Chronic inflammation in patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) leads to an increased risk of colorectal cancer, small bowel cancer, intestinal lymphoma and cholangiocarcinoma. However, treatments for IBD have also been associated with an increased risk of neoplasms. Patients receiving Thiopurines (TPs) have an increased risk of hematologic malignancies, non-melanoma skin cancer, urinary tract neoplasms and cervical cancer. Anti-TNFs have been associated with a higher risk of neoplasms, mainly lymphomas and melanomas; however, the data are controversial, and some recent studies do not confirm the association. Nevertheless, other biologic agents, such as ustekinumab and vedolizumab, have not shown an increased risk of any neoplasm to date. The risk of malignancies with tofacitinib exists, but its magnitude and relationship with previous treatment with TPs is not defined, so more studies from daily clinical practice are needed. Although biologic therapy seems to be safe for patients with current cancer or a prior history of cancer, as has been demonstrated in other chronic inflammatory conditions, prospective studies in this specific population are needed. Until that time, it is crucial to manage such conditions via the combined clinical expertise of the gastroenterologist and oncologist.

Background: Bismuth quadruple therapies (BQTs) including bismuth, a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) and two antibiotics have been shown to be highly effective for treating Helicobacter pylori infection even in areas of high bacterial antibiotic resistance. Objective: To describe the time trends of use, effectiveness and safety of BQT in Europe using the European Registry on Helicobacter pylori Management (Hp-EuReg). Design: Patients registered in the Hp-EuReg from 2013 to 2021 who had received BQT were included. The regimens prescribed, the number of eradication attempts, effectiveness, adherence and safety were analysed. The effectiveness was assessed by modified intention to treat (mITT). Time-trend and multivariate analyses were performed to determine variables that predicted treatment success. Results: Of the 49 690 patients included in the Hp-EuReg, 15 582 (31%) had received BQT. BQT use increased from 8.6% of all treatments in 2013 to 39% in 2021. Single-capsule BQT—containing bismuth, metronidazole and tetracycline—plus a PPI (single-capsule BQT, ScBQT) was the most frequent treatment mode (43%). Schemes that obtained an effectiveness above 90% were the 10-day ScBQT and 14-day BQT using tetracycline plus metronidazole, or amoxicillin plus either clarithromycin or metronidazole. Only ScBQT achieved above 90% cure rates in all the geographical areas studied. Using the ScBQT scheme, adherence, the use of standard or high-dose PPIs, 14-day prescriptions and the use of BQT as first-line treatment were significantly associated with higher mITT effectiveness. Conclusion: The use of BQT increased notably in Europe over the study period. A 10-day ScBQT was the scheme that most consistently achieved optimal effectiveness. Trial registration number: NCT02328131 .

Despite classical association between metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and obesity, there is increasing evidence on the development of MASLD in lean individuals. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence and risk factors of MASLD and significant liver fibrosis in lean participants with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This was a cross-sectional, case-control study including 300 lean cases with IBD and 80 lean controls without IBD, matched by sex and age. All participants underwent a liver ultrasound, transient elastography, and laboratory tests. The lean IBD group showed a significantly higher prevalence of MASLD compared with lean non-IBD group (21.3% vs 10%; P = .022), but no differences were observed in the prevalence of significant liver fibrosis (4.7% vs 0.0%; P = 1.000). No differences were found between the prevalence of MASLD in IBD and non-IBD participants who were overweight/obese (66.8% vs 70.8%; P = .442). In addition, the prevalence of MASLD was significantly higher in the overweight/obese IBD group compared with the lean IBD group (P < .001). IBD was an independent risk factor for MASLD in lean participants (odds ratio [OR], 2.71; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05-7.01; P = .04), after adjusting for classic metabolic risk factors and prior history of systemic steroid use. Nevertheless, no association between IBD related factors and MASLD was identified in lean IBD participants. When the overweight/obese and lean IBD groups with MASLD were compared, the overweight/obese IBD group with MASLD showed higher levels of the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (OR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.11-1.98; P = .007) and history of smoking (OR, 4.66; 95% CI, 1.17-18.49; P = .029). MASLD prevalence was higher in the lean IBD group compared with lean non-IBD group, independent of classic metabolic risk factors.

