Sacral neuromodulation in children and adolescents with defecation disorders.

BACKGROUND: Even if understanding of neuronal enteropathies, such as Hirschsprung's disease and functional constipation, has been improved, specialized therapies are still missing. Sacral neuromodulation (SNM) has been established in the treatment of defecation disorders in adults. The aim of the study was to investigate effects of SNM in children and adolescents with refractory symptoms of chronic constipation. METHODS: A two-centered, prospective trial has been conducted between 2019 and 2022. SNM was applied continuously at individually set stimulation intensity. Evaluation of clinical outcomes was conducted at 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery based on the developed questionnaires and quality of life analysis (KINDLR). Primary outcome was assessed based on predefined variables of fecal incontinence and defecation frequency. KEY RESULTS: Fifteen patients enrolled in the study and underwent SNM (median age 8.0 years (range 4-17 years)): eight patients were diagnosed with Hirschsprung's disease (53%). Improvement of defecation frequency was seen in 8/15 participants (53%) and an improvement of fecal incontinence in 9/12 patients (75%). We observed stable outcome after 1 year of treatment. Surgical revision was necessary in one patient after electrode breakage. Urinary incontinence was observed as singular side effect of treatment in two patients (13%), which was manageable with the reduction of stimulation intensity. CONCLUSIONS: SNM shows promising clinical results in children and adolescents presenting with chronic constipation refractory to conservative therapy. Indications for patients with enteral neuropathies deserve further confirmation.

Transitional Care in Patients With Hirschsprung Disease: Those Left Behind.

BACKGROUND: The long-term effects of Hirschsprung disease are clinically variable. An improved understanding of challenges patients may face as adults can help inform transitional care management. OBJECTIVE: To explore the outcomes and transitional care experiences in adult patients with Hirschsprung. DESIGN: Cohort study. SETTING: Single center. PATIENTS: All patients treated for Hirschsprung between 1977 and 2001 (aged older than 18 years at the time of survey distribution in July 2018-2019). Eligible patients were sent validated multidomain surveys and qualitative questions regarding their transitional care. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Status of transitional care, bowel function, and quality-of-life assessment. Qualitative analysis of transitional care experience. RESULTS: Of 139 patients, 20 had received transition care (10 had at least 1 visit but had been discharged and 10 were receiving ongoing follow-up). These patients had inferior bowel function and quality-of-life scores at follow-up. Twenty-three patients (17%) had issues with soiling at the time of discharge, and 7 patients received transitional care. Of these 23 patients, 9 (39%) had a normal Bowel Function Score (17 or more), 5 (22%) had a poor score (less than 12), and 1 had since had a stoma formation. Eighteen patients (13%) had active moderate-severe issues related to bowel function, only 5 had been transitioned, and just 2 remained under ongoing care. Importantly, when these patients were discharged from our pediatric center, at a median age of 14 (interquartile range, 12-16) years, 10 of 17 patients had no perceptible bowel issues, suggesting a worsening of function after discharge. LIMITATIONS: The retrospective design and reliance on clinical notes to gather information on discharge status as well as patient recall of events. CONCLUSIONS: There remains a small but significant proportion of Hirschsprung patients for whom bowel function either remains or becomes a major burden. These results support a need to better stratify patients requiring transitional care and ensure a clear route to care if their status changes after discharge. See Video Abstract . ATENCIN DE TRANSICIN EN PACIENTES CON ENFERMEDAD DE HIRSCHSPRUNG, LOS QUE SE QUEDAN ATRS: ANTECEDENTES:Los efectos a largo plazo de la enfermedad de Hirschsprung son clínicamente variables. Una mejor comprensión de los desafíos que los pacientes pueden enfrentar cuando sean adultos puede ayudar a informar la gestión de la atención de transición.OBJETIVO:Explorar los resultados y las experiencias de atención de transición en pacientes adultos con Hirschsprung.DISEÑO:Estudio de cohorte.AJUSTE:Unico centro.PACIENTES:Todos los pacientes tratados por Hirschsprung 1977-2001 (edad >18 años en el momento de la encuesta, Julio de 2018-2019). A los pacientes elegibles se les enviaron encuestas multidominio validadas, así como preguntas cualitativas sobre su atención de transición.PRINCIPALES MEDIDAS DE RESULTADOS:Estado de la atención de transición, función intestinal y evaluación de la calidad de vida. Análisis cualitativo de la experiencia de cuidados transicionales.RESULTADOS:De 139 pacientes, 20 habían recibido atención de transición (10 tuvieron al menos una visita pero habían sido dados de alta y 10 estaban recibiendo seguimiento continuo). Estos pacientes tenían puntuaciones inferiores de función intestinal y calidad de vida en el seguimiento. Veintitrés (17%) pacientes tuvieron problemas para ensuciarse en el momento del alta y 7 recibieron atención de transición. De estos, 9/23 (39%) tenían una puntuación de función intestinal normal (≥17), 5/23 (22%) tenían una puntuación baja (<12) y un paciente había tenido desde entonces una formación de estoma. Dieciocho (13%) pacientes tenían problemas activos de moderados a graves relacionados con la función intestinal, solo cinco habían realizado la transición y solo 2 permanecían bajo atención continua. Es importante destacar que cuando estos pacientes fueron dados de alta de nuestro centro pediátrico, a una edad promedio de 14 [RIQ 12-16] años, 10/17 no tenían problemas intestinales perceptibles, lo que sugiere un empeoramiento de la función después del alta.LIMITACIONES:El diseño retrospectivo y la dependencia de notas clínicas para recopilar información sobre el estado del alta, así como el recuerdo de los eventos por parte del paciente.CONCLUSIÓN:Sigue existiendo una proporción pequeña pero significativa de pacientes con Hirschsprung para quienes la función intestinal permanece o se convierte en una carga importante. Estos resultados respaldan la necesidad de estratificar mejor a los pacientes que requieren atención de transición y garantizar una ruta clara hacia la atención si su estado cambia después del alta. ( Traducción-Dr. Yesenia Rojas-Khalil ).

