InterviewQ1 To start, could you briefly share the key messages from your presentation on glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists beyond diabetes and obesity?It's an exciting time for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).It's one of the key drivers of end-stage liver disease.These patients develop cirrhosis, decompensation, and cancer.While not all patients progress that far, we have a very high prevalence of metabolic liver disease, formerly known as fatty liver, and a subgroup develop severe liver disease.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.