Autoimmune atrophic gastritis causes achlorhydria, which may predispose to gastrointestinal microbial overgrowth (MO). We sought to evaluate the association between autoimmune atrophic gastritis and MO.

The use of mesalamine for the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) is common, and may rarely cause nephrotoxicity. One of the clinical signs of nephropathy is hematuria or dark urine. We aimed to evaluate the effect of hypochlorous acid (HA) found in household bleach on the color of urine among pediatric UC subjects treated with mesalamine.

Serrated polyps account for up to 30% of colorectal cancer cases and are linked to interval cancers. Due to their clinical relevance and frequent underdiagnosis, this study evaluated the epidemiological profile, endoscopic and histopathological characteristics, and subtypes of serrated polyps, including those occurring synchronously with conventional adenomas.

Esophageal cancer (EC) is one of the most common malignant tumors in China, with the number of new cases and deaths accounting for about half of the global total, imposing a heavy burden of disease. The latest epidemiological statistics on EC can help policymakers allocate resources for EC prevention, treatment, and care.

Current treatment strategies for symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease (SUDD) remain controversial. Nutraceuticals could be potential adjuvant treatments to reduce symptoms and improve Quality of Life (QoL).

The distinction between benign and neoplastic bile duct strictures remains challenging. Pathologic assessment of ERCP-obtained specimens has limited sensitivity, particularly among patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). Next-generation sequencing (NGS) of bile duct specimens provides a promising diagnostic approach; but a prospective, multi-institutional, and comprehensive DNA/RNA analysis is lacking.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is the principal cause of peptic ulcer disease, MALT lymphoma and non-cardia gastric cancer. The major advances in diagnostics and treatment, eradication success are threatened by rising antimicrobial resistance and concerns about disruption of the normal microbiome. This review summarizes current unresolved issues in H. pylori treatment, with a focus on resistance, optimal regimens, ecological impact, and emerging therapies.

This case series characterizes enema- and catheter-induced rectal injuries as an underrecognized iatrogenic cause of life-threatening lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB). By focusing on elderly, high-risk patients, we highlight the diagnostic complexities and management strategies associated with these routine yet potentially catastrophic anorectal procedures.

Celiac disease is an immune-mediated enteropathy triggered by gluten ingestion. The effect of very small gluten exposures remains uncertain, contributing to international variations in food-labelling standards. Interleukin-2 rises rapidly after gluten ingestion serving as a biomarker of immune activation. We aimed to identify the lowest gluten dose that elicits a measurable interleukin-2 response and accompanying symptoms in treated celiac disease.

Immune-mediated inflammatory diseases are undergoing a paradigm shift from treatment of established pathology toward prevention in at-risk individuals. Celiac disease (CeD), driven by an aberrant immune response to dietary gluten in genetically predisposed subjects, represents an ideal model to investigate the transition from tolerance to autoimmunity. Within this framework, potential celiac disease (PCD)-defined by CeD-specific autoantibodies in the absence of villous atrophy-has emerged as a clinically relevant condition whose natural history, heterogeneity, and predictors of progression are increasingly understood. Immunological studies reveal that PCD is characterized by a blunted Th1 response, preserved regulatory pathways, reduced epithelial stress signalling, and incomplete licensing of cytotoxic IELs, preventing tissue destruction. This distinct immunological landscape makes PCD a unique window to dissect mechanisms underlying loss of tolerance and to explore preventive strategies. Only a subset of PCD individuals progress to active CeD, with the highest risk concentrated in the first years following seroconversion, while other even stop producing autoantibodies despite consuming gluten. Clinical management remains controversial, but current guidelines discourage routine gluten-free diet (GFD) in asymptomatic PCD both in children and in adults. In conclusion, PCD represents a heterogeneous but highly informative condition positioned at the crossroads between genetic susceptibility and mucosal damage. The identification of reliable progression markers and the development of targeted preventive interventions could transform CeD management and contribute broadly to the understanding and prevention of organ-specific autoimmunity.

Postoperative biliary and vascular complications (including stenosis, thrombosis, and occlusion) after liver transplantation (LT) can impair graft function, increase reoperation needs, and elevate patient mortality, significantly affecting long-term survival. The clinical reference standards magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) for biliary complications is expensive and time-consuming, while computed tomography angiography (CTA) for vascular complication involves ionizing radiation and allergic reaction to contrast agents, limiting their repeated use during follow-up. Ultrasound viscoelastic imaging (UVI), an affordable, non-invasive technique, could be an effective alternative. This study aims to assess the clinical value of UVI in auxiliary diagnosis of biliary and vascular complications post-LT.

