Childhood growth and risk of inflammatory bowel disease: a population-based study of 317,030 children.

Growth in childhood is associated with later development of autoimmune diseases and cancer, but the impact of growth on risk of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) remains unknown. We conducted a population-based cohort study to examine whether birth weight, childhood height, or changes in height associated with later risk of IBD. Our cohort consisted of 317,030 children from the Copenhagen School Health Records Register (born 1930-1989) with height repeatedly measured from age 7 to 13 and with data on birth weight on a subset.

Body mass index in young men and risk of inflammatory bowel disease through adult life: A population-based Danish cohort study.

Body mass index (BMI) is associated with increased future risk of inflammatory bowel disease(IBD) particularly Crohn's disease(CD), where associations with high and low BMI have been observed. Most studies are based on adult women. We aimed to explore the impact of BMI in men entering adult life on their long-term risk of developing IBD.

Childhood body mass index and risk of inflammatory bowel disease in adulthood: a population-based cohort study.

Background: The increasing incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in western countries has led to the hypothesis that obesity-related inflammation could play a role in the etiology of IBD. However, this hypothesis lacks confirmation in studies of individuals prior to the typical onset of IBD in young adulthood.

Methods: In a cohort of 316,799 individuals from the Copenhagen School Health Records Register (CSHRR), we examined whether BMI at ages 7 through 13 years was associated with later IBD.

Relation of body mass index to risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease amongst women in the Danish National Birth Cohort.

Background: Crohn's disease (CD) has traditionally been associated with weight loss and low BMI, yet paradoxically obesity has recently been suggested as a risk factor for CD, but not for ulcerative colitis (UC). We therefore hypothesized that the relation between BMI and CD is U shaped.

Aim: To conduct a large population-based prospective cohort study of BMI and later risk of IBD, taking age at IBD diagnosis into account.

European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation Topical Review on IBD in the Elderly.

This ECCO topical review of the European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation [ECCO] focuses on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, management and outcome of the two most common forms of inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, in elderly patients. The objective was to reach expert consensus to provide evidence-based guidance for clinical practice.

Faecal calprotectin: factors affecting levels and its potential role as a surrogate marker for risk of development of Crohn's Disease.

Background: Faecal calprotectin (FC) is one of the most widely used non-invasive tests for the diagnosis and assessment of Crohn's disease (CD) activity. Despite this, factors other than disease activity which affect levels have not been extensively reviewed. This is of importance when using FC in the diagnostic setting but also may be of utility in studying the aetiology of disease.

Treatment of Crohn's Disease with an IgG4-Guided Exclusion Diet: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background And Aim: We previously reported an improvement in symptoms in Crohn's disease following an IgG4-guided exclusion diet in an open-label study. We aimed to evaluate, in a double-blinded randomized sham-controlled setting, the efficacy of IgG4-guided diet in improving quality of life in patients with Crohn's disease.

Methods: Consecutive patients with Crohn's disease and a Crohn's disease activity index (CDAI) of 80-400 attending tertiary and secondary care centers were screened.

Determinants of Weight Loss prior to Diagnosis in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Retrospective Observational Study.

Aims. To identify prevalence, severity, and environmental determinants of weight loss in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients just prior to time of formal diagnosis. Methodology.

Advanced age influences the dynamic changes in circulating C-reactive protein following injury.

Background: The concentration of C-reactive protein (CRP), a biomarker of systemic inflammation, is determined by genetic, clinical and demographic factors including gender, smoking and body mass index (BMI). The influence of age on CRP dynamic changes following insult has, however, been poorly characterised.

Methods: We used unilateral hernia repair as a model of standardised insult to investigate the influence of baseline demographic and clinico-pathological factors affecting the dynamic changes in CRP, interleukin (IL) 6 and tumour necrosis factor-α over a time course of 48 h following injury.

Abdominal adiposity is the main determinant of the C-reactive response to injury in subjects undergoing inguinal hernia repair.

Background: Obesity and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) (a sensitive marker of inflammatory activity) are associated with most chronic diseases. Abdominal adiposity along with age is the strongest determinant of baseline CRP levels in healthy subjects. The mechanism of the association of serum CRP with disease is uncertain.

