Fecal calprotectin and endoscopic scores: The cornerstones in clinical practice for evaluating mucosal healing in inflammatory bowel disease

Managing inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)is becoming increasingly complex and personalized,considering the advent of new advanced therapies with distinct mechanisms of action.Achieving mucosal healing(MH)is a pivotal therapeutic goal in IBD management and can prevent IBD progression and reduce flares,hospitalization,surgery,intestinal damage,and colorectal cancer.Employing proactive disease and therapy assessment is essential to achieve better control of intestinal inflammation,even if subclinical,to alter the natural course of IBD.Periodic monitoring of fecal calprotectin(FC)levels and interval endoscopic evaluations are cornerstones for evaluating response/remission to advanced therapies targeting IBD,assessing MH,and detecting subclinical recurrence.Here,we comment on the article by Ishida et al Moreover,this editorial aimed to review the role of FC and endoscopic scores in predicting MH in patients with IBD.Furthermore,we intend to present some evidence on the role of these markers in future targets,such as histological and transmural healing.Additional prospective multicenter studies with a stricter MH criterion,standardized endoscopic and histopathological analyses,and virtual chromoscopy,potentially including artificial intelligence and other biomarkers,are desired.

Interaction between diet and genetics in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

In this editorial,we comment on the article by Marangoni et al,published in the recent issue of the World Journal of Gastroenterology 2023;29:5618-5629,about“Diet as an epigenetic factor in inflammatory bowel disease”.The authors emphasized the role of diet,especially the interaction with genetics,in promoting the inflam-matory process in inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)patients,focusing on DNA methylation,histone modifications,and the influence of microRNAs.In this editorial,we explore the interaction between genetics,gut microbiota,and diet,in an only way.Furthermore,we provided dietary recommendations for patients with IBD.The Western diet,characterized by a low fiber content and deficiency the micronutrients,impacts short-chain fatty acids production and may be related to the pathogenesis of IBD.On the other hand,the consumption of the Mediter-ranean diet and dietary fibers are associated with reduced risk of IBD flares,particularly in Crohn’s disease(CD)patients.According to the dietary guidance from the International Organization for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases(IOIBD),the regular consumption of fruits and vegetables while reducing the consumption of saturated,trans,dairy fat,additives,processed foods rich in maltodextrins,and artificial sweeteners containing sucralose or saccharine is recommended to CD patients.For patients with ulcerative colitis,the IOIBD recommends the increased intake of natural sources of omega-3 fatty acids and follows the same restrictive recommendations aimed at CD patients,with the possible inclusion of red meats.In conclusion,IBD is a complex and hetero-geneous disease,and future studies are needed to elucidate the influence of epigenetics on diet and microbiota in IBD patients.

MicroRNAs in inflammatory bowel disease:What do we know and what can we expect?

MicroRNAs(miRNAs),small non-coding RNAs composed of 18–24 nucleotides,are potent regulators of gene expression,contributing to the regulation of more than 30%of protein-coding genes.Considering that miRNAs are regulators of inflammatory pathways and the differentiation of intestinal epithelial cells,there is an interest in exploring their importance in inflammatory bowel disease(IBD).IBD is a chronic and multifactorial disease of the gastrointestinal tract;the main forms are Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.Several studies have investigated the dysregulated expression of miRNAs in IBD,demonstrating their important roles as regulators and potential biomarkers of this disease.This editorial presents what is known and what is expected regarding miRNAs in IBD.Although the important regulatory roles of miRNAs in IBD are clearly established,biomarkers for IBD that can be applied in clinical practice are lacking,emphasizing the importance of further studies.Discoveries regarding the influence of miRNAs on the inflammatory process and the exploration of their role in gene regulation are expected to provide a basis for the use of miRNAs not only as potent biomarkers in IBD but also as therapeutic targets for the control of inflammatory processes in personalized medicine.

