Kenji Hosoi

Repeated fecal microbiota transplantation in a child with ulcerative colitis

We report the case of an 11‐year‐old girl with ulcerative colitis refractory to conventional therapy, who was subsequently treated successfully with repeated fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). The patient was steroid dependent despite several infliximab treatments, and colectomy was proposed to improve quality of life. After repeated FMT, she was able to maintain remission with on minimal dose of steroid. Although her fecal microbiota was dysbiotic before FMT, it was restored to a similar pattern as the donor after repeated FMT.

Comparison of Gene Expression Between Pediatric and Adult Gastric Mucosa with Helicobacter pylori Infection

Although Helicobacter pylori infection among adults is a major risk factor for the development of gastric cancer and initial infection with H. pylori may occur before 5 years of age, the direct effects of H. pylori infection since childhood on gastric mucosa are unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate gene expression in the H. pylori‐infected gastric mucosa of children.

Microarray analysis of gastric mucosa among children with Helicobacter pylori infection.

Background:  Although initial infection with Helicobacter pylori may occur before 5 years of age, the pediatric mucosal immune response against H. pylori is not clear. The aim of the present study was to evaluate immune responses in the H. pylori‐infected gastric mucosa of children using microarray and real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of pediatric gastric samples.

The treatment with infliximab for pediatric Crohn's disease: Nationwide survey of Japan.

Childhood‐onset inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by extensive intestinal involvement and rapid early progression. Infliximab (IFX), cyclosporin (CYA), and tacrolimus (FK506) are increasingly used to treat pediatric IBD; however, their long‐term effects and adverse events have not been properly investigated in pediatric patients. The aim of this study was to characterize the effects of these biologics and immunomodulators on pediatric IBD patients in Japan. Additionally, we assessed IFX use in pediatric patients with Crohns disease (CD).

5-Aminosalicylate intolerance causing exacerbation in pediatric ulcerative colitis

5‐Aminosalicylate (5‐ASA) is widely used as the first‐line drug for ulcerative colitis (UC). 5‐ASA is mostly a safe and effective drug, but it can bring about exacerbation due to 5‐ASA intolerance. 5‐ASA intolerance can be confusing and it can mislead physicians into considering unnecessary treatment escalation, including corticosteroid (CS), biologics, or even surgery. In spite of the clinical importance of 5‐ASA intolerance, there have been few studies on its incidence, clinical features, and diagnosis.

Assessment of the Family History of Patients With Ulcerative Colitis at a Single Center in Japan

Objectives: The prevalence of ulcerative colitis (UC) differs by country, which is likely due to differences in genetic factors among ethnicities. Moreover, the prevalence of pediatric UC with a family history (FH) is 4.1% in Japanese patients; its clinical course begins at an early age and is more severe. Recently, a genome-wide association study identified 3 new susceptibility loci for adult Japanese patients with UC. Methods: To assess the effects of FH in patients with UC, 60 children were enrolled. Age at diagnosis, clinical features of the initial symptoms, and family structure were assessed in patients with and without an FH. The 3 new loci were examined in patients who provided informed consent. Results: Of the patients with UC, 10 (16.7%) had an FH involving first-degree relatives, including 7 mothers, 1 father, and 2 sisters. There was a trend toward a younger age at onset in the positive FH group. There were, however, no significant differences in the clinical characteristics of the patients regardless of FH. From the genomic analyses, there were significant differences in the polymorphisms of the solute carrier family 26, member 3 (SLC26A3) between those with and without an FH. Conclusions: Although the etiology of UC remains unknown, there were no observed relation between clinical symptoms and FH. SLC26A3 may, however, contribute to the pathogenesis of UC in Japanese individuals with an FH.

Increased expression of CXCR3 axis components and matrix metalloproteinase in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease patients.

Although pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by extensive intestinal involvement and rapid early progression, the precise cause and specific factors involved in disease aggravation have not been well established. The aim of this study was to investigate the pathogenesis of pediatric IBD.

Prolonged tacrolimus for pediatric gastrointestinal disorder: Double-edged sword?

Although tacrolimus (TAC) can induce remission in children with refractory inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or autoimmune gastroenteropathy (AGE), its use in maintenance therapy remains controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential nephrotoxic nature of prolonged TAC use.

Immunosuppressive medication is not associated with surgical site infection after surgery for intractable ulcerative colitis in children

Pediatric ulcerative colitis (UC) sometimes progresses to an intractable condition for medical therapy. The surgical management of UC is challenging because of difficult procedures and frequent infectious complications. The aim of this study was to survey surgical procedures and infectious complications in pediatric patients with UC in Japan and to assess the relationship between preoperatively administered immunosuppressive drugs and postoperative surgical site infection (SSI). A survey of pediatric patients treated from 2000 to 2012 was sent to 683 facilities nationwide. Secondary questionnaires were sent to physicians who followed up patients with UC who had undergone surgery with the aim of assessing the relationships between postoperative SSI and selected preoperative patient characteristics, disease severity, medications, and operative procedures. Data for 136 patients (77 boys and 59 girls) were assessed. Median age at surgery was 14.1 years (range: 2.4-18.9 years). Surgery was performed in one stage in 35 cases, two stages in 57 cases, and three stages in 44 cases. SSI occurred in 36/136 patients (26%). According to multiple logistic regression analysis, there were statistically significant associations between SSI and staged surgery (three/one, OR: 6.7, 95% CI: 2.1-25.5, p = 0.0007; three/two, OR: 3.4, 95% CI: 1.4-8.6, p = 0.0069) and female sex (OR: 2.3, 95% CI: 1.0-5.4, p = 0.0434). Preoperative medications and incidence of SSI were not significantly associated. Preoperative immunosuppressive medication does not affect the incidence of SSI. Three-stage surgery and female sex are independent predictors of development of postoperative SSIs in pediatric patients with UC.