Factors Associated with Response to Systemic Corticosteroids in Active Ulcerative Colitis: Results from a Prospective, Multicenter Trial.

Background: Among patients with ulcerative colitis, 30-50% receive corticosteroids within the first five years after diagnosis. We aimed to reconsider their effectiveness in the context of the biologic era.

Methods: In this prospective, multicenter study, patients with active ulcerative colitis (Lichtiger score ≥ 4) were eligible if initiating systemic corticosteroids.

Prediction of Response to Systemic Corticosteroids in Active UC by Microbial Composition-A Prospective Multicenter Study.

Background: Corticosteroids are used for induction of remission in patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis. However, up to one-third of patients fail to this therapy. We investigated if fecal microbial composition or its metabolic capacity are associated with response to systemic corticosteroids.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Risk of Major Bleeding During Anticoagulation for Venous Thromboembolism.

Background: Little is known about the bleeding risk in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and venous thromboembolism (VTE) treated with anticoagulation. Our aim was to elucidate the rate of major bleeding (MB) events in a well-defined cohort of patients with IBD during anticoagulation after VTE.

Methods: This study is a retrospective follow-up analysis of a multicenter cohort study investigating the incidence and recurrence rate of VTE in IBD.

Use of complementary and alternative medicine and low quality of life associate with the need for psychological and psychotherapeutic interventions in inflammatory bowel disease.

Introduction: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) suffer from various symptoms, impairing their quality of life and often affecting psychosocial issues. This may lead to the need for additional psychological care. This study investigated patients' subjective need for integrated psychosomatic support and psychotherapy and indicators for it.

Prevalence and indicators of use of complementary and alternative medicine in Austrian patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Objective: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) seems to be frequently used among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We aimed to determine the prevalence and indicators of CAM use in Austrian IBD patients.

Methods: In a multicentre cross-sectional study, adult patients with IBD attending 18 Austrian outpatient clinics completed a multi-item questionnaire that recorded use of CAM as well as medical and socioeconomic characteristics.

A Vicious Circle: Heyde Syndrome in Mild Aortic Stenosis.

• High gradients along a stenosed aortic valve are the cause of Heyde syndrome. • With high-output cardiac failure, even mild aortic stenosis can cause Heyde syndrome. • When anemia causes a high-output state, this can worsen blood bloss in Heyde syndrome.

Diagnostic delay in patients with inflammatory bowel disease in Austria.

Background: Delayed diagnosis seems to be common in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). The study was carried out to investigate the diagnostic delay and associated risk factors in Austrian IBD patients.

Methods: In a multicenter cross-sectional study adult patients with IBD attending 18 Austrian outpatient clinics completed a multi-item questionnaire that recorded medical and socioeconomic characteristics.

Impaired counter-regulation of interleukin-1 by the soluble IL-1 receptor type II in patients with chronic liver disease.

Objective: To assess the production of the endogenous IL-1 modulators IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), type I and II soluble IL-1 receptors (IL-1sRI and II) in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD).

Material And Methods: Plasma levels of IL-1beta (IL-1beta) and IL-1 modulators were assessed in 126 CLD patients and 39 healthy controls. IL-1sRII was also measured in the supernatants of primary hepatocyte cultures.

Subfulminant hepatitis B after infliximab in Crohn's disease: need for HBV-screening?

Infections are a major adverse effect during the treatment with anti-TNF-alpha. While exclusion of any bacterial infection and screening for tuberculosis are mandatory before initiating a therapy with anti-TNF-alpha-antibodies, there are no guidelines whether to screen for or how to deal with chronic viral infections such as hepatitis B. In this case report, we have described a patient with Crohn's disease who developed subfulminant hepatitis B after the fourth infusion of infliximab due to an unrecognized HBs-antigen carrier state.

Elevated systemic levels of free interleukin-18 (IL-18) in patients with Crohn's disease.

Objectives: Interleukin 18 (IL-18) is a proinflammatory cytokine and a member of the IL-1 family. Animal models and investigations in humans point to an important role for this cytokine in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). IL-18 binding protein (IL-18BP) is a naturally occurring antagonist of IL-18.

Anti-inflammatory effects of hepatocyte growth factor: induction of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist.

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) prevents liver failure in various animal models including endotoxin-induced acute liver failure. We were interested to find out whether human HGF exerts anti-inflammatory effects by modulation of cytokine synthesis. Therefore, human HepG2 cells were cultured with increasing concentrations of HGF.

Increased expression of CCL20 in human inflammatory bowel disease.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) constituting Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) is related to a dysregulated T cell response. CCL20 attracts memory T lymphocytes and dendritic cells. We asked whether CCL20 expression is altered in IBD.

Anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha monoclonal antibody therapy in severe alcoholic hepatitis.

Background/aims: Severe alcoholic hepatitis (AH) is associated with high mortality. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) has been demonstrated to play an important role in its pathophysiology.

Methods: Twelve patients with biopsy-confirmed AH and a Maddrey discriminant factor >32 were treated with a single infusion of the anti-TNF monoclonal antibody Infliximab at a dose of 5mg/kg body weight.

Plasma levels of interleukin-18 and interleukin-18 binding protein are elevated in patients with chronic liver disease.

Interleukin 18 (IL-18) is a recently described proinflammatory cytokine. In mouse models it has been shown to play a key role in the development of liver injury. IL-18 binding protein (IL-18BP) is a naturally occurring antagonist of IL-18.

Endotoxin and its binding proteins in chronic liver disease: the effect of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunting.

Background: Gut-derived endotoxin is insufficiently cleared by the diseased liver, and thus, is elevated in plasma of patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). Endotoxin action might be modified by binding to soluble CD14 (sCD14) and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP), both of which have not yet been sufficiently studied in CLD.

Methods: Endotoxin, sCD14 and LBP have been determined in peripheral blood of 72 patients and 39 control subjects, and in portal and hepatic venous blood of 12 patients during transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) implantation.