COVID-19 in Children and Vitamin D.

In December 2019, the so-called "coronavirus disease 2019" (COVID-19) began. This disease is characterized by heterogeneous clinical manifestations, ranging from an asymptomatic process to life-threatening conditions associated with a "cytokine storm". This article (narrative review) summarizes the epidemiologic characteristics and clinical manifestations of COVID-19 and multi-system inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C).

Autoimmune Thyroiditis and Vitamin D.

Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is marked by self-tissue destruction as a consequence of an alteration in the adaptive immune response that entails the evasion of immune regulation. Vitamin D carries out an immunomodulatory role that appears to promote immune tolerance. The aim of this study is to elaborate a narrative review of the relationship between vitamin D status and HT and the role of vitamin D supplementation in reducing HT risk by modulating the immune system.

Pregnancy, Breastfeeding, and Vitamin D.

Exclusive breastfeeding is considered the ideal food in the first six months of life; however, paradoxically, vitamin D content in human breast milk is clearly low and insufficient to obtain the recommended intake of 400 IU daily. This article summarizes the extraordinary metabolism of vitamin D during pregnancy and its content in human breast milk. The prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in pregnant women and/or nursing mothers and its potential maternal-fetal consequences are analyzed.

IGF1R is a mediator of sex-specific metabolism in mice: Effects of age and high-fat diet.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the short and long-term metabolic consequences of IGF1R systemic gene deficiency in mice.

Methods: mutant mice were used to suppress IGF1R signaling in adult tissues by inducing postnatal generalized deletion with tamoxifen. Animals were analyzed at two different ages: ) 13-weeks old young mice, and ) 12-months old middle-aged mice.

Vitamin D status and parathyroid hormone assessment in girls with central precocious puberty.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to analyze vitamin D status and PTH concentrations in 6- to 8-year-old girls with central precocious puberty.

Methods: A cross-sectional clinical and blood testing study (calcium, phosphorus, 25(OH)D and PTH) was carried out in 78 girls with central precocious puberty (CPP group), aged 6.1-7.

Clip closure to prevent adverse events after EMR of proximal large nonpedunculated colorectal polyps: meta-analysis of individual patient data from randomized controlled trials.

Background And Aims: After EMR, prophylactic clipping is often performed to prevent clinically significant post-EMR bleeding (CSPEB) and other adverse events (AEs). Prior evidence syntheses have lacked sufficient power to assess clipping in relevant subgroups or in nonbleeding AEs. We performed a meta-analysis of individual patient data (IPD) from randomized trials assessing the efficacy of clipping to prevent AEs after EMR of proximal large nonpedunculated colorectal polyps (LNPCPs) ≥20 mm.

Vitamin D and Parathyroid Hormone during Growth Hormone Treatment.

Background. There is some controversy concerning a potential interaction between vitamin D and PTH and the GH/IGF-1 axis. The goal of this study is to assess vitamin D and PTH status in children with GH deficiency at diagnostic and during treatment with rhGH.

Hyper-androgenemia and obesity in early-pubertal girls.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the hormonal profile in early-pubertal girls with obesity. We hypothesized that these patients might already present hormonal alterations with POCS-like features.

Methods: Cross-sectional study in a sample of 283 peri-pubertal girls (prepubertal and early-puberty subgroups), aged 6.

Endoscopic anti-reflux therapy for gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease has an increasing incidence and prevalence worldwide. A significant proportion of patients have a suboptimal response to proton pump inhibitors or are unwilling to take lifelong medication due to concerns about long-term adverse effects. Endoscopic anti-reflux therapies offer a minimally invasive option for patients unwilling to undergo surgical treatment or take lifelong medication.

Biomarkers for Gastric Cancer Screening and Early Diagnosis.

Gastric cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide, with a bad prognosis associated with late-stage diagnosis, significantly decreasing the overall survival. This highlights the importance of early detection to improve the clinical course of these patients. Although screening programs, based on endoscopic or radiologic approaches, have been useful in countries with high incidence, they are not cost-effective in low-incidence populations as a massive screening strategy.

