SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: comparison between the first and second pandemic waves.

Background: In Italy, the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection peaked in April and November 2020, defining two pandemic waves of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study compared the characteristics and outcomes of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and SARS-CoV-2 infections between pandemic waves.

Methods: Observational longitudinal study of IBD patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Interleukin-33: Friend or Foe in Gastrointestinal Tract Cancers?

Accumulating evidence suggests that Interleukin-33 (IL-33), a member of the IL-1 family, has crucial roles in tissue homeostasis and repair, type 2 immunity, inflammation, and viral infection. IL-33 is a novel contributing factor in tumorigenesis and plays a critical role in regulating angiogenesis and cancer progression in a variety of human cancers. The partially unraveled role of IL-33/ST2 signaling in gastrointestinal tract cancers is being investigated through the analysis of patients' samples and by studies in murine and rat models.

Personalize, participate, predict, and prevent: 4Ps in inflammatory bowel disease.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), is a complex, immune-mediated, disorder which leads to several gastrointestinal and systemic manifestations determining a poor quality of life, disability, and other negative health outcomes. Our knowledge of this condition has greatly improved over the last few decades, and a comprehensive management should take into account both biological (i.e.

Insights into Mesalazine Use in Clinical Practice of Young Gastroenterologists.

Background: Mesalazine is among the medications most prescribed by gastroenterologists, with variable and controversial use in different settings. We aimed to explore the use of mesalazine in the clinical practice of young gastroenterologists.

Methods: A web-based electronic survey was distributed to all participants of the National Meeting of the Italian Young Gastroenterologist and Endoscopist Association.

Artificial Intelligence Enabled Histological Prediction of Remission or Activity and Clinical Outcomes in Ulcerative Colitis.

Background & Aims: Microscopic inflammation has significant prognostic value in ulcerative colitis (UC); however, its assessment is complex with high interobserver variability. We aimed to develop and validate an artificial intelligence (AI) computer-aided diagnosis system to evaluate UC biopsies and predict prognosis.

Methods: A total of 535 digitalized biopsies (273 patients) were graded according to the PICaSSO Histologic Remission Index (PHRI), Robarts, and Nancy Histological Index.

Risk factors for inadequate bowel preparation in patients using high- and low-volume cleansing products.

Introduction: Bowel preparation is crucial for colonoscopy completeness and lesions detection. Today, several cleansing products are equally recommended by guidelines, irrespective of patients' characteristics. Identification of preparation-specific risk factors for inadequate bowel preparation may lead to a personalized prescription of cleansing products to refine patients' tolerance and improve endoscopic outcomes.

Severe azathioprine-induced liver injury 22 months after initiation of treatment.

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is the leading cause of acute liver failure in high-income countries. Acute cholestasis is one of the most common forms of hepatotoxicity induced by azathioprine. It usually begins during the first year of treatment, with most cases reported during the first month.

The impact of biologic therapies on extra-intestinal manifestations in inflammatory bowel disease: A multicenter study.

Introduction: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have a high risk of developing extra-intestinal manifestations (EIMs). We aimed to assess the cumulative incidence and clinical course of EIMs in patients treated with Vedolizumab (VDZ) and non-gut selective biologic drugs.

Materials And Methods: In this multicenter observational study, we enrolled 1,182 patients with IBD under biologic treatment in tertiary care centers, collecting the rate of new-onset EIMs and the clinical course of new and pre-existing EIMs since the introduction of the ongoing biologic drug (259 VDZ vs.

Effectiveness and safety of vedolizumab in a matched cohort of elderly and nonelderly patients with inflammatory bowel disease: the IG-IBD LIVE study.

Background: Vedolizumab registration trials were the first to include elderly patients with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn's disease (CD), but few real-life data have been reported in this population.

Aims: We investigated the effectiveness and safety of vedolizumab in matched cohorts of elderly and nonelderly UC and CD patients.

Methods: The Long-term Italian Vedolizumab Effectiveness (LIVE) study is a retrospective-prospective study including UC and CD patients who started vedolizumab from April 2016 to June 2017.

Constrained multiple instance learning for ulcerative colitis prediction using histological images.

Background And Objective: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affecting the colon and the rectum characterized by a remitting-relapsing course. To detect mucosal inflammation associated with UC, histology is considered the most stringent criteria. In turn, histologic remission (HR) correlates with improved clinical outcomes and has been recently recognized as a desirable treatment target.

NF-kB pathway is involved in microscopic colitis pathogenesis.

Objective: To investigate the potential inflammatory pathways involved in the development of microscopic colitis (MC).

