Bio

Bio

I am the director of the Celiac Disease Program at Stanford and I am highly experienced in diagnosis and management of celiac disease and gluten associated disorders.
My objective is to provide excellent and compassionate clinical care for my patients while seeking a better understanding of diseases I treat, particularly Celiac disease (CeD), eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). My top priorities are patient care and translational research to make new discoveries and improve the care my patients.

Clinical Focus

  • Gastroenterology
  • Celiac Disease
  • Gluten Sensitivity
  • Esophageal Motility Disorders
  • Eosinophilic esophagitis
  • Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disorders
  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease
  • Scleroderma
  • Enterology

Academic Appointments

Professional Education

  • Medical Education: Albert Einstein College of Medicine (2002) NY
  • Residency: Massachusetts General Hospital (2005) MA
  • Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology (2009)
  • Fellowship: Beth Isreal Deaconess Medical Center (2009) MA
  • Internship: Massachusetts General Hospital (2003) MA

Contact

  • Cynthia Cruise Administrative Associate
    • Tel: 650-497-6216
  • Stanford Gastroenterology and Digestive Health Clinic 450 Broadway St Pav D 2nd Fl Pod 2 and 3 Redwood City, CA 94063
    • Tel: (650) 736-5555
    Fax: (650) 498-6323

Links

Research & Scholarship

Clinical Trials

  • Functional Luminal Imaging Probe (FLIP) Topography Use in Patients With Scleroderma and Trouble Swallowing Recruiting

    FLIP topography has been FDA cleared to evaluate a variety of esophageal conditions, but has never been evaluated in patients with scleroderma. The investigators hope to evaluate this technology in patients who have scleroderma and various esophageal symptoms, and compare to non-scleroderma patients.

    View full details

  • PTG-100 for Patients With Celiac Disease Not Recruiting

    The goal of this study is to learn whether or not the drug PTG-100 can reduce or prevent inflammatory injury to the small intestine that occurs when people with celiac disease eat food products containing gluten. This is a clinical research study to determine the safety and efficacy of PTG-100 in preventing gluten-induced inflammatory injury to the small intestine in patients with celiac disease. 30 patients will receive either placebo (fake drug) or PTG-100 (real drug) in capsule form twice daily for 42 days. They will also receive a gluten challenge twice daily in the form of a cookie or equivalent. An upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and exam including small bowel mucosa biopsy will be performed at the start of the treatment period and again at the end. Blood samples will be routinely taken to evaluate safety and the drug's mechanism of action throughout the study, and symptoms will be recorded using the celiac symptoms index (CSI) survey.

    Stanford is currently not accepting patients for this trial.

    View full details

Teaching

2020-21 Courses

Publications

All Publications

  • Achalasia: physiology and diagnosis. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences Rieder, E., Fernandez-Becker, N. Q., Sarosiek, J., Guillaume, A., Azagury, D. E., Clarke, J. O. 2020

    Abstract

    Achalasia is a rare motility disorder with incomplete relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter and ineffective contractions of the esophageal body. It has been hypothesized that achalasia does not result from only one pathway but rather involves a combination of infectious, autoimmune, and familial etiological components. On the basis of other observations, a novel hypothesis suggests that a muscular form of eosinophilic esophagitis is involved in the pathophysiology of achalasia in some patients. This appears to progressively diminish the myenteric plexus at stage III, gradually destroy it at stage II, and finally eliminate it at stage I, the most advanced and final stage of achalasia. Although high-resolution manometry has identified these three different types of achalasia, another subset of patients with a normal-appearing sphincter relaxation has been proposed. Provocative maneuvers, such as the rapid drinking challenge, have recently been demonstrated to improve diagnosis in certain borderline patients, but have to be studied in more detail. However, whether the different types of achalasia will have a long-term impact on tailored therapies is still a matter of debate. Additionally, novel aspects of the standard timed barium swallow appear to be an important adjunct of diagnosis, as it has been shown to have a diagnostic as well as a predictive value.

    View details for DOI 10.1111/nyas.14510

    View details for PubMedID 33140485

  • Not in the Same Vein: Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Malignancy, and Enterocolic Lymphocytic Phlebitis. Digestive diseases and sciences Farber, O. N., Weingarden, A., Lee, C., Braxton, D. R., Bingham, D., Scott, G., Fernandez-Becker, N., Goff, D., Shelton, A., Kin, C. 2020

    View details for DOI 10.1007/s10620-020-06425-w

    View details for PubMedID 32594463

  • Marijuana, Ondansetron, and Promethazine Are Perceived as Most Effective Treatments for Gastrointestinal Nausea. Digestive diseases and sciences Zikos, T. A., Nguyen, L., Kamal, A., Fernandez-Becker, N., Regalia, K., Nandwani, M., Sonu, I., Garcia, M., Okafor, P., Neshatian, L., Grewal, D., Garcia, P., Triadafilopoulos, G., Clarke, J. O. 2020

