Inhibitory effect against polymerase and ribonuclease activities of HIV-reverse transcriptase of the aqueous leaf extract of Terminalia triflora

Dichloromethane, methanol and aqueous extracts from the leaves of Terminalia triflora were investigated for their inhibitory effect on polymerase and ribonuclease activities of HIV reverse transcriptase.The most potent activity was found in the aqueous extract, which inhibited both polymerase and ribonuclease activities of the enzyme with an IC50 of 1.6 micro g/mL and 1.8 micro g/mL respectively. The antiinfective activity of the extract was demonstrated in HLT4LacZ-IIIB cell culture with an IC50 of 1.0 micro g/mL. The extract was submitted to a purification process by extractive and chromatographic methods. The activity remained in the hydrophillic fraction. Tannins present in this active purified fraction, as determined by TLC and HPLC methods, could account for the anti HIV-RT activity found in the aqueous extract

European consensus conference on faecal microbiota transplantation in clinical practice

Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is an important therapeutic option for Clostridium difficile infection. Promising findings suggest that FMT may play a role also in the management of other disorders associated with the alteration of gut microbiota. Although the health community is assessing FMT with renewed interest and patients are becoming more aware, there are technical and logistical issues in establishing such a non-standardised treatment into the clinical practice with safety and proper governance. In view of this, an evidence-based recommendation is needed to drive the practical implementation of FMT. In this European Consensus Conference, 28 experts from 10 countries collaborated, in separate working groups and through an evidence-based process, to provide statements on the following key issues: FMT indications; donor selection; preparation of faecal material; clinical management and faecal delivery and basic requirements for implementing an FMT centre. Statements developed by each working group were evaluated and voted by all members, first through an electronic Delphi process, and then in a plenary consensus conference. The recommendations were released according to best available evidence, in order to act as guidance for physicians who plan to implement FMT, aiming at supporting the broad availability of the procedure, discussing other issues relevant to FMT and promoting future clinical research in the area of gut microbiota manipulation. This consensus report strongly recommends the implementation of FMT centres for the treatment of C. difficile infection as well as traces the guidelines of technicality, regulatory, administrative and laboratory requirements.Peer reviewe

Enhancing the First-Pass Effect in Acute Stroke: The Impact of Stent Retriever Characteristics

Introduction: Although stentrievers (SRs) have been a mainstay of mechanical thrombectomy (MT), and current guidelines recommend the use of SRs in the treatment of large vessel occlusion stroke (LVO), there is a paucity of studies in the literature comparing SRs directly against each other in terms of mechanical and functional properties. Timely access to endovascular therapy and the ability to restore intracranial flow in a safe, efficient, and efficacious manner have been critical to the success of MT. This study aimed to investigate the impact of contemporary SR characteristics, including model, brand, size, and length, on the first-pass effect (FPE) in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Methods: Consecutive patients with M1 occlusion treated with a single SR+BGC were recruited from the ROSSETTI registry. The primary outcome was the FPE that was defined as modified (mFPE) or true (tFPE) for the achievement of modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (mTICI) grades 2b-3 or 3 after a single device pass, respectively. We compared patients who achieved mFPE with those who achieved tFPE according to SR characteristics. Results: We included 610 patients (52.3% female and 47.7% male, mean age 75.1 +/- 13.62 years). mFPE was achieved in 357 patients (58.5%), whereas tFPE was achieved in 264 (43.3%). There was no significant association between SR characteristics and mFPE or tFPE. Specifically, the SR size did not show a statistically significant relationship with improvement in FPE. Similarly, the length of the SR did not yield significant differences in the mFPE and tFPE, even when the data were grouped. Conclusions: Our data indicate that contemporary SR-mediated thrombectomy characteristics, including model, brand, size, and length, do not significantly affect the FPE

International consensus conference on stool banking for faecal microbiota transplantation in clinical practice

Although faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has a well-established role in the treatment of recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI), its widespread dissemination is limited by several obstacles, including lack of dedicated centres, difficulties with donor recruitment and complexities related to regulation and safety monitoring. Given the considerable burden of CDI on global healthcare systems, FMT should be widely available to most centres. Stool banks may guarantee reliable, timely and equitable access to FMT for patients and a traceable workflow that ensures safety and quality of procedures. In this consensus project, FMT experts from Europe, North America and Australia gathered and released statements on the following issues related to the stool banking: general principles, objectives and organisation of the stool bank; selection and screening of donors; collection, preparation and storage of faeces; services and clients; registries, monitoring of outcomes and ethical issues; and the evolving role of FMT in clinical practice, Consensus on each statement was achieved through a Delphi process and then in a plenary face-to-face meeting. For each key issue, the best available evidence was assessed, with the aim of providing guidance for the development of stool banks in order to promote accessibility to FMT in clinical practice.Peer reviewe

