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Elisa Marabotto, 1 Sebastiano Ziola, 1 Vincenzo Savarino, 1 Edoardo Giovanni Giannini, 1 Manuele Furnari, 1 Giorgia Bodini, 1 Fabiana Zingone, 2 Matteo Ghisa, 2 Brigida Barberio, 2 Patrizia Zentilin, 1 Edoardo Savarino 2 1Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; 2Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padua, Padua, ItalyCorrespondence: Elisa MarabottoDivision of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, 6, Genova 16132, ItalyTel/Fax +390103538923Email elisa.marabotto@unige.itAbstract: Potassium-competitive acid blockers (P-CABs), such as vonoprazan, represent a novel and heterogeneous class of drugs that competitively block the potassium binding site of gastric H+/K+ ATPase, thus potentially overcoming the limitations of proton-pump inhibitors. Different studies evaluated the efficacy of vonoprazan versus proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) for the treatment of acid-related disorders, and, therefore, P-CABs present the same indications of PPIs: gastroesophageal reflux disease, gastric and duodenal ulcer healing, management of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-associated ulcers and Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy. The aim of this review was to evaluate the role of vonoprazan for the treatment of peptic ulcer disease (PUD) and the management of gastric ulcer occurring after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). Indeed, vonoprazan (at the dose of both 10 and 20mg) showed similar results to PPIs in patients taking long-term NSAIDs, in the absence of severe adverse effects, and provided a more rapid and effective treatment of ulcers induced by ESD. However, studies in medical literature are heterogeneous, mainly performed with a retrospective design, and often carried out in Japan only. For these reasons, further prospective, randomized studies are warranted in order to help physicians, patients, and policymakers regarding the use of vonoprazan in clinical practice.Keywords: gastric ulcer, P-CAB, adverse events, peptic disease, PPI, H2-receptor antagonists

Manuele Furnari,1 Nicola de Bortoli,2 Irene Martinucci,2 Giorgia Bodini,1 Matteo Revelli,3 Elisa Marabotto,1 Alessandro Moscatelli,1 Lorenzo Del Nero,1 Edoardo Savarino,4 Edoardo G Giannini,1 Vincenzo Savarino1 1Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; 2Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Translational Research and New Technology in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy; 3Department of Radiology, San Bartolomeo Hospital, Sarzana, Italy; 4Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Surgery, Oncology, and Gastroenterology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy Abstract: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common chronic functional disorder of the gastrointestinal tract, meanly characterized by recurrent abdominal pain or discomfort and altered bowel habit. It is a complex disorder involving biological, environmental, and psychosocial factors. The diagnosis is achieved according to the Rome III criteria provided that organic causes have been excluded. Although IBS does not constitute a life-threatening condition, it has a remarkable prevalence and profoundly reduces the quality of life with burdening socioeconomic costs. One of the principal concerns about IBS is the lack of effective therapeutic options. Up to 40% of patients are not satisfied with any available medications, especially those suffering from chronic constipation. A correct management of IBS with constipation should evolve through a global approach focused on the patient, starting with careful history taking in order to assess the presence of organic diseases that might trigger the disorder. Therefore, the second step is to examine lifestyle, dietary habits, and psychological status. On these bases, a step-up management of disease is recommended: from fiber and bulking agents, to osmotic laxative drugs, to new molecules like lubiprostone and linaclotide. Although new promising tools for relief of bowel-movement-related symptoms are being discovered, a dedicated doctor–patient relationship still seems to be the key for success. Keywords: IBS, functional gastrointestinal disorders, laxatives

A pilot study was conducted to evaluate the association between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) using pH-impedance monitoring and polysomnography. The study found a direct association between higher apnea hypopnea index (AHI) values and various pH-impedance monitoring metrics in the recumbent position, suggesting that nocturnal reflux events may exacerbate the occurrence of apneas. However, no significant association was found in the upright position or overall exam. The results suggest that the management of one condition could positively influence the other, and further research is needed to fully understand this relationship. [Extracted from the article]

Thrombocytopenia is the most common hematological abnormality in patients with chronic, advanced liver disease. In these patients, the presence of severe thrombocytopenia is an obstacle to the performance of invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, and the current standard treatment for these patients is platelet transfusions, a remedy whose characteristics are far from being ideal. Furthermore, thrombocytopenia in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection may render the patients ineligible to antiviral treatment or may limit its efficacy because of premature discontinuation. Although the cause of thrombocytopenia in patients with chronic liver disease is likely multi-factorial, decreased thrombopoietin production by the liver undoubtedly plays a significant role. In this regard, eltrombopag, a non-peptide, orally bioavailable thrombopoietin receptor agonist has been shown to safely increase platelet count in a dose-dependent fashion in both healthy subjects and thrombocytopenic patients with chronic hepatitis C. Furthermore, in this latter group of patients, it has been shown to be superior to placebo in counteracting the myelosuppressive effect of short-term pegylated interferon treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]