Expression Profile of MicroRNAs in Breast Milk of Women With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Correlation With Disease Activity and Medical Treatments.

Background: Although most inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) medications are considered safe during pregnancy, their impact on microRNAs (miRNAs) in breast milk is largely unknown. MiRNAs in milk, carried by milk-derived extracellular vesicles (MDEs), are transmitted to the newborn's gut to regulate genes. Aberrant miRNA expression profiles have been found in IBD within tissue, blood, and feces, but data on mother's milk are scarce.

Elevated serum mtDNA in COVID-19 patients is linked to SARS-CoV-2 envelope protein targeting mitochondrial VDAC1, inducing apoptosis and mtDNA release.

Mitochondria dysfunction is implicated in cell death, inflammation, and autoimmunity. During viral infections, some viruses employ different strategies to disrupt mitochondria-dependent apoptosis, while others, including SARS-CoV-2, induce host cell apoptosis to facilitate replication and immune system modulation. Given mitochondrial DNAs (mtDNA) role as a pro-inflammatory damage-associated molecular pattern in inflammatory diseases, we examined its levels in the serum of COVID-19 patients and found it to be high relative to levels in healthy donors.

SARS-CoV-2 IgG Antibody Levels in Women with IBD Vaccinated during Pregnancy.

Introduction: Regulatory agencies supported vaccination of pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines, including patients with IBD. No data exist regarding these vaccines in IBD during pregnancy.

Aim: To assess the serologic response to two doses of the mRNA SARS-CoV-2 BNT162b2 vaccine in pregnant women with IBD vaccinated during pregnancy, compared to that of pregnant women without IBD, and non-pregnant women with IBD.

A feasibility study using sodium alginate injection for penetrating abdominal trauma in a swine model.

Penetrating abdominal injury is a major cause of death in trauma. Sodium alginate hydrogel, a hemostatic agent, offers a platform for targeting both mechanical and biological injuries. The current study assessed the effect of Very Low Viscosity (high) G (VLVG) alginate following abdominal trauma in a swine model of penetrating abdominal injury.

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.

COVID-19 in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: The Israeli Experience.

Background: Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) are chronic, immune-mediated inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) affecting millions of people worldwide. IBD therapies, designed for continuous immune suppression, often render patients more susceptible to infections. The effect of the immune suppression on the risk of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is not fully determined yet.

Gastroenterologists' Attitude Regarding Medical Cannabis for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases in Israel.

Background: The use of medical cannabis (MC) for inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) is expanding. Current evidence does not support the efficacy of MC for reducing inflammation in IBD patients. Even so, many gastroenterologists encounter the issue of recommending use of MC to IBD patients.

ChIP-seq of plasma cell-free nucleosomes identifies gene expression programs of the cells of origin.

Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in human plasma provides access to molecular information about the pathological processes in the organs or tumors from which it originates. These DNA fragments are derived from fragmented chromatin in dying cells and retain some of the cell-of-origin histone modifications. In this study, we applied chromatin immunoprecipitation of cell-free nucleosomes carrying active chromatin modifications followed by sequencing (cfChIP-seq) to 268 human samples.

Safety and effectiveness of ustekinumab for induction of remission in patients with Crohn's disease: A multicenter Israeli study.

Introduction: Ustekinumab is an effective treatment of Crohn's disease (CD). Real-world data addressing the efficacy and safety of ustekinumab are scarce.

Aim: Our aim was to assess the safety and efficacy of ustekinumab in a large national patient cohort.

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.

Alpha-1 Anti-trypsin Exerts a Hepatoprotective Effect on Immune-mediated Hepatitis and Acetaminophen-induced Liver Injury.

The serine proteinase inhibitor alpha-1 anti-trypsin (AAT) protects the body against protease activity. Several functions of AAT beyond those attributed to its anti-protease activity have been described, among them immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties. The present study aimed to determine the efficacy of AAT for the treatment of immune-mediated liver injury using the models of concanavalin A-induced immune-mediated hepatitis and acetaminophen -induced liver damage.

