Gut region-dependent alterations of nitrergic myenteric neurons after chronic alcohol consumption

Chronic alcohol abuse damages nearly every organ in the body. The harmful effects of ethanol on the brain, the liver and the pancreas are well documented. Although chronic alcohol consumption causes serious impairments also in the gastrointestinal tract like altered motility, mucosal damage, impaired absorption of nutrients and inflammation, the effects of chronically consumed ethanol on the enteric nervous system are less detailed. While the nitrergic myenteric neurons play an essential role in the regulation of gastrointestinal peristalsis, it was hypothesised, that these neurons are the first targets of consumed ethanol or its metabolites generated in the different gastrointestinal segments. To reinforce this hypothesis the effects of ethanol on the gastrointestinal tract was investigated in different rodent models with quantitative immunohistochemistry, in vivo and in vitro motility measurements, western blot analysis, evaluation of nitric oxide synthase enzyme activity and bio-imaging of nitric oxide synthesis. These results suggest that chronic alcohol consumption did not result significant neural loss, but primarily impaired the nitrergic pathways in gut region-dependent way leading to disturbed gastrointestinal motility. The gut segment-specific differences in the effects of chronic alcohol consumption highlight the significance the ethanol-induced neuronal microenvironment involving oxidative stress and intestinal microbiota.

Correlations of morphology and molecular alterations in traditional serrated adenoma

Traditional serrated adenoma was first reported by Longacre and Fenoglio-Presier in 1990. Their initial study described main features of this lesion, but the consensus diagnostic criteria were not widely adopted until recently. Traditional serrated adenoma presents with grossly protuberant configuration and pinecone-like appearance upon endoscopy. Histologically, it is characterized by ectopic crypt formation, slit-like serration, eosinophilic cytoplasm and pencillate nuclei. Although much is now known about the morphology and molecular changes, the mechanisms underlying the morphological alterations are still not fully understood. Furthermore, the origin of traditional serrated adenoma is not completely known. We review recent studies of the traditional serrated adenoma and provide an overview on current understanding of this rare entity.

Role of nitric oxide in the pathogenesis of Barrett’s-associated carcinogenesis

Barrett’s esophagus (BE), a premalignant condition to Barrett’s adenocarcinoma (BAC), is closely associated with chronic inflammation due to gastro-esophageal reflux. Caudal type homeobox 2 (CDX2), a representative marker of BE, is increased during the metaplastic and neoplastic transformation of BE. Nitric oxide (NO) has been proposed to be a crucial mediator of Barrett’s carcinogenesis. We previously demonstrated that CDX2 might be induced directly under stimulation of large amounts of NO generated around the gastro-esophageal junction (GEJ) by activating epithelial growth factor receptor in a ligand-independent manner. Thus, we reviewed recent developments on the role of NO in Barrett’s carcinogenesis. Notably, recent studies have reported that microbial communities in the distal esophagus are significantly different among groups with a normal esophagus, reflux esophagitis, BE or BAC, despite there being no difference in the bacterial quantity. Considering that microorganism components can be one of the major sources of large amounts of NO, these studies suggest that the bacterial composition in the distal esophagus might play an important role in regulating NO production during the carcinogenic process. Controlling an inflammatory reaction due to gastro-esophageal reflux or bacterial composition around the GEJ might help prevent the progression of Barrett’s carcinogenesis by inhibiting NO production.

Histamine regulation of hyperplastic and neoplastic cell growth in cholangiocytes

Histamine has long been known to be involved in inflammatory events. The discovery of antihistamines dates back to the first half of the 20^th century when a Swiss-Italian pharmacologist, Daniel Bovet began his work. In 1957 he was awarded a Nobel Prize for his production of antihistamines for allergy relief. Since that time, histamine has been found to play a role in other events besides allergic reaction. Possibly unbelievable to Bovet and his peers, histamine has now been marked as playing a role in liver pathologies including hepatobiliary diseases.

