Background: The relationship of bidirectional sharing of information between physicians and patients to patient satisfaction with treatment decision-making for ulcerative colitis (UC) has not been examined. Here, we conducted a web-based survey to evaluate this relationship. Methods: Patients aged ≥ 20 years with UC were recruited from the IBD Patient Panel and Japanese IBD Patient Association. Patients completed our web-based survey between 11 May and 1 June 2020. The main outcomes were patient satisfaction (assessed by the Decision Regret Scale) and patient trust in physicians (assessed by the Trust in Physician Scale). Results: In this study (n = 457), a structural equation modelling analysis showed that physician-to-patient and patient-to-physician information significantly affected patient satisfaction with treatment decision-making (standardised path coefficient: 0.426 and 0.135, respectively) and patient trust in physicians (0.587 and 0.158, respectively). Notably, physician-to-patient information had a greater impact. For patient satisfaction with treatment decision-making and patient trust in physicians, information on “disease” (indirect effect: 0.342 and 0.471, respectively), “treatment” (0.335 and 0.461, respectively), and “endoscopy” (0.295 and 0.407, respectively) was particularly important, and the level of this information was adequate or almost adequate. Patient-to-physician information on “anxiety and distress” (0.116 and 0.136, respectively), “intention and desire for treatment” (0.113 and 0.132, respectively), and “future expectations of life” (0.104 and 0.121, respectively) were also important for patient satisfaction with treatment decision-making and patient trust in physicians, but these concerns were not adequately communicated. Conclusions: Adequate physician–patient communication, especially physician-to-patient information, enhanced patient satisfaction with treatment decision-making for UC.

The long-term efficacy of infliximab (IFX) for patients with refractory ulcerative colitis (UC) is unclear. The aim of this study was to assess the long-term outcomes of IFX treatment in patients with refractory UC.

MEFV gene single nucleotide polymorphisms, including E148Q, modify the behavior of Crohn’s disease to form stenosis. Interleukin-1β is produced through enhanced caspase-1 activity in monocytes of Crohn’s disease patients with E148Q, and promotes gene expression of fibrosis-related genes by cooperating with interleukin-17A in myofibroblasts.

Background: Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKis) have revolutionized ulcerative colitis (UC) management; however, the consequences of treatment discontinuation in patients achieving clinical remission remain poorly understood. This study investigated the clinical outcomes following JAKi discontinuation and retreatment effectiveness in patients with relapse. Methods: In this multicenter retrospective cohort study, we analyzed 101 patients with UC who received their first JAKi treatment between 2018 and 2024. Among them, 53 who achieved remission (Patient-Reported Outcome 2 = 0) in week 8 were included. The primary endpoint was a comparison of relapse-free survival between the treatment continuation and discontinuation groups (n = 37 and 16, respectively). The secondary endpoints included assessment of post-discontinuation remission maintenance and post-retreatment remission rates. Results: The proportion of female patients in the discontinuation group (68.8%) was higher (P = .0478) than the continuation group (40.5%). The mean relapse-free survival was significantly longer in the continuation group than in the discontinuation group (1679 vs 882 days, cumulative relapse-free rate 83.3% vs 13.6%, P < .001, respectively). In the latter, 13 patients experienced relapse during follow-up (post-discontinuation mean relapse-free survival: 326 days), although all patients remained in clinical and biological remission. Notably, among patients who received JAKi retreatment, 83.3% achieved remission in week 8. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first real-world study to evaluate the effects of JAKi discontinuation on the outcomes for patients with UC. JAKi discontinuation in patients in remission was associated with a high relapse risk. JAKi retreatment was highly effective in patients who experienced relapse after treatment discontinuation, providing valuable evidence for managing treatment interruption.

A 72-year-old woman presented with symptomatic anemia without abdominal symptoms. She had no history of abdominal surgery or use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Enhanced computed tomography of the abdomen revealed swelling of multiple intraperitoneal lymph nodes and a high density of mesenteric adipose tissue. Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG-) positron emission tomography showed high FDG accumulation at the intraperitoneal lymph nodes. Double-balloon enteroscopy detected severe stenosis with an annular ulcer in the lower ileum. She was diagnosed with ileal follicular lymphoma based on histologic examination and fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis of the biopsy specimen. The ileal ulcer was successfully treated by chemotherapy with rituximab and bendamustine for 1 year. We strongly recommend consideration of gastrointestinal follicular lymphoma in the differential diagnosis of annular ulcers in the small intestine.