Therapeutic Advances in Gastroenterology

BACKGROUND: Biological therapies have revolutionized the treatment of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Infliximab (IFX) has been shown to be effective in inducing and maintaining remission in patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. However, about one-third of the patients are primary non-responders, and up to half can lose response over time. Hence, it is important to assess which factors are related to treatment failure. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to identify factors predicting clinical and endoscopic remission with IFX treatment during maintenance therapy in a Brazilian IBD referral center...

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the common and fatal cancers. Even though the Tumor, Node, Metastasis (TNM) staging system is the most classical staging system recognized worldwide, it has been controversial because there are various factors affecting the prognosis of GC patients. OBJECTIVES: The study aims to evaluate the relationship between interleukin-6 (IL-6) and several clinical indicators and construct a prognostic model to better predict the prognosis of GC...

BACKGROUND: Peptic ulcer disease has been a major threat to the world's population, which remains a significant cause of hospitalization worldwide and healthcare resource utilization. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to describe the global burden, trends, and inequalities of peptic ulcer disease. DESIGN: An observational study was conducted. METHODS: In this secondary analysis of the Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2019, we extracted data for age-standardized incidence rates (ASIRs), disability-adjusted life year rates (ASDRs), and mortality rates (ASMRs); then, we stratified by age, level of regionals, and country; subsequently, we calculated estimated annual percentage changes (EAPC) of ASIR, ASDR, ASMR, and quantified cross-country inequalities in peptic ulcer disease mortality...

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are chronic illnesses with significant morbidities and impact on patients' quality of life. There has been a rapid increase in the incidence of IBD in East Asia in recent decades. However, there is a huge unmet need in the diagnosis and management of IBD in this region. With the increasing awareness of IBD in East Asia and a persistently high rate of tuberculosis in this region, this poses a significant challenge in the diagnosis and management of IBD. In this review, we will explore the barriers to the diagnosis and management of IBD in the East Asia, hoping to provide an insight on how to improve the healthcare system in the management of this complex disease...

BACKGROUND: Current guidelines strongly recommend the use of validated classifications to support optical diagnosis of lesions with advanced endoscopic imaging in the lower gastrointestinal tract. However, the optimal strategy in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is still a matter of debate. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the accuracy of endoscopic classifications or single predictors for in vivo lesion characterization during endoscopic surveillance of IBD with advanced endoscopic imaging...

BACKGROUND: Beverage consumption was found to be associated with cardiovascular disease and mortality in the general population. However, it is unclear whether this association still exists in individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). OBJECTIVES: To investigate the associations of sugar-sweetened beverages, artificially sweetened beverages, and natural juices with cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality among individuals with IBD. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study...

BACKGROUND: The operative link for the gastritis assessment (OLGA) system can objectively reflect the stratification of gastric cancer risk in patients with chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG). OBJECTIVES: We developed a real-time video monitoring model for the endoscopic diagnosis of CAG and OLGA staging based on U-Net deep learning (DL). To further validate and improve its performance, we designed a study to evaluate the diagnostic evaluation indices. DESIGN: A prospective nested case-control study...

BACKGROUND: Nivolumab plus chemotherapy (NC) was recently approved as the first-line intervention for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative advanced gastric/gastroesophageal junction cancer (GC/GEJC). Moreover, in the latest KEYNOTE-859 (NCT03675737), pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy (PC) was demonstrated to produce remarkable patient survival outcomes. OBJECTIVES: The clinicians and patients need to assess NC and PC preference for cancer drugs. DESIGN: The cost-effective analysis...

BACKGROUND: Transarterial radioembolization (TARE) is increasingly used in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This treatment can induce or impair portal hypertension, leading to hepatic decompensation. TARE also promotes changes in liver and spleen volumes that may modify therapeutic decisions and outcomes after therapy. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to investigate the impact of TARE on the incidence of decompensation events and its predictive factors. DESIGN: In all, 63 consecutive patients treated with TARE between February 2012 and December 2018 were retrospectively included...

BACKGROUND: Magnetically controlled capsule endoscopy (MCCE) is a non-invasive, painless, comfortable, and safe equipment to diagnose gastrointestinal diseases (GID), partially overcoming the shortcomings of conventional endoscopy and wireless capsule endoscopy (WCE). With advancements in technology, the main technical parameters of MCCE have continuously been improved, and MCCE has become more intelligent. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this systematic review was to summarize the research progress of MCCE and artificial intelligence (AI) in the diagnosis and treatment of GID...

