Association between socioeconomic deprivation and incidence of infectious intestinal disease by pathogen and linked transmission route: An ecological analysis in the UK.

Infectious intestinal disease (IID) studies conducted at different levels of the surveillance pyramid have found heterogeneity in the association of socioeconomic deprivation with illness. The aim of this study was to analyse the association between socioeconomic deprivation and incidence of IID by certain gastrointestinal pathogens reported to UKHSA. Data were extracted from 2015 to 2018 for Salmonella, Campylobacter, Shigella, Giardia species, and norovirus. Rates were calculated per 100,000 person-years by the index of multiple deprivation quintile, and an ecological analysis was conducted using univariant and multvariable regression models for each pathogen. Incidence of Campylobacter, and Giardia species decreased with increasing deprivation. Conversely, the incidence of norovirus, non-typhoidal Salmonella, Salmonella typhi/paratyphi, Shigella species increased with increasing deprivation. Multivariable analysis results showed that higher deprivation was significantly associated with higher odds of higher number of cases for Shigella flexneri, norovirus and S. typhi/paratyphi. Infections most associated with deprivation were those transmitted by person-to-person spread, and least associated were those transmitted by zoonotic contamination of the environment. Person-to-person transmission can be contained by implementing policies targeting over-crowding and poor hygiene. This approach is likely to be the most effective solution for the reduction of IID.

Study on association factors of intestinal infectious diseases based-Bayesian spatio-temporal model.

BACKGROUND: Intestinal infectious diseases (IIDs) are a significant public health issue in China, and the incidence and distribution of IIDs vary greatly by region and are affected by various factors. This study aims to describe the spatio-temporal trends of IIDs in the Chinese mainland and investigate the association between socioeconomic and meteorological factors with IIDs. METHODS: In this study, IIDs in mainland China from 2006 to 2017 was analyzed using data obtained from the China Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Spatio-temporal mapping techniques was employed to visualize the spatial and temporal distribution of IIDs. Additionally, mean center and standard deviational ellipse analyses were utilized to examine the spatial trends of IIDs. To investigate the potential associations between IIDs and meteorological and socioeconomic variables, spatiotemporal zero-inflated Poisson and negative binomial models was employed within a Bayesian framework. RESULTS: During the study period, the occurrence of most IIDs has dramatically reduced, with uneven reductions in different diseases. Significant regional differences were found among IIDs and influential factors. Overall, the access rate to harmless sanitary toilets (ARHST) was positively associated with the risk of cholera (RR: 1.73, 95%CI: 1.08-2.83), bacillary dysentery (RR: 1.32, 95%CI: 1.06-1.63), and other intestinal infectious diseases (RR: 1.88, 95%CI: 1.52-2.36), and negatively associated with typhoid fever (RR: 0.66, 95%CI: 0.51-0.92), paratyphoid fever (RR: 0.71, 95%CI: 0.55-0.92). Urbanization is only associated with hepatitis E (RR: 2.48, 95%CI: 1.12-5.72). And GDP was negatively correlated with paratyphoid fever (RR: 0.82, 95%CI: 0.70-0.97), and bacillary dysentery (RR: 0.77, 95%CI: 0.68-0.88), and hepatitis A (RR: 0.84, 95%CI: 0.73-0.97). Humidity showed positive correlation with some IIDs except for amoebic dysentery (RR: 1.64, 95%CI: 1.23-2.17), while wind speed showed a negative correlation with most IIDs. High precipitation was associated with an increased risk of typhoid fever (RR: 1.52, 95%CI: 1.09-2.13), and high temperature was associated with an increased risk of typhoid fever (RR: 2.82, 95%CI: 2.06-3.89), paratyphoid fever (RR: 2.79, 95%CI: 2.02-3.90), and HMFD (RR: 1.34, 95%CI: 1.01-1.77). CONCLUSIONS: This research systematically and quantitatively studied the effect of socioeconomic and meteorological factors on IIDs, which provided causal clues for future studies and guided government planning.

