Monthly Archives: March 2015

Obesity Early in Adulthood Increases Risk but Does Not Affect Outcomes of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Posted on March 30, 2015 by Manal M. Hassan, Reham Abdel-Wahab, Ahmed Kaseb, Ahmed Shalaby, Alexandria T. Phan, Hashem B. El-Serag, Ernest Hawk, Jeff Morris, Kanwal Pratap Singh Raghav, Ju-Seog Lee, Jean-Nicolas Vauthey, Gehan Bortus, Harrys A. Torres, Christopher I. Amos, Robe

Despite the significant association between obesity and several cancers, it has been difficult to establish an association between obesity and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Patients with HCC often have ascites, making it a challenge to determine body… Continue reading →

Posted in News | Comments Off on Obesity Early in Adulthood Increases Risk but Does Not Affect Outcomes of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Findings From a Randomized Controlled Trial of Fecal Transplantation for Patients With Ulcerative Colitis

Posted on March 30, 2015 by Noortje G. Rossen, Susana Fuentes, Mirjam J. van der Spek, Jan G. Tijssen, Jorn H.A. Hartman, Ann Duflou, Mark Löwenberg, Gijs R. van den Brink, Elisabeth M.H. Mathus-Vliegen, Willem M. de Vos, Erwin G. Zoetendal, Geert R. D’Haens, Cyriel Y. Ponsioen

Several case series have reported the effects of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for ulcerative colitis (UC). We assessed the efficacy and safety of FMT for patients with UC in a double-blind randomized trial. Continue reading →

Posted in News | Comments Off on Findings From a Randomized Controlled Trial of Fecal Transplantation for Patients With Ulcerative Colitis

Rapamycin Inhibition of mTOR Reduces Levels of the Na+/H+ Exchanger 3 in Intestines of Mice and Humans, Leading to Diarrhea

Posted on March 30, 2015 by Jun Yang, Xiaofeng Zhao, Archana Patel, Rachana Potru, Sadra Azizi-Ghannad, Michael Dolinger, James Cao, Catherine Bartholomew, Joseph Mazurkiewicz, David Conti, David Jones, Yunfei Huang, Xinjun Cindy Zhu

The immunosuppressant rapamycin frequently causes noninfectious diarrhea in organ transplant recipients. We investigated the mechanisms of this process. Continue reading →

Posted in News | Comments Off on Rapamycin Inhibition of mTOR Reduces Levels of the Na+/H+ Exchanger 3 in Intestines of Mice and Humans, Leading to Diarrhea

VEGFR2 Signaling Prevents Colorectal Cancer Cell Senescence to Promote Tumorigenesis in Mice With Colitis

Posted on March 21, 2015 by Sebastian Foersch, Tobias Sperka, Christina Lindner, Astrid Taut, Karl L. Rudolph, Georg Breier, Frank Boxberger, Tilman T. Rau, Arndt Hartmann, Michael Stürzl, Nadine Wittkopf, Lisa Haep, Stefan Wirtz, Markus F. Neurath, Maximilian J. Waldner

Senescence prevents cellular transformation. We investigated whether vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling via its receptor, VEGFR2, regulates senescence and proliferation of tumor cells in mice with colitis-associated cancer (CAC). Continue reading →

Posted in News | Comments Off on VEGFR2 Signaling Prevents Colorectal Cancer Cell Senescence to Promote Tumorigenesis in Mice With Colitis

Identification of Extracolonic Pathologies by Computed Tomographic Colonography in Colorectal Cancer Symptomatic Patients

Posted on March 19, 2015 by Steve Halligan, Katherine Wooldrage, Edward Dadswell, Urvi Shah, Ines Kralj-Hans, Christian von Wagner, Omar Faiz, Julian Teare, Rob Edwards, Clive Kay, Guiqing Yao, Richard J. Lilford, Dion Morton, Jane Wardle, Wendy Atkin, SIGGAR Investigators

