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These recommendations refer to the current management in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), a neoplasia characterised by an aggressive course and extremely poor prognosis. The recommendations regard diagnosis, surgical, adjuvant and palliative treatment, with consideration given to endoscopic and surgical methods. A vast majority of the statements are based on data obtained in clinical studies and experts' recommendations on PDAC management, including the following guidelines: International Association of Pancreatology/European Pancreatic Club (IAP/EPC), American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and Polish Society of Gastroenterology (PSG) and The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). All recommendations were voted on by members of the Working Group of the Polish Pancreatic Club. Results of the voting and brief comments are provided with each recommendation.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a condition in which gastroduodenal contents pass into the oesophagus and cause troublesome symptoms and complications. The aetiopathogenesis of gastroesophageal reflux disease is complex and multifactorial. Acid reflux plays an important role in the GERD pathogenesis, both in erosive and non-erosive reflux disease. Reduction of GERD symptoms and mucosal healing correlates with the number of hours that intragastric acid is suppressed to a pH > 4.0. Mucosal healing was achieved in most of patients who received different types of proton pump inhibitors, but only in 50% of those who received H2 blockers. These findings seem to be best accounted for by differences in the duration and degree of acid suppression achieved by different classes of drugs and perhaps between agents within those classes.

Introduction Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) may coexist with Helicobacter pylori infection, which can be the cause of chronic gastrointestinal complaints. Aim Evaluation of the therapeutic efficacy of amoxicillin and rifaximin in the treatment of these diseases. Material and methods The lactulose hydrogen breath test (LHBT) and the urea breath test (13C-UBT) were performed in 116 patients. In 62 patients the coexistence of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth and H. pylori infection was observed. Then, in group I (n = 30) pantoprazole (2 × 40 mg), amoxicillin (2 × 1000 mg) and metronidazole (2 × 500 mg) and in group II (n = 32) pantoprazole and amoxicillin at the above doses and rifaximin (3 × 400 mg) were administered for 10 days. After 6 weeks, both breath tests were repeated and the degree of remission of symptoms was measured using a 10-point visual analog scale (VAS). Results After the treatment the LHBT index decreased in group I from 61.2 ±19.4 ppm to 22.0 ±8.2 ppm (p < 0.001) and in group II from 59.6 ±15.5 ppm to 15.2 ±8.6 ppm (p < 0.001). Eradication of H. pylori (13C-UBT below 4.0‰) was achieved in 63.3% of patients in group I and 59.4% in group II (p > 0.05). The decrease of pain below 3.0 points in the VAS was obtained in 64.8% of patients in group I and in 56.2% in group II. Conclusions Combination of amoxicillin and rifaximin may be effective in the treatment of patients with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth syndrome and concomitant H. pylori infection.

Biological medical products are drugs whose active components are produced only by living, genetically modified organisms or live cell cultures. Patents and exclusivity for most biopharmaceuticals has either expired or will expire soon, which enables biotechnological companies to introduce similar biological products. The problem of replacing a biological medicine with a biosimilar in the course of therapy remains open. In this statement, the Working Group of the Polish National Consultant in Gastroenterology, in the absence of data regarding bioequivalence in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, does not recommend switching from original biological medicine to its biosimilar analogue in the course of treatment in inflammatory disease patients; however, this may change after receiving the results of controlled studies regarding bioequivalence in this group.