Inflammatory bowel diseases are chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract with a growing prevalence worldwide, requiring precise diagnostic and monitoring methods to guide their appropriate treatment. In this context, MRE (Magnetic Resonance Enterography) has become an essential imaging technique as a non-invasive option for the diagnosis of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis in recent years. This method provides detailed information about intestinal inflammation, disease activity, complications, and response to therapy, without the need to expose the patient to ionizing radiation. This study analyzes the advantages of MRE over other imaging methods, as well as its clinical applicability and current challenges. We also discuss future perspectives, including the integration of artificial intelligence and the optimization of protocols for better diagnostic accuracy.

Objectives: This study explores the importance of social factors, Social Determinants of Health (SDOH), particularly poverty, on patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), who developed gastroparesis. The analysis aimed to correlate social variables such as income, education, occupation, and loneliness with clinical outcomes and their association with clinical outcomes and healthcare utilization, using hospitalization frequency and symptom burden as proxy indicators of quality of life.Methods: This retrospective observational study analyzed a subgroup of 50 patients with diabetic gastroparesis, selected from a larger cohort of 250 patients diagnosed with gastroparesis. Diabetic gastroparesis was confirmed via gastric scintigraphy. Demographic, clinical, and social variables were analyzed, and data collection was facilitated through a structured instrument using the software EpiInfo.Results: In this retrospective observational study, the majority of patients were obese females over 60 years of age, retired, and residing in rural areas. Loneliness emerged as a significant aggravating factor. Low income was associated with increased complications, frequent hospitalizations, and higher overall healthcare expenditure.Conclusion: Diabetic gastroparesis is an underdiagnosed complication of T2DM, frequently worsened by social vulnerability. In this study, low income, rural residence, obesity and loneliness were identified as key social determinants modulating disease severity and healthcare utilization. Greater emphasis on addressing these SDOH is necessary to optimize outcomes and reduce hospitalization rates, insurance expenses, and overall healthcare burden (used herein as proxy indicators of reduced quality of life).

Nutcracker syndrome and Wilkie syndrome are rare and often diagnosed incidentally during imaging investigations for other conditions and, on occasion, together. In this paper, we present the case of a 36-year-old patient with quasi-permanent symptoms including epigastralgia, loss of appetite, early satiety, left lumbar colic pain, normal stool and dysuria. The clinical examination revealed a non-distended abdomen, sensitivity to palpation in the epigastrium and hypogastrium regions, frequent urination in small amounts, and a body mass index (BMI) of 15 kg/m2, indicating severe protein calorie malnutrition. Laboratory tests indicated persistent microscopic hematuria without proteinuria with repeated urinary infections. Abdominal-pelvic ultrasound with Doppler revealed a left renal vein dilated up to 10 mm in the left paraaortic region (Nutcracker syndrome) and distal duodenal obstruction with distension in the same region, which was also confirmed by gastroduodenoscopy (Wilkie syndrome). Abdominal‒pelvic computed tomography angiography revealed a malformed and dilated left renal vein that was compressed as a result of aorto-mesenteric obstruction and communicating with an aberrant left paravertebral and paraspinal network extending to L1 and L5 and thrombosis of the left ovarian vein. The patient benefitted from conservative treatment, which intended to correct the malabsorption syndrome with the help of a nutritionist, who suggested a personalized diet to help gain weight. As a result, the patient was able to avoid surgical treatment. The case is peculiar in that the patient presented with a very rare form of Nutcracker syndrome (posterior type) associated with another rare syndrome, Wilkie syndrome.

Background and Clinical Significance: Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a rare and aggressive malignant soft-tissue sarcoma (STS) arising from skeletal connective tissues and is most commonly seen in the pediatric population. The pleomorphic subtype is mostly seen in adults in the sixth and seventh decades of life, representing 1% of all histological types of RMS and having a very poor prognosis. Case Presentation: This report presents the case of a 63-year-old male with a medical history of papillary thyroid cancer, who presented with an ulcer-hemorrhagic malignant tumor, namely, a poorly differentiated desmin-positive pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma (PRMS), with impressive dimensions located on the posterior thoracic wall. This tumor was surgically removed via a wide resection, followed by palliative chemotherapy and radiotherapy. However, the patient relapsed locally, with pulmonary, bone, and lymph node metastases. The peculiarity of this case is represented by the rapid growth, aggressive nature, and high metastatic potential of the adult RMS, as well as its poor response to treatment. Conclusions: The presented case underscores the need for early diagnosis, multidisciplinary management, and exploration of molecular profiling for therapeutic planning.

Histological healing is increasingly recognized as a sensitive marker of disease remission in ulcerative colitis (UC). However, the dynamics of mucosal T lymphocytes and proinflammatory cytokines during healing remain incompletely understood. In this paired, within-subject observational study (retrospective analysis of paired biopsies), colonic biopsy sets from 20 adult UC patients were analyzed during active inflammation and at a subsequent time point of histologic healing. Immunohistochemistry was performed for CD3, CD4, CD8, and IL-6. Lymphocyte densities were quantified in intraepithelial and lamina propria compartments, while IL-6 expression was scored semi-quantitatively. Histological activity was assessed using the Geboes score. Intraepithelial CD4⁺ T cells significantly decreased during histologic healing (mean 6.8 → 3.75 cells/100 epithelial cells, p < 0.05), whereas lamina propria CD4⁺ cells remained variably persistent, suggesting ongoing immune regulation. Intraepithelial CD8⁺ cells increased during remission, indicating a potential reparative or surveillance role. IL-6 expression markedly declined in epithelial and stromal compartments during healing, reflecting resolution of mucosal inflammation. Correlation analyses revealed enhanced coordination between CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ cells in the healing phase, consistent with immune homeostasis. Histologic healing in UC involves compartment-specific shifts in T lymphocyte populations and a marked reduction in IL-6 expression, reflecting coordinated immune regulation beyond clinical remission. These findings highlight the potential of combined cellular and cytokine biomarkers to monitor mucosal healing and guide immunomodulatory therapies.