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The risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is known to be increased in patients with IBD. However, no specific consensus statements exist regarding the prevention of postoperative VTE in patients with this disease. The results of a large retrospective cohort study quantifying the risk of postoperative VTE in patients with IBD are discussed.
Treatment success for Helicobacter pylori, a major human pathogen, with popular drug regimens has generally declined to unacceptably low levels. As part of the worldwide effort to identify novel drug regimens that will reliably achieve high levels of success, Tay, Marshall and colleagues report their results with novel multidrug-tailored therapies.
Novel findings draw attention to the adverse effect that neoplastic transformation of epithelial cells has on intestinal barrier function and cancer progression. An impaired intestinal barrier facilitated the translocation of microbial products, which promoted cytokine production and subsequent tumour progression in mice. The findings could open new therapeutic avenues for patients with early stage colorectal cancer.
The advent of CT colonography (CTC) for colorectal cancer screen-ing has generated the need for conservative policies for post-test colonoscopy referral. This Perspectives summarizes the evidence on the natural history and management of subcentimetric colorectal polyps, and suggests a patient-tailored approach when these lesions are detected by CTC in a screening setting.
Upper gastrointestinal tract cancers (UGICs) pose a major health risk around the world, and therapeutic improvements have been very slow and small. Increased understanding of the role of microRNAs in UGICs could lead to novel prevention strategies, early detection and improved therapeutics for these cancers.
The permeability of the intestinal epithelial barrier has a central role in the regulation of fluid and nutrient intake as well as in the control of the passage of pathogens. In this Review, Michel Neunlist and colleagues summarize current studies characterizing neuronal and glial effects on the intestinal epithelial barrier and outline the novel concept of a digestive neuronal–glial–epithelial unit.
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a heterogeneous cancer with variable outcomes after treatment. Prognosis of HCC cannot be accurately predicted by current clinical staging systems. Development of prognostic biomarkers is critical to improve treatment outcome. Recent studies indicate that inflammatory and immunological markers might provide reliable prognostic classification in HCC.