***TASK*** the task is to summarize an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***INPUT*** the input is a biomedical literature 
    ***OUTPUT*** the output is the summary of an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***DOCUMENTATION*** 
    ***EXAMPLES*** 
    Input: Background : The clinical course of ulcerative colitis ( UC ) is unpredictable . During recent years , the ability of fecal biomarkers to predict relapse in inflammatory bowel disease has been evaluated . The objective of this study was to assess fecal calprotectin ( FC ) as a predictor of disease recurrence in patients with new onset of UC . Methods : Sixty-nine patients were included . After the initial treatment , patients were followed up after 3 months and then yearly for 3 years . The prognostic role of FC 3 months after the initial therapy was evaluated . Results : The FC levels 3 months after the diagnosis were higher in patients experiencing a relapsing disease course compared with those with a mild disease course during 1 year ( median , 263 ; interquartile range [ IQR ] , 100–634 & mgr;g/g versus median , 102 ; IQR , 38–225 & mgr;g/g ; P = 0.009 ) and 3 years of follow-up ( median , 280 ; IQR , 102–622 & mgr;g/g versus median , 118 ; IQR , 39–219 & mgr;g/g ; P = 0.01 ) . The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves using calprotectin to predict a relapsing disease course during 1 year and 3 years were 0.69 ( 95 % confidence interval , 0.56–0.82 ) and 0.70 ( 95 % confidence interval , 0.57–0.83 ) , respectively . In the Kaplan – Meier survival analysis , a FC level > 262 & mgr;g/g was associated with an increased risk of a relapsing disease course during the study period ( P = 0.003 ) . In logistic regression analysis , only FC and age were found to be independent predictors of having a relapsing disease course . Conclusions : Levels of FC 3 months after the initial therapy in patients with new onset of UC predict the disease course over the following years , and they are of value in the clinical management of these patients Purpose This prospect i ve study was to evaluate the significance of fecal calprotectin and lactoferrin for the prediction of ulcerative colitis ( UC ) relapse . Methods Eighty UC patients in remission for ≥3 months on mesalamine as maintenance therapy were included . At entry , stool sample s were collected for the measurement of calprotectin and lactoferrin . All patients were followed up for the following 12 months . To identify predictive factors for relapse , time-dependent analyses using the Kaplan-Meier graphs and Cox 's proportional hazard model were applied . Results During the 12 months , 21 patients  relapsed . Mean calprotectin and lactoferrin levels were significantly higher in patients with relapse than those in remission ( calprotectin—173.7 vs 135.5 μg/g , P = 0.02 ; lactoferrin—165.1 vs 130.7 μg/g , P = 0.03 ) . A cutoff value of 170 μg/g for calprotectin had a sensitivity of 76 % and a specificity of 76 % to predict relapse , while a cutoff value of 140 μg/g for lactoferrin had a sensitivity of 67 % and a specificity of 68 % . In a multivariate analysis , calprotectin ( ≥170 μg/g ) was a predictor of relapse ( hazard ratio , 7.23 ; P = 0.002 ) . None of the following parameters were significantly associated with relapse : age , gender , duration of UC , number of UC episode , severity of the previous episode , extent of UC , extraintestinal manifestation , and lactoferrin level . Conclusions Fecal calprotectin showed a higher sensitivity and specificity than fecal lactoferrin for predicting UC relapse . Fecal calprotectin level appeared to be a significant predictor of relapse in patients with quiescent UC on mesalamine as maintenance therapy Background Both faecal calprotectin [ Fcal ] and the faecal immunochemical test [ FIT ] are useful to predict clinical relapse of ulcerative colitis [ UC ] . However , the difference between Fcal and FIT in ability to predict relapse has scarcely been reported . Whether the combined use of these two faecal markers increases the predictability is also unknown . Methods UC patients in clinical remission who underwent colonoscopy were enrolled prospect ively , and the Fcal and FIT values were examined at enrolment . Their clinical course was observed for 2 years or until relapse . The correlation between the incidence of relapse and the values of the two markers was examined . Results A total of 113 patients were enrolled , and 48 [ 42 % ] relapsed . Fcal ≥ 75 μg/g and FIT ≥ 110 ng/mL were defined as Fcal-positive and FIT-positive , respectively , according to the receiver operating characteristic curves . Both Fcal-positive and FIT-positive statuses were independent predictive factors of clinical relapse ( hazard ratio [ HR ] 2.29 ; 95 % confidence interval [ CI ] , 1.23 - 4.49 ; p = 0.0086 , and HR 2.91 ; 95 % CI , 1.49 - 5.50 ; p = 0.0022 , respectively ) . Categorisation of patients into three groups according to the faecal marker status [ FIT-positive , FIT-negative and Fcal-positive , and both negative ] can efficiently stratify the risk of relapse with grade d increases in risk [ FIT-negative and Fcal-positive : HR 2.05 ; 95 % CI , 1.02 - 4.43 ; p = 0.0045 , and FIT-positive : HR 5.43 ; 95 % CI , 2.57 - 11.76 ; p < 0.0001 , compared with both negative ] . Conclusions Fcal vs FIT showed distinct properties regarding the prediction of relapse in UC . A risk assessment using both faecal markers could increase the predictability for relapse Background and Aims Endoscopic and histological healing are associated with improved clinical outcomes in ulcerative colitis [ UC ] . We aim ed to investigate the predictive value of faecal immunochemical test [ FIT ] for endoscopic and histological healing in UC . Methods We measured quantitative FIT and faecal calprotectin [ FC ] in 140 consecutive UC patients who underwent colonoscopy .  We assessed the diagnostic accuracy of FIT for predicting endoscopic healing using the Mayo endoscopic subscore [ MES 0/1 ] and for histological healing using the Geboes score [ < 2.0 ] and Nancy index [ grade ≤ 1 ] . The predictive abilities of FIT were compared with those of FC . Results FIT had an area under the curve [ AUC ] of 0.77 ( 95 % confidence interval [ CI ] 0.67 - 0.86 , p < 0.001 ) for endoscopic healing , an AUC of 0.77 [ 95 % CI 0.67 - 0.86 , p < 0.001 ] using the Geboes score , and 0.77 [ 95 % CI 0.66 - 0.85 , p < 0.001 ] using the Nancy Index for histological healing . The AUC of FIT was comparable to that of FC for endoscopic healing [ p = 0.773 ] and histological healing [ p = 0.767 - 0.960 ] , and was comparable to colonoscopy for histological healing [ p = 0.384 - 0.673 ] . FIT < 50 ng/ml predicted endoscopic healing with a sensitivity , specificity , and positive predictive value [ PPV ] of 72 % , 68 % , and 82 % , respectively , and for histological healing with a sensitivity , specificity , and PPV of 73 - 75 % , 67 % , and 78 - 80 % , respectively . Combining FIT with FC led to a higher specificity [ 90 % ] for histological healing . Over 85 % of patients with FIT < 50 ng/ml and FC < 50 μg/g achieved histological healing . Conclusions FIT is highly sensitive and accurate to predict endoscopic and histological healing in UC . It represents a promising non-invasive tool for monitoring mucosal healing in UC Background : This study examined whether fecal calprotectin can be used in daily practice as a marker to monitor patients with ulcerative colitis ( UC ) receiving infliximab maintenance therapy . Methods : This prospect i ve multicenter study enrolled adult patients with UC in clinical remission under infliximab maintenance therapy .  