Gut microb-aging and its relevance to frailty aging

International audienceThis review explores 'microb-aging' in the gut and its potential link to frailty aging. We explore this connection through alterations in microbiota's taxonomy and metabolism, as well as with concepts of ecological resilience, pathobionts emergence, and biogeography. We examine microb-aging in interconnected body organs, emphasizing the bidirectional relationship with 'inflammaging'. Finally, we discuss how targeting microb-aging could improve screening, diagnostic, and therapeutic approaches in geriatrics

Pancreatic Cancer in Chronic Pancreatitis: Pathogenesis and Diagnostic Approach

International audienceChronic pancreatitis is one of the main risk factors for pancreatic cancer, but it is a rare event. Inflammation and oncogenes work hand in hand as key promoters of this disease. Tobacco is another co-factor. During alcoholic chronic pancreatitis, the cumulative risk of cancer is estimated at 4% after 15 to 20 years. This cumulative risk is higher in hereditary pancreatitis: 19 and 12% in the case of PRSS1 and SPINK1 mutations, respectively, at an age of 60 years. The diagnosis is difficult due to: (i) clinical symptoms of cancer shared with those of chronic pancreatitis; (ii) the parenchymal and ductal remodeling of chronic pancreatitis rendering imaging analysis difficult; and (iii) differential diagnoses, such as pseudo-tumorous chronic pancreatitis and paraduodenal pancreatitis. Nevertheless, the occurrence of cancer during chronic pancreatitis must be suspected in the case of back pain, weight loss, unbalanced diabetes, and jaundice, despite alcohol withdrawal. Imaging must be systematically reviewed. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle biopsy can contribute by targeting suspicious tissue areas with the help of molecular biology (search for KRAS, TP53, CDKN2A, DPC4 mutations). Short-term follow-up of patients is necessary at the clinical and paraclinical levels to try to diagnose cancer at a surgically curable stage. Pancreatic surgery is sometimes necessary if there is any doubt

Pancreatic Cancer in Chronic Pancreatitis: Pathogenesis and Diagnostic Approach

Chronic pancreatitis is one of the main risk factors for pancreatic cancer, but it is a rare event. Inflammation and oncogenes work hand in hand as key promoters of this disease. Tobacco is another co-factor. During alcoholic chronic pancreatitis, the cumulative risk of cancer is estimated at 4% after 15 to 20 years. This cumulative risk is higher in hereditary pancreatitis: 19 and 12% in the case of PRSS1 and SPINK1 mutations, respectively, at an age of 60 years. The diagnosis is difficult due to: (i) clinical symptoms of cancer shared with those of chronic pancreatitis; (ii) the parenchymal and ductal remodeling of chronic pancreatitis rendering imaging analysis difficult; and (iii) differential diagnoses, such as pseudo-tumorous chronic pancreatitis and paraduodenal pancreatitis. Nevertheless, the occurrence of cancer during chronic pancreatitis must be suspected in the case of back pain, weight loss, unbalanced diabetes, and jaundice, despite alcohol withdrawal. Imaging must be systematically reviewed. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle biopsy can contribute by targeting suspicious tissue areas with the help of molecular biology (search for KRAS, TP53, CDKN2A, DPC4 mutations). Short-term follow-up of patients is necessary at the clinical and paraclinical levels to try to diagnose cancer at a surgically curable stage. Pancreatic surgery is sometimes necessary if there is any doubt

Incidence and Risk Factors of Cancer in the Anal Transitional Zone and Ileal Pouch following Surgery for Ulcerative Colitis and Familial Adenomatous Polyposis

International audienceProctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis is the intervention of choice for ulcerative colitis and familial adenomatous polyposis requiring surgery. One of the long-term complications is pouch cancer, having a poor prognosis. The risk of high-grade dysplasia and cancer in the anal transitional zone and ileal pouch after 20 years is estimated to be 2 to 4.5% and 3 to 10% in ulcerative colitis and familial polyposis, respectively. The risk factors for ulcerative colitis are the presence of pre-operative dysplasia or cancer, disease duration > 10 years and severe villous atrophy. For familial polyposis, the risk factors are the number of pre-operative polyps > 1000, surgery with stapled anastomosis and the duration of follow-up. In the case of ulcerative colitis, a pouchoscopy should be performed annually if one of the following is present: dysplasia and cancer at surgery, primary sclerosing cholangitis, villous atrophy and active pouchitis (every 5 years without any of these factors). In the case of familial polyposis, endoscopy is recommended every year including chromoendoscopy. Even if anal transitional zone and ileal pouch cancers seldom occur following proctectomy for ulcerative colitis and familial adenomatous polyposis, the high mortality rate associated with this complication warrants endoscopic monitoring

Adipose-Derived Stem Cells in the Treatment of Perianal Fistulas in Crohn’s Disease: Rationale, Clinical Results and Perspectives

