Occurrence of dietary risk factors in inflammatory bowel disease: Influence on the nutritional status of patients in clinical remission.

Background: Among the complex factors that may favor the occurrence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), genetic, immunological and environmental initiators, including nutritional factors, are listed. So far, there have been no previous studies on the type and frequency of dietary risk factors for IBD in Poland and their effect on the nutritional status of patients.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the influence of the frequency and type of dietary risk factors for IBD on the nutritional status of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD).

Stool patterns and symptoms of disordered anorectal function in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases.

Background: Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) typically clinically manifest with symptoms like chronic diarrhea, cramps, abdominal pain, and rectal bleeding. However, symptoms of abnormal anorectal function seem to be of equal importance, regardless of the presence or absence of perianal disease.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess stool patterns and the prevalence of symptoms of disordered anorectal function, particularly urgency and fecal incontinence, and their severity in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs).

Pancreatic duct stones: A report on 16 cases.

Background: Pancreatolithiasis occurs in less than 1% of the general population and is mainly recognized in patients with chronic pancreatitis. Selection of the appropriate treatment method depends on the location, size and number of stones.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to analyze data concerning patients with pancreatic duct stones who were hospitalized at Wroclaw Medical University's Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology from 2010 to 2014.

Diagnostic challenges in celiac disease.

Diagnosis of celiac disease in adults is currently based on serologic tests in combination with histopathological assessment of small intestinal biopsy specimens. High titers of celiac-specific antibodies in immunocompetent patients with villous atrophy in a good quality biopsy sample allow us to state a confident diagnosis. The relief of symptoms and histological improvement after embarking on a gluten free diet further support the initial diagnosis.

A Case of Severe Ulcerative Colitis with Colonic Dilatation caused by Renal Mucinous Tubular and Spindle Cell Carcinoma.

Unlabelled: We present a case of ulcerative colitis (UC) in a patient during the first severe relapse with colonic dilatation and coexisting of giant renal tumor. Kidney tumor was constricting on colon and imitating toxic megacolon (TM). The patient with severe acute colitis (SAC) was admitted to the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) diagnosed in the previous month, based on clinical symptoms, endoscopy, and histopathology results.

Inadequate seroprotection against hepatitis B virus and one detected case of hepatitis C virus infection among patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Objectives: The prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) from central and eastern European countries is unknown. Postvaccination HBV immunity in an immunocompromised host may wane. The aims of the study were as follows: to assess the immune status for HBV and HCV among IBD patients, the level of HBV seroprotection, and to compare the immune status of patients who received mandatory versus recommended HBV vaccination.

Economic implications of biological therapy for Crohn's disease.

In the early 90s American authors estimated that if a theoretical new drug was introduced that was capable of changing the natural course of the disease and reducing direct non-drug medical costs (including hospitalisation and surgery) by 20%, despite doubling the overall drugs bill, there would still be a reduction in total direct medical costs of Crohn's disease by 13%. Infliximab proved to be efficacious in reducing and maintaining remission in moderate to severe active Crohn's disease and/or fistulising Crohn's disease. A higher acquisition cost still remains its major limitation.

The HLA-DQβ1 insertion is a strong achalasia risk factor and displays a geospatial north-south gradient among Europeans.

Idiopathic achalasia is a severe motility disorder of the esophagus and is characterized by a failure of the lower esophageal sphincter to relax due to a loss of neurons in the myenteric plexus. Most recently, we identified an eight-amino-acid insertion in the cytoplasmic tail of HLA-DQβ1 as strong achalasia risk factor in a sample set from Central Europe, Italy and Spain. Here, we tested whether the HLA-DQβ1 insertion also confers achalasia risk in the Polish and Swedish population.

Overuse of proton pump inhibitors.

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are currently the most effective drugs inhibiting hydrochloric acid secretion. They have replaced histamine type 2 receptor antagonists in the majority of clinical indications, for example, functional dyspepsia, gastroesophageal reflux disease, or drug‑induced upper gastrointestinal tract injury. High prevalence of acid‑related upper gastrointestinal tract diseases, as well as the potency, good tolerance, and acceptable costs of treatment with PPIs have largely increased their use in hospitals and outpatient clinics.

