Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the field of endoscopy. Specifically, the present disclosure relates to systems and methods for en bloc resection of malignant and pre-malignant lesions and/or tumors within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to systems and methods for delivering an expandable scaffold between tissue layers (e.g., between the muscularis and submucosa layers) to elevate and stabilize the lesion or tumor for fast and efficient resection.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of diagnosing ulcerative colitis (UC) in a subject suspected of having inflammatory bowel disease by by obtaining a sample from the individual; contacting the sample with human histone H1, or pANCA-reactive fragment thereof, under conditions suitable to form a complex of human histone H1, or pANCA-reactive fragment thereof, and antibody to human histone H1; and detecting the presence or absence of the complex, where the presence of the complex indicates that the individual has UC. The invention also provides related methods of diagnosing a perinuclear anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody positive (pANCA-positive) clinical subtype of UC in a patient with UC. In addition, the invention further provides methods of determining susceptibility to UC in an individual.