Prevention of acetaminophen-induced liver injury by alginate.

Introduction: Acetaminophen (APAP) intoxication is a major cause of acute liver failure. Alginate, an anionic polysaccharide, was previously shown as a macroporous scaffold, to reduce liver inflammation and sustain hepatic synthetic function, when implanted on liver remnant after extended partial hepatectomy. In the recent study we wanted to examine in a model of APAP intoxication the potential of a specially formulated alginate solution to prevent APAP toxicity.

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.

Correction to: Antenatal Management for Women with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Experience from Our 'IBD MOM' Clinic.

The original version of the article unfortunately contained tagging error in first and family name of authors Ariella Bar-Gil Shitrit and Ami Ben Ya'acov. This has been corrected with this erratum.

Antenatal Management for Women with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Experience from Our 'IBD MOM' Clinic.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease affects women during their reproductive years and thus pregnancy outcomes. IBD MOM is a multidisciplinary, single-center clinic established to benefit women with IBD and their neonates.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the perinatal outcomes of the IBD MOM clinic patients compared to patients who attended antenatal and gastrointestinal disease community clinics (IBD CC).

Oral Administration of β-Glucosylceramide for the Treatment of Insulin Resistance and Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis: Results of a Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

β-glucosylceramide (GC) is a naturally occurring glycosphingolipid that was shown to improve hepatic steatosis, steatohepatitis, and insulin resistance in animal models of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. In this study, we evaluated the safety and efficacy of oral administration of GC in subjects with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Twenty-three patients with biopsy proven NASH were enrolled in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Impaired liver regeneration is associated with reduced cyclin B1 in natural killer T cell-deficient mice.

Background: It has been shown that the proportion of natural killer T cells is markedly elevated during liver regeneration and their activation under different conditions can modulate this process. As natural killer T cells and liver injury are central in liver regeneration, elucidating their role is important.

Methods: The aim of the current study is to explore the role of natural killer T cells in impaired liver regeneration.

Oral administration of a non-absorbable plant cell-expressed recombinant anti-TNF fusion protein induces immunomodulatory effects and alleviates nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

Aim: To evaluate the immunomodulatory effect of oral administration of PRX-106 in the high-fat diet model.

Methods: For 22 wk, C57BL/6 HFD-fed mice received daily oral treatments with BY-2 cells expressing recombinant anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha fusion protein (PRX-106). Mice were followed for serum liver enzyme and triglyceride levels, liver histology and intrahepatic and systemic FACS.

Management of Inflammatory Bowel Disease During Pregnancy.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) usually affects women during their reproductive years and many concerns arise among these young patients. Pre-pregnancy consultation with a multi-disciplinary team is very important. The team should make patients aware of the critical importance of ensuring that conception occurs during a period of disease remission.

Extracts from Lentinula edodes (Shiitake) Edible Mushrooms Enriched with Vitamin D Exert an Anti-Inflammatory Hepatoprotective Effect.

Vitamin D has been known for its anti-inflammatory properties. Extracts derived from Lentinula edodes (Shiitake) edible mushroom exert an anti-inflammatory effect. These extracts contain high levels of ergosterol, which converts into ergocalciferol (vitamin D2) following exposure to ultraviolet light, followed by absorption and hydroxylation into the active form 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D].

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.

The gut microbiome as a target for regulatory T cell-based immunotherapy: induction of regulatory lymphocytes by oral administration of anti-LPS enriched colostrum alleviates immune mediated colitis.

Background: Gut-derived bacterial endotoxin is an important cofactor in the pathogenesis of IBD. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are essential for maintenance of peripheral tolerance and can prevent and alleviate IBD. To determine the immune modulatory effect of anti-LPS enriched hyperimmune colostrum, its ability to induce Tregs and alleviate immune mediated colitis.