State-of-the-Art Hepatic and Gastrointestinal Diseases in Germany

A special issue of Biomedicines (ISSN 2227-9059). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular and Translational Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2025 | Viewed by 1636

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Hepatic and gastrointestinal diseases are a broad category of conditions that affect the digestive system and the liver. Inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, gastro-oesophageal reflux, celiac disease, and liver diseases, such as fatty liver disease, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and hepatocellular carcinoma, are caused by a variety of pathomechanisms that are not yet fully understood. The development of diagnostic tools, therapies, and interventions for the wide range of liver and gastrointestinal diseases requires an understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms. The discovery of non-invasive biomarkers for early diagnosis and prognosis is another challenge. We continue to learn more about the mechanisms underlying liver and gastrointestinal diseases thanks to developments in molecular and cellular biology, which are also driving innovation in medical research and healthcare. Pathomechanisms, diagnostics, and treatment aspects of liver and gastrointestinal diseases in Germany are the main topics of this Special Issue. Manuscripts on other topics related to liver and gastrointestinal diseases not covered here will also be considered. Studies on the course of the various diseases and on their prevalence and trends over the last few years in Germany are also very welcome. We invite original research and review articles on all novel aspects of the diagnosis and treatment of hepatic and gastrointestinal diseases in Germany.

Prof. Dr. Christa Büchler
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • biomarker
  • prevalence
  • Germany
  • inflammatory bowel disease
  • cancer

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 7297 KiB  
Article
Stereotactic Percutaneous Electrochemotherapy as a New Minimal Invasive Treatment Modality for Primary and Secondary Liver Malignancies
by Lukas Luerken, Andrea Goetz, Vinzenz Mayr, Liang Zhang, Alexandra Schlitt, Michael Haimerl, Christian Stroszczynski, Hans-Jürgen Schlitt, Matthias Grube, Arne Kandulski and Ingo Einspieler
Biomedicines 2024, 12(12), 2870; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12122870 - 17 Dec 2024
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Abstract
Background and Objectives: To report on the first results of safety, efficacy, and outcome of CT-navigated stereotactic percutaneous electrochemotherapy (SpECT) in patients with primary and secondary liver malignancies. Methods: This retrospective study included 23 consecutive lesions in 22 patients who underwent [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: To report on the first results of safety, efficacy, and outcome of CT-navigated stereotactic percutaneous electrochemotherapy (SpECT) in patients with primary and secondary liver malignancies. Methods: This retrospective study included 23 consecutive lesions in 22 patients who underwent SpECT for primary and secondary malignant liver lesions with locally curative intention. The endpoints were primary technique efficacy (PTE), local tumor progression (LTP), time to progression (TTP), and occurrence of adverse events. Results: The mean maximum diameter of the treated lesions was 42 mm (range: 16 mm–72 mm). Eight lesions were hepatocellular carcinoma (34.8%), five lesions were colorectal liver metastases (21.7%), three lesions were cholangiocellular carcinoma (13.0%), and the other seven lesions were liver metastases from different primary cancers (30.4%). PTE was achieved for 22 lesions (95.7%). The mean follow-up time was 15 months (0–39 months). No LTP was observed. In six patients (27.3%), hepatic tumor progression was observed during follow-up with a mean TTP of 3.8 months (2–8 months). In 10 procedures (43.5%), minor complications (1 CIRSE Grade 2) and side effects occurred, but no major complications were observed. Conclusions: SpECT seems to be a safe and effective new local treatment modality for primary and secondary liver malignancies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Hepatic and Gastrointestinal Diseases in Germany)
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12 pages, 1831 KiB  
Article
Fecal Nervonic Acid as a Biomarker for Diagnosing and Monitoring Inflammatory Bowel Disease
by Claudia Kunst, Tanja Elger, Johanna Loibl, Muriel Huss, Arne Kandulski, Sabrina Krautbauer, Martina Müller, Gerhard Liebisch, Hauke Christian Tews and Christa Buechler
Biomedicines 2024, 12(12), 2764; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12122764 - 4 Dec 2024
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Abstract
Background/Objectives: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic immune-mediated pathology associated with the dysregulation of lipid metabolism. The administration of nervonic acid, a very long-chain fatty acid, has been shown to improve colonic inflammation in a mouse model of colitis. Our study aimed [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic immune-mediated pathology associated with the dysregulation of lipid metabolism. The administration of nervonic acid, a very long-chain fatty acid, has been shown to improve colonic inflammation in a mouse model of colitis. Our study aimed to quantify fecal levels of nervonic acid, as well as the very long-chain fatty acids, lignoceric acid, and pentacosanoic acid, to identify associations with IBD activity. Methods: Stool samples were collected from 62 patients with IBD and 17 healthy controls. Nervonic acid, lignoceric acid, and pentacosanoic acid were quantified by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Lipid levels, normalized to the dry weight of fecal homogenates, were used for calculations. Results: Patients with IBD exhibited elevated fecal nervonic acid levels compared to healthy controls, with no significant differences observed between ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. A fecal nervonic acid concentration of 0.49 µmol/g distinguished IBD patients from controls, achieving a sensitivity of 71% and a specificity of 82%. Fecal nervonic acid levels showed a positive correlation with both C-reactive protein and fecal calprotectin and increased proportionally with rising fecal calprotectin levels. IBD patients treated with corticosteroids or interleukin-12/23 antibodies had higher levels of fecal nervonic acid than those in other therapies, with no difference in serum C-reactive protein and calprotectin levels between these groups. Conclusions: In summary, this analysis indicates that fecal nervonic acid may emerge as a novel specific biomarker for IBD diagnosis and disease monitoring. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Hepatic and Gastrointestinal Diseases in Germany)
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