Digestive System Diseases Commons^™

Are Immune Modulating Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms Associated With Necrotizing Enterocolitis?, Ashanti L Franklin, Mariam Said, Clint D Cappiello, Heather Gordish-Dressman, Zohreh Tatari-Calderone, Stanislav Vukmanovic, Khodayar Rais-Bahrami, Naomi L C Luban, Joseph M Devaney, Anthony D Sandler

Genomics and Precision Medicine Faculty Publications

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a devastating gastrointestinal emergency. The purpose of this study is to determine if functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in immune-modulating genes pre-dispose infants to NEC. After Institutional Review Board approval and parental consent, buccal swabs were collected for DNA extraction. TaqMan allelic discrimination assays and BglII endonuclease digestion were used to genotype specific inflammatory cytokines and TRIM21. Statistical analysis was completed using logistic regression. 184 neonates were analyzed in the study. Caucasian neonates with IL-6 (rs1800795) were over 6 times more likely to have NEC (p = 0.013; OR = 6.61, 95% CI 1.48-29.39), and over …

Restoring Digestive Health, Kristin M. Corbin, Dnp, Aprn, Fnp-C

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Translational and Clinical Research Projects

Purpose: The purpose of this translational research project was to outline the healthcare problems associated with Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders and to explore the effectiveness of a gastrointestinal protocol utilized at Atlanta Center for Holistic and Integrative Medicine. The goal of this protocol is to restore digestive health with probiotics, digestive enzymes, and glutamine.

Background: Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders affect one in every four adults in the United States. These disorders encompass a variety of symptoms including diarrhea, constipation, cramping, abdominal pain, flatulence, reflux, and bloating without an identified physiological cause. There is currently no cure for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders and treatment …

Identifying Protein Kinase Tbk1 As A Novel Inhibitor Of Intestinal Tumorigenesis, Amber L. Mathews

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer diagnosed in women and men， causing almost 600,000 annual deaths worldwide. There is a clear need to understand how CRC forms and progresses in order to improve the strategies of CRC prevention and therapy. A major factor that drives the development of CRC is genetic mutations that lead to activation of oncogenes and inactivation of tumor suppressor genes in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs). In addition, the initiation and progression of CRC involve environmental and immunological factors. In particular, chronic inflammatory conditions are known as an important risk factor for CRC. Intestinal …

Reducing Readmission Rates In Acute Pancreatitis Through Patient Education And Risk Assessment, Jordan T. Vulcano

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Background: Early hospital readmissions are a direct burden on both our patients’ well-being and health care system as a whole. Acute pancreatitis is a top offender, with countless 30-day readmissions. Studies have showed a consistently higher than average 30-day readmission rates in acute pancreatitis, around 19%. This is significantly higher than the average all-cause readmission rate at Aurora Health Care hospitals. This quality improvement project aimed to reduce the rate of acute pancreatitis 30-day readmission rates at several Aurora hospitals through patient education and a readmission risk assessment tool.

Purpose: To clarify some of the risk factors associated with acute …

Repression Of Esophageal Neoplasia And Inflammatory Signaling By Anti-Mir-31 Delivery In Vivo., Cristian Taccioli, Michela Garofalo, Hongping Chen, Yubao Jiang, Guidantonio Malagoli Tagliazucchi, Gianpiero Di Leva, Hansjuerg Alder, Paolo Fadda, Justin Middleton, Karl J. Smalley, Tommaso Selmi, Srivatsava Naidu, John L. Farber, Carlo M. Croce, Louise Fong

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Overexpression of microRNA-31 (miR-31) is implicated in the pathogenesis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), a deadly disease associated with dietary zinc deficiency. Using a rat model that recapitulates features of human ESCC, the mechanism whereby Zn regulates miR-31 expression to promote ESCC is examined.

METHODS: To inhibit in vivo esophageal miR-31 overexpression in Zn-deficient rats (n = 12-20 per group), locked nucleic acid-modified anti-miR-31 oligonucleotides were administered over five weeks. miR-31 expression was determined by northern blotting, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and in situ hybridization. Physiological miR-31 targets were identified by microarray analysis and verified by luciferase reporter …

Variation In Microbiome Composition And Stability For A Vancomycin Treated Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis Patient With Ulcerative Colitis Compared With Controls, Alanna Dubrovsky

Symposium

The bacterial composition of the human intestines contributes to much more than just digestion. In the inflammatory, autoimmune conditions primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and ulcerative colitis (UC), the microbiome may be, in some cases, a factor. To gain a better understanding of the composition and stability of the microbiome in a patient treated with vancomycin for PSC, terminal restriction fragment (TRF) analysis was performed on 13 controls and 1 patient, and 16s rRNA microbiome composition analysis was performed on 1 patient and 3 controls. Results showed similar levels of stability, with surprising differences in composition.