Real-world etiologies and treatments of pediatric short bowel syndrome in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Short bowel syndrome (SBS) is a rare disease that can result in intestinal failure (IF). Short bowel syndrome intestinal failure leads to stunted growth and development and high mortality rates. The primary goal of treatment is to enhance intestinal adaptation and nutrient absorption. Parenteral nutrition (PN) is used to support this process until enteral autonomy can be restored. Some patients experience prolonged partial or complete dependency on PN and face an increased risk of life-threatening catheter-related bloodstream infections and intestinal failure-associated liver disease. This study aimed to provide real-world insights into the patient characteristics and treatment dynamics of PN-dependent children with SBS-IF in Japan. METHODS: This retrospective observational study used anonymized information from a large hospital-based medical insurance database to identify pediatric patients who received PN for ≥6 months between April 2008 and January 2020. The primary endpoint was weaning from PN. Secondary endpoints included duration and complications of PN. RESULTS: Forty-eight children (mean age, 2.9 years) were eligible for inclusion. The most common causes of SBS-IF were mechanical bowel obstruction, functional bowel disorders, and Hirschsprung's disease. Twenty-two patients (45.8%) were weaned from PN during the study. The mean time to first weaning was 464.2 days and five patients (22.7%) restarted PN. The mean total duration of PN was 692.6 days in weaned patients and 1,170.9 days in unweaned patients. The most frequent complications were sepsis, catheter infections (both 79.2%), and liver dysfunction (64.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric patients with SBS-IF faced difficulties when weaning off PN and rates of life-threatening complications were high.

Etiologies and treatments of chronic intestinal failure-short bowel syndrome (SBS) in Japanese adults: a real-world observational study.

PURPOSE: Short bowel syndrome (SBS) with intestinal failure (SBS-IF) requires long-term parenteral nutrition (PN). This study investigated the real-world etiologies of SBS, treatment patterns, and PN-related outcomes among adult patients with SBS-IF in Japan. METHODS: This retrospective, observational cohort study was based on data from April, 2008 to January, 2020 from one of the largest hospital-based claim databases in Japan. Analyzed patients were aged ≥ 16 years, had received continuous PN for ≥ 6 months, and had SBS or undergone SBS-related surgery with a diagnosis of a causative disease. The primary endpoint was PN weaning. RESULTS: We analyzed data for 393 patients. The most frequent causes of SBS-IF were ileus (31.8%), Crohn's disease (20.1%), and mesenteric ischemia (16.0%). Of 144/393 (36.6%) patients who were weaned off their PN, 48 (33.3%) were subsequently restarted on PN. Of 276/393 (70.2%) patients whose PN was initiated in hospital, 156 (56.5%) transitioned to home management. The mean duration of initial PN was 450.4 and 675.5 days for patients who were able or unable to be weaned off PN, respectively. Sepsis (67.4%), catheter-related bloodstream infections (49.1%), and liver disorders (45.0%) were the most reported PN-related complications. CONCLUSIONS: Most patients with SBS-IF in Japan could not be weaned off PN and suffered life-threatening complications.

Chronic intestinal failure: an overview and future perspectives.

Intestinal failure (IF) is the inability of the gut to absorb necessary water, macronutrients, micronutrients, and electrolytes sufficient to sustain life and requiring intravenous supplementation or replacement. IF Types 1 and 2 are the initial phase of this condition and usually last for weeks to a few months. Type 3 IF (also known as chronic IF [CIF]) is a chronic and stable condition, usually irreversible, whose main treatment is home parenteral nutrition. CIF is a relatively rare condition, and its prevalence and different causes vary throughout the world. Due to its complexity, CIF requires a multidisciplinary team with experience in this field to achieve successful outcomes. This editorial aims to provide an overview of CIF in adults, emphasizing the challenges faced by clinicians when managing this rare entity, as well as outlining the role of the gastroenterologist.

Trends in Pediatric Intestinal Failure: A Multicenter, Multinational Study.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the natural history and outcomes of children with intestinal failure in a large, multicenter, geographically diverse contemporary cohort (2010-2015) from 6 pediatric intestinal failure programs. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of a multicenter intestinal failure cohort (n = 443). Competing-risk analysis was used to obtain cumulative incidence rates for the primary outcome (enteral autonomy, transplantation, or death). The χ2 test and Cox proportional hazard regression were used for bivariate and multivariable analyses. RESULTS: The study cohort comprised 443 patients (61.2% male). Primary etiologies included short bowel syndrome (SBS), 84.9%; dysmotility disorder, 7.2%; and mucosal enteropathy, 7.9%. Cumulative incidences for enteral autonomy, transplantation, and death at 6 years of follow-up were 53.0%, 16.7%, and 10.5%, respectively. Enteral autonomy was associated with SBS, ≥50% of small bowel length, presence of an ileocecal valve (ICV), absence of portal hypertension, and follow-up in a non-high-volume transplantation center. The composite outcome of transplantation/death was associated with persistent advanced cholestasis and hypoalbuminemia; age <1 year at diagnosis, ICV, and intact colon were protective. CONCLUSIONS: The rates of death and transplantation in children with intestinal failure have decreased; however, the number of children achieving enteral autonomy has not changed significantly, and a larger proportion of patients remain parenteral nutrition dependent. New strategies to achieve enteral autonomy are needed to improve patient outcomes.