Genetic polymorphism of ABCB1 gene (C3435T) in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases. Is there any gender dependency?

Background: In recent years, an increasing incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been reported, mainly as Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). The individual susceptibility, the disease's course and response to the applied therapy is likely due to genetic factors such as ABCB1 gene mutations, exemplified by C3435T polymorphism. The aim of the study was to evaluate the distribution of C3435T polymorphism regarding the gender in IBD patients and control subjects from Lower Silesia region and its possible association with IBD susceptibility.

A 'cocoon immunization strategy' among patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Background And Aims: A 'cocoon strategy' is defined as the strategy of protecting vulnerable patients from infectious diseases by vaccinating those in close contact with them. In our study, we evaluate the vaccination status among children living with patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) to determine the realization of the cocoon strategy and to identify characteristics associated with pediatric vaccine refusal.

Patients And Methods: A self-completed survey was conducted on 136 hospitalized patients with IBD.

Associations between the lower esophageal sphincter function and the level of physical activity.

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a very frequent and multifactorial disease. It has been found that GERD is associated with obesity, smoking, esophagitis, diet and lifestyle. Physical activity is among the factors involved in the occurrence of GERD.

The influence of deficiencies of essential trace elements and vitamins on the course of Crohn's disease.

In patients with Crohn's Disease (CD), malnutrition is frequently observed and is an important complication, frequently associated with nutritional deficiencies, especially vitamins (both water- and fat-soluble) and essential trace elements. It is often a result of the disease activity, poor oral intake and/or restrictive diets. Nutrition plays an important role in disease management and helps to maintain remission in CD patients.

Lipid peroxidation markers in Crohn's disease: the associations and diagnostic value.

Background: Crohn's disease (CD) is an incurable and difficult to diagnose condition. While high sensitive C-reactive protein (CRP) remains the best biochemical marker, we evaluated the diagnostic usefulness of lipid peroxidation indices.

Methods: Malondialdehyde/thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (MDA/TBARS), peroxidation potential (PP), lipid hydroperoxides (ROOH), oxidized-low density lipoprotein (oxLDL), and oxLDL antibodies (OLAB) were assessed in 52 CD patients and 99 volunteers and referred to clinical activity, inflammation, nutritional and antioxidant status.

Phase I, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation study of NI-0401 (a fully human anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody) in patients with moderate to severe active Crohn's disease.

Background: NI-0401 is a fully human monoclonal antibody, which binds to the CD3 subunit of the T-cell receptor, causing modulation of T-cell activity. We investigated the safety and the ability to modulate the TCR-CD3 complex of NI-0401 in patients with active Crohn's disease (CD).

Methods: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, multicenter, dose-escalating trial was conducted in CD patients age 18-70 years, a Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI) of 220-450, and detectable levels of C-reactive protein.

Anorectal function and visceral hypersensitivity in celiac disease.

Objective: To evaluate anorectal function and rectal sensitivity thresholds in patients with celiac disease (CD).

Methods: In 25 unselected patients with CD (16 female, 9 male; mean age 45, range 24 to 75 y) and 20 controls (12 female, 8 male; mean age 41, range 20 to 65 y) anorectal manometry and rectal balloon distension test were conducted using a 4 lumen water perfused catheter with a polyethylene balloon (Zinectics Manometric Catheter, Medtronic).

Results: In celiac patients the maximal anal resting pressure, reflecting the internal anal sphincter function, was significantly higher than that in the controls: 87.

Anorectal function and dyssynergic defecation in different subgroups of patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate anorectal function in different subgroups of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), including those with mixed bowel habits.

Materials And Methods: Sixty-six IBS patients selected according to Rome III criteria (39 female and 27 male patients; mean age, 41.5 +/- 15.

Impaired erythrocyte antioxidant defense in active inflammatory bowel disease: impact of anemia and treatment.

Background: Oxidative stress contributes to the propagation and exacerbation of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) but the status of erythrocyte antioxidant defense remains unknown.

