Background/Objectives: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by chronic relapsing and remitting inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has emerged as an FDA-approved treatment for recurrent Clostridioides difficile infections (CDIs), with promising potential in patients with IBD. This manuscript aimed to provide a comprehensive and updated review of the available literature on fecal microbiota transplantation, its clinical use in IBD in general, as well as in patients with IBD and CDI. Methods: An extensive literature search was performed from October 2024 to March 2025. All publications available within PubMed, Medline, Embase, Google Scholar, and Cochrane databases were reviewed. All original articles, case reports, review articles, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses were included. Qualitative and quantitative data were both extracted. Discussion: Intestinal microbiota is an integral part of the human body, and dysbiosis (an imbalance in the gut’s microbial community) has been linked with several pathologies. Dysbiosis in IBD is marked by reduced beneficial bacteria and increased pro-inflammatory pathogens, contributing to mucosal damage and immune dysregulation. FMT has emerged as a solution to dysbiosis, with the first case recorded in 1917. FMT has been successful in treating patients with CDI. The diagnostic value of the gut microbiome is currently being explored as a possible therapeutic approach to IBD. Several studies have assessed FMT in patients with IBD and CDI with promising results in both ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD) but varying efficacy based on administration routes, donor selection, and processing methods. In the context of recurrent CDI in patients with IBD, FMT demonstrates a high cure rate and potential benefit in concurrently improving IBD activity. However, risks such as IBD flare-ups post-FMT remain a concern. Conclusions: FMT holds promising potential in the management of CDI in patients with IBD. By restoring microbial diversity and correcting dysbiosis, FMT offers a novel, microbiota-targeted alternative to conventional therapies. While data support its efficacy in improving disease remission, variability in outcomes underscores the need for standardized protocols and additional large-scale, controlled studies. Continued research efforts into donor selection, treatment regimens, and long-term safety will be critical to optimizing FMT’s role in IBD and CDI care as well as improving patient outcomes.

Background: Patients with autoimmune diseases experience a higher burden of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). There is a paucity of data regarding MetS in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and its impact on CVD. In this retrospective study, we aimed to evaluate the prevalence of MetS components in IBD patients, as well as their association with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), heart failure and arrhythmias. Methods: After pooling 5 years of data from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) Database (2016–2020), we compared traditional cardiovascular risk factors between IBD and non-IBD patients. We then investigated the association between MetS (represented by a calculated metabolic score (CMS) ranging from 0 to 4, based on the presence or absence of hypertension, obesity, dyslipidemia and type II diabetes) and CVD, separately for Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) patients. Results: The prevalence of the different MetS components was found to be lower in IBD patients compared to non-IBD patients. Comparing CD (n = 806,875) and UC (n = 575,925) identified a higher prevalence of MetS components in UC. Higher CMS was positively associated with ACS and arrhythmias in both CD and UC. This association was evident in heart failure, with the odds ratio increasing from 2.601 for CMS = 1 to 6.290 for CMS = 4 in UC patients and from 2.622 to 5.709 in CD patients. Conclusions: Our study highlights the positive association between traditional components of MetS and CVD in IBD patients. Our findings suggest that chronic inflammation explains only partially the CVD burden in hospitalized IBD patients.

Background: While many studies have identified steatotic liver disease (SLD) as a risk factor for kidney stone disease (KSD), the impact of the severity of steatosis has not been clearly elucidated in the context of other metabolic risk factors for KSD. This cross‐sectional population‐based study of a large inpatient database sought to investigate the association between KSD and SLD.Methods: We queried the National Inpatient Database between 2016 and 2020 to identify patients with urolithiasis as well as patients with SLD, and identify other risk factors for stone disease, such as obesity, type II diabetes, and gout using ICD10 codes. Logistic regression was computed for strength and significance of the relationship between both SLD severity levels and KSD, in univariate and multivariate regression adjusted for patient characteristics and comorbidities burden. All statistical analyses were performed using SAS Enterprise Software 9.4.Results: Odds of being a kidney stone former were significantly higher in patients with MASLD and MASH than in patients without liver injury in the general hospitalized population. Analysis performed in a cohort of hospitalizations that included BMI identifiers showed that this association of both degrees of SLD with KSD was more pronounced than that with diabetes and gout. Finally, comparing both forms of disease severity head‐to‐head, MASLD was found to have a stronger association with KSD than MASH.Conclusion: Patients with SLD were found to have a higher prevalence of KSD. The more pronounced association in MASLD and the lower‐than‐expected contribution of other conditions involving dysregulation of metabolic homeostasis such as gout or diabetes highlights the central role of SLD in KSD pathogenesis.

Background Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a rapidly progressive neurodegenerative condition that is not easily diagnosed and has no curative treatments available, essentially requiring palliative measures, including tube feeding. Nonetheless, data shows that the endoscope used for percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube insertion can be a vector for CJD transmission. Case Presentation We discuss the case of an elderly patient diagnosed with CJD, requiring tube feeding. Multiple specialists were consulted, and they were unable to reach an agreement on the best approach. Eventually, the hospital ethics committee intervened, and the family agreed to comfort measures only. This case report sheds light on the ethical challenges surrounding the use of endoscopically assisted PEG tube placement for patients with confirmed or suspected CJD. Conclusion Ethical consideration for patients with dementia, especially with CJD, includes evaluating harm and benefit, considering legal and societal responsibilities, respecting autonomy, and managing transmission risks. Based on our findings, we encourage interdisciplinary collaboration when navigating complex medical decision-making for patients with human prion diseases and advanced dementia.

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a highly prevalent gastrointestinal disorder worldwide. Management strategies include lifestyle modification, pharmacologic therapy, and surgical interventions. Diaphragmatic breathing exercises have been proposed as a non-pharmacological treatment aimed at improving lower esophageal sphincter function and reducing reflux episodes. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and ClinicalTrials.gov was conducted from database inception to 10 March 2026 to identify randomized controlled trials evaluating diaphragmatic breathing in patients with GERD. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 tool. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed to estimate pooled mean differences for symptom scores and quality-of-life outcomes. Results: Ten randomized controlled trials including 476 patients were analyzed (mean age: 39.9 ± 11.3 years). Diaphragmatic breathing interventions were performed in 229 participants, with an average duration of 20.36 min per session over approximately 5.1 weeks. Meta-analysis demonstrated a modest improvement in GERD symptom scores favoring diaphragmatic breathing (SMD −0.74; 95% CI −1.36 to −0.12; p = 0.019), with substantial heterogeneity (I² = 79.7%). Subgroup analyses comparing breathing with medication and sham breathing controls produced similar trends. Quality-of-life outcomes did not demonstrate statistically significant improvement (MD −2.35; 95% CI −6.35 to 1.65; p = 0.25) and showed considerable heterogeneity (I² = 85.3%). Risk-of-bias assessment revealed “some concerns” in several studies, primarily related to randomization procedures and outcome reporting. Conclusions: Although pooled results demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in GERD symptom scores favoring diaphragmatic breathing, this finding must be interpreted with considerable caution given the substantial heterogeneity observed. The current evidence remains limited by methodological heterogeneity, and inconsistent outcome assessment is insufficient to support definitive clinical recommendations, and the observed benefit may not be generalizable across patient populations or clinical settings. Larger standardized randomized trials are required to determine the clinical role of diaphragmatic breathing in GERD management.