Resolution of Crohn's disease and complex regional pain syndrome following treatment of paratuberculosis

Human antibodies against Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis combined with cytokine levels for the diagnosis and selection of Crohn's disease patients for anti-mycobacterial therapy-A pilot study

Increasing evidence links a worldwide bacterial infection of cattle and other animal species by Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis (MAP) to Crohn's disease (CD). A large, FDA phase 2/3 controlled clinical trial of combination antimycobacterial antibiotic therapy for CD has been completed, and the report describing the trial is pending publication. The identification of MAP infection in CD patients will become increasingly important. Thus, it is desirable to develop MAP-based tests that accurately predict which CD patients have a MAP infection. A prospective, case-control laboratory test study of 199 subjects (61 CD patients and 138 non-CD controls) was performed using a panel of MAP antigens, including Hsp65, PknG, PtpA, CL1, and MAP IDEXX, which were measured under blind conditions in the plasma of the 199 subjects. Results showed that compared to any individual MAP antigen, combinations of antigens showed improved CD classification performance. For the Hsp65 antigen, the sensitivity (SEN), specificity (SPE), positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), correct classification (CC), and area under the curve (AUC) were 59.02%, 58.70%, 38.71%, 76.42%, 59.3% and 0.606, respectively. For the best combination of MAP antibodies (Hsp65 and PknG), the SEN, SPE, PPV, NPV, CC, and AUC were 59.02%, 60.87%, 40.00%, 77.06%, 60.30%, and 0.631, respectively. Further improvement of the CD classification performance was achieved by combining IFN-γ, IL-8, and IL-17 cytokines with antibodies against MAP antigens, yielding SEN, SPE, PPV, NPV, CC, and AUC of 62.3%, 62.32%, 42.22%, 78.9%, 62.31% and 0.708, respectively. Thus, combinations of antibodies against MAP antigens and cytokine levels yield better CD diagnostic predictive performance than any individual antibodies against MAP antigens.

Pathogens in Crohn's Disease: The Role of Adherent Invasive Escherichia coli

In Crohn's disease (CD), gut dysbiosis is marked by the prevalence of pathogenic bacterial species. Although several microbes have been reported as risk factors or causative agents of CD, it is not yet clear which is the real trigger of the disease. Thirty years ago, a new pathovar of Escherichia coli strain was isolated in the ileal mucosa of CD patients. This strain, called adherent invasive E. coli (AIEC), for its ability to invade the intestinal mucosa, could represent the causative agent of the disease. Several authors studied the mechanisms by which the AIEC penetrate and replicate within macrophages, and release inflammatory cytokines sustaining inflammation. In this review we will discuss about the role of AIEC in the pathogenesis of CD, the virulence factors mediating adhesion and invasion of AIEC in mucosal tissue, the environmental conditions improving AIEC survival and replication within macrophages. Finally, we will also give an overview of the new strategies developed to limit AIEC overgrowth.

Microbiota-Accessible Boron-Containing Compounds in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

The microbiota-gut-brain axis has garnered increasing attention in recent years for its role in various health conditions, including neuroinflammatory disorders like complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). CRPS is a debilitating condition characterized by chronic neuropathic pain, and its etiology and pathophysiology remain elusive. Emerging research suggests that alterations in the gut microbiota composition and function could play a significant role in CRPS development and progression. Our paper explores the implications of microbiota in CRPS and the potential therapeutic role of boron (B). Studies have demonstrated that individuals with CRPS often exhibit dysbiosis, with imbalances in beneficial and pathogenic gut bacteria. Dysbiosis can lead to increased gut permeability and systemic inflammation, contributing to the chronic pain experienced in CRPS. B, an essential trace element, has shown promise in modulating the gut microbiome positively and exerting anti-inflammatory effects. Recent preclinical and clinical studies suggest that B supplementation may alleviate neuropathic pain and improve CRPS symptoms by restoring microbiota balance and reducing inflammation. Our review highlights the complex interplay between microbiota, inflammation, and neuropathic pain in CRPS and underscores the potential of B as a novel therapeutic approach to target the microbiota-gut-brain axis, offering hope for improved management of this challenging condition.

