Implementing the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria in Crohn's disease: Prevalence of malnutrition and association with clinical outcomes.

Background & Aims: Limited data exist regarding the implementation of the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria for diagnosing malnutrition in Crohn's disease (CD), and its association with CD prognosis. In the present study eighteen GLIM combinations and a combined one were implemented to identify differences in the prevalence of malnutrition and to investigate potential associations with clinical outcomes at 6 months.

Methods: Different methodologies to diagnose malnutrition were used at baseline, namely the Subjective Global Assessment (SGA), eighteen different combinations of phenotypic and etiologic GLIM criteria and a combined version based on all GLIM combinations (GLIMcv) to test differences in the estimated prevalence and outcomes' prognosis.

Pregnancy outcomes in Greek women with inflammatory bowel disease: a longitudinal national retrospective study.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) commonly affects patients of reproductive age. The effect of disease activity on the outcome of pregnancy and its impact on neonatal health are areas of intense research.

Methods: Α national retrospective study of pregnancies in women with IBD between 2010 and 2020 was carried out in 22 IBD reference centers in Greece.

Insights into Therapeutic Response Prediction for Ustekinumab in Ulcerative Colitis Using an Ensemble Bioinformatics Approach.

Introduction: Optimizing treatment with biological agents is an ideal goal for patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). Recent data suggest that mucosal inflammation patterns and serum cytokine profiles differ between patients who respond and those who do not. Ustekinumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting the p40 subunit of interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-23, has shown promise, but predicting treatment response remains a challenge.

Effectiveness and safety of vedolizumab and infliximab in biologic-naive patients with Crohn's disease: results from the EVOLVE study.

Objectives: This study compared the real-world effectiveness and safety of α 4 β 7 -integrin inhibitor vedolizumab and anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNFα) inhibitor infliximab in biologic-naive patients with Crohn's disease (CD).

Methods: EVOLVE was a retrospective, multicenter, medical chart review of biologic-naive adults with inflammatory bowel disease receiving vedolizumab or anti-TNFα treatment as first-line biologics in Canada, Greece, and the USA. Twelve-month outcomes were analyzed in vedolizumab- or infliximab-treated patients with moderate-to-severe CD (and subgroups with complicated and noncomplicated CD) including cumulative rates of clinical response, clinical remission, and mucosal healing, and incidence rates of serious adverse events (SAEs) and serious infections (SIs).

Anal defecatory function in ulcerative colitis patients after total proctocolectomy and ileal pouch-anal anastomosis: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Total proctocolectomy (TPC) followed by ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) remains the only viable option whenever different treatment modalities fail in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC).

Objective: Prospective cohort pre/post study examining the anal defecatory function and competence in UC patients undergoing TPC plus IPAA using high-resolution anorectal manometry (HR-ARM).

Patients: Patients undergoing TPC and IPAA were enrolled in the study and subjected to HR-ARM prior to and 6 months after surgery.

Curcumin-QingDai Combination for Patients With Active Ulcerative Colitis: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Background & Aims: We evaluated the efficacy of herbal combination of curcumin-QingDai (CurQD) in active ulcerative colitis (UC).

Methods: Part I was an open-label trial of CurQD in patients with active UC, defined by a Simple Clinical Colitis Activity Index score of 5 or higher and a Mayo endoscopic subscore of 2 or higher. Part II was a placebo-controlled trial conducted in Israel and Greece, randomizing active UC patients at a 2:1 ratio to enteric-coated CurQD 3 g/d or placebo for 8 weeks.

Sedation during endoscopic procedures: a Hellenic Society of Gastroenterology Position Statement.

Administration of sedation by non-anesthesiologists during gastrointestinal endoscopy remains highly controversial in Greece. The aim of this set of 16 position statements prepared by experts in the field on behalf of the Hellenic Society of Gastroenterology is to aid gastroenterologists in their everyday clinical practice and provide evidence for the best use of drugs for the sedation of patients who undergo an endoscopy. The statements address issues such as the level of sedation required, the best drugs used, their mode of action, their side-effects and possible ways to counter their action, and were adopted if at least 80% of all participants agreed upon them.

The Inflammatory Bowel Disease-Disk Tool for Assessing Disability in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients: Validation of the Greek Version.

Background: The Inflammatory Bowel Disease-Disk (IBD-Disk) is a physician-administered tool that evaluates the functional status of patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). The aim of our study was to validate the content of the IBD-Disk in a Greek cohort of IBD patients.

Methods: Two questionnaires [the IBD Disk and the IBD-Disability Index (IBD-DI)] were translated into Greek and administered to IBD patients at baseline visit, after 4 weeks and 6 months.

The natural history of COVID-19 in vaccinated inflammatory bowel disease patients.

Aim: Assess the characteristics of break through COVID-19 in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) patients, despite complete vaccination.

Methods: Patients who reported a COVID-19 at least 3 weeks after complete vaccination were asked to answer an on-line anonymous questionnaire which included patient and disease characteristics, vaccination history, and the evolution of COVID-19.

Results: Among 3240 IBD patients who reported complete vaccination between 1st May 2021 and 30thJune 2022, 402 (12.

Assessment of Dietary Adequacy and Quality in a Sample of Patients with Crohn's Disease.

