA (sMICA) levels with ulcerative colitis (UC) in Hubei Han nationality.

Methods: The genetic polymorphism of MICA-129 was examined using a polymerase chain reaction-sequence based test (PCR-SBT) in 256 UC patients and 460 healthy controls. From the above subjects, 80 patients and 90 healthy individuals were randomly selected for determining serum sMICA concentrations by ELISA.

Functional MICA-129 polymorphism and serum levels of soluble MICA are correlated with ulcerative colitis in Chinese patients.

Background And Aim: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the contribution of the dimorphism (MICA-129 val and met) to the genetic susceptibility and functions of ulcerative colitis (UC) in patients in central China.

Methods: Genotyping of MICA-129 was performed in 272 consecutive UC patients and 560 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals by using a polymerase chain reaction-sequencing based typing (PCR-SBT) method. A total of 93 patients and 98 healthy individuals serum soluble MICA (sMICA) concentrations were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

[CTLA-4 gene polymorphism regulates CTLA-4 mRNA stability and protein level in patients with ulcerative colitis].

Objective: To investigate the effect of (AT)n repeat polymorphism of the 3'untranslated region in cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) gene on CTLA-4 mRNA stability and full length (flCTLA-4) and soluble CTLA4 (sCTLA-4) expression in ulcerative colitis (UC).

Methods: flCTLA-4 mRNA in colonic biopsies and sCTLA-4 mRNA stability in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of UC patients were measured by quantitative PCR and half-life, respectively. The protein expression of flCTLA-4 in colonic biopsies and sCTLA-4 in sera of UC patients were determined by immunohistochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively.

[Phenotypic analysis of Th cells in colon and peripheral blood in patients with irritable bowel syndrome].

Unlabelled: OBJECTIVE; To analyze the change of Th1/Th2/Th17 in colonic mucosa and peripheral blood in diarrhea-predominant IBS (D-IBS) to uncover the underlying mechanism for the activation of mucosal immune system.

Methods: Colonic biopsy specimens and peripheral blood were obtained from patients with D-IBS (n = 27) and controls (n = 16). Two different groups were classified on the basis of histological assessment of biopsy specimens from D-IBS patients.

Effects of intestinal trefoil, factor on colonic mucosa in experimental colitis of rats.

In order to investigate the protective effects of intestinal trefoil factor (ITF) on colonic mucosa in experimental colitis of rats, ITF was detected by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry at different time points. Three days after colitis induction, rats were treated with either 0.9% saline solution or rhITF.