Diagnostic value associated with the combination of saliva pepsin and microorganisms in functional heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux disease

Heartburn is a common symptom shared by both gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD)and functional heartburn(FHB),which can make it challenging to differentiate between the two conditions.However,examining oral manifestations of GERD can be a cost-effective and readily available method to aid in this differentiation process.It may serve as a valuable tool in distinguishing GERD from FHB.

Insights into renal and urological complications of inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)is a chronic condition characterized by immune-mediated inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract,which follows a relapsing and remitting course.Apart from affecting the gastrointestinal tract,IBD also has extra-intestinal manifestations(EIMs).While the etiology of extraintestinal manifestation remains unclear,it is theorized to be based on immunological responses influenced by genetic factors.Renal involvement is one of the EIMs observed in ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.The renal manifes-tations in IBD patients encompass a range of conditions including nephrolithiasis,amyloidosis,tubulointerstitial nephritis,glomerulonephritis(GN),obstructive pathologies,and chronic kidney disease(CKD).The incidence of CKD in IBD patients varies from 5%-15%.The decline in renal function can stem from various factors such as direct inflammatory damage to the kidneys leading to glomerular or tubular injury,or from complications like recurrent stones,amyloidosis,or GN.Additionally,nephrotoxic medications used in treating IBD,such as TNF-αinhibitors,calcineurin inhibitors,and aminosalicylates,can exacerbate the decline in renal function.Currently,there is a lack of consensus regarding these patients'screening and renal function monitoring.This review aims to assess the existing literature on the different renal complications among individuals with IBD,shedding light on their pathophysiology and management.

Extraintestinal manifestations in a large series of Italian inflammatory bowel disease patients

AIM: To investigate prevalence, type and time of onset of extraintestinal manifestations (EIMs) in a series of Italian inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients.

Extraintestinal manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease:Do they influence treatment and outcome?

Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are chronic inflammatory bowel diseases that often involve organs other than those of the gastrointestinal tract. Immune-related extraintestinal manifestations (EIMs) are usually related to disease activity, but sometimes may take an independent course. Globally, about one third of patients develop these systemic manifestations. Phenotypic classification shows that certain subsets of patients are more susceptible to developing EIMs, which frequently occur simultaneously in the same patient overlapping joints, skin, mouth, and eyes. The clinical spectrum of these manifestations varies from mild transitory to very severe lesions, sometimes more incapacitating than the intestinal disease itself. The great majority of these EIMs accompany the activity of intestinal disease and patients run a higher risk of a severe clinical course. For most of the inflammatory EIMs, the primary therapeutic target remains the bowel. Early aggressive therapy can minimize severe complications and maintenance treatment has the potential to prevent some devastating consequences.

Smoking increases the risk of extraintestinal manifestations in Crohn's disease

AIM:To demonstrate a high prevalence of extraintestinal manifestations(EIMs)in a prospective populationbased cohort of inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)patients at first diagnosis as well as during the early course of the disease.METHODS:EIMs are common in patients with IBD.Data on the frequency of EIMs have mostly been assessed in patients from tertiary centers;however,data about the prevalence of EIMs at first diagnosis as well as factors influencing their incidence during the early course of disease from prospective population-based cohorts are scarce.We present data of patients of our population-based"Oberpfalz cohort"(Bavaria,Germany)from first diagnosis(up to 3 mo after first diagnosis)as well as during the early course of the disease.Possible risk factors were assessed by calculating the relative risk(RR)as well as using logistic regression analysis.RESULTS:In total,data of 257 newly diagnosed patients with IBD were evaluated[161 Crohn’s disease(CD),96 ulcerative colitis(UC)].Median duration of follow-up was 50 mo after first diagnosis.In 63.4%of all patients(n=163),an EIM was diagnosed at any point during the observation period.At first diagnosis,patients with CD had a significantly increased risk of an EIM[n=69(42.9%)]compared with UC patients[n=21(21.9%);P<0.001;RR=1.96;95%CI:1.30-2.98].Active smoking increased the risk of CD patients developing an EIM during the early course of the disease,but notably not of UC patients(P=0.046;RR=1.96;95%CI:1.01-3.79).In addition,using logistic regression analysis,the need for IBD-related surgery and a young age at first diagnosis were identified as risk factors for the development of an EIM in CD patients.No association with EIMs was found for the factors sex,localization of the disease and positive family history of IBD.In contrast,no key factors which increased the risk of development of an EIM could be identified in UC patients.CONCLUSION:We found a high prevalence of EIM in this cohort at first diagnosis and during the early course of the disease.In patients with CD,smoking,need for surgery and younger age at first diagnosis were risk factors for the development of an EIM.

Rheumatologic manifestations of hepatic diseases

A possible link is suggested between hepatic diseases and rheumatic disease. Polyarthralgia and polyarthritis may be seen during the prodromal period of acute viral hepatitis, especially in hepatitis B virus (HBV). The symptoms of arthritis, mild, localized or generalized, mostly involve the small joints of hands. Joint symptoms frequently precede the onset of jaundice, no residual joint deformities. Circulating immune complexes are believed to play a causative role in the development of vasculitis and arthritis. Hemochromatosis is an antosomal recessive disorder of iron. About 43%-81% of patients with hemochromatosis have arthritis. The common extrahepatic manifestations of autoimmune hepatitis are arthralgia and skin rash. The reported prevalence of symptomatic inflammatory arthropathy in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis ranges from 4% to 50%. Skeletal involvement with Wilson's disease is common. Such patients may complain of pain and stiffness, mainly in the knee, wrist, or other large joints. Shwachman's syndrome is a disorder of pancreatic exocrine. Symmetric bone lesions have been reported in 10% to 15% of patients. They are involved predominantly at the femoral neck. Rheumatic symptoms are seen in one third of adult patients with cystic fibrosis and arthritis in 2.5% to 12% of patients. The arthritis caused by pancreatic panniculitis is usually symmetrical and involves the small joints of the hand, wrist, and feet, but may involve such larger joints as the elbow, ankle, and knee.

Prevalence and characteristics of ophthalmological extra-intestinal manifestations in Chinese patients with inflammatory bowel disease

AIM：To investigate the prevalence of ophthalmological extra-intestinal manifestations（O-EIMs） in Chinese patients with inflammatory bowel disease（IBD） and to identify risk factors for the development of O-EIMs.METHODS：The study population consisted of Chinese patients with a definite diagnosis of Crohn＇s disease（CD） or ulcerative colitis（UC） in a large teaching hospital between January 1995 and December 2014.Demographic and clinical characteristics of patients were extracted retrospectively.RESULTS： In this twenty-year cohort,645 IBD patients（517 with UC,128 with CD） were registered.Among them122（18.9%） exhibited at least one EIM.Of 13 patients（2.0%） developed O-EIMs,7 of CD（5.5%） and 6 of UC（1.2%）.Clinical ophthalmological manifestations included redness（76.9%）,burning（61.5%）,pain（38.5%）,itching（15.4%） of eyes and vision change（7.7%）.O-EIMs included episcleritis（7）,uveitis（5） and dry eye（1）.OEIMs were more prevalent in female（odds ratio for male0.61,95% confidence interval 0.52-0.73,P 〈0.0001）,and patients who had IBD diagnosis at young age（odds ratio for patients aged 〉30 years 0.76,95% confidence interval0.65-0.88,P 〈0.0001）.CONCLUSION： The frequency of O-EIMs in Chinese patients with IBD is lower than the rates reported in the studies of European and American countries.Episcleritisand uveitis are the most common O-EIMs.O-EIMs are more frequent in patients with CD and more prevalent in female and patients who have IBD diagnosis at young age.

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease have increased risk of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases

AIM To investigate whether immune mediated diseases(IMD) are more frequent in patients with inflammatory bowel disease(IBD).METHODS In this population based registry study,a total of 47325 patients with IBD were alive and registered in the Danish National Patient Registry on December 16,2013. Controls were randomly selected from the Danish Civil Registration System(CRS) and matched for sex,age,and municipality. We used ICD 10 codes to identify the diagnoses of the included patients. The IBD population was divided into three subgroups: Ulcerative colitis(UC),Crohn's disease(CD) and Both the latter referring to those registered with both diagnoses. Subsequently,odds-ratios(OR) and 95%CI were obtained separately for each group and their respective controls. The use of Bonferoni post-test correction adjusted the significance level to P < 0.00125. P-values were estimated using Fisher's exact test.RESULTS There were significantly more women than men in the registry,and a greater percentage of comorbidity in the IBD groups(P < 0.05). Twenty different IMDs were all significantly more frequent in the IBD group. Sixteen were associated with UC versus twelve with CD. In both UC and CD ORs were significantly increased(P < 0.00125) for primary sclerosing cholangitis(PSC),celiac disease,type 1 diabetes(T1D),sarcoidosis,asthma,iridocyclitis,psoriasis,pyoderma gangrenosum,rheumatoid arthritis,and ankylosing spondylitis. Restricted to UC(P < 0.00125) were autoimmune hepatitis,primary biliary cholangitis,Grave's disease,polymyalgia rheumatica,temporal arteritis,and atrophic gastritis. Restricted to CD(P < 0.00125) were psoriatic arthritis and episcleritis. Restricted to women with UC(P < 0.00125) were atrophic gastritis,rheumatoid arthritis,temporal arteritis,and polymyalgia rheumatica. Restricted to women with CD were episcleritis,rheumatoid arthritis,and psoriatic arthritis. The only disease restricted to men(P < 0.00125) was sarcoidosis. CONCLUSION Immune mediated diseases were significantly more frequent in patients with IBD. Our results strengthen the hypothesis that some IMDs and IBD may have overlapping pathogenic pathways.

Epidemiology and clinical course of Crohn's disease:Results from observational studies

The authors review the clinical outcome in patients with Crohn's disease(CD)based on studies describing the natural course of the disease.Population-based studies have demonstrated that the incidence rates and prevalence rates for CD have increased since the mid-1970s.The authors search for English language articles from 1980 until 2011.Geographical variations,incidence,prevalence,smoking habits,sex,mortality and medications are investigated.An increasing incidence and prevalence of CD have been found over the last three decades.The disease seems to be most common in northern Europe and North America,but is probably increasing also in Asia and Africa.Smoking is associated with an increased risk of developing CD.Age <40 at diagnosis,penetrating/stricturing complications,need for systemic steroids,and disease location in terminal ileum are factors associated with higher relapse rates.A slight predominance of women diagnosed with CD has been found.Ileocecal resection is the most commonly performed surgical procedure,and within the first five years after the diagnosis about one third of the patients have had intestinal surgery.Smoking is associated with a worse clinical course and withincreased risk of flare-ups.In most studies the overall mortality is comparable to the background population.To date,the most effective treatment options in acute flares are glucocorticosteroids and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α-blockers.Azathioprine/methotrexate and TNF-α-blockers are effective in maintaining remission.

Diagnosis and treatment of an elderly patient with 2019-nCoV pneumonia and acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Gansu Province:A case report

BACKGROUND In December 2019,the first patient with 2019-novel coronavirus(2019-nCoV)was reported in Wuhan,China,and the disease spread rapidly across the country and surrounding countries within 2 mo.As of February 29,2020,a total of 91 confirmed cases had been reported in Gansu Province.This case report of the diagnosis and treatment of an elderly patient with 2019-nCoV pneumonia complicated by acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Gansu Province aims to provide a better reference for the treatment of patients in the future.CASE SUMMARY The patient,a 94-year-old female,lived in Maiji District of Tianshui,Gansu Province,China.On January 30,2020,she was admitted to the Fourth People’s Hospital of Tianshui after 9 d of close contact with a patient with 2019-nCoV pneumonia.She was subsequently admitted to Gansu Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine for isolation and transferred to Tianshui Gansu Provincial Hospital of Infectious Diseases on February 3,2020 for treatment.Upon initial examination,her body temperature was 36.7°C,pulse was 80,breathing was 20,and blood pressure was 130/80 mmHg.She was conscious with normal development and normal nutrition.The pharynx was not red,and bilateral tonsils were not red and swollen.The lungs sounded slightly coarse with no dry or wet rales.The first symptoms were cough and fatigue on 2 February.The patient was hospitalized for 12 d.After active treatment,she was discharged on February 14 with a good prognosis.CONCLUSION A history of exposure to the affected area or patient is a major cause of 2019-nCoV infection,and population clustering is a high risk factor for transmission.Patients may not necessarily have respiratory system symptoms as the only clinical manifestation but may also have concomitant or first onset digestive symptoms.Attention should be paid to the prevention and treatment of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome.Nucleic acid testing is extremely important and needs to be repeated several times.Laboratory and auxiliary examination indicators during the first week of admission are extremely important.It is feasible to carry out dynamic and continuous index monitoring,which can predict and guide the prevention and treatment of multiple organ dysfunction and the prognosis of the disease.

