Efficacy and Safety of Anthocyanin-Rich Extract in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Bilberries are effective in inducing clinical, endoscopic, and biochemical improvement in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of anthocyanin-rich extract (ACRE), the bioactive ingredient of bilberries, in a controlled clinical trial in moderate-to-severe UC. A multi-center, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study with a parallel group was conducted.

Crosstalk within peripheral blood mononuclear cells mediates anti-inflammatory effects of n-3 PUFA-rich lipid emulsions in parenteral nutrition.

Background And Aims: Parenteral nutrition (PN) rich in n-6 and n-3 long-chain fatty acids is used in clinical practice for nourishing patients who are unable to receive adequate nutrition through their digestive systems. In this study, we compare the effect on inflammation of the commonly used lipid emulsions Omegaven (n-3-rich) and Intralipid (n-6-rich) in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).

Methods: PBMCs were treated with different doses of n-3-rich Omegaven and n-6-rich Intralipid and the immune cells were characterized by flow cytometry.

Association of IBD specific treatment and prevalence of pain in the Swiss IBD cohort study.

Background: Extraintestinal manifestations (EIM) contribute significantly to the burden of disease in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Pain is a leading symptom in IBD and could be seen as an EIM itself. Treatment of IBD associated pain is challenging and insufficiently studied.

Malignancies in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Frequency, Incidence and Risk Factors-Results from the Swiss IBD Cohort Study.

Background: Malignancy may occur as long-term complication of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) due to different risk factors. We assessed prevalence and incidence of malignancy, and predictive factors in the Swiss IBD Cohort Study (SIBDCS).

Methods: All IBD patients in the SIBDCS were analyzed from a cross-sectional and longitudinal perspective.

Risk Factors for the Development of Fistulae and Stenoses in Crohn Disease Patients in the Swiss Inflammatory Bowel Disease Cohort.

Background: Fistulae and stenoses represent frequent and severe complications in patients with Crohn disease (CD). Our study aimed to identify risk factors for fistula and stenosis formation in CD patients.

Summary: We retrieved data of 1,600 CD patients from the nationwide Swiss Inflammatory Bowel Disease Cohort Study (SIBDCS).

Protocol for a prospective, controlled, observational study to evaluate the influence of hypoxia on healthy volunteers and patients with inflammatory bowel disease: the Altitude IBD Study.

Introduction: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic intestinal disorder, often leading to an impaired quality of life in affected patients. The importance of environmental factors in the pathogenesis of IBD, including their disease-modifying potential, is increasingly recognised. Hypoxia seems to be an important driver of inflammation, as has been reported by our group and others.

Patients' views on fecal microbiota transplantation: an acceptable therapeutic option in inflammatory bowel disease?

Background: Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) represents a new therapeutic option that has been studied in two randomized-controlled trials in ulcerative colitis patients. Our study aimed to identify patients' views on the use of this novel therapeutic approach.

Methods: Using an anonymous questionnaire, we obtained data from 574 inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients on their knowledge and willingness to undergo FMT.

Cytomegalovirus disease in inflammatory bowel disease: epidemiology and disease characteristics in a large single-centre experience.

Background: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) show an increased risk of developing cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease because of immunosuppressive medication and malnutrition. Here, we aimed to investigate the prevalence and clinical characteristics of CMV disease in our cohort of IBD patients.

Patients And Methods: We carried out a retrospective analysis of 1023 IBD patients treated at our IBD clinic at the University Hospital Zurich between 2007 and 2014.

Genotype-Phenotype Associations of the CD-Associated Single Nucleotide Polymorphism within the Gene Locus Encoding Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase Non-Receptor Type 22 in Patients of the Swiss IBD Cohort.

Background: Protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 22 (PTPN22) plays an important role in immune cell function and intestinal homeostasis. The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs2476601 within the PTPN22 gene locus results in aberrant function of PTPN22 protein and protects from Crohn's disease (CD). Here, we investigated associations of PTPN22 SNP rs2476601 in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients in the Swiss IBD Cohort Study (SIBDCS).

Pain in IBD Patients: Very Frequent and Frequently Insufficiently Taken into Account.

Background: Pain is a common symptom related to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In addition to abdominal pain, pain can also be an extraintestinal manifestation of IBD. Pain treatment is challenging and a substantial part of IBD patients are treated with opioids.

Malignancies in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Single-Centre Experience.

Background: Gastrointestinal and extraintestinal malignancies are long-term complications in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), likely as a result of chronic inflammation and the use of immunosuppressive medications used to control inflammation. Here, we assessed the frequency of malignancies in a large tertiary IBD centre at the University Hospital Zurich.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of data from 1,026 patients from our IBD clinic treated between 2007 and 2014.

The Impact of Azathioprine-Associated Lymphopenia on the Onset of Opportunistic Infections in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Background: Thiopurines are known to cause lymphopenia (<1,500 lymphocytes/μl). As severe lymphopenia (<500C/μl) is associated with opportunistic infections, we investigated severity of thiopurine-related lymphopenia and development of opportunistic infections in our tertiary referral centre.

Methods: We retrospectively screened medical records of 1,070 IBD patients and identified 100 individuals that developed a total of 161 episodes of lymphopenia during thiopurine treatment between 2002 and 2014.

NLRP3 tyrosine phosphorylation is controlled by protein tyrosine phosphatase PTPN22.

Inflammasomes form as the result of the intracellular presence of danger-associated molecular patterns and mediate the release of active IL-1β, which influences a variety of inflammatory responses. Excessive inflammasome activation results in severe inflammatory conditions, but physiological IL-1β secretion is necessary for intestinal homeostasis. Here, we have described a mechanism of NLRP3 inflammasome regulation by tyrosine phosphorylation of NLRP3 at Tyr861.

The Clinical Relevance of the IBD-Associated Variation within the Risk Gene Locus Encoding Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase Non-Receptor Type 2 in Patients of the Swiss IBD Cohort.

Background/aims: The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs1893217 within the gene locus encoding protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 2 (PTPN2) results in a dysfunctional PTPN2 protein is associated with Crohn's disease (CD) and exists in perfect linkage disequilibrium with the CD- and ulcerative colitis (UC)-associated PTPN2 SNP rs2542151. We investigated associations of PTPN2 SNP rs1893217 and clinical characteristics of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients.

Methods: One thousand seventy three patients with CD and 734 patients with UC from the Swiss IBD Cohort Study (SIBDCS) were included.

Patients' perceptions on the impact of coffee consumption in inflammatory bowel disease: friend or foe?--a patient survey.

Background: Environmental factors are an integral component in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). There is an increasing interest in nutritive components. While the potential disease-modifying role of coffee has been intensively investigated in a variety of gastrointestinal diseases, the data on the potential impact on IBD is very limited.