Autologous cell transplantation for treatment of colorectal aganglionosis in mice.

Neurointestinal diseases cause significant morbidity and effective treatments are lacking. This study aimes to test the feasibility of transplanting autologous enteric neural stem cells (ENSCs) to rescue the enteric nervous system (ENS) in a model of colonic aganglionosis. ENSCs are isolated from a segment of small intestine from Wnt1::Cre;R26iDTR mice in which focal colonic aganglionosis is simultaneously created by diphtheria toxin injection. Autologous ENSCs are isolated, expanded, labeled with lentiviral-GFP, and transplanted into the aganglionic segment in vivo. ENSCs differentiate into neurons and glia, cluster to form neo-ganglia, and restore colonic contractile activity as shown by electrical field stimulation and optogenetics. Using a non-lethal model of colonic aganglionosis, our results demonstrate the potential of autologous ENSC therapy to improve functional outcomes in neurointestinal disease, laying the groundwork for clinical application of this regenerative cell-based approach.

Transition From Pediatric to Adult Healthcare for Colorectal Conditions: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Despite surgical advances for complex congenital colorectal conditions, such as anorectal malformation (ARM) and Hirschsprung disease (HD), many adolescents require transfer from specialist pediatric to adult providers for ongoing care. METHODOLOGY: A systematic review of PubMed, MEDLINE and Embase was conducted to identify what is known about the transitional care of patients with ARM and HD (PROSPERO # CRD42022281558). The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework guided our reporting of studies that focused on the transition care of 10-30-year-olds with ARM and HD. RESULTS: Eight studies were identified that included patient and parent (n = 188), and/or clinician perspectives (n = 334). Patients and clinicians agreed that transitional care should commence early in adolescence to support transfer to adult care when a suitable level of maturation is reached. There was little evidence from patients that transfer happened in a timely or coordinated manner. Patients felt that clinicians did not always understand the significance of transfer to adult services. No models of transition care were identified. Surgeons ranked ARM and HD as the most common conditions to experience delayed transfer to adult care. Beyond pediatric surgeons, patients also highlighted the importance of general practitioners, transitional care coordinators and peer support groups for successful transition. CONCLUSIONS: There is little research focused on transitional care for patients with ARM and HD. Given evidence of delayed transfer and poor experiences, the development of models of transitional care appears essential.

