Inflammatory Bowel Diseases and Nephropathies: Exploring the Gut-Kidney Axis.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can extend beyond the gastrointestinal tract, affecting extraintestinal organs and significantly increasing morbidity and mortality. Despite early studies revealing kidney involvement in nearly a quarter of patients with IBD, renal manifestations have been notably overlooked. Among these manifestations, nephrolithiasis, obstructive uropathy, and fistula formation between the bowel and urinary tract are the most reported occurrences.

Italian validation of the IBD-disk tool for the assessment of disability in inflammatory bowel diseases: A cross-sectional multicenter study.

Introduction: IBD-Disk is a simple, easy-to-use, and self-administered analogue visual tool for assessing disability in patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). However, it has not yet been validated in Italian. This study aims to validate IBD-Disk in an Italian cross-sectional multicentre study.

Advancing perioperative optimization in Crohn's disease surgery with machine learning predictions.

This editorial offers commentary on the article which aimed to forecast the likelihood of short-term major postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo grade ≥ III), including anastomotic fistula, intra-abdominal sepsis, bleeding, and intestinal obstruction within 30 days, as well as prolonged hospital stays following ileocecal resection in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). This prediction relied on a machine learning (ML) model trained on a cohort that integrated a nomogram predictive model derived from logistic regression analysis and a random forest (RF) model. Both the nomogram and RF showed good performance, with the RF model demonstrating superior predictive ability.

Heterogeneity of definition of upper gastrointestinal tract in different guidelines of Crohn's disease: A scoping review.

Crohn's Disease (CD) can affect any part of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, including the upper GI tract (UGIT). However, the definitions and classifications of upper GI CD (UGICD) vary. We conducted a scoping review to explore how UGIT and UGICD are defined and to assess the heterogeneity of these definitions in published CD guidelines, aiming to inform future initiatives for harmonizing definitions.

Efficacy and safety of Advanced Combination Treatment in immune-mediated inflammatory disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Objectives: Advanced combination treatment (ACT), defined as a combination of at least 2 biologic agents, a biologic agent and an oral small molecule, 2 oral small molecules drug with different mechanisms of action is a proposed strategy to improve outcomes in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory disease (IMID). We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing ACT with monotherapy in patients with select IMIDs.

Methods: Through a systematic literature search, we identified 10 RCTs (n = 1154) comparing ACT with single agent therapy (monotherapy).

Sexual dysfunctions in inflammatory bowel disease: role of Mediterranean diet and quality of life.

Background: Dietary factors and chronic gastrointestinal diseases are frequent determinants of sexual dysfunctions (SD). Whether inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are associated with SD is not well known as well as the role of diet and quality of life (QoL).

Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of SD in a cohort of IBD patients and assess the role of clinical-demographic variables, adherence to Mediterranean diet (MD) and QoL.

Post-Discharge Outcomes of Elderly Patients Hospitalized for Inflammatory Bowel Disease Flare Complicated by Clostridioides difficile Infection.

Objectives: Elderly hospitalized patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) flare and concurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) are considered at high risk of IBD-related complications. We aimed to evaluate the short, intermediate, and long-term post-discharge complications among these patients.

Methods: A retrospective multicenter cohort study assessing outcomes of elderly individuals (≥60 years) hospitalized for an IBD flare who were tested for CDI (either positive or negative) and discharged.

AI and endoscopy/histology in UC: the rise of machine.

The gap between endoscopy and histology is getting closer with the introduction of sophisticated endoscopic technologies. Furthermore, unprecedented advances in artificial intelligence (AI) have enabled objective assessment of endoscopy and digital pathology, providing accurate, consistent, and reproducible evaluations of endoscopic appearance and histologic activity. These advancements result in improved disease management by predicting treatment response and long-term outcomes.

Insights into Probiotic Prescription among Gastroenterologists and Other Healthcare Professionals: Evidence from an Italian Survey.

: Probiotics, which are live microorganisms that provide health benefits, have been extensively studied for their various clinical applications. However, despite their potential, high-quality data supporting their use in several gastrointestinal diseases are often lacking, and prescription behaviors can widely differ. This study aimed to assess different behaviors in probiotics knowledge and prescriptions among Italian gastroenterologists and healthcare professionals (HPs).

Prevalence of Sexual Dysfunction In Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background & Aim: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may experience symptoms of sexual dysfunction (SD). However, the magnitude of this problem remains uncertain. Therefore, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the prevalence of SD in adult patients with IBD.

Predicting Outcome after Acute Severe Ulcerative Colitis: A Contemporary Review and Areas for Future Research.

