Serological Biomarkers and Diversion Colitis: Changes after Stimulation with Probiotics.

Diversion colitis is a non-specific inflammation of a defunctionalised segment of the colon after a temporary stoma has been performed. This inflammation is associated with an alteration of certain inflammatory serum markers. The aims of this study were, firstly, to evaluate the modification of inflammatory biomarkers after stimulation with probiotics prior to closure of the protective ileostomy. Secondly, to identify if a relationship could be established between the severity of diversion colitis and the alteration of inflammatory biomarkers in the blood. A prospective, randomized, double-blind, controlled study was conducted. Patients who underwent surgery for colorectal carcinoma with protective ileostomy between January 2017 and December 2018 were included, pending reconstructive surgery and with diversion colitis as diagnosis. The sample was randomly divided into a group stimulated with probiotics (SG) (n = 34) and a control group (CG) (n = 35). Histological and endoscopic changes were evaluated after stimulation, after restorative surgery and during the short-term follow-up after surgery, including the correlation with pro-inflammatory biomarkers in blood. As main findings, a significant decrease in C-reactive protein (CRP), Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR ratio), and monocyte/lymphocyte ratio (LMR ratio) was observed in the SG versus the CG with a p < 0.001. A significant increase in transferrin values and in the platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR) was observed in the SG versus CG after stimulation with probiotics with a p < 0.001. A normalisation of CRP and transferrin levels was observed in the third month of follow-up after closure ileostomy, and NLR, LMR and PLR ratios were equal in both groups. Decreased modified Glasgow prognostic score was found in SG compared to CG after probiotic stimulation (p < 0.001). The endoscopic and histological severity of diversion colitis is associated with a greater alteration of blood inflammatory biomarkers. The stimulation with probiotics prior to reconstructive surgery promotes an early normalization of these parameters.

Hematochezia caused by eosinophilic proctocolitis in a newborn before oral feeding: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Hematochezia is a frequent symptom in early infancy. However, it occurs very rarely within the immediate neonatal period, and its occurrence before any oral intake is particularly rare. Because of the "congenital" presentation of hematochezia in our patient, we initially considered our case to be a non-classical, potentially severe type of food protein-induced allergic proctocolitis. This diagnosis needs to be confirmed by an abnormal oral challenge test once the hematochezia has disappeared. If such a challenge cannot demonstrate an allergic origin, then the etiology of the hematochezia could be a neonatal transient eosinophilic colitis. Only two similar cases have been described so far. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a black baby boy of African origin born at 36 weeks 5 days of gestational age who presented with massive hematochezia immediately after birth. A rectosigmoidoscopy revealed a severe inflammation associated with diffuse eosinophilic infiltration on biopsy. His clinical outcome was favorable after introduction of an amino acid formula diet. We initially considered our case to be a non-classical, potentially severe type of food protein-induced allergic proctocolitis but reintroduction of standard formula milk at the age of 3 months was successful. So, our patient is the first newborn in Europe who fits the diagnosis of "neonatal transient eosinophilic colitis." CONCLUSIONS: We discuss the possible etiology of "congenital" eosinophilic inflammation of the distal colon and conclude that hematochezia in well-looking neonates, in the absence of negative challenge tests later on, is more likely to be a neonatal transient eosinophilic colitis than an allergic proctocolitis. This new entity could be more frequent than previously thought, changing our medical care strategies for this kind of neonatal symptom.

Non-IgE-mediated gastrointestinal food allergies in children.

Non-IgE-mediated gastrointestinal food allergic disorders (non-IgE-GI-FA) including food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES), food protein-induced enteropathy (FPE), and food protein-induced allergic proctocolitis (FPIAP) are relatively uncommon in infants and young children, but are likely under-diagnosed. Non-IgE-GI-FA have a favorable prognosis, with majority resolving by age 3-5 years. Diagnosis relies on the recognition of symptoms pattern in FPIAP and FPIES and biopsy in FPE. Further studies are needed for a better understanding of the pathomechanism, which will lead eventually to the development of diagnostic tests and treatments. Limited evidence supports the role of food allergens in subsets of constipation, gastroesophageal reflux disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and colic. The immunologic pathomechanism is not fully understood and empiric prolonged avoidance of food allergens should be limited to minimize nutrient deficiency and feeding disorders/food aversions in infants.

Doenças inflamatórias intestinais: o que há de novo em terapianutricional? / Intestinal inflammatory diseases: what is new in nutritional therapy? / Enfermedades inflamatorias intestinal: ¿qué hay de nuevo en terapia nutricional?

