COVID-19 in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: The Israeli Experience.

Background: Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) are chronic, immune-mediated inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) affecting millions of people worldwide. IBD therapies, designed for continuous immune suppression, often render patients more susceptible to infections. The effect of the immune suppression on the risk of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is not fully determined yet.

Inflammatory bowel disease patient profiles are related to specific information needs: A nationwide survey.

Background: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) is a heterogenous, lifelong disease, with an unpredictable and potentially progressive course, that may impose negative psychosocial impact on patients. While informed patients with chronic illness have improved adherence and outcomes, previous research showed that the majority of IBD patients receive insufficient information regarding their disease. The large heterogeneity of IBD and the wide range of information topics makes a one-size fits all knowledge resource overwhelming and cumbersome.

Associations between quantitative evaluation of bowel wall microvascular flow by contrast-enhanced ultrasound and indices of disease activity in Crohn's disease patients using both bolus and infusion techniques.

Purpose: The aim is to investigate whether baseline contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) correlates with indices of activity in Crohn's disease (CD) and can predict response to medical treatment.

Methods: In this prospective study, symptomatic CD patients underwent baseline CEUS performed with Definity using both bolus and infusion methods. Time-intensity curves (TIC), peak intensity (PI), and area under curve (AUC) from a region of interest over the diseased bowel were calculated for both bolus and infusion acquisitions.

Correlation of 18F-FDG PET/MRE Metrics with Inflammatory Biomarkers in Patients with Crohn's Disease: A Pilot Study.

Background: To investigate the association between 18F-FDG (Fluorodeoxyglucose) PET (positron emission tomography)/MRE (magnetic resonance enterography) metrics with the inflammatory biomarkers fecal calprotectin and C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with Crohn's disease (CD).

Methods: This prospective pilot study was institutional review board (IRB) approved with informed consent obtained. Consecutive CD patients were referred to 18F-FDG PET/MRE.

Quality of life and uncertainty in Crohn's disease.

Introduction: Crohn's disease impairs patients' perception of health and has a negative impact on health-related quality of life. Although it is apparent that uncertainty is a significant factor that decreases quality of life, it has never been studied in patients with Crohn's disease. The objective of the present study was to examine the association between level of certainty, self-epistemic authority, Internet information gathering habits, and health-related quality of life.

Efficacy and Safety of Vedolizumab for Induction of Remission in Inflammatory Bowel Disease-the Israeli Real-World Experience.

Background: Vedolizumab (VDZ) is an anti-integrin monoclonal antibody effective in ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). The aim of this study was to examine the "real world" efficacy and safety of VDZ in a large national patient cohort.

Methods: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease treated with VDZ were prospectively followed for 14 weeks.

Intraepithelial lymphocytosis is a frequent finding in biopsies from ileal pouch-anal anastomoses.

Following restorative proctocolectomy with an ileal pouch-anal anastomosis, the small bowel mucosa undergoes several specific histologic adaptions, which may be unrelated to the underlying disease or symptoms of pouchitis. An increase in intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) has not been described as part of this spectrum. Mucosal biopsies of the ileal pouch and afferent limb of 230 patients (mean age: 45.

Probiotics and prebiotics in Crohn's disease therapies.

Therapeutic manipulation of gut microbiota has proven valuable in the management of ulcerative colitis and pouchitis. Despite some similarities among the various inflammatory bowel conditions, the probiotics investigated thus far seem to confer little benefit in Crohn's disease. In this review, we aim to bring together the evidence available on the clinical effect of probiotics and prebioltics in Crohn's disease patients, and to clarify the place of probiotic treatment in current Crohn's therapeutic regimens.

The current place of probiotics and prebiotics in the treatment of pouchitis.

Pouchitis is a common complication in patients undergoing restorative proctocolectomy for ulcerative colitis. Therapeutic attempts include manipulations of pouch flora composition. In this review, we bring together the evidence supporting the use of probiotics and prebiotics in pouchitis patients, to clarify the place of these treatments in current therapeutic regimens.

Practice Variations in the Management of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Between Pediatric and Adult Gastroenterologists.

Background: Different practice guidelines and consensus statements for both pediatric- and adult-onset inflammatory bowel disease exist. Although variations in medical care among gastroenterologists are common, it is unknown whether there are fundamental differences between disciplines. The primary aim of the present study was to investigate differences in common practices across disciplines.

Uptake of influenza vaccine in ulcerative colitis.

Background: The incidence of vaccine-preventable-disease is increasing. Current practice guidelines recommend annual influenza vaccination for all inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients.

Study: Using the Business Objects database of Clalit Health Services in the Tel Aviv district we identified all patients over 18 years-old with a diagnosis of ulcerative colitis (UC) on 31.

Utilization of influenza immunization in adults with Crohn's disease-a longitudinal, population-based study.

Background: The incidence of vaccine-preventable disease is increasing. Several guidelines recommend annual influenza vaccination for patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Methods: Using the Business Objects database of Clalit Health Services in the Tel Aviv district we identified all patients older than 18 years with a diagnosis of Crohn's disease (CD) on December 31, 2005.

Ileal pouch symptoms do not correlate with inflammation of the pouch.

Background & Aims: Pouchitis is the most common complication after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA). However, symptoms are not specific. The Pouchitis Disease Activity Index (PDAI) and the Pouchitis Activity Score (PAS) have been used to diagnose pouchitis.

Pouchitis: a practical guide.

Up to 30% of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) will require surgical management. The established surgical procedure of choice is colectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) for most patients. Patients with UC who have undergone IPAA are prone to develop inflammatory and non-inflammatory complications.