Altered epithelial barrier functions in the colon of patients with spina bifida

Our objectives were to better characterize the colorectal function of patients with Spina Bifida (SB). Patients with SB and healthy volunteers (HVs) completed prospectively a standardized questionnaire, clinical evaluation, rectal barostat, colonoscopy with biopsies and faecal collection. The data from 36 adults with SB (age: 38.8 [34.1-47.2]) were compared with those of 16 HVs (age: 39.0 [31.0-46.5]). Compared to HVs, rectal compliance was lower in patients with SB (p = 0.01), whereas rectal tone was higher (p = 0.0015). Ex vivo paracellular permeability was increased in patients with SB (p = 0.0008) and inversely correlated with rectal compliance (r = - 0.563, p = 0.002). The expression of key tight junction proteins and inflammatory markers was comparable between SB and HVs, except for an increase in Claudin-1 immunoreactivity (p = 0.04) in SB compared to HVs. TGFβ1 and GDNF mRNAs were expressed at higher levels in patients with SB (p = 0.02 and p = 0.008). The levels of acetate, propionate and butyrate in faecal samples were reduced (p = 0.04, p = 0.01, and p = 0.02, respectively). Our findings provide evidence that anorectal and epithelial functions are altered in patients with SB. The alterations in these key functions might represent new therapeutic targets, in particular using microbiota-derived approaches.Clinical Trials: NCT02440984 and NCT03054415.

The reversion variant (p.Arg90Leu) at the evolutionarily adaptive p.Arg90 site in CELA3B predisposes to chronic pancreatitis

A gain-of-function missense variant in the CELA3B gene, p.Arg90Cys (c.268C>T), has recently been reported to cause pancreatitis in an extended pedigree. Herein, we sequenced the CELA3B gene in 644 genetically unexplained French chronic pancreatitis (CP) patients (all unrelated) and 566 controls. No obvious loss-of-function variants were identified. None of the six low-frequency or common missense variants detected showed significant association with CP. Nor did the aggregate rare/very rare missense variants (n = 14) show any significant association with CP. However, p.Arg90Leu (c.269G>T), which was found in four patients but no controls, and affects the same amino acid as p.Arg90Cys, serves to revert p.Arg90 to the human elastase ancestral allele. As p.Arg90Leu has previously been shown to exert a similar functional effect to that of p.Arg90Cys, our findings not only confirm the involvement of CELA3B in the etiology of CP but also pinpoint a new evolutionarily adaptive site in the human genome.

Incidental colorectal focal 18 F-FDG uptake: a novel indication for colonoscopy

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

 The relevance of incidental colorectal focal ¹⁸ F-FDG PET/CT uptake is debatable. All patients who were referred for colonoscopy because of incidental colonic focal FDG uptake were included in this retrospective study.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

 PET/CT imaging characteristics were reviewed by a nuclear physician who was blinded to endoscopic and histopathological findings to determine the location of FDG uptake sites and to measure the maximum standardized uptake values (SUVmax) and metabolic volume (MV). Endoscopic findings were categorized as malignant lesions (ML), high-risk polyps (HRP), low-risk polyps (LRP) or other non-neoplastic lesions (NNL).

RESULTS

 Seventy patients with 84 foci of FDG uptake were included. The proportions of true-positive (lesions found at colonoscopy at the same location) and false-positive (no lesion at colonoscopy) PET/CT findings were 65.5 % (n = 55) and 34.5 % (n = 29). Median SUVmax values did not differ between true-positive and false-positive findings ( P  = 0.27). Median MV30 values differed significantly between true-positive (5.5 cm ³ , [3.3 - 10.9 cm ³ ]) and false-positive (9.7 cm ³ , [5.2 - 40.8 cm ³ ]) findings ( P  = 0.015). Among the 55 true-positive FDG uptake sites, there were 14 (25.5 %) malignant lesions, 30 (54.5 %) HRP, 4 (7.3 %) LRP, and 7 (12.7 %) NNL. Median MV30 values differed significantly between advanced neoplasia (5.0 cm ³ , [2.9 - 9.7 cm ³ ]) and other endoscopic findings (9.4 cm ³ , [5.2 - 39.8 cm ³ ]) ( P  = 0.001); the AUROC was 0.71. By per-colonic segment analysis, the distribution of true-positive, false-negative, false-positive, and true-negative FDG PET/CT findings was as follows: 21.5 %, 14.2 %, 11.5 %, and 52.8 %, respectively.

