Methionine-choline deficient diet deteriorates DSS-induced murine colitis through disturbance of gut microbes and infiltration of macrophages.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is associated with changed dietary habits and mainly linked with the gut microbiota dysbiosis, necroptosis of epithelial cells, and mucosal ulcerations. Liver dysfunction and abnormal level of liver metabolism indices were identified in UC patients, suggesting a close interaction between gut and liver disorders. Methionine-choline deficient diet (MCD) has been shown to induce persistent alterations of gut microbiota and metabolome during hepatitis. In this study we further explored the disease phenotypes in UC patients and investigated whether MCD functioned as a trigger for UC susceptibility. After assessing 88 serum specimens from UC patients, we found significant liver dysfunction and dyslipidemia including abnormal ALT, AST, TG, TC, LDL-c and HDL-c. Liver dysfunction and dyslipidemia were confirmed in DSS-induced colitis mice. We fed mice with MCD for 14 days to cause mild liver damage, and then treated with DSS for 7 days. We found that MCD intake significantly exacerbated the pathogenesis of mucosal inflammation in DSS-induced acute, progressive, and chronic colitis, referring to promotion of mucosal ulcers, colon shortening, diarrhea, inflammatory immune cell infiltration, cytokines release, and abnormal activation of inflammatory macrophages in colon and liver specimens. Intraperitoneal injection of clodronate liposomes to globally delete macrophages dramatically compromised the pathogenesis of MCD-triggering colitis. In addition, MCD intake markedly changed the production pattern of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in murine stools, colons, and livers. We demonstrated that MCD-induced colitis pathogenesis largely depended on the gut microbes and the disease phenotypes could be transmissible through fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). In conclusion, this study supports the concept that intake of MCD predisposes to experimental colitis and enhances its pathogenesis via modulating gut microbes and macrophages in mice.

Diagnostic accuracy of magnetically guided capsule endoscopy with a detachable string for detecting oesophagogastric varices in adults with cirrhosis: prospective multicentre study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and safety of using magnetically guided capsule endoscopy with a detachable string (ds-MCE) for detecting and grading oesophagogastric varices in adults with cirrhosis. DESIGN: Prospective multicentre diagnostic accuracy study. SETTING: 14 medical centres in China. PARTICIPANTS: 607 adults (>18 years) with cirrhosis recruited between 7 January 2021 and 25 August 2022. Participants underwent ds-MCE (index test), followed by oesophagogastroduodenoscopy (OGD, reference test) within 48 hours. The participants were divided into development and validation cohorts in a ratio of 2:1. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcomes were the sensitivity and specificity of ds-MCE in detecting oesophagogastric varices compared with OGD. Secondary outcomes included the sensitivity and specificity of ds-MCE for detecting high risk oesophageal varices and the diagnostic accuracy of ds-MCE for detecting high risk oesophagogastric varices, oesophageal varices, and gastric varices. RESULTS: ds-MCE and OGD examinations were completed in 582 (95.9%) of the 607 participants. Using OGD as the reference standard, ds-MCE had a sensitivity of 97.5% (95% confidence interval 95.5% to 98.7%) and specificity of 97.8% (94.4% to 99.1%) for detecting oesophagogastric varices (both P<0.001 compared with a prespecified 85% threshold). When using the optimal 18% threshold for luminal circumference of the oesophagus derived from the development cohort (n=393), the sensitivity and specificity of ds-MCE for detecting high risk oesophageal varices in the validation cohort (n=189) were 95.8% (89.7% to 98.4%) and 94.7% (88.2% to 97.7%), respectively. The diagnostic accuracy of ds-MCE for detecting high risk oesophagogastric varices, oesophageal varices, and gastric varices was 96.3% (92.6% to 98.2%), 96.9% (95.2% to 98.0%), and 96.7% (95.0% to 97.9%), respectively. Two serious adverse events occurred with OGD but none with ds-MCE. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study suggest that ds-MCE is a highly accurate and safe diagnostic tool for detecting and grading oesophagogastric varices and is a promising alternative to OGD for screening and surveillance of oesophagogastric varices in patients with cirrhosis. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03748563.

Gut microbiota controls the development of chronic pancreatitis: A critical role of short-chain fatty acids-producing Gram-positive bacteria.

