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(1) Background: Changes in the clinical presentation of celiac disease (CD) in children have been reported. The guidelines of the European Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) allow esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) with biopsies to be avoided under specific circumstances. We aimed to assess the clinical picture of pediatric CD patients at diagnosis and to validate ESPGHAN non-biopsy criteria. (2) Methods: Patients with suspected CD or undergoing screening from 2004 to 2014 at the University Hospital in Modena, Italy were enrolled. The accuracy of ESPGHAN non-biopsy criteria and modified versions were assessed. (3) Results: In total, 410 patients were enrolled, of whom 403 were considered for analysis. Of the patients considered, 45 were asymptomatic and diagnosed with CD (11.2%) while 358 patients (88.2%) were symptomatic, of whom 295 were diagnosed with CD. Among symptomatic CD patients, 57 (19.3%) had gastrointestinal symptoms, 98 (33%) had atypical symptoms and 140 (47.4%) had both. No difference was found for the presence of gastrointestinal symptoms at different ages. The non-biopsy ESPGHAN criteria yielded an accuracy of 59.4% with a positive predictive value (PPV) of 100%; 173 out of 308 EGD (56.2%) could have been avoided. The modified 7× and 5× upper limit of normal cut-offs for IgA anti tissue-transglutaminase reached 60.7% and 64.3% of EGD avoided, respectively. (4) Conclusions: Over 10 years, late age at diagnosis and increased rates of atypical CD presentation were found. ESPGHAN non-biopsy criteria are accurate for CD diagnosis and allow half of unneeded EGD to be avoided. Modified versions allowed sparing a greater number of EGD.

Aim: Recent studies suggest that glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, a genetically inherited condition causing hemolytic anemia, may be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). We aimed to perform a retrospective case-control study in Sardinia taking advantage from clinical records of patients undergoing upper digestive endoscopy and screened for H. pylori infection., Methods: A total of 9,604 patients with a known G6PD status and a complete clinical history, encompassing CVD, and leading CVD risk factors, including H. pylori infection, undergoing upper endoscopy between 2002 and 2017 were enrolled in this study., Results: Multivariate logistic regression analysis confirmed an increased CVD risk in subjects with G6PD deficiency [odd ratio (OR), 3.24; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.44-4.30] after adjusting for potential confounders and effect modifiers, including H. pylori infection. Cardiovascular risk was similar in subjects with and without G6PD deficiency before age 60 (OR, 1.26; 95% CI 0.78-2.04, P=0.562), whereas it increased after age 60 in the former group (OR, 3.05; 95% CI 2.22-4.19, P＜0.0001) especially in males (OR 3.67; 95% CI 2.19-6.14) compared with females (OR, 2.96; 95% CI 1.89-4.64) by sex-specific logistic regression analysis., Conclusion: The risk of CVD was greater in G6PD-deficient subjects after age 60, both in males and females, than those with normal enzyme activity, after adjusting for conventional CVD risk factors and H. pylori infection. The reduction of important protective mechanisms against oxidative stress in the elderly might explain the study findings.

Background and Aims: The present study was aimed to assess the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and associated factors among HCWs in endoscopy centers in Italy., Methods: All members of the Italian Society of Digestive Endoscopy (SIED) were invited to participate to a questionnaire-based survey during the first months of the COVID-19 outbreak in Italy., Results: 314/1306 (24%) SIED members accounting for 201/502 (40%) endoscopic centers completed the survey. Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) were available in most centers, but filtering face-piece masks (FFP2 or FFP3) and negative pressure room were not in 10.9 and 75.1%. Training courses on PPE use were provided in 57.2% of centers only; there was at least one positive HCW in 17.4% of centers globally, 107/3308 (3.2%) HCWs were diagnosed with COVID-19 with similar rates of physicians (2.9%), nurses (3.5%) and other health operators (3.5%). Involvement in a COVID-19 care team (OR: 4.96) and the lack of training courses for PPE, (OR: 2.65) were associated with increased risk., Conclusions: The risk of COVID-19 among endoscopy HCWs was not negligible and was associated with work in a COVID-19 care team and lack of education on proper PPE use. These data deserve attention during the subsequent waves., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None., (Copyright © 2021 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: SARS-CoV-2 disease (COVID-19) is a major challenge for the healthcare system and physicians, imposing changes in daily clinical activity., Aims: we aimed to describe what European trainees and young gastroenterologists know about COVID-19 and identify training gaps to implement educational programs., Methods: A prospective web-based electronic survey was developed and distributed via e-mail to all members of the Italian Young Gastroenterologist and Endoscopist Association and to European representatives., Results: One hundred and ninety-seven subjects participated in the survey, of whom 14 (7.1%) were excluded. The majority were gastroenterologists in training (123, 67.7%) working in institutions with COVID-19 inpatients (159, 86.9%), aged ≤30 years (113, 61.8%). The activity of Gastroenterology Units was restricted to emergency visits and endoscopy, with reductions of activities of up to 90%. 84.5% of participants felt that the COVID-19 outbreak impacted on their training, due to unavailability of mentors (52.6%) and interruption of trainee's involvement (66.4%). Most participants referred absence of training on the use of personal protective equipment, oxygen ventilation systems and COVID-19 therapies., Conclusion: COVID-19 outbreak significantly impacted on gastroenterologists' clinical activity. The resources currently deployed are inadequate, and therefore educational interventions to address this gap are warranted in the next future., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest None declared., (Copyright © 2020 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)