The current state of Clinical Mycology in Eastern and South-Eastern Europe

The ability of medical centers in Eastern and South-Eastern Europe to diagnose and treat fungal infections remains unknown. In order to investigate that, here we conducted a cross-sectional online survey, released at both The International Society for Human & Animal Mycology (ISHAM) and European Confederation of Medical Mycology (ECMM) websites. A total of 31 institutions responded to the questionnaire. Most centers (87.1%, n = 27) had access to Aspergillus spp. ELISA galactomannan testing as well as to Cryptococcus spp. antigen testing (83.9%, n = 26). Serological tests were mostly available for Aspergillus species (80.6%, n = 25); and most institutions reported access to mold-active antifungal drugs (83.9%; n = 26), but 5-flucytosine was available to only 29% (n = 9) of the participant centers. In conclusion, this study represents the first attempt to document the strengths and limitations of the Eastern and South-Eastern European region for diagnosing and treating fungal diseases.

LAY SUMMARY

Our article is about the availability of diagnostic and treatments tools related to fungal infections in the countries of Eastern and South-Eastern region. Surveys like these are important to understand the gaps and point towards the fungal infections as a global health issue.

Clinical Features and Outcomes of Paediatric Patients With Isolated Colonic Crohn Disease

OBJECTIVES

Adult studies suggest that patients with isolated colonic Crohn disease (L2 CD) exhibit unique characteristics differentiating them from patients with ileo-caecal (L1) CD and ulcerative colitis (UC). We aimed to characterize clinical features and outcomes of paediatric patients with L2.

METHODS

Retrospective data was collected through the Porto Inflammatory Bowel Disease group of the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) on Paediatric patients with L2, L1 or UC at different time-points. Outcome measures included time to first flare, hospital admissions, initiation of anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) drug, stricture and surgery.

RESULTS

Three hundred patients were included: 102 L1, 94 L2 and 104 UC. Rates of hematochezia at presentation were 14.7%, 44.7% and 95.2%, while rates of fever were 12.7%, 26.6% and 2.9%, for patients with L1, L2 and UC, respectively (P < 0.001 for all comparisons). Skip lesions were identified in 65% of patients with L2, and granulomas in 36%, similar to L1 patients. Rates of anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies (ASCA) and perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic (pANCA) positivity significantly differed between the three groups: 25.4% and 16.7% for patients with L2, compared with 55.2% and 2.3%, and 1.8% and 52.9% for patients with L1 and UC, respectively. Response rates to exclusive enteral nutrition were comparable between L1 and L2 (78.3-82.4%), as was the response to oral steroids (70.4-76.5%) in the three groups. While times to first flare and admission were similar between groups, patients with L1 were commenced on anti-TNFα earlier. Moreover, stricturing phenotype and need for colectomy were very rare in patients with L2.

CONCLUSIONS

Significant differences are observed in the clinical presentation and outcomes of Paediatric patients with L2, compared to patients with L1 and UC.

The value of abdominal ultrasonography compared to colonoscopy and faecal calprotectin in following up paediatric patients with ulcerative colitis

AIM

To evaluate the value of abdominal ultrasonography (US) in the follow-up of paediatric patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) compared to faecal calprotectin (FC) and colonoscopy.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

In this retrospective study we enrolled 30 paediatric patients previously diagnosed with UC, examined by abdominal US and colonoscopy within the same week. FC was also determined during the same week. Disease activity was established using the paediatric ulcerative colitis activity index (PUCAI). The global endoscopic activity was evaluated using the Mayo endoscopic subscore.

RESULTS

Endos-copy revealed pathological findings of active disease in 27 out of 30 patients; 3 patients were in endoscopic remission. Only 18 of them had clinical active disease (PUCAI >10), [sensitivity (Se) 66.7% and specificity (Sp) 33% of PUCAI in detecting endoscopic active disease). Twenty-three (76.7%) patients had FC >250 mcg/g, but in 2 of these cases the colonoscopy was normal (Se 77.8% and Sp 33.3% in detecting active disease). At US examination, pathological findings (increased bowel wall thickness, hypervascularity, lymphadenopathies, and/or mesenteric inflammatory fat) were found in 27 patients (90%), all with endoscopic active disease (agreement US - colonoscopy, at patient level, k=1.0, p<0.001, Se 100% and Sp 100%). At seg-ment level (totally 180 bowel segments examined by US), the overall agreement between US and colonoscopy was k=0.767, p<0.001, Se 86.5%, Sp 90.1%. Of the 27 patients with US pathological findings in any of colonic segments, 23 had FC >250 mcg/g (85.1%). The inter-observer agreement for the US measurements had an overall ICC of 0.926 with p<0.001.