Agrin Inhibition in Enteric Neural Stem Cells Enhances Their Migration Following Colonic Transplantation.

Regenerative cell therapy to replenish the missing neurons and glia in the aganglionic segment of Hirschsprung disease represents a promising treatment option. However, the success of cell therapies for this condition are hindered by poor migration of the transplanted cells. This limitation is in part due to a markedly less permissive extracellular environment in the postnatal gut than that of the embryo. Coordinated interactions between enteric neural crest-derived cells (ENCDCs) and their local environment drive migration along the embryonic gut during development of the enteric nervous system. Modifying transplanted cells, or the postnatal extracellular environment, to better recapitulate embryonic ENCDC migration could be leveraged to improve the engraftment and coverage of stem cell transplants. We compared the transcriptomes of ENCDCs from the embryonic intestine to that of postnatal-derived neurospheres and identified 89 extracellular matrix (ECM)-associated genes that are differentially expressed. Agrin, a heparin sulfate proteoglycan with a known inhibitory effect on ENCDC migration, was highly over-expressed by postnatal-derived neurospheres. Using a function-blocking antibody and a shRNA-expressing lentivirus, we show that inhibiting agrin promotes ENCDC migration in vitro and following cell transplantation ex vivo and in vivo. This enhanced migration is associated with an increased proportion of GFAP + cells, whose migration is especially enhanced.

Assessment of functional outcome following Duhamel retro-rectal pull-through surgery for Hirschsprung's disease: a follow-up study

Context: Hirschsprung's disease (HD) is one of the commonest problems requiring surgery in children. More than 95% of children present during new-born period, when they are treated with leveling colostomy and are followed with pull-through surgery a few months later, once the child has gained adequate weight to withstand a major surgery. The commonest pull through surgery done is the Duhamel retro-rectal pull-through (DRPT) repair. Settings and Design: This is a retrospective study of children who presented to one unit in our institute, a tertiary care referral hospital for children less than 12 years, with HD and underwent DRPT procedure during the period between July 2017 to June 2020. The children were evaluated after three years of follow-up for fecal incontinence and constipation. The study was conducted in children diagnosed with classical segment recto-sigmoid HD who underwent surgery. The children who were diagnosed with HD other than classical segment, who underwent primary pull through surgery and who underwent other repairs for HD were excluded from the study. Results: Thirty-two children underwent DRPT procedure during the study period. Of them, five (15.6%) children were lost on follow-up and one (3.1%) child had expired in the immediate post-operative period. Twenty-six children were included in the study. The bowel function score was calculated. The mean age of definitive surgery was 4.2 years. The follow-up period was a minimum of three years. Only two children had a "good" score of eighteen and above. Nineteen children had a "fair" score of 13-17. Five children had a "poor" score of less than thirteen, and among them, two had a "very poor" score of less than nine. The mean BFS was 13.72. Conclusions: Functional outcomes following Duhamel procedure are satisfactory, with 7.7% of children are in the fringe of requiring another surgery for constipation and pseudo-incontinence. (AU)

Standardization of radiograph readings during bowel management week.

INTRODUCTION: During "bowel management week," abdominal radiographs are used to monitor the amount and location of stool. A radiologist familiar with the treatment plan can provide an improved interpretation. The goal of this paper is to standardize the radiological reports during a bowel management week. METHODS: We saw 744 patients during bowel management week from May 2016 until March 2023. Diagnosis included: anorectal malformation (397), idiopathic constipation (180), Hirschsprung disease (89), and spina bifida (78). Laxatives were the treatment for 51% of patients, and 49% received enemas. Characteristic radiographs were selected for each treatment group for a proposed reading standardization. RESULTS: When the stool is visualized, it is crucial to report its location. Having a contrast enema helps with the correct interpretation of the colonic anatomy. It is also essential to always compare the amount of stool with the radiograph from the previous day to determine if there is an increase or decrease in stool. Examples of radiographs are shown to guide the use of the preferred proposed terminology. CONCLUSION: Providing information regarding which treatment modality the patient is receiving and stating that a patient is on a bowel management week treatment is crucial for the radiologist to provide adequate interpretation. The radiologist must be familiar with the treatment goals and purpose of the daily radiograph.