Effect of Low-Dose Line-Spectrum and Full-Spectrum UV on Major Humoral Components of Human Blood

Ultraviolet blood irradiation (UVBI) is an alternative approach to the treatment of infectious diseases of various pathogeneses. Recently, UVBI has attracted particular interest as a new immunomodulatory method. Experimental studies available in the literature demonstrate the absence of precise mechanisms of the effect of ultraviolet radiation (UV) on blood. Here, we investigated the effect of UV radiation of line-spectrum mercury lamp (doses up to 500 mJ/cm²) traditionally used in UVBI on the major humoral blood components: albumin, globulins and uric acid. Preliminary data on the effect of various doses of UV radiation of full-spectrum flash xenon lamp (doses up to 136 mJ/cm²), a new promising source for UVBI, on the major blood plasma protein, albumin, are presented. The research methodology included spectrofluorimetric analysis of the oxidative modification of proteins and analysis of the antioxidant activity of humoral blood components by chemiluminometry. The effect of UV radiation on albumin caused its oxidative modification and, accordingly, an impairment of the transport properties of the protein. At the same time, UV-modified albumin and γ-globulins acquired pronounced antioxidant properties compared to native samples. Uric acid mixed with albumin did not protect the protein against UV-induced oxidation. The flash full-spectrum UV qualitatively had the same effect on albumin as line-spectrum UV did, but an order of magnitude lower doses were required to achieve comparable effects. The suggested protocol can be used for selecting a safe individual dose for UV therapy.

Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis: Is MAP the trigger?

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) is an autoimmune disorder of the thyroid gland that can cause hypothyroidism. As HT is a multifactorial disorder, activation of immune responses in genetically predisposed individuals exposed to some environmental factors can contribute to it. Microorganisms, as environmental factors, including Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis (MAP) by molecular mimicry, can be important in this autoimmune disorder. This study aimed to investigate the association between MAP and HT. This case–control study included 110 participants consisting of 60 HT patients and 50 healthy controls (HCs). Blood samples were collected. Nested PCR of the IS900 gene determined the presence of MAP DNA. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was designed to identify antibodies (Abs) against the MAP3865c epitope, which has a homologous sequence with ZnT8 in the sera. The demographic information of all participants was recorded. Anti-TG, anti-TPO, TSH, anemia, and ruminant exposure were higer in HT patients than in the HCs (p < 0.05). MAP IS900 was detected significantly more in the patients (46.6% consisting of 30, 8.3, and 8.3% in clinical, subclinical, and unknown) than in the HCs (14%). The sera showed a remarkable frequency of reactivity against MAP3865c in the patients (38.3%) in comparison to the HCs (10%) (p = 0.0001). Furthermore, a significantly higher rate of livestock contact and traditional dairy consumption was found in individuals with MAP or anti-MAP3865c Abs positive result (p < 0.05). This study suggests a possible link between MAP and HT. These findings indicated that MAP frequency was not statistically different in the severity of HT and its shift into the clinical and subclinical forms; therefore, it could be assumed that MAPs are the initiators of the process. The results imply on a possible zoonosis transmission route of MAP from livestock products to humans. Further research is needed to confirm these results in larger groups of HT patients.

ALSUntangled #66: antimycobacterial antibiotics

Several infections have been associated with motor neuron diseases resembling ALS, including species of viruses, bacteria, and parasites. Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP), most known for its probable etiologic association with Crohn's disease, has been suggested as another possible infectious cause of motor neuron disease. Two published case reports describe the successful treatment of ALS-like symptoms with antimycobacterial antibiotics. Both cases had atypical features. Based on these, we believe it would be reasonable to begin performing chest imaging in PALS who have features of their history or exam that are atypical for ALS such as pain, fevers, or eye movement abnormalities. If the chest imaging is abnormal, more specific testing for mycobacteria may be indicated. Until there is more clear evidence of an association between mycobacteria and ALS, we cannot endorse the widespread use of potentially toxic antimycobacterial antibiotics for PALS.

Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis and microbiome profile of patients in a referral gastrointestinal diseases centre in the Sudan

Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) causes Johne’s disease in animals with zoonotic potential; it has been linked to many chronic diseases in humans, especially gastrointestinal diseases (GID). MAP has been extensively studied in Europe and America, but little reports were published from Africa. Sudan is a unique country with close contact between humans and livestock. Despite such interaction, the one health concept is neglected in dealing with cases of humans with GID. In this study, patients admitted to the reference GID hospital in the Sudan over a period of 8 months were screened for presence of MAP in their faeces or colonic biopsies. A total of 86 patients were recruited for this study, but only 67 were screened for MAP, as 19 did not provide the necessary samples for analysis. Both real-time PCR and culture were used to detect MAP in the collected samples and the microbial diversity in patients´ faecal samples was investigated using 16S rDNA nanopore sequencing. In total, 27 (40.3%) patients were MAP positive: they were 15 males and 12 females, of ages between 21 and 80 years. Logistic regression analysis revealed no statistical significance for all tested variables in MAP positive patients (occupation, gender, contact with animal, milk consumption, chronic disease, etc.). A unique microbiome profile of MAP-positive patients in comparison to MAP-negative was found. These findings suggest that a considerable proportion of the population could be MAP infected or carriers. Therefore, increase awareness at community level is urgently needed to decrease the risk of MAP at human/animal interface. This study represents the first report of MAP in humans in the Sudan; nevertheless, a better view of the situation of MAP in humans in the country requires a larger study including patients with other conditions.

Therapeutic management of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis infection with complete resolution of symptoms and disease in a patient with advanced inflammatory bowel syndrome

BACKGROUND

A 26-year-old male had a history of frequent bowel movements, mushy stool with mucus and loss of 25 kg body weight in 6 months was diagnosed as a case of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The patient did not respond to routine and standard treatment for IBD. His condition was steadily deteriorating, and he was in a very precarious state when he reported to us.

METHODS

Upon laboratory investigation by using IS900 specific PCR [which is specific for Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP)], the blood and stool samples were found negative. However, the presence of low titer MAP-antibodies by indigenous ELISA were found followed by detection of the typical acid-fast MAP bacilli (with 3 + or 4 + grade) microscopically. The MAP stool culture was positive after 6 months incubation. The biotyping by IS1311 specific polymerase chain reaction restriction enzyme (PCR-RE) confirmed infection with 'Indian Bison Type Genotype', a dominant biotype infecting the domestic livestock population of India. Standard anti-MAP therapy was initiated under supervision of the treating physician. The drug of choice in prescribed treatment regimen included Isoniazid (5 mg/kg), Rifampicin (10 mg/kg), Ethambutol (15-25 mg/kg) once a day for 24 weeks and Clarithromycin (250 mg)/Levofloxacin (250 mg) twice a day for 6 weeks.

RESULTS

Following treatment, the patient started improving progressively with reduction in bowel movement frequency and gained body weight with an enhanced appetite propensity. Upon follow-up of the patient after 1 year of treatment, stool-microscopy and stool-culture were found negative for MAP. Till the recent past, the patient was further monitored for disease relapse, if any.

CONCLUSIONS

This patient has experienced a complete resolution of IBD using a combination of anti-MAP antibiotics. The initial detection of heavy shedding of acid-fast MAP bacilli and typical colony morphology with its characterization obtained from culturing of stool sample indicated the infection of MAP. Interestingly, the present case is one more example of the linkage of demonstrable MAP infection treated with anti-MAP therapy in the presence and then absence of disease in the human host.

Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis in the Food Supply: A Public Health Issue

This article examines the policy implications of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) as a zoonotic pathogen and the public health risks posed by the presence of MAP in food, particularly milk products. Viable MAP has been cultured from commercially pasteurized milk in the US. Dairy pasteurization standards and regulations are examined in light of this finding. On the basis of the precautionary principle, the authors suggest options to reduce exposure to MAP, including (1) increased federal authority to regulate pasteurization of all dairy products, (2) modification of pasteurization standards in order to more effectively kill MAP, (3) removal of the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO) provision that allows states to override federal policy in intrastate dairy sales, and (4) creation of a mandatory Johne's Disease Control Program. These measures would reduce human exposure to MAP and may reduce the risk of diseases associated with MAP.

Use of Ultraviolet Blood Irradiation Against Viral Infections

Ultraviolet blood irradiation (UBI) was used with success in the 1930s and 1940s for a variety of diseases. Despite the success, the lack of understanding of the detailed mechanisms of actions, and the achievements of antibiotics, phased off the use of UBI from the 1950s. The emergence of novel viral infections, from HIV/AIDS to Ebola, from SARS and MERS, and SARS-CoV-2, bring back the attention to this therapeutical opportunity. UBI has a complex virucidal activity, mostly acting on the immune system response. It has effects on lymphocytes (T-cells and B-cells), macrophages, monocytes, dendritic cells, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and lipids. The Knott technique was applied for bacterial infections such as tuberculosis to viral infections such as hepatitis or influenza. The more complex extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) is also being applied to hematological cancers such as T-cell lymphomas. Further studies of UBI may help to create a useful device that may find applications for novel viruses that are resistant to known antivirals or vaccines, or also bacteria that are resistant to known antibiotics.