CONCLUSION

Abdominal US findings demonstrate a good to excellent concordance with endoscopic examination and are correlated with elevated FC levels. Therefore, US appears as an accurate technique in assessing activity in patients with UC and might replace colonoscopic evaluation for the follow-up.

B cell-activating factor (BAFF) in children with inflammatory bowel disease

BACKGROUND

Assessing the inflammation is important in the follow-up of paediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We aim to evaluate the value of B cell-activating factor (BAFF) in paediatric IBD as a potential biomarker for follow-up.

METHOD

We determined BAFF in serum and faeces and faecal calprotectin (CP) in 32 IBD children-16 Crohn's disease (CD) and 16 ulcerative colitis (UC). Twenty-six healthy children and 10 children with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) were included as controls.

RESULTS

No differences were found in serum BAFF between IBD, IBS, and healthy group: 1037.35, 990.9 and 979.8 pg/ml, respectively, all p > 0.05, but faecal BAFF was higher in the IBD group: 15.1, 8.5 and 8.2 pg/ml, respectively, p < 0.05, and higher in the UC group (55.975 pg/ml) compared to the CD group (10.95 pg/ml), p = 0.015. Splitting the IBD group in relation to the CP level, the serum BAFF had no significantly different values between the subgroups, but the faecal BAFF was significantly higher in the >250 μg/g subgroup. Cut-off values of BAFF were calculated.

CONCLUSION

Faecal BAFF is a promising marker for monitoring the children with IBD, higher levels of BAFF being correlated with high CP.

IMPACT

Faecal BAFF is a promising marker in monitoring the children with IBD, higher levels of BAFF being correlated with high faecal calprotectin. To our knowledge, this is the first paediatric study concerning BAFF evaluation in IBD. Faecal BAFF levels could be considered a potential non-invasive marker in monitoring IBD activity in paediatric population with clinically mild or inactive disease.

Vaccinations and Immunization Status in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Multicenter Study From the Pediatric IBD Porto Group of the ESPGHAN

BACKGROUND

Vaccine-preventable diseases and opportunistic infections in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are increasingly recognized issues. The aims of this study were to evaluate vaccinations, immunization status, and consequent therapeutic management in children with IBD and to analyze the differences among patients diagnosed before (Group 1) and after June 2012 (Group 2).

METHODS

This was a multicenter, retrospective cohort investigation. Between July 2016 and July 2017, 430 children with IBD were enrolled in 13 centers. Diagnosis, therapeutic history, vaccinations, and immunization status screening at diagnosis and at immunosuppressant (IM)/biologic initiation and reasons for incomplete immunization were retrieved.

RESULTS

Vaccination rates at diagnosis were unsatisfactory for measles, mumps, and rubella (89.3%), Haemophilus influenzae (81.9%), meningococcus C (23.5%), chickenpox (18.4%), pneumococcus (18.6%), papillomavirus (5.9%), and rotavirus (1.9%). Complete immunization was recorded in 38/430 (8.8%) children, but specific vaccines were recommended in 79/430 patients (18.6%), without differences between the 2 groups. At IM start, 22% of children were tested for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) status, with 96.2% of EBV-naïve patients starting azathioprine, without differences between Groups 1 and 2. Screening for latent tuberculosis (TB) before start of biologics was performed in 175/190 (92.1%), with up to 9 different screening strategies and numerous inconsistencies.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrated a poor immunization status at diagnosis in children with IBD, which was not followed by proper vaccination catch-up. EBV status before IM initiation and latent TB before biologics were not adequately assessed. Thus, the overall impact of the current guidelines seems unsatisfactory.

Long-term Outcomes of Paediatric Patients Admitted With Acute Severe Colitis- A Multicentre Study From the Paediatric IBD Porto Group of ESPGHAN

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Acute severe colitis [ASC] is associated with significant morbidity in paediatric patients with ulcerative colitis [UC]. Most outcome studies in ASC since tumour necrosis factor alpha [TNFα] antagonists became available have focused on the first year after admission. The aim of this study was to characterise the longer-term outcomes of paediatric patients admitted with ASC.