Prevention of radiotherapy induced enteropathy by probiotics (PREP): protocol for a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Radiation induced enteropathy is a common complication of radiotherapy for pelvic tumors and adversely affects patient quality of life. Probiotics are thought to restore bowel microflora to optimal levels and reinforce intestinal barrier capacity. Although probiotics are effective in the treatment of radiation induced enteropathy, less is known about their efficacy to prevent radiation induced enteropathy. METHODS: This double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study will investigate the efficacy of probiotics to prevent radiation-induced enteropathy in patients with gynecologic or urologic cancer who received pelvic radiotherapy. The study is designed to enroll 248 eligible patients, who will be randomized 1:1 to a probiotic or placebo group. Toxicities will be evaluated using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v5.0. DISCUSSION: The primary aim of this study is to provide high level evidence for the ability of probiotics to prevent acute radiation induced enteropathy. The secondary aims are to determine the effects of probiotics on the incidence of chronic radiation induced enteropathy and the safety of probiotics in patients with gynecologic or urologic cancer. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov ( NCT03978949 , Registered on 7 June 2019).

Estimated Prevalence of Cronkhite-Canada Syndrome, Chronic Enteropathy Associated With SLCO2A1 Gene, and Intestinal Behçet's Disease in Japan in 2017: A Nationwide Survey.

BACKGROUND: Cronkhite-Canada syndrome (CCS), chronic enteropathy associated with SLCO2A1 gene (CEAS), and intestinal Behçet's disease (BD) are classified as intractable intestinal disorders in Japan. However, the national prevalence of these diseases remains unknown. We performed a nationwide survey to estimate the patient numbers and prevalence rates of these diseases throughout Japan in 2017. METHODS: We conducted a mail-based survey targeting hospitals across Japan to estimate the annual numbers of patients with CCS, CEAS, and intestinal BD in 2017. Using a stratified random sampling method, we selected 2,979 hospital departments and asked them to report the number of patients who met specific diagnostic criteria. The total number of patients for each disease was estimated by multiplying the reported numbers by the reciprocal of the sampling rate and response rate. The corresponding prevalence rates per 1,000,000 population were calculated based on the mid-year population of Japan in 2017. RESULTS: The overall survey response rate was 68.1% (2,029 departments). The estimated numbers of patients with CCS, CEAS, and intestinal BD were 473 (95% confidence interval [CI], 357-589), 388 (95% CI, 289-486), and 3,139 (95% CI, 2,749-3,529), respectively; the prevalence rates per 1,000,000 population were 3.7 (male: 4.0; female: 3.5), 3.1 (male: 3.0; female: 3.1), and 24.8 (male: 24.5; female: 25.0), respectively. The male-to-female ratios were 1.10, 0.94, and 0.93 for patients with CCS, CEAS, and intestinal BD, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Estimates of the national prevalence of CCS, CEAS, and intestinal BD in Japan were generated and found to be higher than those previously reported.

The effect of comorbidity on mortality in elderly patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery: a systematic review and metaanalysis

Background/aim: With the increase in the elderly population, the elderly proportion needing emergency surgery is also increasing. Despite medical advances in surgery and anesthesia, negative postoperative outcomes and high mortality rates are still present in elderly patients undergoing emergency surgery. Comorbidities are described as the main determining factors in poor outcomes. In this metaanalysis, it was aimed to investigate the effect of comorbidity on mortality in elderly patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery. Materials and methods: The studies published between 2010-2019 were scanned from databases of Google Scholar, Cinahl, Pub Med, Medline and Web of Science. Quality criteria proposed by Polit and Beck were used in the evaluation of the included studies. Interrater agreement was calculated by using the Kappa statistic, effect size by using the odds ratio, and heterogeneity among studies by using the Cochran's Q statistics. Kendall's Tau-b coefficient and funnel plot were used to determine publication bias. Results: A total of 9 studies were included in the research. There was a total of 1330 cases in the studies. The total mortality rate was 21% (n = 279), the total rate of having a comorbid factor was 83.6% (n = 1112), and the rate of having a comorbid factor in mortality was 89.2% (n = 249). According to the fixed effects model, the total effect size of comorbid factors on causing mortality was not statistically significant with a value of 1.296 (C.I; 0.84-1.97; P > 0.05). Conclusion: Our study revealed that comorbidity had no significant effect on causing mortality in geriatric patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery. There are controversial results in the literature, and in order to reach more precise results, studies involving wider groups of patients and further studies examining the specific effect of certain comorbid conditions are needed.

