A retrospective study on Infliximab treatment in IBD patients found it to be effective in inducing rapid clinical response and maintaining long-lasting remission. The study also showed a steroid-sparing effect, reducing the morbidity associated with long-term corticosteroid therapy.
A novel technique of image-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA) using endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) guidance is introduced for accurate preoperative diagnosis of pancreatic solid pseudopapillary tumors. This method helps differentiate SPTP from other pancreatic neoplasms with different biologic behavior and treatment.
Researchers have identified a bioactive polysaccharide from Decalepis hamiltonii that exhibits multi-step ulcer preventive activity, including gastroprotection, down-regulation of activated H+, K+-ATPase, normalization of oxidative stress and antioxidant enzymes, and recovery of damaged mucosal epithelium. The polysaccharide also shows...
Exogenous sphingomyelinase was found to increase intestinal permeability in vitro by altering the composition of tight junctions. This is achieved through the localized accumulation of ceramide at cell-cell contacts, leading to increased permeability and changes in the epithelial barrier.
Researchers examined the effectiveness of intra-arterial combination chemotherapy in treating advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT). The treatment led to a median survival time of 457.2 days and a one-year survival rate of 70%.
Researchers found that Baicalin has potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, reducing the severity of acute pancreatitis in rats. The study suggests that Baicalin may be an effective treatment option for SAP, offering a promising therapeutic tool with low cost and extensive routes of administration.
The spleen's unique anatomical and immunological characteristics may explain why isolated splenic metastasis from colorectal carcinoma is rare. Experimental studies have shown that cancer cells injected into the spleen grow more slowly than those in other organs.
Researchers have identified activin receptor-interacting protein 2 (ARIP2) as a potential target for treating liver fibrosis. The study found that ARIP2 negatively regulates activin signal pathways, which can help prevent collagen type IV production and alleviate liver damage.
A study of 151 HIV-positive patients found a low prevalence of H pylori infection compared to HIV-negative patients. The researchers suggest a different mechanism for chronic active gastritis in HIV-positive patients, potentially related to opportunistic infections rather than H pylori.
A Chinese medicine compound, delisheng, has shown satisfactory anti-cancer effects on hepatocellular carcinoma cells in a three-dimensional cell culture model. The compound's ginseng component is believed to be responsible for its anti-tumor activity, which may lead to new treatment options for HCC patients.
Researchers have successfully used RNA interference (RNAi) technology to specifically silence the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene, a key player in tumor angiogenesis. This method shows great promise for developing targeted therapeutic approaches to inhibit VEGF expression and potentially suppress cancer growth.
A study found that diabetes increases levels of CA 19-9, a tumor marker for pancreatic cancer. Elevated CA 19-9 levels in diabetics may indicate chronic pancreatitis rather than pancreatic cancer.
Over two decades, a study in the UK found that ultrasound-guided liver biopsy is the preferred method due to its reduced complications. The majority of biopsies were performed on patients with raised liver tests and hepatitis C infection.
Patients with non-cirrhotic and nontumoral extrahepatic portal vein obstruction often present with well-tolerated bleeding. Cirrhosis- and tumor-related portal vein thrombosis generally carries a grim prognosis. A large sample size study found that hypercoagulable states are less common in this population.
A systematic review found that early nasogastric enteral nutrition is effective and safe for treating severe acute pancreatitis. It appears to be a cost-effective alternative to conventional nutritional routes, with no worsening of clinical outcomes.
A study published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology found that electroacupuncture at PC6 can decrease the frequency of transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation (TLESR) induced by gastric distention in cats. The effect appears to act at the brain stem, mediated through nitric oxide (NO), CCK-A, and mu-opioid receptors.
Researchers found that prolonged antiviral therapy can improve residual liver function and reduce portal hypertension in patients with compensated hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis. The study, published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology, suggests that this treatment approach may delay complications and prolong survival rates.
A large sample size study found endoscopic resection to be a safe and effective treatment for gastrointestinal smooth muscle tumors (SMTs) with base sizes ≤ 2 cm. No severe complications or recurrences were observed in cases treated using the 'pushing' or 'grasping and pushing' technique.
A retrospective study of 68 postoperative CRC patients found that 18F-DG PET/CT detected more lesions than CT or ultrasonography alone in 30.4% of cases with recurrence and/or metastasis. The imaging technique also helped alter treatment plans in 16.2% of cases.
Researchers found significant IL-8 up-regulation in all inflammatory, non-malignant, and malignant colorectal entities compared to normal tissues. The study suggests an association between IL-8 expression and the development of colorectal cancer and liver metastases.
Researchers have found that ultra-low-dose aspirin can normalize platelet-endothelial cell alterations and bleeding time in rats with portal hypertension. This effect is mediated by Cyclooxygenase 2 inhibition, a finding that could have implications for treating this debilitating condition.
A team has developed M-POSSUM, a modified scoring system that combines elements of Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), APACHE and POSSUM to predict postoperative morbidity and mortality in high-risk surgical patients. The study found that M-POSSUM is more accurate than original POSSUM and APACHE II.
The study found that transcutaneous cervical esophageal ultrasound (TCEUS) is not a substitute for 24-hour pH monitoring or manometry in diagnosing gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and esophageal motor disorders. TCEUS can aid in estimating GER and motility disorders, but it cannot replace these established diagnostic methods.
Researchers discovered that nerve growth factor (NGF) is positively related with liver cancer, the No.2 killer among all kinds of cancers. NGF and its receptor trkANGF were expressed in liver cells of patients with liver cirrhosis and/or hepatocellular carcinoma.
A recent study published in World Journal of Gastroenterology found a significant association between GERD and obesity in women, but not men. The researchers suggest that estrogen may play a role in this correlation.
Researchers discovered that nerve growth factor (NGF) is positively related to liver cancer and may be expressed by liver cells to affect themselves or adjacent cells. Targeting NGF could suppress or prevent the development of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.
Research finds patients with lower levels of HCV antibody titer tend to have a brighter clinical outcome. Co-infection by hepatitis B and A viruses is associated with a higher possibility of self recovery, possibly due to interference with virus replication.
A Japanese patient with liver cirrhosis and HCV infection underwent liver transplantation and was cleared of the virus just one month later. The long-term use of PEGylated IFN may have contributed to this outcome.