High inter-individual variability of serum xanthine oxidoreductase activity in IBD patients.

Objectives: Thiopurines play an essential role in the management of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD, i.e. Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis).

Genetic association analysis of the functional c.714T>G polymorphism and mucosal expression of dectin-1 in inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: Dectin-1 is a pattern recognition receptor (PRR) expressed by myeloid cells that specifically recognizes beta-1,3 glucan, a polysaccharide and major component of the fungal cell wall. Upon activation, dectin-1 signaling converges, similar to NOD2, on the adaptor molecule CARD9 which is associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). An early stop codon polymorphism (c.

Genetic variation in myosin IXB is associated with ulcerative colitis.

Background & Aims: Common germline genetic variation in the 3' region of myosin IXB (MYO9B) has been associated recently with susceptibility to celiac disease, with a hypothesis that MYO9B variants might influence intestinal permeability. These findings suggested the current study investigating a possible further role for MYO9B variation in inflammatory bowel disease.

Methods: Eight single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were selected to tag common haplotypes from the 35-kb 3' region of MYO9B.

Detection of Helicobacter species DNA by quantitative PCR in the gastrointestinal tract of healthy individuals and of patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

In many animal species different intestinal Helicobacter species have been described and a few species are associated with intestinal infection. In humans, the only member of the Helicobacter family which is well described in literature is Helicobacter pylori. No other Helicobacter-associated diseases have definitely been shown in humans.

Quantification of bacteria adherent to gastrointestinal mucosa by real-time PCR.

The use of real-time quantitative PCR (5' nuclease PCR assay) as a tool to study the gastrointestinal microflora that adheres to the colonic mucosa was evaluated. We developed primers and probes based on the 16S ribosomal DNA gene sequences for the detection of Escherichia coli and Bacteroides vulgatus. DNA was isolated from pure cultures and from gut biopsy specimens and quantified by the 5' nuclease PCR assay.

Evaluation of serological markers to differentiate between ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease: pANCA, ASCA and agglutinating antibodies to anaerobic coccoid rods.

Background: Accurate diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease, in particular the differentiation between ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, is important for treatment and prognosis. Several serological markers have been used as non-invasive diagnostic tools in inflammatory bowel disease patients both to differentiate ulcerative colitis from Crohn's disease and to define patient subgroups.

Aim: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of three serological tests in differentiating ulcerative colitis from Crohn's disease by single or combined use.

Persistent activation of coagulation and fibrinolysis after treatment of active ulcerative colitis.

Objective: Haemostatic changes may be involved in the pathogenesis and progression of ulcerative colitis. We studied longitudinally inflammatory and haemostatic parameters in patients treated for severe ulcerative colitis.

Design And Setting: We carried out a descriptive study of longitudinal blood measurements in patients with severe ulcerative colitis from one large regional hospital.