Background & Aims Vedolizumab is an anti-a4b7 monoclonal antibody that is licensed for the treatment of moderate to severe Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. The aims of this study were to establish the real-world effectiveness and safety of vedolizumab for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. Methods This was a retrospective study involving seven NHS health boards in Scotland between June 2015 and November 2017. Inclusion criteria included: a diagnosis of ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease with objective evidence of active inflammation at baseline (Harvey–Bradshaw Index[HBI] ≥5/Partial Mayo ≥2 plus C-reactive protein [CRP] >5 mg/L or faecal calprotectin ≥250 µg/g or inflammation on endoscopy/magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]); completion of induction; and at least one clinical follow-up by 12 months. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis was used to establish 12-month cumulative rates of clinical remission, mucosal healing, and deep remission [clinical remission plus mucosal healing]. Rates of serious adverse events were described quantitatively. Results Our cohort consisted of 180 patients with ulcerative colitis and 260 with Crohn’s disease. Combined median follow-up was 52 weeks (interquartile range [IQR] 26–52 weeks). In ulcerative colitis, 12-month cumulative rates of clinical remission, mucosal healing, and deep remission were 57.4%, 47.3%, and 38.5%, respectively. In Crohn’s disease, 12-month cumulative rates of clinical remission, mucosal healing, and deep remission were 58.4%, 38.9%, and 28.3% respectively. The serious adverse event rate was 15.6 per 100 patient-years of follow-up. Conclusions Vedolizumab is a safe and effective treatment for achieving both clinical remission and mucosal healing in ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.

Summary Background Actinic keratosis (AK) is a common premalignant skin lesion that can progress to cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC). Microwave therapy is an established cancer treatment and has been used for plantar viral warts. Objectives To evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of microwave as a treatment for AK. Methods Stage I was a dose‐setting study, in which seven participants had the dielectric properties of 12 thick and 22 thin AKs assessed for optimization of the microwave dose used for treatment in Stage II. Stage II was a randomized, internally controlled trial evaluating 179 AKs in 11 patients (93 treated, 86 untreated controls) on the scalp/forehead or dorsal hand. Participants received one treatment initially and a repeat treatment to unresolved AKs at week 4. The response was assessed at six visits over 4 months. The primary outcome was partial or complete resolution of the treated AKs. Results A significantly higher proportion of treated AK areas responded than untreated (90% vs. 15%; P < 0·001). Thin AKs were more responsive than thick AKs. The site did not affect efficacy. Pain was severe, but brief (80% reported pain lasting ‘a few seconds only’). Adverse effects were minimal (erythema, n = 6; flaking, n = 3; itch, n = 3). All participants who would chose microwave therapy over their current treatment cited the shorter discomfort period. Conclusions Microwave therapy is a portable, safe and effective treatment for AK. An easy‐to‐deliver, acceptable therapy for AK is attractive as a prevention strategy. While these results are promising, a larger randomized controlled trial is needed against an effective comparator to confirm clinical efficacy and patient acceptability. What is already known about this topic? Actinic keratoses (AKs) are common precancerous skin lesions. Successful treatment of AK can prevent cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC). Most topical therapies for AK require repeated application over weeks and drive local skin inflammation, leading to poor compliance. An easy‐to‐deliver and effective treatment for AK, suitable for use in primary care, could reduce cSCC. What does this study add? Microwave therapy is a feasible, effective treatment for AK. Ninety per cent of treated AKs showed full or partial resolution at 120 days post‐treatment. Microwave therapy was painful, but the pain was short‐lived (seconds) and this short discomfort period was cited as the main reason that microwave was preferred to their current treatment. Linked Comment: Samimi and Kelleners-Smeets. Br J Dermatol 2020; 183:197–199.

Background and Aim: Ustekinumab is a monoclonal antibody that targets interleukin-12/23. In Scotland, it was approved for the treatment of moderate to severe Crohn's disease in 2017. The objective of this study was to establish the real-world effectiveness and safety of ustekinumab in the treatment of Crohn's disease. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of patients receiving ustekinumab across eight Scottish National Health Service health boards between 2017 and 2019. Inclusion criteria included a diagnosis of Crohn's disease with symptoms attributed to active disease plus objective signs of inflammation at baseline (C-reactive protein ≥ 5 mg/L or fecal calprotectin ≥ 250 μg/g or inflammation on endoscopy/magnetic resonance imaging) and completion of induction plus at least one clinical follow-up at 8 weeks. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to establish 12-month cumulative rates of clinical remission, mucosal healing, deep remission, and perianal fistula response. Rates of serious adverse events were described quantitatively. Results: Our cohort consisted of 216 patients (female sex, 37.9%; median age, 39.0 years, interquartile range [IQR] 28.8-51.8 years; disease duration, 9.9 years, IQR 6.0-16.5 years; prior biologic, 98.6%) with a median follow-up of 35.0 weeks (IQR 17.4-52.0 weeks). Twelve-month cumulative rates of clinical remission, mucosal healing, and deep remission (clinical remission plus mucosal healing) were 32.0%, 32.7%, and 19.3%, respectively. In patients with active perianal disease (n = 37), the 12-month cumulative perianal response rate was 53.1%. The serious adverse event rate was 13.6 per 100 patient-years of follow-up. Conclusion: Ustekinumab is a safe and effective treatment for the treatment of complex Crohn's disease.