Dental evaluation is helpful in the differentiation of functional heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux disease

BACKGROUND Heartburn is identically the key symptom of both,gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD)and functional heartburn(FHB),making the differential diagnosis resource-intensive.Oral manifestations of GERD can be easily examined;therefore,their exploration might be a cheap,widely available,and useful tool in the differentiation of GERD and FHB.AIM To evaluate the prevalence of dental erosions(DE)and periodontal diseases(PD)in patients with heartburn and their association with GERD and FHB.METHODS A total of 116[M/F:51/65,mean age:54(17-80)years]consecutive patients with heartburn were enrolled for detailed esophageal function and orodental examinations.RESULTS Dental disorders were detected in 89%(103/116).Patients with PD+DE had significantly more often pathologic reflux(90.0%vs 27.8%;P<0.05),higher esophagitis scores(1.8 vs 0.9;P<0.05),and a significantly different mean impedance curve(P=0.04)than those without any dental diseases.The opposite approach established that patients with GERD had significantly higher prevalence of DE and PD,especially if both were present(28.9%vs 2.0%;P<0.01),more severe PD(1.5 vs 1.0;P<0.01),and longer history of heartburn(15 years vs 9 years;P<0.01)than those with FHB.CONCLUSION The dental evaluation of patients with heartburn seems to be useful in the differential diagnosis of GERD and FHB.Among the studied parameters,the co-appearance of DE and PD seems to be the best predictor of GERD,whereas the absence of dental disorders was mostly observed in FHB.

Spectrum of COVID-19 induced liver injury:A review report

The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic has caused changes in the global health system,causing significant setbacks in healthcare systems worldwide.This pandemic has also shown resilience,flexibility,and creativity in reacting to the tragedy.The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2)infection targets most of the respiratory tract,resulting in a severe sickness called acute respiratory distress syndrome that may be fatal in some individuals.Although the lung is the primary organ targeted by COVID-19 viruses,the clinical aspect of the disease is varied and ranges from asymptomatic to respiratory failure.However,due to an unorganized immune response and several affected mechanisms,the liver may also experience liver cell injury,ischemic liver dysfunction,and drug-induced liver injury,which can result in respiratory failure because of the immune system’s disordered response and other compromised processes that can end in multisystem organ failure.Patients with liver cirrhosis or those who have impaired immune systems may be more likely than other groups to experience worse results from the SARS-CoV-2 infection.We thus intend to examine the pathogenesis,current therapy,and consequences of liver damage concerning COVID-19.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the neuropsychiatric status of Wilson’s disease

We have read with interest the Letter to the Editor by Drs.Zhuang and Zhong,who presented the clinical data of 68 patients with Wilson’s disease(WD)who were admitted to the hospital before and during the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic,and appreciated their findings on hepatic and some extrahepatic manifestations.Nevertheless,given the strong impact of the pandemic on patients with neurological and psychiatric disorders,we would have expected a worsening of the psychiatric and/or neurological impairments in these patients.In contrast,according to the authors,these manifestations remained,somewhat unexpectedly,unchanged.This finding is in contrast with most of the current literature that highlights not only an increased incidence of mental health disorders in the general population but also an exacerbation of neurological and psychiatric symptoms in patients with chronic diseases,especially in those with pre-existing neuropsychiatric disorders,such as WD.Although the study was mainly focused on the hepatic features of WD patients taking anti-copper treatment,a generic and cumulative definition of neurological and psychiatric manifestations,as in this study,does not allow for further considerations.Future studies during and after the pandemic are necessary to clarify the real impact,either direct or indirect,of the COVID-19 pandemic on the neurological and psychiatric symptoms of WD patients.

Kimura's disease in soft palate with clinical and histopathological presentation: A case report

