Endoscopic scores for inflammatory bowel disease in the era of 'mucosal healing': Old problem, new perspectives.

The importance of the endoscopic evaluation in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) management has been recognized for many years. However, the modalities for reporting endoscopic activity represent an ongoing challenge. To address this, several endoscopic scores have been proposed.

"Mucosal healing" in ulcerative colitis: Between clinical evidence and market suggestion.

In recent decades, the prominent role of endoscopy in the management of ulcerative colitis (UC) has been translated into the concept of mucosal healing (MH) as a fundamental therapeutic end-point. This is partially the consequence of growing evidence of a positive prognostic role of MH on the disease course and partially due to market cues indicating a higher rate of MH in patients treated by novel potent biologic agents. The aim of the present review is to clarify the current knowledge of MH in UC, analyzing the definition, the putative prognostic role and the association of MH with the current drugs used to treat UC patients.

Critical review of the evidence on 5-aminosalicilate for chemoprevention of colorectal cancer in ulcerative colitis: a methodological question.

Even though the exact amount of the increased risk is not known, patients with Ulcerative Colitis (UC) are more likely to develop colonic malignancy compared with the general population. 5-aminosalicilic acid (5-ASA) compounds are the mainstay therapy for mild-moderate UC, and their use for chemoprevention of colorectal cancer has been proposed, but the evidences are not univocal. Aim of the present work is to critically revise the available data on 5- ASA utilization for cancer chemoprevention, as well as the possible impact in the management of UC patients.