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Background: The natural history and pathophysiology of diverticular disease (DD) are still uncertain. An ex-vivo human complicated DD (cDD) model has recently shown a predominant transmural oxidative imbalance. The present study aims to evaluate whether the previously described alterations may precede the symptomatic form of the disease., Methods: Colonic surgical samples obtained from patients with asymptomatic diverticulosis (DIV), complicated DD, and controls were systematically and detailed morphologically and molecularly analyzed. Therefore, histologic, histomorphometric, immunohistochemical evaluation, and gene and protein expression analysis were performed to characterize colonic muscle changes and evaluate chronic inflammation, oxidative imbalance, and hypoxia. Functional muscle activity was tested on strips and isolated cells in response to contractile and relaxant agents., Key Results: Compared with controls, DD showed a marketed increase in muscle layer thickness, smooth muscle cell syncytium disarray, and increased interstitial fibrosis; moreover, the observed features were more evident in the cDD group. These changes mainly affected longitudinal muscle and were associated with altered contraction-relaxation dynamics and fibrogenic switch of smooth muscle cells. Chronic lymphoplasmacytic inflammation was primarily evident in the mucosa and spared the muscle. A transmural increase in carbonylated and nitrated proteins, with loss of antioxidant molecules, characterized both stages of DD, suggesting early oxidative stress probably triggered by recurrent ischemic events, more pronounced in cDD, where HIF-1 was detected in both muscle and mucosa., Conclusion & Inferences: The different DD clinical scenarios are part of a progressive process, with oxidative imbalance representing a new target in the management of DD., (© 2024 The Author(s). Neurogastroenterology & Motility published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background/aim: Despite the application of colorectal cancer (CRC) surveillance guidelines, the detection of early neoplastic lesions might be difficult in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). To explore the risk of post-colonoscopy CRC (PCCRC) in patients with IBD we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis., Patients and Methods: A systematic literature search was performed (PROSPERO; no. CRD42023453049). We included studies reporting the 3-year PCCRC (PCCRC-3y) prevalence, according to World Endoscopy Organization (WEO)-endorsed definition, in IBD and non-IBD patients. As primary outcome we evaluated the PCCRC-3y prevalence, according to WEO definitions, in IBD- and non-IBD patients and calculated the odds ratio (OR). The secondary outcome was to assess risk factors for PCCRC development in IBD patients., Results: Three retrospective observational cohort studies were included. The pooled PCCRC-3y rate in patients with IBD was 30.8% [95% confidence interval (CI)=24.4-37.5%] and in non-IBD patients was 6.8% (95%CI=6.2-7.4%). The PCCRC-3y occurrence in IBD patients was significantly higher than that in non-IBD patients (OR=6.04; 95%CI=4.04-9.4; I 2 =95%), but a high heterogeneity among studies was noted. Furthermore, patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) had a significantly higher prevalence of PCCRC than patients with Crohn's Disease (CD): 30.9% (95%CI=27.8-34.2%) vs. 22.3% (95%CI=18-27%), respectively (OR=1.6, 95%CI=1.2-2.2; I 2 =0%)., Conclusion: One-third of CRC in IBD patients were PCCRC, and these numbers were significantly higher when compared with those in non-IBD patients. Furthermore, the prevalence of PCCRC in patients with UC was higher compared to those with CD. However, prospective studies are required to better characterize risk factors for PCCRC development in patients with IBD., (Copyright © 2024, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)