Selective granulocyte and monocyte apheresis in inflammatory bowel disease: Its past, present and future

The etiology and pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, are not fully understood so far. Therefore, IBD still remains incurable despite the fact that significant progress has been achieved in recent years in its treatment with innovative medicine. About 20 years ago, selective granulocyte and monocyte apheresis (GMA) was invented in Japan and later approved by the Japanese health authority for IBD treatment. From then on this technique was extensively used for IBD patients in Japan and later in Europe. Clinical trials from Japan and European countries have verified the effectiveness and safety of GMA therapy in patients with IBD. In 2013, GMA therapy was approved by China State Food and Drug Administration for therapeutic use for the Chinese IBD patients. However, GMA therapy has not been extensively used in China, although a few clinical studies also showed that it was effective in clinical and endoscopic induction of remission in Chinese IBD patients with a high safety profile. This article reviews past history, present clinical application as well as the future prospective of GMA therapy for patients with IBD.

Energetic etiologies of acute pancreatitis: A report of five cases

There are several common causes of acute pancreatitis, principally excessive alcohol intake and gallstones, and there are many rare causes. However, cases of pancreatitis still occur in the absence of any recognizable factors, and these cases of idiopathic pancreatitis suggest the presence of unrecognized etiologies. Five cases of acute pancreatitis in four patients came to attention due to a strong temporal association with exposure to nerve stimulators and energy drinks. Given that these cases of pancreatitis were otherwise unexplained, and given that these exposures were not clearly known to be associated with pancreatitis, we performed a search for precedent cases and for mechanistic bases. No clear precedent cases were found in PubMed and only scant, weak precedent cases were found in public-health databases. However, there was a coherent body of intriguing literature in support of a mechanistic basis for these exposures playing a role in the etiology of pancreatitis.

Human microbiome: From the bathroom to the bedside

The human gut contains trillions of bacteria, the major phylae of which include Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria. Fecal microbial transplantation (FMT) has been known of for many years but only recently has been subjected to rigorous examination. We review the evidence regarding FMT for recurrent Clostridium difficile infection which has resulted in it being an approved treatment. In addition there is some evidence for its use in both irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease. Further research is needed in order to define the indications for FMT and the most appropriate method of administration.

Primary hepatic gastrinoma: Report of a case and review of literature

Primary hepatic gastrinoma is a very rare ectopic gastrinoma with less than 20 cases reported worldwide. We report the case of a patient with hypergastrinemia who was subjected to exhaustive preoperative and intraoperative imaging and also careful surgical exploration of the duodenum and pancreas which failed initially to identify the primary tumour. Eventually the patient was subjected to left liver lobectomy, as a small palpable lesion was noted intraoperatively. The diagnosis of gastrinoma requires a high index of clinical suspicion and the flawless cooperation of many specialties.

Electrical bioimpedance and other techniques for gastric emptying and motility evaluation

The aim of this article is to identify non-invasive, inexpensive, highly sensitive and accurate techniques for evaluating and diagnosing gastric diseases. In the case of the stomach, there are highly sensitive and specific methods for assessing gastric motility and emptying (GME). However, these methods are invasive, expensive and/or not technically feasible for all clinicians and patients. We present a summary of the most relevant international information on non-invasive methods and techniques for clinically evaluating GME. We particularly emphasize the potential of gastric electrical bioimpedance (EBI). EBI was initially used mainly in gastric emptying studies and was essentially abandoned in favor of techniques such as electrogastrography and the gold standard, scintigraphy. The current research evaluating the utility of gastric EBI either combines this technique with other frequently used techniques or uses new methods for gastric EBI signal analysis. In this context, we discuss our results and those of other researchers who have worked with gastric EBI. In this review article, we present the following topics: (1) a description of the oldest methods and procedures for evaluating GME; (2) an explanation of the methods currently used to evaluate gastric activity; and (3) a perspective on the newest trends and techniques in clinical and research GME methods. We conclude that gastric EBI is a highly effective non-invasive, easy to use and inexpensive technique for assessing GME.

Does the antibody production ability affect the serum anti-Helicobacter pylori IgG titer?

AIM: To investigate the relationship between serum titers of anti-Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) immunoglobulin G (IgG) and hepatitis B virus surface antibody (HBsAb).

