OBJECTIVES: To study the features of intestinal flora in children with food protein-induced proctocolitis (FPIP) by high-throughput sequencing. METHODS: A total of 31 children, aged <6 months, who experienced FPIP after exclusive breastfeeding and attended the outpatient service of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University from October 2018 to February 2021 were enrolled as the FPIP group. Thirty-one healthy infants were enrolled as the control group. Fecal samples were collected to extract DNA for PCR amplification. High-throughput sequencing was used to perform a bioinformatics analysis of 16S rDNA V3-V4 fragments in fecal samples. RESULTS: The diversity analysis of intestinal flora showed that compared with the control group, the FPIP group had a lower Shannon index for diversity (P>0.05) and a significantly higher Chao index for abundance (P<0.01). At the phylum level, the intestinal flora in both groups were composed of Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes. Compared with the control group, the FPIP group had a significant reduction in the composition ratio of Actinobacteria (P<0.001) and a significant increase in the composition ratio of Proteobacteria (P<0.05). At the genus level, the intestinal flora in the FPIP group were mainly composed of Escherichia, Clostridium, Enterococcus, Klebsiella, and Bifidobacterium, and the intestinal flora in the control group were mainly composed of Bifidobacterium and Streptococcus. Compared with the control group, the FPIP group had a significant reduction in the composition ratio of Bifidobacterium and Ruminococcus (P<0.05) and significant increases in the composition ratios of Clostridium and Shigella (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Compared with the control group, the FPIP group has a reduction in the diversity of intestinal flora and an increase in their abundance, and there are certain differences in several bacterial genera. These results suggest that changes in the composition of intestinal flora at genus level may play an important role in the development and progression of FPIP.
Bacteria/genetics* ; Bifidobacterium/genetics* ; Child ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/methods* ; Humans ; Infant ; Proctocolitis ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics*

The full-thickness resection device (FTRD) is a novel endoscopic device approved for the resection of colorectal lesions. This case-series describes the device and its use in high-risk patients with colorectal lesions and provides an overview of the potential indications in recently published data. Between December 2014 and September 2015, 3 patients underwent endoscopic full thickness resection using the FTRD for colorectal lesions: 1 case for a T1 adenocarcinoma in the region of a surgical anastomosis after recto-sigmoidectomy, 1 case for a non-lifting colonic adenoma with low-grade dysplasia in an 89-year old patient and 1 for a recurrent adenoma with high-grade dysplasia in a young patient with ulcerative rectocolitis who was under immunosuppression after renal transplantation. Both technical and clinical success rates were achieved in all cases. The size of removed lesions ranged from 9 to 30 mm. Overall, the most frequent indication in the literature has been for lifting or non-lifting adenoma, submucosal tumors, neuroendocrin tumors, incomplete endoscopic resection (R1) or T1 carcinoma. Colorectal FTRD is a feasible technique for the treatment of colorectal lesions and represents a minimally invasive alternative for either surgical or conventional endoscopic resection strategies.
Adenocarcinoma ; Adenoma ; Anastomosis, Surgical ; Colon ; Colonoscopy ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Humans ; Immunosuppression ; Kidney Transplantation ; Lifting ; Proctocolitis

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical characteristics of hospitalized infants with allergic proctocolitis, and to provide a scientific basis for early diagnosis and effective treatment of allergic proctocolitis.

METHODSThe clinical data of 96 infants with allergic proctocolitis between September 2011 and March 2013 were reviewed retrospectively. Descriptive analysis was performed to assess the clinical characteristics of allergic proctocolitis.

