Treatment targets in IBD: is it time for new strategies?

Inflammatory bowel diseases' traditional management focused primarily on symptom control, often failing to prevent long-term complications such as disease progression, disabilities, hospitalizations and surgeries. The introduction of biologics and small molecules has revolutionized IBD management, enhancing inflammation control. A pivotal advance in this field is represented by the Treat-to-Target approach, which prioritizes the achievement of specific goals like endoscopic remission and biomarker normalization, thus moving beyond symptomatic relief.

The Role of Vitamin D in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: From Deficiency to Targeted Therapeutics and Precise Nutrition Strategies.

Background: Vitamin D plays a crucial role in immune modulation, gut barrier integrity, and inflammation regulation, making it highly relevant in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). IBD patients often exhibit vitamin D deficiency, which has been linked to increased disease activity, impaired mucosal healing, and a higher risk of complications, including infections and osteoporosis.

Methods: This review examines the biological functions of vitamin D in maintaining intestinal homeostasis, particularly in the context of IBD.

Advancing Therapeutic Targets in IBD: Emerging Goals and Precision Medicine Approaches.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) including Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) are chronic, relapsing conditions characterized by dysregulated immune responses and persistent intestinal inflammation. This review aims to examine new potential therapeutic targets in IBD starting from the STRIDE-II statements. Key targets now include clinical remission, endoscopic remission, and biomarker normalization (such as C-reactive protein and fecal calprotectin).

Role of Probiotics in the Management of Patients with Ulcerative Colitis and Pouchitis.

Acute severe ulcerative colitis (ASUC) often requires surgical intervention, such as proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA). While IPAA improves patient outcomes, it can be associated with pouchitis, a common and debilitating complication characterized by inflammation of the pouch. The development of pouchitis is closely linked to dysbiosis-an imbalance in the gut microbiota.

Venous Thromboembolism in Patients with Neuroendocrine Neoplasms: A Systematic Review of Incidence, Types, and Clinical Outcomes.

: Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) are a heterogeneous group of tumors with unique biological characteristics and complications, including thromboembolism. This systematic review evaluates the incidence, types, and clinical outcomes of venous thromboembolic events (VTEs) in NEN patients. : A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, and Embase was conducted to identify studies on TEs in NENs.

Raising the bar in ulcerative colitis management.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease characterized by growing incidence and prevalence around the world in the last few decades. The range of available existing treatment and strategies for its management is being implemented. Given the introduction of newly developed molecules and the lack of specific guidelines, drug positioning may represent a tough clinical challenge.

The Role of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in IBD.

Gut microbiota dysbiosis has a critical role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases, prompting the exploration of novel therapeutic approaches like fecal microbiota transplantation, which involves the transfer of fecal microbiota from a healthy donor to a recipient with the aim of restoring a balanced microbial community and attenuating inflammation. Fecal microbiota transplantation may exert beneficial effects in inflammatory bowel disease through modulation of immune responses, restoration of mucosal barrier integrity, and alteration of microbial metabolites. It could alter disease course and prevent flares, although long-term durability and safety data are lacking.