Intestinal Ultrasonography as an Alternative to Fecal Calprotectin to Monitor Patients with Crohn's Disease: Experience from a Novice Sonographer.

Background: While fecal calprotectin (Fcal) is now recommended, the positioning of intestinal ultrasonography (IUS) is still unknown to monitor patients with CD.

Aims: To assess the agreement between IUS performed by a novice sonographer and Fcal to detect active CD and to compare these two monitoring tools to determine the need for therapeutic escalation.

Methods: In this cross-sectional prospective study, we consecutively included CD patients ≥ 18 years-old with concomitant IUS and Fcal testing within 7 days.

Development and Validation of a Score to Assess Transmural Healing and Response in Patients With Crohn's Disease.

Background & Aims: Because transmural healing (TH) could be the best therapeutic target in Crohn's disease (CD), we aimed to build and validate a score to assess TH and transmural response (TR), and to confirm their association with favorable CD outcomes.

Methods: DEVISE-CD project encompassed 2 retrospective cohorts (274 and 224 patients with CD for development and validation phase, retrospectively) and 1 multicenter prospective validation cohort (N = 46 patients). A step-by-step process was used to build the modified Clermont score (C-score).

Anti-TNF Agents Restrict Adherent-invasive Escherichia coli Replication Within Macrophages Through Modulation of Chitinase 3-like 1 in Patients with Crohn's Disease.

Background And Aims: The mechanism of action of anti-tumour necrosis factor [anti-TNF] agents could implicate macrophage modulation in Crohn's disease [CD]. As CD macrophages are defective in controlling CD-associated adherent-invasive Escherichia coli [AIEC], anti-TNF agents could limit AIEC replication within macrophages. We assessed the effect of anti-TNF agents on AIEC survival within monocyte-derived macrophages [MDMs] from CD patients and attempted to identify the proteins involved.

Phase 3, Multicenter Open-Label study to investigate the efficacy of elbasvir and grazoprevir fixed-dose combination for 8 weeks in treatment-naïve, HCV GT1b-infected patients, with non-severe fibrosis.

Background: Genotype 1b is the most common HCV genotype worldwide, accounting for the largest proportion of infections in Europe, Russia, Latin America and Asia. Reducing treatment duration can improve adherence, reduce drug exposure and cost. Accordingly, we evaluated the efficacy of 8 weeks fixed-dose combination of grazoprevir-elbasvir in treatment-naïve patients, with non-severe fibrosis.