Factors Associated With Colorectal Cancer Screening Among Younger African American Men: A Systematic Review, Charles R. Rogers, Patricia Goodson, Margaret Foster

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Of cancers affecting both men and women, colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cancer killer among African Americans in the U.S. Compared to White men, African American men have incidence and mortality rates 25% and 50% higher from CRC. Despite the benefits of early detection and the availability of effective screening, most adults over age 50 have not undergone testing, and disparities in colorectal cancer screening (CRCS) persist. Owing to CRC’s high incidence and younger age at presentation among African American men, CRCS is warranted at age 45 rather than 50. However, the factors influencing young adult (i.e., age < 50) African American men’s intention to screen and/or their CRCS behaviors has not been systematically assessed. To assess whether the factors influencing young adult African American men’s screening intentions and behaviors are changeable through structured health education interventions, we conducted a systematic review, with the two-fold purpose of: (1) synthesizing studies examining African American men's knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors regarding CRCS; and (2) assessing these studies’ methodological quality. Utilizing Garrard’s Matrix Method, a total of 28 manuscripts met our inclusion/exclusion criteria: 20 studies followed a non-experimental research design, 4 comprised a quasi-experimental design, and 4, an experimental design. Studies were published between 2002 and 2012; the majority, between 2007 and 2011. The factors most frequently assessed were behaviors (79%), beliefs (68%), and knowledge (61%) of CRC and CRCS. Six factors associated with CRC and CRCS emerged: previous CRCS, CRC test preference, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, CRC/CRCS knowledge, and physician support/recommendation. Studies were assigned a methodological quality score (MQS – ranging from 0 to 21). The mean MQS of 10.9 indicated these studies were, overall, of medium quality and suffered from specific flaws. Alongside a call for more rigorous research, this review provides important suggestions for practice and culturally relevant interventions.

Use Of Coronary Techniques In Celiac And Hepatic Artery Stenting In Post-Hepatic Transplant Patients, Harpreet Parmar, Ryan Beard, Mark W. Mewissen, Armaan Shaikh, Tanvir Bajwa

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Hepatic artery stenosis (HAS) remains a rare but serious complication after liver transplantation. While invasive surgical techniques were needed for HAS treatment in the past, recently endovascular techniques, including hepatic artery stenting, have been proven to be a safe and effective treatment. The present work focused on a review of the recent literature regarding HAS as well as recent cases demonstrating the various presentations of HAS and the variety of approaches to endovascular intervention. Our single-center experience has shown endovascular treatment of HAS to be safe and effective, including the two specific cases discussed here. While further research is needed, …

Investigation Of Stilbenoids As Potential Therapeutic Agents For Rotavirus Gastroenteritis, Judith M. Ball, Fabricio Medina-Bolivar, Katelyn D. Defrates, Emily Hambleton, Megan E. Hurlburt, Lingling Fang, Tianhong Yang, Luis Nopo-Olazabal, Richard L. Atwill, Pooj Ghai, Rebecca D. Parr

Faculty Publications

Rotavirus (RV) infections cause severe diarrhea in infants and young children worldwide. Vaccines are available but cost prohibitive for many countries and only reduce severe symptoms. Vaccinated infants continue to shed infectious particles, and studies show decreased efficacy of the RV vaccines in tropical and subtropical countries where they are needed most. Continuing surveillance for new RV strains, assessment of vaccine efficacy, and development of cost effective antiviral drugs remain an important aspect of RV studies. This study was to determine the efficacy of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory stilbenoids to inhibit RV replication. Peanut (A. hypogaea) hairy root cultures were induced …

Nash: Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis, Jennifer Heck

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic liver disease which refers to the presence of hepatic steatosis without significant intake of alcohol. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease develops in a variety of forms from reversible simple steatosis to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which if left unchecked can progress to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis and even develop into hepatocellular carcinoma (Mells et al., 2014). NAFLD is thought to be nonthreatening, but with progression over several years could lead to NASH. A strong link between obesity and NASH has been shown. In addition to obesity, insulin resistance (type II diabetes mellitus), and hyperlipidemia all …

Rhabdomyolysis – Understanding The Mechanics, Tawnya Tucker

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

As a hospital healthcare provider on a Medical/Surgical Unit the probability of examining and treating a patient diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis is scarce. Knowing the mechanics of the disease will assist the provider in evaluating and treating the patient. Awareness of the pathophysiology of the disease is vital in accurately diagnosing and treating the disease. The role of the advanced practice nurse is fundamental in distinguishing possible causes of the phenomenon by recognizing signs and symptoms that occur with the disease. Completing a thorough physical exam on the patient and obtaining special lab tests will assist in identifying the ailment. Treating …

Acute Pancreatitis, Laura Skidmore

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

Acute pancreatitis (AP) can be a singular incidence, a relapsing process or exacerbations of chronic pancreatitis. AP is a rapidly developing inflammatory disorder of the pancreas and can affect other organ systems. The process begins when pancreatic enzymes are activated prematurely and leak into surrounding tissue. The digestive process begins before reaching the intestines. AP is characterized clinically by abdominal pain and elevated levels of pancreatic enzymes in the blood. The pathogenesis is not fully understood however, a number of conditions are known to induce the disorder such as gallstones and chronic alcohol abuse (Schub & Kornusky, 2014)

Effects Of Pringle Maneuver And Partial Hepatectomy On The Pharmacokinetics And Blood–Brain Barrier Permeability Of Sodium Fluorescein In Rats, Mohammad K. Miah, Imam H. Shaik, Ulrich Bickel, Reza Mehvar

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Liver diseases are known to affect the function of remote organs. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of Pringle maneuver, which results in hepatic ischemia–reperfusion (IR) injury, and partial hepatectomy (Hx) on the pharmacokinetics and brain distribution of sodium fluorescein (FL), which is a widely used marker of blood–brain barrier (BBB) permeability. Rats were subjected to Pringle maneuver (total hepatic ischemia) for 20 min with (HxIR) or without (IR) 70% hepatectomy. Sham-operated animals underwent laparotomy only. After 15 min or 8 h of reperfusion, a single 25-mg/kg dose of FL was injected intravenously and serial …

Site-Specific Immunomodulator: A Novel Treatment For Crohn's Disease, Brian Bressler, Kevin P. Bethel, Ralf Kleef, Sophie L. Reynolds, Simon Sutcliffe, David W. Mullins, Hal Gunn

Dartmouth Scholarship

We investigated the mechanism of action, safety, and efficacy of the Site-Specific Immunomodulator (SSI) QBECO, a novel immunotherapy for Crohn’s disease (CD). Using human monocytic THP-1 cells, we demonstrate that SSI QBECO (derived from the common colon bacteria E. coli) activates macrophages to an M1 phenotype (associated with enhanced capacity to eliminate bacteria and activate innate immune responses). We assessed SSI QBECO in a compassionate use protocol of ten adult patients with active CD. Patients with moderate to severe clinical symptoms receiving conventional CD treatments and/or complementary therapies were included, except patients receiving anti-TNF medications. SSI QBECO was self-administered subcutaneously …

I'Ve Been Diagnosed: A Champion! Crohn's & Colitis Family Day, Samantha M. Goldberg

Honors College Theses

This Honors thesis outlines the creation of “I’ve Been Diagnosed: A Champion! Crohn’s & Colitis Family Day”—an experience designed to provide Southeast Georgia children and families affected by inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) an opportunity to enhance community involvement and build a support network through therapeutic recreation, team-based activities, education, and a positive family-centered environment. Following the nursing process focusing on the community as the patient, this paper is organized by assessment, diagnosis, planning, intervention, and evaluation. A literature review was conducted and interviews with a medical professional and a patient were completed. Specific interventions were planned using the nursing process …

Interferon Lambda-3 Polymorphism And Response To Pegylated Interferon In Patients With Hepatitis D, Zaigham Abbas, Javed Yakoob, Muhammad A. Umer,, Minaam Abbas, Saeed Hamid

Section of Gastroenterology

Background: Specific single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) near the interferon lambda-3 (IFNλ3) gene (formerly interleukin 28B) influence the response to treatment with interferon in hepatitis C patients. We aimed to investigate such an influence in hepatitis D patients.
Methods: The study population consisted of hepatitis D patients who were previously treated with pegylated interferon for one year and who were spontaneous clearers of the virus post recent superinfection. The SNP of IFNλ3, rs12979860, was determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism protocol.
Results: The total number of patients was 64; median age was 30.5 years and 53 were male. The …

Obesity And Metabolic Phenotypes (Metabolically Healthy And Unhealthy Variants) Are Significantly Associated With Prevalence Of Elevated C-Reactive Protein And Hepatic Steatosis In A Large Healthy Brazilian Population, Sameer Shaharyar, Lara Roberson, Omar Jamal, Adnan Younus, Shozab Ali, Arthur Agatston, Khurram Nasir Baptist Health Medical Group

All Publications

BACKGROUND:Among the obese, the so-called metabolically healthy obese (MHO) phenotype is thought to confer a lower CVD risk as compared to obesity with typical associated metabolic changes. The present study aims to determine the relationship of different subtypes of obesity with inflammatory-cardiometabolic abnormalities.METHODS:We evaluated 5,519 healthy, Brazilian subjects (43 ± 10 years, 78% males), free of known cardiovascular disease. Those with (MRF) were considered metabolically healthy, and those with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m(2) and/or waist circumference meeting NCEP criteria for metabolic syndrome as overweight/obese (OW). High sensitivity C reactive protein (hsCRP) was measured to assess underlying inflammation and hepatic steatosis …