METHODS

This retrospective study was conducted in 25 centres across Europe and North America. Data on patients with UC aged <18 years, admitted with ASC (defined as paediatric ulcerative colitis activity index [PUCAI] score ≥65) between 2009 and 2011, were collected at discharge and 1, 3 and 5 years after admission. The primary outcome was colectomy-free rates at each time point.

RESULTS

Of the 141 patients admitted with ASC, 137 [97.1%] were treated with intravenous corticosteroids. Thirty-one [22.6%] patients were escalated to second-line therapy, mainly to infliximab. Sixteen patients [11.3%] underwent colectomy before discharge. Long-term follow-up showed colectomy-free rates were 71.3%, 66.4% and 63.6% at 1, 3 and 5 years after initial ASC admission, respectively, and were similar across different age groups. Sub-analysis of colectomy rates in patients with new-onset disease [42.5% of the cohort] yielded similar results. In a multivariate analysis, use of oral steroids in the 3 months before admission, erythrocyte sedimentation rate >70 mm/h, and albumin <2.5 g/dL, were significantly associated with 5-year colectomy risk.

CONCLUSIONS

High colectomy rates were demonstrated in paediatric UC patients admitted with ASC. Additional studies are required to determine whether intensification of anti-TNFα treatment, close therapeutic drug monitoring, and use of new drugs alter this outcome.

Gelatin tannate versus other antidiarrheal medication in children with acute gastroenteritis: a retrospective, observational study

AIM

To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of gelatin tannate (GT) for acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in children.

MATERIALS & METHODS

In this retrospective, observational study, children admitted for AGE received GT ± oral rehydration solution (ORS; n = 46) or other antidiarrheal medications ± ORS (n = 46). Number and consistency of stools were recorded.

RESULTS

Children were aged 6 months to 7.9 years. GT ± ORS reduced diarrhea duration (29.0 vs 45.4 h, p < 0.0001) and normalized stool consistency at 72 h in significantly more patients (87.0 vs 30.4%; p = 0.026) compared with other antidiarrheal medications ± ORS. Differences in favor of GT were apparent from 12 h onward.

CONCLUSION

GT is more effective than conventional treatment for managing AGE in children.

Treat-to-target in Crohn’s disease: Will transmural healing become a therapeutic endpoint?

Crohn’s disease (CD) represents a chronic transmural inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract, which usually leads to structural damage and significant disability. Deep remission - defined by both clinical and endoscopic remission, signifying mucosal healing - represents the current endpoint in the treat-to-target strategy, significantly improving patients’ long-term outcomes. Transmural healing (TH) could be a more effective target, but this possibility remains unclear. This narrative review aims to critically review and summarize the available literature relating TH to long-term outcomes, being the first of its kind and to the best of the author’s knowledge. A systematic literature search (from inception to March 31 2018) was performed, using multiple databases, and identifying seven full-text manuscripts. In those studies, long-term favorable outcomes (≥ 52 wk) included sustained clinical remission, as well as fewer therapeutic changes, CD-related hospitalizations, and surgeries. Despite heterogeneous design and methodological limitations, six of the studies demonstrated that TH or intestinal healing (TH plus mucosal healing) were predictive for the aforementioned favorable outcomes. Therefore, TH may become a reasonable therapeutic target and be included in the concept of deep remission. Further prospective, well-designed, multicenter trials aiming to better define the role of TH in personalized therapy for CD and to determine the long-term influence of TH on bowel damage and disability are warranted.

Perianal infectious dermatitis: An underdiagnosed, unremitting and stubborn condition

Perianal infectious dermatitis (PID) represents a superficial inflammation of the perianal skin, which is of bacterial origin (classically, group A beta-hemolytic streptococci). This narrative review aims to critically review and summarize the available scientific literature regarding pediatric PID, being the first of its kind, to the best of the author’s knowledge. It also reports the first cases of Romanian children with PID. Multiple databases were subjected to systematic literature search (from 1966 to April 30, 2018) to identify studies and case reports of children with PID. As such, this review provides updated information about essential aspects of PID (epidemiology, etiology, pathogenesis, as well as clinical features, required investigations and therapeutic options) and of diagnostic pitfalls. Although a well-defined entity, PID remains largely underdiagnosed. PID may mimic other common conditions with skin manifestations (like candidiasis, pinworms, eczema, irritant dermatitis, anal fissure, hemorrhoids, Crohn’s disease, psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, zinc deficiency dermatosis and even sexual abuse), with consequent unnecessary, sometimes expensive and invasive investigations and futile therapies, which cause patients and families discomfort and distress. Since PID has an unremitting course, early recognition is imperative, as it allows for prompt and efficacious antibiotic therapy. However, PID represents a stubborn condition and, even if properly treated, its recurrence rate remains high. Further well-designed prospective randomized controlled trials, with adequate follow-up, are required in order to formulate the optimum personalized antibiotic therapy (oral alone or in association with topical medication), able to prevent recurrences. Awareness of this condition by healthcare professionals should improve patient outcomes.

Malignancy and mortality in paediatric-onset inflammatory bowel disease: a 3-year prospective, multinational study from the paediatric IBD Porto group of ESPGHAN

BACKGROUND

Risk benefit strategies in managing inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are dependent upon understanding the risks of uncontrolled inflammation vs those of treatments. Malignancy and mortality in IBD have been associated with disease-related inflammation and immune suppression, but data are limited due to their rare occurrence.

AIM

To identify and describe the most common causes of mortality, types of cancer and previous or current therapy among children and young adults with paediatric-onset IBD.

METHODS

Information on paediatric-onset IBD patients diagnosed with malignancy or mortality was prospectively collected via a survey in 25 countries over a 42-month period. Patients were included if death or malignancy occurred after IBD diagnosis but before the age of 26 years.

RESULTS

In total, 60 patients were identified including 43 malignancies and 26 fatal cases (9 due to cancer). Main causes of fatality were malignancies (n = 9), IBD or IBD-therapy related nonmalignant causes (n = 10; including 5 infections), and suicides (n = 3). Three cases, all fatal, of hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma were identified, all were biologic-naïve but thiopurine-exposed. No other haematological malignancies were fatal. The 6 other fatal cancer cases included 3 colorectal adenocarcinomas and 3 cholangiocarcinomas (CCAs). Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) was present in 5 (56%) fatal cancers (1 colorectal carcinoma, 3 CCAs and 1 hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma).

CONCLUSIONS

We report the largest number of paediatric-onset IBD patients with cancer and/or fatal outcomes to date. Malignancies followed by infections were the major causes of mortality. We identified PSC as a significant risk factor for cancer-associated mortality. Disease-related adenocarcinomas were a commoner cause of death than lymphomas.

Bowel elastography - a pilot study for developing an elastographic scoring system to evaluate disease activity in pediatric Crohn's disease

The diagnosis and monitoring of Crohn's disease (CD) represents a diagnosis challenge in which imaging plays an important role.

AIM

In the present paper we aim to demonstrate the role of sonoelastography (SE), performed in addition to hydrosonography (HS), in the evaluation of CD in children and to propose a scoring system for the appreciation of disease activity.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

All the patients included into the study were diagnosed with CD and had underwent HS and SE as part of the imaging evaluation. In selected cases magnetic resonance enterography (MRE) was also performed. SE aspects were classified into three types, each corresponding to a specific bowel wall pattern: normal or remission (type A), inflammation (type B) and fibrosis (type C); this classification represents the basis of the scoring system. For the purpose of statistical analysis each evaluated bowel segment became an individual case.

RESULTS

Forty eight bowel segments were evaluated by SE: 21 type A, 20 type B and 7 type C. Statistically significant correlations were found between the intestinal wall HS changes, presence of complications, activity markers and the SE score. The HS assessment of the periintestinal area correlated only partially with SE score, while certain SE scores also proved to be predictors for the presence of complications or for increased values of the disease activity markers.

CONCLUSIONS

SE, along with HS, represents a reliable investigation in the correct diagnosis and monitoring of pediatric patients with CD and the SE scoring system may be introduced as a method for the assessment of disease activity.

Microbiota in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Pathogenesis and Therapy: Is It All About Diet?

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, and unclassified IBD, continues to cause significant morbidity. While its incidence is increasing, no clear etiology and no cure have yet been discovered. Recent findings suggest that IBD may have a multifactorial etiology, where complex interactions between genetics, epigenetics, environmental factors (including diet but also infections, antibiotics, and sanitation), and host immune system lead to abnormal immune responses and chronic inflammation. Over the past years, the role of altered gut microbiota (in both composition and function) in IBD pathogenesis has emerged as an outstanding area of interest. According to new findings, gut dysbiosis may appear as a key element in initiation of inflammation in IBD and its complications. Moreover, complex metagenomic studies provide possibilities to distinguish between IBD types and appreciate severity and prognosis of the disease, as well as response to therapy. This review provides an updated knowledge of recent findings linking altered bacterial composition and functions, viruses, and fungi to IBD pathogenesis. It also highlights the complex genetic, epigenetic, immune, and microbial interactions in relation to environmental factors (including diet). We overview the actual options to manipulate the altered microbiota, such as modified diet, probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, antibiotics, and fecal transplantation. Future possible therapies are also included. Targeting altered microbiota could be the next therapeutic personalized approach, but more research and well-designed comparative prospective studies are required to formulate adequate directions for prevention and therapy.

