Gastroenterology Report

A predictive model and rapid multi-dynamic algorithm developed based on tumor-stroma percentage in gastric cancer: a retrospective, observational study
Xu Y, Yang Y, Cheng F, Luo Z, Zhang Y, Zhang P, Qiu J, Qiu Z and Huang C
Tumor-stroma percentage (TSP) is a prognostic risk factor in numerous solid tumors. Despite this, the prognostic significance of TSP in gastric cancer (GC) remains underexplored. Through the development of a personalized predictive model and a semi-automatic identification system, our study aimed to fully unlock the predictive potential of TSP in GC.
Analysis of actionable gene fusions in a large cohort of Chinese patients with colorectal cancer
Kou FR, Li J, Wang ZH, Xu T, Qian JJ, Zhang EL, Zhang LJ, Shen L and Wang XC
The prevalence of gene fusion is extremely low in unselected patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Published data on gene fusions are limited by relatively small sample sizes, with a primary focus on Western populations. This study aimed to analyse actionable gene fusions in a large consecutive Chinese CRC population.
HCV elimination: is the bulk of the iceberg being missed?
Kalo E, Baig A, Derrett A, Read S and Ahlenstiel G
Active role of the immune system in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease
Mori T, Yoshio S, Kakazu E and Kanto T
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, recently renamed metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), is a complex multifactorial disease that progresses from steatohepatitis (MASH) to liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. Recent research has revealed that crosstalk between innate immune cells and hepatic parenchymal and non-parenchymal cells is involved in the pathogenesis of liver disease in MASLD/MASH. Of particular importance, novel inflammatory mechanisms, including macrophage diversity, neutrophil NETosis, B-cell biology, auto-reactive T cells, unconventional T cells, and dendritic cell-T cell interactions, are considered key drivers for disease progression. These mechanisms and factors are potential targets for the therapeutic intervention of MASLD/MASH. In this review, we focus on recent discoveries related to liver inflammation and discuss the role of innate immune cell subsets in MASLD/MASH.
Hiatal hernia: risk factors, and clinical and endoscopic aspects in gastroscopy
Abu-Freha N, Guterman R, Elhayany R, Yitzhak A, Hudes SS and Fich A
Hiatal hernia (HH) is a common finding in gastroscopy. The aim of the present study was to investigate the frequency rate of HH among patients who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) according to their age, gender, and procedural indication.
A comprehensive review and update on acute severe lower gastrointestinal bleeding in Crohn's disease: a management algorithm
Tu T, Chen M, Zeng Z, Lin J, Chen L, Liu C and Zhuang X
Acute severe lower gastrointestinal bleeding is a rare but potentially fatal complication of Crohn's disease (CD), affecting between 0.6% and 5.5% of CD patients during their lifelong disease course. Managing bleeding episodes effectively hinges on vital resuscitation. Endoscopic evaluation and computed tomography play crucial roles in accurate identification and intervention. Fortunately, most bleeding episodes can be successfully managed through appropriate conservative treatment. Medical therapies, particularly infliximab, aim to induce and maintain mucosal healing and serve as the leading treatment approach. Minimally invasive procedures, such as endoscopic hemostasis and angio-embolization, can achieve immediate hemostasis. Surgical treatment is only considered a last resort when conservative therapies fail. Despite achieving hemostasis, the risk of rebleeding ranges from 19.0% to 50.5%. The objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive and updated overview of the clinical manifestations, diagnostic methods, therapeutic approaches, and prognostic outcomes associated with acute severe gastrointestinal bleeding in CD. Furthermore, we aimed to propose a management algorithm to assist clinicians in the effective management of this condition.
Exclusive enteral nutrition combined with continuous succus entericus reinfusion for high-output stoma in patients with Crohn's disease: a case report
Diao N, Zheng W, Chen H and Tang J
Strain- and sex-specific differences in intestinal microhemodynamics and gut microbiota composition
Fu S, Xu M, Wang B, Li B, Li Y, Wang Y, Liu X, Ling H, Wang Q, Zhang X, Li A, Zhang X and Liu M
Intestinal microcirculation is a critical interface for nutrient exchange and energy transfer, and is essential for maintaining physiological integrity. Our study aimed to elucidate the relationships among intestinal microhemodynamics, genetic background, sex, and microbial composition.
Advances in the management of alcohol-associated liver disease
Anouti A, Kerr TA, Mitchell MC and Cotter TG
Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) is a significant global health challenge, encompassing a spectrum from steatotic liver disease to cirrhosis and alcohol-associated hepatitis, and contributed to 25% of global cirrhosis deaths in 2019. The identification of both modifiable (e.g. heavy drinking, metabolic syndromes) and non-modifiable risk factors (e.g. genetic predispositions) is crucial for effective disease management. Alcohol use assessment and treatment, by using both behavioral therapy and pharmacotherapeutic modalities, nutrition support, and optimization of liver disease modifiers, form the cornerstone of management. Advances in medical therapies, such as fecal microbiota transplantation and novel agents such as IL-22, are being explored for their therapeutic potential. A unifying theme in ALD care is the need for a personalized approach to management, accounting for the spectrum of the disease and individual patient characteristics, to tailor interventions effectively. Finally, it is essential to address the challenges to effective ALD treatment, including socioeconomic, logistical, and stigma-related barriers, to improve patient outcomes. This review discusses the current knowledge on ALD, including epidemiology, pathophysiology, risk factors, and management strategies, highlighting the critical role of integrated care models.
Phosphorylation of RelA/p65 Ser536 inhibits the progression and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma by mediating cytoplasmic retention of NF-κB p65
Zuo W, Ma H, Bi J, Li T, Mo Y, Yu S, Wang J, Li B, Huang J, Li Y and Li L
Intrahepatic and extrahepatic metastases contribute to the high recurrence rate and mortality of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Constitutive activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) is a crucial feature of HCC. NF-κB p65 (p50-p65) is the most common dimeric form. Ser536 acts as an essential phosphorylation site of RelA/p65. However, the effect of RelA/p65 Ser536 phosphorylation on progression and metastases during intermediate and advanced HCC has not been reported.
Gasdermin E mediates pyroptosis in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma: a double-edged sword
Lu Y, Xu J, Lin H, Zhu M and Li M
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary liver cancer worldwide. It usually develops due to viral hepatitis or liver cirrhosis. The molecular mechanisms involved in HCC pathogenesis are complex and incompletely understood. Gasdermin E () is a tumor suppressor gene and is inhibited in most cancers. Recent studies have reported that, unlike those in most tumors, GSDME is highly expressed in liver cancer, and GSDME expression in HCC is negatively associated with prognosis, suggesting that GSDME may promote HCC. However, antitumor drugs can induce pyroptosis through GSDME, killing HCC cells. Therefore, GSDME may both inhibit and promote HCC development. Because functional studies of GSDME in HCC are limited, the precise molecular mechanisms of GSDME in liver cancer remain unclear. In this article, we have reviewed the role, related mechanisms, and clinical importance of GSDME at the onset and development of HCC to provide a theoretical foundation to improve the clinical diagnosis and treatment of liver cancer.
New perspectives in liver diseases with challenges
Pan CQ and Reau N
Supplementation with probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics in patients with chronic functional constipation: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot clinical trial
Terrén Lora A, Penadés BF, López Oliva S, Arponen S, Okutan G, Sánchez Niño GM and San Mauro Martín I
Functional constipation includes a set of gastrointestinal symptoms unexplainable by an identifiable underlying physical cause or pathology. The prevalence of this condition is high and there is a need to develop strategies to reduce it. Probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics may be an alternative treatment for chronic functional constipation.
The clinical efficacy of "water-jet" hemostasis in gastrointestinal endoscopic submucosal dissection
Chen R, Zhang Q, Hong S, Chen F, Huang X, Bao X, Ni Z and Zhang R
This study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of "water-jet" hemostasis during endoscopic submucosal dissection.
Cooperation of Wnt/β-catenin and Dll1-mediated Notch pathway in Lgr5-positive intestinal stem cells regulates the mucosal injury and repair in DSS-induced colitis mice model
Ou W, Xu W, Wang Y, Hua Z, Ding W, Cui L and Du P
Lgr5-positive cells located in the basal layer of crypts have self-regenerative and proliferative differentiation potentials of intestinal stem cells (ISCs), maintaining a balance of regeneration-repair in mucosal epithelium. However, the mechanisms of mucosal repair that are regulated by ISCs in ulcerative colitis (UC) remain unclear.
