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C Benoni

Publications and source records attributed to C Benoni.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Increased presence of eosinophilic granulocytes expressing transforming growth factor-beta1 in collagenous colitis.

BACKGROUND: Collagenous colitis is a disease characterized by chronic watery diarrhea, and on microscopic examination of colonic tissue, a typical thickening of the subepithelial collagen layer is seen. The etiology and pathophysiology behind this disease state are largely unknown. METHODS: We have used in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry to study the expression of transforming growth factor (TGF) -beta1, a growth factor with the capacity to cause accumulation of collagen in tissues, in collagenous colitis. Colonic pinch biopsy specimens from a total of 34 patients were investigated: 17 patients with collagenous colitis and 17 controls. RESULTS: In patients with collagenous colitis there was increased expression of the TGF-beta1 gene compared with controls, as visualized by in situ hybridization. The vast majority of the TGF-beta1-expressing cells were eosinophils, both in collagenous colitis and controls, but there were also scattered fibroblastic and histiocytic stromal cells. Immunohistochemistry showed the presence of TGF-beta1, mainly in eosinophils, in the colonic mucosa. Morphometric quantification showed 603 +/- 192 eosinophils/mm2, (mean +/- standard error of the mean) in the colonic mucosa of patients with collagenous colitis compared with 30 +/- 7 eosinophils/mm2 in the controls. CONCLUSIONS: The present results suggest that eosinophils expressing TGF-beta1 may be of pathophysiologic importance in the connective tissue remodeling seen in collagenous colitis.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Lower frequency of focal lip sialadenitis (focus score) in smoking patients. Can tobacco diminish the salivary gland involvement as judged by histological examination and anti-SSA/Ro and anti-SSB/La antibodies in Sjögren's syndrome?

OBJECTIVES: Prospectively collected computer database information was previously assessed on a cohort of 300 patients who fulfilled the Copenhagen classification criteria for primary Sjögren's syndrome. Analysis of the clinical data showed that patients who smoked had a decreased lower lip salivary gland focus score (p<0.05). The aim of this original report is to describe the tobacco habits in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome or stomatitis sicca only and to determine if there is a correlation between smoking habits and focus score in lower lip biopsies as well as ciculating autoantibodies and IgG. METHODS: All living patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome or stomatitis sicca only, who were still in contact with the Sjögren's Syndrome Research Centre were asked to fill in a detailed questionnaire concerning present and past smoking habits, which was compared with smoking habits in a sex and age matched control group (n=3700) from the general population. In addition, the patients previous lower lip biopsies were blindly re-evaluated and divided by the presence of focus score (focus score = number of lymphocyte foci per 4 mm(2) glandular tissue) into those being normal (focus score </= 1) or abnormal (focus score > 1). Furthermore the cohort was divided into three groups; 10-45, 46-60 and >/= 61 years of age. Finally the focus score was related to the smoking habits. Seroimmunological (ANA; anti-SSA/Ro antibodies; anti-SSB/La antibodies; IgM-RF and IgG) samples were analysed routinely. RESULTS: The questionnaire was answered by 98% (n=355) of the cohort and the percentage of current smokers, former smokers and historical non-smokers at the time of lower lip biopsy was not statistically different from that of the control group. Cigarette smoking at the time of lower lip biopsy is associated with lower risk of abnormal focus score (p<0.001; odds ratio 0.29, 95%CI 0.16 to 0.50). The odds ratio for having focal sialadenitis (focus score > 1) compared with having a non-focal sialadenitis or normal biopsy (focus score </= 1) was decreased in all three age groups (10-45: odds ratio 0.27, 95%CI 0.11 to 0.71; 46-60: odds ratio 0.22, 95%CI 0. 08 to 0.59; and >/= 61: odds ratio 0.36, 95%CI 0.10 to 1.43) although there was only statistical significance in the two younger age groups. Moreover, among current smokers at the time of the lower lip biopsy there was a decreasing odds ratio for an abnormal lip focus score with increasing number of cigarettes smoked per week (p trend 0.00). In the group of former smokers, which included patients that had stopped smoking up to 30 years ago, the results were in between those of the smokers and the historical non-smokers (odds ratio 0.57, 95%CI 0.34 to 0.97, compared with never smokers). Present or past smoking did not correlate with the function of the salivary glands as judged by unstimulated whole sialometry, stimulated whole sialometry or salivary gland scintigraphy. Among former smokers, the median time lapse between the first symptom of primary Sjögren's syndrome and the performance of the lower lip biopsy was approximately half as long as the median time lapse between smoking cessation and biopsy (8 versus 15 years). Hence, symptoms of Sjögren's syndrome are unlikely to have had a significant influence on smoking habits at the time of the biopsy. Among the seroimmunological results only anti-SSA/Ro and anti-SSB/La antibodies reached statistical significance in a manner similar to the way smoking influenced the focus score in lower lip biopsies. On the other hand the level of significance was consistently more pronounced for the influence of smoking on the focus score than for the influence on anti-SSA/Ro and anti-SSB/La autoantibodies. CONCLUSION: This is believed to be the first report showing that cigarette smoking is negatively associated with focal sialadenitis-focus score >1-in lower lip biopsy in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome. Furthermore, tobacco seems to decrea

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Effects of smoking on the urine excretion of oral 51Cr EDTA in ulcerative colitis.

