Publications by authors named "Enrica Giuffrida"
Colonoscopy represents the most widespread and effective tool for the prevention and treatment of early stage preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions in the panorama of cancer screening. In the world there are different approaches to the topic of colorectal cancer prevention and screening: different starting ages (45-50 years); different initial screening tools such as fecal occult blood with immunohistochemical or immune-enzymatic tests; recto-sigmoidoscopy; and colonoscopy. The key aspects of this scenario are composed of a proper bowel preparation that ensures a valid diagnostic examination, experienced endoscopist in detection of preneoplastic and early neoplastic lesions and open-minded to upcoming artificial intelligence-aided examination, knowledge in the field of resection of these lesions (from cold-snaring, through endoscopic mucosal resection and endoscopic submucosal dissection, up to advanced tools), and management of complications.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground And Aims: Telemonitoring is increasingly used in the management of IBD patients. We investigated the agreement between patients and physicians on scores of disease activity and burden.
Methods: Consecutive outpatients at one IBD clinic were recruited between February and December 2021.
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.
Article Synopsis
- Adalimumab is a treatment for ulcerative colitis, but more data on its effectiveness and safety are needed, prompting a study of 381 adult patients across 19 hospitals.
- The study found that at 12 months, 33.6% of patients achieved remission and 44 patients required colectomy, with factors like steroid use and severe disease at baseline influencing treatment outcomes.
- Overall, the findings suggest that adalimumab is both safe and effective for managing ulcerative colitis, with significant clinical responses observed within the first 8 weeks of treatment.*
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).
Expert Opin Biol Ther
November 2020
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.
Purpose: To assess the usefulness of a dedicated questionnaire for patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) treated with biological drugs for the detection of ocular extraintestinal manifestations (EIMs). IBD can cause extraintestinal symptoms including ocular complaints which are frequently ignored and may be associated with significant morbidity, including blindness.
Methods: We developed a questionnaire, named Ocular Manifestations in IBD Screening (OMIS) questionnaire, after agreement between gastroenterologists and ophthalmologists.
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.