Intestinal complications in Brazilian patients with ulcerative colitis treated with conventional therapy between 2011 and 2020

BACKGROUND This was an observational, descriptive, and retrospective study from 2011 to 2020 from the Department of Informatics of the Brazilian Healthcare System database.AIM To describe the intestinal complications(IC) of patients with ulcerative colitis(UC) who started conventional therapies in Brazil’s public Healthcare system.METHODS Patients ≥ 18 years of age who had at least one claim related to UC 10th revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems(ICD-10) code and at least 2 claims for conventional therapies were included. IC was defined as at least one claim of: UC-related hospitalization, procedures code for rectum or intestinal surgeries, and/or associated disease defined by ICD-10 codes(malignant neoplasia of colon, stenosis, hemorrhage, ulcer and other rectum or anus disease, megacolon, functional diarrhea volvulus, intussusception and erythema nodosum). Descriptive statistics, annual incidence, and incidence rate(IR) [per 100 patient-years(PY)] over the available follow-up period were calculated.RESULTS In total, 41229 UC patients were included(median age, 48 years;65% women) and the median(interquartile range) follow-up period was 3.3(1.8-5.3) years. Conventional therapy used during follow-up period included: mesalazine(87%), sulfasalazine(15%), azathioprine(16%) or methotrexate(1%) with a median duration of 1.9(0.8-4.0) years. Overall IR of IC was 3.2 cases per 100 PY. Among the IC claims, 54% were related to associated diseases, 20% to procedures and 26% to hospitalizations. The overall annual incidence of IC was 2.9%, 2.6% and 2.5% in the first, second and third year after the first claim for therapy(index date), respectively. Over the first 3 years, the annual IR of UC-related hospitalizations ranged from 0.8% to 1.1%;associated diseases from 0.9% to 1.2%-in which anus or rectum disease, and malignant neoplasia of colon were the most frequently reported;and procedure events from 0.6% to 0.7%, being intestinal resection and polyp removal the most frequent ones.CONCLUSION Study shows that UC patients under conventional therapy seem to present progression of disease developing some IC, which may have a negative impact on patients and the burden on the health system.

Intestinal complications in patients with Crohn's disease in the Brazilian public healthcare system between 2011 and 2020

BACKGROUND This is a secondary database study using the Brazilian public healthcare system database.AIM To describe intestinal complications(ICs)of patients in the Brazilian public healthcare system with Crohn’s disease(CD)who initiated and either only received conventional therapy(CVT)or also initiated anti-tumor necrosis factor(anti-TNF)therapy between 2011 and 2020.METHODS This study included patients with CD[international classification of diseases–10th revision(ICD-10):K50.0,K50.1,or K50.8](age:≥18 years)with at least one claim of CVT(sulfasalazine,azathioprine,mesalazine,or methotrexate).IC was defined as a CD-related hospitalization,pre-defined procedure codes(from rectum or intestinal surgery groups),and/or associated disease(pre-defined ICD-10 codes),and overall(one or more type of ICs).RESULTS In the 16809 patients with CD that met the inclusion criteria,the mean follow-up duration was 4.44(2.37)years.In total,14697 claims of ICs were found from 4633 patients.Over the 1-and 5-year of follow-up,8.3%and 8.2%of the patients with CD,respectively,presented at least one IC,of which fistula(31%)and fistulotomy(48%)were the most commonly reported.The overall incidence rate(95%CI)of ICs was 6.8(6.5–7.04)per 100 patient years for patients using only-CVT,and 9.2(8.8–9.6)for patients with evidence of anti-TNF therapy.CONCLUSION The outcomes highlighted an important and constant rate of ICs over time in all the CD populations assessed,especially in patients exposed to anti-TNF therapy.This outcome revealed insights into the real-world treatment and complications relevant to patients with CD and highlights that this disease remains a concern that may require additional treatment strategies in the Brazilian public healthcare system.

