The sequelae of Helicobacter pylori infection, a known Group 1 carcinogen, can lead to significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Billions of people are infected with H. pylori, but the incidence of H. pylori infection is declining in many parts of Europe, with a study from the Netherlands showing a decline in seroprevalence from 48% in subjects born between 1935 and 1946 to 16% in those born between 1977 and 1987

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), first introduced with omeprazole in 1988, revolutionized the treatment of gastric acid-related conditions like gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, gastroduodenal ulcers, and Helicobacter pylori infections. Despite their effectiveness, PPIs are often prescribed for conditions without a proven link to gastric acid, such as dyspepsia and upper abdominal discomfort. Long-term use of PPIs has raised safety concerns, including risks of vitamin and mineral malabsorption, pneumonia, gastrointestinal infections, and dementia. This Mistakes In article addresses nine common mistakes in PPI use and aims to clarify misconceptions about their use.

Children and adolescents with chronic diseases requiring lifelong care face unique challenges that affect their daily lives and those of their families. Initially, these patients receive specialized care in pediatric facilities, where parents play a key role in treatment decisions. However, transitioning to adult healthcare facilities is inevitable, and this process, recognized as crucial years ago, involves moving adolescents with chronic conditions from child-centered to adult-oriented care. This transition can be complicated by varying age limits for pediatric care and the scarcity of adult care centers with specific expertise. The transition often requires cooperation between different centers or even countries due to patient mobility. The transition phase is critical, as it can lead to loss of follow-up, treatment suspension, and increased risks of complications or disease relapse. Beyond medical management, various factors influence the long-term prognosis of chronic conditions, making a well-organized transition program essential. While many hospitals have implemented transition models with mixed results in satisfaction, disease control, and follow-up adherence, there are frequent shortcomings in the process. This Mistakes In article will outline eight common mistakes made during the transition from pediatric to adult care, supported by literature and professional experience.

Around 11% of the worldwide population experience irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), making it one of the most frequent gastroenterological diagnoses.1 The symptoms of IBS include abdominal pain associated with unpredictable bowel habits and variable changes in the form and frequency of stool.2 While all patients with IBS suffer from recurrent bouts of abdominal pain, their bowel habits are varied: around one-third suffer predominantly with diarrhoea (IBS-D), one-fifth experience predominantly constipation (IBS-C) and half have an erratic mixed pattern of both diarrhoea and constipation (IBS-M).3 This very heterogeneous condition undoubtedly has multiple causes and an individualized approach to management and treatment is required. Here I discuss the mistakes most frequently made when diagnosing and managing IBS. The mistakes and discussion that follow are based, where possible, on published data and failing that on many years of my own clinical experience.

The term ‘gastroparesis’ was first coined by Kassander in 1958 to describe the fact that barium did not leave the stomach of patients with diabetes for over 24 hours — so-called ‘gastroparesis diabeticorum’. Nowadays it refers to a delay in gastric emptying that is associated with symptoms primarily of nausea and vomiting as well as the absence of mechanical obstruction. In 1958, 21 cases were described, but in 2019, 5 million US individuals were diagnosed as having gastroparesis. This rapid increase in prevalence is likely to have occurred because it has become much easier to measure gastric emptying and to attribute symptoms to this without necessarily thinking through differentials. The incidence of hospital admissions for patients labelled as having gastroparesis is rapidly rising, increasing at a much faster rate than admissions for patients with nausea and vomiting, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, gastritis or gastric ulcers, which are all remaining relatively static. Gastroparesis therefore represents a major healthcare burden. Gastroparesis can be idiopathic or is most frequently caused by diabetes (type 1 more than type 2) or surgical procedures that can disrupt the vagus nerve (e.g. Billroth gastrectomy, oesophagectomy, gastric bypass surgery and fundoplication). In this article, I describe the mistakes most frequently made in patients who have a suspected diagnosis of gastroparesis. I base my discussion on the available evidence as well as clinical experience in the field. 

Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) is a subclassification of steatotic liver disease (SLD), defined as the presence of excess triglyceride storage in the liver in conjunction with at least one cardiometabolic risk factor and no other discernible cause.1 Cirrhosis secondary to MASH is the most common cause of liver disease in the world and is the fastest-growing indication for liver transplantation, but it also has a >50% recurrence rate post-transplantation.