METHODS: Korean adults were included whose samples had positive Giemsa staining on endoscopic biopsy and were studied in the hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg)/HBsAb serologic assay, pepsinogen (PG) assay, and H. pylori serologic test on the same day. Subjects were excluded if they were positive for HBsAg, had a recent history of medication, or had other medical condition(s). We analyzed the effects of the following factors on serum titers of HBsAb and the anti-H. pylori IgG: Age, density of H. pylori infiltration in biopsy samples, serum concentrations of PG I and PG II, PG I/II ratio, and white blood cell count.

RESULTS: Of 111 included subjects, 74 (66.7%) exhibited a positive HBsAb finding. The serum anti-H. pylori IgG titer did not correlate with the serum HBsAb titer (P = 0.185); however, it correlated with the degree of H. pylori infiltration on gastric biopsy (P < 0.001) and serum PG II concentration (P = 0.042). According to the density of H. pylori infiltration on gastric biopsy, subjects could be subdivided into those with a marked (median: 3.95, range 0.82-4.00) (P = 0.458), moderate (median: 3.37, range 1.86-4.00), and mild H. pylori infiltrations (median: 2.39, range 0.36-4.00) (P < 0.001). Subjects with a marked H. pylori infiltration on gastric biopsy had the highest serological titer, whereas in subjects with moderate and mild H. pylori infiltrations titers were correspondingly lower (P < 0.001). After the successful eradication, significant decreases of the degree of H. pylori infiltration (P < 0.001), serum anti-H. pylori IgG titer (P < 0.001), and serum concentrations of PG I (P = 0.028) and PG II (P = 0.028) were observed.

CONCLUSION: The anti-H. pylori IgG assay can be used to estimate the burden of bacteria in immunocompetent hosts with H. pylori infection, regardless of the HBsAb titer after HBV vaccination.

Assessment of platelet activation and phagocytic activity in gastric cancer patients

AIM: To assess the activation of platelets and their phagocytic activity in the course of gastric cancer.

METHODS: Forty-three gastric cancer patients were recruited to the study. The patients were divided into 3 groups depending on tumor stage. Group E included 6 patients with early gastric cancer; group A 18 patients with locally advanced cancer; and group M-19 with metastatic cancer. The investigations were performed twice, prior to surgery and 12-14 d afterwards.

RESULTS: The platelet count and the level of soluble platelet selectin (sP-selectin) were found to increase with the disease progression. The level of sP-selectin was lowest in early cancer and was observed to increase after surgery in all the study patients. Irrespective of tumor stage, a statistically significant decrease was noted in the percentage of phagocytizing platelets and in the phagocytic index in gastric cancer patients as compared to healthy subjects. Despite increased platelet count and stimulation of thrombocytopoiesis, the phagocytic functions of blood platelets were markedly impaired. Tumor development seems to impair metabolic processes.

CONCLUSION: A decreasing phagocytic activity can promote both inflammatory processes and cancer growth.

Culprit for recurrent acute gastrointestinal massive bleeding: "Small bowel Dieulafoy's lesions" - a case report and literature review

A Dieulafoy's lesion is a dilated, aberrant, submucosal vessel that erodes the overlying epithelium without evidence of a primary ulcer or erosion. It can be located anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract. We describe a case of massive gastrointestinal bleeding from Dieulafoy's lesions in the duodenum. Etiology and precipitating events of a Dieulafoy's lesion are not well known. Bleeding can range from being self-limited to massive life- threatening. Endoscopic hemostasis can be achieved with a combination of therapeutic modalities. The endoscopic management includes sclerosant injection, heater probe, laser therapy, electrocautery, cyanoacrylate glue, banding, and clipping. Endoscopic tattooing can be helpful to locate the lesion for further endoscopic re-treatment or intraoperative wedge resection. Therapeutic options for re-bleeding lesions comprise of repeated endoscopic hemostasis, angiographic embolization or surgical wedge resection of the lesions. We present a 63-year-old Caucasian male with active bleeding from the two small bowel Dieulafoy's lesions, which was successfully controlled with epinephrine injection and clip applications.