Background: Delayed cholecystectomy in patients with symptomatic gallstone disease is associated with recurrence. Limited data on the recurrence patterns and the factors that determine them are available.Objective: We aimed to determine the pattern of relapse in each symptomatic gallstone disease (acute pancreatitis, cholecystitis, cholangitis, symptomatic choledocholithiasis, and biliary colic) and determine the associated factors.Methods: RELAPSTONE was an international multicenter retrospective cohort study. Patients (n = 3016) from 18 tertiary centers who suffered a first episode of symptomatic gallstone disease from 2018 to 2020 and had not undergone cholecystectomy during admission were included. The main outcome was relapse‐free survival. Kaplan–Meier curves were used in the bivariate analysis. Multivariable Cox regression models were used to identify prognostic factors associated with relapses.Results: Mean age was 76.6 [IQR: 59.7–84.1], and 51% were male. The median follow‐up was 5.3 months [IQR 2.1–12.4]. Relapse‐free survival was 0.79 (95% CI: 0.77–0.80) at 3 months, 0.71 (95% CI: 0.69–0.73) at 6 months, and 0.63 (95% CI: 0.61–0.65) at 12 months. In multivariable analysis, older age (HR = 0.57; 95% CI: 0.49–0.66), sphincterotomy (HR = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.49–0.68) and higher leukocyte count (HR = 0.79; 95% CI: 0.70–0.90) were independently associated with lower risk of relapse, whereas higher levels of alanine aminotransferase (HR = 1.22; 95% CI: 1.02–1.46) and multiple cholelithiasis (HR = 1.19, 95% CI: 1.05–1.34) were associated with higher relapse rates.Conclusion: The relapse rate is high and different in each symptomatic gallstone disease. Our independent predictors could be useful for prioritizing patients on the waiting list for cholecystectomies.

INTRODUCTION: To evaluate the prescription patterns, effectiveness, and safety of adding probiotics to Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy, in Europe. METHODS: International, prospective, noninterventional registry of the clinical practice of the European gastroenterologists. Data were collected and quality reviewed until March 2021 at AEG-REDCap. The effectiveness was evaluated by modified intention-to-treat analysis, differentiating by geographic areas. Adverse events (AEs) were categorized as mild, moderate, and severe. RESULTS: Overall, 36,699 treatments were recorded, where 8,233 (22%) were prescribed with probiotics. Probiotics use was associated with higher effectiveness in the overall analysis (odds ratio [OR] 1.631, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.456–1.828), as well as in triple (OR 1.702, 95% CI 1.403–2.065), quadruple (OR 1.383, 95% CI 0.996–1.920), bismuth quadruple (OR 1.248, 95% CI 1.003–1.554), and sequential therapies (OR 3.690, 95% CI 2.686–5.069). Lactobacillus genus was associated with a higher therapy effectiveness in Eastern Europe when triple (OR 2.625, 95% CI 1.911–3.606) and bismuth quadruple (OR 1.587, 95% CI 1.117–2.254) first-line therapies were prescribed. In Central Europe, the use of probiotics was associated with a decrease in both the overall incidence of AEs (OR 0.656, 95% CI 0.516–0.888) and severe AEs (OR 0.312, 95% CI 0.217–0.449). Bifidobacterium genus was associated with lower overall (OR 0.725, 95% CI 0.592–0.888) and severe (OR 0.254, 95% CI 0.185–0.347) AEs, and Saccharomyces was associated with reduced overall (OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.32–0.91) and severe (OR 0.257, 95% CI 0.123–0.536) AEs under quadruple-bismuth regimen. DISCUSSION: In Europe, the use of probiotics was associated with higher effectiveness and safety of H. pylori eradication therapy. Lactobacillus improved treatment effectiveness, whereas Bifidobacterium and Saccharomyces were associated with a better safety profile.

Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is more prevalent in patients with psoriasis compared to healthy individuals. Interleukin (IL)-17 and IL-23 inhibitors may have beneficial effects on MASLD by reducing systemic inflammation and improving metabolic parameters. Objectives: To assess the effect of IL-17 and IL-23 inhibitors on MASLD and liver fibrosis in patients with psoriasis. Design: We performed a systematic review that followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines. Data sources and methods: A literature search was conducted across four databases: MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, from database inception to September 27, 2024. Observational studies and clinical trials that reported the presence of MASLD and/or liver fibrosis in patients with psoriasis/psoriatic arthritis treated with IL-17 or IL-23 inhibitors were included. The Newcastle Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used for risk of bias assessment in cohort studies, the Revised Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool (RoB2.0) in randomized controlled trials, and the Risk of Bias in non-randomized studies-of Interventions (ROBINS-I v.2) tool in non-randomized trials. Results: Fourteen studies were included: four clinical trials, five retrospective cohort studies, three prospective cohort studies, and two post hoc studies. Two cohort studies and one clinical trial showed a low risk of bias. Both post hoc studies had a high risk of bias. Eleven studies assessed the effect of IL-17 inhibitors on MASLD or liver fibrosis; six reported a neutral effect, while five demonstrated improvements in liver tests. Three studies evaluated IL-23 inhibitors; one showed neutral effects, another reported improvement in fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4) scores at 6 months, and the third was still in the recruitment phase. Conclusion: IL-17 and IL-23 inhibitors may provide beneficial effects on MASLD and liver fibrosis in patients with psoriasis. Larger, well-designed studies are needed to confirm these findings. Trial registration: PROSPERO CRD42024599350.