BACKGROUND: Smokers have a reduced risk and ex-smokers an increased risk of ulcerative colitis (UC). Stopping smoking often precedes onset and relapses. Smoking reduces the 24 hour urine excretion of oral chromium-51 labelled EDTA in healthy individuals. AIMS: To estimate the effects of smoking on the urine excretion of oral 51Cr EDTA in well characterised patients with UC. SUBJECTS: Sixteen smoking and 16 non-smoking patients with UC in remission were studied. The non-smokers had never smoked. Most were taking 5-aminosalicylic acid. No patient took steroids or immunosuppressants. The control group comprised 25 smoking healthy volunteers and 25 who had never smoked. The median cigarette consumption was equal in the patients and volunteers. METHODS: The 24 hour urine excretion of oral 51Cr EDTA was measured and the results were correlated with smoking habits, number of cigarettes, and disease extent. RESULTS: Patients with UC had significantly higher 24 hour urine recoveries than healthy controls (p = 0.04). This difference was more pronounced when patients who smoked were compared with healthy smokers (p = 0.005) No significant differences were found when comparing non-smoking patients with non-smoking controls or when comparing smoking and non-smoking patients. Urine recoveries did not correlate with number of cigarettes or disease extent. Smoking was more prevalent in patients with a more limited disease extent (p = 0.033). CONCLUSIONS: Effects of smoking on the urine excretion of 51Cr EDTA in health were abolished by the presence of UC. The protective effects of smoking in established UC are not due to a moderating effect of smoking on intestinal permeability.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Psychological profile of patients suffering from Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

Patients with Crohn's disease (CD, n = 61) and ulcerative colitis (UC, n = 24) were studied using an interview and a series of percept-genetic tests describing anxiety, defensive strategies, and the self-image. Attention was specifically directed at a subgroup of CD (n = 15) with its inflammation limited to the colon (colon Crohn, CC). There was also a control group (n = 43). CC had more immature parent relations than the other groups. They were more childishly concrete and more alexithymic. While CC differ from other Crohn patients in many respects, the real cleft opens up with regard to UC, in spite of location of their illness. CC patients obviously have a psychological profile of their own.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1994

Nitrous oxide for colonoscopy discomfort: a randomized double-blind study.

The possibility of reducing recovery time after colonoscopy was studied using patient-administered nitrous oxide and comparing it with our standard treatment of ketobemidone plus midazolam. Fifty consecutive colonoscopy patients were randomized to receive either (i) intravenous ketobemidone hydrochloride 2.5 mg, midazolam 2.5 mg, and breathing air from a face mask with a demand valve (KHM) or (ii) intravenous saline and a breathing mixture of even parts of oxygen and nitrous oxide (Entonox) from the same valve setup. Patient discomfort during colonoscopy was assessed using visual analogue scales. All patients were allowed to stay for recovery as long as they wanted, and the time was measured. Modified recollection tests were performed prior to colonoscopy and when the patients left the Endoscopy Unit, in order to study the degree of mental impairment induced by the procedure and the medication. All patients had complete colonoscopies of the same duration in both groups. Discomfort during colonoscopy was rated the same in both groups (2p = 0.6413). Both groups of patients scored identically in the precolonoscopy recollection test. Most patients had a lower score after colonoscopy, but Entonox-treated patients scored significantly better than those with KHM (2p = 0.0250). Patients treated with Entonox opted to leave the Unit directly after the procedure (median 0 minutes; interquartile range 0-5 minutes) compared to 38 minutes for those with KHM (interquartile range 10-75 min), 2p < 0.001. It seems from our data that nitrous oxide gives pain relief equal to that in our standard treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Helicobacter pylori and atrophic gastritis.

Sixty-four consecutive patients which on upper gastrointestinal endoscopy had endoscopic signs of atrophic body gastritis were investigated with standard histology examinations of gastric biopsies, serology and/or culture for Helicobacter pylori and with standard blood chemistry profile. A histologic diagnosis of atrophy could be made in only 27 of the 64 patients (42%). Of these 27 patients, 5 had the pernicious anaemia (PA) type (19%), 22 had not (81%). Past and/or present H. pylori infection was found in 16/22 non-PA patients (73%) but in none of the PA patients (p = 0.00572). The present study thus confirms earlier findings that non-PA type atrophic body gastritis is more common than the PA type and suggests that, as opposed to PA-type atrophy, it is related to H. pylori infection.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Smoking and inflammatory bowel disease: comparison with systemic lupus erythematosus. A case-control study.

