Association between Ustekinumab Trough Levels, Serum IL-22, and Oncostatin M Levels and Clinical and Biochemical Outcomes in Patients with Crohn's Disease.

Ustekinumab (UST) has demonstrated effectiveness in treating patients with Crohn's disease. Monitoring treatment response can improve disease management and reduce healthcare costs. We investigated whether UST trough levels (TLs), serum IL22, and Oncostatin M (OSM) levels could be early indicators of non-response by analysing their correlation with clinical and biochemical outcomes in CD.

Follow-up evaluation and management of anemia in inflammatory bowel disease: A study by the Italian Group for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IG-IBD).

Background: The RIDART I study found a 13.6% prevalence of anemia in Italian patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); most cases were due to iron-deficiency anemia (IDA).

Aims: To evaluate changes in hemoglobin concentration during a 24-week follow-up of anemic patients with IBD.

Extraintestinal Cancers in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Literature Review.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of chronic multifactorial inflammatory disorders including two major entities: Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Preliminary evidence suggests that patients with IBD may be at increased risk of developing intestinal and extraintestinal cancers (EICs). Actually, little is known about the association between IBD and EICs, and there is ever-growing concern regarding the safety of immunomodulators and biological therapy, which may represent a risk factor for carcinogenesis.

Computer-Aided Imaging Analysis of Probe-Based Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy With Molecular Labeling and Gene Expression Identifies Markers of Response to Biological Therapy in IBD Patients: The Endo-Omics Study.

Background: We aimed to predict response to biologics in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) using computerized image analysis of probe confocal laser endomicroscopy (pCLE) in vivo and assess the binding of fluorescent-labeled biologics ex vivo. Additionally, we investigated genes predictive of anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) response.

Methods: Twenty-nine patients (15 with Crohn's disease [CD], 14 with ulcerative colitis [UC]) underwent colonoscopy with pCLE before and 12 to 14 weeks after starting anti-TNF or anti-integrin α4β7 therapy.

Hereditary Colorectal Cancer Syndromes and Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: an ECCO CONFER Multicentre Case Series.

Background: Hereditary colorectal cancer syndromes [HCCS] are rare polyposis or nonpolyposis syndromes with a higher risk of developing colorectal cancer [CRC]. Coexisting inflammatory bowel disease [IBD], including ulcerative colitis [UC] and Crohn's disease [CD], with HCCS is exceedingly rare and presumably increases the risk of early-onset CRC.

Methods: This was a multicentre case series performed as a part of the European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation [ECCO] Collaborative Network of Exceptionally Rare case reports [CONFER] project.

Chicago classification v4.0 protocol improves specificity and accuracy of diagnosis of oesophagogastric junction outflow obstruction.

Background: Chicago classification version 4.0 (CCv4.0) introduced stringent diagnostic criteria for oesophagogastric junction outflow obstruction (EGJOO), in order to increase the clinical relevance of the diagnosis, although this has not yet been demonstrated.

IDegLira for the Real-World Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes in Italy: Protocol and Interim Results from the REX Observational Study.

Introduction: IDegLira was shown to maintain glycemic control while reducing risk of hypoglycemia and body weight gain. The REX study was designed to generate real-world evidence on the use of IDegLira in Italian clinical practice in two different subgroups of patients, those switching to IDegLira from a basal insulin-supported oral therapy (BOT group) and those from a basal plus bolus insulin regimen (BB group).

Methods: Adult patients with T2D diagnosed for at least 12 months and having started IDegLira 2-3 months prior to enrolment, coming from a BOT or BB regimen, were enrolled in this multicenter observational prospective cohort study conducted in 28 Italian centers.

Salivary microbiota composition may discriminate between patients with eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE) and non-EoE subjects.

Background: Data on the role of the microbiome in adult patients with eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE) are limited.

Aims: To prospectively collect and characterise the salivary, oesophageal and gastric microbiome in patients with EoE, further correlating the findings with disease activity.

Methods: Adult patients with symptoms of oesophageal dysfunction undergoing upper endoscopy were consecutively enrolled.

Differences in early, intermediate, and long-term mortality among elderly patients admitted to the ICU: results of a retrospective observational study.

Background: Few studies have investigated both short- and long-term prognostic factors, and the differences between chronic and acute conditions in the very old critically ill patient. Our study aims to shed light in this field and to provide useful prognostic factors that may support clinical decisions in the management of the elderly.

Methods: Six ICUs collected data concerning 80-year-old (or more) patients admitted in 2015 and 2016 and followed-up until May 2018.

Toward a potential association between eosinophilic esophagitis and Klinefelter syndrome: a case series and review of the literature.

Klinefelter syndrome (KS) is a sex aneuploidy abnormality comprised by one additional X chromosome. It occurs in 1:500-1000 male births. As with women, an increased susceptibility to autoimmune diseases is present.

Biliary Tree Diagnostics: Advances in Endoscopic Imaging and Tissue Sampling.

The diagnostic approach to the biliary tree disorders can be challenging, especially for biliary strictures. Albeit the great diagnostic impact of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) which allows one to obtain fluoroscopic imaging and tissue sampling through brush cytology and/or forceps biopsy, a considerable proportion of cases remain indeterminate, leading to the risk of under/over treated patients. In the last two decades, several endoscopic techniques have been introduced in clinical practice, shrinking cases of uncertainties and improving diagnostic accuracy.

Renal involvement in sarcoidosis: histological patterns and prognosis, an Italian survey.

Background: Granulomatous interstitial nephritis in sarcoidosis (sGIN) is generally clinically silent, but in <1% causes acute kidney injury (AKI).

Methods: This Italian multicentric retrospective study included 39 sarcoidosis-patients with renal involvement at renal biopsy: 31 sGIN-AKI, 5 with other patterns (No-sGIN-AKI), 3 with nephrotic proteinuria. We investigate the predictive value of clinical features, laboratory, radiological parameters and histological patterns regarding steroid response.

Rapid point-of-care anti-infliximab antibodies detection in clinical practice: comparison with ELISA and potential for improving therapeutic drug monitoring in IBD patients.

Anti-drug antibodies can interfere with the activity of anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents by increasing drug clearance direct neutralization. The presence of anti-drug antibodies is clinically relevant when trough drug concentrations are undetectable or sub-therapeutic. However, traditional immunoassay is not easily and rapidly accessible, making the translation of the results into treatment adjustment difficult.

Definition and management of colorectal polyposis not associated with APC/MUTYH germline pathogenic variants: AIFEG consensus statement.

An expert consensus panel convened by the Italian Association for Inherited and Familial Gastrointestinal Tumors (Associazione Italiana per lo Studio della Familiarità ed Ereditarietà dei Tumori Gastrointestinali, AIFEG) reviewed the literature and agreed on a number of position statements regarding the definition and management of polyposis coli without an identified pathogenic mutation on the APC or MUTYH genes, defined in the document as NAMP (non-APC/MUTYH polyposis).

Activities related to inflammatory bowel disease management during and after the coronavirus disease 2019 lockdown in Italy: How to maintain standards of care.

Background And Aims: Restructuring activities have been necessary during the lockdown phase of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Few data are available on the post-lockdown phase in terms of health-care procedures in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) care, and no data are available specifically from IBD units. We aimed to investigate how IBD management was restructured during the lockdown phase, the impact of the restructuring on standards of care and how Italian IBD units have managed post-lockdown activities.