The Paris, Barcelona, Toronto, and Ehime definition applied at 3, 6, and 12 months significantly discriminated the patients in terms of long-term outcome. A biochemical response as early as 6 months after UDCA therapy predicts long-term outcome of PBC. For the previously published criteria, biochemical responses at the sixth month can be used in place of those evaluated after 1 year of UDCA therapy. Our findings provide

important information that will be helpful in clinical evaluation of PBC patients. It may also facilitate a more rapid identification of patients who need new therapeutic approaches. Additional Supporting Information may be found in the online version of this article. “
“See article in J. Gastroenterol. phosphatase inhibitor library Hepatol. 2012; 27: 935–944. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common cause of abdominal pain and disturbed bowel function with unknown etiology. Recent estimates suggest a worldwide prevalence of 7–10%, accounting for up to 40% of gastroenterology outpatients. In industrialized countries, IBS has been identified as a cause of work absenteeism and consumption of healthcare resources.1–3 Post-infectious

SB431542 IBS (PI-IBS) is a subgroup of IBS in which patients complain of persistent abdominal discomfort, bloating, and diarrhea after infectious enteritis, despite the clearance of pathogens. An association between IBS and infectious enteritis was first proposed in 1950.4 It is reported that 6–17% of patients with IBS believe their symptoms began with an infective illness.5 Various bacterial pathogens including Campylobacter, Shigella, Salmonella, and Escherichia coli have been associated with PI-IBS, although it remains unclear whether all these pathogens convey an equivalent risk. Possible risk factors for PI-IBS include genetic factors, psychosocial factors, bacterial

factors, antibiotic use, sex, and age. The pathophysiology of PI-IBS remains unclear, but recent findings suggest that immunological imbalance in the intestine contributes to the development of the condition. Several histological studies have demonstrated immune cell infiltration selleck chemicals llc including T-lymphocytes and mast cells in the colonic mucosa of patients with IBS or PI-IBS.6–9 In patients with IBS, activation of both mucosal immunity and the systemic immune system have been reported. Activation of T cells has been observed in both the colonic mucosa and the peripheral blood,10 and activation of peripheral blood B cells has also been observed.11 Focal T cell aggregation and infiltration of macrophages have been observed in the duodenal mucosa of patients with post-infectious functional dyspepsia (PI-FD).12 Thus, the results of several recent studies indicate that systemic and local acquired immune responses are activated in patients with PI-IBS and PI-FD.