International audienceBetween 20 to 25% of Crohn’s disease (CD) patients suffer from perianal fistulas, a marker of disease severity. Seton drainage combined with anti-TNFα can result in closure of the fistula in 70 to 75% of patients. For the remaining 25% of patients there is room for in situ injection of autologous or allogenic mesenchymal stem cells such as adipose-derived stem/stromal cells (ADSCs). ADSCs exert their effects on tissues and effector cells through paracrine phenomena, including the secretome and extracellular vesicles. They display anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, pro-angiogenic, proliferative, and immunomodulatory properties, and a homing within the damaged tissue. They also have immuno-evasive properties allowing a clinical allogeneic approach. Numerous clinical trials have been conducted that demonstrate a complete cure rate of anoperineal fistulas in CD ranging from 46 to 90% of cases after in situ injection of autologous or allogenic ADSCs. A pivotal phase III-controlled trial using allogenic ADSCs (Alofisel®) demonstrated that prolonged clinical and radiological remission can be obtained in nearly 60% of cases with a good safety profile. Future studies should be conducted for a better knowledge of the local effect of ADSCs as well as for a standardization in terms of the number of injections and associated procedures

Tofacitinib for patients with anti-TNF refractory ulcerative proctitis: a multicenter cohort study from the GETAID

International audienceBackground While ulcerative proctitis (UP) can dramatically impair quality-of-life, treatments efficacy has been poorly investigated in UP as it was historically excluded from phase 2/3 randomized controlled trials in ulcerative colitis. Aim To assess the effectiveness and safety of tofacitinib for the treatment of UP. Methods We conducted a retrospective multicenter study in seventeen GETAID centers including consecutive patients with UP treated with tofacitinib. The primary endpoint was steroid-free remission between week 8 and week 14, defined as a partial Mayo score of 2 (and no individual subscore above 1). Secondary outcomes included clinical response and steroid-free remission after induction and at one year. Results All the 35 enrolled patients previously received anti-TNF therapy and 88.6% were exposed to at least two lines of biologics. At baseline, the median partial Mayo score was 7 (IQR[5.5-7]). After induction (W8-W14), 42.9% and 60.0% of patients achieved steroid-free remission and clinical response, respectively. At one year, the steroid-free clinical remission and clinical response rates were 39.4% and 45.5%, respectively, while 51.2% (17/33) were still receiving tofacitinib treatment. Survival without tofacitinib withdrawal was estimated at 50.4% (95%CI[35.5-71.6]) at one year. Only a lower partial Mayo at baseline was independently associated with remission at induction (Odds ratio (OR) = 0.56 for an increase of 1, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) [0.33-0.95], p = 0.03). Five (14.3%) adverse events were reported with one leading to treatment withdrawal (septic shock secondary to cholecystitis). Conclusion Tofacitinib may offer a therapeutic option for patients with refractory UP

Step-up approach for the treatment of infected necrotising pancreatitis: real life data from a single-centre experience with long-term follow-up

Abstract Background About 20% of patients with acute pancreatitis develop a necrotising form with a worse prognosis due to frequent appearance of organ failure(s) and/or infection of necrosis. Aims of the present study was to evaluate the “step up” approach treatment of infected necrosis in terms of: feasibility, success in resolving infection, morbidity of procedures, risk factors associated with death and long-term sequels. Methods In this observational retrospective monocentric study in the real life, necrotizing acute pancreatitis at the stage of infected walled-off necrosis were treated as follow: first step with drainage (radiologic and/or endoscopic-ultrasound-guided with lumen apposing metal stent); in case of failure, minimally invasive necrosectomy sessions(s) by endoscopy through the stent and/or via retroperitoneal surgery (step 2); If necessary open surgery as a third step. Efficacy was assessed upon to a composite clinical-biological criterion: resolution of organ failure(s), decrease of at least two of clinico-biological criteria among fever, CRP serum level, and leucocytes count). Results Forty-one consecutive patients were treated. The step-up strategy: (i) was feasible in 100% of cases; (ii) allowed the infection to be resolved in 33 patients (80.5%); (iii) Morbidity was mild and rapidly resolutive; (iv) the mortality rate at 6 months was of 19.5% (significant factors: SIRS and one or more organ failure(s) at admission, fungal infection, size of the largest collection ≥ 16 cm). During the follow-up (median 72 months): 27% of patients developed an exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, 45% developed or worsened a previous diabetes, 24% had pancreatic fistula and one parietal hernia. Conclusions Beside a very good feasibility, the step-up approach for treatment of infected necrotizing pancreatitis in the real life displays a clinico-biological efficacy in 80% of cases with acceptable morbidity, mortality and long-term sequels regarding the severity of the disease

P322 Compared Efficacy of Second-Line Treatments for Ulcerative Colitis After Failure of Vedolizumab in First-Line Treatment: A Retrospective Multicenter Study

