Publications by authors named "Paul K Flanagan"

Background: Biologic therapies are associated with increased infection risk among elderly patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, there are few data on the safety and effectiveness of ustekinumab compared with anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) agents in the elderly.

Methods: The study sought to compare the safety and effectiveness of ustekinumab and anti-TNF agents in elderly Crohn's disease (CD) patients.

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Background: Anti-tumour necrosis factor (anti-TNF) agents are associated with increased infection risk among elderly inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients, and thus, alternative biologics may be preferable. However, little comparative data exist on the safety and efficacy of vedolizumab and ustekinumab in elderly IBD patients.

Aims: To compare the safety and effectiveness of ustekinumab and vedolizumab in elderly Crohn's disease patients.

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Objective: Anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) agents are associated with increased infection risk among elderly IBD patients, but little is known about non anti-TNF biologics in this cohort. We examined the safety and effectiveness of ustekinumab in elderly Crohn's patients.

Methods: This retrospective multi-centre cohort study included Crohn's patients ≥60-years old who commenced ustekinumab.

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Cystic fibrosis (CF) is caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. Defective CFTR leads to accumulation of dehydrated viscous mucus within the small intestine, luminal acidification and altered intestinal motility, resulting in blockage. These changes promote gut microbial dysbiosis, adversely influencing the normal proliferation and differentiation of intestinal epithelial cells.

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Background: Anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) agents are effective in Crohn's disease but some patients lose response and require alternative biologic therapy. There are few data on comparative effectiveness of vedolizumab and ustekinumab in this setting.

Aim: To compare the effectiveness of ustekinumab and vedolizumab in anti-TNF-refractory Crohn's disease over 12 months.

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Background: Increased mucosa-associated E. coli are present in Crohn's disease, but their role in pathogenesis is uncertain.

Aims: To assess efficacy and safety of an antibiotic/hydroxychloroquine combination effective against E.

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Background: Crohn's disease (CD) is associated with defective innate immunity, including impaired neutrophil chemotaxis, and mucosal invasion by bacteria, particularly adherent and invasive Escherichia coli that replicate inside macrophage phagolysosomes. We compared CD and healthy control (HC) macrophages for their abilities to kill E. coli and generate neutrophil chemoattractants and also assessed the effects of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and vitamin D on killing of phagocytosed E.

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Multiple studies have demonstrated alterations in the intestinal microbial community (termed the microbiome) in Crohn's disease (CD) and several lines of evidence suggest these changes may have a significant role in disease pathogenesis. In active and quiescent disease, both the faecal and mucosa-associated microbiome are discordant with matched controls with reduced biodiversity, changes in dominant organisms and increased temporal variation described. Mucosa-associated adherent, invasive Escherichia coli (E.

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Objective: Colonic mucosa-associated Escherichia coli are increased in Crohn's disease (CD) and colorectal cancer (CRC). They variously haemagglutinate, invade epithelial cell lines, replicate within macrophages, translocate across M (microfold) cells and damage DNA. We investigated genes responsible for these effects and their co-association in colonic mucosal isolates.

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associated diarrhoea has been an increasing problem in the last decade in the UK and is a cause of significant morbidity. At the most severe end of the spectrum it causes pseudomembranous colitis which has a significant associated mortality rate and can be refractory to standard treatments. Here we present three cases of proven pseudomembranous colitis in which systemic corticosteroids were used as an adjunct to treatment, raising the possibility of a new treatment option for this difficult condition.

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If bacteria cause IBD, then it should be possible to target the bacteria with therapies and cure or at least treat the disease. Discovery of a successful intervention, unless found by chance, will depend on knowing more about which bacteria are involved, where they are and how to remove them. Some evidence for the possible role of bacteria has come from in vivo studies of the effects of diverting the faecal stream away from sites of IBD.

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