Intestinal Research

IBD

Does statin have a chemopreventive effect in patients with ulcerative colitis?: Yoon Suk Jung; Intest Res 2025;23(2):113-114. Published online April 29, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.5217/ir.2025.00048

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IBD

Beyond mucosal healing: fecal calprotectin and the path toward histologic remission in ulcerative colitis: Yehyun Park; Intest Res 2025;23(2):115-116. Published online April 29, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.5217/ir.2025.00056

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IBD

Role of 5-aminosalicylic acid in ulcerative colitis management in 8 Asian territories: a physician survey: Julajak Limsrivilai, Allen Yu-hung Lai, Silvia T. H. Li, Murdani Abdullah, Raja Affendi Raja Ali, Satimai Aniwan, Hoang Huu Bui, Jen-Wei Chou, Ida Normiha Hilmi, Wee Chian Lim, Jose Sollano, Michelle Mui Hian Teo, Shu-Chen Wei, Wai Keung Leung; Intest Res 2025;23(2):117-128. Published online January 6, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.5217/ir.2024.00085

Abstract PDF Supplementary Material PubReader ePub: Clinical guidelines typically endorse conventional therapies such as 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) as the mainstay of ulcerative colitis management. However, the degree of adoption and application of guideline recommendations by physicians within Asia remains unclear. This study aims to understand the prescribing patterns of 5-ASA and implementation of current guideline recommendations across Asian clinical practice. A physician survey was conducted among inflammatory bowel disease specialists in 8 Asian territories to understand practices and preferences in ulcerative colitis management, focusing on the use of 5-ASA and concordance with guideline recommendations. Survey findings were validated by country experts in diverse healthcare settings. Subgroup analyses stratified data by income levels and treatment reimbursement status. Ninety-eight valid responses were received from inflammatory bowel disease specialists or gastroenterologists among 8 economic entities. Significant differences were found in clinical practices and treatment preferences for ulcerative colitis management among different income-level and government-subsidy groups. Survey results are summarized in 8 findings that illustrate trends in 5-ASA use and guideline implementation across Asian territories. This study emphasizes socioeconomic factors that impact the adoption of guideline recommendations in real-world practice. Our findings indicate an eclectic approach to guideline implementation across Asia, based on resource availability and feasibility of treatment goals.

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IBD

Risk of malignancies and chemopreventive effect of statin, metformin, and aspirin in Korean patients with ulcerative colitis: a nationwide population-based study: Eun Hye Oh, Ye-Jee Kim, Minju Kim, Seung Ha Park, Tae Oh Kim, Sang Hyoung Park; Intest Res 2025;23(2):129-143. Published online November 9, 2023; DOI: https://doi.org/10.5217/ir.2023.00062

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Background/Aims
We investigated the incidences of overall and site-specific malignancies and chemopreventive effects of statin, metformin, and aspirin in patients with ulcerative colitis.
Methods
We collected data using the Health Insurance Review and Assessment claims database from January 2007 to April 2020.
Results
The overall malignancy risk among the 35,189 ulcerative colitis patients was similar to that of the general population (standardized incidence ratio, 0.94; 95% confidence interval, 0.88–1.00). In male patients, standardized incidence ratios were high for thyroid cancer and low for stomach cancer, colorectal cancer, liver cancer, and lung cancer. Concurrently, standard incidence ratios were high for liver cancer and central nervous system cancer in female patients. While 122 cases of colorectal cancer occurred in the study patients, the standardized incidence ratio was 0.83 (95% confidence interval, 0.69–0.99). Treatment for ulcerative colitis was not associated with an increased adjusted hazard ratio, while comorbidities increased it for all malignancies. Treatment for ulcerative colitis was associated with an increased adjusted hazard ratio, while comorbidities did not increase it for colorectal cancer. After adjusting for age, sex, comorbidities, and ulcerative colitis treatment, statins showed a dose-dependent chemopreventive effect for all malignancies (P=0.002), while metformin and aspirin did not show any.
Conclusions
In ulcerative colitis patients, standardized incidence ratios for all malignancies and colorectal cancer did not increase. Adjusted hazard ratios for all malignancies increased with comorbidities and those for colorectal cancer with ulcerative colitis treatment. Statins have a dose-dependent chemopreventive effect for all malignancies.