Rabeprazole is effective for bile reflux oesophagitis after total gastrectomy in a rat model

AIM

To elucidate the effect of a proton pump inhibitor (PPI, rabeparazole) on oesophageal bile reflux in oesophagitis after total gastrectomy.

METHODS

Twenty-one 8-week-old male Wistar rats were studied. They were performed oesophagoduodenostomy of total gastrectomy to induce oesophageal reflux of biliary and pancreatic juice. Five rats were performed the sham operation (Sham). On post-operative day 7, they were treated with saline (Control) (n = 8) or PPI (rabeprazole, 30 mg/kg per day, ip ) (n = 8) for 2 wk. On post-operative 21, all rats were sacrificed and each oesophagus was evaluated histologically. Oesophageal injury was evaluated by macroscopic and microscopic findings as well as the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2). We measured bile acid in the oesophageal lumen and the common bile duct.

RESULTS

At 3 wk after surgery, a histological study analysis revealed an increase in the thickness of the epithelium, elongation of the lamina propria and basal cell hyperplasia in the oesophageal mucosa. The macroscopic ulcer score and microscopic ulcer length of the control group were significantly higher compared to those of the rabeprazole- treated group. The expression of COX2 was significantly increased according to the immunostaining in the control group compared to rabeprazole- treated group. Although there was no difference between the control and PPI groups in the total bile acid in the common bile duct, the bile acid activity in the oesophageal lumen was significantly decreased in the rabeprazole- treated group due to augmentation of the duodenal motor complex.

CONCLUSION

With this model, rabeprazole is good effect for reflux esophagitis after total gastrectomy from bile reflux. Bile acid is an important factor in the mucosal lesion induced by duodenal reflux.

Biogenic amines serotonin and dopamine regulate cholangiocyte hyperplastic and neoplastic growth

Biogenic amines, such as serotonin and dopamine, regulate a multitude of cellular responses. A great deal of effort has been invested into understanding the effects of these molecules and their corresponding receptor systems on cholangiocyte and cholangiocarcinoma secretion, apoptosis and growth. This review summarizes the results of these efforts and highlights the importance of these regulatory molecules on the physiology and pathophysiology of cholangiocytes. Specifically we have focused on the recent findings into the effects of serotonin and dopamine on cholangiocyte hyperplasia and neoplastic growth.

Continuing challenges in the diagnosis and management of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding

The diagnosis and management of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB) have changed dramatically since the introduction of video capsule endoscopy (VCE) followed by deep enteroscopy and other imaging technologies in the last decade. Significant advances have been made, yet there remains room for improvement in our diagnostic yield and treatment capabilities for recurrent OGIB. In this review, we will summarize the latest technologies for the diagnosis of OGIB, limitations of VCE, technological enhancement in VCE, and different management options for OGIB.

Epilepsy and the gut: Perpetrator or victim?

The brain and the gut are linked together with a complex, bi-path link known as the gut-brain axis through the central and enteric nervous systems. So, the brain directly affects and controls the gut through various neurocrine and endocrine processes, and the gut impacts the brain via different mechanisms. Epilepsy is a central nervous system (CNS) disorder with abnormal brain activity, causing repeated seizures due to a transient excessive or synchronous alteration in the brain’s electrical activity. Due to the strong relationship between the enteric and the CNS, gastrointestinal dysfunction may increase the risk of epilepsy. Meanwhile, about 2.5% of patients with epilepsy were misdiagnosed as having gastrointestinal disorders, especially in children below the age of one year. Gut dysbiosis also has a significant role in epileptogenesis. Epilepsy, in turn, affects the gastrointestinal tract in different forms, such as abdominal aura, epilepsy with abdominal pain, and the adverse effects of medications on the gut and the gut microbiota. Epilepsy with abdominal pain, a type of temporal lobe epilepsy, is an uncommon cause of abdominal pain. Epilepsy also can present with postictal states with gastrointestinal manifestations such as postictal hypersalivation, hyperphagia, or compulsive water drinking. At the same time, antiseizure medications have many gastrointestinal side effects. On the other hand, some antiseizure medications may improve some gastrointestinal diseases. Many gut manipulations were used successfully to manage epilepsy. Prebiotics, probiotics, synbiotics, postbiotics, a ketogenic diet, fecal microbiota transplantation, and vagus nerve stimulation were used successfully to treat some patients with epilepsy. Other manipulations, such as omental transposition, still need more studies. This narrative review will discuss the different ways the gut and epilepsy affect each other.