Consensus guidelines of ECCO/ESPGHAN on the medical management of pediatric Crohn's disease

Children and adolescents with Crohn's disease (CD) present often with a more complicated disease course compared to adult patients. In addition, the potential impact of CD on growth, pubertal and emotional development of patients underlines the need for a specific management strategy of pediatric-onset CD. To develop the first evidenced based and consensus driven guidelines for pediatric-onset CD an expert panel of 33 IBD specialists was formed after an open call within the European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation and the European Society of Pediatric Gastroenterolog, Hepatology and Nutrition. The aim was to base on a thorough review of existing evidence a state of the art guidance on the medical treatment and long term management of children and adolescents with CD, with individualized treatment algorithms based on a benefit-risk analysis according to different clinical scenarios. In children and adolescents who did not have finished their growth, exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) is the induction therapy of first choice due to its excellent safety profile, preferable over corticosteroids, which are equipotential to induce remission. The majority of patients with pediatric-onset CD require immunomodulator based maintenance therapy. The experts discuss several factors potentially predictive for poor disease outcome (such as severe perianal fistulizing disease, severe stricturing/penetrating disease, severe growth retardation, panenteric disease, persistent severe disease despite adequate induction therapy), which may incite to an anti-TNF-based top down approach. These guidelines are intended to give practical (whenever possible evidence-based) answers to (pediatric) gastroenterologists who take care of children and adolescents with CD; they are not meant to be a rule or legal standard, since many different clinical scenario exist requiring treatment strategies not covered by or different from these guidelines.

Gastrointestinal cancers: influence of gut microbiota, probiotics and prebiotics

Cancers of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract continue to represent a major health problem, despite progress in therapy. Gut microbiota is a key element related to the genesis of GI cancers, countless papers addressing this burning issue across the world. We provide an updated knowledge of the involvement of gut microbiota in GI tumorigenesis, including its underlying mechanisms. We present also a comprehensive review of the evidence from animal and clinical studies using probiotics and/or prebiotics in the prevention and/or therapy of GI tumours, of GI cancer therapy-related toxicity and of post-operative complications. We summarize the anticarcinogenic mechanisms of these biotherapeutics from in vitro, animal and clinical interventions. More research is required to reveal the interactions of microflora with genetic, epigenetic and immunologic factors, diet and age, before any firm conclusion be drawn. Well-designed, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled human studies using probiotics and/or prebiotics, with adequate follow-up are necessary in order to formulate directions for prevention and therapy.

Malignancy and mortality in pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a multinational study from the porto pediatric IBD group

BACKGROUND

The combination of the severity of pediatric-onset inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) phenotypes and the need for intense medical treatment may increase the risk of malignancy and mortality, but evidence regarding the extent of the problem is scarce. Therefore, the Porto Pediatric IBD working group of ESPGHAN conducted a multinational-based survey of cancer and mortality in pediatric IBD.

METHODS

A survey among pediatric gastroenterologists of 20 European countries and Israel on cancer and/or mortality in the pediatric patient population with IBD was undertaken. One representative from each country repeatedly contacted all pediatric gastroenterologists from each country for reporting retrospectively cancer and/or mortality of pediatric patients with IBD after IBD onset, during 2006-2011.

RESULTS

We identified 18 cases of cancers and/or 31 deaths in 44 children (26 males) who were diagnosed with IBD (ulcerative colitis, n = 21) at a median age of 10.0 years (inter quartile range, 3.0-14.0). Causes of mortality were infectious (n = 14), cancer (n = 5), uncontrolled disease activity of IBD (n = 4), procedure-related (n = 3), other non-IBD related diseases (n = 3), and unknown (n = 2). The most common malignancies were hematopoietic tumors (n = 11), of which 3 were hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma and 3 Ebstein-Barr virus-associated lymphomas.

