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The AAPS Journal Jan 2013Extensive research over the past half century has shown that curcumin (diferuloylmethane), a component of the golden spice turmeric (Curcuma longa), can modulate... (Review)
Review
Extensive research over the past half century has shown that curcumin (diferuloylmethane), a component of the golden spice turmeric (Curcuma longa), can modulate multiple cell signaling pathways. Extensive clinical trials over the past quarter century have addressed the pharmacokinetics, safety, and efficacy of this nutraceutical against numerous diseases in humans. Some promising effects have been observed in patients with various pro-inflammatory diseases including cancer, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, uveitis, ulcerative proctitis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel disease, tropical pancreatitis, peptic ulcer, gastric ulcer, idiopathic orbital inflammatory pseudotumor, oral lichen planus, gastric inflammation, vitiligo, psoriasis, acute coronary syndrome, atherosclerosis, diabetes, diabetic nephropathy, diabetic microangiopathy, lupus nephritis, renal conditions, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, β-thalassemia, biliary dyskinesia, Dejerine-Sottas disease, cholecystitis, and chronic bacterial prostatitis. Curcumin has also shown protection against hepatic conditions, chronic arsenic exposure, and alcohol intoxication. Dose-escalating studies have indicated the safety of curcumin at doses as high as 12 g/day over 3 months. Curcumin's pleiotropic activities emanate from its ability to modulate numerous signaling molecules such as pro-inflammatory cytokines, apoptotic proteins, NF-κB, cyclooxygenase-2, 5-LOX, STAT3, C-reactive protein, prostaglandin E(2), prostate-specific antigen, adhesion molecules, phosphorylase kinase, transforming growth factor-β, triglyceride, ET-1, creatinine, HO-1, AST, and ALT in human participants. In clinical trials, curcumin has been used either alone or in combination with other agents. Various formulations of curcumin, including nanoparticles, liposomal encapsulation, emulsions, capsules, tablets, and powder, have been examined. In this review, we discuss in detail the various human diseases in which the effect of curcumin has been investigated.
Topics: Arthritis; Clinical Trials as Topic; Curcumin; Humans; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases; Irritable Bowel Syndrome; Neoplasms; Peptic Ulcer; Vitiligo
PubMed: 23143785
DOI: 10.1208/s12248-012-9432-8 -
Current Opinion in Gastroenterology Mar 2018Gallstone disease is a major epidemiologic and economic burden worldwide, and the most frequent form is cholesterol gallstone disease. (Review)
Review
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
Gallstone disease is a major epidemiologic and economic burden worldwide, and the most frequent form is cholesterol gallstone disease.
RECENT FINDINGS
Major pathogenetic factors for cholesterol gallstones include a genetic background, hepatic hypersecretion of cholesterol, and supersaturated bile which give life to precipitating cholesterol crystals that accumulate and grow in a sluggish gallbladder. Additional factors include mucin and inflammatory changes in the gallbladder, slow intestinal motility, increased intestinal absorption of cholesterol, and altered gut microbiota. Mechanisms of disease are linked with insulin resistance, obesity, the metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes. The role of nuclear receptors, signaling pathways, gut microbiota, and epigenome are being actively investigated.
SUMMARY
Ongoing research on cholesterol gallstone disease is intensively investigating several pathogenic mechanisms, associated metabolic disorders, new therapeutic approaches, and novel strategies for primary prevention, including lifestyles.
Topics: Animals; Bile; Biliary Dyskinesia; Cholelithiasis; Cholesterol; Disease Models, Animal; Epigenesis, Genetic; Gallstones; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Gene-Environment Interaction; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Humans; Intestines; Mice
PubMed: 29283909
DOI: 10.1097/MOG.0000000000000423 -
Frontiers in Pediatrics 2020While functional gallbladder disorder is a well-recognized and defined condition in adults, its pediatric analog, biliary dyskinesia, lacks uniformity in diagnosis.... (Review)
Review
While functional gallbladder disorder is a well-recognized and defined condition in adults, its pediatric analog, biliary dyskinesia, lacks uniformity in diagnosis. Yet, biliary dyskinesia is among the most common conditions resulting in cholecystectomy in youth and its frequency continues to rise. The primary aims of the current review were assess the efficacy of cholecystectomy in children diagnosed with biliary dyskinesia and the utility of cholescintigraphy in predicting outcomes. All previous studies assessing outcomes in youth with biliary dyskinesia have been retrospective and therefore of low quality. There is a lack of uniformity in patient selection. Short term follow-up reveals partial response in 63.4-100% with complete resolution in 44.2-100%. Only 4 studies have reported long-term outcomes with complete symptom resolution in 44-60.7%. The published research generally indicates that the gallbladder ejection fraction (GBEF) as determined by cholescintigraphy lacks utility in predicting cholecystectomy outcome utilizing the commonly used cut-off values. There are data suggesting that more extreme cut-off values may improve the predictive value of GBEF. There is a lack of consensus on the symptom profile defining biliary dyskinesia in youth and current literature does not support the use of cholescintigraphy to select patients for cholecystectomy. There is a substantial portion of pediatric patients diagnosed with biliary dyskinesia who do not experience long-term benefit from cholecystectomy. Well-designed prospective studies of surgical outcomes are lacking. Increasing the uniformity in patient selection, including both symptom profiles and cholescintigraphy results, will be key in understanding the utility of cholecystectomy for this condition.
PubMed: 32266192
DOI: 10.3389/fped.2020.00122 -
Current Opinion in Gastroenterology Sep 2013We review selected important clinical observations reported in 2012. (Review)
Review
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
We review selected important clinical observations reported in 2012.
