Feasibility and safety of self-expandable metal stent in nonmalignant disease of the lower gastrointestinal tract.

In recent years, self-expandable metal stents (SEMSs) have been employed to treat benign gastrointestinal strictures secondary to several conditions: Acute diverticulitis, radiation colitis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and postanastomotic leakages and stenosis. Other applications include endometriosis and fistulas of the lower gastrointestinal tract. Although it may be technically feasible to proceed to stenting in the aforementioned benign diseases of the lower gastrointestinal tract, the outcome has been reported to be poor.

[Evolving therapeutic targets in inflammatory Bowel Disease: mucosal healing as an emerging end point].

In the last years the therapeutic goals of inflammatory bowel disease have changed from control of symptoms only towards long term strategies aimed at modifying the natural history of the disease. In this setting mucosal healing has emerged as an important therapeutic goal both in clinical trials and in clinical practice. Growing evidence suggests that mucosal healing may be associated with lower relapse rates, reduced hospitalizations and reduced need of surgery both in ulcerative colitis and in Crohn's disease.

Colonic phenotype of the ileum in Crohn's disease: a prospective study before and after ileocolonic resection.

Background: Colonic metaplasia has been described in pouchitis. In a prospective study, we investigated whether colonic phenotype may develop in Crohn's disease (CD) ileum. The expression of sulfomucins (colonic mucin), sialomucins, and CD10 (small intestine mucin and phenotype) was evaluated before and after ileocolonic resection for CD.

A family study of asymptomatic small bowel Crohn's disease.

Background: Discrepancies between severity of lesions and symptoms may be observed in Crohn's disease. We prospectively assessed whether Crohn's disease may be diagnosed among asymptomatic relatives of patients, using Small Bowel Contrast Ultrasonography.

Methods: Diagnosis of asymptomatic Crohn's disease relatives was defined ultrasonographically as: bowel wall thickness >3mm, bowel dilation/stricture, lumen diameter >2.

Accuracy of small-intestine contrast ultrasonography, compared with computed tomography enteroclysis, in characterizing lesions in patients with Crohn's disease.

Background & Aims: Small-intestine contrast ultrasonography (SICUS) is a radiation-free technique that can detect intestinal damage in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of SICUS in determining the site, extent, and complications of CD, compared with computed tomography (CT) enteroclysis as the standard.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of data from 59 patients with CD evaluated by SICUS and CT enteroclysis 3 months apart, between January 2007 and April 2012.

Anti-TNF-alpha treatments and obstructive symptoms in Crohn's disease: a prospective study.

Background: The development of symptomatic strictures in Crohn's Disease after anti-Tumour Necrosis Factor-α antibodies is undefined.

Aim: To assess, in a prospective longitudinal study, the frequency of sub/obstructions in Crohn's Disease patients after treatment with Infliximab or Adalimumab. Changes of small bowel lesions after these biological therapies were searched by ultrasonography.

Small intestine contrast ultrasonography vs computed tomography enteroclysis for assessing ileal Crohn's disease.

Aim: To compare computed tomography enteroclysis (CTE) vs small intestine contrast ultrasonography (SICUS) for assessing small bowel lesions in Crohn's disease (CD), when using surgical pathology as gold standard.

Methods: From January 2007 to July 2008, 15 eligible patients undergoing elective resection of the distal ileum and coecum (or right colon) were prospectively enrolled. All patients were under follow-up.

TRAF3IP2 gene is associated with cutaneous extraintestinal manifestations in inflammatory bowel disease.

Background And Aims: Genome-wide association (GWA) studies recently identified a novel gene, TRAF3IP2, involved in the susceptibility to psoriasis. Common immune-mediated mechanisms involving the skin or the gut have been suggested. We therefore aimed to assess the role of TRAF3IP2 gene in IBD, with particular regard to the development of cutaneous extraintestinal manifestations (pyoderma gangrenosum, erythema nodosum).

Fistulizing pattern in Crohn's disease and pancolitis in ulcerative colitis are independent risk factors for cancer: a single-center cohort study.

Background & Aims: The combined role of immunomodulators (IMM) and clinical characteristics of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) in determining the cancer risk is undefined. The aim was to assess whether clinical characteristics of IBD are independent risk factors for cancer, when considering thiopurines and anti-TNFs use.

Methods: In a single-center cohort study, clinical characteristics of IBD patients with IBD duration ≥1 year and ≥2 visits from 2000 to 2009 were considered.

Small bowel capsule endoscopy vs conventional techniques in patients with symptoms highly compatible with Crohn's disease.

Background & Aims: The diagnostic role of Small Bowel Capsule Endoscopy (SBCE) in Crohn's Disease (CD) is under investigation. In a prospective study we investigated the diagnostic role of SBCE in patients with symptoms highly compatible with CD and undefined diagnosis after conventional techniques.

Methods: From September 2005 to May 2009, all patients with clinically suspected CD and not conclusive diagnosis after Ileocolonoscopy (IC), Small Bowel Follow Through (SBFT) and Small Intestine Contrast Ultrasonography (SICUS) were enrolled.

Wireless capsule endoscopy and proximal small bowel lesions in Crohn's disease.

Aim: To investigate the prevalence of proximal small bowel (SB) lesions detected by wireless capsule endoscopy (WCE) in Crohn's disease (CD).

Methods: WCE was performed in 64 patients: 32 with CD of the distal ileum, and 32 controls with iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) or diarrhea. WCE was performed using the Given SB-WCE, followed by small intestine contrast ultrasonography (SICUS).

Severity of postoperative recurrence in Crohn's disease: correlation between endoscopic and sonographic findings.

Background: Crohn's disease (CD) recurrence is currently assessed by ileocolonoscopy. Small intestine contrast ultrasonography (SICUS) visualizes the small bowel lesions in CD, although its role after curative resection is undefined. We aimed to investigate the accuracy of SICUS in assessing CD recurrence after ileocolonic resection when using ileocolonoscopy as a gold standard.

Frequency, pattern, and risk factors of postoperative recurrence of Crohn's disease after resection different from ileo-colonic.

Background: The frequency of recurrence in Crohn's disease (CD) patients after curative resection different from the ileo-colonic is undefined. We aimed to assess the frequency, pattern, outcome, and risk factors of postoperative recurrence in CD patients under regular follow-up after anastomosis different from ileo-colonic.

Materials And Methods: In a retrospective study, clinical records of 537 CD patients under regular follow-up from January 2001 to August 2007 were reviewed.

Ileal lesions in patients with ulcerative colitis after ileo-rectal anastomosis: relationship with colonic metaplasia.

Aim: To assess whether in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients with ileo-rectal anastomosis (IRA), ileal lesions may develop in the neo-terminal-ileum and their possible relation with phenotypic changes towards colonic epithelium.

Methods: A total of 19 patients with IRA under regular follow up were enrolled, including 11 UC and 8 controls (6 Crohn's disease, CD; 1 familial adenomatous polyposis, FAP; 1 colon cancer, colon K). Ileal lesions were identified by ileoscopy with biopsies taken from the ileum (involved and uninvolved) and from the rectal stump.