Markers of Environmental Enteric Dysfunction Are Associated with Poor Growth and Iron Status in Rural Ugandan Infants.

BACKGROUND: Environmental enteric dysfunction (EED), characterized by altered intestinal permeability/inflammation, microbial translocation, and systemic inflammation (SI), may be a significant contributor to micronutrient deficiencies and poor growth in infants from low-resource settings. OBJECTIVE: We examined associations among EED, SI, growth, and iron status at 6 mo of age. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of 6-mo-old infants (n = 548) enrolled in a Ugandan birth-cohort study (NCT04233944). EED was assessed via serum concentrations of anti-flagellin and anti- LPS immunoglobulins (Igs); SI was assessed via serum concentrations of ɑ1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) and C-reactive protein (CRP); iron status was assessed via serum concentrations of hemoglobin (Hb), soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR), and ferritin. Associations were assessed using adjusted linear regression analysis. RESULTS: At 6 mo, ∼35% of infants were stunted [length-for-age z score (LAZ) < -2] and ∼53% were anemic [hemoglobin (Hb) <11.0 g/dL]. Nearly half (∼46%) had elevated AGP (>1 g/L) and ∼30% had elevated CRP (>5 mg/L). EED and SI biomarkers were significantly correlated (r = 0.142-0.193, P < 0.001 for all). In adjusted linear regression models, which included adjustments for SI, higher anti-flagellin IgA, anti-LPS IgA, and anti-LPS IgG concentrations were each significantly associated with lower LAZ [ß (95% CI): -0.21 (-0.41, 0.00), -0.23 (-0.44, -0.03), and -0.33 (-0.58, -0.09)]. Furthermore, higher anti-flagellin IgA, anti-flagellin IgG, and anti-LPS IgA concentrations were significantly associated with lower Hb [ß (95% CI): -0.24 (-0.45, -0.02), -0.58 (-1.13, 0.00), and -0.26 (-0.51, 0.00)] and higher anti-flagellin IgG and anti-LPS IgG concentrations were significantly associated with higher sTfR [ß (95% CI): 2.31 (0.34, 4.28) and 3.13 (0.75, 5.51)]. CONCLUSIONS: EED is associated with both low LAZ and iron status in 6-mo-old infants. Further research on the mechanisms by which EED affects growth and micronutrient status is warranted.

Large-scale epidemiological data on vascular disorders of the intestine.

