Inflammatory Bowel Disease: From Conventional Immunosuppression to Biologic Therapy.

Background: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are chronic, recurrent inflammatory diseases with partly understood etiology and pathogenesis. The course of IBD, both ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, is characterized by periods of relapse and remission with the possible occurrence of extraintestinal manifestations.

Summary: During the last decades, therapeutic goals in IBD evolved toward endoscopic remission and mucosal healing creating the need for early administration of disease-modifying agents (DMAs).

The Importance of Artificial Intelligence in Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.

Recently, there has been a growing interest in the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine, especially in specialties where visualization methods are applied. AI is defined as a computer's ability to achieve human cognitive performance, which is accomplished through enabling computer "learning". This can be conducted in two ways, as machine learning and deep learning.

Current Trends in the Management of Helicobacter pylori Infection in Serbia: Preliminary Results from the European Registry on H. pylori Management.

Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is the most common chronic bacterial infection. Treatment effectiveness remains a subject of debate considering bacterial antimicrobial resistance.

In Search for Reasons behind Eradication Failure-Assessment of the Antibiotics Resistance Rate and Co-Existence of with Species.

eradication is characterized by decreasing successful eradication rates. Although treatment failure is primarily associated with resistance to antibiotics, other unknown factors may influence the eradication outcome. This study aimed to assess the presence of the antibiotics resistance genes in and the presence of spp.

United European Gastroenterology (UEG) and European Society for Neurogastroenterology and Motility (ESNM) consensus on functional dyspepsia.

Background: Functional dyspepsia (FD) is one of the most common conditions in clinical practice. In spite of its prevalence, FD is associated with major uncertainties in terms of its definition, underlying pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.

Methods: A Delphi consensus was initiated with 41 experts from 22 European countries who conducted a literature summary and voting process on 87 statements.

Dyspepsia Challenge in Primary Care Gastroenterology.

Background: The purpose of this review is to take a deep dive into general problems and challenges of diagnosis and treatment of patients with symptoms of dyspepsia in primary care practice.

Summary: Primary care physicians become acquainted with a broad range of clinical problems and therefore require a wide span of knowledge in taking care of patients from their first medical examination within the health care system. Dyspepsia and Helicobacter pylori infection are two of the most frequent reasons of digestive-related health care issues, despite that in primary care practice, current recommendations for diagnosis and differential therapy are often not implemented.

Abnormal Liver Blood Tests: Hepatologist Approach.

Background: Available data suggest that the prevalence of chronic liver disease (CLD) and primary liver cancer is rising in Europe and represents a major public health problem. Predictions are showing that these trends will continue to rise in the upcoming years.

Summary: Alcohol-related liver disease, nonalcohol fatty liver disease, and viral hepatitis B and hepatitis C are the leading causes of liver cirrhosis and primary liver cancer in Europe.

Abnormal Liver Blood Tests: Primary Care Approach.

Background: According to recent epidemiological data, annual deaths due to liver disease have increased dramatically, while predictions show that trends will continue to rise in the upcoming years.

Summary: Abnormal liver blood tests are one of the most common challenges encountered in the primary care setting. The prevalence of mildly elevated transaminase levels is around 10-20% in the general population.

Chronic Abdominal Pain: Gastroenterologist Approach.

Background: Abdominal pain is a common symptom of gastroenterology examination. Chronic abdominal pain is present for >3 months.

Summary: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the most common gastrointestinal diseases encountered by both gastroenterologists and general practitioners.

Chronic Constipation: Gastroenterohepatologist's Approach.

Background: Constipation is a common problem in gastroenterological practice. The prevalence of constipation is about 16%. Constipation can be primary or secondary.

United European Gastroenterology (UEG) and European Society for Neurogastroenterology and Motility (ESNM) consensus on functional dyspepsia.

Background: Functional dyspepsia (FD) is one of the most common conditions in clinical practice. In spite of its prevalence, FD is associated with major uncertainties in terms of its definition, underlying pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.

Methods: A Delphi consensus was initiated with 41 experts from 22 European countries who conducted a literature summary and voting process on 87 statements.

Anemia as a Problem: GEH Approach.

Background: Anemia is present in almost 5% of adults worldwide and accompanies clinical findings in many diseases. Diseases of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and liver are a common cause of anemia, so patients with anemia are often referred to a gastroenterologist.

Summary: Anemia could be caused by various factors such as chronic bleeding, malabsorption, or chronic inflammation.

European Registry on management (Hp-EuReg): patterns and trends in first-line empirical eradication prescription and outcomes of 5 years and 21 533 patients.

Objective: The best approach for management remains unclear. An audit process is essential to ensure clinical practice is aligned with best standards of care.

Design: International multicentre prospective non-interventional registry starting in 2013 aimed to evaluate the decisions and outcomes in management by European gastroenterologists.

Helicobacter pylori first-line and rescue treatments in patients allergic to penicillin: Experience from the European Registry on H pylori management (Hp-EuReg).