Acute heart failure as an adverse event of tumor necrosis factor inhibitor therapy in inflammatory bowel disease:A review of the literature

Tumor necrosis factor inhibitors(anti-TNFs)are widely used therapies for the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases(IBD);however,their administration is not risk-free.Heart failure(HF),although rare,is a potential adverse event related to administration of these medications.However,the exact mechanism of development of HF remains obscure.TNFαis found in both healthy and damaged hearts.Its effects are concentration-and receptor-dependent,promoting either cardio-protection or cardiomyocyte apoptosis.Experimental rat models with TNFαreceptor knockout showed increased survival rates,less reactive oxygen species formation,and improved diastolic left ventricle pressure.However,clinical trials employing anti-TNF therapy to treat HF had disappointing results,suggesting abolishment of the cardioprotective properties of TNFα,making cardiomyocytes susceptible to apoptosis and oxidation.Thus,patients with IBD who have risk factors should be screened for HF before initiating anti-TNF therapy.This review aims to discuss adverse events associated with the administration of anti-TNF therapy,with a focus on HF,and propose some approaches to avoid cardiac adverse events in patients with IBD.

Gut microbiota,inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer

The gut microbiota is a complex community of microorganisms that inhabit the digestive tracts of humans,living in symbiosis with the host.Dysbiosis,characterized by an imbalance between the beneficial and opportunistic gut microbiota,is associated with several gastrointestinal disorders,such as irritable bowel syndrome(IBS);inflammatory bowel disease(IBD),represented by ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease;and colorectal cancer(CRC).Dysbiosis can disrupt the mucosal barrier,resulting in perpetuation of inflammation and carcinogenesis.The increase in some specific groups of harmful bacteria,such as Escherichia coli(E.coli)and enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis(ETBF),has been associated with chronic tissue inflammation and the release of pro-inflammatory and carcinogenic mediators,increasing the chance of developing CRC,following the inflammationdysplasia-cancer sequence in IBD patients.Therefore,the aim of the present review was to analyze the correlation between changes in the gut microbiota and the development and maintenance of IBD,CRC,and IBD-associated CRC.Patients with IBD and CRC have shown reduced bacterial diversity and abundance compared to healthy individuals,with enrichment of Firmicute sand Bacteroidetes.Specific bacteria are also associated with the onset and progression of CRC,such as Fusobacterium nucleatum,E.coli,Enterococcus faecalis,Streptococcus gallolyticus,and ETBF.Future research can evaluate the advantages of modulating the gut microbiota as preventive measures in CRC high-risk patients,directly affecting the prognosis of the disease and the quality of life of patients.

MicroRNAs expression influence in ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease:A pilot study for the identification of diagnostic biomarkers

BACKGROUND Inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)comprises two distinct diseases,Crohn’s disease(CD)and ulcerative colitis(UC),both of which are chronic,relapsing inflammatory disorders of the gastrointestinal tract with a mostly unknown etiology.The incidence and prevalence of IBD are continually increasing,indicating the need for further studies to investigate the genetic determinants of these diseases.Since microRNAs(miRNAs)regulate protein translation via complementary binding to mRNA,discovering differentially expressed miRNAs(DE)in UC or CD patients could be important for diagnostic biomarker identification,assisting in the appropriate disease differentiation progressing the understanding of IBD pathogenesis.AIM To determine the miRNA expression profile in UC and CD patients and the potential pathophysiological contributions of differentially expressed miRNA.METHODS A total of 20 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded colonic samples were collected from the Pathology Department of Botucatu Medical School at São Paulo State University(Unesp).The diagnosis of UC or CD was based on clinical,endoscopic,radiologic,and histological criteria and confirmed by histopathological analysis at the time of selection.The TaqMan™Array Human MicroRNA A+B Cards Set v3.0(Applied Biosystems™)platform was used to analyze 754 miRNAs.Targets of DE-miRNAs were predicted using miRNA Data Integration Portal(mirDIP)and the miRNA Target Interaction database(MiRTarBase).All statistical analyses were conducted using GraphPad Prism software.Parametric and nonparametric data were analyzed using t-tests and Mann-Whitney U tests,respectively.RESULTS The results showed that of the 754 miRNAs that were initially evaluated,643 miRNAs were found to be expressed in at least five of the patients who were diagnosed with either CD or UC;the remaining 111 miRNAs were not considered to be expressed in these patients.The expression levels of 28 miRNAs were significantly different between the CD and UC patients(P≤0.05);13 miRNAs demonstrated a fold-change in expression level greater than 1.Five miRNAs with a downregulated expression were selected for enrichment analysis.The miRNAs whose expression levels were significantly lower in UC patients than in CD patients were enriched in certain signaling pathways that were mostly correlated with cancer-related processes and respective biomarkers.CONCLUSION MiRNAs could be used to differentiate UC from CD,and differently expressed miRNAs could help explain the distinct pathophysiology of each disease.