Objectives: This article aims to provide updates on the worldwide epidemiology of vascular disorders of the intestine.Methods: A comprehensive search for obtaining worldwide epidemiologic information on the burden of vascular disorders of the intestine was carried out in the Global Health Data Exchange (GHDx) repository. The condition 'vascular intestinal disorders' was associated with other epidemiologic variables such as year, sex, age, location and socioeconomic status.Results: The current global incidence and mortality of vascular disorders of the intestine are 8.11 per 100,000 cases/year and 1.26 per 100,000 deaths/year, respectively, translating into a death rate of 15.5%. Both global incidence and mortality are 32% higher in the female sex and have both displayed a continuous increase during the past 20 years (+29.3% and +18.4% since 1998, respectively). Incidence and mortality curves appear similar between sexes, with the incidence increasing after the age of 40 years and mortality after the age of 50 years, respectively. The peak of both worldwide incidence and mortality was seen in very elderly people. The death rate increased in parallel with incidence and mortality, from ∼1% to 3% in childhood up to ∼50% after the age of 95 years. Both incidence and mortality displayed a positive association with socioeconomic status. Future projections suggest that incidence and mortality will display 44% and 24% growths by the year 2050.Conclusions: Our analysis demonstrates that the clinical and societal burden of vascular disorders of the intestine is especially higher in women, in the elderly and in people with higher socioeconomic status.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced enteropathy as a major risk factor for small bowel bleeding: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Small bowel (SB) bleeding accounts for 5% of all gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding cases and 80% of obscure GI bleeding cases. Although angioectasia is the common etiology of SB bleeding, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-induced SB lesions are also reported as a major cause in studies from Eastern countries. Herein, we assessed the frequency of occurrence of NSAID-induced SB lesions in Korean patients with obscure GI bleeding. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed medical records of all consecutive patients aged ≥18 years who underwent capsule endoscopy from March 2018 to February 2019 at Ulsan University Hospital and Kosin University Gospel Hospital. RESULTS: Of the 83 subjects (all Korean; mean age ± standard deviation: 59 ± 18 years; age range: 18-84 years; men: n = 52; women: n = 31), 55 (66.2%) had stool with clear blood and 28 (33.8%) had normal stool with iron deficiency anemia. The detection rate of SB bleeding and lesions using capsule endoscopy was 72.3% (60 of 83 patients). A significantly higher frequency (40 of 51) of ulcerative/erosive lesions than other causes was observed in patients with inactive bleeding but visible SB lesions. As a result, NSAID-induced enteropathy accounted for 30.1% of 83 patients with obscure GI bleeding (25 of the all 60 SB bleeding cases). CONCLUSIONS: Contrary to what is reported for patients in Western countries, this study in Korean patients showed an improved diagnostic yield of capsule endoscopy for obscure GI bleeding and that NSAID-induced enteropathy was the most common etiology of SB bleeding. Aggressive small intestine examination is required for patients with unexplained GI bleeding.

Elevated fecal calprotectin and lactoferrin associated with small intestinal lesions in patients with Behçet disease.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Small intestinal lesions in patients with Behçet disease (BD) have a risk of perforation and hemorrhage requiring surgery. However, no screening strategy for such lesions has been established. We investigated small intestinal lesions in BD patients with video capsule endoscopy (VCE) and analyzed clinical characteristics to identify noninvasive biomarkers of such lesions. METHODS: This study included 33 BD patients who underwent VCE (PillCam® SB3) at our institution from June 2016 to January 2019. Clinical characteristics, including age, sex, disease duration, body mass index, gastrointestinal symptoms, eye involvement, and blood examinations, were obtained from the medical records of 27 of the 33 patients. Fecal immunochemical tests for hemoglobin, fecal calprotectin (FC), and fecal lactoferrin (FL) were measured. VCE findings of 145 healthy Japanese individuals from a previous report were used as controls. RESULTS: Two intestinal BD patients were included in the 27 patients. We observed that BD patients exhibit more small intestinal lesions compared with healthy individuals, including erosions, ulcers, and total lesions (erosions or ulcers). FC and FL levels were significantly higher in patients with versus without small intestinal lesions (P = 0.034 and P = 0.046, respectively). Receiver operating characteristic analyses demonstrated that FC (cutoff value = 119 µg/g) and FL (cutoff value = 17 µg/g) were biomarkers for small intestinal lesions in patients with BD. CONCLUSION: The present study using VCE showed that patients with BD had more small intestinal lesions than healthy individuals. FC and FL could be useful for screening BD patients who may have small intestinal lesions.

Polyethylene glycol versus split high-dose senna for bowel preparation: A comparative prospective randomized study.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The aim of this study was to compare the quality and tolerability of bowel preparation using split high-doses of sennosides versus split-dose polyethylene glycol (PEG). METHODS: In this prospective, randomized, and endoscopist-blinded study, 474 outpatients were included and randomly assigned to two groups: Group 1 was comprised of 237 patients receiving split high-dose (1000 mg) sennoside solutions, and group 2 included 237 patients receiving 4 L of PEG. The efficacy of the preparations was evaluated on the Boston Bowel Preparation Scale (BBPS), and compliance and adverse effects were recorded. RESULTS: The quality of colon cleansing and the ease of bowel preparation were significantly better in the senna group; the mean of total BBPS scores was 7.35 in the senna group and 6.57 in the PEG group, cleansing was adequate (BBPS score ≥ 6) in 89.9% of patients taking senna, and 73.8% in the PEG group (P = 0.001). The rates of vomiting in the senna and PEG groups were 12.7% and 29.5%, nausea rates were 28.7% and 43.9%, and abdominal pain rates were 70.9% and 43%, respectively (P < 0.001). Cecal intubation rates in the senna and PEG groups were 95.4% and 86.1% (P = 0.001), and the cecal intubation times were 6.73 ± 2.84 and 5.34 ± 5.98 min, respectively (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Split high-dose senna is more effective than split-dose PEG in terms of bowel preparation quality and patient compliance. The patients who received senna had significantly less vomiting and nausea but significantly more abdominal pain. Thus, senna may be used as an alternative to PEG for bowel preparation.