Background: Experience in Helicobacter pylori eradication treatment of patients allergic to penicillin is very scarce. A triple combination with a PPI, clarithromycin (C), and metronidazole (M) is often prescribed as the first option, although more recently the use of a quadruple therapy with PPI, bismuth (B), tetracycline (T), and M has been recommended.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of first-line and rescue treatments in patients allergic to penicillin in the "European Registry of H pylori management" (Hp-EuReg).

Quality of Life in Patients with Primary Biliary Cholangitis: A Single-Center Experience in Serbia.

Background: Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic cholestatic autoimmune disease, predominantly affecting middle-aged women, which may progress to end-stage liver disease. We aimed to assess the quality of life (QoL) in patients with PBC given that social, economic, and geographical factor also influence QoL.

Methods: This study included patients with diagnosed PBC according to the European Association for the Study of the Liver guidelines, who were treated for at least 6 months in order to allow adequate time for the initial burden of symptoms to subside.

Burden of Gastroduodenal Diseases from the Global Perspective.

Purpose Of Review: We reviewed the recent medical literature to show global burden of gastroduodenal disease, potential strategies, and further perspectives.

Recent Findings: Gastrointestinal and liver diseases are growing health problems, and cause more than 8 million deaths per year worldwide; encompass a range of long-term health conditions, such as digestive cancers, gastroesophageal reflux disease, Helicobacter pylori infection, peptic ulcer disease, liver diseases, inflammatory bowel disease, coeliac disease, and functional gastrointestinal disorders. Scientific knowledge demonstrates that the noncommunicable disease burden can be greatly reduced if cost-effective preventive and curative actions, along with interventions for prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases already available, are implemented in an effective and balanced manner.

Course of the Diverticular Disease: What is changing?

In this session several critical issues in diverticular disease were considered, including "It is Symptomatic Diverticular Disease or Irritable Bowel Syndrome?", "What do determine evolution to diverticulitis, bowel habits alteration or inflammation?", and "Prevention of acute diverticulitis: Is it at all possible?". The first talking compared symptoms and laboratory findings between Symptomatic Uncomplicated Diverticular Disease  (SUDD) and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Although both disease share some symptoms, and although IBS can occur in patients having diverticulosis,  SUDD and IBS can be differentiate using a combination of symptoms and laboratory tools.

The DICA Endoscopic Classification for Diverticular Disease of the Colon Shows a Significant Interobserver Agreement among Community Endoscopists: an International Study.

Background And Aims: The Diverticular Inflammation and Complication Assessment (DICA) endoscopic classification of diverticulosis and diverticular disease (DD) is currently available. It scores severity of the disease as DICA 1, DICA 2 and DICA 3. Our aim was to assess the agreement on this classification in an international endoscopists community setting.

International Consensus on Diverticulosis and Diverticular Disease. Statements from the 3rd International Symposium on Diverticular Disease.

The statements produced by the Chairmen and Speakers of the 3rd International Symposium on Diverticular Disease, held in Madrid on April 11th-13th 2019, are reported. Topics such as current and evolving concepts on the pathogenesis, the course of the disease, the news in diagnosing, hot topics in medical and surgical treatments, and finally, critical issues on the disease were reviewed by the Chairmen who proposed 39 statements graded according to level of evidence and strength of recommendation. Each topic was explored focusing on the more relevant clinical questions.

Why the N (Nutrition) was Added in the EAGEN Acronym?

Background: Nutrition has been neglected for a long time as an important factor in the pathogenesis of digestive diseases, but also in the treatment, despite Hippocrates long ago insisted "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food."

Summary: New insights into the importance of nutrition in the emergence of disease, and especially in the field of prevention of diseases of the digestive tract, impose the need to pay special attention to the nutrition field. The goal of nutrition as one of the focuses of European Association on Gastroenterology, Endoscopy and Nutrition (EAGEN) activities means awareness of the importance and the goal of making nutrition knowledge a part of comprehensive gastroenterologist's continuous education.

Metabolic Syndrome in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Association with Genetic Markers of Obesity and Inflammation.

This study analyzed poorly understood relationship of two overlapping conditions: metabolic syndrome (MeS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), both associated with inflammation in the visceral adipose tissue. Newly diagnosed 104 IBD patients, of which 50 Crohn's disease (CD) and 54 ulcerative colitis (UC), and 45 non-IBD controls were examined for MeS-related obesity and lipid markers. Th-17 immune genes , , and mRNAs were measured in intestinal mucosa by qRT-PCR.

Assessment of Duodenal Adenomas and Strategies for Curative Therapy.

Background: The increasing incidence of duodenal neoplasm has underlined different methods of resection depending on the clinical presentation, endoscopic features and histopathology. In this comprehensive review, we systematically describe the current knowledge concerning the diagnosis and management of duodenal adenomas (DAs) and discuss data considering all possible therapeutic approaches.

Summary: Among a variety of duodenal lesions, including neuroendocrine tumors and gastrointestinal stromal tumors, DAs present precancerous lesions of the duodenal papilla or non-ampullary region necessitating removal.