Aim. Current clinical recommendations accentuate current methods for the diagnosis and treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).Key points.IBS is a functional bowel disorder manifested with recurrent, at least weekly, abdominal pain with the following attributes (any two leastwise): link to defecation, its frequency or stool shape. The symptoms are expected to persist for at minimum three months in a total six-month follow-up. Similar to other functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, IBS can be diagnosed basing on the patient symptoms compliance with Rome IV criteria, provided the absence of potentially symptom-causative organic GI diseases. Due to challenging differential diagnosis, IBS can be appropriately established per exclusionem, with pre-examination as follows: general and biochemical blood tests; tissue transglutaminase IgA/IgG antibody tests; thyroid hormones test; faecal occult blood test; hydrogen glucose/ lactulose breath test for bacterial overgrowth; stool test for enteric bacterial pathogens and Clostridium difficile A/B toxins; stool calprotectin test; abdominal ultrasound; OGDS, with biopsy as appropriate; colonoscopy with biopsy. The IBS sequence is typically wavelike, with alternating remissions and exacerbations often triggered by psychoemotional stress. Treatment of IBS patients includes dietary and lifestyle adjustments, various-class drug agents prescription and psychotherapeutic measures.Conclusion. Adherence to clinical recommendations can facilitate timely diagnosis and improve medical aid quality in patients with different clinical IBS variants.

Aim. Current clinical recommendations are intended to supply gastroenterologists, physicians and general practitioners with modern methods for the diagnosis and treatment of constipation.Key points. Constipation is defined as primary (functional) and secondary form, the latter comprising a manifestation of another illness. The causes of constipation are diagnosed with colonoscopy, especially in patients aged over 50 having “anxiety symptoms” and hereditary colorectal oncological predisposition. Indications may also include the bowel transit time estimation with radiopaque markers, balloon expulsion test, anorectal manometry, defecography and electromyography. Therapy for constipation should be comprehensive and concern lifestyle, diet recommendations and use of medications (psyllium, macrogol, lactulose, lactitol, contact laxatives, prucalopride). Patients with a less effective conservative therapy and largely reduced quality of life should be considered for surgical intervention.Conclusion. An effective therapy for constipation requires a correct diagnosis of its causes.

Aim. The guidelines set out the modern methods of diagnostics and treatment of peptic ulcer and are created for gastroenterologists, primary care physicians, general practitioners, surgeons, endoscopists.Key points. The clinical guidelines contain modern views on the etiology and pathogenesis of peptic ulcer, its clinical features, methods of laboratory and instrumental diagnostics, the main approaches to conservative and surgical treatment. They include the criteria for assessment of the quality of medical care, the algorithm of the doctor's actions, as well as information for the patient.Conclusion. Knowledge of modern methods of diagnostics and therapy of peptic ulcers will contribute to improving the results of its treatment.

On October 21, 22, 23, 2022, within the framework of the 122nd International Session of the National School of Gastroenterology, Hepatology (NSGH) of the Russian Gastroenterological Association (RGA), the First Russian Gastroenterology Olympiad was held.