    Abstract

    BACKGROUND: Many anti-nausea treatments are available for chronic gastrointestinal syndromes, but data on efficacy and comparative effectiveness are sparse.AIMS: To conduct a sectional survey study of patients with chronic nausea to assess comparative effectiveness of commonly used anti-nausea treatments.METHODS: Outpatients at a single center presenting for gastroenterology evaluation were asked to rate anti-nausea efficacy on a scale of 0 (no efficacy) to 5 (very effective) of 29 commonly used anti-nausea treatments and provide other information about their symptoms. Additional information was collected from the patients' chart. The primary outcome was to determine which treatments were better or worse than average using a t test. The secondary outcome was to assess differential response by individual patient characteristics using multiple linear regression.RESULTS: One hundred and fifty-three patients completed the survey. The mean efficacy score of all anti-nausea treatments evaluated was 1.73. After adjustment, three treatments had scores statically higher than the mean, including marijuana (2.75, p<0.0001), ondansetron (2.64, p<0.0001), and promethazine (2.46, p<0.0001). Several treatments, including many neuromodulators, complementary and alternative treatments, erythromycin, and diphenhydramine had scores statistically below average. Patients with more severe nausea responded better to marijuana (p=0.036) and diphenhydramine (p<0.001) and less so to metoclopramide (p=0.020). There was otherwise no significant differential response by age, gender, nausea localization, underlying gastrointestinal cause of nausea, and GCSI.CONCLUSIONS: When treating nausea in patients with chronic gastrointestinal syndromes, clinicians may consider trying higher performing treatments first, and forgoing lower performing treatments. Further prospective research is needed, particularly with respect to highly effective treatments.

    View details for DOI 10.1007/s10620-020-06195-5

    View details for PubMedID 32185665

  • Clinical and immunomodulatory effects of transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation for idiopathic gastroparesis Gottfried-Blackmore, A., Namkoong, H., Adler, E. P., Fernandez-Becker, N., Clarke, J., Habtezion, A., Nguyen, L. WILEY. 2020

    View details for Web of Science ID 000521974900325

  • RNA-Seq of Gastrointestinal Biopsies During Oral Immunotherapy Reveals Changes in IgA Pathway Zhang, W., Dhondalay, G., Hoh, R., Tupa, D., Bunning, B., Fernandez-Becker, N., Kambham, N., Boyd, S., Galli, S., Andorf, S., Manohar, M., Chinthrajah, S., Nadeau, K. MOSBY-ELSEVIER. 2020: AB132

    View details for Web of Science ID 000517092700419

  • Peanut oral immunotherapy induces gastrointestinal eosinophilia in a longitudinal randomized controlled trial Wright, B., Fernandez-Becker, N., Kambham, N., Purington, N., Cao, S., Tupa, D., Zhang, W., Rank, M., Kita, H., Katzka, D., Shim, K., Bunning, B., Doyle, A., Jacobsen, E., Boyd, S., Manohar, M., Galli, S., Nadeau, K., Chinthrajah, S. MOSBY-ELSEVIER. 2020: AB84

    View details for Web of Science ID 000517092700258

  • Gastrointestinal Eosinophil Responses in a Longitudinal, Randomized Trial of Peanut Oral Immunotherapy. Clinical gastroenterology and hepatology : the official clinical practice journal of the American Gastroenterological Association Wright, B. L., Fernandez-Becker, N. Q., Kambham, N., Purington, N., Cao, S., Tupa, D., Zhang, W., Sindher, S. B., Rank, M. A., Kita, H., Katzka, D. A., Shim, K. P., Bunning, B. J., Doyle, A. D., Jacobsen, E. A., Tsai, M., Boyd, S. D., Manohar, M., Chinthrajah, R. S. 2020

    Abstract

    Gastrointestinal side effects are common during oral immunotherapy (OIT) and eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a potential complication. We aimed to characterize eosinophilic gastrointestinal responses to peanut OIT, in which peanut protein is given orally, with incremental increases in dose over time.Twenty adults with IgE-mediated peanut allergy were randomly assigned to groups given peanut OIT (n=15) or placebo (n=5); 1 additional subject withdrew before randomization. Serial gastrointestinal biopsies were collected at baseline (n=21, 0 weeks), following dose escalation (n=10, 52 weeks), and during the maintenance phase (n=11, 104 weeks). Endoscopic findings were characterized using the EoE endoscopic reference score. Biopsies were assessed for eosinophils per high-power field (eos/hpf) and other pathology features using EoE histologic scoring system scores. We performed immunohistochemical analyses of eosinophil peroxidase deposition, quantified using automated image analysis.At baseline, no subjects reported current gastrointestinal symptoms. However, 3 of the 21 subjects (14%) had esophageal peak eosinophil counts ?15 eos/hpf and all subjects had dilated intercellular spaces (DIS). OIT induced or exacerbated esophageal eosinophilia (EE) at 52 weeks in most subjects (peak eosinophil counts >5 eos/hpf in 6 of 7 patients [86%]; peak eosinophil counts ?15 eos/hpf in 4 of 7 patients [57%]). One subject met clinicopathologic criteria for EoE and withdrew; no significant changes in esophageal peak eosinophil counts were observed in the placebo group. EE in the OIT group corresponded with significant increases in EoE histologic scoring system scores and deposition of eosinophil peroxidase. In 4 of 6 participants (67%), OIT-induced EE and gastrointestinal eosinophilia resolved by the end of the maintenance phase. Gastrointestinal symptoms were not clearly associated with EE or gastrointestinal eosinophilia.In this pilot study, we found that peanut OIT-induced EE and gastrointestinal eosinophilia are usually transient and are not always associated with gastrointestinal symptoms. Clinicaltrials.gov no: NCT02103270.

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.cgh.2020.05.019

    View details for PubMedID 32434067

  • The functional lumen imaging probe in gastrointestinal disorders: the past, present, and future. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences Clarke, J. O., Ahuja, N. K., Fernandez-Becker, N. Q., Gregersen, H., Kamal, A. N., Khan, A., Lynch, K. L., Vela, M. F. 2020

    Abstract

    The functional lumen imaging probe (FLIP) is a diagnostic tool that utilizes impedance planimetry to allow the assessment of luminal diameter and distensibility. It has been used primarily in esophageal diseases, in particular, in the assessment of achalasia, esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction, and eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). The usage and publications have increased over the past decade and it is now an essential tool in the armamentarium of the esophagologist. Indications are emerging outside of the esophagus, in particular with regard to gastroparesis. Our paper will review the history of FLIP, optimal current usage, data for key esophageal disorders (including achalasia, reflux, and EoE), data for nonesophageal disorders, and our sense as to whether FLIP is ready for prime time, as well as gaps in evidence and suggestions for future research.

    View details for DOI 10.1111/nyas.14463

    View details for PubMedID 32814368

  • Baseline impedance via manometry and ambulatory reflux testing are not equivalent when utilized in the evaluation of potential extra-esophageal gastroesophageal reflux disease. Journal of thoracic disease Zikos, T. A., Triadafilopoulos, G., Kamal, A., Podboy, A., Sonu, I. S., Regalia, K. A., Nandwani, M. C., Nguyen, L. A., Fernandez-Becker, N. Q., Clarke, J. O. 2020; 12 (10): 5628?38

    Abstract

    Esophageal baseline impedance (BI) shows promise for the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), but means of acquisition and relevance to extra-esophageal manifestations of GERD (EE-GERD) remain unclear. In this study we aim to (I) evaluate concordance between BI as measured by 24-hour pH-impedance (pH-MII) and high-resolution impedance manometry (HRIM), and (II) assess relationship to potential EE-GERD symptoms.In this prospective open cohort study, patients presenting for outpatient HRIM and pH-MII studies were prospectively enrolled. All patients completed the GERD-HRQL, NOSE, and respiratory symptom index questionnaire (RSI), plus questions regarding wheezing and dental procedures. HRIM and pH-MII were evaluated with calculation of BI. Correlations were assessed using either Pearson's correlation or Spearman's rank coefficients.70 HRIM patients were enrolled, 35 of whom underwent pH-MII. There was no correlation between BI measurements as assessed by HRIM and pH-MII proximally, but there was moderate-weak correlation distally (r=0.34 to 0.5). Distal acid exposure time correlated with distal BI only for measurements by pH-MII (rho= -0.5 to -0.65), and not by HRIM. There was no relationship between proximal acid exposure time and proximal BI. There were no correlations when comparing proximal or distal BI measurements, acid exposure times, and impedance events to symptoms.Concordance between BI as measured by HRIM and pH-MII is poor, especially proximally, suggesting that these two methods are not interchangeable. There is no correlation between BI both distally/proximally and symptoms of either GERD/EE-GERD, suggesting that many symptoms are unrelated to acid or that BI is not an adequate marker to assess EE-GERD symptoms.

    View details for DOI 10.21037/jtd-20-1623

    View details for PubMedID 33209395

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC7656325

  • Gastric antral vascular ectasia in systemic sclerosis: Association with anti-RNA polymerase III and negative anti-nuclear antibodies. Seminars in arthritis and rheumatism Serling-Boyd, N., Chung, M. P., Li, S., Becker, L., Fernandez-Becker, N., Clarke, J., Fiorentino, D., Chung, L. 2020; 50 (5): 938?42

    Abstract

    Gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE) is a vascular manifestation of systemic sclerosis (SSc) that can lead to iron deficiency anemia or acute gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. We aimed to identify clinical features associated with GAVE.We performed a cohort study of SSc patients who were seen at Stanford between 2004 and 2018 and had undergone esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). We compared the clinical features of those with and without GAVE, and multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify clinical correlates with GAVE.A total of 225 patients with SSc who underwent EGD were included in this study and 19 (8.4%) had GAVE. Those with GAVE were more likely to have scleroderma renal crisis (SRC) (21% vs 3%; p < 0.01), positive anti-RNA polymerase III antibody (71% vs 19%; p < 0.01), nucleolar pattern of anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) (33% vs 11%; p=0.04), and negative ANA (<1:80 by immunofluorescence) (33% vs 11%; p=0.02). On multivariate analysis with multiple imputation, anti-RNA polymerase III positivity (OR 4.57; 95% CI (1.57 - 13.23), p < 0.01) and ANA negativity (OR 3.75; 95% CI (1.21 - 11.62), p=0.02) remained significantly associated with GAVE.Positive anti-RNA polymerase III antibody and ANA negativity were significantly associated with GAVE. Further studies are necessary to determine whether patients with these autoantibody profiles should undergo screening endoscopies for GAVE.

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2020.06.016

    View details for PubMedID 32906028

  • Eosinophilic esophagitis: updates on key unanswered questions. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences Fernandez-Becker, N. Q., Raja, S., Scarpignato, C., Lynch, K. L., Ahuja, N. K., Horsley-Silva, J. L. 2020

    Abstract

    Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a clinicopathologic disease characterized by symptoms of esophageal dysfunction and esophageal eosinophilia. In the last decade, there has been a dramatic increase in its prevalence for reasons that are not completely understood. The underlying pathophysiology involves an antigen-mediated TH 2 immune response that draws eosinophils to the esophagus, causing mucosal inflammation, esophageal remodeling, and fibrosis. This ultimately leads to esophageal dysfunction that most commonly manifests as dysphagia. In this review, we will discuss updates on key questions regarding the diagnosis and treatment of EoE.

