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.