Total Pancreatectomy With Islet Autologous Transplantation: The Cure For Chronic Pancreatitis?, Samuel J. Kesseli, Kerrington A. Smith, Timothy B. Gardner

Dartmouth Scholarship

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a debilitating disease that leads to varying degrees of pancreatic endocrine and exocrine dysfunction. One of the most difficult symptoms of CP is severe abdominal pain, which is often challenging to control with available analgesics and therapies. In the last decade, total pancreatectomy with autologous islet cell transplantation has emerged as a promising treatment for the refractory pain of CP and is currently performed at approximately a dozen centers in the United States. While total pancreatectomy is not a new procedure, the endocrine function-preserving autologous islet cell isolation and re-implantation have made the prospect of total …

The Significance Of Crispr/Cas9-Directed Cul3 Knockout On Human Colorectal Cancer Cells, Zoe A. Lautz

Departmental Honors Projects

Cancer, the second leading cause of death in the US, is caused by mutations in select genes that alter cellular function leading to uncontrolled proliferation. Understanding the specific genes that drive cancer can lead to the generation of novel cancer therapies. To identify novel genes that drive cancer in the colon (CRC), lungs, and ovaries in mice, Starr et al. employed a transposon-based insertional mutagenesis system. One of the genes identified, APC, is mutated in 70-80% of human CRCs. CUL3, suspected to be a general driver gene, was discovered in the lung cancer screen. CUL3 was analyzed for its role …

Biological Therapy In The Treatment Of Ulcerative Colitis, Tzipora Glanzman

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Ulcerative colitis (UC), a subdivision of inflammatory bowel disease, is a chronic disease of the large intestines. Ulcerative colitis is normally a lifelong chronic illness with times of intense flairs and remission. During a flare, the lining of the colon becomes inflamed, and develops small ulcers causing patients to experience rectal bleeding, vomiting, anemia and diarrhea. The treatment options available to treat colitis are very small, causing many patients to need a total colectomy with in the first five years of their diagnosis. However, recent advancement in bio-technology has led to the development of a large array of new therapeutic …

Is Rabeprazole A Safe Treatment For Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease In Children Ages 1-16 Years?, Sarah Applegarth

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of the selective EBM review is to determine whether or not Rabeprazole is a safe treatment for GERD in children less than sixteen years old.

Study Design: Review of three randomized controlled studies. All three studies were published in English between 2007-2013.

Data Sources: Three randomized, un-blinded, controlled studies found using Medline and PubMed

Outcomes Measured: Each trial measured the adverse events that occurred with the use of Rabeprazole for the treatment of GERD in children less than sixteen years of age. This was done by using subjective reporting of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAE’s). Differences in the …

Do Probiotics Provide Adequate Relief From Overall Symptoms, Including Abdominal Pain And Bloating, In Adults With Irritable Bowel Syndrome?, Brittany A. Ormsby

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not probiotics provide adequate relief from overall symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome including abdominal pain and bloating in adults with irritable bowel syndrome.

Study Design: Review of three published randomized, double blind, placebo controlled clinical trials were used for this review. The articles were found on PubMed and EBSCOhost web, and were selected based on outcomes measured and relevance to the objective.

Outcomes Measured: The outcomes were measured by a 10-point visual analog scale for each symptom, or daily dairy entries addressing overall symptom relief, and a …

Impact Of Starch Source On Equine Hindgut Microbial Ecology, Brittany Elizabeth Davis Harlow

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

Grain inclusion in equine diets can allow starch to reach the hindgut where bacteria compete for the substrate. The hypothesis was that starch introduction would cause a source-dependent press disturbance in equine fecal microflora. Fecal cell suspensions were prepared by differential centrifugation and re-suspension in media with ground corn, oats or wheat. At 24 h, corn had more amylolytics and Group D Gram-positive cocci (GPC), and fewer lactate-utilizing (LU) bacteria and lactobacilli than oats, with wheat being intermediate. Predominant amylolytics were identified by their 16S RNA gene sequence as Enterococcus faecalis (corn, wheat) and Streptococcus bovis (oats). In an in …

Effects Of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor And Its Signaling Pathway On Sensory Neuronal Activation During Colitis, Fiza Hashmi

Theses and Dissertations

Visceral hypersensitivity is the heightened response to sensory stimuli. Visceral sensations are transmitted through primary afferent neurons in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and the sensitization of the neural pathway leads to modification in spinal ascending and descending neurons. The aim of this investigation is to determine the effects of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its signaling pathway on sensory neuronal activation during colitis. In order to evaluate this, levels of calcitonin-gene related peptide (CGRP), a neuropeptide marker for nociceptive transmission, and phosphorylated cAMP-response element binding protein (pCREB), a molecular switch in neuronal plasticity, were studied in response to BDNF …