Ustekinumab for anti-tumor necrosis factor refractory pediatric ulcerative colitis: a promising approach towards endoscopic healing.

Background/aims: To describe the role of ustekinumab in inducing remission and endoscopic healing in anti-tumor necrosis factor α nonresponsive pediatric ulcerative colitis patients at a tertiary care inflammatory bowel disease center.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed on patients with ulcerative colitis receiving ustekinumab. Primary outcome was steroidfree clinical remission at follow-up.

Diagnostic and Treatment Practices for Helicobacter Pylori Infection in an Academic Pediatric Hospital.

Background: In 2016, ESPGHAN/NASPGHAN issued revised guidelines for the management of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in children and adolescents. Recommendations include performing antibiotic susceptibility testing to tailor therapy.

Safety and Durability of Accelerated Infliximab Dosing Strategies in Pediatric IBD: A Single Center, Retrospective Study.

Objectives: Infliximab (IFX) is commonly used to treat children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We previously reported that patients with extensive disease started on IFX at a dose of 10 mg/kg had greater treatment durability at year one. The aim of this follow-up study is to assess the long-term safety and durability of this dosing strategy in pediatric IBD.

Unmet Communication and Information Needs for Patients with IBD: Implications for Mobile Health Technology.

Aims: In order to develop an application that addresses the most significant challenges facing IBD patients, this qualitative study explored the major hurdles of living with IBD, the information needs of IBD patients, and how application technology may be used to improve quality of life.

Methods: 15 IBD patients participated in two focus groups of 120 minutes each. Data collection was achieved by combining focus groups with surveys and direct observation of patients looking at a patient-engaged app (HealthPROMISE) screenshots.

Personalized Technologies in Chronic Gastrointestinal Disorders: Self-monitoring and Remote Sensor Technologies.

With increased access to high-speed Internet and smartphone devices, patients have started to use mobile applications (apps) for various health needs. These mobile apps are now increasingly used in integration with telemedicine and wearables to support fitness, health education, symptom tracking, and collaborative disease management and care coordination. More recently, evidence (especially around remote patient monitoring) has started to build in some chronic diseases, and some of the digital health technologies have received approval from the Food and Drug Administration.

Frequency of beta-thalassemia trait in families of thalassemia major patients, Lahore.

Background: Thalassemia major is one of the most common genetic disorders in Pakistan and over five thousand new patients are added in the pool annually. This familial disease has both medical and social implications, and therefore there is a need to assess the magnitude of beta-Thalassemia trait amongst family members of Thalassemia major patients.

Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study enrolled 674 blood samples from first degree relatives of registered patients of Thalassemia major at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Lahore.