Methods: Erythrocyte activities of superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase-1 (GPx1) were determined in 174 IBD patients and 105 controls and referred to IBD activity, inflammation severity, nutritional status, systemic oxidative stress, anemia, and treatment.

Results: Catalase and GPx1 activities were decreased in active IBD, whereas SOD1 became upregulated by IBD-related oxidative stress.

Clinical trial: the efficacy of alverine citrate/simeticone combination on abdominal pain/discomfort in irritable bowel syndrome--a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Background: Alverine citrate and simeticone combination has been used for almost 20 years in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), but supportive scientific evidence of efficacy was limited.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of alverine citrate and simeticone combination in patients with IBS-related abdominal pain/discomfort.

Methods: A total of 412 IBS patients meeting ROME III criteria were included in this double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study if their abdominal pain/discomfort intensity was at least 60 mm on a 0-100 mm visual analogue scale (VAS) during a 2-week run-in treatment-free period.

Assessment of dietary intake of patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

The dietary intake of patients with irritable bowel syndrome was assessed using 24-h dietary recall. The energy value and nutrient contents in the daily food rations were calculated by Nutritionist IV computer program with the Polish database. Differentiations in the Polish RDA coverage for energy and nutrients were observed in the studied group.

Serum concentration of interleukin 10, anti-mannan Candida antibodies and the fungal colonization of the gastrointestinal tract in patients with ulcerative colitis.

Purpose: There is evidence for the immunomodulation disorders in the response to intestinal flora in inflammatory bowel disease, however, the role of yeasts in the aetiopathogenesis of ulcerative colitis has not been fully clarified. The aim of this study was to assess the serum concentration of interleukin 10 (IL-10), serum levels of anti-mannan Candida antibodies and fungal colonization of the lower part of the gastrointestinal tract in accordance with the clinical course of ulcerative colitis.

Material/methods: In 42 consecutive patients with ulcerative colitis serum concentration of IL-10 and anti-mannan Candida antibodies serum levels were measured with ELISA and the quantitative and qualitative fungal cultures of stool samples were performed.

[Costs and range of health care consumption under general health insurance and sick leaves among patients with inflammatory bowel disease in chosen countries -- a literature review].

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is considered to be common in the developed countries of Europe and in North America. A chronic nature of the disease, bowel and systemic symptoms debilitating daily functioning, coexisting extraintestinal complications, recurrent, not infrequently severe and unpredictable clinical course significantly lower patients' quality of life. When compared with the general population, IBD patients more often take use of health care services.

Paraoxonase-1 status in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

Background: Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) is an extracellular enzyme, which in the gastrointestinal tract may act as a local detoxifier, antioxidant, immunomodulator, and/or quorum-quenching factor. There are no data on PON1 activity in Crohn's disease (CD).

Methods: PON1 phenotype and activity were determined spectrophotometrically in 52 subjects with CD, 67 with ulcerative colitis (UC), and 99 healthy individuals, and related to lipid peroxidation and disease phenotype, clinical and biochemical activity, and therapeutic strategy.

Diagnostic difficulties during combined multichannel intraluminal impedance and pH monitoring in patients with esophagitis or Barrett's esophagus.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the most common esophageal diseases in developed countries. It is widely believed that GERD symptoms are caused by acid refluxate within the esophagus, so ambulatory 24 hour pH-monitoring became the gold standard in detecting gastroesophageal reflux. Traditional ambulatory pH monitoring is unable to detect a gastroesophageal reflux with pH >4.

Enhanced formation of advanced oxidation protein products in IBD.

Background: Advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs) are new protein markers of oxidative stress with pro-inflammatory properties, accumulated in many pathological conditions. The issue of their enhanced formation in IBD has not been addressed yet.

Methods: The concentration of relative AOPPs (rAOPP; concentration of AOPPs divided by albumin level) were measured in 68 subjects with ulcerative colitis (UC), 50 subjects with Crohn's disease (CD) and 45 healthy volunteers, and related to disease phenotype, clinical and biochemical activity, and therapeutic strategy.