Increased hepatic Akt phosphorylation alleviated glucose intolerance and improved liver function in leptin-deficient mice.

Aim Of The Study: Akt is involved in upregulating the insulin-signaling pathways essential for maintaining glucose metabolism. Glycosphingolipids are involved in the pathogenesis of glucose intolerance and associated target organ injury. On the other hand, oral administration of b-glucosylceramide (GC) has been shown to alleviate insulin resistance.

Steroid-mediated liver steatosis is CD1d-dependent, while steroid-induced liver necrosis, inflammation, and metabolic changes are CD1d-independent.

Introduction: Glucocorticoids contribute to the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Natural killer T cells play a role in the pathogenesis of NAFLD and response to steroids. The present study aimed to determine the role of CD1d in steroid-mediated metabolic derangement and the steroid-protective effect of glycosphingolipids.

Corrigendum to: Assessment of Benefit of Advanced Inflammatory Bowel Disease Training: Challenges and Solutions.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1093/crocol/otaa019.].

The assembly of glycosphingolipid determines their immunomodulatory effect: A novel method for structure-based design of immunotherapy.

Unlabelled: Structure-activity relationships provide insight into the binding interactions of beta-glycosphingolipids (GSLs) with both the TCR and the CD1d molecules, as well as the subsequent immunologic response of regulatory NKT cells.

Aim: To determine the effects of synthetic GSL structures on their immune modulatory functions.

Methods: GSLs of various structures were tested in vitro and in an animal model of Concanavalin A (ConA) immune-mediated hepatitis.

Assessment of Benefit of Advanced Inflammatory Bowel Disease Training: Challenges and Solutions.

Background: Advanced inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) fellowships are available for gastroenterologists who wish to increase their expertise in complex IBD. However, little is known about the outcomes of such training. The aims of this study were to assess clinical and academic outcomes following advanced training in IBD.

Surveillance Endoscopy in the Management of Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer Syndrome.

Hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC) syndrome results from a germline CDH1 mutation, and microscopic foci of signet-ring carcinoma cells (SRCC) are present in nearly all gastrectomy specimens. The lifetime risk of invasive gastric cancer (GC) has been thought to be 70%, but recent data have suggested a lower risk of 37%. Prophylactic total gastrectomy is considered the standard of care, but many patients choose surveillance endoscopy instead.

Oral Administration of Alleviates Insulin Resistance and Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis.

Metabolic syndrome is recognized as a proinflammatory condition leading to hepatic steatosis and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). We tested the effects of a succulent species N.E.

Publisher Correction: Enhancer signatures stratify and predict outcomes of non-functional pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Enhancer signatures stratify and predict outcomes of non-functional pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.

Most pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) do not produce excess hormones and are therefore considered 'non-functional'. As clinical behaviors vary widely and distant metastases are eventually lethal, biological classifications might guide treatment. Using enhancer maps to infer gene regulatory programs, we find that non-functional PNETs fall into two major subtypes, with epigenomes and transcriptomes that partially resemble islet α- and β-cells.

Comparative safety and effectiveness of tumor necrosis factor α antagonists and vedolizumab in elderly IBD patients: a multicentre study.

Background: The older patient group with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) is particularly vulnerable to consequences of disease and therapy-related side effects but little is known about the best treatment options in this population.

Aim: To compare safety and efficacy of tumor necrosis factor α antagonist (anti-TNF) or vedolizumab (VDZ) in patients with IBD >60 years of age.

Methods: This retrospective study included patients with Crohn's disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC) initiating anti-TNF or VDZ therapy ≥60 years of age at three study sites.

Sleep Disturbances Can Be Prospectively Observed in Patients with an Inactive Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Background: Poor sleep quality is associated with adverse health consequences. Sleep disturbances can impact the immune function and inflammatory processes. Little is known about sleep disturbances in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), while not in flare, i.

Glycosphingolipids Prevent APAP and HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors-mediated Liver Damage: A Novel Method for "Safer Drug" Formulation that Prevents Drug-induced Liver Injury.

