Regulation of Mucosal Healing in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

The objective of the current study is to compare non-healing colonic ulcers in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with iatrogenic colonic ulcers (biopsy sites) in healthy control patients and patients with rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis. Patients will be biopsied at baseline and again at a follow-up visit in a "biopsy of the biopsy" approach. These biopsies will be used to reveal patterns about gene expression and mitochondrial function during ulcer healing.

Inclusion Criteria (Group 1): * Diagnosed ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease * Biologic failure or naive to biologic treatment * Eligible to be treated with anti-TNF therapy Inclusion Criteria (Group 2): * Diagnosed rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis * Receiving anti-TNF antibody therapy at the time of enrollment Inclusion Criteria (Group 3): * Endoscopically unremarkable colonic mucosa * Absence of inflammatory bowel disease Exclusion Criteria: * Classified in an anesthesia risk group, ASA Class =4 * History of bleeding diathesis or coagulopathy * Stroke or transient neurological attack with the last 6 months * Pregnant * Receiving anticoagulants or anti-platelet medications other than low-dose aspirin * Receiving steroid therapy or metformin * HIV positive * Incarceration * History of total proctocolectomy * History of system chemotherapy within 18 months * Uncontrolled intercurrent illness