Both under-and over-nutrition are prevalent in patients with Crohn's Disease (CD). The aim of the present study was to evaluate dietary intake and compare it with relevant recommendations during active disease and remission, also taking into consideration the adequacy of energy reporting. Dietary quality was assessed through adherence to the Mediterranean diet and to the European dietary guidelines for cardiovascular disease prevention (CVD-score).

Post-inflammatory Polyp Burden as a Prognostic Marker of Disease-outcome in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Background And Aims: Post-inflammatory polyps [PIPs] are considered as indicators of previous episodes of severe inflammation and mucosal ulceration. Inflammatory bowel disease [IBD], namely Crohn's disease [CD] and ulcerative colitis [UC], exhibit a perpetuating, relapsing and remitting pattern, and PIPs are a frequent sequela of chronicity. The aim of this study was to determine whether a high PIP burden is associated with a more severe disease course in patients with IBD.

The ulcerative colitis narrative Greece survey: patients' and physicians' perspective on quality of life and disease management.

Background: Using data from the ulcerative colitis (UC) narrative Greece survey, part of a global survey of patients and physicians, we aimed to identify the impact of UC on patients' lives and to compare patients' and gastroenterologists' responses to questions relating to communication during the management of UC in our country.

Methods: The survey was conducted online by The Harris Poll, and included 95 patients and 51 gastroenterologists. Eligible were adult UC patients who had seen a gastroenterologist in the past 12 months and had at some time taken a prescription medication (excluding those who had only ever taken 5-aminosalicylates).

Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Have Impaired Antibody Production After Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination: Results From a Panhellenic Registry.

Background: Four EMA-approved vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 are currently available. Data regarding antibody responses to initial vaccination regimens in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are limited.

Methods: We conducted a prospective, controlled, multicenter study in tertiary Greek IBD centers.

Poor performance of predictive equations to estimate resting energy expenditure in patients with Crohn's disease.

Studies exploring the accuracy of equations calculating Resting Energy Expenditure (REE) in patients with Crohn's disease are lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate the accuracy of REE predictive equations against indirect calorimetry in Crohn's disease patients. REE was measured using indirect calorimetry (mREE) after an overnight fasting.

IOIBD Recommendations for Clinical Trials in Ulcerative Proctitis: The PROCTRIAL Consensus.

Background & Aims: Clinical trials evaluating biologics and small molecules in patients with ulcerative colitis are predominantly excluding ulcerative proctitis. The objective of the Definition and endpoints for ulcerative PROCtitis in clinical TRIALs initiative was to develop consensus statements for definitions, inclusion criteria, and endpoints for the evaluation of ulcerative proctitis in adults.

Methods: Thirty-five international experts held a consensus meeting to define ulcerative proctitis, and the endpoints to use in clinical trials.

Real-World Use and Adverse Events of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination in Greek Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Since inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients were excluded from vaccine authorization studies, limited knowledge exists regarding perceptions and unfavorable effects of COVID-19 vaccination in this group. We aimed to investigate the real-world use and adverse events (AEs) of COVID-19 vaccines in Greek IBD patients. Fully vaccinated IBD patients followed in Greek centers were invited to participate.

Endpoints for extraintestinal manifestations in inflammatory bowel disease trials: the EXTRA consensus from the International Organization for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.

Extraintestinal manifestations occur frequently in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and remain a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. The aim of the Endpoints for Extraintestinal Manifestations in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Trials (EXTRA) initiative was to achieve international expert consensus on how to assess these manifestations in IBD trials. A systematic literature review was done to identify methods to diagnose extraintestinal manifestations in patients with IBD and measure treatment outcomes.

The natural history of COVID-19 in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a nationwide study by the Hellenic Society for the study of IBD.

Objectives: COVID-19 has evolved into a global health crisis, variably affecting the management of patients with chronic illnesses. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may represent a vulnerable population due to frequent administration of immune-modifying treatments. We aimed to depict the natural history of COVID-19 infection in Greek patients with IBD at a nationwide level via unbiased reporting of all cases that were registered during the sequential waves of the pandemic.

Informed consent in inflammatory bowel disease: a necessity in real-world clinical practice.

In modern medicine, any medical intervention has to be supported by a patient's informed consent. Challenges to this process include the specificity and complexity of medical information being provided, the patient's ability to comprehend the information, the medical uncertainty of the outcomes, and the physician's legal concerns. Important elements of the consent process are respect for the patient's autonomy and self-determination, appropriate disclosure and verification of their understanding, and voluntariness.

Response to Anti-α4β7 Blockade in Patients With Ulcerative Colitis Is Associated With Distinct Mucosal Gene Expression Profiles at Baseline.

Background: Improving treatment outcomes with biological therapy is a demanding current need for patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Discovery of pretreatment prognostic indicators of response may facilitate patient selection and increase long-term remission rates. We aimed to identify baseline mucosal gene expression profiles with predictive value for subsequent response to or failure of treatment with the monoclonal antibody against integrin α4β7, vedolizumab, in patients with active ulcerative colitis (UC).

Effect of golimumab on health-related quality of life, other patient-reported outcomes and healthcare resource utilization in patients with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis: a real-world multicenter, noninterventional, observational study in Greece.

Background And Aims: This real-world study assessed the impact of golimumab on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and other patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in patients with ulcerative colitis over 12 months in Greece.

Methods: GO-LIFE was a noninterventional, prospective, multicenter, 12-month study. Patients who had moderately-to-severely active ulcerative colitis were naïve to antitumor necrosis factor (anti-TNFα) therapy and had failed previous conventional therapy.