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Thyroid disorders and inflammatory bowel disease: an association present in adults but also in children and adolescents
Valeria Calcaterra, Francesca Penagini, Virginia Rossi, Luisa Abbattista, Alice Bianchi, Massimiliano Turzi, Lucia Cococcioni, Gianvincenzo Zuccotti
Frontiers in Endocrinology.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Does statin have a chemopreventive effect in patients with ulcerative colitis?
Yoon Suk Jung
Intestinal Research.2025; 23(2): 113. CrossRef

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IBD

Predictive accuracy of fecal calprotectin for histologic remission in ulcerative colitis: Arshdeep Singh, Arshia Bhardwaj, Riya Sharma, Bhavjeet Kaur Kahlon, Ashvin Singh Dhaliwal, Dharmatma Singh, Simranjeet Kaur, Devanshi Jain, Namita Bansal, Ramit Mahajan, Kirandeep Kaur, Aminder Singh, Vikram Narang, Harpreet Kaur, Vandana Midha, Ajit Sood; Intest Res 2025;23(2):144-156. Published online November 11, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.5217/ir.2024.00068

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Background/Aims
Accurate assessment of disease activity is crucial for effective management and treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC). This study evaluated the correlation between clinical, endoscopic, and histologic measures of disease activity in UC.
Methods
Clinical, biochemical, endoscopic, and histologic disease activity was studied in 347 patients with UC. Agreements among various histologic classification systems, namely the Geboes Score (GS), Continuous GS, Nancy Index (NI), and Robarts Histopathology Index (RHI), were analyzed. The predictive accuracy of fecal calprotectin (FC) for endoscopic and histologic remission was assessed.
Results
We demonstrate a fair to moderate correlation between clinical, endoscopic, and histologic measures of disease activity in UC. There was a robust concordance among GS, Continuous GS, NI, and RHI in distinguishing between patients in histologic remission or activity. The NI detected 75% of patients who met the remission criteria according to the RHI, whereas the RHI identified all patients in remission as defined by the NI. FC levels below 150 μg/g had >70% accuracy in predicting endoscopic remission. FC levels below 150 μg/g showed ≥80% accuracy, and FC levels below 100 μg/g demonstrated ≥ 85% accuracy in predicting histologic remission, regardless of the scoring index applied. Elevated FC levels were associated with both acute and chronic inflammatory infiltrates in biopsy samples.
Conclusions
FC is a reliable predictor of histologic remission, with higher accuracy at lower thresholds. The GS, Continuous GS, NI, and RHI demonstrate comparable performance. FC could help stratify patients’ need for colonoscopy for the assessment of endoscopic and histologic remission.

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Beyond mucosal healing: fecal calprotectin and the path toward histologic remission in ulcerative colitis
Yehyun Park
Intestinal Research.2025; 23(2): 115. CrossRef

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IBD

Early resolution of bowel urgency by budesonide foam enema results in improved quality of life in patients with ulcerative colitis: a multicenter prospective observational study: Taku Kobayashi, Kei Moriya, Toshimitsu Fujii, Shigeki Bamba, Shinichiro Shinzaki, Akihiro Yamada, Takashi Hisabe, Shintaro Sagami, Shuji Hibiya, Takahiro Amano, Noritaka Takatsu, Katsutoshi Inagaki, Ken-ichi Iwayama, Toshifumi Hibi; Intest Res 2025;23(2):157-169. Published online July 15, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.5217/ir.2024.00005

