Gluten-free diet affects fecal small non-coding RNA profiles and microbiome composition in celiac disease supporting a host-gut microbiota crosstalk.

Current treatment for celiac disease (CD) is adhering to a gluten-free diet (GFD), although its long-term molecular effects are still undescribed. New molecular features detectable in stool may improve and facilitate noninvasive clinical management of CD. For this purpose, fecal small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) and gut microbiome profiles were concomitantly explored in CD subjects in relation to strict (or not) GFD adherence over time. In this observational study, we performed small RNA and shotgun metagenomic sequencing in stool from 63 treated CD (tCD) and 3 untreated subjects as well as 66 sex- and age-matched healthy controls. tCD included 51 individuals on strict GFD and with negative transglutaminase (TG) serology (tCD-TG-) and 12 symptomatic with not strict/short-time of GFD adherence and positive TG serology (tCD-TG+). Samples from additional 40 healthy adult individuals and a cohort of 19 untreated pediatric CD subjects and 19 sex/age matched controls were analyzed to further test the outcomes. Several miRNA and microbial profiles were altered in tCD subjects (adj. p < .05). Findings were validated in the external group of adult controls. In tCD-TG-, GFD duration correlated with five miRNA levels (p < .05): for miR-4533-3p and miR-2681-3p, the longer the diet adherence, the less the expression differed from controls. tCD-TG+ and untreated pediatric CD patients showed a similar miRNA dysregulation. Immune-response, trans-membrane transport and cell death pathways were enriched in targets of identified miRNAs. Bifidobacterium longum, Ruminococcus bicirculans, and Haemophilus parainfluenzae abundances shifted (adj. p < .05) with a progressive reduction of denitrification pathways with GFD length. Integrative analysis highlighted 121 miRNA-bacterial relationships (adj. p < .05). Specific molecular patterns in stool characterize CD subjects, reflecting either the long-term GFD effects or the gut inflammatory status, in case of a not strict/short-time adherence. Our findings suggest novel host-microbial interplays and could help the discovery of biomarkers for GFD monitoring over time.

Multicentric Italian survey on daily practice for autoimmune pancreatitis: Clinical data, diagnosis, treatment, and evolution toward pancreatic insufficiency.

BACKGROUND: Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is a rare, and relatively new, form of chronic pancreatitis. The management of AIP can vary considerably among different centres in daily clinical practice. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to present a picture of epidemiological, clinical characteristics, outcomes, and the real-life practice in terms of management in several academic and non-academic centres in Italy. METHODS: Data on the clinical presentation, diagnostic work-up, treatments, frequency of relapses, and long-term outcomes were retrospectively collected in a cohort of AIP patients diagnosed at 14 centres in Italy. RESULTS: One hundred and six patients were classified as type 1 AIP, 48 as type 2 AIP, and 19 as not otherwise specified. Epidemiological, clinical, radiological, and serological characteristics, and relapses were similar to those previously reported for different types of AIP. Endoscopic cytohistology was available in 46.2% of cases, and diagnostic for AIP in only 35.2%. Steroid trial to aid diagnosis was administered in 43.3% cases, and effective in 93.3%. Steroid therapy was used in 70.5% of cases, and effective in 92.6% of patients. Maintenance therapy with low dose of steroid (MST) was prescribed in 25.4% of cases at a mean dose of 5 (±1.4) mg/die, and median time of MST was 60 days. Immunosuppressive drugs were rarely used (10.9%), and rituximab in 1.7%. Faecal elastase-1 was evaluated in only 31.2% of patients, and was pathological in 59.2%. CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort of AIP patients, diagnosis and classification for subtype was frequently possible, confirming the different characteristics of AIP1 and AIP2 previously reported. Nevertheless, we observed a low use of histology and steroid trial for a diagnosis of AIP. Steroid treatment was the most used therapy in our cohort. Immunosuppressants and rituximab were rarely used. The evaluation of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency is underemployed considering its high prevalence.

Management of Helicobacter pylori in Piedmont, Italy.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a Gram-negative bacterium, usually acquired during childhood, whose natural habitat is the gastric lumen. H. pylori is accepted as the most important cause of gastritis and peptic ulcer in humans. Nevertheless, its important role in the pathogenesis of gastric cancer as well as in several extra-gastroduodenal diseases has been confirmed. The aim of this work is to discuss, for the first time in a single article, all publications concerning H. pylori infection arising from Piedmont region, Italy, where in 1893 Giulio Bizzozero was the first who observed and described spiral organisms in the stomach of animal models. A systematic review of all publications on the management of H. pylori in adults in Piedmont, based on a PubMed and a Scopus research from 1965 to 2017 was performed. The discussed aspects are the epidemiology, the study on gastric and extragastric diseases related to H. pylori, the diagnostic methods, the treatment of H. pylori infection, and the possibility of reinfection. In conclusions, with almost 70 publications, Piedmont has proudly maintained the tradition of the father of the H. pylori.

Abdominal bowel ultrasound can predict the risk of surgery in Crohn's disease: proposal of an ultrasonographic score.

OBJECTIVE: Abdominal bowel ultrasound (US) is widely used in the management of Crohn's disease (CD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic role of bowel-wall US morphology on the short-term risk of surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The 147 CD patients recruited in a case-control study comprised 49 cases operated on within 30 days after US examination and 98 matched non-operated controls. Clinical and US characteristics were analysed. Bowel-wall thickness was recorded, bowel-wall patterns were grouped into five types, but for final analysis they were grouped as "preserved" or "disrupted stratification". RESULTS: Wall thickness and US patterns were significantly different between cases and controls (p<0.0001). A wall thickness >4.5 mm was observed in 45/49 cases and 47/98 controls (OR = 12.21), while "disrupted stratification" was observed in 34/49 cases and 12/98 controls (OR = 16.24). Among the clinical and US characteristics recorded, only 4 US variables were independently associated with surgery (pattern, thickness, presence of fistulae/abscesses and stenoses) and considered for the US score=(2.5*US pattern)+(1.5*Bowel thickness)+(3*Presence of fistulae/abscesses)+(1.5*Presence of stenoses). Based on this score, up to 84% of patients were correctly classified according to actual status (operated/non-operated). CONCLUSIONS: Although it needs further prospective validation, the score we propose seems to be a reliable prognostic marker for the short-term risk of surgery in CD. In particular, the score points out those patients with an impending risk of surgery who need careful and frequent control in order to decide on the right time for surgery.

Infliximab and the risk of latent viruses reactivation in active Crohn's disease.

BACKGROUND: Infliximab is used for refractory Crohn's disease but there are concerns regarding long-term safety. Recently, JC-polyomavirus (JCV) was studied after 3 cases of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) were found after treatment with natalizumab. The aim of this study was to investigate the short-term effect of infliximab on reactivation of several harmful latent viruses. METHODS: Sixty consecutive patients scheduled for infliximab induction course were prospectively enrolled. Blood samples were taken before each infliximab infusion at 0, 2, 6, and 14 weeks. Specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses were performed to detect JCV, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), human herpes virus-6, (HHV-6), -7, -8, and cytomegalovirus (CMV). RESULTS: Indications to infliximab were luminal and fistulizing disease in 49 and 15 cases, respectively. Clinical improvement and remission were achieved in 54 (90%) and 39 (65%) of patients, respectively, at 6 weeks. No patient was JCV-positive at any timepoint. EBV serology was positive for 59/60 patients (98%); EBV-PCR tests were transiently positive (>40 copies/10(5) Peripheral blood mononuclear cells, PBMC) in 4 (7%) patients after infliximab, but in each case were negative at subsequent timepoints. All patients were negative for HHV-6, -7, and -8 at all timepoints. CMV serology was positive in 42 patients (70%), but no CMV-PCR-positive patient was observed. There was no association between concomitant treatments or clinical characteristics and viral status. CONCLUSIONS: Our results support the safety of short-term infliximab treatment with respect to latent virus reactivation. The long-term effects of infliximab, particularly for the issue of lymphoproliferative disorders, warrants further studies with larger populations, but so far data are reassuring.

EUS diagnosis and simultaneous endoscopic retrograde cholangiography treatment of common bile duct stones by using an oblique-viewing echoendoscope.

BACKGROUND: MRCP and EUS have replaced ERCP in the diagnosis of biliary diseases, but the latter is needed for treatment. This study evaluates a new approach in the management of common bile duct stones, by using an oblique-viewing echoendoscope. METHODS: Nineteen patients with acute abdominal pain associated with increased liver tests entered the study. Evaluation of the biliary tree was performed by using an oblique-viewing echoendoscope (JF-UM20; Olympus Europe GmbH, Hamburg, Germany). When biliary stones or sludge were found, bile duct cannulation and sphincterotomy were performed in the same session. RESULTS: Bile duct stones were diagnosed by EUS in 4 patients and biliary sludge in 12; the subsequent cholangiography and sphincterotomy with stone extraction confirmed the diagnosis in all patients. Bile duct cannulation failed in 1 patient. EUS showed features of chronic pancreatitis in 3 cases. The mean time for the whole procedure (EUS plus endoscopic retrograde cholangiography with biliary treatment) was 27 minutes. No procedure-related complications were observed. CONCLUSION: This new approach appears to be feasible and safe, providing an accurate diagnosis and, at the same time, an appropriate treatment of common bile duct stones when needed. With technical improvements, this extended EUS technique could be used as the first-line procedure in patients with biliopancreatic diseases.

Helicobacter pylori infection and gastric function in primary autonomic neuropathy.

Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection in diabetic patients has been related to impaired gastric clearance of bacteria due to autonomic neuropathy. Gastrointestinal dysfunction has been described in primary autonomic failure (AF). The aim of the study was to evaluate, for the first time, the presence of Hp infection and gastric function in patients with primary AF Twelve patients with primary AF (aged 58-78), 31 healthy controls (aged 48-75) and 31 patients affected by type 2 diabetes (aged 46-75) were studied. A 13C-urea breath test was performed to assess the presence of Hp infection. To evaluate gastric function, AF patients underwent two non-invasive tests: 1) 13C-octanoic acid breath test (OBT) to evaluate gastric emptying, and 2) electrogastrogram (EGG) to evaluate gastric electrical activity. Hp infection was found in 100% of AF patients, in 48% of controls and in 71% of diabetic patients (p = 0.02 between groups). Electrical or mechanical gastric function was altered in 50% of AF patients. In particular, 1) after OBT, half-time gastric emptying was delayed in 6 out of 12 patients, and 2) EGG showed the presence of gastric dysrhythmias in 6 out of 12 patients. In conclusion, Hp infection was detected in all AF patients studied; as previously demonstrated in diabetes, such a finding might be related to autonomic neuropathy causing mechanical or electrical gastric dysfunction. Hp detection might be important for the gastrointestinal and extradigestive complications of such infection.