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.

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.

A propensity score weighted comparison of Vedolizumab, Adalimumab, and Golimumab in patients with ulcerative colitis.

Background: No real-life study on the comparative effectiveness of Vedolizumab (VDZ), Adalimumab (ADA), and Golimumab (GOL) in ulcerative colitis (UC) is currently available.

Aims: To compare the effectiveness of the three biologics in consecutive patients with UC.

Methods: A three-arms propensity score-adjusted analysis was performed using the Inverse Probability of Treatment Weighting method.

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.

The Current Practice of Lynch Syndrome Diagnosis and Management in Italy: A Qualitative Assessment.

Background: Lynch syndrome (LS) is the most frequent form of hereditary colorectal cancer (CRC; up to 3-5% of the total CRC burden) and predisposes to the development of other cancers. Multidisciplinary diagnostic strategies are relevant both to the index cases and to their at-risk relatives, but their implementation is still limited. Our study aimed to explore LS testing practices in Italy.

A Propensity Score-matched Comparison of Infliximab and Adalimumab in Tumour Necrosis Factor-α Inhibitor-naïve and Non-naïve Patients With Crohn's Disease: Real-Life Data From the Sicilian Network for Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Background And Aims: There is an unmet need to better understand the effectiveness of different biologics in inflammatory bowel diseases. We aimed at performing a multicentre, real-life comparison of the effectiveness of infliximab [IFX] and adalimumab [ADA] in Crohn's disease [CD].

Methods: Data of consecutive patients with CD treated with IFX and ADA from January 2013 to May 2017 were extracted from the cohort of the Sicilian Network for Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

LncRNA UCA1, Upregulated in CRC Biopsies and Downregulated in Serum Exosomes, Controls mRNA Expression by RNA-RNA Interactions.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs) contribute to the onset of many neoplasias through RNA-RNA competitive interactions; in addition, they could be secreted by cancer cells into biological fluids, suggesting their potential diagnostic application. By analyzing the expression of 17 lncRNAs and 31 circRNAs in biopsies and serum exosomes from colorectal cancer (CRC) patients through qRT-PCR, we detected CCAT1, CCAT2, HOTAIR, and UCA1 upregulation and CDR1AS, MALAT1, and TUG1 downregulation in biopsies. In serum exosomes, UCA1 was downregulated, while circHIPK3 and TUG1 were upregulated.

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.

Solitary hemangioma of the small intestine: an unusual cause of bleeding diagnosed at capsule endoscopy.

Solitary small intestine hemangiomas are rare and usually present with overt bleeding or chronic anemia. Diagnosis is usually difficult because traditional imaging techniques often lack accuracy. Capsule endoscopy is a new diagnostic tool that has showed greater sensitivity than other methods to reveal causes of bleeding in the small intestine.

The role of capsule endoscopy in the work-up of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding.

Objective: To evaluate the role of capsule endoscopy in the detection of causes of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding.

Methods: Fifteen patients, nine males and six females, mean age 46 years (range 20-75 years), were investigated. All patients had undergone upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopy with no evidence of causes of bleeding.