New perspectives in hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance after hepatitis C virus eradication
Pan CQ, Park AJ and Park JS
Achieving a sustained virologic response (SVR) through direct-acting antivirals for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection significantly reduces the long-term risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), particularly in patients with advanced fibrosis (F3) or cirrhosis (F4). However, despite this improvement, the risks associated with HCC and the optimal surveillance strategies for patients who have achieved SVR remain topics of debate. This controversy is compounded by challenges in reliably staging liver fibrosis non-invasively, especially at advanced fibrosis (F3), and the unclear cost-effectiveness, modality, frequency, and duration of HCC surveillance in individuals with SVR but without cirrhosis. These factors contribute to significant variations in surveillance guidelines recommended by different professional societies. Therefore, there is a pressing need for an optimal surveillance strategy that is both simplified and cost-effective to facilitate wider adoption by clinicians. This review article evaluates the existing data, addresses ongoing controversies, and aims to provide new perspectives on HCC surveillance strategies for patients who have achieved SVR from HCV.
Postpartum hepatitis flares in mothers with chronic hepatitis B infection
OuYang S, Geng Y, Qiu G, Deng Y, Deng H and Pan CQ
Postpartum elevation of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in mothers with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) presents a significant clinical challenge. However, the existing literature demonstrates inconsistencies regarding its incidence and predictors in mothers infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Recent advancements in antiviral prophylaxis against mother-to-child transmission of HBV and postpartum cessation of antiviral therapy further complicate this issue. Our literature review, spanning PubMed, and two Chinese-language databases (CNKI and Wanfang) from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2023 aimed to consolidate and analyse available data on the frequency and severity of postpartum ALT flares, identify risk factors, and propose a management algorithm. Data from 23 eligible studies involving 8,077 pregnant women revealed an overall incidence of postpartum ALT elevation: 25.7% for mild cases, 4.4% for moderate cases, and 1.7% for severe cases. In the subgroup of mothers who were HBeAg-positive and on antiviral prophylaxis for preventing mother-to-child transmission, postpartum intermediate and severe ALT elevations were reported with pooled rates of 5.9% and 0.8%, respectively. Importantly, none resulted in mortality or necessitated liver transplantation. Identified risk factors for postpartum ALT flares in mothers with CHB included HBV DNA levels, ALT levels during pregnancy, postpartum cessation of antiviral treatment, and HBeAg status. By leveraging this evidence and recent data on predictors of intermediate or severe postpartum ALT flares, we propose a risk-stratified algorithm for managing postpartum ALT elevation and selecting therapy in mothers with CHB, tailoring different approaches for treatment-naive vs treatment-experienced populations. These recommendations aim to provide guidance for clinical decision-making and enhance patient outcomes.
Endoscopic ultrasound in portal hypertension: navigating venous hemodynamics and treatment efficacy
Dragomir I, Pojoga C, Hagiu C, Seicean R, Procopet B and Seicean A
Portal hypertension-related complications increase mortality in patients, irrespective of its etiology. Classically, endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) was used to assess the portal venous system and collaterals, considering size and hemodynamic parameters, which correlate with portal hypertension (PH) and related complications. Furthermore, therapeutic EUS guides treatment interventions, such as embolization of the gastric varices through coil placement and tissue adhesive injection, yielding encouraging clinical results. Recently, the direct measurement of portal pressure, emerging as an alternative to hepatic venous pressure gradient, has shown promise, and further research in this area is anticipated. In this review, we aimed to provide a detailed description of various possibilities for diagnosing vascular anatomy and hemodynamics in PH and actual knowledge on the EUS usefulness for PH vessel-related complications. Also, future promises for this field of endo-hepatology are discussed.
Correction to: Noninvasive tests for liver fibrosis in 2024: are there different scales for different diseases?
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1093/gastro/goae024.].
Gastric residual volume, safety, and effectiveness of drinking 250 mL of glucose solution 2-3 hours before surgery in gastric cancer patients: a multicenter, single-blind, randomized-controlled trial
Yang D, Hou X, Fu H, Song W, Dong W, Wang H, Mao Y, Li M, Chen J and He Y
Carbohydrate drinking 2-3 hours before surgery has been widely adopted in colorectal operations. However, there is little direct evidence regarding its application in gastric cancer surgery. We aimed to evaluate the gastric residual volume, safety, and effectiveness of drinking 250 mL of 5% glucose solution 2-3 hours before elective gastric cancer surgery.
variant predicts disease progression in Chinese patients with Crohn's disease
Zhang Q, Wang W, Xiang B, Lin D, Hu J, Zhao J, Lin J, Liu T, Deng J, Zhang M and Zhi M
The genetic variant of tumor necrosis factor superfamily member 15 () is associated with Crohn's disease (CD) and the development of intestinal fibrosis and stricturing. We aimed to investigate its predictive role in disease progression and the impact of ileal fibrosis-associated protein expression in Chinese patients with CD.