Meta-analysis of the demographic and prognostic significance of gastrointestinal symptoms in COVID-19 patients.

Background And Aim: To evaluate the demographic and prognostic significance of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Methods: A systematic search of electronic information sources was conducted. Combined overall effect sizes were calculated using random-effects models for baseline demographic factors and outcomes including mortality, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and length of hospital stay.

Prevalence of pouchitis in both ulcerative colitis and familial adenomatous polyposis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aim: Pouchitis is a clinically significant complication of ileal pouch-anal anastomosis with its prevalence varying in the literature. Pouchitis is thought to occur more commonly in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) than in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). We conducted a systematic review with meta-analysis of all published literature to report the prevalence of pouchitis in all pouch patients as well as specifically in UC and FAP.

Multi-modality detection of SARS-CoV-2 in faecal donor samples for transplantation and in asymptomatic emergency surgical admissions.

Faecal transplantation is an evidence-based treatment for . Patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 have been shown to shed the virus in stool for up to 33 days, well beyond the average clearance time for upper respiratory tract shedding. We carried out an analytical and clinical validation of reverse-transcriptase quantitative (RT-qPCR) as well as LAMP, LamPORE and droplet digital PCR in the detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in stool from donated samples for faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), spiked samples and asymptomatic inpatients in an acute surgical unit.

Efficacy of Oral, Topical, or Combined Oral and Topical 5-Aminosalicylates, in Ulcerative Colitis: Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis.

Background: 5-Aminosalicylates [5-ASAs] are the mainstay of treatment for ulcerative colitis [UC]. The optimum preparation, dose, and route of administration for UC remain unclear. We conducted a network meta-analysis to examine this issue.

A novel tool for noninvasive diagnosis and tracking of patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: The pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) involves the role of bacteria. These bacteria ferment nonstarch polysaccharides in the colon producing a fermentation profile that through altered gut permeability can be traced in urine. We proposed to track the resultant volatile organic compounds or gases that emanate from urine using noninvasive real-time tools, specifically by electronic nose and Field Asymmetric Ion Mobility Spectrometer (FAIMS) instruments.

Assessment of pulmonary neutrophilic inflammation in emphysema by quantitative positron emission tomography.

Rationale: Neutrophilic inflammation is understood to be of pathogenetic importance in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and may be quantified using 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography ((18)FDG PET-CT) as a noninvasive, spatially informative biomarker.

Objectives: To assess the potential usefulness of (18)FDG PET-CT as a surrogate measure of pulmonary neutrophilic inflammation in patients with usual COPD and α(1)-antitrypsin deficiency (AATD).

Methods: (18)FDG PET-CT imaging was performed in 10 patients with usual COPD, 10 patients with AATD, and 10 healthy control subjects.

MYOD-1 in normal colonic mucosa--role as a putative biomarker?

Background: DNA methylation of promoter-associated CpG islands of certain genes may play a role in the development of colorectal cancer. The MYOD-1 gene which is a muscle differentiation gene has been showed to be significantly methylated in colorectal cancer which, is an age related event. However the role of this gene in the colonic mucosa is not understood and whether methylation occurs in subjects without colon cancer.