Cytokine Levels After Consumption of a Medicinal Agaricus blazei Murill-Based Mushroom Extract, AndoSan , in Patients with Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis in a Randomized Single-Blinded Placebo-Controlled Study.

Ingestion of the Agaricus blazei Murill-based mushroom extract AndoSan has been shown in randomized placebo-controlled studies to improve symptoms in Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) and also fatigue and quality of life in the latter patients. The aim was to examine whether this clinical impact of AndoSan intake could be explained by influence on foremost pro-inflammatory cytokines in the patients. Fifty patients with symptomatic UC and CD were randomized and blinded for oral daily intake of AndoSan or placebo.

Effect of the Medicinal Agaricus blazei Murill-Based Mushroom Extract, AndoSanTM, on Symptoms, Fatigue and Quality of Life in Patients with Crohn's Disease in a Randomized Single-Blinded Placebo Controlled Study.

Background: Ingestion of AndoSanTM, based on the mushroom Agaricus blazei Murill, has previously shown an anti-inflammatory effect through reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines in healthy individuals and patients with Crohn's disease (CD). In this randomized single-blinded placebo-controlled study we examined whether intake of AndoSanTM also resulted in clinical effects.

Methods And Findings: 50 patients with symptomatic CD were randomized for oral daily consumption of AndoSanTM or placebo for a 21-day experimental period, in this per-protocol study.

Effect of a Medicinal Agaricus blazei Murill-Based Mushroom Extract, AndoSan™, on Symptoms, Fatigue and Quality of Life in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis in a Randomized Single-Blinded Placebo Controlled Study.

Background: Ingestion of AndoSan™, based on the mushroom Agaricus blazei Murill, has previously been shown to exhibit anti-inflammatory effects because of reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines in healthy individuals and patients with ulcerative colitis. In this randomized single-blinded placebo controlled study we examined whether intake of AndoSan™ also resulted in clinical effects.

Methods And Findings: 50 patients with symptomatic ulcerative colitis were block-randomized and blinded for oral daily intake of AndoSan™ or placebo for the 21 days' experimental period.

Consecutive fecal calprotectin measurements to predict relapse in patients with ulcerative colitis receiving infliximab maintenance therapy.

Background: This study examined whether fecal calprotectin can be used in daily practice as a marker to monitor patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) receiving infliximab maintenance therapy.

Methods: This prospective multicenter study enrolled adult patients with UC in clinical remission under infliximab maintenance therapy. Fecal calprotectin levels were measured every 4 weeks.

Circulating levels of HMGB1 are correlated strongly with MD2 in HIV-infection: possible implication for TLR4-signalling and chronic immune activation.

Progressive HIV infection is characterized by profound enterocyte damage, microbial translocation and chronic immune activation. We aimed to test whether High Mobility Group Box protein 1(HMGB1), a marker of cell death, alone, or in combination with LPS, might contribute to HIV-associated immune activation and progression. Altogether, 29 untreated HIV-infected individuals, 25 inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients and 30 controls were included.

Patients with Crohn's disease experience reduced general health and vitality in the chronic stage: ten-year results from the IBSEN study.

Background And Aims: Data on the long-term effects of Crohn's disease (CD) on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is scarce. We aimed to determine the HRQoL in CD patients 10 years after disease onset, to compare the results to the general population and to identify variables that could affect HRQoL.

Methods: CD patients from a population-based inception cohort (the IBSEN Study) met at a prescheduled ten-year follow-up.

Effect of an extract based on the medicinal mushroom Agaricus blazei Murill on expression of cytokines and calprotectin in patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.

An immunomodulatory extract (AndoSan™) based on the medicinal mushroom Agaricus blazei Murill (AbM) has shown to reduce blood cytokine levels in healthy volunteers after 12 days' ingestion, pointing to an anti-inflammatory effect. The aim was to study whether AndoSan™ had similar effects on cytokines in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). Calprotectin, a marker for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), was also measured.

Reduced platelet function and role of drugs in acute gastrointestinal bleeding.

Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding may be caused by a constitutive bleeding disposition or drug-induced inhibition of hemostasis. Platelet function in patients with ongoing GI bleeding is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate platelet function in patients with acute GI bleeding.

