Suboptimal disease control and contributing factors in Italian IBD patients: The IBD-PODCAST Study.

Background And Aim: Suboptimal disease control (SDC) and its contributing factors in IBD according to STRIDE-II criteria is unclear. IBD-PODCAST was a non-interventional, international, multicenter real-world study to assess this.

Methods: Data from the Italian IBD cohort (N=220) are presented here.

The 1st EoETALY Consensus on the Diagnosis and Management of Eosinophilic Esophagitis-Current Treatment and Monitoring.

The present document constitutes Part 2 of the EoETALY Consensus Statements guideline on the diagnosis and management of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) developed by experts in the field of EoE across Italy (i.e., EoETALY Consensus Group).

Ustekinumab is a promising option for the treatment of postoperative recurrence of Crohn's disease.

Background And Aim: Postoperative recurrence (POR) following ileocolonic resection is a major concern in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). The role of ustekinumab (UST) in this setting is poorly known.

Methods: All consecutive CD patients with a baseline colonoscopy at 6-12 months from ileocolonic resection showing POR (Rutgeerts score ≥ i2) who were treated with UST after the baseline colonoscopy and with an available post-treatment endoscopy, were extracted from the cohort of the Sicilian Network for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (SN-IBD).

The effectiveness of ustekinumab and vedolizumab as third-line biologic therapy in patients with Crohn's disease.

Background: The effectiveness of Ustekinumab (UST) and Vedolizumab (VDZ) in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) as third-line biologic therapies is unclear.

Aims: We performed a multicentre, real-world assessment of the effectiveness of UST and VDZ among highly-refractory patients with CD.

Methods: Data of consecutive patients with CD treated with UST and VDZ as third-line biologic therapy until December 2021 were extracted from the cohort of the Sicilian Network for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (SN-IBD).

Severe Activity of Inflammatory Bowel Disease is a Risk Factor for Severe COVID-19.

Background: Data from the first wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic suggested that patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are not at higher risk of being infected by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) than the general population and that a worse prognosis is not associated with immunomodulatory drugs, with the possible exception of systemic steroids.

Methods: This retrospective, observational study included consecutive IBD patients from the Sicilian Network for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (SN-IBD) cohort who had a SARS-CoV-2 infection diagnosis (polymerase chain reaction-confirmed presence of the viral genome in a nasopharyngeal swab) during the second COVID-19 pandemic wave (September 2020 to December 2020). Data regarding demographics, IBD features and treatments, and comorbidities were analyzed in correlation with COVID-19 clinical outcomes.

Vedolizumab may be an effective option for the treatment of postoperative recurrence of Crohn's disease.

Background: The role of Vedolizumab (VDZ) as therapeutic option for the postoperative recurrence of Crohn's disease (CD) following ileocolonic resection is unknown.

Aims: To assess the effectiveness of VDZ in this setting.

Methods: All consecutive CD patients with a baseline colonoscopy at 6-12 months from the ileocolonic resection showing postoperative recurrence (Rutgeerts score ≥i2) and treated with VDZ after the baseline colonoscopy were extracted from the cohort of the Sicilian Network for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (SN-IBD).

Ustekinumab in Crohn's disease: Real-world outcomes from the Sicilian network for inflammatory bowel diseases.

Background And Aim: Ustekinumab is approved in Europe for the treatment of moderate to severe Crohn's disease (CD). Italian real-life data are scarce, so the aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness and safety of ustekinumab in an Italian cohort of CD patients.

Methods: Data of patients with CD who started using ustekinumab were extracted from the cohort of the Sicilian Network for Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Two-year effectiveness and safety of golimumab in ulcerative colitis: An IG-IBD study.

Background: Few data exist regarding the long-term effectiveness of golimumab in ulcerative colitis. No data have been reported on real-world continuous clinical response.

Objective: This study aimed to describe the long-term outcomes in a large cohort of patients on golimumab who had ulcerative colitis.

Activities related to inflammatory bowel disease management during and after the coronavirus disease 2019 lockdown in Italy: How to maintain standards of care.

Background And Aims: Restructuring activities have been necessary during the lockdown phase of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Few data are available on the post-lockdown phase in terms of health-care procedures in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) care, and no data are available specifically from IBD units. We aimed to investigate how IBD management was restructured during the lockdown phase, the impact of the restructuring on standards of care and how Italian IBD units have managed post-lockdown activities.

Effectiveness of Ustekinumab on Crohn's Disease Associated Spondyloarthropathy: Real-World Data from the Sicilian Network for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (SN-IBD).

Background: The effectiveness of Ustekinumab (UST) on Crohn's disease (CD)-associated spondyloarthropathy (SpA) is currently unknown.

Research Design And Methods: All consecutive CD patients with active SpA at the initiation of the treatment with UST were extracted from the cohort of the Sicilian Network for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (SN-IBD). The primary outcome was the articular response at 8 and 24 weeks, defined as the disappearance of objective signs of arthritis (swelling and/or articular stiffness) and resolution of pain.

Effectiveness and safety of vedolizumab in biologically naïve patients: A real-world multi-centre study.

Background: Biologically naïve patients with inflammatory bowel disease treated with vedolizumab (VDZ) are largely underrepresented in real-world cohorts. A multi-centre, observational cohort study was performed on the effectiveness and safety of VDZ in biologically naïve subjects with Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC).

