Use of tofacitinib as first or second-line therapy is associated with better outcomes in patients with ulcerative colitis: data from a real-world study.

Background: Data regarding the real-world (RW) use of tofacitinib (TOF) in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) are limited. We aimed to investigate TOF's RW efficacy and safety in Italian UC patients.

Research Design And Methods: A retrospective assessment of clinical and endoscopic activity was performed according to the Mayo score.

Real-world efficacy and safety of vedolizumab in managing ulcerative colitis versus Crohn's disease: results from an Italian multicenter study.

Background: Vedolizumab (VDZ) can be used to treat refractory ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). We assessed whether there are differences in treating UC vs CD with VDZ.

Research Design And Methods: Mayo score in UC and the Harvey-Bradshaw Index (HBI) in CD scored the clinical activity.

Consequences of the spilled gallstones during laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a systematic review.

Introduction: Complications secondary to spilled gallstones can be classified in the category of disease of medical progress because prior to advent of laparoscopic cholecystectomy very few reports published on the topic. The aim of the present study was to investigate the predisposing factors and the complication rate of spilled gallstones during laparoscopic cholecystectomy over the past 21 years.

Methods: Embase, Pubmed, Medline, Google scholar and Cochrane library were systematically searched for pertinent literature.

Comparison of performances of infliximab biosimilars CT-P13 versus SB2 in the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases: a real-life multicenter, observational study in Italy.

Background: To compare the performances of Infliximab (IFX) biosimilar CT-P13 and SB2 in the treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD) outpatients in Italy.

Research Design And Methods: Three hundred and eighty IBD outpatients were retrospectively evaluated. The primary endpoint was to compare the two IFX biosimilars in terms of reaching and maintenance of remission at any timepoint.

Anorectal emergencies: WSES-AAST guidelines.

Anorectal emergencies comprise a wide variety of diseases that share common symptoms, i.e., anorectal pain or bleeding and might require immediate management.

The New Test for Monitoring Infliximab Therapy: From Laboratory to Clinical Practice.

Background: Biological agents for anti-tumor necrosis factor-α therapy have revolutionized treatments for autoimmune diseases; however, approximately 20% of rheumatology and 40% of gastroenterology patients do not respond to the therapy, or they show reduced drug efficacy because of anti-drug antibody (ADA) formation.

Objectives: To evaluate laboratory tools for individual monitoring of infliximab therapy and the relationship between ADA and infliximab serum levels, ADA and clinical response, and ADA and autoantibodies.

Methods: Our study comprised patients treated with infliximab and affected by selected rheumatology and gastroenterology diseases.

Working Towards an Appropriate Use of Ibuprofen in Children: An Evidence-Based Appraisal.

Ibuprofen is the most widely used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) for the treatment of inflammation, mild-to-moderate pain and fever in children, and is the only NSAID approved for use in children aged ≥3 months. Its efficacy and safety profile have led to its increasing use in paediatric care, even without medical prescription. However, an increase of suspected adverse reactions to ibuprofen has been noted in concomitance with the raised, often medically unsupervised, consumption of the drug.

Eosinophilic disorders of the gastro-intestinal tract: an update.

Eosinophilic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, including eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EGE), are rare chronic pathologies of the digestive system, with an immuno-mediated pathogenesis. Recent data suggest that, together with the "classic" IgE-response to allergens, also a delayed hypersensitivity mechanism could be involved in the development of eosinophilic disorders. EoE and EGE were studied only in the latest decades and as a consequence accurate data are not yet available, concerning not only pathogenesis, but also epidemiology, treatment and outcomes.

A method for measuring individual research productivity in hospitals: development and feasibility.

Background: Research capacity is a prerequisite for any health care institution intending to provide high-quality care, yet, few clinicians engage in research, and their work is rarely recognized. To make research an institutional activity, it could be helpful to measure health care professionals' research performance. However, a comprehensive approach to do this is lacking.

The HAC trial (harmonic for acute cholecystitis): a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial comparing the use of harmonic scalpel to monopolar diathermy for laparoscopic cholecystectomy in cases of acute cholecystitis.

Background: The HARMONIC SCALPEL (H) is an advanced ultrasonic cutting and coagulating surgical device with important clinical advantages, such as: reduced ligature demand; greater precision due to minimal lateral thermal tissue damage; minimal smoke production; absence of electric corrents running through the patient. However, there are no prospective RCTs demonstrating the advantages of H compared to the conventional monopolar diathermy (MD) during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in cases of acute cholecystitis (AC).

Methods: This study was a prospective, single-center, randomized trial (Trial Registration Number: NCT00746850) designed to investigate whether the use of H can reduce the incidence of intra-operative conversion during LC in cases of AC, compared to the use of MD.

Subtypes of irritable bowel syndrome in children: prevalence at diagnosis and at follow-up.

Objectives: To assess the prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) subtypes in childhood at diagnosis and their changes over 1 year.

Study Design: This is an observational, prospective, multicenter study. Consecutive pediatric patients with IBS, according to Rome III criteria, were enrolled over a 1-year period.

Oesophageal mucosal intercellular space diameter and reflux pattern in childhood erosive and non-erosive reflux disease.

Background And Aims: We sought to compare intercellular space diameter in children with non-erosive and erosive reflux disease, and a control group. We also aimed to characterize the reflux pattern in erosive and non-erosive reflux disease patients, and to explore the relationship between intercellular space diameter values and reflux parameters.

Methods: Twenty-four children with non-erosive reflux disease, 20 with erosive reflux disease, and 10 controls were prospectively studied.

Effects of disease activity on anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies: implications for diagnosis and follow-up of children with Crohn's disease.

Background: To determine diagnostic accuracy of anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies (ASCA) in identifying children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and to differentiate Crohn's disease (CD) from other IBD forms; and to determine the effect of medical or surgical treatment and of disease location and activity on ASCA titers.

Methods: Serum samples were obtained from 196 IBD children and 142 controls. ASCA IgA and IgG titers were measured by ELISA.

Relationships between serum IGF-1, IGFBP-2, interleukin-1beta and interleukin-6 in inflammatory bowel disease.

Aims: To study the relationships between serum IGF-1, IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-2 and interleukin (IL)-1beta and IL-6 in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Methods: Thirty-seven patients (18 males, 19 females, aged 8.8-26.