Background/aims: Endoscopic stenting for stricturing Crohn's disease (CD) is an emerging treatment that achieves more persistent dilatation of the stricture over time than endoscopic balloon dilatation (EBD). We aimed to explore the efficacy and safety of stenting for the treatment of CD strictures., Methods: A systematic electronic literature search was performed (PROSPERO; no. CRD42022308033). The primary outcomes were technical success, efficacy, complication rate, and the need for further interventions due to reobstruction. The outcomes of partially covered self-expanding metal stents (PCSEMS) with scheduled retrieval after seven days were also analyzed., Results: Eleven eligible studies were included in the review. Overall, 173 patients with CD were included in this study. Mean percentage of technical success was 95% (range, 80%-100%), short-term efficacy was 100% in all studies, and long-term efficacy was 56% (range, 25%-90%). In patients with a scheduled PCSEMS retrieval, the long-term efficacy was 76% (range, 59%-90%), the mean complication rate was 35% (range, 15%-57%), and the major complication rate was 11% (range, 0%-29%)., Conclusion: Endoscopic stenting with scheduled PCSEMS retrieval may be considered a feasible second-line treatment for short CD strictures to postpone surgery. However, larger head-to-head prospective studies are needed to understand the role of stenting as an alternative or additional treatment to EBD in CD.

Background/aim: Chemotherapy offers a clear benefit in terms of survival rates of stage IV metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) patients, but this advantage might be mitigated by the theoretical risks of short- and mid-term complications in the cases of contextual self-expandable metal stent (SEMS) positioning, which might also affect survival rates., Materials and Methods: We reviewed all available literature from Medline and Scopus databases to study the role of chemotherapy with or without the simultaneous administration of targeted therapy in increasing the risk of the complications after SEMS positioning and, eventually, in affecting the survival rates., Results: Thirteen retrospective studies and 1 randomized controlled trial (RCT) were eligible for the present analysis. The study group consisted of a total of 682 patients. A total of 305 patients were treated with conventional chemotherapy, 212 with conventional chemotherapy also containing targeted therapy, and 165 with no chemotherapy administration. Chemotherapy administration did not increase the rate of SEMS-related complications and these complications did not affect the overall survival rates., Conclusion: Chemotherapy administration is not associated with a higher risk of SEMS-related complications and a reduction in the survival rates., (Copyright © 2022, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)

Background: Although oncological results for resection of colon cancer with inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) ligation at its origin (high tie) or immediately below the left colic artery (low tie) are similar, injury of the superior hypogastric plexus may be caused when the IMA is tied at its origin, thus impairing defecatory functions., Aim: The importance of IMA tie location on defecatory dysfunction in patients undergoing laparoscopic sigmoidal resection without preoperative radiation therapy was studied., Patients and Methods: From February 2013 to December 2018, 56 consecutive patients submitted to curative laparoscopic resection for stage II and III, M0, sigmoidal cancer were randomized to a high or low tie of the IMA. All demographic data and information on symptoms and comorbidity, intra- and post-operative outcomes and defecatory function before and after surgery [according to the following scales: Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life (FIQL) scale, Jorge-Wexner incontinence and Agachan-Wexner constipation scores] were collected into a computerized database., Results: All patients completed the questionnaires. The educational and social status, and lifestyle habits (defined as active or sedentary) of our groups were similar. A significant difference in total score of FIQL scale was observed between the high and low tie groups at 1 month [88±6 and 93±7, p=0.005, confidence interval for the difference between mean values (CI Δ )=1.706-9.065] and 6 months (93±7 and 97±6, p=0.030, CI Δ =0.390-7.547). The Jorge-Wexner incontinence scores showed a significant decrease in patients of the high group (1 month: 0.59±0.76 and 6 months: 0.62±0.79, respectively) when compared to those of the low tie group (1 month 0.17±0.38 and 6 months 0.17±0.38, respectively) (p=0.008 and p=0.006 at 1 and 6 months, respectively). At 1, 6 and 12 months, the overall Agachan-Wexner constipation scores were significantly higher in patients of the high tie group when compared to those of the low tie group (1 month: 5.1±1.1 and 4.3±0.86, p=0.002, CI Δ =-1.350--0.316; 6 months: 7.4±1.4 and 6.2±1.4, p=0.003, CI Δ =-1.959--0.436; and 12 months: 7.2±1.3 and 6±1.1, p=0.001, CI Δ =-1.840--0.576, respectively)., Conclusion: Patients affected with stage II and III sigmoidal cancer had a better fecal continence at the short- to medium-term and less abdominal pain in the medium- to long-term when a low tie technique was utilized., (Copyright© 2020, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)