Methods: Data of consecutive biologically naïve patients with CD and UC treated with VDZ from July 2016 to December 2019 were extracted from the cohort of the Sicilian Network for Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

A propensity score weighted comparison of vedolizumab and adalimumab in Crohn's disease.

Background And Aim: There are no head-to-head randomized controlled trials between biologics in Crohn's disease (CD). We aimed to perform a multicenter, real-life comparison of the effectiveness of vedolizumab (VDZ) and adalimumab (ADA) in CD.

Methods: Data of consecutive patients with CD treated with VDZ and ADA from January 2016 to April 2019 were extracted from the cohort of the Sicilian Network for Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

The SPOSIB SB2 Sicilian Cohort: Safety and Effectiveness of Infliximab Biosimilar SB2 in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, Including Multiple Switches.

Background: No data on the recently introduced infliximab (IFX) biosimilar SB2 in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are available.

Methods: The Sicilian Prospective Observational Study of Patients With IBD Treated With Infliximab Biosimilar SB2 is a multicenter, observational, prospective study performed among the cohort of the Sicilian Network for Inflammatory Bowel Disease. All consecutive IBD patients starting the IFX biosimilar SB2 from its introduction in Sicily (March 2018) to September 2019 (18 months) were enrolled.

Persistence on Anti-Tumour Necrosis Factor Therapy in Older Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease Compared with Younger Patients: Data from the Sicilian Network for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (SN-IBD).

Background And Objective: Older people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) appear to have a lower response to anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) therapy, with more frequent complications than younger patients. The objective of this study was to assess persistence on therapy and the safety of anti-TNF therapy in older patients (aged ≥ 60 years).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the database of the Sicilian Network for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (SN-IBD), extracting data regarding IBD patients aged ≥ 60 years and controls < 60 years of age at their first course of anti-TNF treatment.

Real-Life Effectiveness and Safety of Golimumab and Its Predictors of Response in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis.

Background: Golimumab is a new anti-TNF-alpha monoclonal antibody for patients with ulcerative colitis.

Aims: To assess the short- and long-term effectiveness and safety of golimumab in daily clinical practice and to identify predictors of response.

Methods: Consecutive patients treated with golimumab in 22 Italian centers were enrolled.

Late-onset Crohn's disease: a comparison of disease behaviour and therapy with younger adult patients: the Italian Group for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease 'AGED' study.

Background: Disease phenotype and outcome of late-onset Crohn's disease are still poorly defined.

Methods: In this Italian nationwide multicentre retrospective study, patients diagnosed ≥65 years (late-onset) were compared with young adult-onset with 16-39 years and adult-onset Crohn's disease 40-64 years. Data were collected for 3 years following diagnosis.

A real life comparison of the effectiveness of adalimumab and golimumab in moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis, supported by propensity score analysis.

Background: Adalimumab and golimumab are effective in the treatment of moderate to severe ulcerative colitis.

Aims: We reported the comparative effectiveness of adalimumab and golimumab in ulcerative colitis.

Methods: 118 patients treated with adalimumab and 79 treated with golimumab were included and evaluated at 8 weeks and at the end of follow up.

The real-world effectiveness of vedolizumab on intestinal and articular outcomes in inflammatory bowel diseases.

Background: The effectiveness of vedolizumab in real-world practice is under evaluation, while its role in inflammatory bowel disease-associated spondyloarthritis is still unclear.

Aims: To report real-world data about the effectiveness of vedolizumab on intestinal and articular symptoms after 10 and 22 weeks of treatment.

Methods: Web-based data from the cohort of the Sicilian Network for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (SN-IBD) were extracted to perform a prospective multicentre observational study.

Clinical and economic impact of infliximab one-hour infusion protocol in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases: A multicenter study.

Aim: To assess the impact of short infliximab (IFX) infusion on hospital resource utilization and costs.

Methods: All inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) patients who received IFX 1 h infusion from March 2007 to September 2014 in eight centers from Southern Italy were included in the analysis. Demographic, clinical and infusion related data were collected.

Disease patterns in late-onset ulcerative colitis: Results from the IG-IBD "AGED study".

Background: Late-onset UC represents an important issue for the near future, but its outcomes and relative therapeutic strategies are yet poorly studied.

Aim: To better define the natural history of late-onset ulcerative colitis.

Methods: In a multicenter retrospective study, we investigated the disease presentation and course in the first 3 years in 1091 UC patients divided into 3 age-groups: diagnosis ≥65years, 40-64 years, and <40years.

Parastomal hernia repair with the use of Parietex composite mesh: a technical note.

Parastomal hernia is an incisional hernia related to an abdominal wall stoma. The incidence ranges from 5 to 50% and only 10% of these require surgical treatment. The authors propose an innovative surgical technique for treatment of parastomal hernia.

Biofeedback therapy for outlet dysfunction: our experience.

Biofeedback is an important therapeutic option in patients with outlet dysfunction. A total of 75 patients referred to our proctological division from March 2004 to June 2008 and complaining of chronic constipation were studied by history, physical examination, anorectal functional tests and a structured questionnaire. Patients were treated with biofeedback plus electrical stimulation or both biofeedback plus electrical stimulation and surgery.