Acute Severe Ulcerative Colitis (ASUC) is a severe form of ulcerative colitis relapse which requires hospitalization and intensive medical intervention to avoid colectomy. The timely recognition of patients at risk of corticosteroid failure and the early initiation of medical rescue therapy are paramount in the management of ASUC. The choice of medical rescue therapy is influenced by multiple factors, especially patient's prior treatment history.

Insights into disability and psycho-social care of patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

In recent years, the concept of disability has increasingly garnered attention as a crucial long-term target of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) management. The treatment paradigm has changed dramatically from full control of the disease (clinical and endoscopic remission) toward physical and emotional well-being with the goal of preventing disability and normalizing quality of life. However, in certain cases, despite achieving good disease control, patients may still experience symptoms associated with disability, and reduced emotional wellness.

Time to grow up: readiness associated with improved clinical outcomes in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease patients undergoing transition.

Background: The transition from pediatric to adult healthcare in individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) poses significant challenges mainly due to the high burden of IBD during adolescence, a critical period of psychosocial development. So far, there are few longitudinal data linking transition readiness to long-term disease outcomes.

Objective: We aimed to assess patients' readiness to transition and its impact on clinical outcomes, quality of life, and adherence to therapy.

Effectiveness of Partial Enteral Nutrition as Add-On to Biologics in Patients With Refractory and Difficult-to-Treat Crohn's Disease: A Pilot Study.

Background: Partial enteral nutrition (PEN) is a well-established treatment for children with Crohn's disease (CD). However, its efficacy in adults with CD remains uncertain. We aimed to assess the effectiveness of PEN as an add-on to escalated biological therapy in adults with CD who have lost response to biologics.

Transition care in patients with IBD: The pediatric and the adult gastroenterologist's perspective. Results from a national survey.

Background: Transition is a crucial process in the care of IBD patients, although it remains largely heterogeneous.

Aims: To provide an overview of the transition process in Italy and to investigate the perspective of the paediatric and adult physicians.

Methods: An online survey was developed by the Italian Group for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IG-IBD) and the Italian Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (SIGENP).

Validation of a new optical diagnosis training module to improve dysplasia characterization in inflammatory bowel disease: a multicenter international study.

Background And Aims: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) increases risk of dysplasia and colorectal cancer. Advanced endoscopic techniques allow for the detection and characterization of IBD dysplastic lesions, but specialized training is not widely available. We aimed to develop and validate an online training platform to improve the detection and characterization of colonic lesions in IBD: OPtical diagnosis Training to Improve dysplasia Characterization in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (OPTIC-IBD).

Rates of Endoscopic Recurrence In Postoperative Crohn's Disease Based on Anastomotic Techniques: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis.

Background: Patients with Crohn's disease (CD) after ileocolic resection may develop an endoscopic postoperative recurrence (ePOR) that reaches 40% to 70% of incidence within 6 months. Recently, there has been growing interest in the potential effect of anastomotic configurations on ePOR. Kono-S anastomosis has been proposed for reducing the risk of clinical and ePOR.

Neutrophil-only Histological Assessment of Ulcerative Colitis Correlates with Endoscopic Activity and Predicts Long-term Outcomes in a Multicentre Study.

Backgrounds And Aims: Absence of neutrophils is the minimum standard to consider histological remission of ulcerative colitis [UC]. The PICaSSO Histological Remission Index [PHRI] is a new simple index for UC, based only on the detection of neutrophils. We evaluate PHRI's correlation with endoscopy and its prognostic value compared with other established indices.

Real-world use of endoscopic and histological indices in ulcerative colitis: Results of a global survey.

Background: Treatment targets of ulcerative colitis (UC) have evolved to include not only endoscopic but also histologic remission. However, the concept of histological activity is still in its early days. We aimed to capture the attitudes toward UC histology and the uptake of standardized reporting of endoscopy and histology of UC in daily practice.

Inflammation-Driven Colorectal Cancer Associated with Colitis: From Pathogenesis to Changing Therapy.

Patients affected by inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have a two-fold higher risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC) than the general population. IBD-related CRC follows a different genetic and molecular pathogenic pathway than sporadic CRC and can be considered a complication of chronic intestinal inflammation. Since inflammation is recognised as an independent risk factor for neoplastic progression, clinicians strive to modulate and control disease, often using potent therapy agents to achieve mucosal healing and decrease the risk of colorectal cancer in IBD patients.

Safety, hesitancy of coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination and pandemic burden in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: data of a national study (ESCAPE-IBD).

Background And Aims: The purpose of this study was to present data on the safety of anti- severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccination in a cohort of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients of an ongoing multicenter study (ESCAPE-IBD) sponsored by the Italian Group for the study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04769258).

Methods: Anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination was administrated to 809 IBD patients.