    View details for DOI 10.1111/nyas.14421

    View details for PubMedID 32762154

  • Origins and clonal convergence of gastrointestinal IgE+ B cells in human peanut allergy. Science immunology Hoh, R. A., Joshi, S. A., Lee, J. Y., Martin, B. A., Varma, S., Kwok, S., Nielsen, S. C., Nejad, P., Haraguchi, E., Dixit, P. S., Shutthanandan, S. V., Roskin, K. M., Zhang, W., Tupa, D., Bunning, B. J., Manohar, M., Tibshirani, R., Fernandez-Becker, N. Q., Kambham, N., West, R. B., Hamilton, R. G., Tsai, M., Galli, S. J., Chinthrajah, R. S., Nadeau, K. C., Boyd, S. D. 2020; 5 (45)

    Abstract

    B cells in human food allergy have been studied predominantly in the blood. Little is known about IgE+ B cells or plasma cells in tissues exposed to dietary antigens. We characterized IgE+ clones in blood, stomach, duodenum, and esophagus of 19 peanut-allergic patients, using high-throughput DNA sequencing. IgE+ cells in allergic patients are enriched in stomach and duodenum, and have a plasma cell phenotype. Clonally related IgE+ and non-IgE-expressing cell frequencies in tissues suggest local isotype switching, including transitions between IgA and IgE isotypes. Highly similar antibody sequences specific for peanut allergen Ara h 2 are shared between patients, indicating that common immunoglobulin genetic rearrangements may contribute to pathogenesis. These data define the gastrointestinal tract as a reservoir of IgE+ B lineage cells in food allergy.

    View details for DOI 10.1126/sciimmunol.aay4209

    View details for PubMedID 32139586

  • Open-label pilot study: Non-invasive vagal nerve stimulation improves symptoms and gastric emptying in patients with idiopathic gastroparesis. Neurogastroenterology and motility : the official journal of the European Gastrointestinal Motility Society Gottfried-Blackmore, A., Adler, E. P., Fernandez-Becker, N., Clarke, J., Habtezion, A., Nguyen, L. 2019: e13769

    Abstract

    BACKGROUND: Gastroparesis, a chronic motility disorder characterized by delayed gastric emptying, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting, remains largely unexplained. Medical therapy is limited, reflecting the complex physiology of gastric sensorimotor function. Vagus nerve stimulation is an attractive therapeutic modality for gastroparesis, but prior methods required invasive surgery. In this open-label pilot study, we aimed to assess the benefit of non-invasive vagal nerve stimulation in patients with mild to moderate idiopathic gastroparesis.METHODS: Patients self-administered the gammaCore vagal nerve stimulator for 4weeks. The gastroparesis cardinal symptom index daily diary (GCSI-dd) was assessed during a two-week run-in period, ?4weeks of therapy, and 4weeks after therapy was completed. Gastric emptying and autonomic function testing were also performed. The primary endpoint was an absolute reduction in CGSI-dd of 0.75 after nVNS.RESULTS: There was a total improvement in symptom scores (2.56±0.76 to 1.87±1.05; P=.01), with 6/15 (40%) participants meeting our primary endpoint. Therapy was associated with a reduction in gastric emptying (T1/2 155 vs 129minutes; P=.053, CI -0.4 to 45). Therapy did not correct autonomic function abnormalities, but was associated with modulation of reflex parasympathetic activity.CONCLUSIONS: Short-term non-invasive vagal nerve stimulation led to improved cardinal symptoms and accelerated gastric emptying in a subset of patients with idiopathic gastroparesis. Responders had more severe gastric delay at baseline and clinical improvement correlated with duration of therapy, but not with improvements in gastric emptying. Larger randomized sham-controlled trials of greater duration are needed to confirm the results of this pilot study.

    View details for DOI 10.1111/nmo.13769

    View details for PubMedID 31802596

  • Ninety-Six Hour Wireless Esophageal pH Study in Patients with GERD Shows that Restrictive Diet Reduces Esophageal Acid Exposure. Digestive diseases and sciences Triadafilopoulos, G., Korzilius, J. W., Zikos, T., Sonu, I., Fernandez-Becker, N. Q., Nguyen, L., Clarke, J. O. 2019

    Abstract

    BACKGROUND: Prolonged (96h) pH monitoring may explore the effect of diet on pH and symptoms in patients with GERD.AIMS: To assess the usefulness of a 96h esophageal pH study in patients with GER symptoms under different diets (pro- and anti-GER).METHODS: Prospective study of 66 patients with GERD undergoing wireless 96h pH monitoring. Two-day periods, one on liberal (pro-reflux) and another on restricted (anti-reflux) diet assessed esophageal acid exposure and symptoms. The primary end point was normalization of acid exposure time while on restricted diet. Secondary end point was a>50% reduction in symptoms with restricted diet.RESULTS: Normal (pH time<4 of<6%) was found in 34 patients (51.5%) while on the initial 48h (liberal) diet [median % time<4: 3.2 (95% CI, 1.9, 4.0)] and remained normal while on restricted diet [median % time<4: 2.6 (95% CI, 0.8, 3.4)]. Abnormal acid exposure (% pH time<4:>6%) was found in 32 patients (48.5%) while on initial 48h liberal diet [median % time<4: 10.5, (95% CI 8.9, 12.6)], and decreased significantly with restricted diet [median % time<4: 4.5 (95% CI 3.1, 7.3)] (p=0.001), and normalized with anti-GERD diet in 21 patients (65.6%). Only 11/66 patients were candidates for proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use; 34 had either normal pH studies or normalized them with restricted diet (n=21). Symptoms did not improve with restricted diet.CONCLUSIONS: The 96-h esophageal pH study tests for GERD under pro- and anti-GER diets and allows minimization of PPI therapy to only 16.6% of patients.