MicroRNA expression in inflammatory bowel disease-associated colorectal cancer

MicroRNAs(miRNAs)are non-coding RNA molecules composed of 19–25 nucleotides that regulate gene expression and play a central role in the regulation of several immune-mediated disorders,including inflammatory bowel diseases(IBD).IBD,represented by ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease,is characterized by chronic intestinal inflammation associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer(CRC).CRC is one of the most prevalent tumors in the world,and its main risk factors are obesity,physical inactivity,smoking,alcoholism,advanced age,and some eating habits,in addition to chronic intestinal inflammatory processes and the use of immunosuppressants administered to IBD patients.Recent studies have identified miRNAs associated with an increased risk of developing CRC in this population.The identification of miRNAs involved in this tumorigenic process could be useful to stratify cancer risk development for patients with IBD and to monitor and assess prognosis.Thus,the present review aimed to summarize the role of miRNAs as biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of IBD-associated CRC.In the future,therapies based on miRNA modulation could be used both in clinical practice to achieve remission of the disease and restore the quality of life for patients with IBD,and to identify the patients with IBD at high risk for tumor development.

Artificial intelligence in colorectal cancer screening in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Artificial intelligence(AI)is a branch of computer science that develops intelligent machines.In recent years,medicine has been contemplated with this recent modality to aid in the diagnosis of diseases in several specialties,including gastroenterology and gastrointestinal endoscopy.This new technology has superior ability to perform tasks mimicking human behavior and can identify possible pathological alterations,such as pre-malignant lesions and dysplasia,precursor lesions of colorectal cancer(CRC),and support medical decisionmaking.CRC is among the three most prevalent cancer types,and the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide;in addition,it is a leading cause of death in patients with inflammatory bowel disease(IBD).Patients with IBD tend to have greater inflammatory cell activity in the intestinal mucosa,which can favor cell proliferation and CRC development.AI can contribute to the detection of pre-neoplastic lesions in patients at risk of CRC development,such as those with extensive IBD or when additional CRC risk factors,such as smoking,are present.In fact,AI systems could improve all aspects of care related to both the detection of pre-malignant and malignant lesions and the screening of patients with IBD.In this review,we aimed to show the benefits and innovations of AI in the screening of CRC in patients with IBD.The promising applications of AI have the potential to revolutionize clinical practice and gastrointestinal endoscopy,especially in at-risk patients,such as those with IBD.

Real-world disease activity and sociodemographic,clinical and treatment characteristics of moderate-to-severe inflammatory bowel disease in Brazil

BACKGROUND Understanding the treatment landscape of inflammatory bowel diseases(IBD)is essential for improving disease management and patient outcomes.Brazil is the largest Latin American country,and it presents socioeconomic and health care differences across its geographical regions.This country has the highest increase in IBD incidence and prevalence in Latin America,but information about the clinical and treatment characteristics of IBD is scarce.AIM To describe the sociodemographic,clinical,and treatment characteristics of IBD outpatients in Brazil overall and in the Southeast,South and Northeast/Midwest regions.METHODS Multicenter,cross-sectional study with a 3-year retrospective chart review component.Patients with moderate-to-severe Crohn’s disease(CD)or ulcerative colitis(UC)were consecutively enrolled between October 2016 and February 2017.Active CD at enrollment was defined as a Harvey Bradshaw Index≥8 or a CD Activity Index≥220 or a calprotectin level>200μg/g or an active result based on colonoscopy suggestive of inadequate control during the previous year;active UC was defined as a partial Mayo score≥5.Descriptive statistics were used to analyze all variables.RESULTS In a total of 407 included patients,CD was more frequent than UC,both overall(264 CD/143 UC patients)and by region(CD:UC ratios of 2.1 in the Southeast,1.6 in the South and 1.2 in the Northeast/Midwest).The majority of patients were female(54.2%of CD;56.6%of UC),and the mean ages were 45.9±13.8 years(CD)and 42.9±13.0 years(UC).The median disease duration was 10.0(range:0.5-45)years for both IBD types.At enrollment,44.7%[95%confidence interval(CI):38.7-50.7]of CD patients and 25.2%(95%CI:18.1-32.3)of UC patients presented with active disease.More than 95%of IBD patients were receiving treatment at enrollment;CD patients were commonly treated with biologics(71.6%)and immunosuppressors(67.4%),and UC patients were commonly treated with mesalazine[5-Aminosalicylic acid(5-ASA)]derivates(69.9%)and immunosuppressors(44.1%).More than 50%of the CD patients had ileocolonic disease,and 41.7%presented with stricturing disease.One-quarter of CD patients had undergone CD-related surgery in the past 3 years,and this proportion was lower in the Northeast/Midwest region(2.9%).CONCLUSION In Brazil,there are regional variations in IBD management.CD outweighs UC in both frequency and disease activity.However,one-quarter of UC patients have active disease,and most are receiving 5-ASA treatment.

