Background and Objectives: Intestinal permeability (IP) is known to contribute to the immune system activation and inflammation; thus, it is proposed to have a role in the pathogenesis and ...exacerbation of many chronic diseases. Several studies have indicated that diet and nutritional status are risk factors for increased IP. In this mini review, we discussed the recent evidence on the association of diet, nutritional status, and intestinal permeability assessed by zonulin concentrations in serum and feces. Methods and Study Design: Literature searching was conducted in Pubmed, ProQuest and Google Scholar using the keywords "diet quality", "intestinal permeability", "nutritional status", and "zonulin" combined with Boolean operators "AND" and "OR". Results: Some studies indicated that intake of proper nutrition and good diet such as low total calorie intake, high intakes of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, fiber, vitamins, minerals, probiotics, and polyphenol-rich diet have significant impact on improvement of intestinal permeability marked by lower zonulin concentrations. Higher zonulin concentrations are found in those with overweight and obesity indicating that these population have increased IP. Most studies were conducted in adults and there are limited studies in children and adolescents. In addition, no studies have assessed diet quality to obtain a comprehensive picture on the complexities of diet in the population in relation to intestinal permeability. Conclusions: Diet and nutritional status are linked to zonulin concentrations, indicating a role in intestinal permeability. Further research should be conducted to investigate the relationship between diet quality, as measured by appropriate diet quality indices, and intestinal permeability in children, adolescents, and adults.
Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune disease of the small intestine triggered by the consumption of gluten-containing foods in individuals with a genetic predisposition. CD was a rare disease until ...20 years ago, when the prevalence increased. Currently, there is no data on the prevalence of CD in high-risk adult populations in Indonesia, even though there is a trend of increasing gluten consumption. Therefore, basic research is needed to determine the magnitude of CD in high-risk adult patients in Indonesia while identifying clinical signs/symptoms, illness history, and lifestyle to determine factors associated with CD in Indonesia. This study is an observational study with a cross-sectional method.Two hundred eighty-three patients who fulfilled the selection and signed the informed consent were recruited from the gastroenterology clinic of Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital. Patients were asked to fill out a celiac disease-related questionnaire and then given anthropometry measurement and blood test for serologic examination with ELISA, consisting of IgA anti-tissue transglutaminase (anti-TTG) and IgG anti-deaminated gliadin peptide (anti-DGP). Statistical analysis was performed using Chi-square and Multivariate logistic regression tests with SPSS software ver. 26. Statistical test differences were considered significant if the p-values were < 0.05. Eight of 283 patients are serologically confirmed with CD (2,83%). On bivariate analysis, the significant variables are age (p < 0,05), constipation (p < 0,05) and history of autoimmune disease (p < 0,05). On multivariate analysis, the only significant variable is the history of autoimmune disease (p < 0,05). This study concluded that the prevalence of CD in high-risk patients with functional gastrointestinal disorder at Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital is relatively high (2.83%). CD-associated factors are age, constipation, and history of autoimmune disease in patients. On simultaneous interaction between these factors, autoimmune is the only significant variable associated with CD.
Background & Aims Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are becoming more common in Asia, but epidemiologic data are lacking. The Asia-Pacific Crohn’s and Colitis Epidemiology Study aimed to determine ...the incidence and phenotype of IBD in 8 countries across Asia and in Australia. Methods We performed a prospective, population-based study of IBD incidence in predefined catchment areas, collecting data for 1 year, starting on April 1, 2011. New cases were ascertained from multiple overlapping sources and entered into a Web-based database. Cases were confirmed using standard criteria. Local endoscopy, pathology, and pharmacy records were searched to ensure completeness of case capture. Results We identified 419 new cases of IBD (232 of ulcerative colitis UC, 166 of Crohn’s disease CD, and 21 IBD-undetermined). The crude annual overall incidence values per 100,000 individuals were 1.37 for IBD in Asia (95% confidence interval: 1.25−1.51; 0.76 for UC, 0.54 for CD, and 0.07 for IBD-undetermined) and 23.67 in Australia (95% confidence interval: 18.46−29.85; 7.33 for UC, 14.00 for CD, and 2.33 for IBD-undetermined). China had the highest incidence of IBD in Asia (3.44 per 100,000 individuals). The ratios of UC to CD were 2.0 in Asia and 0.5 in Australia. Median time from symptom onset to diagnosis was 5.5 months (interquartile range, 1.4−15 months). Complicated CD (stricturing, penetrating, or perianal disease) was more common in Asia than Australia (52% vs 24%; P = .001), and a family history of IBD was less common in Asia (3% vs 17%; P < .001). Conclusions We performed a large-scale population-based study and found that although the incidence of IBD varies throughout Asia, it is still lower than in the West. IBD can be as severe or more severe in Asia than in the West. The emergence of IBD in Asia will result in the need for specific health care resources, and offers a unique opportunity to study etiologic factors in developing nations.
The rising incidence of inflammatory bowel disease in Asia supports the importance of environmental risk factors in disease aetiology. This prospective population-based case-control study in ...Asia-Pacific examined risk factors prior to patients developing IBD.
442 incident cases (186 Crohn's disease (CD); 256 UC; 374 Asians) diagnosed between 2011 and 2013 from eight countries in Asia and Australia and 940 controls (frequency-matched by sex, age and geographical location; 789 Asians) completed an environmental factor questionnaire at diagnosis. Unconditional logistic regression models were used to estimate adjusted ORs (aOR) and 95% CIs.
In multivariate model, being breast fed >12 months (aOR 0.10; 95% CI 0.04 to 0.30), antibiotic use (aOR 0.19; 0.07 to 0.52), having dogs (aOR 0.54; 0.35 to 0.83), daily tea consumption (aOR 0.62; 0.43 to 0.91) and daily physical activity (aOR 0.58; 0.35 to 0.96) decreased the odds for CD in Asians. In UC, being breast fed >12 months (aOR 0.16; 0.08 to 0.31), antibiotic use (aOR 0.48; 0.27 to 0.87), daily tea (aOR 0.63; 0.46 to 0.86) or coffee consumption (aOR 0.51; 0.36 to 0.72), presence of hot water tap (aOR 0.65; 0.46 to 0.91) and flush toilet in childhood (aOR 0.71; 0.51 to 0.98) were protective for UC development whereas ex-smoking (aOR 2.02; 1.22 to 3.35) increased the risk of UC.
This first population-based study of IBD risk factors in Asia-Pacific supports the importance of childhood immunological, hygiene and dietary factors in the development of IBD, suggesting that markers of altered intestinal microbiota may modulate risk of IBD later in life.
Atherosclerosis is a progressive disease characterized by the build-up of lipids and connective tissue in the large arteries. Some patients experience chronic total occlusion (CTO). Inflammation ...plays a key role in the development and complications of atherosclerosis. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a marker of systemic inflammation associated with the development of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). We aimed to assess the relationship between NLR and CTO in ACS patients with ST elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI) in Indonesia.
This cross-sectional study was performed with secondary data obtained from patient medical records at Cipto Mangunkusumo National Central Hospital, Jakarta. Inclusion criteria were patients with ACS and STEMI who underwent coronary angiography in 2015-2018.
A total of 98 patients were enrolled in the analysis. Most subjects with CTO were male, elderly (> 60), smoking, had no history of diabetes mellitus (DM) or hypertension, no family history of coronary heart disease (CHD), but had a history of ACS and had never consumed statin or antiplatelet medications. Bivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that male gender (PR = 1.820; 95%CI 0.871-3.805; p = 0.025) and smoking (PR = 1.781; 95%CI 1.028-3.086; p = 0.004) were significantly correlated with CTO. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve revealed that higher NLR (≥ 6.42) could predict a CTO diagnosis with positive predictive value (PPV) of 91%. Multivariate analysis revealed that NLR was correlated with an 11.2-fold increase in occurrence of CTO (95%CI 3.250-38.303; p < 0.001). Additionally, smoking was correlated with a 7-fold increase in CTO (95% CI 1.791-30.508; p = 0.006).
NLR value of ≥ 6.42 is potentially useful as a marker of CTO in STEMI patients. In addition, smoking increases the risk of CTO in ACS/STEMI patients.
Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) assessment is important for patients with functional dyspepsia. However, no studies have assessed factors associated with HRQoL reduction in such patients in an ...Asian population. This study aimed to determine the contribution of clinical, psychosocial, and demographic factors to HRQoL in affected patients in Indonesia.
In a cross-sectional study, we recruited 124 patients in a tertiary hospital with functional dyspepsia according to Rome III criteria. HRQoL was measured using the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 36 (SF-36) physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) and compared with 2009 United States population norms. The factors investigated were age, gender, symptom severity, education level, employment status, anxiety, depression, and ethnicity. Factors associated with reduced HRQoL were identified using linear regression analysis.
All domains of HRQoL except vitality were impaired in patients with functional dyspepsia. The mean PCS was 42.3 (SD = 8.4); and the mean MCS was 47.8 (SD = 10). Increasing age (p = 0.002), female gender (p = 0.006), low-to-mid education level (p = 0.015) and greater symptom severity (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with impaired PCS (R
= 0.36). Female gender (p = 0.047), greater symptom severity (p = 0.002), anxiety (p = 0.001), and depression (p = 0.002 were all significantly associated with an impaired MCS (R
= 0.41). There were no significant associations between HRQoL and with ethnic group (Javanese/non-Javanese) or employment status.
