Characterization of patient-derived intestinal organoids for modelling fibrosis in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Background And Aims: Intestinal fibrosis is a common complication of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), namely Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), but the precise mechanism by which it occurs is incompletely understood hampering the development of effective therapeutic strategies. Here, we aimed at inducing and characterizing an inflammation-mediated fibrosis in patient-derived organoids (PDOs) issued from crypts isolated from colonic mucosal biopsies of IBD pediatric patients and age matched-control subjects (CTRLs).

Methods: Inflammatory-driven fibrosis was induced by exposing CTRL-, CD- and UC-PDOs to the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α for one day, followed by a co-treatment with TNF-α and TGF-β1 for three days.

Efficacy and safety of a new low-volume PEG with citrate and simethicone bowel preparation for pediatric elective colonoscopy: Phase 3 RCT.

Currently available polyethylene glycol (PEG)-based preparations continue to represent a challenge in children. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of a new low-volume PEG preparation with a conventional PEG-electrolyte solution (PEG-ES) in children and adolescents. This was a multicenter, randomized, observer-blind, parallel-group, phase 3 clinical trial, where patients were randomized between PMF104 (Clensia) and a conventional PEG-ES (Klean-Prep), and stratified by age stratum (2 to <6; 6 to < 12;12 to <18 years).

Pan-enteric Capsule Endoscopy to Characterize Crohn's Disease Phenotypes and Predict Clinical Outcomes in Children and Adults: The Bomiro Study.

Background: Pan-enteric capsule endoscopy (PCE) provides useful information for the management of Crohn's disease (CD), especially in children. No study has evaluated the ability of PCE to characterize CD phenotypes and outcomes in children and adults.

Methods: In a prospective multicenter observational study, we recruited patients with CD >6 years from 4 centers in Italy.

Mobile health technology in pediatric EGD quality indicators assessment: results from a national program of the Italian Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition.

Background And Aims: Upper endoscopy (UE) procedures (EGD and ERCP) are an established standard of care in pediatric gastroenterology. The Pediatric Endoscopy Quality Improvement Network (PEnQuIN) recently published its pediatric-specific endoscopy quality guidelines. This study, initiated by the Italian Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, aims to evaluate the adherence of Italian pediatric endoscopy centers (PECs) to these established quality standards.

A Treat-to-Target Strategy Guided by Pan-Enteric Evaluation in Children With Crohn's Disease Improves Outcomes at 2 Years.

Background And Aims: It is uncertain whether a treat-to-target approach could be an effective strategy for improving outcomes in children with Crohn's disease (CD). Previously, we reported mucosal healing (MH) and deep remission rates throughout the intestinal tract by performing 3 pan-enteric capsule assessments and using a treat-to-target strategy over 52 weeks in children with CD. This report describes the outcomes of this approach at 104 weeks.

A journey towards pediatric gastrointestinal endoscopy and its training: a narrative review.

Background And Aims: Gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy in pediatric setting has unique features and, therefore, requires an approach that is tailored to pediatric practice. There is still heterogeneity between training programs worldwide in terms of duration, number of procedures and assessment during and at the end of the training process.

Methods: We conducted a narrative review aiming to describe and summarize the existing literature on the various training methods for pediatric GI endoscopy to highlight the significance of specific pediatric endoscopy training.

Role of age in dynamics of autoantibodies in pediatric Celiac disease.

Background: Celiac disease (CD) is characterized by elevated serum titers of autoantibodies IgA anti-tissue transglutaminase 2 (TGA-IgA) and IgA anti-endomysial (EMA), with small bowel mucosa atrophy. We evaluated age differences between CD children exhibiting variable antibody titers at diagnosis.

Methods: CD children diagnosed between January 2014 and June 2019, according to 2012 ESPGHAN guidelines were studied.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric endoscopy: A multicenter study on behalf of the SIGENP Endoscopy Working Group.

Background: Aim of the present report was to investigate the repercussions of COVID-19 pandemic on the procedural volumes and on the main indications of pediatric digestive endoscopy in Italy.

Methods: An online survey was distributed at the beginning of December 2020 to Italian digestive endoscopy centers. Data were collected comparing two selected time intervals: the first from 1st of February 2019 to 30th June 2019 and the second from 1st February 2020 to 30th June 2020.

Maintenance Therapy With the Lowest Effective Dose of Oral Viscous Budesonide in Children With Eosinophilic Esophagitis.

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is an immune-mediated condition characterized by symptoms of esophageal dysfunction and an eosinophilic inflammation of the esophagus. Swallowed topical steroids represent one of the possible strategies for inducing and maintaining remission in EoE. To date, a validated maintenance strategy has yet to be defined, especially in children.

Risks and Protective Factors Associated With Mental Health Symptoms During COVID-19 Home Confinement in Italian Children and Adolescents: The #Understandingkids Study.

To identify risk and protective factors for mental health symptoms associated with lifestyle changes caused by home confinement in pediatric subjects and in children and adolescents with a neuropsychiatric disorder. This was a prospective, cross-sectional study conducted from May 10 to May 31, 2020. Two online anonymous surveys were developed: population-based and clinical-based (children with neuropsychiatric disorders).

Association between Elevated TGA-IgA Titers and Older Age at Diagnosis with Absence of HBV Seroconversion in Celiac Children.

Patients with celiac disease can have a low rate of protective hepatitis B (HBV) antibody titers after vaccination. We aimed to evaluate the HBV seroconversion in celiac disease (CD) children at the time of diagnosis as well as to identify the presence of possible predictive factors. Celiac disease children were prospectively enrolled and tested for antibodies against the S protein of HBV (HBsAg) at time of diagnosis between January 2009 and February 2020.

A 12-Week Maintenance Therapy with a New Prepared Viscous Budesonide in Pediatric Eosinophilic Esophagitis.

Background: A new prepared oral viscous budesonide (PVB) has been effective in inducing clinical and histological remission in pediatric eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE).

Aims: To evaluate the efficacy of a 12-week maintenance therapy on clinical, endoscopic, and histological remission using half of the dose used in the induction therapy.

Methods: We prospectively enrolled pediatric patients with active EoE.