Endothelin and neonatal capsaicin regulate gastric resistance to injury in BDL rats

AIM: To investigate the relationship between primary afferent neurons, endothelin (ET) and the role of its receptors on ethanol-induced gastric damage in cirrhotic rats.

METHODS: Cirrhosis and portal hypertension were induced in rats by bile duct ligation (BDL) while controls had a sham operation. The association between ET and afferent neurons on the gastric mucosa was evaluated by capsaicin treatment in newborn rats, the use of ET agonists or antagonists, gastric ET-1 and -3 mRNA and synthetic capacity. Ethanol-induced damage was assessed using ex vivo gastric chamber experiments. Gastric blood flow was measured by laser-Doppler flowmetry.

RESULTS: ET-3 and an ET_B receptor antagonist significantly reduced the extent of ethanol-induced gastric damage in BDL rats. Gastric ET-1 and -3 levels were 30% higher in BDL rats compared to control rats. Capsaicin treatment restored the gastric resistance and blood flow responses to topical application of ethanol in BDL rats and ET-1 and -3 production to levels observed in controls.

CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the reduced resistance of the gastric mucosa of cirrhotic rats to ethanol-induced injury is a phenomenon modulated by ET through the ET_B receptor and by sensory afferent neurons.

Stimulation of oval cell and hepatocyte proliferation by exogenous bombesin and neurotensin in partially hepatectomized rats

AIM: To investigate the effect of the neuropeptides bombesin (BBS) and neurotensin (NT) on oval cell proliferation in partially hepatectomized rats not pretreated with a known hepatocyte inhibitor.

METHODS: Seventy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups: I = controls, II = sham operated, III = partial hepatectomy 70% (PHx), IV = PHx + BBS (30 μg/kg per day), V = PHx + NT (300 μg/kg per day). Forty eight hours after liver resection, portal endotoxin levels and hepatic glutathione redox state were determined. α-fetoprotein (AFP) mRNA (in situ hybridisation), cytokeratin-19 and Ki67 antigen expression (immunohistochemistry) and apoptosis (TUNEL) were evaluated on liver tissue samples. Cells with morphological features of oval cells that were cytokeratin-19 (+) and AFP mRNA (+) were scored in morphometric analysis and their proliferation was recorded. In addition, the proliferation and apoptotic rates of hepatocytes were determined.

RESULTS: In the control and sham operated groups, oval cells were significantly less compared to groups III, IV and V (P < 0.001). The neuropeptides BBS and NT significantly increased the proliferation of oval cells compared to group III (P < 0.001). In addition, BBS and NT induced a significant increase of hepatocyte proliferation (P < 0.001), whereas it decreased their apoptotic activity (P < 0.001) compared to group III. BBS and NT significantly decreased portal endotoxemia (P < 0.001) and increased the hepatic GSH: GSSG ratio (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, respectively) compared to group III.

CONCLUSION: BBS and NT stimulated oval cell proliferation in a model of liver regeneration, without use of concomitant suppression of hepatocyte proliferation as oval cell activation stimuli, and improved the hepatocyte regenerative response. This peptides-induced combined stimulation of oval cell and hepatocyte proliferation might serve as a possible treatment modality for several liver diseases.

Increasing thirty-day readmissions of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis in the United States: A national dilemma

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) is on the rise worldwide. This rising prevalence is concerning as patients with CD and UC may frequently relapse leading to recurrent hospitalizations and increased healthcare utilization.

AIM

To identify trends and adverse outcomes for 30 d readmissions for CD and UC.

