Downregulation of the ubiquitin-proteasome system in normal colonic macrophages and reinduction in inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: In normal mucosa, intestinal lamina propria macrophages (IMACs) maintain tolerance against food antigens and the commensal bacterial flora. Several mechanisms have been identified that mediate tolerance. The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is a large multiprotein complex that degrades cellular proteins.

Intestinal bacterial translocation in rats with cirrhosis is related to compromised Paneth cell antimicrobial host defense.

Unlabelled: Liver cirrhosis is associated with bacterial translocation (BT) and endotoxemia. Most translocating bacteria belong to the common intestinal microbiota, suggesting a breakdown of intestinal barrier function. We hypothesized that diminished mucosal antimicrobial host defense could predispose to BT.

Bilberries and their anthocyanins ameliorate experimental colitis.

Bilberries have positive effects in acute and chronic diarrhea. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) report on improved symptoms upon ingestion. Bilberries contain approximately 10% of anthocyanins (ACs), which have anti-oxidative, anti-carcinogenic, and anti-inflammatory properties.

Antimicrobial peptide response to blood translocation of bacterial DNA in Crohn's disease is affected by NOD2/CARD15 genotype.

Background: Blood translocation of bacterial-DNA has been described in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). The host's immune cell types cooperate to respond against bacterial insults. Some antimicrobial peptides are inducible after culture with bacterial products and a linkage has been established between them and NOD2/CARD15.

Development of the Crohn's disease digestive damage score, the Lémann score.

Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic progressive destructive disease. Currently available instruments measure disease activity at a specific point in time. An instrument to measure cumulative structural damage to the bowel, which may predict long-term disability, is needed.

Amelioration of portal hypertension and the hyperdynamic circulatory syndrome in cirrhotic rats by neuropeptide Y via pronounced splanchnic vasoaction.

Background: Splanchnic vasodilation triggers the development of the hyperdynamic circulatory syndrome in portal hypertension. Neuropeptide Y (NPY), a sympathetic co-transmitter of norepinephrine, improves contractility in mesenteric arteries of pre-hepatic portal hypertensive rats. Therefore, we investigated the effect of NPY on mesenteric arterial contractility in vitro and in vivo in cirrhotic ascitic rats, as well as the vasoactive pathways involved.

Severe acute pancreatitis requiring drainage therapy: findings on computed tomography as predictor of patient outcome.

Background/aims: To evaluate whether morphologic features on computed tomography (CT) correlate with outcome of patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP).

Methods: 80 patients with SAP requiring percutaneous drainage therapy were retrospectively analyzed. Twelve CT features beyond the CT severity index (CTSI) were studied.

Giant cell hepatitis: an unusual cause of fulminant liver failure.

Giant cell hepatitis is a very rare disease of unknown origin. It has been hypothesized that drugs, viral infections, or autoimmune reactions may play a pathogenetic role. Here, we describe a 33 year old patient with bacterial bronchitis who was treated with doxycycline (100 mg/d) for one week.

Multidetector computed tomography mesentericography for the diagnosis of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding.

Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic yield of 16-row multidetector computed tomography (CT) mesentericography in patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding.

Materials And Methods: The radiological information system database was used to retrospectively identify all patients in whom CT mesentericography (CTM) was performed for the diagnosis of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding between July 2002 and September 2006. A subsequent prospective study was conducted between October 2006 and September 2009 to evaluate CTM in patients with major obscure gastrointestinal bleeding.

Sono-hepatic-arteriography (Sono-HA) in the assessment of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients undergoing transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE).

Purpose: The aim of our study was to evaluate sono-hepatic-arteriography in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing transcatheter arterial chemoembolization.

Materials And Methods: We evaluated 15 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing TACE who presented in our institution from February 2006 to May 2008. All patients underwent a conventional B-mode ultrasound examination using a high-end machine and a multi-frequency transducer (2.

Cerebral lesions in patients with connective tissue diseases and systemic vasculitides: are there specific patterns?

This study was performed to evaluate whether specific patterns of cerebral lesions can be identified in different rheumatic disease entities. In 132 patients with different connective tissue diseases and vasculitides (systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE], systemic sclerosis [SSc], mixed connective tissue disease [MCTD], Wegener's granulomatosis [WG], immunocomplex vasculitides, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome [APS]), cerebral magnetic resonance imaging scans were performed. Patients were examined clinically, and laboratory parameters including autoantibodies were determined.

Association of the NOD2 genotype with bacterial translocation via altered cell-cell contacts in Crohn's disease patients.