RESULTSThe most common clinical manifestation was diarrhea in the 96 infants. The electronic colonoscopy results indicated that 40% of the infants had multiple small nodules, 26% showed focal erythema and brittle mucous membranes, 25% showed multiple superficial erosion, and 9% showed ulcers with surface exudates. The affected areas included the sigmoid colon (87%), rectum (24%), descending colon (13%), and transverse colon ascending colon and ileocecal junction (8%). Histopathologic examination showed eosinophilic infiltration of mucosal layers, the condition of which was mild to moderate in 89% and severe and extremely severe in 12% of the infants. To treat the allergic proctocolitis, mothers and infants were suggested to avoid allergenic foods; 43% of them continued breastfeeding, 45% switched to highly hydrolyzed protein formula, and 13% were prescribed amino acid-based elemental formula. All infants were in complete remission at discharge.

CONCLUSIONSAs the clinical manifestations of allergic proctocolitis in infants lack specificity, the electronic colonoscopy and mucosal histopathologic examination are helpful for early and differential diagnosis. The best treatment is to avoid allergenic foods. Formula-feeding infants should be prescribed highly hydrolyzed protein formula or amino acid-based elemental formula.

Colonoscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Proctocolitis ; diagnosis ; pathology ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies

Allergic proctocolitis (AP) can be hard to differentiate and diagnose in neonates who manifested watery diarrhea and failure to thrive. The initial symptoms are not specific and colonoscopic findings share similar ulcerated and erythematous lesions as in ulcerative colitis of infancy and infectious colitis. A 3-day-old infant was admitted to the hospital due to loose, blood-tinged stools. An initial workup, including abdominal ultrasound and hepatobiliary scan, was performed, and all results were negative. The patient subsequently required readmission due to pervasive watery diarrhea, severe weight loss, and lethargy. After further investigation, he was eventually diagnosed of allergic proctocolitis by rectosigmoidoscopy and biopsy. Treatment was started with a corticosteroid (prednisone 2 mg/kg/day) due to severe symptoms. After 7 days of steroid therapy, the stools slowly normalized, and the patient started to gain weight. He was discharged home and followed regularly at the outpatient clinic.
Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Biopsy ; Colitis ; Colitis, Ulcerative* ; Diarrhea ; Failure to Thrive ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn* ; Lethargy ; Proctocolitis* ; Steroids ; Ulcer* ; Ultrasonography ; Weight Loss

The etiology of small and fresh rectal bleeding in neonates who are not sick is usually unknown; the only known cause is food protein-induced proctocolitis (FPIPC). It has been recently reported that FPIPC is a rare cause of rectal bleeding in newborns, and most cases have been proved to be due to idiopathic neonatal transient colitis. A recommended strategy for diagnosing suspected FPIPC in neonates is as follows. During the early stage, the etiology of small and fresh rectal bleeding in an otherwise healthy newborn need not be studied through extensive investigations. In patients showing continued bleeding even after 4 days, sigmoidoscopy and rectal mucosal biopsy may be performed. Even if mucosal histological findings indicate a diagnosis of FPIPC, further oral food elimination and challenge tests must be performed sequentially to confirm FPIPC. Food elimination and challenge tests should be included in the diagnostic criteria of FPIPC.
Biopsy ; Colitis ; Diagnosis ; Dietary Proteins ; Food Hypersensitivity ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Proctocolitis* ; Sigmoidoscopy

OBJECTIVETo explore the value of dual-time-point (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose integrated positron emission and computed tomography ((18)F-FDG PET-CT) in differentiation of malignant from benign gastrointestinal diseases.

METHODSSixty five patients with suspected gastrointestinal lesions underwent dual-time-point (18)F-FDG PET-CT imaging. Standardized uptake value (SUV) was calculated for semi-quantitative assessment. The SUV of the two acquisitions were signed SUV(early) and SUV(delayed), respectively. Then the change of SUVmax (ΔSUVmax) was calculated. The ROC curves of the SUV(early), SUV(delayed) and ΔSUV were drawn to find the best cut-off point value for differential diagnosis, and then the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy were calculated, respectively.

