Faculty Bibliography

BACKGROUND:Altered gut microbiota has been associated with cognitive dysfunction and Alzheimer's disease, but little is known among people living with HIV. OBJECTIVE:To examine associations between gut microbiota and cognitive impairment among women with or without HIV. METHODS:This is a cross-sectional study of 446 women (302 HIV+) who had completed a neuropsychological test battery and stool sample collected within 1 year. Gut microbiota composition was quantified using 16SV4 rRNA gene sequencing and microbial functional pathways were predicted using PICRUSt. Cognitive domains included attention, executive function, learning, memory, fluency, processing speed, and motor function. Cognitive impairment was defined as two or more domains with T scores < 1 SD below mean. ANCOM-II was used to identify taxa and functional pathways associated with cognitive impairment, and the associations were further examined by multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS:In overall sample, adjusting for multiple covariates including HIV status, we found that higher abundance of Methanobrevibacter, Odoribacter, Pyramidobacter, Eubacterium, Ruminococcus, and Gemmiger, and lower abundance of Veillonella were associated with cognitive impairment. The associations between these taxa and cognitive impairment were more profound in HIV+ women compared to HIV- women. Most associations with bacterial taxa were observed for learning and memory. We found accompanying microbial functional differences associated with cognitive impairment, including twelve enriched pathways and three depleted pathways. CONCLUSIONS:In women with or without HIV infection, this study identified multiple altered gut bacterial taxa and functional pathways associated with cognitive impairment, supporting the potential role of gut microbiota in cognitive dysfunction and Alzheimer's disease.

OBJECTIVE:To determine whether there might be an increased prevalence of undiagnosed celiac disease among a population of infertile women using serologic screening. STUDY DESIGN/METHODS:A prospective cohort study was performed at an academic infertility clinic in the United States. RESULTS:The overall prevalence of celiac disease in this population was 2.1% (4/188). There was a significantly increased prevalence (5.9%) of undiagnosed celiac disease among women presenting with unexplained infertility (n = 51). CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Women with unexplained infertility are at increased risk for having undiagnosed celiac disease, which may be a potentially modifiable (and treatable) risk factor.

OBJECTIVE:Corticosteroids are used in patients with refractory celiac disease. In order to minimize their systemic side effects, we assessed the role of a locally active sustained release corticosteroid with minimal systemic bioavailability in patients with refractory celiac disease in an open labeled noncontrolled study. METHODS:Patients who received budesonide for refractory celiac disease were classified according to whether they were primarily or secondarily unresponsive to the diet, and whether they had a polyclonal (type I) or clonal (type II) expansion of intraepithelial lymphocytes. The response to budesonide was assessed globally and by reduction in bowel movements. RESULTS:Patients (N = 29, 72% female) received budesonide for a mean of 6.7 +/- 8.5 months, 5 patients (18%) had type II disease (clonal T-cell population); 76% responded to the medication, 55% completely. Response occurred when budesonide was used alone or with oral corticosteroids and/or azathioprine. There was an objective improvement in the number of bowel movements in those that responded. Response occurred in those with either primary or secondary refractory disease and in those with type II disease, irrespective of the presence of microscopic colitis (N = 7). There was no improvement in the duodenal biopsy over the study period and there were no side effects of budesonide. CONCLUSIONS:Budesonide may be of value in the management of refractory celiac disease.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW/OBJECTIVE:To review the current epidemiological information on celiac disease and the various presentations and associated. RECENT FINDINGS/RESULTS:Epidemiologic studies reveal celiac disease to be common, occurring in approx. 1% of the population. It is being diagnosed worldwide, even in developing countries. The classic mode of presentation has become less common, with diarrhea or a malabsorption syndrome as the mode of presentation in fewer than 50% of individuals. The other major modes of presentation are iron-deficiency anemia, osteoporosis, screening of family members, or incidentally at endoscopy done for dyspepsia or reflux. Neurological presentations may include peripheral neuropathy or ataxia. Arthritis is commonly found in patients with celiac disease when systematically sought. Patients often have a previous diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome. Autoimmune diseases occur more frequently (three to ten times more) in those with celiac disease than the general population. However, this increased incidence of autoimmune diseases is not prevented by early diagnosis of celiac disease. SUMMARY/CONCLUSIONS:We will review the various associated diseases/presentations of celiac disease. The heterogeneity of the symptoms can make the diagnosis challenging and certainly the great modern-day imposter.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW/OBJECTIVE:The primary objective of this review is to highlight the evidence for the role of endoscopy in celiac disease. RECENT FINDINGS/RESULTS:Evidence is presented that the endoscopic markers of celiac disease are specific although not sensitive for the disease. Villous atrophy, the hallmark of celiac disease, is patchy in the duodenum, and various techniques may identify areas of villous atrophy. These methods include magnification endoscopy and chromoendoscopy. The most recent innovation, video capsule endoscopy, may be of value in the diagnosis of celiac disease and in the assessment of patients with complicated celiac disease. SUMMARY/CONCLUSIONS:Endoscopy and duodenal biopsies are the mainstay for diagnosing celiac disease. Although characteristic endoscopic features may be useful, their absence does not exclude celiac disease. Random biopsy, even of normal-appearing mucosa is necessary for the diagnosis of celiac disease.