Incidence and survival of oesophageal and gastric cancer in England between 1998 and 2007, a population-based study.

Background: Major changes in the incidence of oesophageal and gastric cancers have been reported internationally. This study describes recent trends in incidence and survival of subgroups of oesophageal and gastric cancer in England between 1998 and 2007 and considers the implications for cancer services and policy.

Methods: Data on 133,804 English patients diagnosed with oesophageal and gastric cancer between 1998 and 2007 were extracted from the National Cancer Data Repository.

Bowel inflammation as measured by fecal calprotectin: a link between lifestyle factors and colorectal cancer risk.

The mechanisms by which the lifestyle risk factors obesity, physical inactivity, and low fiber intake predispose to colorectal cancer (CRC) are unclear. Chronic bowel inflammation predisposes to malignancy in cases of inflammatory bowel disease. Many lifestyle risk factors for CRC are associated with evidence of systemic inflammation as indicated by circulating levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), but it is unknown how this relates to inflammation at tissue level.

Effect of the CD14 promoter polymorphism on liver function tests and its association with alcohol and obesity.

Objective: To investigate the effect of the functional CD14 promoter polymorphism on serum liver function tests and abnormally elevated liver function tests in a general population sample.

Methods: We recruited 310 subjects at random from general practitioner lists in Surrey. A previously validated medical questionnaire was completed and a serum sample provided for estimation of liver function test and genotyping of CD14 promoter polymorphism.

Emerging role of calprotectin in gastroenterology.

Calprotectin is a calcium and zinc binding protein of the S100 family derived predominantly from neutrophils and monocytes. It is detectable in body fluids and tissue samples and is emerging as a valuable marker in the diagnosis, and the monitoring and determining of the prognosis of commonly encountered gastroenterological conditions. Fecal calprotectin, in particular, has for a long time been regarded as a promising marker of gastrointestinal pathology and has now been established as a routine test in Norway and at several centers in the UK.

Increased risk of atherosclerosis is confined to CagA-positive Helicobacter pylori strains: prospective results from the Bruneck study.

Background And Purpose: Accumulating evidence indicates that a variety of infections contribute to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, but there is controversy concerning the impact of Helicobacter pylori infections in atherosclerosis.

Methods: We evaluated seropositivity to H pylori and to its cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA) product in a large, prospective, population-based study (n=684). Intima-media thickness and atherosclerosis of carotid arteries were thoroughly assessed by high-resolution duplex scanning.

Effect of treatment for Chlamydia pneumoniae and Helicobacter pylori on markers of inflammation and cardiac events in patients with acute coronary syndromes: South Thames Trial of Antibiotics in Myocardial Infarction and Unstable Angina (STAMINA).

Background: Infection with Helicobacter pylori and Chlamydia pneumoniae is associated with coronary heart disease. We conducted an intervention study using antibiotics against these bacteria in patients with acute coronary syndromes to determine whether antibiotics reduce inflammatory markers and adverse cardiac events.

Methods And Results: Patients (n=325) admitted with acute myocardial infarction or unstable angina (acute coronary syndromes) were randomized to receive a 1-week course of 1 of 3 treatment regimens: (1) placebo; (2) amoxicillin (500 mg twice daily), metronidazole (400 mg twice daily), and omeprazole (20 mg twice daily); or (3) azithromycin (500 mg once daily), metronidazole (400 mg twice daily), and omeprazole (20 mg twice daily).

C-reactive protein and carotid intimal medial thickness in a community population.

Background: C-reactive protein (CRP) has been linked to cardiovascular disease and atherosclerosis. Large-scale epidemiological studies have shown a correlation of CRP level with risk of stroke, myocardial infarction and peripheral arterial disease. Nevertheless, the question whether serum CRP itself is an independent indicator of the atherosclerotic process remains unanswered.

Helicobacter pylori infection, the cytotoxin gene A strain, and carotid artery intima-media thickness.

Background: Chronic Helicobacter pylori infection has been implicated as a risk factor for stroke and other cardiovascular disease. It has been suggested that it acts by promoting atherogenesis. A particular strain of H.