    View details for DOI 10.1007/s10620-019-05940-9

    View details for PubMedID 31734874

  • Human Intestinal Enteroids Model MHC-II in the Gut Epithelium FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY Wosen, J. E., Ilstad-Minnihan, A., Co, J. Y., Jiang, W., Mukhopadhyay, D., Fernandez-Becker, N. Q., Kuo, C. J., Amieva, M. R., Mellins, E. D. 2019; 10

    View details for DOI 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01970

    View details for Web of Science ID 000481776300001

  • RPC4046, a Monoclonal Antibody Against IL13, Reduces Histologic and Endoscopic Activity in Patients With Eosinophilic Esophagitis GASTROENTEROLOGY Hirano, I., Collins, M. H., Assouline-Dayan, Y., Evans, L., Gupta, S., Schoepfer, A. M., Straumann, A., Safroneeva, E., Grimm, M., Smith, H., Tompkins, C., Woo, A., Peach, R., Frohna, P., Gujrathi, S., Penenberg, D. N., Li, C., Opiteck, G. J., Olson, A., Aranda, R., Rothenberg, M. E., Dellon, E. S., Donnellan, F., Iacucci, M., Paterson, W., Schoepfer, A., Abonia, P., Ayub, K., Coates, A., Cohen, S., Dellon, E., Desta, T., Falk, G., Fein, S., Fernandez-Becker, N., Fleischer, D., Friedenberg, K., Ghishan, F., Glover, S., Goldstein, G., Gopal, V., Gross, C., Nardi, R., Kugathasan, S., Lacy, B., Lewis, J., Menard-Katcher, P., Mitlyng, B., Moawad, F., Perez, R., Peterson, K., Ramirez, F., Reeves-Darby, V., Schey, R., Shad, J., Vaezi, M., Wo, J., Zakko, S., HEROES Study Grp 2019; 156 (3): 592-+

    Abstract

    Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic, esophageal, type 2 inflammatory response associated with increased serum levels of interleukin 13 (IL13), which might contribute to its pathogenesis. RPC4046, a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody against IL13, prevents its binding to the receptor subunits IL13RA1 and IL13RA2. We performed a phase 2 trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of RPC4046 in patients with EoE.We performed a multicenter, double-blind trial of 99 adults with active EoE randomly assigned (1:1:1) to groups given RPC4046 (180 or 360 mg) or placebo once weekly for 16 weeks, from September 2014 through December 2015. Patients were seen at day 1 (baseline) and weeks 2, 4, 8, 12, and 16. They underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy and biopsies were collected at baseline and week 16. Patients completed a daily dysphagia symptom diary through week 16 and patient-reported outcome data were collected. The primary outcome was change in mean esophageal eosinophil count in the 5 high-power fields (hpfs) with the highest level of inflammation.At week 16, mean changes in esophageal eosinophil count per hpf were a reduction of 94.8 ± 67.3 in patients who received 180 mg RPC4046 (P < .0001) and a reduction of 99.9 ± 79.5 in patients who received 360 mg RPC4046 (P < .0001) compared with a reduction of 4.4 ± 59.9 in patients who received placebo. The 360-mg RPC4046 group, compared with the placebo group, showed significant reductions in validated endoscopic severity score at all esophageal locations (P < .0001), validated histologic grade and stage scores (both P < .0001), and clinician's global assessment of disease severity (P = .0352); they had a numerical reduction in scores from the dysphagia symptom diary (P = .0733). Significant reductions in esophageal eosinophil counts and histologic and endoscopic features were observed in patients with steroid-refractory EoE who received RPC4046. The most common adverse events were headache and upper respiratory tract infection.In a phase 2 trial of patients with EoE, we found RPC4046 (a monoclonal antibody against IL13) to reduce histologic and endoscopic features compared with placebo. RPC4046 was well tolerated. ClinicalTrials.gov no: NCT02098473.

    View details for DOI 10.1053/j.gastro.2018.10.051

    View details for Web of Science ID 000457714300022

    View details for PubMedID 30395812

  • Esophageal Eosinophilia is Present in Some Peanut Allergic Patients Fernandez-Becker, N., Wright, B. L., Kambham, N., Shim, K. P., Purington, N., Long, A. J., Tsai, M., Boyd, S., Galli, S. J., Nadeau, K. C., Chinthrajah, R. MOSBY-ELSEVIER. 2019: AB310

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jaci.2018.12.942

    View details for Web of Science ID 000457771200928

  • An Unexpected Colonic Mass AMERICAN JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY Li, A. A., Cholankeril, G., Berry, G. J., Fernandez-Becker, N. 2019; 114 (1): 180?81

    View details for DOI 10.1038/s41395-018-0363-6

    View details for Web of Science ID 000463156500034

  • Human Intestinal Enteroids Model MHC-II in the Gut Epithelium. Frontiers in immunology Wosen, J. E., Ilstad-Minnihan, A., Co, J. Y., Jiang, W., Mukhopadhyay, D., Fernandez-Becker, N. Q., Kuo, C. J., Amieva, M. R., Mellins, E. D. 2019; 10: 1970

    Abstract

    The role of intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) in mucosal tolerance and immunity remains poorly understood. We present a method for inducing MHC class II (MHC-II) in human enteroids, "mini-guts" derived from small intestinal crypt stem cells, and show that the intracellular MHC-II peptide-pathway is intact and functional in IECs. Our approach enables human enteroids to be used for novel in vitro studies into IEC MHC-II regulation and function during health and disease.

