Gastrointestinal histoplasmosis complicating pediatric Crohn disease:A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND Infection with Histoplasma capsulatum(H.capsulatum)can lead to disseminated disease involving the gastrointestinal tract presenting as diffuse abdominal pain and diarrhea which may mimic inflammatory bowel disease(IBD).CASE SUMMARY We report a case of 12-year-old boy with presumptive diagnosis of Crohn disease(CD)that presented with several months of abdominal pain,weight loss and bloody diarrhea.Colonoscopy showed patchy moderate inflammation characterized by erythema and numerous pseudopolyps involving the terminal ileum,cecum,and ascending colon.Histologic sections from the colon biopsy revealed diffuse cellular infiltrate within the lamina propria with scattered histiocytic aggregates,and occasional non-necrotizing granulomas.Grocott-Gomori’s Methenamine Silver staining confirmed the presence of numerous yeast forms suggestive of Histoplasma spp.,further confirmed with positive urine Histoplasma antigen(6.58 ng/mL,range 0.2-20 ng/mL)and serum immunoglobulin G antibodies to Histoplasma(35.9 EU,range 10.0-80.0 EU).Intravenous amphotericin was administered then transitioned to oral itraconazole.Follow-up computed tomography imaging showed a left lower lung nodule and mesenteric lymphadenopathy consistent with disseminated histoplasmosis infection.CONCLUSION Gastrointestinal involvement with H.capsulatum with no accompanying respiratory symptoms is exceedingly rare and recognition is often delayed due to the overlapping clinical manifestations of IBD.This case illustrates the importance of excluding infectious etiologies in patients with“biopsy-proven”CD prior to initiating immunosuppressive therapies.Communication between clinicians and pathologists is crucial as blood cultures and antigen testing are key studies that should be performed in all suspected cases of histoplasmosis to avoid misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment.

Computed tomography enterography-based radiomics for assessing mucosal healing in patients with small bowel Crohn's disease

BACKGROUND Mucosal healing(MH)is the major therapeutic target for Crohn's disease(CD).As the most commonly involved intestinal segment,small bowel(SB)assessment is crucial for CD patients.Yet,it poses a significant challenge due to its limited accessibility through conventional endoscopic methods.AIM To establish a noninvasive radiomic model based on computed tomography enterography(CTE)for MH assessment in SBCD patients.METHODS Seventy-three patients diagnosed with SBCD were included and divided into a training cohort(n=55)and a test cohort(n=18).Radiomic features were obtained from CTE images to establish a radiomic model.Patient demographics were analysed to establish a clinical model.A radiomic-clinical nomogram was constructed by combining significant clinical and radiomic features.The diagnostic efficacy and clinical benefit were evaluated via receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis and decision curve analysis(DCA),respectively.RESULTS Of the 73 patients enrolled,25 patients achieved MH.The radiomic-clinical nomogram had an area under the ROC curve of 0.961(95%confidence interval:0.886-1.000)in the training cohort and 0.958(0.877-1.000)in the test cohort and provided superior clinical benefit to either the clinical or radiomic models alone,as demonstrated by DCA.CONCLUSION These results indicate that the CTE-based radiomic-clinical nomogram is a promising imaging biomarker for MH and serves as a potential noninvasive alternative to enteroscopy for MH assessment in SBCD patients.

Exploring gut microbiota as a novel therapeutic target in Crohn’s disease: Insights and emerging strategies

Extensive research has investigated the etiology of Crohn’s disease(CD),encompassing genetic predisposition,lifestyle factors,and environmental triggers.Recently,the gut microbiome,recognized as the human body’s second-largest gene pool,has garnered significant attention for its crucial role in the patho-genesis of CD.This paper investigates the mechanisms underlying CD,focusing on the role of‘creeping fat’in disease progression and exploring emerging therapeutic strategies,including fecal microbiota transplantation,enteral nutri-tion,and therapeutic diets.Creeping fat has been identified as a unique patho-logical feature of CD and has recently been found to be associated with dysbiosis of the gut microbiome.We characterize this dysbiotic state by identi-fying key microbiome-bacteria,fungi,viruses,and archaea,and their contributions to CD pathogenesis.Additionally,this paper reviews contemporary therapies,empha-sizing the potential of biological therapies like fecal microbiota transplantation and dietary interventions.By elucidating the complex interactions between host-microbiome dynamics and CD pathology,this article aims to advance our under-standing of the disease and guide the development of more effective therapeutic strategies for managing CD.