Acetaminophen (APAP) and HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors are common causes of drug-induced liver injury (DILI). This study aimed to determine the ability to reduce APAP- and statins-mediated liver injury by using formulations that combine glycosphingolipids and vitamin E. Mice were injected with APAP or with statins and treated before and after with β-glucosylceramide (GC), with or without vitamin E.

Universal screening of both endometrial and colon cancers increases the detection of Lynch syndrome.

Background: Lynch syndrome (LS) is the most common hereditary cause of colorectal cancer (CRC) and endometrial cancer (EC). Screening of all CRCs for LS is currently recommended, but screening of ECs is inconsistent. The objective of this study was to determine the added value of screening both CRC and EC tumors in the same population.

Features of Patients With Hereditary Mixed Polyposis Syndrome Caused by Duplication of GREM1 and Implications for Screening and Surveillance.

Hereditary mixed polyposis syndrome is a rare colon cancer predisposition syndrome caused by a duplication of a noncoding sequence near the gremlin 1, DAN family BMP antagonist gene (GREM1) originally described in Ashkenazi Jews. Few families with GREM1 duplications have been described, so there are many questions about detection and management. We report 4 extended families with the duplication near GREM1 previously found in Ashkenazi Jews; 3 families were identified at cancer genetic clinics in Israel and 1 family was identified in a cohort of patients with familial colorectal cancer.

A tailored approach to BRAF and MLH1 methylation testing in a universal screening program for Lynch syndrome.

To determine the correlation between BRAF genotype and MLH1 promoter methylation in a screening program for Lynch syndrome (LS), a universal screening program for LS was established in two medical centers. Tumors with abnormal MLH1 staining were evaluated for both BRAF V600E genotype and MLH1 promoter methylation. Tumors positive for both were considered sporadic, and genetic testing was recommended for all others.

Liver involvement in Gaucher disease - Review and clinical approach.

Gaucher disease (GD), one of the most prevalent lysosomal storage diseases, is associated with glucocerebroside accumulation in cells of the monocyte-macrophage system in various organs, including the liver. Evaluating and managing liver disease in patients with Gaucher disease may be challenging. While hepatic involvement is common in Gaucher disease, its severity, and clinical significance span a wide spectrum, ranging from sub-clinical involvement to liver cirrhosis with its associated complications including portal hypertension.

A prospective study of fecal calprotectin and lactoferrin as predictors of small bowel Crohn's disease in patients undergoing capsule endoscopy.

Background: Capsule endoscopy (CE) is often used to investigate small bowel Crohn's disease (CD).

Aim: The aim of this study is to prospectively assess the value of fecal calprotectin and lactoferrin to predict CE findings.

Patients And Methods: Sixty-eight consecutive patients that were referred for CE were included.

Ameliorating Active Ulcerative Colitis via an Orally Available Toll-Like Receptor-9 Modifier: A Prospective Open-Label, Multicenter Phase II Trial.

Background: Treatment of active ulcerative colitis is associated with incomplete efficacy, adverse events, and loss of response. Toll-like receptor-9 mediates innate and adaptive immune response toward intestinal microorganisms. The oral synthetic oligonucleotide toll-like receptor-9 modulator has demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties in colitis murine models and a satisfactory safety profile in humans.

The Importance of Intestinal Eotaxin-1 in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: New Insights and Possible Therapeutic Implications.

Background: Involvement of eotaxin-1 in inflammatory bowel disease has been previously suggested and increased levels of eotaxin-1 have been described in both ulcerative colitis and in Crohn's disease. The association between serum levels of eotaxin-1 and that within the colonic mucosa has not been well defined, as is the potential therapeutic value of targeting eotaxin-1.

Aims: To characterize serum and intestinal wall eotaxin-1 levels in various inflammatory bowel disease patients and to explore the effect of targeting eotaxin-1 by specific antibodies in dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis model.