BACKGROUND: Drainage exceeding 50% of total liver volume is a beneficial prognostic factor in patients with unresectable malignant hilar biliary obstruction (UMHBO). However, it is unclear what threshold percentage of total liver volume drained ('liver drainage rate') significantly improves survival in patients with UMHBO who received systemic chemotherapy. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to assess the optimal liver drainage rate that improves survival in patients with UMHBO receiving chemotherapy using a three-dimensional (3D)-image volume analyzer...

BACKGROUND: Technical tips for device insertion during endoscopic ultrasound-guided hepaticogastrostomy (EUS-HGS) have not been reported. To improve the technical success rate of device insertion without unnecessary tract dilation, the pushing force should be transmitted directly from the channel of the echoendoscope to the intrahepatic bile duct. OBJECTIVES: We developed a novel technique, termed the 'moving scope technique', the feasibility of which during EUS-HGS is described...

BACKGROUND: The International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement has selected the self-administered comorbidity questionnaire (SCQ) to adjust case-mix when comparing outcomes of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treatment between healthcare providers. However, the SCQ has not been validated for use in IBD patients. OBJECTIVES: We assessed the validity of the SCQ for measuring comorbidities in IBD patients. DESIGN: Cohort study. METHODS: We assessed the criterion validity of the SCQ for IBD patients by comparing patient-reported and clinician-reported comorbidities (as noted in the electronic health record) of the 13 diseases of the SCQ using Cohen's kappa...

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is one of the most common acute abdominal conditions, and its incidence has been increasing for years. Approximately 15-20% of patients develop severe AP (SAP), which is complicated by critical inflammatory injury and intestinal dysfunction. AP-associated inflammation can lead to the gut barrier and function damage, causing dysbacteriosis and facilitating intestinal microbiota migration. Pancreatic exocrine deficiency and decreased levels of antimicrobial peptides in AP can also lead to abnormal growth of intestinal bacteria...

The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of white light colon capsule endoscopy's current clinical application, concentrating on its most recent developments. Second-generation colon capsule endoscopy (CCE2) is approved by the FDA for use as an adjunctive test in patients with incomplete colonoscopy and within Europe in patients at average risk, those with incomplete colonoscopies or those unwilling to undergo conventional colonoscopies. Since the publication of European Society of GI Endoscopy guidelines on the use of CCE, there has been a significant increase in comparative studies on the diagnostic yield of CCE...

BACKGROUND: Miss rate of colorectal neoplasia is associated with lesion histology, size, morphology, or location. OBJECTIVES: We aim to compare the efficacy of Linked color imaging (LCI) versus white light imaging (WLI) for adenoma detection rate (ADR), the detection of sessile serrated lesions (SSLs), serrated lesions (SLs), advanced adenomas (AAs), diminutive lesions (DLs), and flat lesions (FLs) by using per-patient and per-lesion analysis based on randomized controlled trials (RCTs)...

BACKGROUND: Treatments for inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) have evolved in the era of biologics. However, the real-world data on their usage patterns and sequencing are still limited. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to investigate treatment persistence and dose intensification of first- and second-line biologics in patients with IBD. DESIGN: In this retrospective, cohort study using nationwide claims data, 13,087 patients with IBD initiating biologic therapy between 2010 and 2020 were identified...

Glycogen storage disease type Ib (GSD Ib) is a rare hereditary glycogen disorder that results in inadequate maintenance of glucose homeostasis, accumulation of glycogen in different organs, loss and dysfunction of neutrophils. Crohn's-like disease is observed in up to 24-77% of GDS Ib cases. Recently, empagliflozin has been recommended as a treatment for neutrophil dysfunction in GDS Ib patients with or without Crohn's-like disease. There are no guidelines for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) manifestation in GSD Ib patients, although some cases have been treated with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and others with IBD conventional therapy, resulting in partial IBD remission...

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on medical education and gastroenterology fellowship training. As a result of the pandemic, a trainee's physical safety, mental health and wellness, clinical and procedural training, and educational opportunities were all potentially altered. Changes necessitated at the start of the pandemic were different than those needed further along in the pandemic course. Fellowship programs were required to modify policies and adapt to changes rapidly to advocate for their trainees and ensure quality education...

BACKGROUND: The Rutgeerts score (RS) is widely used to predict postoperative recurrence after ileocolonic resection for Crohn's disease (CD) based on the severity of lesions at the neoterminal ileum and anastomosis (RS i0-i4). However, the value of anastomotic ulcers remains controversial. OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to establish a nomogram model incorporating ileal and anastomotic lesions separately to predict the long-term outcomes of CD after ileal or ileocolonic resection...