Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis Show Unique Cytokine Profiles

Networks of cytokines have been implicated in both forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). While CD has associated with T-helper type 1 (Th1) immune responses, UC shows Th2 patterns. Recent studies reported that the inflamed intestinal regions in both CD and UC are significantly infiltrated with a newly described set of T helper, the Th17 cells. These cells have unique cytokine responses. These findings prompted us to further explore the cytokine profiles of CD and UC with a special focus on the Th2 and Th17 related mediators

Higher Body Mass Index and Black Race Increase Risk of Rhabdomyolysis and Acute Kidney Injury After Trauma

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Identification of Experimentally Induced Colitis by in Vitro Nuclear Magnetic Resonance.

The present study determined whether in vitro nuclear magnetic resonance could be used to assess experimentally induced colitis in rats. Acute colitis was induced in 6 Sprague-Dawley rats by acetic acid enema, while 6 control animals received saline enemas. All animals were sacrificed 24 hours post-enema, and NMR relaxation times, T1 and T2, of colonic samples were determined on a 10 MHz spin analyzer (RADX, Houston, TX). Colonic water content was determined on the same samples by desiccation. Colitis animals showed significantly higher T1 and T2 relaxation times and tissue water content than controls. T1 and T2 times correlated significantly with tissue water content. Twelve additional animals were studied histologically, six of which received acetic acid enemas and showed extensive transmural colitis. Our results suggest that in vivo proton NMR might be a useful means of non-invasively assessing the degree of colonic inflammation