Abstract PDF Supplementary Material PubReader ePub: Background/Aims
Bowel urgency is an important symptom for quality of life determination in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). Few clinical studies have focused on bowel urgency as an efficacy endpoint. Budesonide foam enema has shown efficacy for clinical and endoscopic improvement in mild-to-moderate UC. We evaluated the improvement of clinical symptoms (bowel urgency), safety, and treatment impact of twice-daily budesonide foam enema on the quality of life in patients with UC.
Methods
This open-label, multicenter, prospective observational study comprised a 4-week observation period assessing the effectiveness and safety of twice-daily budesonide foam enema. Mild-to-moderate UC patients who had bowel urgency were included. Patients collected data daily in an electronic patient-reported outcome system or logbooks. The primary endpoint was the rate of resolution of bowel urgency at the end of the 4-week observation period. The rate of bowel incontinence was also assessed.
Results
Sixty-one patients were enrolled. Of patients with a final evaluation, the rate of resolution of bowel urgency was 58.5% (31/53; 95% confidence interval, 44.1%–71.9%). Bowel urgency decreased over time, with a significant difference observed on day 7 versus day 0. Bowel incontinence showed a decreasing trend from day 5, with a significant difference confirmed on day 12 versus day 0. The clinical remission rate was 64.4% (38/59; 95% confidence interval, 50.9%–76.4%). One adverse event not related to budesonide rectal foam occurred.
Conclusions
The findings suggest that bowel urgency can be improved early with twice-daily budesonide foam enema. No new safety signals were observed.

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IBD

Leucine-rich alpha-2 glycoprotein is useful in predicting clinical relapse in patients with Crohn’s disease during biological remission: Naohiro Nakamura, Yusuke Honzawa, Yuka Ito, Yasuki Sano, Naoto Yagi, Sanshiro Kobayashi, Mamiko Aoi, Takashi Tomiyama, Tomomitsu Tahara, Norimasa Fukata, Toshiro Fukui, Makoto Naganuma; Intest Res 2025;23(2):170-181. Published online August 19, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.5217/ir.2024.00042

Abstract PDF PubReader ePub: Background/Aims
Serum leucine-rich alpha-2 glycoprotein (LRG) is a potential biomarker of Crohn’s disease (CD). This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of LRG in predicting clinical relapse in patients in remission with CD.
Methods
This retrospective observational study assessed the relationships among patient-reported outcome (PRO2), LRG, and other blood markers. The influence of LRG on clinical relapse was assessed in patients in remission with CD.
Results
Data of 94 patients tested for LRG between January 2021 and May 2023 were collected. LRG level did not correlate with PRO2 score (ρ = 0.06); however, it strongly correlated with C-reactive protein (CRP) level (r=0.79) and serum albumin level (r=–0.70). Among 69 patients in clinical remission, relapse occurred in 22 patients (31.9%). In the context of predicting relapse, LRG showed the highest area under the curve, followed by CRP level, platelet count, and albumin level. Multivariate analysis revealed that only LRG (P= 0.02) was an independent factor for predicting clinical remission. The cumulative non-relapse rate was significantly higher in patients with LRG < 13.8 μg/mL than in patients in remission with LRG ≥ 13.8 μg/mL and normal CRP level (P= 0.002) or normal albumin level (P= 0.001). Cumulative non-relapse rate was also higher in patients with LRG < 13.8 μg/mL compared to those with LRG ≥ 13.8 μg/mL in patients with L3 or B2+B3 of Montreal calcification.
Conclusions
LRG is useful in predicting clinical relapse in patients with CD during biological remission. LRG is a useful biomarker for predicting prognosis, even in patients with intestinal stenosis, or previous/present fistulas.

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IBD

Histologic healing and clinical outcomes in ulcerative colitis: Raymond Fueng-Hin Liang, Huiyu Lin, Cora Yuk-Ping Chau, Wee Chian Lim; Intest Res 2025;23(2):182-192. Published online September 19, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.5217/ir.2024.00058