CONCLUSIONS

Cancer and mortality in pediatric IBD are rare, but cumulative rates are not insignificant. Mortality is primarily related to infections, particularly in patients with 2 or more immunosuppressive agents, followed by cancer and uncontrolled disease. At least 6 lymphomas were likely treatment-associated by virtue of their phenotype.

Nutrition in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease: is it useful for prevention and therapy?

Countless studies aiming to discover the cause and cure of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have been conducted over the years world-wide. Food nutrients were believed to play a certain role in the causation of the disease, in conjunction with genetic, immunologic, environmental and other factors (especially intestinal microbiota). Various nutrients were found to be involved, sometimes with controversial results, possibly pertaining to geographic regions. Nutrition has to be especially considered in children as disease itself and/or the medication can severely impair normal growth and development, sometimes with permanent long-term sequels. We reviewed the data on the possible roles of diet in preventing the disease and relapses. We emphasize the crucial importance of enteral nutrition in inducing and maintaining the remission of Crohn's disease, according to the existing consensuses (benefits, indications, routes of administration, types of formula, duration, results). We also present data on parenteral nutrition in pediatric IBD, with current updates from literature.

Management of pediatric ulcerative colitis: joint ECCO and ESPGHAN evidence-based consensus guidelines

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Pediatric ulcerative colitis (UC) shares many features with adult-onset disease but there are some unique considerations; therefore, therapeutic approaches have to be adapted to these particular needs. We aimed to formulate guidelines for managing UC in children based on a systematic review (SR) of the literature and a robust consensus process. The present article is a product of a joint effort of the European Crohn's and Colitis Organization (ECCO) and the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (ESPGHAN).

METHODS

A group of 27 experts in pediatric IBD participated in an iterative consensus process including 2 face-to-face meetings, following an open call to ESPGHAN and ECCO members. A list of 23 predefined questions were addressed by working subgroups based on a SR of the literature.

RESULTS

A total of 40 formal recommendations and 68 practice points were endorsed with a consensus rate of at least 89% regarding initial evaluation, how to monitor disease activity, the role of endoscopic evaluation, medical and surgical therapy, timing and choice of each medication, the role of combined therapy, and when to stop medications. A management flowchart, based on the Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis Activity Index (PUCAI), is presented.

CONCLUSIONS

These guidelines provide clinically useful points to guide the management of UC in children. Taken together, the recommendations offer a standardized protocol that allows effective, timely management and monitoring of the disease course, while acknowledging that each patient is unique.

The gut microbiota in the metagenomics era: sometimes a friend, sometimes a foe

The normal intestinal microflora (microbiota) represents a complex, dynamic, and diverse collection of microorganisms, which usually inhabit the gastrointestinal tract. Normally, between this flora and the human host a mutually beneficial long-term symbiotic relationship is established, where the host contributes essential nutrients necessary for the survival of the microbiota and the latter fulfils multiple roles in host nutrition and development. Several achievements have recently converged to renew interest in studying the normal gut microbiota: the development of molecular methods of studying the microbial communities, the improved understanding of host-microbe interactions in health and disease, and the potential for therapeutic manipulation of the microbiota. We present recent data concerning the molecular technologies of studying the microbiota and new findings regarding the composition of the normal flora. We underline the beneficial activities of the gut flora on the human host. We emphasize the recent findings in the alterations of the microbiota in various medical conditions (celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome, obesity, colorectal cancer, allergic disorders, and especially inflammatory bowel diseases). The results of these new studies suggest that changes of the microbiota could be linked to the etiopathogenesis of these diseases. These outstanding findings could be used for further diagnostic tools and/or therapy.

Fibrosing colonopathy revealing cystic fibrosis in a neonate before any pancreatic enzyme supplementation

Although its pathogenesis remains still unknown, fibrosing colonopathy (FCP) is considered to be the result of prolonged treatment by high doses of pancreatic enzyme preparations, in a small proportion of patients who present with cystic fibrosis (CF). We present the case of a newborn with meconium ileus (treated by conservative measures), in which, at the age of 3 weeks, the features of intestinal obstruction made necessary the removal of 15 cm of the proximal large intestine. Macroscopical and especially microscopical appearances typical for FCP were found, despite the absence of any enzymatic treatment. These findings raised the suspicion of CF, which was confirmed 4 weeks later at necropsy by the presence of characteristic pancreatic lesions. This case and another similar report in the literature suggest that the mechanism of FCP must be linked with the disease itself, at least in some patients. Thus, for us, FCP is not a "closed subject" and we sustain the importance of continuing studies, which will shed light on its etiopathogenesis.