Computational Learning of microRNA-Based Prediction of Pouchitis Outcome After Restorative Proctocolectomy in Patients With Ulcerative Colitis.

Background: Ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) is the standard of care after total proctocolectomy for ulcerative colitis (UC). However, inflammation often develops in the pouch, leading to acute or recurrent/chronic pouchitis (R/CP). MicroRNAs (miRNA) are used as accurate diagnostic and predictive biomarkers in many human diseases, including inflammatory bowel diseases.

A defect in endothelial autophagy occurs in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and promotes inflammation and fibrosis.

Background & Aims: Previous studies demonstrated that autophagy is protective in hepatocytes and macrophages, but detrimental in hepatic stellate cells in chronic liver diseases. The role of autophagy in liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is unknown. Our aim was to analyze the potential implication of autophagy in LSECs in NASH and liver fibrosis.

Liver microRNA-21 is overexpressed in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and contributes to the disease in experimental models by inhibiting PPARα expression.

Objective: Previous studies suggested that microRNA-21 may be upregulated in the liver in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), but its role in the development of this disease remains unknown. This study aimed to determine the role of microRNA-21 in NASH.

Design: We inhibited or suppressed microRNA-21 in different mouse models of NASH: (a) low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient () mice fed a high-fat diet and treated with antagomir-21 or antagomir control; (b) microRNA-21-deficient and wild-type mice fed a methionine-choline-deficient (MCD) diet; (c) peroxisome proliferation-activator receptor α (PPARα)-deficient mice fed an MCD diet and treated with antagomir-21 or antagomir control.

Heterogeneity of tumor prognostic markers: a reproducibility study applied to liver metastases of pancreatic endocrine tumors.

Liver biopsy of metastatic pancreatic endocrine tumors allows confirmation of the diagnosis and assessment of prognosis. However, sampling variability is a potential limitation. Our aim was to use the tissue microarray technique to assess the heterogeneity of three prognostic markers, ie, MIB-1 proliferation index, microvascular density and somatostatin receptor type 2, inside single or between synchronous or metachronous liver metastases of pancreatic endocrine tumors.

Frozen sectioning of the pancreatic cut surface during resection of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms of the pancreas is useful and reliable: a prospective evaluation.

Objective: To prospectively evaluate the accuracy of frozen sectioning (FS) of the pancreatic transection margin and its influence on surgery during resection of intraductal papillary and mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs).

Summary Background Data: Preoperative assessment of IPMN extension is difficult and transection margin is frequently tumoral on the surgical specimen.

Patients And Methods: FS was performed in 127 patients who underwent partial pancreatectomy for IPMN from 1996 to 2004, corresponding to 90 pancreaticoduodenectomies (1-4 successive FS; total = 132), 25 distal pancreatectomies (1-2 FS; total = 27), and 12 medial pancreatectomies (2-4 FS; total = 29).