Smoking is rare in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). Onsets are common after stopping smoking. Several observations suggest possible immunologic mechanisms in UC. As smoking has an immunosuppressive effect, a possible role of smoking in UC could be immunosuppression. In this study an analogous hypothesis was investigated by studying smoking habits in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), an inflammatory multisystemic disease of unknown etiology, characterized by disturbances in cellular and humoral immunity. At onset, 23 of 56 patients were smokers and 2 probable smokers. Few were ex-smokers. The patients were matched for age, sex, and geographic vicinity, and multiple relative risks were calculated. No correlation could be found between smoking/ex-smoking and SLE either at diagnosis or at interview, and no resemblance in habit to patients with UC was found. The present study provides no evidence that the immunosuppressive effect of smoking is sufficient to influence the clinical course of SLE and therefore by analogy does not support an immunosuppressive explanation of the possible protective effect of smoking in UC.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Does smoking tighten the gut?

There is a low prevalence of smoking in ulcerative colitis. The disease often starts or relapses after stopping smoking. Increased intestinal permeability for harmful substances has been proposed as one causal factor in ulcerative colitis. We therefore wanted to study the relationship between smoking and intestinal permeability in healthy subjects. In 25 smoking and 25 non-smoking healthy persons urine recoveries of two different oral probes, 51Cr-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (51Cr-EDTA) and low-molecular-weight polymers of polyethylene glycol (PEG 400), were measured. The smokers had significantly lower 24-h urine recoveries of 51Cr-EDTA than the non-smokers (median, 1.6; range, 0.8-4.2, versus 2.1; range, 1.1-5.8; 2 p less than 0.001). In contrast, 6-h urine recoveries of PEG 400 were not significantly different in smokers and non-smokers. Thus, smoking appears to tighten the gut either by effects on the paracellular junctions in the intestinal epithelium or by decreasing the permeability in the distal small bowel and the colon.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

A mixed endocrine adrenal tumour causing steatorrhoea.

A 60 year old man developed steatorrhoea, weight loss, mild diabetes mellitus, labile hypertension and limb cramps. Raised plasma concentrations of catecholamines, particularly noradrenaline and a computed tomography-scan showing an adrenal tumour strongly suggested a pheochromocytoma. Adrenoreceptor blockade reversed the symptoms, decreased faecal fat, and increased duodenal trypsin to normal concentrations. After adrenalectomy the patient was asymptomatic and there was no steatorrhoea. The blood glucose concentrations became normal. Immunocytochemistry revealed the tumour cells to store large amounts of enkephalin and somatostatin reactive material and moderate amounts of immunoreactive beta-endorphin and dynorphin.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗
PubMed1987

Histologic and colonoscopic assessment of disease extension in ulcerative colitis.

A comparison between histologic and colonoscopic extension of ulcerative colitis was made in 107 examinations (83 patients). During colonoscopy signs of inflammation were registered, and biopsy specimens were taken from the following gut segments: rectum, left colon, transverse colon, and right colon. Inflammatory activity in the specimens was graded in accordance with severity in a scale from one to five. Endoscopically, total colitis was seen in 40 examinations but was present in 70 examinations histologically. In 34 of 107 examinations the extension of disease was underestimated at colonoscopy. A slight inflammation existed in those segments that appeared normal colonoscopically. Our conclusion is that the extension of ulcerative colitis often is underestimated endoscopically and that inflammatory activity can be present in mucosa assessed as normal on colonoscopy.

Colitis, Ulcerative↗
PubMed1987

Smoking habits in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. A case-control study.

In a case-control study there were significantly fewer smokers among patients with ulcerative colitis both at disease onset and at interview, the relative risk compared with non-smokers being 0.33 and 0.12, respectively. Among female patients with Crohn's disease there were significantly more smokers, the relative risk being 2.70 and 2.33, respectively. Of the ex-smokers with ulcerative colitis, two-thirds became ill after they stopped smoking, and most of these during the first years after stopping. Neither in ulcerative colitis nor in Crohn's disease could any relation be found between the localization of disease and smoking habits at the time of diagnosis. The findings in the present study support the hypothesis that smoking may influence the course of inflammatory bowel disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Smoking habits in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

The proportion of smokers in this study was significantly lower among patients with ulcerative colitis (13%) than among patients with Crohn's disease (47%), the difference being significant for both sexes and for the age groups both below and above 40 years. The proportion of male ex-smokers among patients with ulcerative colitis (28%) was higher than among patients with Crohn's disease (8%), whereas the proportions of non-smokers differed less. Many of the patients with ulcerative colitis who had a late onset were male ex-smokers. The smoking patients with ulcerative colitis were mainly women. They smoked less than the smoking patients with Crohn's disease and less than the ex-smokers in each group. No smoking patient with ulcerative colitis smoked greater than 20 cigarettes/day. In the group of male ex-smokers with ulcerative colitis, there was an accumulation of onsets during the 4 years after the definitive smoking stop. The number of colectomies performed on patients with ulcerative colitis did not vary with smoking habits. In the group of ex-smokers the colectomy was performed after the smoking stop in 19 out of 20 patients.

Adolescent↗