RECENT FINDINGS
Celiac disease is a risk factor for pancreatitis. Patients with recurrent acute pancreatitis likely have chronic pancreatitis, do not benefit from pancreatic sphincterotomy, and may not benefit from biliary sphincterotomy. Analysis of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) images with an artificial neural network (ANN) program may improve chronic pancreatitis diagnosis compared with clinical interpretation of images. In a multicenter, randomized controlled trial of chronic pancreatitis patients, 90 000 USP U of pancreatin with meals decreased fat malabsorption compared with placebo. Detection of visceral pain in chronic pancreatitis predicts pain relief from various treatments, but nonvisceral pain due to altered central pain processing may respond to agents such as pregabalin. Predictors of surgical pain relief include onset of symptoms less than 3 years and preoperatively no opioid use and less than five endoscopic procedures. Total pancreatectomy for presumed painful chronic pancreatitis remains controversial.
SUMMARY
Celiacs are at risk for pancreatitis. The diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis may be enhanced by ANN analysis of EUS imaging. Treatment of fat malabsorption requires 90,000 USP U of lipase with meals. Relief of pain from organ directed treatment of chronic pancreatitis may depend upon timing of interventions and whether pain is visceral or nonvisceral.
Topics: Antioxidants; Celiac Disease; Diagnosis, Differential; Drug Administration Schedule; Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency; Humans; Pain Management; Pancreatectomy; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Pancreatin; Pancreatitis, Chronic; Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction
PubMed: 23852141
DOI: 10.1097/MOG.0b013e3283639370 -
Journal of Nuclear Medicine : Official... Jun 2014Cholescintigraphy with (99m)Tc-hepatobiliary radiopharmaceuticals has been an important, clinically useful diagnostic imaging study for almost 4 decades. It continues to... (Review)
Review
Cholescintigraphy with (99m)Tc-hepatobiliary radiopharmaceuticals has been an important, clinically useful diagnostic imaging study for almost 4 decades. It continues to be in much clinical demand; however, the indications, methodology, and interpretative criteria have evolved over the years. This review will emphasize state-of-the-art methodology and diagnostic criteria for various clinical indications, including acute cholecystitis, chronic acalculous gallbladder disease, high-grade and partial biliary obstruction, and the postcholecystectomy pain syndrome, including sphincter-of-Oddi dysfunction and biliary atresia. The review will also emphasize the use of diagnostic pharmacologic interventions, particularly sincalide.
Topics: Biliary Tract; Biliary Tract Diseases; False Positive Reactions; Humans; Liver; Radionuclide Imaging; Reference Standards
PubMed: 24744445
DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.113.131490 -
Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases Sep 2022Heterotaxy (HTX) is a rare condition of abnormal thoraco-abdominal organ arrangement across the left-right axis of the body. The pathogenesis of HTX includes a... (Review)
Review
Heterotaxy (HTX) is a rare condition of abnormal thoraco-abdominal organ arrangement across the left-right axis of the body. The pathogenesis of HTX includes a derangement of the complex signaling at the left-right organizer early in embryogenesis involving motile and non-motile cilia. It can be inherited as a single-gene disorder, a phenotypic feature of a known genetic syndrome or without any clear genetic etiology. Most patients with HTX have complex cardiovascular malformations requiring surgical intervention. Surgical risks are relatively high due to several serious comorbidities often seen in patients with HTX. Asplenia or functional hyposplenism significantly increase the risk for sepsis and therefore require antimicrobial prophylaxis and immediate medical attention with fever. Intestinal rotation abnormalities are common among patients with HTX, although volvulus is rare and surgical correction carries substantial risk. While routine screening for intestinal malrotation is not recommended, providers and families should promptly address symptoms concerning for volvulus and biliary atresia, another serious morbidity more common among patients with HTX. Many patients with HTX have chronic lung disease and should be screened for primary ciliary dyskinesia, a condition of respiratory cilia impairment leading to bronchiectasis. Mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions need to be carefully considered among this population of patients living with a substantial medical burden. Optimal care of children with HTX requires a cohesive team of primary care providers and experienced subspecialists collaborating to provide compassionate, standardized and evidence-based care. In this statement, subspecialty experts experienced in HTX care and research collaborated to provide expert- and evidence-based suggestions addressing the numerous medical issues affecting children living with HTX.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bronchiectasis; Child; Humans; Intestinal Volvulus
PubMed: 36085154
DOI: 10.1186/s13023-022-02515-2 -
Canadian Medical Association Journal Mar 1984One third to one half of cases of dyspepsia remain unexplained. The cause of nonulcer dyspepsia is unknown, but aerophagia, esophageal dysfunction, pyloroduodenal... (Review)
Review
One third to one half of cases of dyspepsia remain unexplained. The cause of nonulcer dyspepsia is unknown, but aerophagia, esophageal dysfunction, pyloroduodenal dysmotility and the irritable bowel syndrome may be important factors in some patients. The symptoms are often affected by diet and emotion. History-taking and endoscopy are the most discriminating diagnostic tests. Unexplained dyspepsia tends to be a lifelong disease with few, if any, sequelae. Nevertheless, reassurance and treatment with a placebo, such as an antacid or simethicone, provide effective and safe relief for many patients.
Topics: Aerophagy; Biliary Dyskinesia; Colonic Diseases, Functional; Duodenogastric Reflux; Dyspepsia; Humans; Placebos; Prognosis
PubMed: 6365298
DOI: No ID Found