    View details for DOI 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01970

    View details for PubMedID 31481960

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC6710476

  • Double Threat: Interplay of Celiac Disease with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Digestive diseases and sciences Gubatan, J., Triadafilopoulos, G., Fernandez-Becker, N. Q. 2019

    View details for DOI 10.1007/s10620-019-05994-9

    View details for PubMedID 31828460

  • A Positive Correlation Between Gastric and Esophageal Dysmotility Suggests Common Causality DIGESTIVE DISEASES AND SCIENCES Zikos, T. A., Clarke, J. O., Triadafilopoulos, G., Regalia, K. A., Sonu, I. S., Fernandez-Becker, N. Q., Nandwani, M. C., Nguyen, L. A. 2018; 63 (12): 3417?24

    View details for DOI 10.1007/s10620-018-5175-4

    View details for Web of Science ID 000450660300032

  • Baseline Gastrointestinal Eosinophilia Is Common in Oral Immunotherapy Subjects With IgE-Mediated Peanut Allergy FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY Wright, B. L., Fernandez-Becker, N. Q., Kambham, N., Purington, N., Tupa, D., Zhang, W., Rank, M. A., Kita, H., Shim, K. P., Bunning, B. J., Doyle, A. D., Jacobsen, E. A., Boyd, S. D., Tsai, M., Maecker, H., Manohar, M., Galli, S. J., Nadeau, K. C., Chinthrajah, R. 2018; 9

    View details for DOI 10.3389/fimmu.2018.02624

    View details for Web of Science ID 000450901300001

  • An Unexpected Colonic Mass. The American journal of gastroenterology Li, A. A., Cholankeril, G., Berry, G. J., Fernandez-Becker, N. 2018

    View details for PubMedID 30333533

  • Use of Esophageal pH Monitoring to Minimize Proton-Pump Inhibitor Utilization in Patients with Gastroesophageal Reflux Symptoms DIGESTIVE DISEASES AND SCIENCES Triadafilopoulos, G., Zikos, T., Regalia, K., Sonu, I., Fernandez-Becker, N. Q., Nguyen, L., Nandwani, M. R., Clarke, J. O. 2018; 63 (10): 2673?80

    View details for DOI 10.1007/s10620-018-5183-4

    View details for Web of Science ID 000444614000025

  • Multi-Organ RNA-Sequencing of Patients with Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) Finds That Intrinsic Subsets Are Conserved across Organ Systems Mehta, B. K., Franks, J., Wang, Y., Cai, G., Toledo, D. M., Wood, T. A., Archambault, K. A., Kosarek, N., Kolstad, K. D., Stark, M., Valenzuela, A., Fiorentino, D., Fernandez-Becker, N., Becker, L., Nguyen, L., Clarke, J., Boin, F., Wolters, P., Chung, L., Whitfield, M. L. WILEY. 2018

    View details for Web of Science ID 000447268902203

  • Identification of Risk Factors for Gastric Antral Vascular Ectasia (GAVE) Among Systemic Sclerosis Patients Serling-Boyd, N., Li, S., Fiorentino, D., Becker, L., Fernandez-Becker, N., Clarke, J., Chung, L. WILEY. 2018

    View details for Web of Science ID 000447268901344

  • Use of Esophageal pH Monitoring to Minimize Proton-Pump Inhibitor Utilization in Patients with Gastroesophageal Reflux Symptoms. Digestive diseases and sciences Triadafilopoulos, G., Zikos, T., Regalia, K., Sonu, I., Fernandez-Becker, N. Q., Nguyen, L., Nandwani, M. C., Clarke, J. O. 2018

    Abstract

    BACKGROUND: Due to concerns about long-term PPI use in patients with acid reflux, we aimed at minimizing PPI use, either by avoiding initiating therapy, downscaling to other therapies, or introducing endoscopic or surgical options.AIMS: To examine the role of esophageal ambulatory pHmetry in minimizing PPI use in patients with heartburn and acid regurgitation.METHODS: Retrospective cohort analysis of patients with reflux symptoms, who underwent endoscopy, manometry, and ambulatory pHmetry to define the need for PPI. Patients were classified as: (1) never users; (2) partial responders to PPI; (3) users with complete response to PPI. Patients were then managed as: (1) PPI non-users; (2) PPI-initiated, and (3) PPI-continued.RESULTS: Of 286 patients with heartburn and regurgitation, 103 (36%) were found to have normal and 183 (64%) abnormal esophageal acid exposure (AET). In the normal AET group, 44/103 had not been treated and were not initiated on PPI. Of the 59 who had previously received PPI, 52 stopped and 7 continued PPI. Hence, PPI were avoided in 96/103 patients (93%). In the abnormal AET group, 61/183 had not been treated and 38 were initiated on PPI and 23 on other therapies. In the 122 patients previously treated with PPI, 24 were not treated with PPI, but with H2RAs, prokinetics, endoscopic, or surgical therapy. Hence, PPI therapy was avoided in 47/183 patients (26%).CONCLUSIONS: In patients with GER symptoms, esophageal pHmetry may avert PPI use in 50%. In the era of caution regarding PPIs, early testing may provide assurance and justification.

    View details for PubMedID 29959725

  • A Positive Correlation Between Gastric and Esophageal Dysmotility Suggests Common Causality. Digestive diseases and sciences Zikos, T. A., Clarke, J. O., Triadafilopoulos, G., Regalia, K. A., Sonu, I. S., Fernandez-Becker, N. Q., Nandwani, M. C., Nguyen, L. A. 2018

    Abstract

    BACKGROUND: Gastric and esophageal dysmotility syndromes are some of the most common motility diagnoses, but little is known about their interrelationship.AIMS: The aim of our study was to determine if a correlation exists between gastric and esophageal dysmotility syndromes.METHODS: We reviewed the records of all patients who underwent both solid gastric emptying scintigraphy (GES) and high-resolution esophageal manometry (HRM) withina 2 year period, with both done between August 2012 and August 2017. All GESs were classified as either rapid, normal, or delayed. All HRMs were classified according to the Chicago Classification 3.0. Correlations were assessed using Fisher's exact test and multiple logistic regression.RESULTS: In total, 482 patients met inclusion criteria. Of patients with a normal, delayed, and rapid GES, 53.1, 64.5, and 77.3% had an abnormal HRM, respectively (p<0.05 vs. normal GES). Likewise, patients with an abnormal HRM were more likely to have an abnormal GES (54.9 vs. 41.8%, p=0.005). Multiple logistic regression showed abnormal GES [odds ratio (OR) 2.14], age (OR 1.013), scleroderma (OR 6.29), and dysphagia (OR 2.63) were independent predictors of an abnormal HRM. Likewise, an abnormal HRM (OR 2.11), diabetes (OR 1.85), heart or lung transplantation (OR 2.61), and autonomic dysfunction (OR 2.37) were independent predictors of an abnormal GES.CONCLUSIONS: The correlation between an abnormal GES and HRM argues for common pathogenic mechanisms of these motility disorders, and possibly common future treatment options. Clinicians should have a high index of suspicion for another motility disorder if one is present.

