C-reactive protein level at 2 weeks following initiation of infliximab induction therapy predicts outcomes in patients with ulcerative colitis: a 3 year follow-up study.

Background: Poor response to anti-tumour necrosis factor biologicals like infliximab (IFX) is observed in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), which may lead to prolonged morbidity and waste of medical resources. We aimed to look for potential biomarkers of response to IFX in patients with UC who were to undergo IFX induction therapy.

Methods: Seventy-two IFX naïve UC patients with partial Mayo (pMayo) score of 4-9 received IFX infusion at weeks 0, 2 and 6 as induction therapy.

Effectiveness of probiotic therapy for the prevention of relapse in patients with inactive ulcerative colitis.

Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of probiotic therapy for suppressing relapse in patients with inactive ulcerative colitis (UC).

Methods: Bio-Three tablets, each containing 2 mg of lactomin (Streptococcus faecalis T-110), 10 mg of Clostridium butyricum TO-A, and 10 mg of Bacillus mesentericus TO-A, were used as probiotic therapy. Sixty outpatients with UC in remission were randomly assigned to receive 9 Bio-Three tablets/day (Bio-Three group) or 9 placebo tablets/day (placebo group) for 12 mo in addition to their ongoing medications.

Brainstem Stroke and Increased Anal Tone.

After suffering a brainstem stroke, a 62-year-old man developed locked-in syndrome including loss of horizontal eye movement and increased anal tone. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the patient revealed a massive stroke in the pons and right cerebellum, which seemed to involve the pontine micturition/defecation center (Barrington's nucleus) and the rostral pontine reticular formation (RPRF). As his increased anal tone was intractable to medical treatment, he required intermittent catheterization with an anal bougie tube.