There was significant HRQoL impairment in these patients with functional dyspepsia in Indonesia. Anxiety, depression, increasing age, female gender, greater symptom severity, and low-to-mid education level were significant factors associated with low HRQoL. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03321383 . Registered 18 October 2017 retrospectively registered.
Abstract
Background
Gut microbiota dysbiosis in patients with chronic kidney disease on haemodialysis (CKD-HD) creates an increase in proteolytic bacteria activity, leading to an increase in the ...production of uraemic toxins, such as indoxyl sulphate, worsening of constipation symptoms and reducing patients’ quality of life. Improving gut microbiota dysbiosis is expected to improve this condition. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of synbiotics on indoxyl sulphate levels, constipation symptoms, and constipation-related quality of life in haemodialysis patients.
Methods
This was a double-blinded randomized controlled clinical trial with a parallel design involving haemodialysis patients. We included chronic haemodialysis patients with gastrointestinal complaints, difficulty defecating, faeces with hard consistency, or a bowel movement frequency of fewer than three times per week. Patients were randomly divided into two groups (synbiotics (
Lactobacillus acidophilus
and
Bifidobacterium longum
5x10
9
CFU) and placebo) for 60 days of oral intervention. All participants, caregivers, and outcome assessors were blinded to group assignment. The primary outcome was a decrease in indoxyl sulphate toxin levels. Meanwhile, improvement in constipation symptoms (measured using the Patient Assessment of Constipation: Symptoms (PAC-SYM) questionnaire) and improvement in constipation-related quality of life (measured using the Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life (PAC-QOL) questionnaire) were assessed as secondary outcomes.
Results
We included 60 patients (30 intervention; median age of 51.23 (13.57) years, 33.3% male; 30 control; median age of 52.33 (11.29) years, 36.7% male). There was no significant difference in terms of pre- and postintervention indoxyl sulphate toxin levels in the synbiotics group compared to the placebo group (
p
=0.438). This study found an improvement in constipation symptoms (
p
= 0.006) and constipation-related quality of life (
p
=0.001) after synbiotic administration.
Conclusion
Two months of synbiotic supplementation did not lower indoxyl sulphate toxin levels. Nevertheless, it had a major effect in improving constipation and quality of life affected by constipation in patients undergoing chronic haemodialysis.
Trial registration
NCT04527640
(date of first registration: 26/08/2020)
Objective: Tumor microenvironments consisting of stroma and extracellular matrix play important roles in tumor progression, particularly through the induction of epithelial-mesenchymal transition ...(EMT). It has been suggested that the phenotype of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in stroma might be correlated with the prognosis of patients with colorectal carcinoma (CRC). We aimed to determine the stromal and CAF types for prognostic determinants of CRCs associated with tumor budding (TB) grade, reflecting EMT. Materials and Methods: Using hematoxylin and eosin-stained paraffin wax sections from 23 patients with CRC, three stromal and two CAF phenotypes were evaluated, TB grades, invasion depth, lymph node metastases, and lymphovascular invasion (LVI) were also analyzed as established prognostic determinants. Data were analyzed statistically using the Chi-squared tests. Results: There was a significant association between CAF phenotype and TB grade (P < 0.01). CRC specimens with immature CAF have higher TB grades than the mature phenotype. Nevertheless, a significant association between stroma and TB grade could not be demonstrated. Moreover, high TB grades were significantly associated with lymph node metastasis (P < 0.01) and LVI (P < 0.01). However, there were no significant associations between CAF phenotype and either of these prognostic determinants. Conclusion: CAF phenotype could be considered as a prognostic determinant of CRC through its association with TB grade, indicating the role of CAFs in EMT processes. Future studies are required to examine the secretomes of CAFs that play important roles in EMT and determine the prognosis for patients with CRCs.
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a combination of endoscopy and fluoroscopy that is commonly used in the management of pancreatobiliary diseases. ERCP can be challenging if ...performed in surgically altered anatomy, such as a Billroth II reconstruction, compared with native anatomy and usually has a lower success rate. We identified five emerging challenges in such patients. These are the choice of endoscope, the identification of afferent loop, reaching the duodenal stump, cannulation in the reverse position, and endoscopic sphincterotomy. Performing ERCP in patients with a Billroth II reconstruction needs adequate knowledge, proper skill, and experience to achieve a good clinical outcome.