A Rare Case of Left Hemicolectomy Masking the Signs and Symptoms of Underlying Hirschsprung's Disease in an Adult.

Hirschsprung's disease (HD) is a congenital gastrointestinal condition characterized by the lack of ganglion cells within the submucosal and myenteric nervous plexuses in the large intestine. This results in a dysfunctional segment of the large colon, resulting in symptoms such as failure to pass meconium, constipation, and dilated loops of the bowel. The vast majority of patients are diagnosed during the neonatal period, but a handful can be diagnosed later into childhood and adolescence.

Hypoalbuminemia and Bandemia Predict Failure of Infliximab Rescue Therapy in Acute Severe Ulcerative Colitis.

Background And Aims: Infliximab rescue therapy is effective in patients with corticosteroid refractory acute severe ulcerative colitis, but predictors of response remain poorly understood. We aimed to identify predictors of colectomy in this high-risk patient population.

Methods: Patients hospitalized with acute severe ulcerative colitis who received infliximab after failing intravenous corticosteroid therapy between July 2012 and June 2017 were retrospectively identified.

Electronic patient agenda forms: comparing agreement between the reason for specialty consultation reported by referring providers and patients.

Objective: Little is known about the agreement between referring providers' reason for specialty evaluation and patients' understanding of why they are referred for consultation. Here, we compared the reason for consult (RFC) documented by referring providers during usual care vs. the perceived RFC independently reported by patients through an e-portal just prior to the specialist visit.

CSA13 inhibits colitis-associated intestinal fibrosis via a formyl peptide receptor like-1 mediated HMG-CoA reductase pathway.

Many Crohn's disease (CD) patients develop intestinal strictures, which are difficult to prevent and treat. Cationic steroid antimicrobial 13 (CSA13) shares cationic nature and antimicrobial function with antimicrobial peptide cathelicidin. As many functions of cathelicidin are mediated through formyl peptide receptor-like 1 (FPRL1), we hypothesize that CSA13 mediates anti-fibrogenic effects via FPRL1.

Genetic associations with adverse events from anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy in inflammatory bowel disease patients.

Aim: To study the type and frequency of adverse events associated with anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy and evaluate for any serologic and genetic associations.

Methods: This study was a retrospective review of patients attending the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) centers at Cedars-Sinai IBD Center from 2005-2016. Adverse events were identified chart review.

Statins and pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer remains among the most lethal cancers, despite ongoing advances in treatment for all stages of the disease. Disease prevention represents another opportunity to improve patient outcome, with metabolic syndrome and its components, such as diabetes, obesity and dyslipidemia, having been recognized as modifiable risk factors for pancreatic cancer. In addition, statins have been shown to potentially reduce pancreatic cancer risk and to improve survival in patients with a combination of metabolic syndrome and pancreatic cancer.

Outcomes with Anti-Tumour Necrosis Factor-Alpha Therapy and Serology in Patients with Denovo Crohn's Disease After Ileal Pouch Anal Anastomosis.

Background And Aims: A subset of patients who undergo ileal pouch-anal anastomosis [IPAA] for ulcerative colitis [UC] will later be diagnosed with denovo Crohn's disease [CD]. These patients have a higher risk of pouch failure. In this study we evaluated inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] serology in patients with denovo CD and examined the success of anti-tumour necrosis factor-alpha [anti-TNFα] therapy in preventing ileostomy in denovo CD patients who failed anti-TNFα therapy before IPAA.

Nonbloody Diarrhea but Not Significant Weight Loss at Diagnosis Is Associated with the Development of Denovo Crohn's Disease After Ileal Pouch-anal Anastomosis for Ulcerative Colitis.

Background: Denovo Crohn's disease (CD) develops in 5% to 10% of patients after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) for ulcerative colitis (UC) leading to increased morbidity and rates of pouch failure. Initial nonbloody diarrhea and weight loss at diagnosis are independent risk factors for a change in diagnosis from UC to CD in nonsurgical patients. We investigated whether these features were risk factors for denovo CD in a longitudinal cohort of patients with UC undergoing IPAA.

Hepatitis B: Working Towards a Cure.

First-line oral therapies for hepatitis B are effective at viral suppression, and treatment can lead to biochemical improvement and histologic regression. Unfortunately, recommended endpoints of treatment such as HBeAg loss and seroconversion may not be durable, with high rates of seroreversion, requiring monitoring, and unfortunately, low rates of  HBsAg loss/seroconversion. Additionally, meeting these endpoints requires years or even indefinite administration, leading to concerns regarding cost, side effects, and high rates of nonadherence.

Diabetes, pancreatic cancer, and metformin therapy.

Pancreatic cancer carries a poor prognosis as most patients present with advanced disease and preferred chemotherapy regimens offer only modest effects on survival. Risk factors include smoking, obesity, heavy alcohol, and chronic pancreatitis. Pancreatic cancer has a complex relationship with diabetes, as diabetes can be both a risk factor for pancreatic cancer and a result of pancreatic cancer.