Background Ustekinumab (UST) is an anti-IL12/23 biologic licensed for the treatment of moderate to severe Crohn’s disease (CD). The aims of this study were to establish the long-term real-world effectiveness and safety of UST for the treatment of CD in a large UK cohort. Methods This was a multicentre retrospective cohort study , including 7 NHS health-boards in Scotland. Patients treated with UST between November 2015 and June 2019 were identified. Inclusion criteria included: a diagnosis of CD; active symptoms attributed to CD with objective evidence of mucosal inflammation (CRP &gt;5mg/l or faecal calprotectin ≥250 µg/g or inflammation on endoscopy/ MRI); and completion of induction with a minimum of 8 weeks follow-up. Clinical assessments were performed based on physician global assessment (response was defined as ≥50% reduction in CD-related symptoms and remission defined as complete resolution of all CD-related symptoms). Mucosal healing was defined as the absence of ulceration/erosions on ileo-colonoscopy or no inflammation on MRI if ileo-colonoscopy was not possible (eg. B2 disease). Deep remission was defined as clinical remission plus mucosal healing. Rates of serious adverse events (discontinuation of UST, hospitalisation or death) during follow-up were described quantitively. Results A total of 207 patients (43% male; median age 39.2 years, IQR 28.9–51.4; median disease duration 10.0 years, IQR 5.7–16.6) with a median follow-up of 34.6 weeks (IQR 16.9–52.1) were included. The majority of patients had ileocolonic disease (L1, 19.3%; L2, 23.7%; L3, 57%) and an inflammatory phenotype (B1, 43.0%; B2, 41.1%; B3, 15.9%). A total of 98.6% of patients had previously been exposed to a biologic and 55.1 % had undergone previous surgery. Seventy-one per cent of patients received Q8 maintenance dosing, whilst 25.6% and 42.0% of patients were also receiving an immunomodulator (IMM) and steroids at initiation, respectively. At week 8, clinical response and remission rates were 51.7% and 5.8%, respectively. Twelve-month cumulative rates of clinical remission, mucosal healing (n = 116) and deep remission (n = 116) were 29.8%, 35.3% and 17.9%, respectively (Figure 1). During 155 patient-years of follow-up (PYF), 11 patients experienced a serious adverse event (7.1 per 100 PYF). Conclusion We have shown in a large real-world cohort of complex, treatment-refractory CD patients that UST is a safe and effective treatment option.

and colitis patients across >100 participating hospitals with a long-standing goal of fostering IBD Research to expedite clinical translation. For each patient recruited, clinical and selfreported phenotype data are collected, alongside plasma, serum and DNA samples for genetic analyses. The resulting data-rich panel is open to any investigators wishing to access data/samples or recall genotype-selected participants to donate further samples or trial novel therapies. Methods Building the IBD BioResource panel: Patients' clinical data are collected at recruitment by the IBD team through a clinical data sheet based on the Montreal classification while health and lifestyle information are obtained via a patient questionnaire. All include demographics, smoking habits, general and IBD specific health questions, family history of IBD and non-IBD conditions, medication, treatment, surgery history and co-morbidities. The IBD BioResource panel also holds Whole Genome/Exome sequencing and GWAS data derived from its detailed biological samplings.Accessing the IBD BioResource panel: The built-in panel of patients and their data is open to any investigators from science or industry. Following feasibility checks, submitted research applications are reviewed by the NIHR BioResource Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) based on scientific merits and projected benefit to patients. Upon study approval, patients meeting inclusion criteria are contacted by the NIHR BioResource team with a letter of invitation and a patient information leaflet. For volunteers willing to participate, appropriate arrangements are then made to gather information, collect fresh biological samples or engage patients in intervention studies. Results To date 26 'Stage 2 studies' applied to utilise the IBD BioResource, 18 of which are currently active, 4 completed and 4 pending approval. Of the 26 applications, ~20% requested access to anonymised samples/data while the remaining ~80% required involvement of participants. Applications

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Vaccination against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has rapidly expanded; however, clinical trials excluded patients taking immunosuppressive medications such as those with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Therefore, we explored real-world effectiveness of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination on subsequent infection in patients with IBD with diverse exposure to immunosuppressive medications. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients in the Veterans Health Administration with IBD diagnosed before December 18, 2020, the start date of the Veterans Health Administration patient vaccination program. IBD medication exposures included mesalamine, thiopurines, anti-tumor necrosis factor biologic agents, vedolizumab, ustekinumab, tofacitinib, methotrexate, and corticosteroid use. We used inverse probability weighting and Cox's regression with vaccination status as a time-updating exposure and computed vaccine effectiveness from incidence rates. RESULTS: The cohort comprised 14,697 patients, 7321 of whom received at least 1 vaccine dose (45.2% Pfizer, 54.8% Moderna). The cohort had median age 68 years, 92.2% were men, 80.4% were White, and 61.8% had ulcerative colitis. In follow-up data through April 20, 2021, unvaccinated individuals had the highest raw proportion of SARS-CoV-2 infection (197 [1.34%] vs 7 [0.11%] fully vaccinated). Full vaccination status, but not partial vaccination status, was associated with a 69% reduced hazard of infection relative to an unvaccinated status (hazard ratio, 0.31, 95% confidence interval, 0.17-0.56; P < .001), corresponding to an 80.4% effectiveness. CONCLUSIONS: Full vaccination (> 7 days after the second dose) against SARS-CoV-2 infection has an w80.4% effectiveness in a broad IBD cohort with diverse exposure to immunosuppressive medications. These results may serve to increase patient and provider willingness to pursue vaccination in these settings.