    View details for PubMedID 29946871

  • Baclofen and gastroesophageal reflux disease: seeing the forest through the trees. Clinical and translational gastroenterology Clarke, J. O., Fernandez-Becker, N. Q., Regalia, K. A., Triadafilopoulos, G. 2018; 9 (3): 137

    Abstract

    Baclofen has been shown to decrease reflux events and increase lower esophageal sphincter pressure, yet has never established a clear role in the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Lei and colleagues have shown in a recent elegant study that baclofen reduces the frequency and initiation of secondary peristalsis and heightens esophageal sensitivity to capsaicin-mediated stimulation. These findings may help explain both the benefit of baclofen in conditions such as rumination and supragastric belching, as well as the apparent lack of benefit of baclofen and other GABAB agonists in long-term treatment of GERD.

    View details for PubMedID 29599487

  • Baclofen and gastroesophageal reflux disease: seeing the forest through the trees CLINICAL AND TRANSLATIONAL GASTROENTEROLOGY Clarke, J. O., Fernandez-Becker, N. Q., Regalia, K. A., Triadafilopoulos, G. 2018; 9

    View details for DOI 10.1038/s41424-018-0010-y

    View details for Web of Science ID 000447527200001

  • Clinical examinations: a medical student's perspective reply ADVANCES IN MEDICAL EDUCATION AND PRACTICE Shields, H. M., Fernandez-Becker, N. Q., Flier, S. N., Vaughn, B. P., Tukey, M. H., Pelletier, S. R., Horst, D. A. 2018; 9: 3?4

    View details for Web of Science ID 000419108400002

  • Outcomes of Endoscopic Procedures on Patients With Left-Ventricular Assist Devices: Experiences From a Single-Center Retrospective Case Series Pan, J. Y., Zikos, T., Chang, M. S., Limketkai, B., Banerjee, D., Fernandez-Becker, N. MOSBY-ELSEVIER. 2017: AB207?AB208

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.gie.2017.03.461

    View details for Web of Science ID 000403087400431

  • Efficacy of Video Capsule Endoscopy in the Management of Suspected Small Bowel Bleeding in Patients With Continuous Flow Left Ventricular Assist Devices. Gastroenterology research Zikos, T. A., Pan, J., Limketkai, B., Banerjee, D., Fernandez-Becker, N. 2017; 10 (5): 280?87

    Abstract

    Continuous flow left ventricular assist device (CF-LVAD) patients have a high prevalence of gastrointestinal bleeding from the small bowel. Video capsule endoscopy (VCE) is often used for diagnosis in these patients, but efficacy has yet to be determined. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of VCE in the management of CF-LVAD patients with suspected small bowel bleeding by comparing to a non-VCE CF-LVAD control group.We retrospectively reviewed the charts of all patients with CF-LVADs implanted at Stanford Hospital from January 2010 to October 2015. Patients were included in the study if there was a clinical suspicion of small bowel bleeding and either a negative upper endoscopy or colonoscopy.A total of 26 patients met inclusion criteria for a total of 15 encounters where VCE was done, and 25 where VCE was not done. There were no statistical differences when comparing these groups in terms of medical therapy use (thalidomide or octreotide), enteroscopy use (double-balloon or push), intervention on lesions, or any 30-day outcomes. There was no advantage to VCE with regard to the composite endpoint time to re-bleed or death related to re-bleeding (median 114 vs. 161 days, P = 0.15) after removing patients who did not get a VCE due to death or critical illness.We did not find VCE changed management or outcomes in CF-LVAD patients with suspected small bowel bleeding at our institution when compared to a non-VCE control group. Our experience is small and single center, and larger, multi-center studies could further elucidate the utility of VCE in this patient population.

    View details for PubMedID 29118868

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC5667693

  • Multi-Organ RNA-Sequencing of Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) Patients Shows Reproducible Gene Expression Profiles Across Organ Systems Mehta, B. K., Johnson, M. E., Archambault, K. A., Wood, T. A., Valenzuela, A., Crawford, A., Fiorentino, D., Fernandez-Becker, N., Becker, L., Nguyen, L., Boin, F., Wolters, P., Chung, L., Whitfield, M. WILEY. 2016

    View details for Web of Science ID 000417143401207

  • Intestinal pseudo-obstruction in patients with systemic sclerosis: an analysis of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample. Rheumatology Valenzuela, A., Li, S., Becker, L., Fernandez-Becker, N., Khanna, D., Nguyen, L., Chung, L. 2016; 55 (4): 654-658