Development of the aganglionic colon following surgical rescue in a cell therapy model of Hirschsprung disease in rat.

Patients with Hirschsprung disease lack enteric ganglia in the distal colon and propulsion of colorectal content is substantially impaired. Proposed stem cell therapies to replace neurons require surgical bypass of the aganglionic bowel during re-colonization, but there is inadequate knowledge of the consequences of bypass. We performed bypass surgery in Ednrb-/- Hirschsprung rat pups. Surgically rescued rats failed to thrive, an outcome reversed by supplying electrolyte- and glucose-enriched drinking water. Histologically, the bypassed colon had normal structure, but grew substantially less in diameter than the functional region proximal to the bypass. Extrinsic sympathetic and spinal afferent neurons projected to their normal targets, including arteries and the circular muscle, in aganglionic regions. However, although axons of intrinsic excitatory and inhibitory neurons grew into the aganglionic region, their normally dense innervation of circular muscle was not restored. Large nerve trunks that contained tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP, encoded by Calca or Calcb)-, neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS or NOS1)-, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)- and tachykinin (encoded by Tac1)-immunoreactive axons occurred in the distal aganglionic region. We conclude that the rescued Ednrb-/- rat provides a good model for the development of cell therapies for the treatment of Hirschsprung disease.

The Transition of Care for Patients with Anorectal Malformations and Hirschsprung Disease: A European Survey.

This study aimed at evaluating how transition of care is currently being organized in the European Reference Networks (ERNs) health care providers (HCPs) in pediatric areas and in the Anorectal Malformation Network (ARM-Net) Consortium hospitals. An online questionnaire was sent to a total of 80 surgeons, members of or affiliated members of three networks: ARM-Net Consortium, ERN eUROGEN, and ERN ERNICA. Complete information were obtained for 45 HCPs, most of which deal with transition and still see a few adult patients (ca. 10%). Gynecological, gastroenterological, urological, colorectal, and continence issues were the major problems described by adult patients to their physicians, and in line with these prevalent complaints, they are referred to the appropriate adult specialists. Forty percent of patients complain about sexual and fertility problems, but the percentage of andrologists and sexologists involved in the caring of adult patients with ARM/Hirschsprung's disease is low, just above 10.9%. Most hospitals deal with transition, but three basic criteria (i.e., presence of: [1] an official written transitional program, [2] a transitional coordinator, and [3] written information on transition to be handled to patients) are jointly met only by six HCPs. According to the responders, the most important issue requiring improvement is the lack of interest and of specific preparation by adult specialists. The overall results of this exploratory survey confirm the need for the development of comprehensive programs for transition in these rare and complex diseases, and identify the hospitals that, in collaboration with the networks, could share best practices in organizing structured transitional pathways and well follow-ups.

Fecal microbiota transplantation enhances cell therapy in a rat model of hypoganglionosis by SCFA-induced MEK1/2 signaling pathway.

Hirschsprung disease (HSCR), one of several neurocristopathies in children, is characterized by nerve loss in the large intestine and is mainly treated by surgery, which causes severe complications. Enteric neural crest-derived cell (ENCC) transplantation is a potential therapeutic strategy; however, so far with poor efficacy. Here, we assessed whether and how fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) could improve ENCC transplantation in a rat model of hypoganglionosis; a condition similar to HSCR, with less intestinal innervation. We found that the hypoganglionosis intestinal microenvironment negatively influenced the ENCC functional phenotype in vitro and in vivo. Combining 16S rDNA sequencing and targeted mass spectrometry revealed microbial dysbiosis and reduced short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production in the hypoganglionic gut. FMT increased the abundance of Bacteroides and Clostridium, SCFA production, and improved outcomes following ENCC transplantation. SCFAs alone stimulated ENCC proliferation, migration, and supported ENCC transplantation. Transcriptome-wide mRNA sequencing identified MAPK signaling as the top differentially regulated pathway in response to SCFA exposure, and inhibition of MEK1/2 signaling abrogated the SCFA-mediated effects on ENCC. This study demonstrates that FMT improves cell therapy for hypoganglionosis via short-chain fatty acid metabolism-induced MEK1/2 signaling.