Creeping fat and gut microbiota in Crohn’s disease

In this article,we explored the role of adipose tissue,especially mesenteric adipose tissue and creeping fat,and its association with the gut microbiota in the pathophysiology and progression of Crohn’s disease(CD).CD is a form of inflammatory bowel disease characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract,influenced by genetic predisposition,gut microbiota dysbiosis,and environmental factors.Gut microbiota plays a crucial role in modulating immune response and intestinal inflammation and is associated with the onset and progression of CD.Further,visceral adipose tissue,particularly creeping fat,a mesenteric adipose tissue characterized by hypertrophy and fibrosis,has been implicated in CD pathogenesis,inflammation,and fibrosis.The bacteria from the gut microbiota may translocate into mesenteric adipose tissue,contributing to the formation of creeping fat and influencing CD progression.Although creeping fat may be a protective barrier against bacterial invasion,its expansion can damage adjacent tissues,leading to complications.Modulating gut microbiota through interventions such as fecal microbiota transplantation,probiotics,and prebiotics has shown potential in managing CD.However,more research is needed to clarify the mechanisms linking gut dysbiosis,creeping fat,and CD progression and develop targeted therapies for microbiota modulation and fat-related complications in patients with CD.

Effectiveness of biologics for endoscopic healing in patients with isolated proximal small bowel Crohn’s disease

BACKGROUND Endoscopic healing(EH)is a key therapeutic target in Crohn’s disease(CD).Proximal small bowel(SB)lesions in patients with CD are associated with a significant risk of strictures and bowel resection.Assessing SB in patients with CD is necessary because of its significant therapeutic implications.The advent of biologic therapies,including infliximab,ustekinumab,and vedolizumab,has significantly altered CD treatment.However,data on the efficacy of biologics in achieving EH,specifically in the proximal SB of patients with CD,remain limited.AIM To assess the effectiveness of biologics for EH in patients with jejunal and/or proximal ileal CD.METHODS Between 2017 and 2023,we retrospectively included 110 consecutive patients with isolated proximal SB CD,identified through baseline balloon-assisted enteroscopy.These patients completed 1-year of treatment with infliximab,ustekinumab,or vedolizumab,and underwent a second balloon-assisted enteroscopy at 1 year.Complete EH was defined as a modified Simple Endoscopic Score for CD(SES-CD)of<3,while EH of the jejunum and proximal ileum was defined as a segmental modified SES-CD of 0.RESULTS In total,64 patients were treated with infliximab,28 with ustekinumab,and 18 with vedolizumab.The complete EH rate at 1 year was 20.9%(23/110),with 29.6%(19/64)for infliximab,10.7%(3/28)for ustekinumab,and 5.5%(1/18)for vedolizumab.The median modified SES-CD significantly decreased compared to baseline[5(2-8)vs 8(6-9),P<0.001].The jejunal and proximal ileal EH rates at 1 year were 30.8%(12/39)and 15.5%(16/103),respectively.Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that stricturing or penetrating disease[odds ratio(OR)=0.261,95%CI:0.087-0.778,P=0.016],prior exposure to biologics(OR=0.080,95%CI:0.010-0.674,P=0.020),and moderate-tosevere endoscopic disease(OR=0.277,95%CI:0.093-0.829,P=0.022)were associated with a lower likelihood of achieving EH at 1 year.CONCLUSION Only 20.9%of patients with isolated proximal SB CD achieved complete EH after 1 year of biologic therapy.

Imaging characteristics of brain microstructure and cerebral perfusion in Crohn’s disease patients with anxiety: A prospective comparative study

BACKGROUND Anxiety is a common comorbidity in patients with Crohn’s disease(CD).Data on the imaging characteristics of brain microstructure and cerebral perfusion in CD with anxiety are limited.AIM To compare the imaging characteristics of brain microstructure and cerebral perfusion among CD patients with or without anxiety and healthy individuals.METHODS This prospective comparative study enrolled consecutive patients with active CD and healthy individuals who visited the study hospital between January 2022 and January 2023.Anxiety was measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety.The imaging characteristics of brain microstructure and cerebral perfusion were measured by diffusion kurtosis imaging and intravoxel incoherent motion.RESULTSA total of 57 participants were enrolled. Among the patients with active CD, 16 had anxiety. Compared withhealthy individuals, patients with active CD demonstrated significantly lower radial kurtosis values in the rightcerebellar region 6, lower axial kurtosis (AK) values in the right insula, left superior temporal gyrus, and rightthalamus, and higher slow and fast apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCslow and ADCfast) in the bilateral frontal lobe,bilateral temporal lobe, and bilateral insular lobe (all P < 0.05). Compared with patients with CD without anxiety,patients with CD and anxiety exhibited significantly higher ADCslow values in the left insular lobe and lower AKvalues in the right insula and right anterior cuneus (all P < 0.05).CONCLUSIONThere are variations in brain microstructure and perfusion among CD patients with/without anxiety and healthyindividuals, suggesting potential use in assessing anxiety-related changes in active CD.

Laparoscopic intracorporeal anastomosis vs open anastomosis for ileostomy reversal in Crohn's disease:A single center retrospective study

BACKGROUND There is an increased maturation of laparoscopic intracorporeal anastomosis techniques.However,research on its application for small bowel stoma reversal in patients with Crohn's disease(CD)is limited.Therefore,in this study,we compared the perioperative outcomes between laparoscopic intracorporeal ileostomy reversal(LIIR)and open ileostomy reversal(OIR).AIM To compare the safety,feasibility,bowel function recovery,and short-and longterm LIIR and OIR outcomes in patients with CD.METHODS This study included patients who underwent ileal reversal for CD between January 2021 and January 2023 at our institution.The baseline data,postoperative recovery,and complication indicators were retrospectively analyzed.Logistic regression analysis was conducted to explore factors that significantly influenced the development of enteral nutrition intolerance-related symptoms.RESULTS Notably,15 of the 45 patients in this study underwent OIR,and the remaining 30 received LIIR.Notably,no statistically significant differences were found between the two groups regarding clinical baseline characteristics,operation time,intraoperative hemorrhage,anastomotic site,enterolysis range,first postoperative flatus,postoperative complications,reoperation rate,or incidence of postoperative enteral nutrition intolerance.Compared with the OIR group,the LIIR group had a shorter postoperative hospital stay(P=0.045),lower incidence of enteral nutrition intolerance symptoms(P=0.019),and earlier postoperative total enteral nutrition initiation(P=0.033);however,it incurred higher total hospital costs(P=0.038).Furthermore,multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the duration of surgery and anastomotic technique were independent risk factors for postoperative symptoms of enteral nutrition intolerance(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Laparoscopic intracorporeal anastomosis for ileostomy reversal is safe and feasible.Patients who underwent this technique demonstrated improved tolerance to postoperative enteral nutrition and quicker resumption of total enteral nutrition.

Effects of acupuncture and moxibustion on chromatin remodeling-related enzymes in the colon tissue of rats with Crohn disease

Objective:To investigate the regulatory effects of acupuncture and moxibustion on chromatin remodeling complex core catalytic subunit of Brahma-related gene 1(Brg1),histone deacetylase(HDAC)3,HDAC9,and males absent on the first(MOF)in the colon tissue of rats with Crohn disease(CD).Methods:Using the random number table method,60 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 5 groups,including a normal group,a model group,an acupuncture group,a medicinal cake-insulated moxibustion group,and an acupuncture-moxibustion group,with 12 rats in each group.CD rat models were prepared using 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid(TNBS)in all groups except the normal group.The normal and model groups received no interventions.In the acupuncture group,rats were intervened with acupuncture at bilateral Zusanli(ST36)and Shangjuxu(ST37),20 min/session,once a day.The medicinal cake-insulated moxibustion group received medicinal cake-insulated moxibustion at Qihai(CV6)and bilateral Tianshu(ST25)with 2 cones per point per session,once a day.The acupuncture-moxibustion group received both acupuncture and moxibustion interventions simultaneously.Each intervention was performed for 10 consecutive days.Observations included general condition,disease activity,macroscopic damage,and pathological changes in the rat’s colon tissue.Realtime fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to measure the mRNA expression of chromatin remodeling-related enzymes Brg1,HDAC3,and HDAC9,while Western blotting detected the protein expression of Brg1,HDAC3,HDAC9,and MOF in rat’s colon tissue.Results:The model group showed significantly increased diarrhea score,occult blood score,macroscopic damage score of colon tissue,and colon macroscopic damage index(CMDI)score,as well as elevated mRNA expression levels of HDAC3 and HDAC9,protein expression levels of HDAC3,HDAC9,and MOF,and decreased mRNA and protein expression levels of Brg1 compared to the normal group(P<0.01).In contrast,compared to the model group,the diarrhea score,occult blood score,macroscopic damage score,CMDI score,mRNA expression levels of HDAC3 and HDAC9,and protein expression levels of HDAC3,HDAC9,and MOF were significantly reduced(P<0.05 or P<0.01),while the mRNA and protein expression levels of Brg1 were significantly increased(P<0.01)in the acupuncture group,the medicinal cake-insulated moxibustion group,and the acupuncture-moxibustion group.Conclusion:Both medicinal cake-insulated moxibustion and acupuncture,either used alone or in combination,can regulate the abnormal expression of chromatin remodeling-related enzymes Brg1,HDAC3,HDAC9,and MOF in the colon tissue,thus reducing colon inflammation in CD rats.

COVID-19 impact in Crohn’s disease patients submitted to autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

BACKGROUND Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is the virus responsible for coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19),a disease that has been blamed for inducing or exacerbating symptoms in patients with autoimmune diseases.Crohn's disease(CD)is an inflammatory bowel disease that affects genetically susceptible patients who develop an abnormal mucosal immune response to the intestinal microbiota.Patients who underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(HSCT)are considered at risk for COVID-19.AIM To describe for the first time the impact of COVID-19 in CD patients who had undergone autologous,non-myeloablative HSCT.METHODS In this descriptive study a series of 19 patients were diagnosed with positive COVID-19.For two patients there were reports of the occurrence of two infectious episodes.Parameters related to HSCT,such as time elapsed since the procedure,vaccination status,CD status before and after infection,and clinical manifestations resulting from COVID-19,were evaluated.RESULTS Among the patients with COVID-19,three,who underwent Auto HSCT less than six months ago,relapsed and one,in addition to the CD symptoms,started to present thyroid impairment with positive anti-TPO.Only one of the patients required hospitalization for five days to treat COVID-19 and remained in CD clinical remission.Nine patients reported late symptoms that may be related to COVID-19.There were no deaths,and a statistical evaluation of the series of COVID-19 patients compared to those who did not present any infectious episode did not identify significant differences regarding the analyzed parameters.CONCLUSION Despite the change in CD status in three patients and the presence of nine patients with late symptoms,we can conclude that there was no significant adverse impact concerning COVID-19 in the evaluated patients who underwent HSCT to treat CD.

Role of gut microbiota in Crohn’s disease pathogenesis:Insights from fecal microbiota transplantation in mouse model

BACKGROUND Inflammatory bowel disease,particularly Crohn’s disease(CD),has been associated with alterations in mesenteric adipose tissue(MAT)and the phenomenon termed“creeping fat”.Histopathological evaluations showed that MAT and intestinal tissues were significantly altered in patients with CD,with these tissues characterized by inflammation and fibrosis.AIM To evaluate the complex interplay among MAT,creeping fat,inflammation,and gut microbiota in CD.METHODS Intestinal tissue and MAT were collected from 12 patients with CD.Histological manifestations and protein expression levels were analyzed to determine lesion characteristics.Fecal samples were collected from five recently treated CD patients and five control subjects and transplanted into mice.The intestinal and mesenteric lesions in these mice,as well as their systemic inflammatory status,were assessed and compared in mice transplanted with fecal samples from CD patients and control subjects.RESULTS Pathological examination of MAT showed significant differences between CDaffected and unaffected colons,including significant differences in gut microbiota structure.Fetal microbiota transplantation(FMT)from clinically healthy donors into mice with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid(TNBS)-induced CD ameliorated CD symptoms,whereas FMT from CD patients into these mice exacerbated CD symptoms.Notably,FMT influenced intestinal permeability,barrier function,and levels of proinflammatory factors and adipokines.Furthermore,FMT from CD patients intensified fibrotic changes in the colon tissues of mice with TNBS-induced CD.CONCLUSION Gut microbiota play a critical role in the histopathology of CD.Targeting MAT and creeping fat may therefore have potential in the treatment of patients with CD.

Predicting short-term major postoperative complications in intestinal resection for Crohn’s disease:A machine learning-based study

BACKGROUND Due to the complexity and numerous comorbidities associated with Crohn’s disease(CD),the incidence of postoperative complications is high,significantly impacting the recovery and prognosis of patients.Consequently,additional stu-dies are required to precisely predict short-term major complications following intestinal resection(IR),aiding surgical decision-making and optimizing patient care.AIM To construct novel models based on machine learning(ML)to predict short-term major postoperative complications in patients with CD following IR.METHODS A retrospective analysis was performed on clinical data derived from a patient cohort that underwent IR for CD from January 2017 to December 2022.The study participants were randomly allocated to either a training cohort or a validation cohort.The logistic regression and random forest(RF)were applied to construct models in the training cohort,with model discrimination evaluated using the area under the curves(AUC).The validation cohort assessed the performance of the constructed models.RESULTS Out of the 259 patients encompassed in the study,5.0%encountered major postoperative complications(Clavien-Dindo≥III)within 30 d following IR for CD.The AUC for the logistic model was 0.916,significantly lower than the AUC of 0.965 for the RF model.The logistic model incorporated a preoperative CD activity index(CDAI)of≥220,a diminished preoperative serum albumin level,conversion to laparotomy surgery,and an extended operation time.A nomogram for the logistic model was plotted.Except for the surgical approach,the other three variables ranked among the top four important variables in the novel ML model.CONCLUSION Both the nomogram and RF exhibited good performance in predicting short-term major postoperative complic-ations in patients with CD,with the RF model showing more superiority.A preoperative CDAI of≥220,a di-minished preoperative serum albumin level,and an extended operation time might be the most crucial variables.The findings of this study can assist clinicians in identifying patients at a higher risk for complications and offering personalized perioperative management to enhance patient outcomes.

Crohn’s disease as the intestinal manifestation of pan-lymphatic dysfunction:An exploratory proposal based on basic and clinical data

Crohn’s disease(CD)is caused by immune,environmental,and genetic factors.It can involve the entire gastrointestinal tract,and although its prevalence is rapidly increasing its etiology remains unclear.Emerging biological and small-molecule drugs have advanced the treatment of CD;however,a considerable proportion of patients are non-responsive to all known drugs.To achieve a breakthrough in this field,innovations that could guide the further development of effective therapies are of utmost urgency.In this review,we first propose the innovative concept of pan-lymphatic dysfunction for the general distribution of lymphatic dysfunction in various diseases,and suggest that CD is the intestinal manifestation of pan-lymphatic dysfunction based on basic and clinical preliminary data.The supporting evidence is fully summarized,including the existence of lymphatic system dysfunction,recognition of the inside-out model,disorders of immune cells,changes in cell plasticity,partial overlap of the underlying mechanisms,and common gut-derived fatty and bile acid metabolism.Another benefit of this novel concept is that it proposes adopting the zebrafish model for studying intestinal diseases,especially CD,as this model is good at presenting and mimicking lymphatic dysfunction.More importantly,the ensuing focus on improving lymphatic function may lead to novel and promising therapeutic strategies for CD.

Differential diagnosis of Crohn’s disease and intestinal tuberculosis based on ATR-FTIR spectroscopy combined with machine learning

BACKGROUND Crohn’s disease(CD)is often misdiagnosed as intestinal tuberculosis(ITB).However,the treatment and prognosis of these two diseases are dramatically different.Therefore,it is important to develop a method to identify CD and ITB with high accuracy,specificity,and speed.AIM To develop a method to identify CD and ITB with high accuracy,specificity,and speed.METHODS A total of 72 paraffin wax-embedded tissue sections were pathologically and clinically diagnosed as CD or ITB.Paraffin wax-embedded tissue sections were attached to a metal coating and measured using attenuated total reflectance fourier transform infrared spectroscopy at mid-infrared wavelengths combined with XGBoost for differential diagnosis.RESULTS The results showed that the paraffin wax-embedded specimens of CD and ITB were significantly different in their spectral signals at 1074 cm^(-1) and 1234 cm^(-1) bands,and the differential diagnosis model based on spectral characteristics combined with machine learning showed accuracy,specificity,and sensitivity of 91.84%,92.59%,and 90.90%,respectively,for the differential diagnosis of CD and ITB.CONCLUSION Information on the mid-infrared region can reveal the different histological components of CD and ITB at the molecular level,and spectral analysis combined with machine learning to establish a diagnostic model is expected to become a new method for the differential diagnosis of CD and ITB.

Treat to target in Crohn’s disease:A practical guide for clinicians

A treat-to-target(T2T)approach applies the principles of early intervention and tight disease control to optimise long-term outcomes in Crohn's disease.The Selecting Therapeutic Targets in Inflammatory Bowel Disease(STRIDE)-II guidelines specify short,intermediate,and long-term treatment goals,documenting specific treatment targets to be achieved at each of these timepoints.Scheduled appraisal of Crohn’s disease activity against pre-defined treatment targets at these timepoints remains central to determining whether current therapy should be continued or modified.Consensus treatment targets in Crohn’s disease comprise combination clinical and patient-reported outcome remission,in conjunction with biomarker normalisation and endoscopic healing.Although the STRIDE-II guidelines endorse the pursuit of endoscopic healing,clinicians must consider that this may not always be appropriate,acceptable,or achievable in all patients.This underscores the need to engage patients at the outset in an effort to personalise care and individualise treatment targets.The use of non-invasive biomarkers such as faecal calprotectin in conjunction with cross-sectional imaging techniques,particularly intestinal ultrasound,holds great promise;as do emerging treatment targets such as transmural healing.Two randomised clinical trials,namely,CALM and STARDUST,have evaluated the efficacy of a T2T approach in achieving endoscopic endpoints in patients with Crohn’s disease.Findings from these studies reflect that patient subgroups and Crohn’s disease characteristics likely to benefit most from a T2T approach,remain to be clarified.Moreover,outside of clinical trials,data pertaining to the real-world effectiveness of a T2T approach remains scare,highlighting the need for pragmatic real-world studies.Despite the obvious promise of a T2T approach,a lack of guidance to support its integration into real-world clinical practice has the potential to limit its uptake.This highlights the need to describe strategies,processes,and models of care capable of supporting the integration and execution of a T2T approach in real-world clinical practice.Hence,this review seeks to examine the current and emerging literature to provide clinicians with practical guidance on how to incorporate the principles of T2T into routine clinical practice for the management of Crohn’s disease.

Duodenal Crohn’s disease:Case report and systematic review

BACKGROUND Inflammatory bowel disease,including ulcerative colitis,microscopic colitis,and Crohn’s disease(CD),has a global impact.This review focuses on duodenal CD(DCD),a rare subtype affecting the duodenum.DCD’s rarity and asymptomatic nature create diagnostic challenges,impacting prognosis and patient well-being.Delayed diagnosis can worsen DCD outcomes.AIM To report a rare case of DCD and to discuss the diagnostic challenges and its implications on prognosis.METHODS A systematic literature search,following the PRISMA statement,was conducted.Relevant studies were identified and analysed using specific Medical Subject Terms(MeSH)from PubMed/MEDLINE,American Journal of Gastroenterology,and the University of South Wales database.Data collection included information from radiology scans,endoscopy procedures,biopsies,and histopathology results.RESULTS The review considered 8 case reports and 1 observational study,involving 44 participants diagnosed with DCD,some of whom developed complications due to delayed diagnosis.Various diagnostic methods were employed,as there is no gold standard workup for DCD.Radiology scans[magnetic resonance imaging(MRI),computed tomography(CT),and upper gastrointestinal X-ray],endoscopy procedures(colonoscopy and esophagogastroduodenoscopy),biopsies,and clinical suspicions were utilized.CONCLUSION This review discusses DCD diagnosis challenges and the roles of CT,MRI,and fluoroscopy.It notes their limitations and compares findings with endoscopy and histopathology studies.Further research is needed to improve diagnosis,emphasizing scan interpretation,endoscopy procedures,and biopsies,especially in high-risk patients during routine endoscopy.

Perianal Crohn’s disease:Still more questions than answers

In this editorial we comment on the article by Pacheco et al published in a recent issue of the World Journal of Gastroenterology.We focus specifically on the burden of illness associated with perianal fistulizing Crohn’s disease(PFCD)and the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in the management of this condition.Evol-ving evidence has shifted the diagnostic framework for PFCD from anatomical classification systems,to one that is more nuanced and patient-focused to drive ongoing decision making.This editorial aims to reflect on these aspects to help clinicians face the challenge of PFCD in day-to-day clinical practice.