    Abstract

    Intestinal pseudo-obstruction is a rare gastrointestinal complication in patients with SSc without large studies examining its prevalence or outcomes. We aimed to compare outcomes in SSc patients with intestinal pseudo-obstruction to patients with intestinal pseudo-obstruction secondary to other causes, and SSc patients without intestinal pseudo-obstruction.This is a case-control study using the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Nationwide Inpatient Sample for the period 2002-2011. We included patients with the previously validated International Classification of Diseases-Clinical Modification-9 code 710.1 for SSc in combination with codes for intestinal pseudo-obstruction, and determined length of hospitalization and the risks for surgical procedures, use of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) and in-hospital mortality.A total of 193 610 SSc hospitalizations occurred in the USA between 2002 and 2011, of which 5.4% (n = 10 386) were associated with a concurrent intestinal pseudo-obstruction diagnosis (cases). In-hospital mortality was 7.3%. In multivariate analyses, cases were more likely to die during the inpatient stay and to receive TPN than patients with idiopathic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (control group 1), patients with intestinal pseudo-obstruction and diabetes (control group 2), and SSc patients without intestinal pseudo-obstruction (control group 3). Cases had longer in-hospital stay than control groups 2 and 3, and were less likely to undergo surgical procedures than control groups 1 and 2.Intestinal pseudo-obstruction is a rare cause of hospitalization in patients with SSc, but is associated with high in-hospital mortality in comparison with other SSc patients and those with intestinal pseudo-obstruction secondary to other causes.

    View details for DOI 10.1093/rheumatology/kev393

    View details for PubMedID 26615031

  • Colonic plasmacytomas: a rare complication of plasma cell leukemia. Endoscopy Hang, C. T., Perumpail, R. B., Huang, R. J., Fernandez-Pol, S., Fernandez-Becker, N. Q. 2015; 47: E77-8

    View details for DOI 10.1055/s-0034-1390722

    View details for PubMedID 25926223

  • Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction in Patients with Systemic Sclerosis: An Analysis of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample. Valenzuela, A., Li, S., Becker, L., Fernandez-Becker, N., Khanna, D., Linda Nguyen, Chung, L. WILEY-BLACKWELL. 2014: S1310

    View details for Web of Science ID 000344384906230

  • Dietary gluten triggers concomitant activation of CD4(+) and CD8(+) alpha beta T cells and gamma delta T cells in celiac disease PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Han, A., Newell, E. W., Glanville, J., Fernandez-Becker, N., Khosla, C., Chien, Y., Davis, M. M. 2013; 110 (32): 13073-13078

    View details for DOI 10.1073/pnas.1311861110

    View details for Web of Science ID 000322771100057

  • In silico analysis of T-bet activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In silico biology Fernandez-Becker, N. Q., Moss, A. C. 2009; 9 (5-6): 355-363

    Abstract

    T-bet (TBX21) is a transcription factor that regulates T-cell differentiation, and has recently been implicated in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease (CD). The regulatory networks through which T-bet affects immune function are unknown. An NCBI gene expression profile from patients with CD and controls was analyzed. T-bet transcription factor binding sites and promoter modules were identified using promoter analysis software. Functional correlations between T-bet-containing promoters were determined using data mining and ontological analysis. T-bet expression in CD peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) (n=59) was significantly reduced compared to control (n=42) (p<0.0001) and ulcerative colitis PBMCs (n=26), (p=0.005). The promoter regions of all genes differentially-expressed in CD were probed for T-bet Transcription Factor Binding Sites (TFBSs). Twenty-three genes contained transcription-factor binding sites for T-bet; 8 were down-regulated, and 15 were up-regulated in CD-PBMCs. Three genes (S100A16, ABHD3 and EZH1) that were down-regulated in CD-PBMCs contained a complex promoter module consisting of T-bet and EGRF transcription-factor binding sites. Ontological analysis revealed that a significant number of differentially-expressed genes that contain T-bet binding sites are involved in innate immunity (8 genes, Z-score 4.11) and signal transduction (5 genes, Z-score 2.65). This combination of gene expression datasets and promoter analysis has identified a network of genes that contain simple T-bet binding sites, and complex T-bet promoter modules, in their promoter regions. These results implicate a mechanism through which T-bet may influence innate immunity in CD.

    View details for DOI 10.3233/ISB-2009-0410

    View details for PubMedID 22430437

  • Separable and redundant regulatory determinants in Cactus mediate its dorsal group dependent degradation DEVELOPMENT Fernandez, N. Q., Grosshans, J., Goltz, J. S., Stein, D. 2001; 128 (15): 2963-2974

    Abstract

    Dorsal-ventral polarity within the Drosophila syncytial blastoderm embryo is determined by the maternally encoded dorsal group signal transduction pathway that regulates nuclear localization of the transcription factor Dorsal. Nuclear uptake of Dorsal, a Rel/NFkappaB homolog, is controlled by the interaction with its cognate IkappaB inhibitor protein Cactus, which is degraded on the ventral side of the embryo in response to dorsal group signaling. Previous studies have suggested that an N-terminally located kinase target motif similar to that found in IkappaB proteins is involved in the spatially controlled degradation of Cactus. We report studies of the in vivo function and distribution of fusion proteins comprising segments of Cactus attached to Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase (lacZ). Full-length Cactus-lacZ expressed in vivo normalizes the ventralized phenotype of embryos that lack Cactus and faithfully reconstitutes dorsal group-regulated degradation, while fusion protein constructs that lack the first 125 amino acids of Cactus escape dorsal group-dependent degradation. Furthermore, Cactus-lacZ constructs that lack only the putative IkappaB-dependent kinase target-like motif can nevertheless undergo spatially regulated dorsal group-dependent degradation and we have identified the regulatory determinant responsible for dorsal group-dependent degradation of Cactus in the absence of this motif. Taken together, our studies indicate the presence of two distinct redundantly acting determinants in the N terminus of Cactus that direct dorsal group-dependent degradation. Strikingly, the regulatory domain of human IkappaBalpha can also direct polarized degradation of Cactus-lacZ fusion protein.

    View details for Web of Science ID 000170604900011

    View details for PubMedID 11532919

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