Real-world treatment patterns and disease control over one year in patients with inflammatory bowel disease in Brazil

BACKGROUND Crohn’s disease(CD)and ulcerative colitis(UC)are inflammatory bowel diseases(IBDs)with a remission-relapsing presentation and symptomatic exacerbations that have detrimental impacts on patient quality of life and are associated with a high cost burden,especially in patients with moderate-to-severe disease.The Real-world Data of Moderate-to-Severe Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Brazil(RISE BR)study was a noninterventional study designed to evaluate disease control,treatment patterns,disease burden and health-related quality of life in patients with moderate-to-severe active IBD.We report findings from the prospective follow-up phase of the RISE BR study in patients with active UC or CD.AIM To describe the 12-mo disease evolution and treatment patterns among patients with active moderate-to-severe IBD in Brazil.METHODS This was a prospective,noninterventional study of adult patients with active Crohn’s disease(CD:Harvey-Bradshaw Index≥8,CD Activity Index≥220),inadequate CD control(i.e.,calprotectin>200μg/g or colonoscopy previous results),or active ulcerative colitis(UC:Partial Mayo score≥5).Enrollment occurred in 14 centers from October 2016 to February 2017.The proportion of active IBD patients after 9-12 mo of follow-up,Kaplan-Meier estimates of the time to mild or no activity and a summary of treatment initiation,discontinuation and dose changes were examined.RESULTS The study included 118 CD and 36 UC patients,with mean±SD ages of 43.3±12.6 and 44.9±16.5 years,respectively.The most frequent drug classes at index were biologics for CD(62.7%)and 5-aminosalicylate derivates for UC patients(91.7%).During follow-up,65.3%of CD and 86.1%of UC patients initiated a new treatment at least once.Discontinuations/dose changes occurred in 68.1%of CD patients[median 2.0(IQR:2-5)]and 94.3%of UC patients[median 4.0(IQR:3-7)].On average,CD and UC patients had 4.4±2.6 and 5.0±3.3 outpatient visits,respectively.The median time to first mild or no activity was 319(IQR:239-358)d for CD and 320(IQR:288-358)d for UC patients.At 9-12 mo,22.0%of CD and 20.0%of UC patients had active disease.CONCLUSION Although a marked proportion of active IBD patients achieved disease control within one year,the considerable time to achieve this outcome represents an unmet medical need of the current standard of care in a Brazilian real-world setting.

Quality of care in patients with inflammatory bowel disease from a public health center in Brazil