Evolution of Endoscopic Lesions in Steroid-Refractory Acute Severe Ulcerative Colitis Responding to Infliximab or Cyclosporine

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Few data on the evolution of endoscopic findings are available in patients with acute severe ulcerative colitis (ASUC). The aim of this study was to describe this evolution in a prospective cohort. METHODS: Patients admitted for a steroid-refractory ASUC and included in a randomized trial comparing infliximab and cyclosporine were eligible if they achieved steroid-free clinical remission at day 98. Flexible sigmoidoscopies were performed at baseline, days 7, 42 and 98. Ulcerative colitis endoscopic index of severity (UCEIS) and its sub-scores - vascular pattern, bleeding and ulceration/erosion - were post-hoc calculated. Global endoscopic remission was defined by a UCEIS of 0, and partial endoscopic remission by any UCEIS sub-score of 0. RESULTS: Among the 55 patients analyzed (29 infliximab and 26 cyclosporine), 49 (83%) had UCEIS >= 6 at baseline at baseline. Partial endoscopic remission rates were higher for bleeding than for vascular pattern and for ulcerations/erosions at day 7 (20% vs. 4% and 5% (n = 55); p CONCLUSION: In steroid-refractory ASUC patients responding to a second-line medical therapy, endoscopic remission process started with bleeding remission and was not achieved in half the patients at day 98 for vascular pattern. Infliximab provided a higher endoscopic remission rate than cyclosporine at day 98.Peer reviewe

Nivolumab-induced immune-mediated colitis : an ulcerative colitis look-alikereport of new cases and review of the literature

PurposeNivolumab, a monoclonal antibody-targeting programmed cell death protein-1, is being increasingly used for the treatment of some advanced neoplasms. Several of its adverse effects are a result of the upregulation of T cells, with colitis as one of the most severe, and a challenging differential diagnosis with ulcerative colitis. However, few real-life clinical practice cases have been reported beyond trials. Our aim was to report a series of new cases, reviewing previously communicated endoscopic-proven nivolumab-induced colitis.MethodAll patients treated with nivolumab in three university centers were identified and those who developed immune-mediated colitis (defined as the presence of diarrhea and evidence of colitis demonstrated by colonoscopy) were described. Additionally, a review of case reports of nivolumab-induced colitis reported in the literature up to March 2018 was performed.ResultsSix new cases of nivolumab-induced colitis and 13 previously reported cases out of randomized clinical trials are described. Colonoscopy showed a mucosal pattern mimicking ulcerative colitis in a large proportion of patients. Clostridium difficile superinfection was observed in two out of 19 cases. All but three patients definitively discontinued nivolumab therapy. Most patients were initially managed with oral or intravenous corticosteroids, but five of them required rescue therapy with infliximab.ConclusionsNivolumab-induced colitis may mimic ulcerative colitis. Steroid therapy (oral or intravenously) is often efficient, but one-fourth of patients need rescue therapy with anti-TNF. Intestinal superinfection with Clostridium difficile or cytomegalovirus should be ruled out before starting immunosuppressive therapy

Outcomes of Medical and Surgical Therapy for Entero-urinary Fistulas in Crohn's Disease.

The aims of this study were to evaluate the frequency of entero-urinary fistulas in a cohort of Crohn's disease (CD) patients and to analyse the outcomes of medical and surgical therapy. This multicentre retrospective study included all CD patients with entero-urinary fistulas diagnosed by the presence of clinical symptoms and confirmed at surgery or by radiological or endoscopic techniques. We evaluated outcomes of medical and surgical therapy. We defined remission as absence of clinical symptoms with a radiological confirmation of fistula closure. Cox regression analysis was performed to evaluate factors predictive of achieving remission without need for surgery. Of 6081 CD patients screened, 97 had entero-urinary fistulas (frequency 1.6%). Seventy-five percent of fistulas occurred in men. After a median follow-up of 91 months, 96% of patients were in sustained remission. Thirty-three patients (35%) received anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) therapy. Of these, 45% achieved sustained remission (median follow-up 35 months) without needing surgery. More than 80% of patients required surgery, which induced remission (median follow-up 101 months) in 99% of them. Only the use of anti-TNF agents was associated with an increased rate of remission without need for surgery (hazard ratio 0.23, 95% confidence interval 0.12-0.44; p In this large cohort of CD patients, the frequency of entero-urinary fistulas was lower than previously described. More than 80% of patients required surgery, and in all but one of them surgery induced sustained remission. In a selected subgroup of patients, anti-TNF may induce long-term fistula remission and radiographic closure, making it possible to avoid surgery