BACKGROUND Kimura’s disease is an inflammatory disease that is usually found in the deep lymph nodes of the head and neck.While rare,It is most frequently seen in young men.The oral cavity and salivary glands may also be involved.There are no reports on tumor occurring in soft palate.We have encountered a case of Kimura’s disease in the soft palate of an elderly woman.CASE SUMMARY A 63-year-old elderly Chinese woman with a slowly growing mass in the upper jaw was referred to our service.A biopsy to the mass was taken after the patient was referred to our service.The tumor was diagnosed as benign.We performed cervical lymph node puncture and partial surgical excision of the lesion.The tumor,which showed signs of marked follicular hyperplasia with follicles surrounded by eosinophils and lymphocytes,was located within the soft palate.Kimura’s disease was diagnosed after histopathologic examination of the resected tissue.The etiology of Kimura’s disease is not fully understood.One current model includes T-cells involvement with cytokines also playing a role.The patient was without evidence for recurrence of partially resected area 6 mo later.This report shows that Kimura’s disease is not limited to the head,neck,and salivary gland lymph nodes.We present a case of a tumor in soft palate.This location adds another possible site for consideration during the differential diagnoses of a slowly growing mass.CONCLUSION The present case illustrates a characteristic description of Kimura’s disease.This case highlights the main differences between Kimura’s disease and angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia.

Classical and Non-Classical Celiac Disease Comparison: Ten Years of Study

Objective: Celiac disease (CD) is an immune-mediated systemic disorder triggered by gluten. It has a variable combination of clinical manifestations and changes that have been occurring in recent decades however they are not known in detail. The purpose of the article is to compare Classical and Non-Classical CD cases in terms of demographic characteristics, duodenal biopsy, extraintestinal manifestations, and associated comorbidities. Materials and Methods: A comparative retrospective cohort study from January 2008 to December 2018. Results: A total of 128 cases were included: 84 Classical (66%) and 44 Non-Classical CD (34%). The family history of CD was identified in 14% of cases without differences between groups. The age at diagnosis was distinct for Classical and Non-Classical CD (4.9 ± 4 and 8.3 ± 4 years old;p 0.001), respectively. Important changes were found within the classical presentation, including mono symptoms and a significantly higher rate of intestinal atrophy;p = 0.04. The main Non-Classical CD symptom was recurrent abdominal pain. The extraintestinal manifestations (EIM) were identified in 42% and occurred in both groups. The comparison between groups showed differences in rates of migraine and vitamin D deficiency and was higher for Non-Classical CD (p 0.05). Associated diseases occurred in 10.9%, and type 1 diabetes was significant for the Non-Classical CD group (p = 0.04). Conclusion: The classical CD was the most prevalent profile and presented a decrease in the severity of symptoms however remain a higher rate of intestinal atrophy. Recurrent abdominal pain was the main symptom of Non-Classical CD. Extraintestinal manifestations and associated diseases presented an increasing trend of occurrence among cases of Non-Classical CD.

Hepatobiliary manifestations in inflammatory bowel disease: The gut,the drugs and the liver

Abnormal liver biochemical tests are present in up to30%of patients with inflammatory bowel disease(IBD),and therefore become a diagnostic challenge.Liver and biliary tract diseases are common extraintestinal manifestations for both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis(UC),and typically do not correlate with intestinal activity.Primary sclerosing cholangitis(PSC)is the most common hepatobiliary manifestation of IBD,and is more prevalent in UC.Approximately 5%of patients with UC develop PSC,with the prevalence reaching up to 90%.Cholangiocarcinoma and colon cancer risks are increased in these patients.Less common disorders include autoimmune hepatitis/PSC overlap syndrome,IgG4-associated cholangiopathy,primary biliary cirrhosis,hepatic amyloidosis,granulomatous hepatitis,cholelithiasis,portal vein thrombosis,liver abscess,and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.Hepatitis B reactivation during immunosuppressive therapy is a major concern,with screening and vaccination being recommended in serologically negative cases for patients with IBD.Reactivation prophylaxis with entecavir or tenofovir for 6to 12 mo after the end of immunosuppressive therapy is mandatory in patients showing as hepatitis B surface antigen(HBsAg)positive,independently from viral load.HBsAg negative and anti-HBc positive patients,with or without anti-HBs,should be closely monitored,measuring alanine aminotransferase and hepatitis B virus DNA within 12 mo after the end of therapy,and should be treated if the viral load increases.On the other hand,immunosuppressive therapy does not seem to promote reactivation of hepatitis C,and hepatitis C antiviral treatment does not influence IBD natural history either.Most of the drugs used for IBD treatment may induce hepatotoxicity,although the incidence of serious adverse events is low.Abnormalities in liver biochemical tests associated with aminosalicylates are uncommon and are usually not clinically relevant.Methotrexaterelated hepatotoxicity has been described in 14%of patients with IBD,in a dose-dependent manner.Liver biopsy is not routinely recommended.Biologics-related hepatotoxicity is rare,but has been shown most frequently in patients treated with infliximab.Thiopurines have been associated with veno-occlusive disease,regenerative nodular hyperplasia,and liver peliosis.Routine liver biochemical tests are recommended,especially during the first month of treatment.All these conditions should be considered in IBD patients with clinical or biochemical features suggestive of hepatobiliary involvement.Diagnosis and management of these disorders usually involve hepatologists and gastroenterologists due to its complexity.

