IBD Journal Scan
Key articles from high impact journals in last month
Long-Term Ozanimod Treatment Sustains Remission in Ulcerative Colitis Patients: True North Study Findings
This interim analysis delves into the efficacy and safety of extended ozanimod treatment spanning approximately 3 years in patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis, drawing from the True North open-label extension study. Following clinical responders from the phase 3 True North study who continued ozanimod treatment, the analysis reveals encouraging results. Approximately 91.4% of patients achieved clinical response, with 69.1% experiencing clinical remission and 67.9% achieving corticosteroid-free remission by OLE Week 94. Moreover, endoscopic improvement, histological remission, and mucosal healing were notable, with efficacy maintained through the extended treatment period. Importantly, no new safety concerns emerged, reaffirming the long-term safety profile of ozanimod in ulcerative colitis management.
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Healthy Early Diets May Shield Against Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Children: Scandinavian Study Finds
This study investigates the relationship between early-life diet quality, food intake frequencies, and subsequent inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) risk in children. Analyzing data from two large birth cohorts in Sweden and Norway, researchers found that higher diet quality at age one, as measured by a Healthy Eating Index, was associated with a reduced risk of IBD during childhood and adolescence. Specifically, children with medium to high diet quality had lower IBD risk compared to those with lower diet quality. Additionally, high fish intake at age one was linked to a decreased risk of IBD, particularly ulcerative colitis (UC). Conversely, intake of sugar-sweetened beverages was associated with an increased risk of IBD. Notably, diet quality at age three did not show an association with IBD risk. These findings underscore the potential protective role of early-life nutrition in mitigating the risk of developing IBD later in life.
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Breaking Ground: Biomarker-Guided Therapy Enhances Outcomes in Newly Diagnosed Crohn's Disease
In the PROFILE trial, researchers investigated the efficacy of a prognostic biomarker to tailor treatment strategies for newly diagnosed Crohn's disease patients. Dividing participants into top-down (early combined immunosuppression with infliximab and immunomodulator) or accelerated step-up treatment groups based on biomarker subgroups, endoscopic inflammation, and extent, the study revealed that top-down therapy led to significantly better outcomes compared to the accelerated step-up approach.
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Revolutionizing Gut Health Assessment: MB-102 Fluorophore Emerges as a Promising Alternative to Traditional Intestinal Permeability Tests
In a pioneering study aiming to address the limitations of classic dual sugar absorption tests (DSAT) in assessing intestinal permeability, researchers investigated the potential of orally administered MB-102 fluorophore as a substitute for lactulose and rhamnose-based DSAT in individuals with varying permeability levels, including Crohn's disease (CD) patients. Conducting a crossover trial, they found that MB-102 exhibited comparable urinary recovery patterns to lactulose, showcasing strong correlation across participants. Notably, MB-102's performance aligned with the lactulose:rhamnose ratio, demonstrating its efficacy in tracking gastrointestinal permeability changes. This groundbreaking research highlights MB-102's promise as a well-tolerated and clinically viable alternative for assessing gut permeability, potentially revolutionizing diagnostic approaches in gastrointestinal disorders like CD.
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Sustained steroid-free and surgery-free remission was achieved more frequently in the top-down group, with fewer adverse events and serious complications requiring surgery. Interestingly, the prognostic biomarker did not demonstrate clinical utility, suggesting that top-down treatment should be considered standard care for newly diagnosed active Crohn's disease patients.