METHODS

This was a retrospective, interrupted trends study involving all adult (≥ 18 years) 30 d readmissions of CD and UC from the National Readmission Database (NRD) between 2008 and 2018. Patients < 18 years, elective, and traumatic hospitalizations were excluded from this study. We identified hospitalization characteristics and readmission rates for each calendar year. Trends of inpatient mortality, mean length of hospital stay (LOS) and mean total hospital cost (THC) were calculated using a multivariate logistic trend analysis adjusting for age, gender, insurance status, comorbidity burden and hospital factors. Furthermore, trends between CD and UC readmissions were compared using regression of the interaction coefficient after adjusting for age and gender to determine relative trends between the two populations. Stata® Version 16 software (StataCorp, TX, United States) was used for statistical analysis and P value ≤ 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

Total number of 30 d readmissions increased from 6202 in 2010 to 7672 in 2018 for CD and from 3272 in 2010 to 4234 in 2018 for UC. We noted increasing trends for 30-day all-cause readmission rate of CD from 14.9% in 2010 to 17.6% in 2018 (P-trend < 0.001), CD specific readmission rate from 7.1% in 2010 to 8.2% in 2018 (P-trend < 0.001), 30-day all-cause readmission rate of UC from 14.1% in 2010 to 15.7% in 2018 (P-trend = 0.003), and UC specific readmission rate from 5.2% in 2010 to 5.6% in 2018 (P-trend = 0.029). There was no change in the risk adjusted trends of inpatient mortality and mean LOS for CD and UC readmissions. However, we found an increasing trend of mean THC for UC readmissions. After comparison, there was no statistical difference in the trends for 30 d all-cause readmission rate, inpatient mortality, and mean LOS between CD and UC readmissions.

CONCLUSION

There was an increase in total number of 30 d readmissions for CD and UC with a trend towards increasing 30 d all-cause readmission rates.

Molecular and genetic markers in hepatocellular carcinoma: In silico analysis to clinical validation (current limitations and future promises)

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second cause of cancer-related mortality. The diagnosis of HCC depends mainly on -fetoprotein, which is limited in its diagnostic and screening capabilities. There is an urgent need for a biomarker that detects early HCC to give the patients a chance for curative treatment. New targets of therapy could enhance survival and create future alternative curative methods. In silico analysis provides both; discovery of biomarkers, and understanding of the molecular pathways, to pave the way for treatment development. This review discusses the role of in silico analysis in the discovery of biomarkers, molecular pathways, and the role the author has contributed to this area of research. It also discusses future aspirations and current limitations. A literature review was conducted on the topic using various databases (PubMed, Science Direct, and Wiley Online Library), searching in various reviews, and editorials on the topic, with overviewing the author's own published and unpublished work. This review discussed the steps of the validation process from in silico analysis to in vivo validation, to incorporation into clinical practice guidelines. In addition, reviewing the recent lines of research of bioinformatic studies related to HCC. In conclusion, the genetic, molecular and epigenetic markers discoveries are hot areas for HCC research. Bioinformatics will enhance our ability to accomplish this understanding in the near future. We face certain limitations that we need to overcome.

Predictive factors at birth of the severity of gastroschisis

AIM: To establish children born with gastroschisis (GS).

METHODS: We performed a retrospective study covering the period from January 2000 to December 2007. The following variables were analyzed for each child: Weight, sex, apgar, perforations, atresia, volvulus, bowel lenght, subjective description of perivisceritis, duration of parenteral nutrition, first nasogastric milk feeding, total milk feeding, necrotizing enterocolitis, average period of hospitalization and mortality. For statistical analysis, descriptive data are reported as mean ± standard deviation and median (range). The non parametric test of Mann-Whitney was used. The threshold for statistical significance was P < 0.05 (Two-Tailed).

RESULTS: Sixty-eight cases of GS were studied. We found nine cases of perforations, eight of volvulus, 12 of atresia and 49 children with subjective description of perivisceritis (72%). The mortality rate was 12% (eight deaths). Average duration of total parenteral nutrition was 56.7 d (8-950; median: 22), with five cases of necrotizing enterocolitis. Average length of hospitalization for 60 of our patients was 54.7 d (2-370; median: 25.5). The presence of intestinal atresia was the only factor correlated with prolonged parenteral nutrition, delayed total oral milk feeding and longer hospitalization.

