Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection remains prevalent in children, with significant clinical implications. While endoscopy with biopsy is the gold standard for diagnosis, non-invasive tests such as the stool antigen test (SAT) and urea breath test (UBT) may offer alternatives.

There is increasing evidence that visceral adipose tissue (VAT) plays a key role in the pathogenesis of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), yet its clinical assessment remains limited by the need for advanced imaging. In this cross-sectional study of 747 patients at metabolic risk, we evaluated whether ultrasound (US)-measured VAT is more strongly associated with hepatic steatosis and metabolic dysfunction than conventional anthropometric indices. Hepatic fat was quantified via ultrasound-derived fat fraction (UDFF), while liver stiffness and FibroScan-AST (FAST) score assessed disease severity. Stratification by VAT tertiles showed a progressive increase in UDFF and the prevalence of diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidaemia. VAT correlated more strongly than body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) with triglycerides and UDFF (p < 0.05), and was more strongly associated with HbA1c, ALT and FAST than BMI. In standardized multivariate analysis, VAT remained independently associated with UDFF (beta= 2.49, p < 0.001). Associations of VAT with UDFF and metabolic parameters were stronger in women than in men. These findings support the use of US-derived VAT as a non-invasive and low-cost biomarker to improve risk stratification beyond BMI and WC, serving as a practical tool to monitor response to therapies targeting visceral fat, in MASLD management.

Microsatellite instability (MSI) or mismatch‑repair deficiency (dMMR) defines a biologically distinct subgroup of colorectal cancers that are highly responsive to immune checkpoint inhibition. Major and complete pathological responses have been observed with neoadjuvant immunotherapy, raising the possibility of avoiding upfront surgery in selected patients.

Immunosuppressants and immunomodulators are increasingly used for the treatment of several oncologic and immune-mediated diseases. However, reducing or inhibiting the immune system's activity can interfere with the natural mechanisms responsible for Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) control and may potentially induce HBV reactivation (HBVr) in both Hepatitis B surface Antigen (HBsAg) positive patients (overt infection) and HBsAg negative/anti-Hepatitis B core (anti-HBc) positive carriers. Among factors contributing to the persistence of HBVr risk are insufficient awareness, the significant rate of patients not tested for HBV markers before immunosuppression/immunomodulation and the shortcomings in the correct management of anti-HBV therapy or prophylaxis. The risk of HBVr is influenced by the mechanism of action and the duration of immunosuppressants and immunomodulators, the underlying disease for which these drugs are used, and the virological patient's profile. However, HBVr can be prevented by the identification of at-risk patients through HBV screening in order to start anti-HBV therapy or prophylaxis. Following the need to have updated recommendations, primarily targeted to the Italian setting, on the management of HBV in patients on immunosuppressive and immunomodulator therapies, AISF, together with all the Scientific Societies mainly involved in their management, has promoted the drafting of a new dedicated document based upon available evidence at August 2025.

Chronic inflammation of the pouch may affect a significant proportion of patients following ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA), increasingly treated by advanced therapies. Persistence of such agents or evidence to guide sequencing is scarce. This study aims to quantify first- and advanced-line drug persistence and identify factors associated with discontinuation.

The increasing prevalence of Crohn's disease (CD) in South Korea has led to complications and reduced quality of life, emphasizing the need for early, non-invasive diagnosis. The International Organization for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IO-IBD) developed the Red Flag Index (RFI) for early CD detection; however, it remains to be validated in the Korean population. This study aimed to develop and validate a Korea-specific RFI for early CD diagnosis using clinical and biomarker data.

It is unclear which is the best strategy for difficult biliary cannulation in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).

Advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains among the most lethal cancers, with >95 % of patients dying from the disease. Chemotherapy is the standard of care in advanced stages, with FOLFIRINOX and Gemcitabine-Nab-Paclitaxel (Gem-NabP) as the main first-line regimens. Both show moderate efficacy and significant toxicity. Except for the PASS-01 trial, no direct comparison exists, though observational studies suggest that specific subgroups may benefit differently. Given the modest outcomes and rapid clinical decline, most patients are ineligible for second-line therapy after progression. The PANThEON study evaluates whether switching from modified FOLFIRINOX (mFOLFIRINOX) to Gem-NabP after three months of induction with mFOLFIRINOX improves outcomes for PDAC.