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.

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding in COVID-19 inpatients: Incidence and management in a multicenter experience from Northern Italy.

Background: COVID-19 patients have an increased susceptibility to develop thrombotic complications, thus thromboprophylaxis is warranted which may increase risk of upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB). Our aim was to evaluate incidence of UGIB and use of upper GI endoscopy in COVID-19 inpatients.

Methods: The medical and endoscopic management of UGIB in non-ICU COVID-19 patients has been retrospectively evaluated.

Use, effectiveness and tolerability of budesonide-MMX in ulcerative colitis: A real-life experience.

Background: Budesonide-MMX has an established role in the management of relapsing mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis. Data regarding effectiveness and tolerability in real-life clinical practice are limited.

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the use of budesonide-MMX in ulcerative colitis, as well as short-term effectiveness and tolerability in real-life practice.

Biologic targeting in the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases.

The etiology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has not yet been clarified and immunosuppressive agents which nonspecifically reduce inflammation and immunity have been used in the conventional therapies for IBD. Evidence indicates that a dysregulation of mucosal immunity in the gut of IBD causes an overproduction of inflammatory cytokines and trafficking of effector leukocytes into the bowel, thus leading to an uncontrolled intestinal inflammation. Under normal situations, the intestinal mucosa is in a state of "controlled" inflammation regulated by a delicate balance of proinflammatory (tumor necrosis factor [TNF-alpha], interferon-gamma [IFN-gamma], interleukin-1 [IL-1], IL-6, IL-12 and anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4, IL-10, IL-11).

Combination immunomodulator and antibiotic treatment in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and clostridium difficile infection.

Background & Aims: Management of Clostridium difficile infection in patients with flaring inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has not been optimized. We investigated the effects of combination therapy with antibiotics and immunomodulators in patients with IBD and C difficile infection.

Methods: We analyzed data from 155 patients (59% with ulcerative colitis [UC]) from a retrospective, European Crohn's and Colitis organization, multi-center study comparing outcome of hospitalized IBD patients with C difficile infection who were treated with antibiotics (n = 51) or antibiotics and immunomodulators (n = 104).

Predictors of long-term outcome of functional dyspepsia and duodenal ulcer after successful Helicobacter pylori eradication--a 7-year follow-up study.

Aims: To investigate the course of dyspeptic symptoms, predictors of symptom relief and use of antidyspeptic drugs in patients with duodenal ulcer disease and functional dyspepsia 6-7 years after successful Helicobacter pylori eradication.

Patients And Methods: Patients with H. pylori-positive duodenal ulcer or functional dyspepsia, included in a prospective, randomized study from January 1996 to June 1997, and successfully treated with standard triple therapy, were eligible.

Appropriateness and diagnostic yield of colonoscopy in the management of patients with ulcerative colitis: a prospective study in an open access endoscopy service.

Background: Colonoscopy is frequently performed in ulcerative colitis (UC), but its benefit in the management of the disease is a matter of debate. The objective was to determine the clinical impact of colonoscopy in UC.

Methods: Consecutive patients with UC undergoing colonoscopy were studied.

New onset of atrial fibrillation after introduction of azathioprine in ulcerative colitis: case report and review of the literature.

Case Report: We present the case of a 52-year-old man with steroid-dependent ulcerative colitis, needing immunosuppressive therapy with azathioprine. The drug had been started 3 years earlier, but stopped after a few months because the patient reported palpitations, lipothymia, nausea and vomiting. Given the continued steroid-dependent ulcerative colitis and the lack of clinical documentation about a reaction with a dubious relationship to azathioprine, we decided to rechallenge the patient with the drug under clinical monitoring and after informed consent.