Abstract PDF PubReader ePub: Background/Aims
Growing evidence suggests histologic healing (HH) improves clinical outcomes in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients beyond endoscopic healing (EH). We hypothesize that HH is associated with better clinical outcomes in Asian UC patients, for whom data is lacking.
Methods
We performed a retrospective study of UC patients in clinical remission (CR) with a follow-up colonoscopy and minimum 1-year follow-up post-colonoscopy. Primary outcome was clinical relapse (CRL), defined as either a Simple Clinical Colitis Activity Index score of > 2, medication escalation, hospitalization or colectomy. Predictors of CRL and HH were assessed.
Results
One hundred patients were included with a median follow-up of 22 months. At index colonoscopy, 80 patients were in EH. On follow-up, 41 patients experienced CRL. Of 80 patients in EH, 34 (42.5%) had persistent histologic activity (Nancy Index ≥ 2) and 29 (36.3%) relapsed during the follow-up period. Amongst patients in CR and EH, those with HH had lower CRL rate (26.1% vs. 50.0%, P= 0.028) and longer CRL-free survival (mean 46.1 months vs. 31.5 months, P= 0.015) than those with persistent histologic activity. On bivariable analysis of 100 patients in CR, HH, and Mayo endoscopic score (MES) of 0 were significantly associated with lower risk of CRL. On multivariable analysis, only MES 0 remained predictive of lower CRL risk.
Conclusions
Above and beyond CR and EH, achieving HH improves clinical outcomes in Asian UC patients. However, HH may not confer incremental benefit if MES 0 has been achieved. Further prospective studies evaluating the benefit of histologically guided therapeutic decisions are needed.

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Microbiota

Exploring the link between celiac disease and obesity: a potential role of gut microbiome: Sunaina Addanki, Anastasia Mashukova, Arkene Levy; Intest Res 2025;23(2):193-201. Published online November 8, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.5217/ir.2024.00049

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Background/Aims
In today’s age, celiac disease (CD) is no longer solely characterized by chronic diarrhea in a malnourished child. Obesity is gradually being acknowledged as part of CD’s clinical course. Both conditions have been linked to alterations of gut microbiome. Given the difficulty of strict gluten-free diet adherence, there is a need for less restrictive adjunctive therapies. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of obesity in patients diagnosed with CD with the goal of developing new therapeutic approaches.
Methods
Baseline data from the National Institute of Health’s All of Us Research Program, was used to evaluate the relationship between CD and obesity. A retrospective cohort study was conducted where groups of individuals with CD and without CD were matched by age range and health surveys. Statistical analysis with odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were reported.
Results
The prevalence of obesity was 32.6% in the CD group compared to 18.4% in the control group (OR, 2.111; 95% CI, 1.914–2.328; P< 0.0001). Women accounted for a greater population of patients with CD and obesity. The largest percentage of patients with CD and obesity were older than 65 years. The highest percentage of individuals in both the experimental and control groups were white, followed by African Americans.
Conclusions
Our data shows a significant association between CD and increased prevalence of obesity. These results warrant further investigation into microbial changes and dietary exposures that affect the pathogenesis of both diseases.

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Celiac Disease and Metabolic Diseases: A Review of Emerging Connections
Deirdre Reidy, Christopher Cao, Alexandra Rosenstock, Melissa Stoffels, Sonal Kumar, Haley M. Zylberberg
Current Treatment Options in Gastroenterology.2025;[Epub] CrossRef

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Endoscopy

Newly designed flared-end covered versus uncovered self-expandable metallic stents for palliation of malignant colorectal obstruction: a randomized, prospective study: Soo Jung Park, Yehyun Park, Hyun Jung Lee, Jae Jun Park, Jae Hee Cheon, Won Ho Kim, Tae Il Kim; Intest Res 2025;23(2):202-212. Published online February 24, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.5217/ir.2024.00135

