Background & Aims: There is a growing interest for the use of probiotics for chronic constipation. A recent randomized controlled trial (RCT) showed a positive effect of Lactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri) on bowel movement frequency in infants with chronic constipation. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of L. reuteri in adult patients with functional constipation.Methods: A double-blind, placebo RCT was conducted in 40 adults (18M/22F, 35±15 years) affected by functional constipation according to the Rome III criteria. Patients were randomly assigned to receive a supplementation of L. reuteri (DSM 17938), or matching placebo for 4 weeks. The increase of bowel movements/week was the primary outcome, while the improvement of stool consistency was the secondary outcome.Results: At week 4, the mean increase in bowel movements/week was 2.6 (SD±1.14, 95% CI:1.6-3.6) in the L. reuteri group and 1.0 (SD±1. 95% CI:0.12-1.88) in the placebo group (p=0.046). At the end of the treatment, the mean bowel movements/week was 5.28±1.93 in the L. reuteri group and 3.89±1.79 in the placebo group. There was a not significant difference in the stool consistency between the two groups.Conclusions: L. reuteri is more effective than the placebo in improving bowel movement frequency in adult patients with functional constipation as previously demonstrated in children, even if it seems to have no effect on stool consistency.

Background and purpose: The objective of this study was to assess the neurological manifestations in a series of consecutive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-positive patients, comparing their frequency with a population hospitalized in the same period for flu/respiratory symptoms, finally not related to SARS-CoV-2. Methods: Patients with flu/respiratory symptoms admitted to Fondazione Policlinico Gemelli hospital from 14 March 2020 to 20 April 2020 were retrospectively enrolled. The frequency of neurological manifestations of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection was compared with a control group. Results: In all, 213 patients were found to be positive for SARS-CoV-2, after reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction on nasal or throat swabs, whilst 218 patients were found to be negative and were used as a control group. Regarding central nervous system manifestations, in SARS-CoV-2-positive patients a higher frequency of headache, hyposmia and encephalopathy always related to systemic conditions (fever or hypoxia) was observed. Furthermore, muscular involvement was more frequent in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Conclusions: Patients with COVID-19 commonly have neurological manifestations but only hyposmia and muscle involvement seem more frequent compared with other flu diseases.

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Background Severe or fulminant Clostridioides difficile infection (SFCDI) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Emerging evidence suggests fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) may be a promising therapy for SFCDI. Aim This systematic review determines the safety and efficacy of FMT in medically refractory SFCDI. Methods A systematic search of the literature was conducted using PubMed (1965 to 2020), Web of Science (1900 to 20), EMBASE (1974 to 2020), and Cochrane Review (1945 to 2020). Quality appraisal by NIH Study Quality Assessment tools, and data extraction were performed by two teams of independent researchers. The primary outcome was resolution of SFCDI 4 weeks after the final FMT. Pooled resolution rates were calculated using generalized linear mixed models estimates. Results Two hundred and forty patients from 10 studies (8 case series, 1 case–control and 1 randomized study) were included with 209 individual patient-level data. FMT resulted in resolution of SFCDI within 4 weeks in 211/240 individuals for a pooled estimate of 88% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.83 to 0.91). The mean number of FMT required was 1.6 for severe and 2.0 for fulminant CDI resolution. The pooled proportional estimates for patients requiring CDI-directed antimicrobials after FMT was 50% (95% CI: 0.06 to 0.94) for severe CDI and 67.0% (95% CI: 0.30 to 0.91) for fulminant CDI. Serious adverse event rates were low. Conclusion FMT appears effective in treating SFCDI patients with low adverse events, but requires multiple treatments with a significant proportion of patients requiring additional anti-CDI antibiotics to achieve resolution. The optimal route of FMT delivery remains unknown. The presence of pseudomembranous colitis may guide additional FMT or anti-CDI antibiotic treatment.

Background and study aims A universal European training program in gastroenterology and hepatology is currently not available. The European Board of Gastroenterology and Hepatology (EBGH) has produced guidance regarding expected competencies for European gastroenterology trainees but it is unclear whether these have been incorporated in national curricula. The aim of this study was to provide an in-depth assessment of training and research opportunities, professional activities and of socioeconomic aspects of gastroenterology training across Europe through a web-based 90-point questionnaire. Materials and methods Physicians in their last year or who had recently finished their training, from 16 European countries, were invited to answer the questionnaire. Results A total of 144 physicians answered the survey. A minimum number of procedures is required before completing training in nine of 16 countries (56 %). Overall, European trainees dedicate a median of 12 months (IQR 6–25) of their training period to endoscopy and a median of 3 months (IQR 0–6) to ultrasound. Training in interventional endoscopy was not always exhaustive, as about 50 % of participants performed fewer of several interventional procedures than was recommended by EBGH, most participants did not perform endoscopic hemostasis or endoscopic mucosal resection, and nearly a half of participants had no access to pancreatobiliary endoscopy training. Finally, up to 13 % of residents complete their training without the supervision of a mentor. Conclusion In this large European survey, deep gaps and considerable differences in several gastroenterology training activities were found both among and within 16 European countries. Homogenization of educational programs and training opportunities across Europe is therefore necessary.

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