Hepatic steatosis, characterized by excessive triglyceride accumulation within hepatocytes, is the central feature of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This spectrum encompasses simple steatosis, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), progressive fibrosis, and cirrhosis. NAFLD pathogenesis involves an intricate interplay between nutritional factors, metabolic dysregulation, and genetic predisposition. Evidence suggests hyperuricemia is an independent risk factor for NAFLD, with elevated serum uric acid (SUA) levels associated with increased steatosis severity and fibrosis advancement. This study investigated the association between SUA levels and liver involvement—specifically ultrasound-assessed steatosis grading and elastography-measured liver stiffness—in patients with NAFLD.

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has become a powerful experimental tool for dissecting microbiota-driven mechanisms in murine models of gastrointestinal and systemic disease. This review provides a comprehensive methodological and translational overview of FMT in mice, focusing on lessons learned from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) research and emerging perspectives in short bowel syndrome (SBS). We first outline the fundamental role of the gut microbiota in immune regulation, metabolic homeostasis, and maintenance of epithelial barrier integrity, establishing the rationale for modulating microbial communities through FMT. A detailed methodological analysis follows, highlighting how donor selection, recipient conditioning, sample handling, administration route, and environmental variables critically influence microbial engraftment and experimental reproducibility. The review then synthesizes current evidence from key murine IBD models, demonstrating that FMT can restore epithelial integrity, rebalance adaptive immunity, modulate cytokine networks, and enrich beneficial short-chain fatty-acid-producing taxa. Concepts such as functional engraftment, viability of transferred communities, and host-microbe metabolic interactions are discussed as central determinants of FMT efficacy. Finally, we address the emerging but challenging application of FMT in SBS. Profound alterations in intestinal anatomy, transit, oxygen tension, and substrate availability limit the integration of donor microbiota in SBS models, necessitating adapted strategies such as anaerobic handling, pre-conditioned consortia, synbiotics, and optimized delivery systems. Piglet models and computational approaches for donor-recipient matching are highlighted as promising translational tools. Overall, this review underscores the need for methodological standardization and physiologically tailored approaches to advance the reliability, mechanistic insight, and translational potential of FMT in both IBD and SBS.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), comprising Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's disease, represent a chronic condition of the gastrointestinal tract characterized by an immunological alteration and weakening of mucosal barrier. Mucosal healing and inflammation resolution have emerged as critical therapeutic goals, strongly associated with sustained remission and improved clinical outcomes. Over the years, numerous studies have explored various therapeutic strategies, with increasing focus on biologics and small molecules. One of the emerging immunological targets in IBD is the interleukin 33 (IL-33) / suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (ST2) axis, which exhibits both proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory functions. Evidence from in-vitro and in-vivo studies highlights the involvement of IL-33/ST2 signaling in epithelial regeneration and mucosal healing, but also in pathogenesis of the disease. Several approaches to modulate this axis have been explored, including monoclonal antibodies, receptor antagonists, and small molecules. Concurrently, in-silico molecular design represents a promising strategy for identifying novel therapeutic agents. In particular, numerous computer-aided drug design (CADD) studies have focused on the IL-33/ST2 complex and its role in maintaining intestinal barrier function. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the IL-33/ST2 axis in IBD, on mucosal healing and potential modulation strategies, such as computational approaches.

The combination of hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) and high-barrier nucleos(t)ide analogues (hbNUCs) is widely considered the standard of care for preventing hepatitis B virus (HBV) recurrence after liver transplantation (LT). However, clinical practices in Italy remains heterogenous, particularly regarding HBIG dosage, administration intervals, formulation choice, and selection of patients eligible for hbNUCs monotherapy or short-course HBIG regimens. This modified Delphi panel aimed to characterize current Italian practices for HBV prophylaxis after LT, focusing on patient risk stratification and HBIG management.

The oncologic safety of laparoscopic-assisted surgery for synchronous colorectal cancer (SCRC), a distinct high-risk subgroup, remains under-investigated. This study aimed to compare the short-term and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic-assisted versus open surgery for SCRC.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential role of intestinal ultrasound scan (IUS) in predicting short-term treatment outcomes in pediatric acute severe ulcerative colitis (ASUC).

Neural networks constitute a crucial component of the tumor microenvironment that remains underexplored in pancreatic carcinogenesis. This study systematically investigated the reciprocal interactions between acinar-to-ductal metaplasia (ADM) and neural remodeling during pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) initiation and progression.

Molecular phenotyping of Crohn's disease (CD) trajectories after ileocolonic resection (ICR) enables the identification of evolving disease mechanisms and related biomarker discovery. Here, we aimed at identifying a pathogenic node with predictive value for endoscopic disease recurrence after ICR in CD.

Adverse experiences during early life can disrupt gut-brain axis development, but the mechanisms linking early life stress (ELS) to long-term gastrointestinal dysmotility and pain remain unclear.