Abstract PDF Supplementary Material PubReader ePub: Background/Aims
Self-expandable metallic stents (SEMSs) are widely used as palliative or bridge to surgery treatments in patients with malignant colorectal obstruction (MCO). Stent occlusion is more common with uncovered stents, but stent migration is more common with covered stents. Our purpose was to compare the efficacy and safety of a newly designed covered SEMS with an uncovered proximal flared end (CSEMS-UPF) with that of the conventional uncovered SEMS (UCSEMS) in the treatment of MCO.
Methods
This prospective randomized trial was conducted at a tertiary-care academic hospital. We enrolled 87 patients with stage 4 cancer and MCO: colorectal cancer in 60 patients and extracolonic cancer in 27 patients. Insertion of UCSEMS was randomly assigned to 43 patients, and 44 patients received the CSEMS-UPF. The primary outcome was the duration of stent patency after successful placement. The secondary outcomes were the number of patients with technical and clinical success and early and late complications from the stent insertion.
Results
The median patency of the stent did not differ between the UCSEMS and CSEMS-UPF groups (484 [231–737] days vs. 216 [66–366] days, P= 0.242). The technical and clinical success rates did not differ significantly between the groups, either (100.0% vs. 93.2%, respectively, P= 0.241; 100.0% vs. 92.7%, respectively, P= 0.112), nor did the early (n = 2 [4.7%] vs. n = 4 [9.8%], P> 0.999) or late (n = 12 [27.9%] vs. n = 15 [36.6%], P> 0.999) stent complication rates differ between the groups.
Conclusions
The UCSEMS and newly developed CSEMS-UPF are similarly effective treatments for MCO, with no differences in the stent migration or occlusion rates (Clinical trial registration number: NCT02640781).

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Infection

Diagnostic performance of noninvasive tests for cytomegalovirus ileocolitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis: Thanaboon Chaemsupaphan, Onuma Sattayalertyanyong, Julajak Limsrivilai; Intest Res 2025;23(2):213-224. Published online January 14, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.5217/ir.2024.00136

Abstract PDF Supplementary Material PubReader ePub: Background/Aims
Diagnosis of cytomegalovirus (CMV) ileocolitis traditionally requires colonoscopy with tissue biopsy. Due to potential complications in high-risk patients, there is growing interest in serum and stool tests for diagnosing this condition. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of these noninvasive tests compared to traditional gold standards.
Methods
Two independent reviewers performed a comprehensive search on MEDLINE and Embase from inception up to October 1, 2023. Prospective and retrospective studies evaluating the performance of serum CMV polymerase chain reaction (PCR), serum CMV antigen (Ag), and stool CMV PCR in diagnosing CMV ileocolitis were included. Tissue histopathology or tissue CMV PCR served as reference standards. Diagnostic performances of each serum and stool test were calculated based on a meta-analysis using random-effects model.
Results
A total of 30 studies, comprising 23 studies of serum CMV PCR, 9 of serum CMV Ag, and 7 of stool CMV PCR, were included. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, and area under summary receiver operating characteristic curves were 62% (95% confidence interval [CI], 51%–72%), 90% (95% CI, 79%–96%), and 0.81 for serum CMV PCR, 38% (95% CI, 26%–51%), 94% (95% CI, 70%–99%), and 0.56 for serum CMV Ag, and 53% (95% CI, 35%–70%), 91% (95% CI, 84%–95%), and 0.84 for stool CMV PCR.
Conclusions
Serum and stool tests cannot replace colonoscopy for diagnosing CMV ileocolitis due to their low sensitivities but may be useful when colonoscopy is not feasible. Positive results can aid diagnosis, given their high specificities. Serum and/or stool CMV PCR are preferred over CMV Ag.

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IBD

Comments on “Adequacy of sigmoidoscopy as compared to colonoscopy for assessment of disease activity in patients of ulcerative colitis: a prospective study”: Sidharth Harindranath; Intest Res 2025;23(2):225-226. Published online September 6, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.5217/ir.2024.00072

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Response: Comments on “Adequacy of sigmoidoscopy as compared to colonoscopy for assessment of disease activity in patients of ulcerative colitis: a prospective study”
Sameet Tariq Patel, Sanjay Chandnani, Pravin M Rathi
Intestinal Research.2025; 23(2): 227. CrossRef

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IBD

Response: Comments on “Adequacy of sigmoidoscopy as compared to colonoscopy for assessment of disease activity in patients of ulcerative colitis: a prospective study”: Sameet Tariq Patel, Sanjay Chandnani, Pravin M Rathi; Intest Res 2025;23(2):227-228. Published online April 29, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.5217/ir.2024.00209

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