Whole exome sequencing of patients who resolved Crohn's disease and complex regional pain syndrome following treatment for paratuberculosis

BACKGROUND

A whole exome sequencing study was performed on an extended family including a patient with Crohn's disease (CD) and a patient with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). The patient with CD and the patient with CRPS have experienced resolution of their disease following treatment for paratuberculosis. The study was performed in order to determine if there is an unusual mutation in this extended family that would explain the susceptibility to mycobacterial infection among many of the members.

RESULTS

We identified sets of rare single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that were shared among affected family members, including variants in two genes, IL15RA and CASP10, which have established roles in the immune response. In addition, the CD and CRPS patients were found to have heterozygous mutations in MBL2 and DDX58, mutations that have been associated with susceptibility to tuberculosis.

CONCLUSIONS

The IL15RA and CASP10 variants may contribute to the disease symptoms exhibited in this family. The finding of SNPs associated with immune function supports a complementary role of infection and genetics in these diseases.

How did Lou Gehrig get Lou Gehrig's disease? Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis in manure, soil, dirt, dust and grass and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (motor neurone disease) clusters in football, rugby and soccer players

There are several suspected infectious causes of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or motor neurone disease including HIV-1 and species of Brucella, Cyanobacteria and Schistosoma. The increased rates and clusters of ALS in amateur and professional outdoor sports players including rugby, football and soccer players suggest a microorganism present in the grass, dirt and dust they play on and in may be a causative factor. The probable zoonosis Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) is heavily excreted in an infected domestic ruminant's feces or manure and is extensively distributed throughout the soil in countries where MAP infection of domestic livestock is longstanding. Like other zoonotic pathogens, MAP can be transmitted to humans by inhalation of aerosolized pathogen-contaminated soil, by direct contact of pathogen-contaminated grass, dirt and dust with mucus membranes lining the nose or mouth or through abrasions and cuts in the skin. Outdoor sports players may develop ALS after multiple oral, nasal or subcutaneous doses of MAP present in the dirt, dust and grass of their playing fields.

Anti-microbial Antibodies, Host Immunity, and Autoimmune Disease

Autoimmune diseases are a spectrum of clinical inflammatory syndromes with circulating autoantibodies. Autoimmune diseases affect millions of patients worldwide with enormous costs to patients and society. The diagnosis of autoimmune diseases relies on the presence of autoantibodies and the treatment strategy is to suppress the immune system using specific or non-specific immunosuppressive agents. The discovery of anti-microbial antibodies in the blood of patients with Crohn's disease and Sjogren's syndrome and cross-reactivity of anti-microbial antibodies to human tissue suggests a new molecular mechanism of pathogenesis, raising the possibility of designing a new therapeutic strategy for these patients. The presence of anti-microbial antibodies indicates the failure of the innate immunity system to clear the microbial agents from the blood and activation of adaptive immunity through B-lymphocytes/plasma cells. More importantly, the specific antibodies against the microbial proteins are directed toward the commensal microbes commonly present on the surface of the human host, and these commensal microbes are important in shaping the development of the immune system and in maintaining the interaction between the human host and the environment. Persistence of these anti-microbial antibodies in patients but not in normal healthy individuals suggests abnormal interaction between the human host and the commensal microbes in the body. Elimination of the organism/organisms that elicits the antibody response would be a new avenue of therapy to investigate in patients with autoimmune diseases.

Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis: A possible causative agent in human morbidity and risk to public health safety

Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis is a bacterial parasite and the causative agent of paratuberculosis, a disease predominately found in cattle and sheep. Infection with this microorganism results in substantial farming economic losses and animal morbidity. The link between infection with this pathogen and human disease has been theorised for many years with Crohn's disease being one of many suspected resultant conditions. Mycobacterium avium may be spread from animal to human hosts by water and foodborne transmission routes, where the foodborne route of exposure represents a significant risk for susceptible populations, namely children and the immune-compromised. Following colonisation of the host, the parasitic organism evades the host immune system by use of molecular mimicry, displaying peptide sequences similar to that of the host cells causing a disruption of self-verses non self-recognition. Theoretically, this failure to recognise the invading organism as distinct from host cells may result in numerous autoimmune conditions. Here, the author presents current information assessing the link between numerous diseases states in humans such inflammatory bowel disease, Type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto\'s thyroiditis, multiple sclerosis and autism following infection with Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis. The possibility of zoonotic transmission of the organism and its significant risk to public health safety as a consequence is also discussed.

