Ulcerative colitis (K51), adults

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Practical Recommendations of Scientific Society for the Study of Human Microbiome and the Russian Gastroenterological Association on Use of Probiotics, Prebiotics, Synbiotics and Functional Foods in Treatment and Prevention of Gastroenterological Diseases in Children and Adults

Aim. The practical guidelines are intended for primary care physicians, general practitioners, paediatricians, gastroenterologists and general internists to advance the treatment and prevention of gastroenterological diseases in adults and children in therapies with probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics and their enriched functional foods.

Key points. Probiotics are live microorganisms that sustain health of the host when supplied in adequate amounts. Prebiotics include human-indigestible but accessible to gut microbiota substances expediting specific changes in the composition and/or activity of gastrointestinal microbiota that favour the host health. The mechanism of probiotic action comprises the quorum resistance maintenance, nutrient substrate metabolism and end metabolite recycling, macroorganism-sustaining substrate production, as well as the mediation of local and adaptive immune responses.

The Russian Federation regulates market differently for biologically active food additives (BAFA), medicinal products (drugs) and functional food products (FFP). We overview the probiotic strains regulated in Russia as BAFAs, drugs and FFPs and provide recommendations on the use of these strains in treatment and prevention of gastroenterological diseases in children and adults.

Conclusion. The clinical efficacy of probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics and fortified functional foods depends on the prebiotic and strain properties and is verified in appropriate comparative clinical trials. Not all probiotics registered in Russia as BAFAs, drugs and FFPs have a strain identity, which provides no warranty of the clinical effect expected. The FFP legislation demands improved regulation mechanisms and control for therapeutic efficacy.

Practical Recommendations of Scientific Society for the Study of Human Microbiome and Russian Gastroenterological Association (RGA) for Probiotics in Treatment and Prevention of Gastroenterological Diseases in Adults

Aim. To provide practical recommendations on the use of probiotics for the treatment and prevention of gastroenterological diseases in adults.

General provisions. Probiotics are living microorganisms that benefit the health of the host when administered in adequate amounts. The main functions of probiotics include the support for colonisation resistance, the metabolism of food substrates and utilisation of end metabolites, the production of substrates necessary for the macro-organism, as well as the regulation of local and adaptive immune responses. Probiotics can be registered in the Russian Federation as biologically active food additives (BAFA) or as pharmaceutical products (drugs) in accordance with the microbiological standards and legislative requirements of the Russian Federation. The probiotics registered in the Russian Federation as BAFA for adults include bacteria of the Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Enterococcus, Pediococcus, Lactococcus, Streptococcus, Bacillus, and Escherichia genera, and fungi of the Saccharomyces genus; probiotics registered as drugs — bacteria of Lactobid, Lactobacid, Escherichia and Enterococcus genera and fungi of the Saccharomyces genus. Some probiotics registered in the Russian Federation include probiotic strains that have proved to be effective for the prevention and treatment of antibiotic-associated diarrhea, the prevention of C. difficile-associated disease, the eradication of H. pylori infection, as well as for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome and functional constipation.

Conclusions. The clinical efficacy of probiotics depends on the probiotic strains included in their composition and is confirmed by a comparative analysis of the results of appropriate clinical studies. Not all probiotics registered in the Russian Federation as BAFA or drugs contain bacterial or fungal strains; as a result, the expected clinical effect may not be achieved.

Early Detection of Oncological Diseases of the Digestive System (Guidelines of the Russian Gastroenterological Association and the Russian Association of Oncologists for Primary Care Physicians)

Aim. The present guidelines intended for primary care physicians are aimed at facilitating early diagnosis of malignant tumours of the digestive system, which can significantly improve the immediate and long-term results of their treatment.

General provisions. The guidelines comprise sections devoted to esophageal adenocarcinoma, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma and extrahepatic bile duct and gall bladder cancer, as well as pancreatic cancer. Each section contains information on risk factors and precancerous diseases, which allows a physician to identify whether a particular patient falls into the risk group of digestive system neoplasms. It is shown how digestive system cancers can be suspected on the basis of patients’ complaints and past medical history, as well as data obtained both from a direct examination and laboratory instrumental studies. Each section offers practical algorithms in cases of suspected esophageal adenocarcinoma, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma and extrahepatic bile duct and gallbladder cancer, as well as pancreatic cancer.

Conclusion. The knowledge of clinical manifestations and risk factors in the development of digestive system neoplasms allows a physician to suspect cancer and devise a timely and adequate diagnostic strategy, including laboratory and instrumental studies at specialised clinical centres.

[Autoimmune Diseases of Digestive System]

Autoimmune diseases of digestive system refer to pathological conditions, caused by autoimmune mechanisms, and their etiology remains unknown. This is a group of relatively rare diseases, however, during the last years a marked tendency towards the raise in incidence andprevalence is observed, which led to an increase in number of clinical investigations on etiology, pathogenesis, and, accordingly, development of new diagnostic methods and therapies. Results of such trials shown, for example, that the pathogenesis of chronic cholestatic liver diseases is associated with nuclear receptors function, while the main etiological and pathogenic factor of inflammatory bowel diseases represents gut microbiota. Despite new achievements in autoinmune diseases of digestive system research, therapies are low effective and are accompanied by a huge number of adverse events. The fact that these diseases may lead to malignant tumors is also worth noting. For example, patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis have a 160 times higher risk of cholangiocellular carcinoma, while 10-14% ofpatients with celiac disease may develop malignancies of esophagus, small and large intestine. Thus, these diseases require further investigation with a purpose of more accurate diagnostic methods for the detection of disease at early stages and new effective and safe therapies development.

[Hepatogenic ulcer (various aspects of its pathogenesis)]

Functional and morphological state of the stomach and duodenum was studied in 98 patients with liver cirrhosis. Hepatogenous ulcer was revealed in 21.7 per cent of the patients with alcoholic and in 25 per cent of those with viral liver cirrhosis. A specific feature of the condition was the development of ulcer in reduced gastric acid production and its asymptomatic course. The incidence of gastric and duodenal affections in liver cirrhosis was significantly higher in pronounced portal hypertension. Study of the portal blood flow with Doppler ultrasonography can reveal the risk group (patients with pronounced portal hypertension) which has high probability of the development of erosion-ulcerous lesions. These patients require obligatory medical checkups with gastric and duodenal endoscopy 2-3 times a year.