Background: Primary squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the gallbladder is a rare, aggressive malignancy with poor prognosis. Case Presentation: The authors report the case of a 52-year-old woman who presented with cholestatic jaundice and was diagnosed with unresectable gallbladder SCC invading the liver. Despite palliative chemotherapy and haemostatic radiotherapy, her condition deteriorated, and she died 6 months after diagnosis. Conclusion: This case underscores the aggressive nature and limited treatment options of gallbladder SCC.
Objective: This systematic review aims to evaluate the relationship between ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption and the incidence of depression among adults. It focuses on the effects of dietary intake of UPF, characterised by high levels of additives and low nutritional value, on mental health outcomes. Method: Following the Population, Intervention, Comparator, and Outcome (PICO) framework, the population was defined as adults, the intervention as UPF consumption, and the outcome as the risk of depression. A comprehensive search was conducted across six electronic databases: PubMed, PubMed Central, Cochrane, Google Scholar, PLOS One, and ScienceDirect, adhering to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Studies published from 2019–2023 were selected based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Duplicate entries were removed using Endnote™ (Clarivate, London, UK), and data extraction was standardised using Covidence (Veritas Health Innovation Ltd, Melbourne, Australia). The quality of the studies was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program checklist. Results: Nine studies with a combined sample of 79,701 participants were included. UPF consumption showed a consistent positive association with depression. Cohort studies reported that individuals in the highest UPF intake category had a 20–50% higher risk of developing depressive symptoms (e.g., hazard ratio: 1.22–1.52; 95% CI: 1.10–1.68). Mechanistically, findings highlighted UPF-induced gut dysbiosis, neuroinflammation, and disrupted neurotransmission as potential mediators. Conclusions and Relevance: This systematic review concludes that increased UPF consumption is significantly associated with a higher risk of depression among adults. These results highlight the necessity of public health campaigns to lower UPF consumption and encourage better eating habits. Clinicians and policymakers should consider these associations when developing dietary guidelines and interventions to improve mental health outcomes.
THIS YEAR, the United European Gastroenterology (UEG) Week opened in the historical city of Berlin, Germany, welcoming close to 12,000 delegates on site and online for a week of cutting-edge science, rich education, and purposeful debate. Berlin’s blend of history and innovation proved a fitting backdrop for a meeting defined by momentum, innovation, interdisciplinarity, and a clear-eyed focus on the future of digestive health.
AN ENLIGHTENING session delivered at the annual United European Gastroenterology (UEG) Week 2025, held in Berlin, Germany, brought together leading experts to explore the functional outputs of the gut microbiome, the real-world value of probiotics, and faecal microbiota transplantation in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
AT THE 2025 United European Gastroenterology (UEG) Week held in Berlin, Germany, an informative session explored emerging approaches for the management of ulcerative colitis (UC), ranging from surgical interventions to updated treatment guidelines and novel therapeutics. It highlighted research on appendectomy as a potential treatment, updated clinical guidelines in the management of paediatric ulcerative colitis care, and the evolving use of combination therapies to enhance patient outcomes.
The following highlights spotlight the latest advances in gastroenterology, featuring studies and insights presented at this year’s United European Gastroenterology (UEG) Week 2025. From innovative AI techniques and microbiome research to emerging therapies for ulcerative colitis and irritable bowel disease, these summaries capture the most cutting-edge developments and conversations shaping the field today.
Selective angioembolisation is a common treatment modality for lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Sepsis is an uncommon complication of the procedure, and infective endocarditis is even rarer yet. Presented here is a case of a male in his 50s who received selective angioembolisation to a branch of the right colic artery to control lower gastrointestinal bleeding. He subsequently developed sepsis and acute cardiac failure due to Enterococcus faecalis bacteraemia and infective endocarditis, requiring a valve replacement surgery and an extended course of antibiotics.
Background and Aims Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) has increasingly gained acceptance as a minimally invasive intervention for the treatment of duodenal lesions. Despite the overall good results, there can be significant morbidity associated with performing EMR in the duodenum. Data comparing hot snare and cold snare approaches in the duodenum are currently scarce. Our aim was to assess the efficacy and safety of hot snare EMR (H-EMR) versus cold snare EMR (C-EMR) for the resection of nonampullary duodenal lesions. Methods A retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected database of duodenal lesions treated using EMR at a single tertiary medical center between 2010 and 2023 was performed. Patient demographics, lesion and procedure characteristics, outcomes, and adverse events were analyzed. The primary outcomes studied included complete resection, as assessed by the endoscopist through visual confirmation of complete polyp resection, as well as recurrence and adverse events, including perforation and bleeding. Cost savings were assessed thereafter. Results Seventy-one cases of nonampullary duodenal lesions resected using the EMR technique were included (46 H-EMR; 25 C-EMR). Fifty-one lesions were resected en bloc (31 H-EMR vs 20 C-EMR), whereas 20 lesions were resected in a piecemeal fashion (15 H-EMR vs 5 C-EMR). Similar demographics and lesion and procedure characteristics were observed in both cohorts. Complete resection was 100%, and no delayed perforations occurred in either cohort. Lesions resected via H-EMR had greater rates of immediate perforation (2.2% vs 0%; P = 1.0) and delayed bleeding (9.1% vs 0%; P = .28) compared with C-EMR. Interestingly, recurrence rates were greater in the H-EMR arm (15.2% vs 8%; P = .70). C-EMR technique achieved a crude cost savings from clips alone of $135 U.S. dollars per patient compared with the H-EMR technique. Conclusions Although both cohorts demonstrated excellent complete resection, there was a trend toward lower adverse events and recurrence rates, as well as cost savings, when C-EMR technique was used for nonampullary duodenal lesions.
AN INSIGHTFUL session presented at United European Gastroenterology (UEG) Week 2024 delved into advancements in staging, immunotherapy, and surgical techniques for colon and rectal cancers. In this, a series of experts emphasised evolving practices designed to improve colorectal cancer outcomes while preserving patient quality of life.
THE GLOBAL health burden of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increasingly prevalent in today’s world, partly due to unhealthy lifestyle choices and growing obesity rates. The remitting and relapsing nature of IBD means treatment is complicated and non-linear. Coupled with the complex interactions between genetic and lifestyle factors, a streamlined approach to treatment is yet to be defined. Nevertheless, there have been huge advancements in the field, with several key publications paving the way in IBD research. Experts at United European Gastroenterology (UEG) Week 2024 highlighted several of the latest key advancements, and hinted at what’s to come for IBD management in the coming years.
