The classic therapeutic goals of chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are, on the one hand, clinical remission and, on the other, the prevention of disease progression. The introduction of additional "targets" such as normalization of laboratory inflammation values, endoscopic and, possibly, histological mucosal healing and transmural parameters (ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography) is intended to improve prognosis. A good response to therapy is usually (also) evident from these targets, although the obligatory change in medication in order to improve the prognosis if the additional treatment goals are not achieved is not evidence-based.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFExpert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol
September 2024
Introduction: The STRIDE consensus intends to complement the clinical endpoint with an endoscopic endpoint of mucosal healing and others as treatment targets in ulcerative colitis. If these targets are not reached, STRIDE requires dose or timing adjustments or switching the medication. This narrative review provides a critique of this concept.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThere is agreement that inflammatory bowel diseases are, both in terms of species composition and function, associated with an altered intestinal microbiome. This is usually described by the term "dysbiosis," but this is a vague definition lacking quantitative precision. In this brief narrative review, the evidence concerning the primary or secondary role of this dysbiotic state is critically evaluated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAdult patients suffering from Crohn's disease (CD) are often dissatisfied with the information they receive from their physicians about nutrition and its impact on CD inflammation activity. Only a few publications are available about patients' internet research on nutrition in CD. The study aim is to elucidate the internet information sources of adult CD patients regarding nutritional advice via a questionnaire.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFProc Natl Acad Sci U S A
February 2024
The assumption that vegetation improves air quality is prevalent in scientific, popular, and political discourse. However, experimental and modeling studies show the effect of green space on air pollutant concentrations in urban settings is highly variable and context specific. We revisited the link between vegetation and air quality using satellite-derived changes of urban green space and air pollutant concentrations from 2,615 established monitoring stations over Europe and the United States.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF