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.

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.

Diagnostic delay in inflammatory bowel diseases in a German population

BACKGROUND Early diagnosis is key to prevent bowel damage in inflammatory bowel disease(IBD).Risk factor analyses linked with delayed diagnosis in European IBD patients are scarce and no data in German IBD patients exists.AIM To identify risk factors leading to prolonged diagnostic time in a German IBD cohort.METHODS Between 2012 and 2022,430 IBD patients from four Berlin hospitals were enrolled in a prospective study and asked to complete a 16-item questionnaire to determine features of the path leading to IBD diagnosis.Total diagnostic time was defined as the time from symptom onset to consulting a physician(patient waiting time)and from first consultation to IBD diagnosis(physician diagnostic time).Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify risk factors for each time period.RESULTS The total diagnostic time was significantly longer in Crohn’s disease(CD)compared to ulcerative colitis(UC)patients(12.0 vs 4.0 mo;P<0.001),mainly due to increased physician diagnostic time(5.5 vs 1.0 mo;P<0.001).In a multivariate analysis,the predominant symptoms diarrhea(P=0.012)and skin lesions(P=0.028)as well as performed gastroscopy(P=0.042)were associated with longer physician diagnostic time in CD patients.In UC,fever was correlated(P=0.020)with shorter physician diagnostic time,while fatigue(P=0.011)and positive family history(P=0.046)were correlated with longer physician diagnostic time.CONCLUSION We demonstrated that CD patients compared to UC are at risk of long diagnostic delay.Future efforts should focus on shortening the diagnostic delay for a better outcome in these patients.

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.

May ChatGPT be a tool producing medical information for common inflammatory bowel disease patients’questions?An evidencecontrolled analysis

Artificial intelligence is increasingly entering everyday healthcare.Large language model(LLM)systems such as Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer(ChatGPT)have become potentially accessible to everyone,including patients with inflammatory bowel diseases(IBD).However,significant ethical issues and pitfalls exist in innovative LLM tools.The hype generated by such systems may lead to unweighted patient trust in these systems.Therefore,it is necessary to understand whether LLMs(trendy ones,such as ChatGPT)can produce plausible medical information(MI)for patients.This review examined ChatGPT’s potential to provide MI regarding questions commonly addressed by patients with IBD to their gastroenterologists.From the review of the outputs provided by ChatGPT,this tool showed some attractive potential while having significant limitations in updating and detailing information and providing inaccurate information in some cases.Further studies and refinement of the ChatGPT,possibly aligning the outputs with the leading medical evidence provided by reliable databases,are needed.

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.

More on the interplay between gut microbiota,autophagy,and inflammatory bowel disease is needed

The concept of inflammatory bowel disease(IBD),which encompasses Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis,represents a complex and growing global health concern resulting from a multifactorial etiology.Both dysfunctional autophagy and dysbiosis contribute to IBD,with their combined effects exacerbating the related inflammatory condition.As a result,the existing interconnection between gut microbiota,autophagy,and the host’s immune system is a decisive factor in the occurrence of IBD.The factors that influence the gut microbiota and their impact are another important point in this regard.Based on this initial perspective,this manuscript briefly highlighted the intricate interplay between the gut microbiota,autophagy,and IBD pathogenesis.In addition,it also addressed the potential targeting of the microbiota and modulating autophagic pathways for IBD therapy and proposed suggestions for future research within a more specific and expanded context.Further studies are warranted to explore restoring microbial balance and regulating autophagy mechanisms,which may offer new therapeutic avenues for IBD management and to delve into personalized treatment to alleviate the related burden.

Effects of proton pump inhibitors on inflammatory bowel disease:An updated review

Inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)is believed to be caused by various factors,including abnormalities in disease susceptibility genes,environmental factors,immune factors,and intestinal bacteria.Proton pump inhibitors(PPIs)are the primary drugs used to treat acid-related diseases.They are also commonly prescribed to patients with IBD.Recent studies have suggested a potential association between the use of certain medications,such as PPIs,and the occurrence and progression of IBD.In this review,we summarize the potential impact of PPIs on IBD and analyze the underlying mechanisms.Our findings may provide insights for conducting further investigations into the effects of PPIs on IBD and serve as an important reminder for physicians to exercise caution when prescribing PPIs to patients with IBD.

Recent trends in the epidemiology and clinical outcomes of inflammatory bowel disease in South Korea,2010-2018

BACKGROUND Inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)was previously regarded as a Western disease;however,its incidence is increasing in the East.The epidemiology of IBD in Asia differs significantly from the patterns in the West.AIM To comprehensively investigate the epidemiology of IBD in South Korea,inclu-ding its incidence,prevalence,medication trends,and outcomes.METHODS We analyzed claims data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service and Rare and Intractable Diseases(RIDs),operated by the National Health Insurance Service of South Korea.Patients with IBD were identified based on the International Classification of Diseases,Tenth Revision,and RID diagnostic codes for Crohn’s disease(CD)and ulcerative colitis(UC)from 2010 to 2018.RESULTS In total,14498 and 31409 patients were newly diagnosed with CD and UC,respectively,between 2010 and 2018.The annual average incidence of CD was 3.11 cases per 105 person-years,and that of UC was 6.74 cases per 10^(5) person-years.Since 2014,the incidence rate of CD has been stable,while that of UC has steadily increased,shifting the peak age group from 50-year-olds in 2010 to 20-year-olds in 2018.The CD and UC prevalence increased consistently over the study period;the use of 5-aminosali-cylates and corticosteroids gradually decreased,while that of immunomodulators and biologics steadily increased in both CD and UC.The clinical outcomes of IBD,such as hospitalization and surgery,decreased during the study period.CONCLUSION The CD incidence has been stable since 2014,but that of UC has increased with a shift to a younger age at peak incidence between 2010 and 2018.IBD clinical outcomes improved over time,with increased use of immunomodu-lators and biologics.

Excess non-COVID-19-related mortality among inflammatory bowel disease decedents during the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic disrupted healthcare in the United States.AIM To investigate COVID-19-related and non-COVID-19-related death and characteristics associated with excess death among inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)decedents.METHODS We performed a register-based study using data from the National Vital Statistics System,which reports death data from over 99%of the United States population,from January 1,2006 through December 31,2021.IBD-related deaths among adults 25 years and older were stratified by age,sex,race/ethnicity,place of death,and primary cause of death.Predicted and actual age-standardized mortality rates(ASMRs)per 100000 persons were compared.RESULTS 49782 IBD-related deaths occurred during the study period.Non-COVID-19-related deaths increased by 13.14%in 2020 and 18.12%in 2021[2020 ASMR:1.55 actual vs 1.37 predicted,95%confidence interval(CI):1.26-1.49;2021 ASMR:1.63 actual vs 1.38 predicted,95%CI:1.26-1.49].In 2020,non-COVID-19-related mortality increased by 17.65%in ulcerative colitis(UC)patients between the ages of 25 and 65 and 36.36%in non-Hispanic black(NHB)Crohn’s disease(CD)patients.During the pandemic,deaths at home or on arrival and at medical facilities as well as deaths due to neoplasms also increased.CONCLUSION IBD patients suffered excess non-COVID-19-related death during the pandemic.Excess death was associated with younger age among UC patients,and with NHB race among CD patients.Increased death at home or on arrival and due to neoplasms suggests that delayed presentation and difficulty accessing healthcare may have led to increased IBD mortality.

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.

Gut microbiota and mesenteric adipose tissue interactions in shaping phenotypes and treatment strategies for Crohn’s disease

In this letter,we commented on the article by Wu et al.We examined the interactions between mesenteric adipose tissue,creeping fat,and gut microbiota in Crohn’s disease(CD),a condition marked by chronic gastrointestinal inflammation with a rising global incidence.The pathogenesis of CD involves complex genetic,environmental,and microbial factors.Dysbiosis,which is an imbalance in gut microbial communities,is frequently observed in CD patients,highlighting the pivotal role of the gut microbiota in disease progression and the inflammatory response.Recent studies have shown that mesenteric adipose tissue and creeping fat actively contribute to inflammation by producing proinflammatory cytokines.The relationship between creeping fat and altered microbiota can shift from a potentially protective role to one that encourages bacterial translocation,further complicating disease management.Recent research has suggested that fecal microbiota transplantation could help restore microbial balance,offering a promising therapeutic strategy to improve clinical disease response.