[Risk factors for peptic ulcer bleeding].

Background: Many drugs increase the risk for gastroduodenal ulcer bleeding. The aim of this study was to investigate Helicobacter pylori infection and drug use in patients who had gastroduodenal ulcer bleeding in 2002 or 2007, and possible differences between the periods.

Material And Methods: Patients with gastroduodenal ulcer bleeding were prospectively included in the periods 1.

Familial aggregation in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis in a Norwegian population-based cohort followed for ten years.

Background And Aims: To explore the change in risk among 1st degree relatives of ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) for development of concordant disease in an incidence cohort followed for ten years. Furthermore, we wanted to compare familial and sporadic cases regarding clinical characteristics and the course of the disease.

Methods: This population-based study included 421 patients with UC and 197 with CD enrolled from 1990 to 1994.

Clinical course during the first 10 years of ulcerative colitis: results from a population-based inception cohort (IBSEN Study).

Objective: Cohort studies of unselected and newly diagnosed patients are essential for a better understanding of the prognosis in ulcerative colitis (UC). The aim of this study was to evaluate the course of UC in a population-based inception cohort during the first 10 years, and to identify prognostic risk factors based on information gathered at diagnosis.

Material And Methods: From 1990 to 1994, a population-based cohort of 843 patients with inflammatory bowel disease was enrolled in South-Eastern Norway.

Predictive value of serologic markers in a population-based Norwegian cohort with inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: Perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (pANCA) and anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies (ASCA) are proposed to be specific markers for ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). Their prevalence and relationship to disease phenotype and outcome in unselected cohorts of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), however, is largely unclear. We studied the prevalence of these serologic markers in a population-based IBD cohort 10 years after diagnosis, and examined whether their presence could be related to distinct subgroups and outcome of disease.

C-reactive protein: a predictive factor and marker of inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease. Results from a prospective population-based study.

Background And Aims: C-reactive protein (CRP) levels are often used in the follow-up of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aims of this study were to establish the relationship of CRP levels to disease extent in patients with ulcerative colitis and to phenotype in patients with Crohn's disease, and to investigate the predictive value of CRP levels for disease outcome.

Methods: CRP was measured at diagnosis and after 1 and 5 years in patients diagnosed with IBD in south-eastern Norway.

Transcatheter arterial embolization in the management of bleeding duodenal ulcers: a 5.5-year retrospective study of treatment and outcome.

Objective: The mortality rate associated with bleeding duodenal ulcer disease is about 10%. Primary endoscopic hemostasis is successful in over 90% of patients, but in 15-25%, the bleeding cannot be controlled endoscopically or the patient rebleeding, requiring alternative treatment. Percutaneous transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) has been proposed as an alternative to surgery and was introduced at Ullevål University Hospital in Oslo, Norway, in June 2000.

MRI of the small bowel with oral contrast or nasojejunal intubation in Crohn's disease: randomized comparison of patient acceptance.

Objective: Magnetic resonance imaging of the small bowel with an oral contrast (MRI per os) is believed to generate fewer adverse symptoms compared with installation of the contrast in a nasojejunal catheter (MRE). However, there is very little evidence to support this assumption. The aim of this study was to evaluate the compliance of patients examined with both of these MRI methods.

Clinical course in Crohn's disease: results of a Norwegian population-based ten-year follow-up study.

Background & Aims: Most studies concerning the clinical course in CD are retrospective or based on selected patient groups. Our aim was to assess the course of CD in a prospective population-based follow-up study and to identify possible prognostic risk factors for complications on the basis of information obtained at initial diagnosis.

Methods: From 1990-1994, a population-based cohort of 843 new cases of inflammatory bowel disease was recruited in South-Eastern Norway.

Are there any differences in phenotype or disease course between familial and sporadic cases of inflammatory bowel disease? Results of a population-based follow-up study.

Background: The influence of familial IBD on phenotype and course of disease in patients with CD and UC has not been studied in population-based cohorts.