BACKGROUND Inflammatory bowel diseases(IBDs)are chronic diseases that demand continuous interaction between patients and healthcare providers.Quality of care(QoC)is a factor that contributes to a patient’s adherence to treatment and its success.AIM To evaluate QoC in patients from a single IBD reference center.METHODS This cross-sectional study included 133 patients from a single Brazilian IBD public health center.QoC was evaluated through the QoC Through the Eyes of Patients with IBD(QUOTE-IBD)questionnaire(based on patient perspectives),which measures eight dimensions of care.We compared QoC among patients with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis and analyzed the clinical and psychological factors associated with QoC satisfaction.Clinical evaluations assessed disease characteristics,quality of life,anxiety,and depression levels.RESULTS Sixty-nine patients with Crohn’s disease and 64 with ulcerative colitis were interviewed.The mean age was 37.26 years±13.05 years,and 63.91%of the patients were women.The mean duration of the disease was 8.44 years±7.59 years,where most patients were in remission(70.31%of patients with ulcerative colitis and 62.32%with Crohn’s disease).The total QoC score of the sample was 8.61 years±1.31 points,indicating that the QoC provided by the center was unsatisfactory.According to univariate logistic regression,patients with Crohn’s disease had higher satisfaction rates than those with ulcerative colitis[odds ratio(OR):2.746;95%confidence interval(CI):1.360-5.541;P=0.0048]and patients on infliximab(OR:2.175;95%CI:1.037-4.562;P=0.0398).CONCLUSION Patients from the IBD public center reported good doctor-patient relationships,but had problems related to the healthcare structure.Evaluation of healthcare centers is of paramount to improve QoC for the patients involved.

Heart failure as an adverse effect of infliximab for Crohn's disease: A case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND Anti-tumor necrosis factor agents were the first biologic therapy approved for the management of Crohn's disease(CD).Heart failure(HF)is a rare but potential adverse effect of these medications.The objective of this report is to describe a patient with CD who developed HF after the use of infliximab.CASE SUMMARY A 50-year-old woman with a history of hypertension and diabetes presented with abdominal pain,diarrhea,and weight loss.Colonoscopy and enterotomography showed ulcerations,areas of stenosis and dilation in the terminal ileum,and thickening of the intestinal wall.The patient underwent ileocolectomy and the surgical specimen confirmed the diagnosis of stenosing CD.The patient started infliximab and azathioprine treatment to prevent post-surgical recurrence.At 6 mo after initiating infliximab therapy,the patient complained of dyspnea,orthopnea,and paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea that gradually worsened.Echocardiography revealed biventricular dysfunction,moderate cardiac insufficiency,an ejection fraction of 36%,and moderate pericardial effusion,consistent with HF.The cardiac disease was considered an infliximab adverse effect and the drug was discontinued.The patient received treatment with diuretics for HF and showed improvement of symptoms and cardiac function.Currently,the patient is using anti-interleukin for CD and is asymptomatic.CONCLUSION This reported case supports the need to investigate risk factors for HF in inflammatory bowel disease patients and to consider the risk-benefit of introducing infliximab therapy in such patients presenting with HF risk factors.

Treatment of acute severe ulcerative colitis using accelerated infliximab regimen based on infliximab trough level:A case report

BACKGROUND Acute severe ulcerative colitis (ASUC) is a complication of ulcerative colitisassociated with high levels of circulating tumor necrosis factor alpha, due to theintense inflammation and faster stool clearance of anti-tumor necrosis factordrugs. Dose-intensified infliximab treatment can be beneficial and is associatedwith lower rates of colectomy. The aim of the study was to present a case of apatient with ASUC and megacolon, treated with hydrocortisone and acceleratedscheme of infliximab that was monitored by drug trough level.CASE SUMMARYA 22-year-old female patient diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, presented withdiarrhea, rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, vomiting, and distended abdomen.During investigation, a positive toxin for Clostridium difficile and colonic dilatationof 7 cm consistent with megacolon were observed. She was treated with oralvancomycin for pseudomembranous colitis and intravenous hydrocortisone forsevere colitis, which led to the resolution of megacolon. Due to the persistentsevere colitis symptoms, infliximab 5 mg/kg was prescribed, monitored by drugtrough level (8.8 μg/mL) and fecal calprotectin of 921 μg/g (< 30 μg/g). Based onthe low infliximab trough level after one week from the first infliximab dose, thepatient received a second infusion at week 1, consistent with the acceleratedregimen (infusions at weeks 0, 1, 2 and 6). We achieved a positive clinical andendoscopic response after 6 mo of therapy, without the need for a colectomy.CONCLUSIONInfliximab accelerated infusions can be beneficial in ASUC unresponsive to thetreatment with intravenous corticosteroids. Longitudinal studies are necessary todefine the best therapeutic drug monitoring and treatment regimen for thesepatients.

