Editorial Open Access
Copyright ©2011 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jul 21, 2011; 17(27): 3177-3177
Published online Jul 21, 2011. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v17.i27.3177
What’s new about inflammatory bowel diseases in 2011
Jonas Mudter, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Erlangen, Ulmenweg 18, Erlangen 91054, Germany
Author contributions: Mudter J wrote this paper.
Correspondence to: Dr. Jonas Mudter, MD, Head of IBD Section, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Erlangen, Ulmenweg 18, Erlangen 91054, Germany. jonas.mudter@uk-erlangen.de
Telephone: +49-9131-8545017 Fax: +49-9131-8535116
Received: June 24, 2011
Revised: June 28, 2011
Accepted: July 5, 2011
Published online: July 21, 2011

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic disorders of the intestine with increasing incidence in Europe, Northern America and asiatic countries such as china. Thus, we have putted together these topic highlight articles to give insights into the current understanding of IBD pathogenesis, diagnostics and treatment.

Key Words: Inflammatory bowel disease; Endoscopy; Endomicroscopy; Confocal laser endomicroscopy; Cytokines; Immune system; Colorectal cancer; Postoperative recurrence

FROM THE EDITOR

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic disorders of the intestine with increasing incidence in Europe, Northern America and Asiatic countries such as china. Thus, we have putted together these topic highlight articles to give insights into the current understanding of IBD pathogenesis, diagnostics and treatment. The articles[1-6] aim at informing both expert gastroenterologists and physicians who are not very familiar with IBD. We are focusing mainly on topics that have undergone basic changes within the last decade. In view of diagnostic, modern high resolution ultrasound has become an important instrument for clinical monitoring of disease activity in some countries. Detection of intraepithelial neoplasia (IEN) and the therapeutic algorithm of IEN management in ulcerative colitis have undergone changes. Furthermore, the change of paradigm in Crohn`s disease surgery towards a very cautious extent of bowel resection combined with minimal invasive (endoscopic) surgery has ameliorated the outcome. In this context, some new data about the postoperative recurrence of Crohn’s disease and its management are pointed out. Even in this field, prognostic parameters and data about the adequate therapeutic option in the case of recurrence are lacking. Thus, we give overview concerning the main issues in surgery and disease recurrence as well as current treatment options. To get insights into IBD pathogenesis, we inform about the mucosal interface and the immune system also highlighting the link between inflammation and carcinogenesis.

Footnotes

S- Editor Tian L L- Editor Cant MR E- Editor Ma WH

References
1.  Siegmund B, Zeitz M. Innate and adaptive immunity in inflammatory bowel disease. World J Gastroenterol. 2011;17:3178-3183.  [PubMed]  [DOI]  [Cited in This Article: ]
2.  Neumann H, Vieth M, Langner C, Neurath MF, Mudter J. Cancer risk in IBD: How to diagnose and how to manage DALM and ALM. World J Gastroenterol. 2011;17:3184-3191.  [PubMed]  [DOI]  [Cited in This Article: ]
3.  Strobel D, Goertz RS, Bernatik T. Diagnostics in inflammatory bowel disease: Ultrasound. World J Gastroenterol. 2011;17:3192-3197.  [PubMed]  [DOI]  [Cited in This Article: ]
4.  Gersemann M, Stange EF, Wehkamp J. From intestinal stem cells to inflammatory bowel diseases. World J Gastroenterol. 2011;17:3198-3203.  [PubMed]  [DOI]  [Cited in This Article: ]
5.  Meier J, Sturm A. Current treatment of ulcerative colitis. World J Gastroenterol. 2011;17:3204-3212.  [PubMed]  [DOI]  [Cited in This Article: ]
6.  Spinelli A, Sacchi M, Fiorino G, Danese S, Montorsi M. Risk of postoperative recurrence and postoperative management of Crohn’s disease. World J Gastroenterol. 2011;17:3213-3219.  [PubMed]  [DOI]  [Cited in This Article: ]