Efficacy and safety of endoscopic balloon dilation in inflammatory bowel disease: results of the large multicenter study of the ENEIDA registry (vol 34, pg 1112, 2020)

Javier P. Gisbert was listed incorrectly as Javier Perez-Gisbert

Outcomes of Medical and Surgical Therapy for Entero-urinary Fistulas in Crohn’s Disease

The aims of this study were to evaluate the frequency of entero-urinary fistulas in a cohort of Crohn's disease (CD) patients and to analyse the outcomes of medical and surgical therapy. This multicentre retrospective study included all CD patients with entero-urinary fistulas diagnosed by the presence of clinical symptoms and confirmed at surgery or by radiological or endoscopic techniques. We evaluated outcomes of medical and surgical therapy. We defined remission as absence of clinical symptoms with a radiological confirmation of fistula closure. Cox regression analysis was performed to evaluate factors predictive of achieving remission without need for surgery. Of 6081 CD patients screened, 97 had entero-urinary fistulas (frequency 1.6%). Seventy-five percent of fistulas occurred in men. After a median follow-up of 91 months, 96% of patients were in sustained remission. Thirty-three patients (35%) received anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) therapy. Of these, 45% achieved sustained remission (median follow-up 35 months) without needing surgery. More than 80% of patients required surgery, which induced remission (median follow-up 101 months) in 99% of them. Only the use of anti-TNF agents was associated with an increased rate of remission without need for surgery (hazard ratio 0.23, 95% confidence interval 0.12-0.44; p In this large cohort of CD patients, the frequency of entero-urinary fistulas was lower than previously described. More than 80% of patients required surgery, and in all but one of them surgery induced sustained remission. In a selected subgroup of patients, anti-TNF may induce long-term fistula remission and radiographic closure, making it possible to avoid surgery

Ciclosporin versus infliximab in patients with severe ulcerative colitis refractory to intravenous steroids: a parallel, open-label randomised controlled trial.

International audienceBACKGROUND: Ciclosporin and infliximab are potential rescue treatments to avoid colectomy in patients with acute severe ulcerative colitis refractory to intravenous corticosteroids. We compared the efficacy and safety of these drugs for this indication. METHODS: In this parallel, open-label, randomised controlled trial, patients were aged at least 18 years, had an acute severe flare of ulcerative colitis defined by a Lichtiger score greater than 10 points, and had been given an unsuccessful course of high-dose intravenous steroids. None of the patients had previously received ciclosporin or infliximab. Between June 1, 2007, and Aug 31, 2010, patients at 27 European centres were randomly assigned (via computer-derived permutation tables; 1:1) to receive either intravenous ciclosporin (2 mg/kg per day for 1 week, followed by oral drug until day 98) or infliximab (5 mg/kg on days 0, 14, and 42). In both groups, azathioprine was started at day 7 in patients with a clinical response. Neither patients nor investigators were masked to study treatment. The primary efficacy outcome was treatment failure defined by absence of a clinical response at day 7, a relapse between day 7 and day 98, absence of steroid-free remission at day 98, a severe adverse event leading to treatment interruption, colectomy, or death. Analysis was by intention to treat. This trial is registered with EudraCT (2006-005299-42) and ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT00542152). FINDINGS: 115 patients were randomly assigned; 58 patients were allocated to receive ciclosporin and 57 to receive infliximab. Treatment failure occurred in 35 (60%) patients given ciclosporin and 31 (54%) given infliximab (absolute risk difference 6%; 95% CI -7 to 19; p=0*52). Nine (16%) patients in the ciclosporin group and 14 (25%) in the infliximab group had severe adverse events. INTERPRETATION: Ciclosporin was not more effective than infliximab in patients with acute severe ulcerative colitis refractory to intravenous steroids. In clinical practice, treatment choice should be guided by physician and centre experience. FUNDING: Association François Aupetit, Société Nationale Française de Gastroentérologie, and the International Organization for the study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease