A Multicenter Prospective Survey on Early-Onset Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Japan.

Introduction: The incidence of early-onset inflammatory bowel disease is increasing in Japan.

Objective: This study aimed to analyze the treatment and progress of early-onset inflammatory bowel disease.

Methods: This prospective survey evaluated the data of 43 patients aged <8 years who were diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) from the time of diagnosis to 36 months after registration.

Assessment of the Family History of Patients With Ulcerative Colitis at a Single Center in Japan.

Objectives: The prevalence of ulcerative colitis (UC) differs by country, which is likely due to differences in genetic factors among ethnicities. Moreover, the prevalence of pediatric UC with a family history (FH) is 4.1% in Japanese patients; its clinical course begins at an early age and is more severe.

Treatment with infliximab for pediatric Crohn's disease: Nationwide survey of Japan.

Background And Aim: Childhood-onset inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by extensive intestinal involvement and rapid early progression. Infliximab (IFX), cyclosporin (CYA), and tacrolimus (FK506) are increasingly used to treat pediatric IBD; however, their long-term effects and adverse events have not been properly investigated in pediatric patients. The aim of this study was to characterize the effects of these biologics and immunomodulators on pediatric IBD patients in Japan.

Comparison of Gene Expression Between Pediatric and Adult Gastric Mucosa with Helicobacter pylori Infection.

Background: Although Helicobacter pylori infection among adults is a major risk factor for the development of gastric cancer and initial infection with H. pylori may occur before 5 years of age, the direct effects of H. pylori infection since childhood on gastric mucosa are unknown.

Usefulness of magnetic resonance angiography for the evaluation of varices at hepaticojejunostomy after liver transplantation.

A 7-year-old Japanese girl who had undergone living-donor liver transplantation (LT) at the age of 10 months for decompensated liver cirrhosis caused by biliary atresia presented with recurrent episodes of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) with anemia. Over the following 6 years, she experienced five episodes of GIB requiring hospitalization. Subsequent evaluations including repeat esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), colonoscopy (CS), contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT), and Meckel's scan all failed to reveal a bleeding source.

Collagenous sprue in a 3-month-old infant.

Collagenous sprue (CS) is a severe malabsorption disorder, the etiology of which has not been well defined. Herein, we report the case of a 3-month-old infant with CS who responded to steroid and immunomodulator treatment and presented a thick subepithelial collagen band. A 3-month-old Japanese girl presented with severe watery diarrhea that lasted for 2 weeks.

Increased expression of CXCR3 axis components and matrix metalloproteinase in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease patients.

Background: Although pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by extensive intestinal involvement and rapid early progression, the precise cause and specific factors involved in disease aggravation have not been well established. The aim of this study was to investigate the pathogenesis of pediatric IBD.

Methods: The expression of inflammatory molecules in colon samples taken from active ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) patients was compared with those of controls.

Analysis of inflammatory signals in Japanese children with Crohn's disease.

Background: Although it is recognized that the Th1 and Th17 cytokines are directly involved in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease (CD), the precise cause of pediatric CD in the Japanese population has not been well established. In the present study, we examined the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and their signaling molecules in the intestinal mucosa of Japanese children with acute- and remission-phase CD.

Methods: A total of 11 children with acute-phase CD (mean age 10.

Microarray analysis of gastric mucosa among children with Helicobacter pylori infection.

Background: Although initial infection with Helicobacter pylori may occur before 5 years of age, the pediatric mucosal immune response against H. pylori is not clear. The aim of the present study was to evaluate immune responses in the H.

Pulse steroids as induction therapy for children with ulcerative colitis.

Background: Corticosteroids therapy, classically the first-line treatment for ulcerative colitis (UC), often causes serious side-effects. Theoretically, pulse steroid therapy where high doses are given for a shorter period may have maximal beneficial effects and minimal side-effects as induction therapy for UC. We have therefore retrospectively compared induction therapy using pulse steroids with conventional steroid treatment for children and adolescents with moderate-to-severe UC.

ω-3 fatty acids attenuate mucosal inflammation in premature rat pups.

Background: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a devastating intestinal disease of premature infants. Although ω-3 fatty acids are known to have antiinflammatory effects, their effect against NEC remains unclear.