CONCLUSION

 Our study demonstrates that follow-up complete colonoscopy is mandatory in all patients with incidental colorectal focal ¹⁸ F-FDG PET/CT uptake.

Botulinum toxin injection for hypercontractile or spastic esophageal motility disorders: may high-resolution manometry help to select cases?

Endoscopic injections of botulinum toxin in the cardia or distal esophagus have been advocated to treat achalasia and spastic esophageal motility disorders. We conducted a retrospective study to evaluate whether manometric diagnosis using the Chicago classification in high-resolution manometry (HRM) would be predictive of the clinical response. Charts of patients with spastic and hypertensive motility disorders diagnosed with HRM and treated with botulinum toxin were retrospectively reviewed at two centers. HRM recordings were systematically reanalyzed, and a patient's phone survey was conducted. Forty-five patients treated between 2008 and 2013 were included. Most patients had achalasia type 3 (22 cases). Other diagnoses were jackhammer esophagus (8 cases), distal esophageal spasm (7 cases), esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction (5 cases), nutcracker esophagus (1 case), and 2 unclassified cases. Botulinum toxin injections were performed into the cardia only in 9 cases, into the wall of the distal esophagus in 19 cases, and in both locations (cardia and distal esophagus) in 17 cases. No complication occurred in 31 cases. Chest pain was noticed for less than 7 days in 13 cases. One death related to mediastinitis occurred 3 weeks after botulinum toxin injection. Efficacy was assessed in 42 patients: 71% were significantly improved 2 months after botulinum toxin, and 57% remained satisfied for more than 6 months. No clear difference was observed in terms of response according to manometric diagnosis; however, type 3 achalasia previously dilated and with normal integrated relaxation pressure (4s-integrated relaxation pressure < 15 mmHg) had the worst outcome: none of these patients responded to the endoscopic injection of botulinum toxin. Endoscopic injections of botulinum toxin may be effective in some patients with spastic or hypercontractile esophageal motility disorders. The manometric Chicago classification diagnosis does not seem to predict the results. Prospective randomized trials are required to identify patients most likely to benefit from esophageal botulinum toxin treatment.

Removal of transanastomotic pancreatic stent tubes after pancreaticoduodenectomy: a new role for double-balloon enteroscopy

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic interventions are usually very challenging in patients with anatomic changes caused by earlier GI surgery. The recent development of the double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) system creates an opportunity to reach the biliary tract and the pancreatic duct in postsurgical conditions.

OBJECTIVE

To report a further application of DBE in surgical patients; namely, extraction of pancreatic stents placed in pancreaticojejunal anastomosis during pancreaticoduodenectomy.

DESIGN

Two case reports.

SETTING

A single-center experience in a tertiary-care unit.

PATIENTS AND INTERVENTIONS

Two patients who underwent Whipple resection with Roux-en-Y reconstruction presented with migration of pancreatic stent tubes inserted in pancreaticojejunal anastomoses. Stents had migrated to the end of the afferent limb and were causing abdominal pain. Because extraction failed by using conventional endoscopy, we used the DBE system.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Successful extraction of the stents.

RESULTS

Stents were successfully removed in both patients with no complications. After 1 year of follow-up, the patients remained free of painful symptoms.

LIMITATIONS

Small volume case series.

