Focal Active Colitis: What Are Its Clinical Implications? A Narrative Review.

Focal active colitis (FAC) is described as a histolopathological term indicating the isolated finding of focal neutrophil infiltration in the colonic crypts. Currently, there exist numerous debates regarding the clinical significance of diagnosing FAC, which may or may not have clinical relevance as it is frequently detected in colorectal biopsies without any other microscopic abnormalities. The objective of this narrative review is to provide an overview of the available evidence concerning the clinical implications of FAC, both in the adult population (among five studies available in the scientific literature) and in the pediatric context (based on two available studies).

Choosing Wisely in Gastroenterology: five new recommendations from the Italian Association of Hospital Gastroenterologists and Endoscopists (AIGO).

Background: 'Choosing Wisely' is an international campaign against inappropriateness in medical practices that aims to promote a rational and evidence-based use of resources. The Italian Association of Hospital Gastroenterologists and Endoscopists (AIGO) joined the Campaign in 2017 releasing five recommendations.

Aims: To identify five new recommendations for a correct, evidence-based approach to the management of gastrointestinal diseases.

Impact of improved upper endoscopy quality on detection of gastric precancerous lesions.

Objective: Intestinal metaplasia (IM) is the point of no return in gastric carcinogenesis, and patients with extensive (antrum plus corpus) IM are at high risk of developing gastric cancer. We evaluated the impact of improved gastroscopy quality on the detection of gastric IM in an Italian area at high risk for gastric cancer.

Methods: Data of consecutive patients with gastric biopsies according to the updated Sydney System observed in 2013, 2016 and 2019 resulting in IM diagnosis were retrieved.

Premedication with simethicone and N-acetylcysteine for improving mucosal visibility during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in a Western population.

 Pre-endoscopic use of a preparation with tensioactive and mucolytic agents improved gastric mucosa visualization in Eastern studies. Data on Western population are scanty.  This prospective, endoscopist-blinded, randomized study enrolled patients who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy in a single center.

Laboratory markers included in the Corona Score can identify false negative results on COVID-19 RT-PCR in the emergency room.

After December 2019 outbreak in China, the novel Coronavirus infection (COVID-19) has very quickly overflowed worldwide. Infection causes a clinical syndrome encompassing a wide range of clinical features, from asymptomatic or oligosymptomatic course to acute respiratory distress and death. In a very recent work we preliminarily observed that several laboratory tests have been shown as characteristically altered in COVID-19.