Methods: Mother rats fed a soybean-based, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)- or eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)-enriched diet from days 7 to 20 of gestation were examined.

Effects of leukotriene receptor antagonists on peripheral eosinophil counts and serum IgE levels in children with food allergy.

Background: Although the efficacy of leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRAs) for bronchial asthma is already established, their effect on food allergy remains unclear.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of LTRAs in children with food allergy.

Methods: This retrospective study examined 65 children with food allergy who were aged between 3 and 36 months (mean 14 ± 9.

Monitoring 6-thioguanine nucleotide concentrations in Japanese children and adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease.

Background And Aim: 6-Mercaptopurine (6-MP) and azathioprine (AZA) are widely used as maintenance therapy in children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, proper 6-thioguanine nucleotide (6-TGN) concentrations in Japanese children with IBD have not been reported.

Methods: This retrospective review examines 32 ulcerative colitis (UC) patients and 19 Crohn's disease (CD) patients (12.

Assessment of Growth Disturbance in Japanese Children with IBD.

In Japan, there is as yet no report on growth retardation in children with IBD. We therefore investigated the cause of growth retardation in Japanese children with IBD. We investigated the height, body weight, serum levels of albumin, IGF-I, CRP, and cytokines, and the amount of corticosteroid administered in children with Crohn's disease (CD, n = 15) and ulcerative colitis (UC, n = 18).

Increased mucosal expression of GATA-3 and STAT-4 in pediatric ulcerative colitis.

Background: Serum pro-inflammatory cytokine levels are frequently elevated in the acute phase of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Because the role of pro-inflammatory cytokine in the acute phase of pediatric IBD has not been well investigated, the serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the expression of Th1 and Th2 signaling molecules in mucosa from the acute phase of pediatric IBD were examined.

Methods: Twenty children with ulcerative colitis (UC; mean age, 9.

Overfeeding can cause NEC-like enterocolitis in premature rat pups.

Background: Neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the most common gastrointestinal emergency in premature infants. The mortality rate associated with NEC is quite high and in most reports ranges from 20 to 30%. Despite extensive studies, the pathogenesis of NEC remains poorly understood.

Immunological investigation of the hepatic tissue from infants with biliary atresia.

Purpose: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their endogenous tissue inhibitors [tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs)] have been implicated in tissue injury and remodeling in many organs. The objective of this study was to evaluate the expression of MMP-3 and -9, and TIMP-1, -2, and -3 and their relationship to liver fibrosis in infants with biliary atresia.

Methods: The expression of MMP-3 and-9 and TIMP-1, -2 and -3 was investigated in liver tissue samples of nine patients with biliary atresia.

Changes in the presence of urine Helicobacter pylori antibody in Japanese children in three different age groups.

Background: The rates of acquisition and spontaneous eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection in children has yet to be established. To determine these rates in children living in an urban region of Japan, the levels of urine H. pylori antibodies in children of three different age groups were measured.

Sepsis associated encephalopathy in an infant with biliary atresia.

We describe a girl with sepsis-associated encephalopathy complicating biliary atresia. At 4 months of age, decreased consciousness and repetitive seizures of the left upper and lower extremities occurred in association with fever. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was cultured from blood, while bacterial culture was negative and cell counts were normal in cerebrospinal fluid.

Expression of COX-1, COX-2, and PPAR-gamma in the gastric mucosa of children with Helicobacter pylori infection.

Background: Gastric inflammation in patients with Helicobacter pylori infection is considered to be regulated by many kinds of inflammatory and cytoprotective factors. The present study examined the effects of cyclo-oxygenase (COX)-1, -2, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) on gastric mucosal injury in children with H. pylori infection.

Neonatal transient eosinophilic colitis causes lower gastrointestinal bleeding in early infancy.

Background: Lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGB), particularly in newborns, is of serious concern and requires urgent investigation and hospital care. Whereas allergic proctocolitis caused by food protein is a significant cause of LGB in infants with eosinophilia, there are several cases of diseases with symptoms similar to those of allergic proctocolitis but without an apparent allergic reaction influence.

Patients And Methods: We examined 2 neonates using rectosigmoidoscopy who showed eosinophilia and experienced fresh LGB soon after birth and before their first feedings.