The Impact of an Educational Intervention on Inflammatory Bowel Disease for Nurses in Brazil

Background: The inflammatory bowel disease nurse plays a key role in the multidisciplinary team. The aim of the study was to evaluate the inflammatory bowel disease knowledge before and after the educational intervention with nurses. Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive and comparative study was performed from June to August 2016. The sample consisted of 26 nurses from the nursing staff of a public university hospital in São Paulo State, Brazil. The study was divided into three phases: pre-educational intervention, educational intervention and post-educational intervention (test application). A p-value < 0.05 was considered to indicate statistically significance. Results: The study included 26 general nurses with an average of 9.20 ± 5.78 years of experience. There was an increase in safety in administering biological therapy after the course (from 33.34% to 78.26%), and an increase in knowledge about the main inflammatory bowel disease symptoms (64.29% vs 96.30%, p = 0.0224), and about infliximab infusion (35.71% vs 74.07%, p = 0.0404). Conclusion: The educational intervention effectively contributed to the increase of knowledge of the nursing staff.

Nursing Process in a Patient with Crohn’s Disease: Case Report

Background: Inflammatory Bowel Disease is a term that covers intestinal diseases, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Due to the condition of chronic and complex disease, the disease requires specialized nursing care and management in the context of a multi-disciplinary approach. As a guarantee of quality nursing care, it is essential to carry out the nursing process. Considering the commitment to assist the patient with Crohn’s disease, the nurse, through the nursing consultation, is able to diagnose the patient’s needs, proceed to the prescription of care and later evaluate the interventions, having the opportunity to develop work aimed at improving the quality of life of these patients. Objective: To describe the nursing process in a patient with Crohn’s disease. Methods: Exploratory case report study, carried out at the outpatient clinic for inflammatory bowel diseases of a public hospital in the countryside of the state of São Paulo, from June 2019 to October 2019. Data collection was performed through anamnesis, physical examination and analysis of medical records. Results: Female patient, 34 years old, diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. With the completion of the nursing process, it was possible to identify five nursing diagnoses and the elaboration of interventions and outcomes. The nursing evaluation was continuous and the patient adhered to the proposed interventions. Final considerations: The systematization and organization of the work of the nursing team proved to be essential for quality care, with efficiency and effectiveness, guaranteeing the patient comfort, general well-being and good rehabilitation.

The Impact of a Real-Life Inflammatory Bowel Disease Education Course for Brazilian Physicians from the Perspective of Its Participants

Background: Physicians must acquire the necessary skills to provide Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) patients with state-of-the-art clinical care, aiming to improve patient’s quality of life and disease outcomes. Purpose: To describe the queries and experiences of doctors enrolled in an IBD education course and to evaluate the impact of the course. Methods: A retrospective study included 100 physicians, of which 78 attended the course. A questionnaire was applied evaluating how the course had an impact on their IBD-knowledge. The 20-hour-course consisted of practical “real-life” activities and theoretical discussions. Results: The majority of doctors’ expertise was in gastroenterology (53%) and coloproctology (44%). A significant portion had no experience with biological therapy for ulcerative colitis (19.4%) or Crohn’s disease (5.05%). The main topics doctors wanted to discuss were biological therapy (93%), new drugs (74%) and differential diagnosis (64%). A considerable number of physicians did not feel confident at prescribing biological therapy before the course (44.4%), a percentage that decreased to 8.5% after the course (p < 0.0001). The impact of the course was considered high (grades 9 and 10) by most of the participants (78.2%). Discussion: The ideal course should have a practical and theoretical component, as well as the support of an experienced multidisciplinary team. A real-life practical-theoretical IBD course proved a success at increasing IBD knowledge.

Non-Hodgkin＇s Lymphoma： An Important Differential Diagnosis in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

To the Editor： The gastrointestinal tract （GIT） is the most common extranodal location ofnon-Hodgkin＇s lymphoma, but it represents only 0.4% of primary colonic malignancies. Symptoms are nonspecific and may include diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, weight loss, and gastrointestinal bleeding. In colon, the most common types are conventional large cell lymphoma, mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma, and T-cell lymphoma.