CONCLUSIONS

Double-balloon enteroscopy is a reliable way to investigate and treat patients with postsurgical altered anatomy. Here, we report the successful removal of pancreatic stents migrating into the jejunal loop through pancreaticojejunal anastomosis.

Transition of patients with inflammatory bowel disease from pediatric to adult care

AIM

This study was designed to ascertain the perception of patients (and their parents) followed-up for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) concerning the transition from pediatric to adult care.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Forty-eight youths with IBD who had transited from pediatric to adult care were surveyed. Their age at transition was 17.9+/-0.9 years. Thirty-four patients (71%) had been referred to a gastroenterologist working in the same hospital and, in 27 cases, after having attended a joint pediatric-adult care visit.

RESULTS

The response rate was 71%. Twenty-nine patients (85%) and 25 parents (74%) felt they were ready to transit into adult care. Seven patients (22%) and 10 parents (32%) were apprehensive about transition to adult gastroenterology. All patients considered the joint medical visit beneficial in terms of transmitting information from their medical records and 93% considered it beneficial for building confidence in the new gastroenterologist. All parents considered the joint medical visit helpful for building the children's confidence in their new doctor. At the time of the survey, 29 patients (85%) were continuing to be followed-up by the same gastroenterologist.

CONCLUSION

Effective planning, including a joint medical visit, enabled successful, well-coordinated transition to adult medical-care follow-up.

Fistule pancréatique post-traumatique : succès du traitement endoscopique par endoprothèse

INTRODUCTION

The risk of complications and the severity of pancreatic trauma depend on the status of the main pancreatic duct. Endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERCP) has emerged as the technique of reference for assessing pancreatic ductal anatomy, and it also permits therapeutic intervention by the endoscopic placement of an endoprosthesis.

CASE

We report a pancreatic fistula attributable to posttraumatic rupture of the main duct, undiagnosed before ERCP and successfully treated by endoscopic stent placement.

DISCUSSION

ERCP has emerged as a tool for both diagnosis and treatment. Major traumatic pancreatic duct disruptions can be diagnosed more easily and managed successfully by endoscopic stent placement, thereby avoiding surgical morbidity. ERCP is impractical in emergency settings for many reasons. Magnetic resonance pancreatography may be useful for establishing the type and extent of pancreatic lesions and for selecting patients for endoscopic treatment.

Emphysème sous-cutané, pneumomédiastin, pneumopéritoine et rétropneumopéritoine dans les suites d’une coloscopie avec mucosectomie

The occurrence of associated intraperitoneal and retroperitoneal colonic perforation is uncommon after colonoscopy. We report a case of this complication revealed by subcutaneous emphysema, pneumomediastinum, pneumoperitoneum and retro-pneumoperitoneum after colonic mucosectomy.

A new mutation of E-cadherin gene in familial gastric linitis plastica cancer with extra-digestive dissemination

Over a 12-month period, we diagnosed poorly differentiated infiltrative independent-cell gastric adenocarcinoma in two brothers and one sister aged 41 to 47 years. Their father had died from antral cancer at the age of 34 years. These cancers had two characteristic clinical features: rapid course and distant malignant dissemination. In all three patients, polymerase chain reaction-sequencing of the E-cadherin (CDH1) gene of white blood cells identified a heterozygous nonsense mutation of exon 3, producing a stop codon at position 95 (Q95X), resulting in a truncated protein. The alteration of this protein, which plays a crucial role in epithelial cell adhesion, probably explains the clinical expression in this type of familial diffuse gastric cancer.

[Primary T-cell lymphoma of the common bile duct]

Involvement of the gastrointestinal tract is frequently reported among the extranodal sites of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, but primary lymphoma of the common bile duct is extremely rare. We report the case of a 29-year-old man who presented with obstructive jaundice, leading to the diagnosis of high-grade primary non Hodgkin's T-cell lymphoma, originating from the extrahepatic biliary tract, and confirmed by endosonography and magnetic resonance cholangiography. This patient was treated by sequential chemotherapy without resection and remained in complete remission after one year.