Small Bowel Diverticulosis: Pathogenesis, Clinical Management, and New Concepts.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Small bowel diverticulosis is a well-known clinical entity whose diagnosis and management has evolved in recent years. This review covers pathophysiology, incidence, and prevalence, and it also provides an update on modern diagnosis and management. Meckel's diverticula are covered elsewhere in this volume. RECENT FINDINGS: CT scan and MRI have largely supplanted barium follow-through for diagnosis. No intervention is needed in asymptomatic individuals. Endoscopic management is playing an increasing role for both bleeding and resection of intraduodenal diverticula, but surgical intervention remains the only definitive intervention for other complications like diverticulitis and small bowel obstruction. Small bowel diverticulosis is an uncommon condition which is associated with numerous possible complications. While endoscopy is playing an increasingly large role in management, surgical resection remains the treatment of choice for most complications. A high index of suspicion is needed in order to diagnose this entity.

Bowel dysfunction in survivors of gynaecologic malignancies.

PURPOSE: To assess the prevalence of bowel dysfunctions after treatment for gynaecological cancer and the impact on the quality of life. METHODS: We identified a cohort of 217 eligible women treated with radiotherapy (RT) with curative intention, alone or as combined treatment, for gynaecological malignancies at three institutions in Catalonia (Spain). Demographic, diagnosis and treatment modality were reviewed. Patients were sent validated questionnaires to assess bowel function and a set of questions asking on the changes after RT in bowel function, urinary function, sexuality, pain and lymphoedema. RESULTS: Questionnaires were returned by 109 patients (50.2%) with a mean age of 65 ± 11 years. Of them, 71.8% had been treated for endometrial cancer and 28.2% for cervical cancer. Overall, 42.7% of patients reported bowel dysfunction, affecting their quality of life in 36% of cases. Symptoms were more frequent in patients who had undergone external beam RT compared to brachytherapy. The most common symptom was defecatory urgency which was reported by more than 40% of patients according to the St Mark's score, although it was less common in other questionnaires. Overall, faecal incontinence ranged between 10 and 15%, and usual loose stools and diarrhoea were reported by 13.5% and 5.1%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of bowel symptoms after treatment of gynaecological malignancies is high. A systematic evaluation using validated questionnaires should be performed in order to allow the decision-making process and also because there are a number of treatments available to improve the quality of life of cancer survivors.

Dioxin and endometriosis: a new possible relation based on epigenetic theory.

Endometriosis is a chronic disease characterized by the growth of endometrial-like glands and stroma outside the uterine cavity. Nowadays, the exact etiology of endometriosis is unclear and the interaction between a variety of environmental physical and chemical compounds may potentially promote the disease in women with an individual susceptibility. The first demonstration of a relation between an environmental factor and endometriosis was obtained with the chronic dietary exposure of a primate colony to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). Besides the well-known dioxin's pathway of action, several papers are focusing on the role of epigenetic mechanisms, a way through which the genome responds to the environment and can lead to permanent changes in gene expression until affecting the phenotypes or cause disease. In this review, we focus on the possible role of dioxin epigenetics modification in endometriosis.

High prevalence of autoimmune diseases in women with endometriosis: a case-control study.

The immune system seems to be involved in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. Peritoneal chronic inflammation is present and natural killer cells and macrophages abnormalities have been reported in women with the disease. Moreover, a higher production of serum autoantibodies has been found, which could be related to various factors; some still need to be clarified. The correlation between endometriosis and autoimmune diseases is still unclear with few and conflicting available data. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of autoimmune diseases, as conditions with a possible common pathogenetic factor, in women affected by endometriosis, in order to address future research on its pathogenesis. This retrospective case-control study includes one hundred and forty-eight women with endometriosis and 150 controls. All women were aged between 18 and 45. Informed consent was obtained from all participants of the study. Considered autoimmune diseases include systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), celiac disease (CD), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and autoimmune thyroiditis. Statistical comparison of patients and control group was performed by means of chi-square test or Fisher's exact test as appropriate. Statistical comparison of parametric variable (age) among the groups was performed by t-test for unpaired data. Age was expressed as mean. A value of .05 or less was considered as significant. In the case group, five patients were affected by IBD, while the disease was not observed in the control group (p = .07). SLE was found in eight patients in the case group, while only one was found in the control group (p = .01). Fifteen women in the case group were affected by CD, while the disease was present only in one woman in the control group (p<.0001). A significant correlation was also found between endometriosis and autoimmune thyroiditis: 80 patients with endometriosis had thyroid diseases versus 14 patients in the control group (p<.0001). Our study reports an association between endometriosis and autoimmune disorders, showing a higher prevalence of autoimmune diseases in women affected by endometriosis. These results support a possible autoimmune pathogenesis of endometriosis.

