Gastroenterology
Background & Aims: Mice that have a truncated mutation of the common cytokine receptor γ chain (CRγ −/Y ) are known to spontaneously develop colitis. To identify the pathologic elements responsible for triggering this localized inflammatory disease, we elucidated and characterized aberrant T cells and their enteropathogenic cytokines in CRγ −/Y mice with colitis. Methods: The histologic...
Background & Aims: Radiation therapy for prostate cancer has been associated with an increased rate of pelvic malignancies, particularly bladder cancer. The association between radiation therapy and colorectal cancer has not been established. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registry data from 1973 through 1994. We focused...
Background & Aims: Although hepatitis C virus kinetics and immune determinants during primary infection have been described, the virus-host interplay is not fully understood. We used mathematical modeling to elucidate and quantify virus-host dynamics. Methods: Ten chimpanzees were infected intrahepatically with H77-RNA (n = 3) or intravenously with infected serum. Blood samples were taken 1–3...
Background&Aims: Ulcerative colitis is most common in Western industrialized countries. Inflammatory bowel disease is uncommon in developing countries where helminths are frequent. People with helminths have an altered immunological response to antigens. In animal models, helminths prevent or improve colitis by the induction of regulatory T cells and modulatory cytokines. This study determined...
Background & Aims: The homeobox transcription factor CDX2 has a key role in intestinal development and differentiation. Mice heterozygous for Cdx2 inactivation develop colonic polyps with epithelial cells showing gastric or squamous differentiation. Loss of CDX2 expression is seen in some poorly differentiated colon carcinomas in humans. Conversely, ectopic CDX2 expression in the stomach of transgenic...
Background & Aims: Crohn’s disease almost inevitably recurs after ileocolonic resection, and effective prophylactic therapy has not been identified. We investigated the efficacy and safety of ornidazole, a nitroimidazole antibiotic, for the prevention of clinical recurrence of Crohn’s disease after curative ileocolonic resection in a placebo-controlled double-blind clinical trial. Methods: Eighty...