[Multicenter prospective study of prognostic factors of gastroduodenal ulcer hemorrhages. Reevaluation of clinical and endoscopic factors in the era of endoscopic hemostasis]

AIM

To evaluate in a prospective study the prognostic factors of recurrent bleeding and mortality in patients presenting with high risk peptic ulcer bleeding routinely treated by endoscopic hemostasis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A multicenter study was carried out in 8 Western French hospitals in 144 patients with gastrointestinal bleeding peptic from ulcer type I or IIa, b as defined by Forrest classification. Thirty four and 38 parameters were studied respectively in order to predict recurrent bleeding and death. Significant predictive factors (P < 0.1) in univariate analysis were entered in a multivariate logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

Endoscopic hemostasis was performed in 108 of 144 cases (75%). Recurrent bleeding and death occurred in 39 (28%) and 22 cases (15%), respectively. By multivariate analysis, the only predictor of rebleeding was hypovolemia at admission. Predictors of death were ASA score, cardiovascular Goldman score and recurrent bleeding. In this study, prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection was low (41%) but was not a predictive factor.

CONCLUSIONS

In a selected population of peptic ulcer bleeding patients with high risk of rebleeding, prevalence of recurrent bleeding and death remains rather high, despite routine endoscopic hemostasis. In the era of endoscopic hemostasis, clinical parameters remain the best prognostic factors of peptic ulcer bleeding outcome.

Fecal incontinence with normal anal canal pressures: where is the pitfall?

OBJECTIVE

One third of subjects who suffer from fecal incontinence are found to have values within the normal range when anal manometry is performed. For these patients, one hypothesis is that impaired rectal adaptation to distension may occur. The aim of our study was to analyze anorectal responses to rectal isobaric distension in this population.

METHODS

This was a prospective study conducted in 51 consecutive incontinent patients (45 female, six male) divided into two groups according to their functional anal state: absence (19 patients aged 55 +/- 6 yr) or presence of manometric anal weakness (32 patients aged 59 +/- 2 yr). The subjects were submitted to two randomized modes of rectal isobaric distension (tonic, phasic) with an electronic barostat. Anal pressures, perception, and volumes of the rectum were recorded at six different preselected pressures.

RESULTS

As compared with those having anal weakness, patients with no anal weakness retained higher mean pressures at both upper (36.9 +/- 2.2 vs 22.9 +/- 1.4 mm Hg; p = 0.01) and lower parts (41.0 +/- 2.0 vs 23.3 +/- 1.4 mm Hg; p = 0.002) of the anal canal, similar perception scores, but much lower rectal volumes (68.5 +/- 5.5 vs 121.8 +/- 7.0 ml; p = 0.008) in response to rectal isobaric distension.

CONCLUSION

A decrease in rectal adaptation could be involved in fecal leakage in patients with no anal manometric weakness.

[Polymorphism of the microsatellites and tumor necrosis factor genes in chronic inflammatory bowel diseases]

OBJECTIVES

Multiplex family studies have excluded chromosome 6 as a candidate gene of susceptibility to inflammatory bowel disease. However, one recent study suggested that a gene involved in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease is located on chromosome 6 confering to a microsatellite allelic combination (a2, b1, c2, d4, e1) a strong genetic risk factor in Crohn's disease. The aim of our study was to determine simultaneously the polymorphisms of the TNF microsatellites and of the genes coding for TNF synthesis in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Sixty patients with ulcerative colitis, 100 patients with Crohn's disease were compared to 64 healthy ethnically matched controls. Five TNF microsatellite loci (a, b, c, d, e) were typed using polymerase chain reaction PCR, and two dimorphisms of TNF alpha and TNF beta (intron 1) were studied by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP).

