ulcerative colitis and crohn's disease are chronic, relapsing, inflammatory conditions defined by their phenotypic features. family studies have identified a clear genetic influence on disease susceptibility and expression. molecular studies have identified specific genes that predispose individuals to the development of inflammatory bowel disease. some of these genes are specific to either ulc...

AIM To provide a review of studies on prognosis in ulcerative colitis by reviewing the relevant population-based cohort studies. On the basis of incidence and population studies, ulcerative colitis has a favourable clinical course, with good quality of life, a chronic course characterized by at least one relapse, and a surgery rate of 30% after 10 years from diagnosis. Patients affected by seve...

Mycobacterium avium, subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) causes a chronic disease of the intestines in dairy cows and a wide range of other animals, including nonhuman primates, called Johne's ("Yo-knee's") disease. MAP has been consistently identified by a variety of techniques in humans with Crohn's disease. The research investigating the presence of MAP in patients with Crohn's disease has oft...

BACKGROUND Recently, the association of a polymorphism in the gene coding for the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1 receptor antagonist with ulcerative colitis has been reported. This was interpreted as a possible genetic predisposition for severity of the inflammatory response. AIMS To examine this polymorphism in a southern German population. SUBJECTS The study included 234 healthy...

BACKGROUND Ulcerative colitis is a condition of nonsmokers in which nicotine is of therapeutic benefit. AIMS To examine the in vitro effect of nicotine on colonic smooth muscle activity and the role of nitric oxide (NO) as a mediator. METHODS Nicotine, 1-10 microM, was administered to strips of circular muscle from the distal sigmoid colon of 9 patients with active ulcerative colitis and 18...

Ulcerative colitis is characterized by crypt infiltration particularly of neutrophils. However, it is not known whether it reflects a primary crypt disorder or a secondary inflammatory response. In this study, we analyzed the expression profiles of histologically normal crypts microdissected from formalin-fixed biopsies of early stage ulcerative colitis. Total RNAs were extracted, amplified, an...

To determine if specific anticolon antibodies bound to colonic mucosa occur in ulcerative colitis, we obtained surgical specimens of colon from five patients with ulcerative colitis, one patient with diverticulitis, and three control subjects with carcinoma. Two specimens of ileum and cecum were also obtained from patients with Crohn ileocolitis. Tissue was homogenized and washed and bound Ig w...

AIMS To examine the relation between inflammatory bowel disease and appendicectomy, childhood domestic hygiene, and Helicobacter pylori infection. METHODS Case control study involving 213 patients with ulcerative colitis, 110 with Crohn's disease, and 337 controls having elective surgery. RESULTS Nine patients with ulcerative colitis (4.5%) reported a previous appendicectomy compared with 5...

A 62-year-old man with a long history of ulcerative colitis and who was taking 2250mg of mesalazine and 50mg of azathioprine daily, developed intermittent abdominal pain and prolonged diarrhea. He was referred to our hospital with a suspicion of exacerbated ulcerative colitis. A physical examination revealed a man in acute distresswithmild tenderness to palpation in themid abdomen. Oral prednis...

Ulcerative colitis (colitis ulcerosa) is a non-specific inflammatory bowel disease of unknown etiology. The symptoms which are observed in the course of ulcerative colitis are: an increase in the number of leukocytes and blood platelets, an increase in the concentration of IL-6 and anemia. Blood platelets are the key element, linking the processes of hemostasis, inflammation and the repair of d...