Background: Recent insights into the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease (CD) point to an important role of the mucosal barrier and intestinal microflora that may induce a chronic inflammation after crossing the intestinal barrier. The first detected susceptibility gene for CD, NOD2, is a pattern recognition receptor (PRR) for the recognition of the bacterial cell wall component muramyldipeptide (MDP). Binding of MDP to NOD2 is followed by activation of proinflammatory pathways mainly regulated by nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB).

Decreased cytosolic glucocorticoid receptor levels in critically ill patients.

The immune system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis are linked by several mechanisms. Intracellular glucocorticoid receptors represent one important connection. The aim of this study was to examine the coherence between the number of glucocorticoid receptors, activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, inflammatory cytokine levels and the severity of illness in critically ill patients.

Variable intrafamilial expressivity of the rare tumor necrosis factor-receptor associated periodic syndrome-associated mutation I170N that affects the TNFR1A cleavage site.

We report on a 33-year-old female patient with a relatively mild clinical case of TNF-receptor associated periodic syndrome (TRAPS) and her 58-year-old father in whom end-stage renal disease due to TRAPS-related AA-amyloidosis has already developed. TRAPS was caused by a I170N mutation that has previously not been associated with amyloidosis. It remains unclear if an only mildly affected patient such as ours would benefit from treatment considering her father's severe course of disease.

[Localisation of hepatic lesions to liver segments according to sonography (US), computed tomography (CT) and surgery (OP): a comparative study].

Introduction: The localisation of focal liver lesions is usually performed according to the Couinaud classification system. The exact description of localisation and size of liver lesions is especially important for surgical procedures. The aim of this prospective study was the evaluation of differences and agreements in the localisation and size of hepatic lesions as found by ultrasound (US), computed tomography (CT) and according to the intraoperative status (OP).

Recipient NOD2/CARD15 status affects cellular infiltrates in human intestinal graft-versus-host disease.

Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain 2/caspase recruitment domain 15 (NOD2/CARD15) polymorphisms have been identified as risk factors of both Crohn's disease and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) following allogeneic stem cell transplantation. However, the role of these receptors of innate immunity in the pathophysiology of gastrointestinal GVHD is still poorly defined. Immunohistological features of intestinal GVHD were analysed in gastrointestinal biopsies from 58 patients obtained at the time of first onset of intestinal symptoms.

Outcome in a large unselected series of patients with acute pancreatitis.

Background/aims: The objective of this study was to assess the outcome in a large unselected population of patients with acute pancreatitis treated at a single university center.

Methodology: We performed a retrospective analysis of 364 patients with acute pancreatitis and evaluated outcome, morbidity and mortality in relation to different treatment modalities.

Results: 238 patients suffered from interstitial-edematous pancreatitis, 126 patients from the necrotizing form.

Peritoneal fluid adipokines: ready for prime time?

Background: Visceral adipose tissues secret a variety of adipokines; however, it is not known whether they are present in the peritoneal fluid. It was the aim of this study to investigate peritoneal fluid concentrations of novel (cartonectin, omentin) and classical adipokines (leptin, adiponectin, resistin, visfatin) in patients with ascites.

Material And Methods: Ninety-six patients (71 men and 25 women) undergoing paracentesis were included.

Nutritional composition in different training stages in young female athletes (swimming) and association with leptin, IGF-1 and estradiol.

Objectives: To investigate the interaction of serum leptin, IGF-1, estradiol and cortisol in salvia as well as IL-6 with nutritional composition in female athletes (swimming) according to the training protocol (competition (C), sprint (S), recreation (R), endurance (E)).

Design/methods: In 23 young (10-19 years old) female athletes (Bavarian swimming competition) in different training stages nutritional protocols were evaluated using standardized questionnaires. Body composition was measured by using analysis of bioimpedance.

Recovery from respiratory failure after decompression laparotomy for severe acute pancreatitis.

We present three cases of patients (at the age of 56 years, 49 years and 74 years respectively) with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP), complicated by intra-abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) and respiratory insufficiency with limitations of mechanical ventilation. The respiratory situation of the patients was significantly improved after decompression laparotomy (DL) and lung protective ventilation was re-achieved. ACS was discussed followed by a short review of the literature.

Fatty acid-induced induction of Toll-like receptor-4/nuclear factor-kappaB pathway in adipocytes links nutritional signalling with innate immunity.

To study the effects of fatty acids and the involvement of the Toll-like receptor-4/nuclear factor-kappaB (TLR-4/NF-kappaB) pathway with respect to the secretion of adipokines from adipocytes 3T3-L1 adipocytes were stimulated with increasing doses of fatty acids. The secretion of adiponectin, resistin and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The NF-kappaB p65 nuclear translocation and TLR-4 expression were investigated by Western blot.