RESULTS

Allelic frequencies of TNF microsatellites and of TNF alpha and beta genes were similar in Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and controls. Five loci microsatellite haplotypes, especially a2 b1 c2 d4 e1 allelic combination, were not more frequent in Crohn's disease (25%) compared to ulcerative colitis (27%) or controls (20%). Subgroups stratification according to clinical characteristics did not modify haplotype frequencies. Analysis of our data taking simultaneously into account the MHC alleles (DRB*01 or DRB1*04) did not modify our data; however, it suggested that extended haplotype on short arm of chromosome 6 differed between patients and controls. Linkage disequilibrium (delta = -360.10(-4); P < 0.01) between a2, b1, c2, d4, e1 allelic combination and DRB1*04 allele was observed only in Crohn's disease.

CONCLUSION

Percentages of patients with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis carrying TNF microsatellite or TNF alpha and beta gene haplotypes were similar to those of healthy controls. These data argue against involvement of the TNF locus without exclusion of short arm of chromosome 6 implication in Crohn's disease pathogenesis.

Value of early blood Th-1 cytokine determination in predicting severity of acute pancreatitis

BACKGROUND

Early evaluation of the severity of acute pancreatitis (AP) requires measurement of many variables within 48 h after admission. Septic complications (SC) are frequent, and preliminary studies have highlighted the value of prophylactic antibiotherapy; however, single and reliable predictive markers of sepsis are not yet available. The aim of this study was to assess the value of determining early blood Th-1 cytokines and their natural antagonists (interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1, IL-1ra, and the soluble form of tumor necrosis factor (sTNF) receptors RI and RII) to predict the severity and SC during AP.

METHODS

Thirty-seven patients with AP were prospectively included; 25 of them had severe AP, including 8 with SC. Serum cytokines were measured 48 h and 72 h after the onset of AP with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The optimal severity or SC diagnostic thresholds was determined using receiver operative curves.

RESULTS

Severe AP in accordance with the Atlanta criteria were better predicted by C-reactive protein and IL-6 serum determination, albeit these levels could not predict absolutely the death of two patients. In severe AP cases (n = 25) the IL-1 to IL-1-ra ratio was lower in cases further complicated by sepsis ((6+/-4) 10(-3) versus (34+/-13) 10(-3), P < 0.05); moreover, sTNF RI (2497+/-270 pg/ml versus 2133+/-611 pg/ml, P < 0.05) and RII (3751+/-400 pg/ml versus 3045+/-509 pg/ml, P < 0.05) were higher in AP characterized by further SC. The IL-1 to IL-1-ra ratio and IL-1 concentration were dramatically decreased within the first 48 h ((0.4+/-0.4) 10(-3) versus (30+/-11) 10(-3), P < 0.05, and 0.3+/-0.3 versus 15+/-3 ng/l, P < 0.05) in patients with further infection of the pancreatic necrosis (n = 3). The SC diagnosis was better anticipated by an IL-1 to IL-1-ra ratio lower than 5 x 10(-3) or by an sTNF RI higher than 1750 pg/ml and sTNF RII higher than 2750 pg/ml, and the infection of the pancreatic necrosis by an IL-1 concentration <2 ng/l or an IL-1 to IL-1-ra ratio <2 x 10(-3).

CONCLUSION

Besides severity markers, IL-1, IL-1-ra, and sTNF RI and RII should be considered in base-line AP assays and, if confirmed by larger studies, could help to screen patients at risk for SC and candidates for prophylactic antibiotherapy with a good negative predictive value.

TAP gene transporter polymorphism in inflammatory bowel diseases

BACKGROUND

Many studies suggest the implication of genetic factors in inflammatory bowel diseases. Despite some associations with HLA genes, the lack of definite data may be due to ethnic variations, clinical heterogeneity, or the involvement of additional susceptibility genes beside or within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), such as TAP genes. The aim of this study was to analyze in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn's disease (CD) the polymorphism of TAP genes that encode the proteins necessary for the transfer of antigenic peptides through the endoplasmic reticulum membrane.