RESULTSOf the malignant lesions, the SUVmax in delayed imaging were significantly higher than those in early imaging, while there were no significant differences of SUVmax between the two images of the benign lesions. The ΔSUVmax of the malignant lesions were significantly higher than that of the benign ones. Taking the SUVmax higher than 9.2 in early imaging as positive diagnostic criteria, the sensitivity was 72.7%, the specificity was 85.7%, the positive predictive value was 91.4%, the negative predictive value was 60.0%, and the accuracy was 76.9%. Taking the SUVmax higher than 10.9 in delayed imaging as positive diagnostic criteria, the sensitivity was 75.0%, the specificity was 90.5%, the positive predictive value was 94.3%, the negative predictive value was 63.3%, and the accuracy was 80.0%. Taking the ΔSUVmax higher than 5.1% as positive diagnostic criteria, the sensitivity was 95.5%, the specificity was 85.7%, the positive predictive value was 93.3%, the negative predictive value was 90.0%, and the accuracy was 92.3%. The accuracy of dual-time-point (18)F-FDG PET-CT imaging was significantly higher than that of single-time point (18)F-FDG PET-CT imaging.

CONCLUSIONDual-time-point (18)F-FDG PET-CT imaging is a useful method for differentiating malignant from benign gastrointestinal diseases, and it is superior to the single-time point (18)F-FDG PET-CT imaging.

Adenocarcinoma ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Colitis ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastritis ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; methods ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Proctitis ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Proctocolitis ; diagnosis ; pathology ; ROC Curve ; Radiopharmaceuticals ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Stomach Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods

Food protein induced proctocolitis (FPIPC) is a non-IgE mediated food allergy. FPIPC occurs exclusively among breast-fed infants within the first months of life. FPIPC is often diagnosed clinically in normal-conditioned infants with rectal bleeding. But FPIPC among infancy with rectal bleeding is less general than conceived. The endoscopic findings reveal an edematous and erythematous mucosa with superficial erosions or ulcerations, bleeding and lymphoid nodular hyperplasia. The prominent eosinophilic infiltrates in the rectosigmoid mucosa are important for the histopathologic diagnosis of FPIPC. However, in explaining eosinophilic infiltration within the lamina propria of the mucosa, it is necessary to differentiate whether it is a part of normal findings or occurs due to inflammatory reactions. Oral food challenge and elimination test is performed to identify the same clinical reaction as the symptom of FPIPC by the administration of a specific type of food to infants. The most common causal food is cow's milk. Thus oral food challenge and elimination test can be the effective way of confirming FPIPC, reducing the possibility of misdiagnosis. The purpose of this report is to identify the characteristics of FPIPC, to introduce its diagnostic methods, and to suggest the future direction of research.
Diagnostic Errors ; Eosinophils ; Food Hypersensitivity ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Infant ; Milk ; Mucous Membrane ; Proctocolitis ; Ulcer

PURPOSE: This study was performed to evaluate the role of colonoscopy in children with hematochezia. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 277 children who underwent colonoscopy because of hematochezia between January, 2003 and July, 2010. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 6.0+/-4.4 (7 days~17.8 years) years. The male to female ratio was 2.2 : 1. The duration between the 1st episode of hematochezia and colonoscopy was 4.9+/-12.1 months. Characteristics of hematochezia included red stool (65.1%), blood on wipe (12.8%), bloody toilet (11.9%), and blood dripping (10.2%). The most proximal region of colonoscopic approach was terminal ileum (84.5%), cecum (9.5%), hepatic flexure (2.8%), and splenic flexure (3.2%). Eighty five patients (30.6%) had no specific abnormal findings. Major causes of hematochezia were polyp (26.4%), food protein induced proctocolitis (6.9%), infectious colitis (5.4%), lymphofolliculitis (5.7%), non specific colitis (5.7%), and vascular ectasia (5.1%). The hemorrhagic sites included the rectum (24.0%), rectosigmoid junction (18.1%), sigmoid colon (13.5%), ascending colon (14.2%), transverse colon (11.3%), descending colon (7.8%), cecum (8.1%), and terminal ileum (3.1%). The recurrence rate of hematochezia after colonoscopy was 19.1%. Colonoscopy was performed in 262 patients (94.6%) with conscious sedation. Endoscopic hemostasis was performed in 5 patients. Complications of colonoscopy or sedation were not found. CONCLUSION: The causes and lesional localization of pediatric hematochezia were diverse. Colonoscopy has an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of hematochezia in children. Total colonoscopy is recommended to detect the cause of hematochezia.
Cecum ; Child ; Colitis ; Colon, Ascending ; Colon, Descending ; Colon, Sigmoid ; Colon, Transverse ; Colonoscopy ; Conscious Sedation ; Dilatation, Pathologic ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Hemostasis, Endoscopic ; Humans ; Ileum ; Male ; Medical Records ; Polyps ; Proctocolitis ; Rectum ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies

Lower GI bleeding is one of the common and difficult problems in the practice of general pediatrics. Causes of bleeding are various but somewhat age-specific in children. A specific diagnosis can usually be made with a accurate history taking, physical examination, included rectal exam, simple laboratory investigations, and appropriate diagnostic studies. Further evaluations can be unnecessary if the patient have a small amount of bleeding and stable vital sign. But precise investigation included abdominal sonography, endoscopy, Meckel's scan, and bleeding scan, are needed on a case by case. Treatment should be directed at the underlying cause. In most children, bleeding ceases spontaneously, and only supportive therapy is necessary. If there is evidence of hypovolemia, the patient must be hemodynamically stabilized, active bleeding stopped, and recurrent bleeding prevented. This review included age-specific cases such as Allergic proctocolitis, Meckel's diverticulum, Juvenile polyps, Henoch-scholein purpura, and Crohn disease, of lower gastrointestinal bleeding in children. Also it will assist the physician in determining appropriate assessment and treatment for children with lower GI bleeding through the usual cases.
Child ; Crohn Disease ; Endoscopy ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypovolemia ; Meckel Diverticulum ; Pediatrics ; Physical Examination ; Polyps ; Proctocolitis ; Purpura ; Vital Signs

PURPOSE: Colitis is a condition associated with a spectrum of altered morphologic changes and cellular adhesion. E-cadherin plays a key role in the establishment and maintenance of epithelial tissue structure and cell-cell adhesion. The purpose of this study is to evaluate E-cadherin expression in colonic epithelium of various colitis in children. METHODS: The expressions of E-cadherin were examined in 39 cases of colonic mucosal biopsy specimen using immunohistochemical staining. When more than 50 percent of cells exhibited uniformly the same intensity and pattern of immunostaining as the adjacent normal mucosa, the antigen expression was considered normal. Abnormal expression was defined when less than 50 percent of cells stained, when cells showed a heterogeneously weak or altered distribution, or when complete absence of staining was observed. RESULTS: Fifteen cases with non-specific colitis (38.5%), 7 cases of with Crohn's disease (17.9%), 5 cases of infectious colitis and milk protein sensitive proctocolitis (12.8%), 3 cases of ulcerative colitis (7.7%), 2 cases of Henoch-Schonlein purpura colitis (5.1%), one case of Behcet's disease and ischemic colitis (2.6%) were included in this study. E-cadherin expression was decreased in all kinds of colitis. Reduced expression of E-cadherin was observed in 77 percent of cases. E-cadherin was weaker or no expression in reparative epithelium and "ulcer associated cell lineage". CONCLUSION: Altered expression of E-cadherin occurs during mucosal inflammation in any kinds of colitis. These changes may be involved in promoting cell migration during epithelial restitution of the gastrointestinal mucosa.
Biopsy ; Cadherins ; Cell Movement ; Child ; Colitis ; Colitis, Ischemic ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; Colon ; Crohn Disease ; Epithelium ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Milk Proteins ; Mucous Membrane ; Proctocolitis ; Purpura, Schoenlein-Henoch