A Proteomic Atlas of Lineage and Cancer-Polarized Expression Modules in Myeloid Cells Modeling Immunosuppressive Tumor-Infiltrating Subsets.

Monocytic and granulocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells together with tumor-infiltrating macrophages constitute the main tumor-infiltrating immunosuppressive myeloid populations. Due to the phenotypic resemblance to conventional myeloid cells, their identification and purification from within the tumors is technically difficult and makes their study a challenge. We differentiated myeloid cells modeling the three main tumor-infiltrating types together with uncommitted macrophages, using ex vivo differentiation methods resembling the tumor microenvironment.

Implementation of endoscopic submucosal dissection in a country with a low incidence of gastric cancer: Results from a prospective national registry.

Introduction: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has become the treatment of choice for early gastric malignancies. In recent years, the ESD technique has been implemented in Western countries with increasing use.

Objectives: To describe the results of gastric ESD in a Western country with a low incidence of gastric cancer.

The Role of Clips in Preventing Delayed Bleeding After Colorectal Polyp Resection: An Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis.

Background & Aims: Nonpedunculated colorectal polyps are normally endoscopically removed to prevent neoplastic progression. Delayed bleeding is the most common major adverse event. Clipping the resection defect has been suggested to reduce delayed bleedings.

Stay Connected and Up To Date: GI Meetings and Seminars and the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic.

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 has become an unprecedented global health and societal problem. The rapid spreading of this pandemic, together with the absence of effective treatments or vaccines, has led governments around the world to take drastic actions, including limiting the free movement of citizens, establishing maximum capacities and enforcing social distancing measures, among others. Consequently, major medical congresses, meetings, conferences, and workshops have been either cancelled or delayed.

Implementation of a peroral endoscopic myotomy program.

Introduction: the aim of our study was to develop a peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) program in our Unit following a two-step sequence: training on animal models and supervision by an experienced endoscopist during the first human cases.

Methods: a single endoscopist experienced in advanced endoscopy was trained in POEM. After observing POEM in referral centers, training was implemented on swine models (preclinical phase).

COVID-19 and endoscopic management of superficial gastrointestinal neoplastic lesions: a multinational cross-sectional survey.

Introduction: We aimed to report the impact of the pandemic lockdown period on the treatment and prognosis of superficial gastrointestinal neoplastic lesions.

Methods: A survey was completed by 11 centers from four continents regarding postponements during the early lockdown period of the pandemic, and the same period in 2019.

Results: In 2020, 55 % of the scheduled procedures were deferred, which was 11 times higher than in 2019; the main reasons were directly related to COVID-19.

Safety and effectiveness of peroral endoscopic myotomy in patients on antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy: an international multicenter case-control study.

Background And Aims: The risk of bleeding and thromboembolic events in patients undergoing peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) who are receiving antithrombotic therapy is unknown. Our primary aim was to assess the safety of POEM in this patient subset. Secondary outcomes were rates of clinical success, GERD, and procedure-related outcomes.

Telomere length correlates with subtelomeric DNA methylation in long-term mindfulness practitioners.

Mindfulness and meditation techniques have proven successful for the reduction of stress and improvement in general health. In addition, meditation is linked to longevity and longer telomere length, a proposed biomarker of human aging. Interestingly, DNA methylation changes have been described at specific subtelomeric regions in long-term meditators compared to controls.

Risk of neoplastic change in large gastric hyperplastic polyps and recurrence after endoscopic resection.

Background: Gastric hyperplastic polyps (GHPs) have a risk of neoplastic transformation reaching 5 %. Current endoscopic resection techniques appear suboptimal with a high risk of local recurrence. This study assessed the outcomes of endoscopic resection for GHPs and identified risk factors for recurrence and neoplastic transformation.