Methods: This prospective study analysed human intestinal tissue that was collected and classified as healthy controls (HC), microscopic colitis (MC) and ulcerative colitis (UC). An RT Profiler PCR Array for human inflammatory response and autoimmunity was used to evaluate the expression of 84 specific genes related to the inflammatory and autoimmunity pathways.

PICaSSO virtual electronic chromendoscopy accurately reflects combined endoscopic and histological assessment for prediction of clinical outcomes in ulcerative colitis.

Background And Aims: A composite endoscopic-histologic remission is increasingly explored as an important endpoint in ulcerative colitis (UC). We investigated combined endoscopic-histologic remission for predicting clinical outcomes at 12 months compared with endoscopic remission alone using the high definition virtual chromoendoscopy (VCE) Paddington International virtual ChromoendoScopy ScOre (PICaSSO) and histology scores.

Methods: Ulcerative colitis patients, prospectively enrolled from 11 international centres, underwent VCE with targeted biopsies and followed up for 12 months.

PICaSSO Histologic Remission Index (PHRI) in ulcerative colitis: development of a novel simplified histological score for monitoring mucosal healing and predicting clinical outcomes and its applicability in an artificial intelligence system.

Unlabelled: Histological remission is evolving as an important treatment target in UC. We aimed to develop a simple histological index, aligned to endoscopy, correlated with clinical outcomes, and suited to apply to an artificial intelligence (AI) system to evaluate inflammatory activity.

Methods: Using a set of 614 biopsies from 307 patients with UC enrolled into a prospective multicentre study, we developed the Paddington International virtual ChromoendoScopy ScOre (PICaSSO) Histologic Remission Index (PHRI).

Efficacy and tolerability of high and low-volume bowel preparation compared: A real-life single-blinded large-population study.

Background: Low-volume preparations for colonoscopy have shown similar efficacy compared to high-volume ones in randomized controlled trials (RCT). However, most RCTs do not provide data about clinical outcomes including lesions detection rate. Moreover, real-life comparisons are lacking.

Therapies for inflammatory bowel disease do not pose additional risks for adverse outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection: an IG-IBD study.

Background: Older age and comorbidities are the main risk factors for adverse COVID-19 outcomes in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The impact of IBD medications is still under investigation.

Aims: To assess risk factors for adverse outcomes of COVID-19 in IBD patients and use the identified risk factors to build risk indices.

Safety and clinical efficacy of the double switch from originator infliximab to biosimilars CT-P13 and SB2 in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (SCESICS): A multicenter cohort study.

Data regarding double switching from originator infliximab (IFX) to IFX biosimilars in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are lacking. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of switching from originator IFX to CT-P13 and subsequently to SB2 (double switch) in patients with IBD. Patients undergoing IFX-double switch in eight Centers in Lombardy (Italy) from November 2018 to May 2019 were retrospectively analyzed.

Lower incidence of COVID-19 in patients with inflammatory bowel disease treated with non-gut selective biologic therapy.

Background And Aim: Since the outbreak of COVID-19, concerns have been raised as to whether inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients under biologic therapy may be more susceptible to the disease. This study aimed to determine the incidence and outcomes of COVID-19 in a large cohort of IBD patients on biologic therapy.

Methods: This observational retrospective multicenter study collected data about COVID-19 in IBD patients on biologic therapy in Italy, between February and May 2020.

Proinflammatory Interleukin-33 Induces Dichotomic Effects on Cell Proliferation in Normal Gastric Epithelium and Gastric Cancer.

Interleukin (IL)-33 is a member of the interleukin (IL)-1 family of cytokines linked to the development of inflammatory conditions and cancer in the gastrointestinal tract. This study is designed to investigate whether IL-33 has a direct effect on human gastric epithelial cells (GES-1), the human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line (AGS), and the gastric carcinoma cell line (NCI-N87) by assessing its role in the regulation of cell proliferation, migration, cell cycle, and apoptosis. Cell cycle regulation was also determined in ex vivo gastric cancer samples obtained during endoscopy and surgical procedures.

Multidimensional Prognostic Index Predicts Clinical Outcome and Mortality in Hospitalised Older Patients with Diverticular Disease.

Introduction: The Multidimensional Prognostic Index (MPI) is a validated tool for assessing mortality risk in hospitalised patients. We aimed to evaluate whether the MPI predicted mortality and the risk of developing diverticular disease (DD) complications in older patients.

Methods: This is a multicentre study conducted in January 2016-March 2018.

Staging esophageal cancer: low EUS accuracy in t2n0 patients.

 Esophageal cancer (EC) is one of the most lethal malignancies worldwide. Staging of EC is performed with computed tomography (CT), positron-emission tomography (PET), and endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS). Patient management mostly depends on lymph node status.