Inflammatory Diseases of the Gut

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, are chronic inflammatory disorders of the gastrointestinal tract whose prevalence has been dramatically increasing over the past decade. New studies have shown that IBD is the second most common chronic inflammatory disease worldwide after rheumatoid arthritis, affecting millions of people mainly in industrialized countries. Symptoms of IBD include frequent bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping, anorexia, abdominal distension, and emesis. Although the exact etiology is unknown, it has been postulated that immunological, microbial, environmental, nutritional, and genetic factors contribute to the pathogenesis and severity of IBD. Today, no treatment has consistently been shown to be successful in treating IBD. This review summarizes current research on the epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, and existing treatment approaches, including pharmaceutical and nutritional options for IBD.

The Consensus from the Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis (MAP) Conference 2017

On March 24 and 25, 2017 researchers and clinicians from around the world met at Temple University in Philadelphia to discuss the current knowledge of Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis (MAP) and its relationship to human disease. The conference was held because of shared concern that MAP is a zoonotic bacterium that poses a threat not only to animal health but also human health. In order to further study this problem, the conferees discussed ways to improve MAP diagnostic tests and discussed potential future anti-MAP clinical trials. The conference proceedings may be viewed on the www.Humanpara.org website. A summary of the salient work in this field is followed by recommendations from a majority of the conferees.

Assessment of listing and categorisation of animal diseases within the framework of the Animal Health Law (Regulation (EU) No 2016/429): paratuberculosis

Paratuberculosis has been assessed according to the criteria of the Animal Health Law (AHL), in particular criteria of Article 7 on disease profile and impacts, Article 5 on the eligibility of paratuberculosis to be listed, Article 9 for the categorisation of paratuberculosis according to disease prevention and control rules as in Annex IV and Article 8 on the list of animal species related to paratuberculosis. The assessment has been performed following a methodology composed of information collection and compilation, expert judgement on each criterion at individual and, if no consensus was reached before, also at collective level. The output is composed of the categorical answer, and for the questions where no consensus was reached, the different supporting views are reported. Details on the methodology used for this assessment are explained in a separate opinion. According to the assessment performed, paratuberculosis can be considered eligible to be listed for Union intervention as laid down in Article 5(3) of the AHL. The disease would comply with the criteria in Sections 3, 4 and 5 of Annex IV of the AHL, for the application of the disease prevention and control rules referred to in points (c), (d) and (e) of Article 9(1). The animal species to be listed for paratuberculosis according to Article 8(3) criteria are several species of mammals and birds as susceptible species and some species of the families Bovidae, Cervidae and Leporidae as reservoirs.

Short communication: Investigation into Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis in pasteurized milk in Italy

This study investigated the presence of viable Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis (MAP) in pasteurized milk produced by Italian industrial dairy plants to verify the prediction of a previously performed risk assessment. The study analyzed 160 one-liter bottles of pasteurized milk from 2 dairy plants located in 2 different regions. Traditional cultural protocols were applied to 500mL of pasteurized milk for each sample. The investigation focused also on the pasteurization parameters and data on the microbiological characteristics of raw milk (total bacterial count) and pasteurized milk (Enterobacteriaceae and Listeria monocytogenes). No sample was positive for MAP, the pasteurization parameters complied with European Union legislation, and the microbiological analysis of raw and pasteurized milk showed good microbiological quality. The results show that a 7-log (or >7) reduction could be a plausible value for commercial pasteurization. The combination of hygiene practices at farm level and commercial pasteurization yield very low or absent levels of MAP contamination in pasteurized milk, suggesting that pasteurized milk is not a significant source of human exposure to MAP in the dairies investigated.

Concurrent Resolution of Chronic Diarrhea Likely Due to Crohn's Disease and Infection with Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis

Examination of samples of stool from a 61-year-old male patient, presenting with the clinical symptoms of Crohn's disease (CD), revealed massive shedding of acid fast bacilli with the morphology of Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis (MAP), the causative agent of Johne's disease in cattle. MAP was cultured from the stool. Biotyping of the bacterium isolated from cultures of stool demonstrated, it was the Indian Bison biotype of MAP, the dominant biotype infecting livestock and humans in India. Based on this finding and because the patient was unresponsive to standard therapy used in India to treat patients with gastrointestinal inflammatory disorders, the patient was placed on a regimen of multi-antibiotic therapy, currently used to treat tuberculosis and CD. After 1 year of treatment, the patient's health was restored, concurrent with cessation of shedding of MAP in his stool. This patient is the first case shown to shed MAP from the stool who was cured of infection with antibiotics and who was concurrently cured of clinical signs of CD.

Advances in nutritional therapy in inflammatory bowel diseases: Review

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are chronic, life-long, and relapsing diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Currently, there are no complete cure possibilities, but combined pharmacological and nutritional therapy may induce remission of the disease. Malnutrition and specific nutritional deficiencies are frequent among IBD patients, so the majority of them need nutritional treatment, which not only improves the state of nutrition of the patients but has strong anti-inflammatory activity as well. Moreover, some nutrients, from early stages of life are suspected as triggering factors in the etiopathogenesis of IBD. Both parenteral and enteral nutrition is used in IBD therapy, but their practical utility in different populations and in different countries is not clearly established, and there are sometimes conflicting theories concerning the role of nutrition in IBD. This review presents the actual data from research studies on the influence of nutrition on the etiopathogenesis of IBD and the latest findings regarding its mechanisms of action. The use of both parenteral and enteral nutrition as therapeutic methods in induction and maintenance therapy in IBD treatment is also extensively discussed. Comparison of the latest research data, scientific theories concerning the role of nutrition in IBD, and different opinions about them are also presented and discussed. Additionally, some potential future perspectives for nutritional therapy are highlighted.

The treatment of infectious disease with a medical device: results of a clinical trial of ultraviolet blood irradiation (UVBI) in patients with hepatitis C infection

OBJECTIVES

Prior to the advent of therapies with sustained virological response rates of 94%, this study was conducted for the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to assess the safety and efficacy of ultraviolet blood irradiation (UVBI) for the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

METHODS

Nine patients received 15 UVBI treatments over the course of 22 weeks with the AVIcure Hemo-modulator, which was modified from the original Knott Hemo-irradiator. The patients' viral loads and liver function tests were obtained periodically during the study and analyzed during the course of the trial.

RESULTS

At the end of the study, the overall mean reduction in HCV viral load was 21.5% (p = 0.023); on day 140, direct bilirubin declined by 41.1% (p=0.0059), aspartate aminotransferase declined by 15.2% (p=0.0069), and alanine aminotransferase declined by 19.3% (p=0.0031). The nadir of the mean and median viral load occurred on day 259, and it corresponded to a mean viral load reduction of 44.9% (p=0.0048). During the course of the study, three patients had a greater than 0.5 log reduction in viral load (patient 1, 0.56 log reduction on day 259; patient 4, 0.69 log reduction at the end of the study; patient 11, 0.91 log reduction on day 259). Two patients showed marked improvement in their concurrent psoriasis at the conclusion of the trial.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, UVBI was safe and had a beneficial effect in the treatment of HCV. This device should be studied for use in psoriasis and in infectious diseases that have few treatment options. This article describes a prospective, controlled, phase II clinical trial submitted to the FDA of this device used for the treatment of HCV infection (Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) #G030242).

Mycobacterium paratuberculosis as a cause of Crohn's disease

Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease of unknown cause, affecting approximately 1.4 million North American people. Due to the similarities between Crohn's disease and Johne's disease, a chronic enteritis in ruminant animals caused by Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis (MAP) infection, MAP has long been considered to be a potential cause of Crohn's disease. MAP is an obligate intracellular pathogen that cannot replicate outside of animal hosts. MAP is widespread in dairy cattle and because of environmental contamination and resistance to pasteurization and chlorination, humans are frequently exposed through contamination of food and water. MAP can be cultured from the peripheral mononuclear cells from 50-100% of patients with Crohn's disease, and less frequently from healthy individuals. Association does not prove causation. We discuss the current data regarding MAP as a potential cause of Crohn's disease and outline what data will be required to firmly prove or disprove the hypothesis.