Symptoms suggestive of colorectal cancer may originate outside the colorectum. Computed tomographic colonography (CTC) is used to examine the colorectum and abdominopelvic organs simultaneously. We performed a prospective randomized controlled trial to… Continue reading →

Posted in News | Comments Off on Identification of Extracolonic Pathologies by Computed Tomographic Colonography in Colorectal Cancer Symptomatic Patients

Nuclear Factor, Erythroid 2-Like 2 Regulates Expression of Type 3 Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptor and Calcium Signaling in Cholangiocytes

Posted on March 19, 2015 by Jittima Weerachayaphorn, Maria Jimena Amaya, Carlo Spirli, Piyachat Chansela, Kisha A. Mitchell-Richards, Meenakshisundaram Ananthanarayanan, Michael H. Nathanson

Most cholestatic disorders are caused by defects in cholangiocytes. The type 3 isoform of the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (ITPR3) is the most abundant intracellular calcium release channel in cholangiocytes. ITPR3 is required for bicarbonate … Continue reading →

Posted in News | Comments Off on Nuclear Factor, Erythroid 2-Like 2 Regulates Expression of Type 3 Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptor and Calcium Signaling in Cholangiocytes

Cost Efficacy of Metal Stents for Palliation of Extrahepatic Bile Duct Obstruction in a Randomized Controlled Trial

Posted on March 17, 2015 by Daisy Walter, Petra G.A. van Boeckel, Marcel J. Groenen, Bas L.A.M. Weusten, Ben J. Witteman, Gi Tan, Menno A. Brink, Jan Nicolai, Adriaan C. Tan, Joyce Alderliesten, Niels G. Venneman, Wim Laleman, Jeroen M. Jansen, Alexander Bodelier, Frank L. Wolt

Endoscopic stents are placed for palliation of extrahepatic bile duct obstruction. Although self-expandable metal stents (SEMS) remain patent longer than plastic stents, they are more expensive. We aimed to evaluate which type of stent (plastic, unco… Continue reading →

Posted in News | Comments Off on Cost Efficacy of Metal Stents for Palliation of Extrahepatic Bile Duct Obstruction in a Randomized Controlled Trial

Mesenchymal Stem Cells Reduce Colitis in Mice via Release of TSG6, Independently of Their Localization to the Intestine

Posted on March 17, 2015 by Emanuela Sala, Marco Genua, Luciana Petti, Achille Anselmo, Vincenzo Arena, Javier Cibella, Lucia Zanotti, Silvia D’Alessio, Franco Scaldaferri, Giovanni Luca, Iva Arato, Riccardo Calafiore, Alessandro Sgambato, Sergio Rutella, Massimo Locati, Silvio

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are pluripotent cells that can promote expansion of immune regulatory cells and might be developed for the treatment of immune disorders, including inflammatory bowel diseases. MSCs were reported to reduce colitis in mice;… Continue reading →

Posted in News | Comments Off on Mesenchymal Stem Cells Reduce Colitis in Mice via Release of TSG6, Independently of Their Localization to the Intestine

Recent Advances in Autoimmune Pancreatitis

Posted on March 11, 2015 by Phil A. Hart, Yoh Zen, Suresh T. Chari

Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is a form of chronic pancreatitis that is characterized clinically by frequent presentation with obstructive jaundice, histologically by a dense lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate with fibrosis, and therapeutically by a dramatic… Continue reading →

Posted in News | Comments Off on Recent Advances in Autoimmune Pancreatitis

An Unusual Case of an Esophageal Functional Disorder

Posted on March 6, 2015 by Kazuya Takahashi, Hiroki Sato, Yuichi Sato

Question: A 31-year-old man was referred to our hospital for chest pain and dysphagia that had lasted for 3 months. He had no allergies and was not receiving any medication. Physical examination and laboratory tests did not show any specific findings. … Continue reading →

Posted in News | Comments Off on An Unusual Case of an Esophageal Functional Disorder