A doença inflamatória intestinal (DII) é uma denominação genérica que engloba várias entidades patológicas, sendo as mais comuns: retocolite ulcerativa inespecífica (RCUI) e doença de Crohn (DC), que acometem o trato gastrointestinal e são comumente associadas à desnutrição protéico-energética (DPE). As alterações nutricionais dependem da extensão e da gravidade com que se manifestam as moléstias, agravando o prognóstico tanto do paciente em tratamento clínico, quanto daqueles submetidos a cirurgias, deteriorando ainda a competência imune. A terapia nutricional tem se mostrado como recurso terapêutico auxiliar extremamente útil, atuando diretamente sobre o estado nutricional, mantendo-o e/ou recuperando-o, com conseqüente benefício na evolução e tratamento das DII. As indicações e as características básicas das dietas são motivos de discussão. O suporte nutricional oral, enteral e parenteral tem se mostrado bastante eficaz na indução e na manutenção da remissão da DII, pelo fornecimento de nutrientescom funções fisiológicas específicas. Estes nutrientes atuam modulando a resposta imunoinflamatória e mantendo a integridade da mucosa intestinal, melhorando o estado clínico e, conseqüentemente, o estado nutricional destes pacientes. O conhecimento do papel benéfico da flora intestinal estimulou as investigações com probióticos, sugerindo estratégias futuras detratamento.

Intestinal inflammatory disease (IID) is a generic denomination for various pathologic entities.The most common are non-specific ulcerative rectocolitis and Crohn’s disease (CD), which affect the gastrointestinal tract and are commonly associated with protein-energetic malnutrition(PEM). The nutritional alterations depend on the extent and gravity of the symptoms, aggravate the prognosis of patients receiving clinical treatment as well as surgical patients and worse nimmune competence. Nutritional therapy has revealed to be an extremely useful therapeutic resource, which exerts a direct influence, maintaining or recovering the nutritional state, andconsequently benefits the evolution and treatment of IID. The indications and basic characteristics of diets are a reason for discussion. Oral, enteral and parenteral nutritional support has revealed to be quite efficient to induce and maintain the remission of IID, as it supplies nutrients with specific physiological functions. The effect of these nutrients modulates the immuno-inflammatory response and maintains the integrity of the intestinal mucosa, improving these patients’ clinical and,consequently, nutritional condition. Knowledge about the beneficial role of the intestinal flora stimulated research on probiotics which has resulted in future treatment strategy suggestions.

La enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal (EII) es una denominación genérica que abarca varias entidades patológicas. Las más comunes son la rectocolitis ulcerativa inespecífica (RCUI) y enfermedad de Crohn (EC), que atacan al tracto gastrointestinal y son comúnmente asociadas a la desnutrición proteico-energética (DPE). Las alteraciones nutricionales dependen de la extensión y gravedad con que se muestran las molestias, agudizando el pronóstico tanto del paciente en tratamiento clínico como en aquellossometidos a cirugías y empeorando además la competencia inmune. La terapia nutricional se ha revelado como recurso terapéutico auxiliar extremamente útil, actuando directamente sobre el estado nutricional, manteniéndolo y/o recuperándolo, acarreando beneficios a la evolución y al tratamiento de las EII. Las indicaciones y características básicas de las dietas son motivo de discusión. El soporte nutricional oral, enteral y parenteral se hamostrado bastante eficaz en la inducción y el mantenimiento de la remisión de la EII,debido al suministro de nutrientes con funciones fisiológicas específicas. Estos nutrientes actúan modulando la respuesta inmunoinflamatoria y manteniendo la integridad de la mucosa intestinal, mejorando el estado clínico y, consecuentemente, el estado nutricional de estos pacientes. El conocimiento del papel benéfico de la flora intestinal estimuló las investigaciones con probióticos sugiriendo estrategias futuras de tratamiento.

Distal proctocolitis and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs): the mucosal effect in situ.

It has been postulated that patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) have altered reactivity of gut-associated lymphoid tissue. In such cases there is intense infiltration of the mucosa with immune competent cells and associated tissue damage. We have shown previously that the dietary supplementation with the n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) results in significant systemic immune suppression. The aim of this study, therefore, was to evaluate the in situ effect of n-3 PUFAs on distal proctocolitis. Each patient received either fish oil extract (EPA 3.2 g, DHA 2.4 g) (n = 9) or sunflower oil (n = 9) daily in a double blind manner for six months. Monthly assessment included: (1) disease activity using clinical, sigmoidoscopic, and histological scores and (2) immunohistochemical analysis (immunoglobulins, CD profiles) of rectal biopsy specimens (before and after six months supplementation) using monoclonal antibodies and quantitative computer-assisted video image analysis. Prior to receiving supplementation, patients with proctocolitis (n = 18) showed significantly higher numbers of cells expressing CD3 (pan T cells) and HLA-DR and IgM containing cells compared with non-colitic controls (n = 8). Six months supplementation with n-3 PUFAs resulted in significant reduction in the number of cells expressing CD3 and HLA and the percentage of cells containing IgM. There was no significant change in the CD20 nor the percentage of IgG or IgA containing cells in either group of patients with procto-colitis. In patients receiving n-3 PUFA supplementation, there was improvement in the disease activity and histological scores, compared with pretreatment evaluation. This study has demonstrated both evidence of suppression of in situ immune reactivity and concurrent reduction in disease activity in patients with proctocolitis receiving n-3 PUFA supplementation. This may have important implication for therapy in patients with ulcerative colitis.