Navigating the complexities of perianal Crohn’s disease:Diagnostic strategies,treatment approaches,and future perspectives

This article discusses the literature review article by Pacheco et al published in July 2024;the authors provided good reviews of perianal Crohn’s disease(CD),and challenges faced by clinicians in the management.CD,characterized by its chronic and relapsing nature,is an idiopathic condition that can involve any segment of the gastrointestinal tract.Perianal disease impacts up to 40%of patients with CD,with perianal fistulas constituting up to 80%of perianal lesions.Perianal CD can be highly incapacitating and profoundly diminish the overall well-being of patients.The management focuses on controlling the perianal sepsis and treating luminal CD.Biologics are crucial to the treatment approach,and results have been encouraging.The surgery focuses on controlling the sepsis,with more definitive treatments being fistula surgery,fecal diversion,and proctectomy as the last resort.This manuscript briefly describes the burden of CD,the challenges posed by perianal CD,and the role of different treatment modalities from colorectal surgeon’s perspective.

Pediatric stricturing Crohn's disease

Crohn’s disease(CD)is a chronic inflammatory disease of the digestive tract.The incidence of pediatric CD is increasing and is currently 2.5-11.4 per 100000 world-wide.Notably,approximately 25%of children with CD develop stricturing CD(SCD)that requires intervention.Symptomatic stricturing diseases refractory to pharmacological management frequently require non-pharmacological interventions.Non-pharmacological therapeutic strategies include endoscopic balloon dilatation,stricturoplasty,and surgical resection of the strictured seg-ment.However,strictures tend to recur postoperatively regardless of treatment modality.The lifetime risk of surgery in patients with childhood SCD remains at 50%-90%.Thus,new and emerging strategies,advanced diagnostic tools,and minimally invasive approaches are under investigation to improve the outcomes and overall quality of life of pediatric patients with SCD.

Washed microbiota transplantation for Crohn’s disease:A metagenomic,metatranscriptomic,and metabolomic-based study

BACKGROUND Fecal microbiota transplantation(FMT)is a promising therapeutic approach for treating Crohn’s disease(CD).The new method of FMT,based on the automatic washing process,was named as washed microbiota transplantation(WMT).Most existing studies have focused on observing the clinical phenomena.However,the mechanism of action of FMT for the effective management of CD-particularly in-depth multi-omics analysis involving the metagenome,metatranscriptome,and metabolome-has not yet been reported.AIM To assess the efficacy of WMT for CD and explore alterations in the microbiome and metabolome in response to WMT.METHODS We conducted a prospective,open-label,single-center clinical study.Eleven CD patients underwent WMT.Their clinical responses(defined as a decrease in their CD Activity Index score of>100 points)and their microbiome(metagenome,metatranscriptome)and metabolome profiles were evaluated three months after the procedure.RESULTS Seven of the 11 patients(63.6%)showed an optimal clinical response three months post-WMT.Gut microbiome diversity significantly increased after WMT,consistent with improved clinical symptoms.Comparison of the metagenome and metatranscriptome analyses revealed consistent alterations in certain strains,such as Faecalibac-terium prausnitzii,Roseburia intestinalis,and Escherichia coli.In addition,metabolomics analyses demonstrated that CD patients had elevated levels of various amino acids before treatment compared to the donors.However,levels of vital amino acids that may be associated with disease progression(e.g.,L-glutamic acid,gamma-glutamyl-leucine,and prolyl-glutamine)were reduced after WMT.CONCLUSION WMT demonstrated therapeutic efficacy in CD treatment,likely due to the effective reconstruction of the patient’s microbiome.Multi-omics techniques can effectively help decipher the potential mechanisms of WMT in treating CD.

Physician-dependent diagnosis delay in Crohn's disease:A pseudoproposition or not?

The challenge of diagnosis delay in inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)has emerged as a significant concern for both patients and healthcare professionals.The widely accepted notion that there is an extended time frame from the onset of symptoms to the definitive diagnosis is often attributed to the heterogeneity of IBD and the non-specificity of clinical manifestations.Specific to patients with Crohn’s disease,the issue of delayed diagnosis appears to be more pronounced across different regions globally.The intricate interplay of real-world factors has led to debates regarding the primary contributors to these diagnostic delays.Drawing a comparison solely between patients and physicians and implicating the latter as the predominant influence factor may fall into a simplistic either-or logical trap that may obscure the truth.This letter,grounded in published evidence,explores areas for improvement in a forthcoming paper within the field,hoping to pinpoint the culprit behind the diagnosis delay issue for IBD patients rather than simply attributing it to so-called“physician-dependent factors”.Our objective is to motivate healthcare providers and policymakers in relevant fields to reflect on strategies for addressing this problem to reduce diagnostic delays and enhance patient outcomes.