Increased enteric neural crest cell differentiation after transplantation into aganglionic mouse gut.

PURPOSE: In recent years, many studies have made considerable progress in the development of stem cell-based therapies for Hirschsprung's disease (HD). However, the question of whether enteric neural crest-derived cells (ENCCs) that are transplanted into the aganglionic gut can migrate, proliferate, and differentiate in a normal manner remains unanswered. Thus, we designed this study to compare the behavior of ENCCs transplanted into the aganglionic gut of endothelin receptor B knockout (Ednrb-KO) mice versus wild-type (WT) mice. METHODS: ENCCs were isolated from the fetal guts of Sox10 transgenic mice, in which ENCCs were labeled with an enhanced green fluorescent protein, Venus, on an embryonic day 18.5 (E18.5). Neurospheres were generated and transplanted into the aganglionic region of either Ednrb-KO mice gut, or WT mice gut that had not yet been colonized, on E12.5. Time-lapse imaging of the transplanted ENCCs was performed after 24, 48, and 72 h of culture. Neuronal differentiation was evaluated using whole-mount immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Sox10-positive ENCCs were seen to successfully migrate into the myenteric region of the aganglionic gut following transplantation in both the Ednrb-KO and WT mice. The ratio of Tuj1-positive/Sox10-positive cells was significantly increased after 72 h of culture compared to 24 h in the Ednrb-KO mice, which suggests that the transplanted ENCCs differentiated over time. In addition, at the 72 h timepoint, neuronal differentiation of transplanted ENCC in the aganglionic gut of Ednrb-KO mice was significantly increased compared to that of WT mice. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study demonstrated that transplanted ENCCs migrated into the myenteric region of the aganglionic recipient gut in mice. The increased neuronal differentiation of transplanted ENCC in Endrb-KO mice gut suggests that the microenvironment of this region affects ENCC behavior following transplantation. Further research to explore the characteristics of this microenvironment will improve the potential of developing cell therapy to treat HD patients.

Schwann Cells in the Aganglionic Colon of Hirschsprung Disease Can Generate Neurons for Regenerative Therapy.

Cell therapy offers the potential to replace the missing enteric nervous system (ENS) in patients with Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) and to restore gut function. The Schwann cell (SC) lineage has been shown to generate enteric neurons pre- and post-natally. Here, we aimed to isolate SCs from the aganglionic segment of HSCR and to determine their potential to restore motility in the aganglionic colon. Proteolipid protein 1 (PLP1) expressing SCs were isolated from the extrinsic nerve fibers present in the aganglionic segment of postnatal mice and patients with HSCR. Following 7-10 days of in vitro expansion, HSCR-derived SCs were transplanted into the aganglionic mouse colon ex vivo and in vivo. Successful engraftment and neuronal differentiation were confirmed immunohistochemically and calcium activity of transplanted cells was demonstrated by live cell imaging. Organ bath studies revealed the restoration of motor function in the recipient aganglionic smooth muscle. These results show that SCs isolated from the aganglionic segment of HSCR mouse can generate functional neurons within the aganglionic gut environment and restore the neuromuscular activity of recipient mouse colon. We conclude that HSCR-derived SCs represent a potential autologous source of neural progenitor cells for regenerative therapy in HSCR.

Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Based Models for Hirschsprung Disease: From 2-D Cell to 3-D Organoid Model.

Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) is a complex congenital disorder caused by defects in the development of the enteric nervous system (ENS). It is attributed to failures of the enteric neural crest stem cells (ENCCs) to proliferate, differentiate and/or migrate, leading to the absence of enteric neurons in the distal colon, resulting in colonic motility dysfunction. Due to the oligogenic nature of the disease, some HSCR conditions could not be phenocopied in animal models. Building the patient-based disease model using human induced pluripotent stem cells (hPSC) has opened up a new opportunity to untangle the unknowns of the disease. The expanding armamentarium of hPSC-based therapies provides needed new tools for developing cell-replacement therapy for HSCR. Here we summarize the recent studies of hPSC-based models of ENS in 2-D and 3-D culture systems. These studies have highlighted how hPSC-based models complement the population-based genetic screens and bioinformatic approaches for the discovery of new HSCR susceptibility genes and provide a human model for the close-to-physiological functional studies. We will also discuss the potential applications of these hPSC-based models in translational medicines and their advantages and limitations. The use of these hPSC-based models for drug discovery or cell replacement therapy likely leads to new treatment strategies for HSCR in the future. Further improvements in incorporating hPSC-based models with the human-mouse chimera model and organ-on-a-chip system for establishing a better disease model of HSCR and for drug discovery will further propel us to success in the development of an efficacious treatment for HSCR.

The science of Hirschsprung disease: What we know and where we are headed.

The enteric nervous system (ENS) is a rich network of neurons and glial cells that comprise the gastrointestinal tract's intrinsic nervous system and are responsible for controlling numerous complex functions, including digestion, transit, secretion, barrier function, and maintenance of a healthy microbiome. Development of a functional ENS relies on the coordinated interaction between enteric neural crest-derived cells and their environment as the neural crest-derived cells migrate rostrocaudally along the embryonic gut mesenchyme. Congenital or acquired disruption of ENS development leads to various neurointestinal diseases. Hirschsprung disease is a congenital neurocristopathy, a disease of the neural crest. It is characterized by a variable length of distal colonic aganglionosis due to a failure in enteric neural crest-derived cell proliferation, migration, differentiation, and/or survival. In this review, we will review the science of Hirschsprung disease, targeting an audience of pediatric surgeons. We will discuss the basic biology of normal ENS development, as well as what goes awry in ENS development in Hirschsprung disease. We will review animal models that have been integral to studying this disease, as well as current hot topics and future research, including genetic risk profiling, stem cell therapy, non-invasive diagnostic techniques, single-cell sequencing techniques, and genotype-phenotype correlation.

Inpatient Care Utilization and Epidemiology of Hirschsprung Disease: Analysis of the National Inpatient Sample.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Hirschsprung disease (HD) is associated with significant morbidities including long-term bowel dysfunction. The aim of this study was to update national and regional trends in the inpatient care utilization and epidemiology of HD in the United States between 2009 and 2014 using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database. METHODS: We identified all pediatric admissions with a diagnosis of HD within the NIS from 2009 through 2014. We analyzed HD discharges with respect to various demographic and clinical factors, specifically trends and group differences in inflation-adjusted cost of hospitalization, procedures, co-morbidities, hospital mortality, and length of stay (LOS). A modified Cochrane-Armitage trend test was used to analyze trends for dichotomous outcome variables, and regression analyses were conducted for continuous and binary variables. RESULTS: National estimates of HD-discharges showed no significant trend between 2009 and 2014 ( P = 0.27), with estimated relative incidence ranging from 46 to 70 per 100,000 pediatric discharges. Inflation-adjusted cost of hospitalization increased by $1137 (SE $326) per year ( P = 0.0005). Pull-through procedures in neonatal age group increased from 33.0% in 2009 to 36.5% in 2014 ( P = 0.003). Hospital mortality has remained stable between 0.4% and 1.0% ( P = 0.598). LOS decreased by 0.23 days per year ( P = 0.036). CONCLUSION: Increasing cost of HD-related hospitalization despite decreasing LOS was observed in this cohort. Stable rate of hospitalizations with increasing proportions of pull-through procedures among neonates was noted. Future studies and development of protocols to standardize patient care could improve outcomes and healthcare spending.

Dental pulp stem cells as a therapy for congenital entero-neuropathy.