CONCLUSION: In our study, intestinal atresia was our predictive factor of the severity of GS.

Littoral cell angiomas of the spleen associated with solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas

Littoral cell angiomas (LCA) of the spleen are vascular tumors of unknown etiology arising from the littoral cells of the splenic red pulp sinuses. Usually a benign and incidental finding, LCA have been repeatedly reported in association with a variety of visceral malignancies and hold the potential for dissemination per se. We encountered a case of a 30 year old female who was diagnosed with solid pseudopapillary tumor of the head and distal pancreas by fine needle aspiration cytology. A distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy was performed in addition to a pylorus-preserving Whipple’s procedure and cholecystectomy. Histopathological examination confirmed solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas and showed multiple well-circumscribed anastomosing vascular channels in the spleen. The diagnosis of LCA of the spleen was confirmed by immunohistochemistry that revealed co-expression of endothelial cell marker, CD31 and CD34, along with histiocytic marker, CD68 by the vascular lining cells. LCA has been previously reported in association with colorectal and pancreatic adenocarcinoma, malignant lymphoma, myelodysplasia and autoimmune disorders. We report the first case of LCA associated with solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas.

Differential diagnosis in ulcerative colitis in an adolescent: Chronic granulomatous disease needs extra attention

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a primary immune deficiency that is commonly diagnosed under the age of 5 years (95%) and is rarely seen in adulthood. CGD may manifest as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in childhood. Without proper diagnosis, these patients may be monitored for years as IBD; some may even be regarded as steroid-resistant ulcerative colitis (UC) and end up having a colectomy. In this case report, we described a patient who had been followed-up for years as UC and subsequently underwent colectomy, but was finally diagnosed in adulthood as primary immune deficiency.

New insights to occult gastrointestinal bleeding: From pathophysiology to therapeutics

Obscure gastrointestinal bleeding is still a clinical challenge for gastroenterologists. The recent development of novel technologies for the diagnosis and treatment of different bleeding causes has allowed a better management of patients, but it also determines the need of a deeper comprehension of pathophysiology and the analysis of local expertise in order to develop a rational management algorithm. Obscure gastrointestinal bleeding can be divided in occult, when a positive occult blood fecal test is the main manifestation, and overt, when external sings of bleeding are visible. In this paper we are going to focus on overt gastrointestinal bleeding, describing the physiopathology of the most usual causes, analyzing the diagnostic procedures available, from the most classical to the novel ones, and establishing a standard algorithm which can be adapted depending on the local expertise or availability. Finally, we will review the main therapeutic options for this complex and not so uncommon clinical problem.

Gut microbiome: Linking together obesity, bariatric surgery and associated clinical outcomes under a single focus

Obesity is increasingly prevalent in the post-industrial era, with increased mortality rates. The gut microbiota has a central role in immunological, nutritional and metabolism mediated functions, and due to its multiplexity, it is considered an independent organ. Modern high-throughput sequencing techniques have allowed phylogenetic exploration and quantitative analyses of gut microbiome and improved our current understanding of the gut microbiota in health and disease. Its role in obesity and its changes following bariatric surgery have been highlighted in several studies. According to current literature, obesity is linked to a particular microbiota profile that grants the host an augmented potential for calorie release, while limited diversity of gut microbiome has also been observed. Moreover, bariatric surgery procedures represent effective interventions for sustained weight loss and restore a healthier microbiota, contributing to the observed fat mass reduction and lean mass increase. However, newer evidence has shown that gut microbiota is only partially recovered following bariatric surgery. Moreover, several targets including FGF15/19 (a gut-derived peptide), could be responsible for the favorable metabolic changes of bariatric surgery. More randomized controlled trials and larger prospective studies that include well-defined cohorts are required to better identify associations between gut microbiota, obesity, and bariatric surgery.