Chronic inflammation is thought to be the leading cause of many human cancers including colorectal cancer(CRC).Accordingly,epidemiologic and clinical studies indicate that patients affected by ulcerative colitis and C...Chronic inflammation is thought to be the leading cause of many human cancers including colorectal cancer(CRC).Accordingly,epidemiologic and clinical studies indicate that patients affected by ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease,the two major forms of inflammatory bowel disease,have an increased risk of developing CRC.In recent years,the role of immune cells and their products have been shown to be pivotal in initiation and progression of colitis-associated CRC.On the other hand,activation of the immune system has been shown to cause dysplastic cell elimination and cancer suppression in other settings.Clinical and experimental data herein reviewed,while confirming chronic inflammation as a risk factor for colon carcinogenesis,do not completely rule out the possibility that under certain conditions the chronic activation of the mucosal immune system might protect from colonic dysplasia.展开更多
Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic disorders of the intestine with increasing incidence in Europe, Northern America and asiatic countries such as china. Thus, we have putted together these topic highlight a...Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic disorders of the intestine with increasing incidence in Europe, Northern America and asiatic countries such as china. Thus, we have putted together these topic highlight articles to give insights into the current understanding of IBD pathogenesis, diagnostics and treatment.展开更多
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency caused by chronic pancreatitis results from various factors which regulate digestion and absorption of nutrients. Pancreatic function has been extensively studied over the last 40 yea...Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency caused by chronic pancreatitis results from various factors which regulate digestion and absorption of nutrients. Pancreatic function has been extensively studied over the last 40 years, even if some aspects of secretion and gastrointestinal adaptation are not completely understood. The main clinical manifestations of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency are fat malabsorption, known as steatorrhea, which consists of fecal excretion of more than 6 g of fat per day, weight loss, abdominal discomfort and abdominal swelling sensation. Fat malabsorption also results in a deficit of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K) with consequent clinical manifestations. The relationships between pancreatic maldigestion, intestinal ecology and intestinal inflammation have not received particular attention, even ifin clinical practice these mechanisms may be responsible for the low efficacy of pancreatic extracts in abolishing steatorrhea in some patients. The best treatments for pancreatic maldigestion should be re-evaluated, taking into account not only the correction of pancreatic insufficiency using pancreatic extracts and the best duodenal pH to permit optimal efficacy of these extracts, but we also need to consider other therapeutic approaches including the decontamination ofintestinal lumen, supplementation of bile acids and, probably, the use of probiotics which may attenuate intestinal inflammation in chronic pancreatitis patients.展开更多
Diagnosis of chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) is based on a combination of clinical symptoms, laboratory tests and imaging data. Imaging of the morphological characteristics of IBD includes the assessment of ...Diagnosis of chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) is based on a combination of clinical symptoms, laboratory tests and imaging data. Imaging of the morphological characteristics of IBD includes the assessment of mucosal alterations, transmural involvement and extraintestinal manifestations. No single imaging technique serves as a diagnostic gold standard to encompass all disease manifestations. Ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allow cross-sectional imaging of the transmural alterations and extraintestinal manifestations. While in the USA the technique of choice is CT, in Europe the focus is more on MRI and ultrasound (US). Most patients with chronic IBD are diagnosed at a young age. After baseline diagnosis many of these young patients have to undergo repetitive imaging procedures during the variable clinical course of the disease, characterized by alternate periods of remission and active disease, and in monitoring the response to treatment. US has the advantage of being noninvasive, less costly, and easily repeatable, and thus can be very useful in following up patients with IBD. In addition, rising concern about radiation exposure in young adults indicates the demand for radiation-sparing techniques like US and MRI. This article focuses on the current clinical practice of US in IBD, describing the current technologies used in transabdominal intestinal US and the characteristic sonographic findings in Crohn′s disease and ulcerative colitis.展开更多
基金Supported by"Associazione Italiana perla Ricerca sul Cancro",AIRC,MFAG-9353 and"Fondazione Umberto di Mario",Rome
文摘Chronic inflammation is thought to be the leading cause of many human cancers including colorectal cancer(CRC).Accordingly,epidemiologic and clinical studies indicate that patients affected by ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease,the two major forms of inflammatory bowel disease,have an increased risk of developing CRC.In recent years,the role of immune cells and their products have been shown to be pivotal in initiation and progression of colitis-associated CRC.On the other hand,activation of the immune system has been shown to cause dysplastic cell elimination and cancer suppression in other settings.Clinical and experimental data herein reviewed,while confirming chronic inflammation as a risk factor for colon carcinogenesis,do not completely rule out the possibility that under certain conditions the chronic activation of the mucosal immune system might protect from colonic dysplasia.
文摘Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic disorders of the intestine with increasing incidence in Europe, Northern America and asiatic countries such as china. Thus, we have putted together these topic highlight articles to give insights into the current understanding of IBD pathogenesis, diagnostics and treatment.
文摘Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency caused by chronic pancreatitis results from various factors which regulate digestion and absorption of nutrients. Pancreatic function has been extensively studied over the last 40 years, even if some aspects of secretion and gastrointestinal adaptation are not completely understood. The main clinical manifestations of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency are fat malabsorption, known as steatorrhea, which consists of fecal excretion of more than 6 g of fat per day, weight loss, abdominal discomfort and abdominal swelling sensation. Fat malabsorption also results in a deficit of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K) with consequent clinical manifestations. The relationships between pancreatic maldigestion, intestinal ecology and intestinal inflammation have not received particular attention, even ifin clinical practice these mechanisms may be responsible for the low efficacy of pancreatic extracts in abolishing steatorrhea in some patients. The best treatments for pancreatic maldigestion should be re-evaluated, taking into account not only the correction of pancreatic insufficiency using pancreatic extracts and the best duodenal pH to permit optimal efficacy of these extracts, but we also need to consider other therapeutic approaches including the decontamination ofintestinal lumen, supplementation of bile acids and, probably, the use of probiotics which may attenuate intestinal inflammation in chronic pancreatitis patients.
文摘Diagnosis of chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) is based on a combination of clinical symptoms, laboratory tests and imaging data. Imaging of the morphological characteristics of IBD includes the assessment of mucosal alterations, transmural involvement and extraintestinal manifestations. No single imaging technique serves as a diagnostic gold standard to encompass all disease manifestations. Ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allow cross-sectional imaging of the transmural alterations and extraintestinal manifestations. While in the USA the technique of choice is CT, in Europe the focus is more on MRI and ultrasound (US). Most patients with chronic IBD are diagnosed at a young age. After baseline diagnosis many of these young patients have to undergo repetitive imaging procedures during the variable clinical course of the disease, characterized by alternate periods of remission and active disease, and in monitoring the response to treatment. US has the advantage of being noninvasive, less costly, and easily repeatable, and thus can be very useful in following up patients with IBD. In addition, rising concern about radiation exposure in young adults indicates the demand for radiation-sparing techniques like US and MRI. This article focuses on the current clinical practice of US in IBD, describing the current technologies used in transabdominal intestinal US and the characteristic sonographic findings in Crohn′s disease and ulcerative colitis.