Meeting abstract du "19th Congress of ECCO", Stockholm, Suède, 21-24 février, 2024International audienceBackground Vedolizumab is often used as the first-line advanced therapy for patients with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis (UC). There is currently no data reporting the efficacy and safety of second-line treatments after initial vedolizumab failure. The objective of our study was to compare the efficacy of anti-TNF, ustekinumab, and tofacitinib as 2nd line treatment of UC after vedolizumab exposure. Methods We conducted a retrospective multicenter study in 27 French and Belgian centers. All consecutive UC patients treated with vedolizumab between January 2019 and June 2023 as the first line and who received a 2nd line of anti-TNF, ustekinumab or tofacitinib were retrospectively included. The primary outcome was clinical remission at induction (week 14) defined by a clinical partial Mayo score ≤ 2 with no subscore > 1 without investigated treatment withdrawal. Clinical response was defined as a decrease in partial Mayo score of at least 30%. Results Among the 163 patients included, 94 (57.7%) were treated with anti-TNF (infliximab=71 (75.5%), adalimumab=21 (22.3%), and golimumab=2 (2.1%)), 56 (34.4%) with ustekinumab and 13 (7.9%) with tofacitinib. The median duration of the disease prior to second-line initiation was 9.5 months (IQR 16.0-146.0). The median duration of treatment with vedolizumab was 6 months (IQR 3.0-12.0). At week 14, 25/66 (37.9%) patients on infliximab, 7/23 (30.5%) on SQ anti-TNF (adalimumab and golimumab), 25/57 (43.9%) on ustekinumab and 7/13 (53.8%) treated with tofacitinib were in remission (p=0.49, Chi2 test). Response rates were 52.8%, 34.8%, 50.9%, and 53.8%, respectively, for the infliximab, antiTNF SC, ustekinumab, and tofacitinib groups. The survival without treatment discontinuation att 12 months was estimated at 51.6 (95% CI [39.6%-67.2%]) for infliximab, 45.7% (95% CI [28.5%-73.1%]) for SQ anti-TNF, 40.6% (95% CI [27.2%-60.6%]) for ustekinumab and 31.2% (95% CI [12.3%-79.2%]) for tofacitinib (p=0.95, log-rank test). Second-line treatment was discontinued in 41 patients (25.3%) for primary failure, 25 (15.4%) for secondary failure. Colectomy was required in 4 patients (2.5%) during follow-up. Infliximab was discontinued in 12 patients (12.8%) due to adverse reactions, including 6 allergic reactions. Among the 23 patients on SQ anti-TNF (adalimumab and golimumab), 2 required discontinuation (8.7%) due to adverse reactions. One side effect leading to discontinuation occurred with tofacitinib (7.7%) and none with ustekinumab. Conclusion After the failure of vedolizumab as a first-line biologic treatment for UC, the induction efficacy, persistence, and safety of the different second-line treatments seem similar. Current efforts to increase the sample size and strengthen the analysis is ongoing

Risk of incident cancer in patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease with prior breast cancer: a multicenter cohort study

International audienceBackground and AimsBreast cancer is the most common malignancy observed in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). The aim of our study was to evaluate incident cancer rate (recurrence or new-onset cancer) in a cohort of IBD patients with a history of breast cancer according to the subsequent IBD treatment provided.MethodsA multicenter retrospective study included consecutive IBD patients with prior breast cancer. The inclusion date corresponded to the diagnosis of index malignancy. Follow-up lasted from cancer diagnosis until the occurrence of incident cancer.ResultsAmong 207 patients included (median disease duration: 13 years [IQR 6 - 21]), first line treatment (median interval of 28 months [IQR 7 - 64]) was a conventional immunosuppressant in 19.3 % of patients, anti-TNF in 19.8 %, vedolizumab in 7.2 % and ustekinumab in 1.9 %.After a median follow-up of 71 months [IQR, 34 - 148], 42 (20%) incident cancers were observed (34 breast cancer recurrences). Adjusted incidence rates per 1000 person-years were 10.2 (95%CI 6.0- 16.4) for the untreated arm and 28.9 (95%CI 11.6-59.6) for exposed patients (p= 0.0519). There was no significant difference between treated patients and controls regarding incident-cancer free survival rates (p=0.4796). In multivariable analysis, factors associated with incident cancer were stage T4d (p=0.036), triple negative tumor (p=0.016) and follow-up of less than 71 months (p=0.005).ConclusionWe did not find a statistically significant increase in incident breast cancer related to IBD treatment beyond the already known poor prognostic factors of breast cancer

A supramolecular chain of dimeric Dy single molecule magnets decorated with azobenzene ligands

International audienceWe report the synthesis, ab initio calculations, magnetic and optical characterization of a Dy-based dimeric compound named DyAZO. The dimers self-organize into a supramolecular chain decorated with photo-isomerizable azobenzene ligands. DyAZO displays single-molecule magnet (SMM) behavior. However, ab initio calculations highlight a quite strong admixture of M states of the H level of Dy ions, the presence of low-lying excited M states and antiferromagnetic Dy-Dy dipolar coupling. This favors zero-field fast tunneling. Accordingly the Dy-doped analogue YDyAZO (5.5% Dy doping) displays enhanced magnetic relaxation with a hysteresis that is observed at 0.5 K. The influence of the cis- to trans-isomerization of the decorating azobenzene ligand on magnetic properties has been tested for both solid samples and solutions of DyAZO and YDyAZO. This provides hints for the synthesis of future Dy-based photo-isomerizable molecules