Aim: To compare phenotype and course of disease between IBD patients with a first-degree relative with IBD and sporadic cases in a population-based cohort followed prospectively for 5 yr.

Methods: Family history of IBD was registered at diagnosis and after 1 and 5 yr.

A prospective randomized comparison between two MRI studies of the small bowel in Crohn's disease, the oral contrast method and MR enteroclysis.

The aim was to compare bowel distension and diagnostic properties of magnetic resonance imaging of the small bowel with oral contrast (MRI per OS) with magnetic resonance enteroclysis (MRE). Forty patients with suspected Crohn's disease (CD) were examined with both MRI methods. MRI per OS was performed with a 6% mannitol solution and MRE with nasojejunal intubation and a polyethylenglycol solution.

Clinical course in Crohn's disease: results of a five-year population-based follow-up study (the IBSEN study).

Background: There are few population-based, prospective studies on the clinical course in patients with Crohn's disease (CD).

Aim: To extend the observation period in a population-based prospective study (the IBSEN study) to find out more about the initial 5-year clinical course in CD patients and to relate the findings to the Vienna classification.

Methods: All patients diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in southeastern Norway in the 4 years 1990-1993 were followed prospectively.

Increased skewing of X chromosome inactivation with age in both blood and buccal cells.

The X chromosome inactivation pattern in peripheral blood cells becomes more skewed after age 55, and a genetic effect on this age-related skewing has been reported. We investigated the effect of age on X inactivation phenotype in blood, buccal cells and tissue from duodenal biopsies in 80 females aged 19-90 years. The X inactivation pattern correlated positively with age in blood (r = 0.

Change of diagnosis during the first five years after onset of inflammatory bowel disease: results of a prospective follow-up study (the IBSEN Study).

Objective: An exact diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and further subclassification may be difficult even after clinical, radiological and histological examinations. A correct subclassification is important for the success of both medical and surgical therapeutic strategies, but there is a dearth of information available on the frequency of changes in diagnosis in population-based studies. The objective of this work was prospectively to re-evaluate the diagnosis in an unselected cohort of IBD patients during the first five years after the initial diagnosis.

Ulcerative colitis and clinical course: results of a 5-year population-based follow-up study (the IBSEN study).

Background: The majority of studies concerning the clinical course and prognosis in ulcerative colitis (UC) are old, retrospective in design, or hospital based. We aimed to identify clinical course and prognosis in a prospective, population-based follow-up study

Materials And Methods: Patients diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or possible IBD in southeastern Norway during the period 1990-1994 were followed prospectively for 5 years. The evaluation at 5 years included an interview, clinical examination, laboratory tests, and colonoscopy.

Relationship between sick leave, unemployment, disability, and health-related quality of life in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: The goal of this study was to determine the rate of work disability, unemployment, and sick leave in an unselected inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) cohort and to measure the effect of working status and disability on the patient's health-related quality of life (HRQOL).

Materials And Methods: All eligible patients were clinically examined and interviewed at the 5-year follow-up visit. In addition, they completed the 2 HRQOL questionnaires, the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36) and the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire validated for use in Norway (N-IBDQ).

Health-related quality of life in patients with inflammatory bowel disease measured with the short form-36: psychometric assessments and a comparison with general population norms.

Background: We compared health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in a population-based cohort of Norwegian patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with a normal reference population by means of the short form-36 (SF-36) questionnaire, including the effect of age, sex, educational status, and symptom severity and the psychometric properties of the questionnaire.

Methods: The SF-36 was self-administered and was answered by the patients at the hospital at 2 occasions that were 6 months apart.

Results: Five hundred fourteen patients with IBD were eligible for analysis: 348 with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 166 with Crohn's disease (CD).

Course of disease, drug treatment and health-related quality of life in patients with inflammatory bowel disease 5 years after initial diagnosis.

Objectives: We assessed health-related quality of life (HRQOL) on the basis of a cross-sectional design in a population-based cohort of inflammatory bowel disease patients followed prospectively for 5 years after diagnosis. The aim was to investigate the influence of the course of disease, drug therapy, and relapse pattern on the patients' HRQOL.

Methods: All patients completed the validated Norwegian version of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (N-IBDQ).