Fecal calprotectin levels were measured every 4 weeks . Sigmoidoscopies were performed at inclusion and at study end . Relapse was defined as a clinical need for change in treatment or an endoscopic Mayo subscore of ≥2 at week 52 . Sustained deep remission was defined as a partial Mayo score <3 at all points and an endoscopic Mayo score 0 at week 52 . Results : Full analysis was possible for 87 of 113 included patients with UC ( 77 % ) . Of these patients , 30 ( 34.4 % ) were considered to be in sustained deep remission and 13 ( 14.9 % ) to have relapsed . Calprotectin levels in patients with sustained deep remission remained very low ( median < 40 mg/kg at all time points ) . Patients who flared had significantly higher calprotectin levels ( median > 300 mg/kg ) already 3 months before the flare . Further receiver operator curve analysis suggested that a calprotectin level > 300 mg/kg had a reasonable sensitivity ( 58.3 % ) and specificity ( 93.3 % ) to model flare . Two consecutive calprotectin measurements of > 300 mg/kg with 1-month interval were identified as the best predictor of flare ( 61.5 % sensitivity and 100 % specificity ) . Conclusions : Fecal calprotectin can be used in daily practice to monitor patients with UC receiving infliximab maintenance therapy . Two consecutive measurements > 300 mg/kg is more specific than a single measurement for predicting relapse Background : The correlation between noninvasive markers with endoscopic activity according to the modified Baron Index in patients with ulcerative colitis ( UC ) is unknown . We aim ed to evaluate the correlation between endoscopic activity and fecal calprotectin ( FC ) , C-reactive protein ( CRP ) , hemoglobin , platelets , blood leukocytes , and the Lichtiger Index ( clinical score ) . Methods : UC patients undergoing complete colonoscopy  were prospect ively enrolled and scored clinical ly and endoscopically . Sample s from feces and blood were analyzed in UC patients and controls . Results : We enrolled 228 UC patients and 52 healthy controls . Endoscopic disease activity correlated best with FC ( Spearman 's rank correlation coefficient r = 0.821 ) , followed by the Lichtiger Index ( r = 0.682 ) , CRP ( r = 0.556 ) , platelets ( r = 0.488 ) , blood leukocytes ( r = 0.401 ) , and hemoglobin ( r = −0.388 ) . FC was the only marker that could discriminate between different grade s of endoscopic activity ( grade 0 , 16 [ 10–30 ] & mgr;g/g ; grade 1 , 35 [ 25–48 ] & mgr;g/g ; grade 2 , 102 [ 44–159 ] & mgr;g/g ; grade 3 , 235 [ 176–319 ] & mgr;g/g ; grade 4 , 611 [ 406–868 ] & mgr;g/g ; P < 0.001 for discriminating the different grade s ) . FC with a cutoff of 57 & mgr;g/g had a sensitivity of 91 % and a specificity of 90 % to detect endoscopically active disease ( modified Baron Index ≥2 ) . Conclusions : FC correlated better with endoscopic disease activity than clinical activity , CRP , platelets , hemoglobin , and blood leukocytes . The strong correlation with endoscopic disease activity suggests that FC represents a useful biomarker for noninvasive monitoring of disease activity in UC patients Background : Fecal biomarkers are used increasingly to monitor Crohn 's disease ( CD ) . However , the relative accuracy of different markers in identifying inflammation has been poorly evaluated . We evaluated  fecal calprotectin ( FC ) , lactoferrin ( FL ) , and S100A12 ( FS )  using endoscopic validation in a prospect i ve study of the progression of CD after intestinal resection . Methods : Data were collected from 135 participants in a prospect i ve , r and omized , controlled trial aim ed at preventing postoperative CD recurrence . Three hundred nineteen stool sample s were tested for FC , FL , and FS  preoperatively and 6 , 12 , and 18 months after resection . Colonoscopy was performed at 6 and /or 18 months . Endoscopic recurrence was assessed blindly using the Rutgeerts score . C-reactive protein ( CRP ) and Crohn 's Disease Activity Index ( CDAI ) were assessed . Results : FC , FL , and FS concentrations were elevated preoperatively ( median : 1347 , 
    Output:
    
Our meta- analysis has found that FIT is a simple , reliable non-invasive marker for predicting MH in UC patients