METHODS

One hundred and one UC and 148 CD patients were compared with 173 unrelated healthy controls. Dimorphisms within the TAP1 and TAP2 alleles were analyzed by sequence-specific oligonucleotide typing.

RESULTS

No difference was found between patient groups and controls. However, when CD patients were classified on the basis of their responsiveness to steroid therapy, a significant decrease of TAP2 AA (*0101/*0101) genotype was found in CD patients who did not respond to steroid therapy (22.9% versus 43.7% in steroid responder group; Pc < 0.05; odds ratio = 2.6; 95% confidence limits (CL) = 1.2-5.9). These data appear independent of the distribution of HLA DRB1*01 or DRB1*03 alleles despite a significant linkage disequilibrium between these alleles and TAP2A.

CONCLUSIONS

This result suggests, despite the absence of arguments favoring a genetic susceptibility to CD, that the TAP2 gene or other genes located on chromosome 6 may be involved in the genetic heterogeneity of CD.

[Incidence of inflammatory bowel diseases in Bretagne (1994-1995). ABERMAD. Association Bertonne d'Etude et de Recherche des Maladies de l'Appareil Digesif]

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study was to determine the incidence and the main clinical data of inflammatory bowel disease in Brittany.

METHODS

According to EPIMAD registry's methodology, private and public gastroenterologists (n = 139) of Brittany (2836418 inhabitants) referred all patients consulting for the first time, in 1994 and 1995 with clinical symptoms compatible with inflammatory bowel disease. An interviewer practitioner completed at the gastroenterologist's consulting room a standard questionnaire for each patient. Each case was reviewed separately by four experts to assign a diagnosis of definite, probable, possible Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, unclassifiable chronic colitis, or acute colitis (onset of symptoms < 6 weeks).

RESULTS

657 cases were recorded: 205 Crohn's disease (31%), 165 ulcerative colitis (25%) including 75 ulcerative proctitis (46%), 42 unclassifiable chronic colitis (7%), 245 acute colitis (37%). The crude mean annual incidence (per 10(5) inhabitants) based on definite and probable cases only was 2.8 for Crohn's disease and 2.9 for ulcerative colitis. The female/male ratio was 0.9 for Crohn's disease and 0.5 for ulcerative colitis. The median age at time of diagnosis was 27 for Crohn's disease and 36 for ulcerative colitis. The median time between onset of symptoms and diagnosis was equal to 3 months for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

CONCLUSION

In Brittany the observed incidence of ulcerative colitis is similar to that of Crohn's disease and close to that observed in northern France. The incidence of Crohn's disease is lower. However, the real incidence of inflammatory bowel disease is currently underestimated due to the large number of acute colitis requiring a follow up and the cases of Crohn's disease classified as possible not taken into account.

Leiden factor V mutation in four patients with small bowel infarctions

The Leiden factor V mutation is observed in 20% of unexplained lower limb venous thromboses and involves substitution of the arginine residue at position 506 by glutamine (R506Q). It is known to decrease the anticoagulant activity of activated protein C. This case report describes 4 cases of small bowel infarction (SBI) associated with the presence of this mutation. Two cases of arterial and 2 cases of venous SBI were observed. Extensive assessment excluded the usual causes of SBI and plasma hypercoagulation syndrome (antithrombin III, protein C, and protein S deficiency and myeloproliferative syndrome). An abnormal resistance to activated protein C was observed. Molecular analysis consisting of polymerase chain reaction amplification and digestion with MnlI showed that 2 patients were heterozygous and 2 were homozygous for the R506Q mutation. Despite familial history of thrombosis in only 1 patient, first- and second-degree relatives of 2 patients also had the presence of the mutation. Examination for the presence of abnormal resistance to activated protein C should be part of the etiological assessment of SBI. Its presence may warrant consideration of long-term anticoagulant therapy, especially for patients with shortened small bowel who are treated by home parenteral nutrition with deep venous access.