Extraintestinal manifestations and complications in inflammatory bowel diseases

Crohn＇s disease （CD） and ulcerative colitis （UC） are chronic inflammatory bowel diseases （IBD） that often involve organs other than those of the gastrointestinal tract. These nonintestinal affections are termed extraintestinal symptoms. Differentiating the true extraintestinal manifestations of inflammatory bowel diseases from secondary extraintestinal complications, caused by malnutrition, chronic inflammation or side effects of therapy, may be difficult. This review concentrates on frequency, clinical presentation and therapeutic implications of extraintestinal symptoms in inflammatory bowel diseases. If possible, extraintestinal manifestations are differentiated from extraintestinal complications. Special attention is given to the more recently described sites of involvement; i.e. thromboembolic events, osteoporosis, pulmonary involvement and affection of the central nervous system.

Mucosal lesions of the upper gastrointestinal tract in patients with ulcerative colitis:A review

Ulcerative colitis(UC)is a chronic,nonspecific,relapsing inflammatory bowel disease.The colorectum is considered the chief target organ of UC,whereas upper gastrointestinal(UGI)tract manifestations are infrequent.Recently,emerging evidence has suggested that UC presents complications in esophageal,stomachic,and duodenal mucosal injuries.However,UC-related UGI tract manifestations are varied and frequently silenced or concealed.Moreover,the endoscopic and microscopic characteristics of UGI tract complicated with UC are nonspecific.Therefore,UGI involvement may be ignored by many clinicians.In addition,no standard criteria have been established for patients with UC who should undergo fibrogastroduodenoscopy.Furthermore,specific treatment recommendations may be needed for patients with UC-associated UGI lesions.Herein,we review the esophageal,gastric,and duodenal mucosal lesions of the UC-associated UGI tract,as well as the potential pathogenesis and therapy.

Ophthalmic manifestations in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a review

Clinical manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease(IBD) are not locally restricted to the gastrointestinal tract, and a significant portion of patients have involvement of other organs and systems. The visual system is one of the most frequently affected, mainly by inflammatory disorders such as episcleritis, uveitis and scleritis. A critical review of available literature concerning ocular involvement in IBD, as it appears in Pub Med, was performed. Episcleritis, the most common ocular extraintestinal manifestation(EIM), seems to be more associated with IBD activity when compared with other ocular EIMs. In IBD patients, anterior uveitis has an insidious onset, it is longstanding and bilateral, and not related to the intestinal disease activity. Systemic steroids or immunosuppressants may be necessary in severe ocular inflammation cases, and control of the underlying bowel disease is important to prevent recurrence. Our review revealed that ocular involvement is more prevalent in Crohn's disease than ulcerative colitis, in active IBD, mainly in the presence of other EIMs. The ophthalmic symptoms in IBD are mainly nonspecific and their relevance may not be recognized by the clinician; most ophthalmic manifestations are treatable, and resolve without sequel upon prompt treatment. A collaborative clinical care team for management of IBD that includes ophthalmologists is central for improvement of quality care for these patients, and it is also cost-effective.

Clinical and molecular research of neuroacanthocytosis

Neuroacanthocytosis is an autosomal recessive or dominant inherited disease characterized by widespread, non-specific nervous system symptoms, or spiculated ＂acanthocytic＂ red blood cells. The clinical manifestations typically involve chorea and dystonia, or a range of other movement disorders. Psychiatric and cognitive symptoms may also be present. The two core neuroacanthocytosis syndromes, in which acanthocytosis is atypical, are autosomal recessive chorea-acanthocytosis and X-linked McLeod syndrome. Acanthocytes are found in a smaller proportion of patients with Huntington＇s disease-like 2 and pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration. Because the clinical manifestations are diverse and complicated, in this review we present features of inheritance, age of onset, neuroimaging and laboratory findings, as well as the spectrum of central and peripheral neurological abnormalities and extraneuronal involvement to help distinguish the four specific syndromes.