Pregnancy Rates After Surgical Treatment of Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis in Infertile Patients With at Least 2 Previous In Vitro Fertilization or Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection Failures.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To assess the postoperative probabilities of pregnancy in patients with deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) and ≥2 previous in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) failures. DESIGN: Retrospective study using data prospectively recorded in the North-West Inter Regional Female Cohort for Patients with Endometriosis (CIRENDO) database. SETTING: University tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: Infertile patients under the age of 43 years, having undergone ≥2 previous IVF or ICSI failures, who were surgically managed for DIE. INTERVENTIONS: Complete excision of DIE. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The pregnancy rate after surgery was assessed. One hundred and four infertile patients had surgery in 7 different centers participating in the database. Seventy-seven women intended to get pregnant postoperatively. Four patients who got pregnant by oocyte donation were excluded, resulting in a sample of 73 women. The mean patient age was 31.9 years (standard deviation [SD], 4.1), and the mean length of history of infertility was 48.4 months (SD, 26.5). Stage III and IV endometriosis were recorded in 83.6% of patients. The mean postoperative follow-up was 46.6 months (SD, 20.5). The postoperative pregnancy rate was 43.8% with a mean time from surgery to pregnancy of 11.1 months. 21.8% of pregnancies were spontaneous, 31.2% were obtained by IVF, 21.8% by frozen embryo transfer, 18.7% by IVF-ICSI, and 3.1% by intrauterine insemination. Multivariate analysis revealed that ovarian surgery, age ≥35 years old, and stage II endometriosis was associated with the probability of conception. CONCLUSION: Infertile women with ≥2 IVF-ICSI failures may be referred for surgery as it appears related to reasonable postoperative pregnancy rates, particularly when endometriomas surgery is either not required or not performed. Surgery for DIE does not routinely delay conception, as it usually occurs during the year following surgery.

Identifying Preoperative Factors Associated with Nonresponders in Women Undergoing Comprehensive Surgical Treatment for Endometriosis.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To examine whether existing quality of health outcome measures can be used to predict or have an association with nonresponse surgery for endometriosis. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTINGS: Single endometriosis referral center. PATIENTS: Women (n = 198) undergoing surgery for endometriosis. INTERVENTIONS: Validated health questionnaires and visual analogue scales. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Patients were given validated health questionnaires, including Endometriosis Health Profile 30, Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index, EuroQol-5, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, preoperatively and at 12 months after full surgical excision of endometriosis. Visual analogue scales were also used that measured dyschezia, dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, and chronic pelvic pain. Surgical management was dependent on severity of disease. Superficial disease was treated by laparoscopic peritoneal excision or laser ablation. Deep infiltrating disease involving the bowel was excised completely together with laparoscopic bowel surgery (shave, disc, or segmental resection) with/without concomitant total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Nonresponders were defined as women who failed to demonstrate an improvement in pain scores 12 months postoperatively. We examined preoperative and postoperative questionnaires, visual analogue scores, and other variables such as age at onset of symptoms, type of surgery, and the presence of postoperative complications comparing responder and nonresponder women to identify the factors associated with nonresponse. Of 102 women treated for superficial endometriosis, 25 (24.51%) were nonresponders. No factors were associated with nonresponse at 12 months. Of 96 women treated for severe endometriosis involving the bowel, 10 (10.41%) were nonresponders. Nonresponders had significantly less preoperative pain (p = .031) and feeling of control (p = .015) than responders. There was no association between nonresponders and women who underwent a hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy or those with complications. Radical bowel surgery (resection) was associated with nonresponders. CONCLUSION: Minimal preoperative factors are associated with nonresponse for women having surgery for endometriosis. The severity of pain experienced by women with endometriosis may be used to predict their response to surgery.