Hirschsprung's disease is a congenital entero-neuropathy that causes chronic constipation and intestinal obstruction. New treatments for entero-neuropathy are needed because current surgical strategies have limitations5. Entero-neuropathy results from enteric nervous system dysfunction due to incomplete colonization of the distal intestine by neural crest-derived cells. Impaired cooperation between the enteric nervous system and intestinal pacemaker cells may also contribute to entero-neuropathy. Stem cell therapy to repair these multiple defects represents a novel treatment approach. Dental pulp stem cells derived from deciduous teeth (dDPSCs) are multipotent cranial neural crest-derived cells, but it remains unknown whether dDPSCs have potential as a new therapy for entero-neuropathy. Here we show that intravenous transplantation of dDPSCs into the Japanese Fancy-1 mouse, an established model of hypoganglionosis and entero-neuropathy, improves large intestinal structure and function and prolongs survival. Intravenously injected dDPSCs migrate to affected regions of the intestine through interactions between stromal cell-derived factor-1α and C-X-C chemokine receptor type-4. Transplanted dDPSCs differentiate into both pacemaker cells and enteric neurons in the proximal colon to improve electrical and peristaltic activity, in addition to their paracrine effects. Our findings indicate that transplanted dDPSCs can differentiate into different cell types to correct entero-neuropathy-associated defects.

Hirschsprung disease and Paediatric Intestinal Pseudo-obstruction.

Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) and Paediatric Intestinal Pseudo-obstruction (PIPO) comprise two of the most recognized and severe disorders of gastrointestinal (GI) motility. HSCR is a developmental disorder of the enteric nervous system invariably affecting the large intestine, whereas the majority of PIPO conditions represent congenital disorders of one or more components of the neuromusculature and more diffusely affect the GI tract. Histopathology is deemed the gold standard for the diagnosis of HSCR and, arguably, of PIPO, but, other diagnostic modalities such as manometric and genetic studies have seen recent advances that may increase their utility. Especially for PIPO, management is multidisciplinary and best performed in specialist referral centres. Surgery remains the only viable treatment for HSCR and appears essential to optimize and sustain feeding and viability of intestinal function in PIPO patients. Novel therapies such as neural stem cell transplants show promise for the future.

Identifying Needs, Challenges, and Benefits Among Adults and Parents of Children With Hirschsprung Disease.

ABSTRACT: Adults with Hirschsprung disease (HD), unaffected parents of children with HD, and affected adults with an affected child completed a cross-sectional survey with open-ended questions about greatest needs at diagnosis and at current time, greatest challenges encountered, and any benefits of having HD or having a child with HD. In the 297 respondents, information and good medical care were common needs at diagnosis and at the time of survey, but the information needed evolved with time. Managing ongoing symptoms was a frequently cited need and challenge, along with managing medical care and the social and emotional impact of HD. Perceived benefits included empathy for others and new perspectives on life. The needs and challenges identified in this study can guide healthcare providers in discussions with families. Provision of information, recommendations, and referrals based on each individual family's needs can support families with HD throughout the lifecycle and facilitate adaptation.

Opportunities for novel diagnostic and cell-based therapies for Hirschsprung disease.

Despite significant progress in our understanding of the etiology and pathophysiology of Hirschsprung disease (HSCR), early and accurate diagnosis and operative management can be challenging. Moreover, long-term morbidity following surgery, including fecal incontinence, constipation, and Hirschsprung-associated enterocolitis (HAEC), remains problematic. Recent advances applying state-of-the art imaging for visualization of the enteric nervous system and utilizing neuronal stem cells to replace the missing enteric neurons and glial cells offer the possibility of a promising new future for patients with HSCR. In this review, we summarize recent research advances that may one day offer novel approaches for the diagnosis and management of this disease.

Stem cell-based therapy for hirschsprung disease, do we have the guts to treat?

Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) is a congenital anomaly of the colon that results from failure of enteric nervous system formation, leading to a constricted dysfunctional segment of the colon with variable lengths, and necessitating surgical intervention. The underlying pathophysiology includes a defect in neural crest cells migration, proliferation and differentiation, which are partially explained by identified genetic and epigenetic alterations. Despite the high success rate of the curative surgeries, they are associated with significant adverse outcomes such as enterocolitis, fecal soiling, and chronic constipation. In addition, some patients suffer from extensive lethal variants of the disease, all of which justify the need for an alternative cure. During the last 5 years, there has been considerable progress in HSCR stem cell-based therapy research. However, many major issues remain unsolved. This review will provide concise background information on HSCR, outline the future approaches of stem cell-based HSCR therapy, review recent key publications, discuss technical and ethical challenges the field faces prior to clinical translation, and tackle such challenges by proposing solutions and evaluating existing approaches to progress further.