Multiple Ileal and Colonic Stenoses: Is It Always Crohn's Disease?

A 62-year-old woman presented with multiple ileal and colonic stenoses, initially suspected to be Crohn's disease. Despite unremarkable endoscopic biopsies, surgery was performed due to clinical deterioration, and histological analysis confirmed the presence of metastatic breast cancer. This case highlights the importance of considering metastatic disease in the differential diagnosis of gastrointestinal (GI) strictures, particularly when inflammatory bowel disease markers are inconclusive or marginal.

Italian validation of the IBD-disk tool for the assessment of disability in inflammatory bowel diseases: A cross-sectional multicenter study.

Introduction: IBD-Disk is a simple, easy-to-use, and self-administered analogue visual tool for assessing disability in patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). However, it has not yet been validated in Italian. This study aims to validate IBD-Disk in an Italian cross-sectional multicentre study.

Targeting mucosal healing in Crohn's disease: efficacy of novel pathways and therapeutic targets.

Introduction: Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease affecting the entire gastrointestinal tract with a progressive and relapsing course. Achieving mucosal healing has emerged as a critical therapeutic goal, as it is associated with sustained clinical remission, reduced hospitalizations, and fewer surgery rates. Therefore, targeting mucosal healing is essential for long-term control in CD.

Raising the bar in ulcerative colitis management.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease characterized by growing incidence and prevalence around the world in the last few decades. The range of available existing treatment and strategies for its management is being implemented. Given the introduction of newly developed molecules and the lack of specific guidelines, drug positioning may represent a tough clinical challenge.

The Role of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in IBD.

Gut microbiota dysbiosis has a critical role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases, prompting the exploration of novel therapeutic approaches like fecal microbiota transplantation, which involves the transfer of fecal microbiota from a healthy donor to a recipient with the aim of restoring a balanced microbial community and attenuating inflammation. Fecal microbiota transplantation may exert beneficial effects in inflammatory bowel disease through modulation of immune responses, restoration of mucosal barrier integrity, and alteration of microbial metabolites. It could alter disease course and prevent flares, although long-term durability and safety data are lacking.

Gastrointestinal Ultrasound in Infectious Diseases: A Comprehensive Review.

Infectious diseases affecting the gastrointestinal tract often present diagnostic challenges due to the variability in clinical manifestations and overlapping symptoms. Ultrasound imaging has emerged as a valuable tool in the assessment of gastrointestinal pathologies, offering non-invasive and real-time visualization of anatomical structures. This review aims to explore the role of ultrasound in the diagnosis and management of infectious diseases involving the gastrointestinal tract.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Colorectal Cancer.

Patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), including both ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), are at a higher risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC). However, advancements in endoscopic imaging techniques, integrated surveillance programs, and improved medical therapies have led to a decrease in the incidence of CRC among IBD patients. Currently, the management of patients with IBD who have a history of or ongoing active malignancy is an unmet need.

Small Bowel Cancer in Crohn's Disease.

Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that frequently affects the small bowel. Individuals diagnosed with CD are at increased risk of developing bowel cancer compared to the general population. Small bowel cancer is a rare but significant CD complication.

The Role of Viruses in the Pathogenesis of Immune-Mediated Gastro-Intestinal Diseases.

Immune-mediated gastrointestinal (GI) diseases, including achalasia, celiac disease, and inflammatory bowel diseases, pose significant challenges in diagnosis and management due to their complex etiology and diverse clinical manifestations. While genetic predispositions and environmental factors have been extensively studied in the context of these conditions, the role of viral infections and virome dysbiosis remains a subject of growing interest. This review aims to elucidate the involvement of viral infections in the pathogenesis of immune-mediated GI diseases, focusing on achalasia and celiac disease, as well as the virome dysbiosis in IBD.

A Comprehensive Multidisciplinary Approach to Diagnosing Chronic Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: Integration of Clinical, Endoscopic, and Imaging Modalities.

Chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, present diagnostic challenges due to their complex and heterogeneous nature. While histology remains fundamental for accurate diagnosis, a multidisciplinary approach incorporating clinical, endoscopic, and imaging modalities is increasingly recognized as essential for comprehensive evaluation. This article delves into the importance of integrating various diagnostic techniques in the assessment of IBD.

ECCO Guidelines on Therapeutics in Crohn's Disease: Surgical Treatment.

This article is the second in a series of two publications on the European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation [ECCO] evidence-based consensus on the management of Crohn's disease. The first article covers medical management; the present article addresses surgical management, including preoperative aspects and drug management before surgery. It also provides technical advice for a variety of common clinical situations.

Evaluating the pharmacokinetics of upadacitinib for the treatment of moderate-to-severe Crohn's disease.

Introduction: Janus kinases (JAK) are enzymes involved in signaling pathways that activate the immune system. Upadacitinib, an oral small molecule, is the first JAK inhibitor approved by FDA and EMA for the treatment of moderately to severely active Crohn's disease (CD), following successful phase II and III trials. Compared to other JAK inhibitors, upadacitinib has a high selectivity toward JAK1.

Positioning risankizumab in the treatment algorithm of moderate-to-severe Crohn's disease.

Risankizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that inhibits the p19 subunit of IL-23 cytokine. Recently it has been approved for the treatment of patients with moderate-to-severe Crohn's disease (CD). We conducted a scoping review to summarize the available data on risankizumab and to define its positioning in the treatment algorithm of CD.

Gut Microbiota Metabolites: Unveiling Their Role in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases and Fibrosis.

In recent years, there has been a growing focus on the intricate interplay between the gut microbiota and host health, specifically in the context of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). The gut microbiota produces a diverse array of metabolites, influencing the host's immune response and tissue homeostasis. Noteworthy metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids, bile acids, and indoles, exert significant effects on intestinal inflammation and fibrosis.

Accuracy of Information given by ChatGPT for Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Relation to ECCO Guidelines.

Background: As acceptance of artificial intelligence [AI] platforms increases, more patients will consider these tools as sources of information. The ChatGPT architecture utilizes a neural network to process natural language, thus generating responses based on the context of input text. The accuracy and completeness of ChatGPT3.

The gut-brain axis: Correlation of choroid plexus volume and permeability with inflammatory biomarkers in Crohn's disease.

Background: The dysregulation of the gut-brain axis in chronic inflammatory bowel diseases can cause neuro-psychological disturbances, but the underlying mechanisms are still not fully understood. The choroid plexus (CP) maintains brain homeostasis and nourishment through the secretion and clearance of cerebrospinal fluid. Recent research has demonstrated the existence of a CP vascular barrier in mice which is modulated during intestinal inflammation.

The Management of Postoperative Recurrence in Crohn's Disease.

Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease with different phenotypes of presentation, inflammatory, penetrating, or stricturing disease, that significantly impacts patient well-being and quality of life. Despite advances in medical therapy, surgery sometimes represents the only treatment to address complications, such as strictures, fistulas, or abscesses. Minimizing postoperative recurrence (POR) remains a major challenge for both clinicians and patients; consequently, various therapeutic strategies have been developed to prevent or delay POR.