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a progressive and irreversible fibroinflammatory disorder, accompanied by pancreatic exocrine insufficiency and dysregulated gut microbiota. Recently, accumulating evidence has supported a correlation between gut dysbiosis and CP development. However, whether gut microbiota dysbiosis contributes to CP pathogenesis remains unclear. Herein, an experimental CP was induced by repeated high-dose caerulein injections. The broad-spectrum antibiotics (ABX) and ABX targeting Gram-positive (G+) or Gram-negative bacteria (G-) were applied to explore the specific roles of these bacteria. Gut dysbiosis was observed in both mice and in CP patients, which was accompanied by a sharply reduced abundance for short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)-producers, especially G+ bacteria. Broad-spectrum ABX exacerbated the severity of CP, as evidenced by aggravated pancreatic fibrosis and gut dysbiosis, especially the depletion of SCFAs-producing G+ bacteria. Additionally, depletion of SCFAs-producing G+ bacteria rather than G- bacteria intensified CP progression independent of TLR4, which was attenuated by supplementation with exogenous SCFAs. Finally, SCFAs modulated pancreatic fibrosis through inhibition of macrophage infiltration and M2 phenotype switching. The study supports a critical role for SCFAs-producing G+ bacteria in CP. Therefore, modulation of dietary-derived SCFAs or G+ SCFAs-producing bacteria may be considered a novel interventive approach for the management of CP.

Gut microbiota and irritable bowel syndrome.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder that poses a significant health concern. Although its etiology remains unknown, there is growing evidence that gut dysbiosis is involved in the development and exacerbation of IBS. Previous studies have reported altered microbial diversity, abundance, and composition in IBS patients when compared to controls. However, whether dysbiosis or aberrant changes in the intestinal microbiota can be used as a hallmark of IBS remains inconclusive. We reviewed the literatures on changes in and roles of intestinal microbiota in relation to IBS and discussed various gut microbiota manipulation strategies. Gut microbiota may affect IBS development by regulating the mucosal immune system, brain-gut-microbiome interaction, and intestinal barrier function. The advent of high-throughput multi-omics provides important insights into the pathogenesis of IBS and promotes the development of individualized treatment for IBS. Despite advances in currently available microbiota-directed therapies, large-scale, well-organized, and long-term randomized controlled trials are highly warranted to assess their clinical effects. Overall, gut microbiota alterations play a critical role in the pathophysiology of IBS, and modulation of microbiota has a significant therapeutic potential that requires to be further verified.

A combined radiomic model distinguishing GISTs from leiomyomas and schwannomas in the stomach based on endoscopic ultrasonography images.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is recommended as the best tool for evaluating gastric subepithelial lesions (SELs); nonetheless, it has difficulty distinguishing gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) from leiomyomas and schwannomas. GISTs have malignant potential, whereas leiomyomas and schwannomas are considered benign. PURPOSE: This study aimed to establish a combined radiomic model based on EUS images for distinguishing GISTs from leiomyomas and schwannomas in the stomach. METHODS: EUS images of pathologically confirmed GISTs, leiomyomas, and schwannomas were collected from five centers. Gastric SELs were divided into training and testing datasets based on random split-sample method (7:3). Radiomic features were extracted from the tumor and muscularis propria regions. Principal component analysis, least absolute shrinkage, and selection operator were used for feature selection. Support vector machine was used to construct radiomic models. Two radiomic models were built: the conventional radiomic model included tumor features alone, whereas the combined radiomic model incorporated features from the tumor and muscularis propria regions. RESULTS: A total of 3933 EUS images from 485 cases were included. For the differential diagnosis of GISTs from leiomyomas and schwannomas, the accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve were 74.5%, 72.2%, 78.7%, and 0.754, respectively, for the EUS experts; 76.8%, 74.4%, 81.0%, and 0.830, respectively, for the conventional radiomic model; and 90.9%, 91.0%, 90.6%, and 0.953, respectively, for the combined radiomic model. For gastric SELs <20 mm, the accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the combined radiomic model were 91.4%, 91.6%, 91.1%, and 0.960, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We developed and validated a combined radiomic model to distinguish gastric GISTs from leiomyomas and schwannomas. The combined radiomic model showed better diagnostic performance than the conventional radiomic model and could assist EUS experts in non-invasively diagnosing gastric SELs, particularly gastric SELs <20 mm.

Clinical guideline on magnetically controlled capsule gastroscopy (2021 edition).

With the development and generalization of endoscopic technology and screening, clinical application of magnetically controlled capsule gastroscopy (MCCG) has been increasing. In recent years, various types of MCCG are used globally. Therefore, establishing relevant guidelines on MCCG is of great significance. The current guidelines containing 23 statements were established based on clinical evidence and expert opinions, mainly focus on aspects including definition and diagnostic accuracy, application population, technical optimization, inspection process, and quality control of MCCG. The level of evidence and strength of recommendations were evaluated. The guidelines are expected to guide the standardized application and scientific innovation of MCCG for the reference of clinicians.

Autoimmune pancreatitis: A bibliometric analysis from 2002 to 2022.

Background/Objectives: Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is a distinct form of pancreatic inflammatory disease that responds well to glucocorticoid therapy. Knowledge on AIP has rapidly evolved over the past two decades. Based on bibliometric analysis, this study aimed to assess the research status of AIP over the past two decades and determine the research focus and emerging topics. Methods: AIP-related publications published between January 1, 2002, and June 6, 2022, were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. Bibliometric data were analyzed using HisCite, VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and bibliometrix package. Annual output, leading countries/regions, active institutions and authors, core journals and references, and keywords of AIP were evaluated. Results: Overall, 1,772 publications were retrieved from 501 journals by 6,767 authors from 63 countries/regions. Japan published articles on AIP the most (n=728, 41.1%), followed by the United States (n=336, 19%), Germany (n=147, 8.3%), China (n=127, 7%), and Italy (n=107, 6%). The top three most prolific authors were Terumi Kamisawa from Tokyo Metropolitan Komagome Hospital (n=117), Kazuichi Okazaki from Kansai Medical University (n=103), and Shigeyuki Kawa from Matsumoto Dental University (n=94). Pancreas was the most productive journal regarding AIP research (n=95), followed by the Journal of Gastroenterology (n=67), Internal Medicine (n=66), Pancreatology (n=63), and World Journal of Gastroenterology (n=62). "Diagnosis" was the most mentioned keyword. "Risk," "malignancy," "outcome," "22-gauge needle," and "fine-needle aspiration" were recognized as emerging topics. Conclusion: Japan was the leading country in AIP research. Research papers were mainly published in specialized journals. Diagnosis was the research focus. Long-term outcomes and pancreatic tissue acquisition were recognized as research frontiers for AIP.

Cross-sectional evaluation of gut microbial-host cometabolites in patients with chronic pancreatitis.

OBJECTIVES: Gut bacteria facilitate nutrient metabolism and generate small molecules that form part of the broader "metabolome". It is unclear whether these metabolites are disturbed in chronic pancreatitis (CP). This study aimed to evaluate the gut microbial-host cometabolites and their relationship in patients with CP. METHODS: Fecal samples were collected from 40 patients with CP and 38 healthy family members. Each sample was examined with 16S rRNA gene profiling and gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry to estimate the relative abundances of specific bacterial taxa between the two groups and to profile any changes in the metabolome, respectively. Correlation analysis was used to evaluate the differences in metabolites and gut microbiota between the two groups. RESULTS: The abundance of Actinobacteria was lower at the phylum level, and that of Bifidobacterium was lower at the genus level in the CP group. Eighteen metabolites had significantly different abundances and the concentrations of 13 metabolites were significantly different between the two groups. Oxoadipic acid and citric acid levels were positively correlated with Bifidobacterium abundance (r = 0.306 and 0.330, respectively, both P < 0.05), while the 3-methylindole concentration was negatively correlated with Bifidobacterium abundance (r = -0.252, P = 0.026) in CP. CONCLUSIONS: Gut microbiome and host microbiome metabolic products might be altered in patients with CP. Evaluating gastrointestinal metabolite levels may further enhance our understanding of the pathogenesis and/or progression of CP.

Convolutional neural network-based segmentation network applied to image recognition of angiodysplasias lesion under capsule endoscopy.

BACKGROUND: Small intestinal vascular malformations (angiodysplasias) are common causes of small intestinal bleeding. While capsule endoscopy has become the primary diagnostic method for angiodysplasia, manual reading of the entire gastrointestinal tract is time-consuming and requires a heavy workload, which affects the accuracy of diagnosis. AIM: To evaluate whether artificial intelligence can assist the diagnosis and increase the detection rate of angiodysplasias in the small intestine, achieve automatic disease detection, and shorten the capsule endoscopy (CE) reading time. METHODS: A convolutional neural network semantic segmentation model with a feature fusion method, which automatically recognizes the category of vascular dysplasia under CE and draws the lesion contour, thus improving the efficiency and accuracy of identifying small intestinal vascular malformation lesions, was proposed. Resnet-50 was used as the skeleton network to design the fusion mechanism, fuse the shallow and depth features, and classify the images at the pixel level to achieve the segmentation and recognition of vascular dysplasia. The training set and test set were constructed and compared with PSPNet, Deeplab3+, and UperNet. RESULTS: The test set constructed in the study achieved satisfactory results, where pixel accuracy was 99%, mean intersection over union was 0.69, negative predictive value was 98.74%, and positive predictive value was 94.27%. The model parameter was 46.38 M, the float calculation was 467.2 G, and the time length to segment and recognize a picture was 0.6 s. CONCLUSION: Constructing a segmentation network based on deep learning to segment and recognize angiodysplasias lesions is an effective and feasible method for diagnosing angiodysplasias lesions.

Pseudoileus caused by primary visceral myopathy in a Han Chinese patient with a rare MYH11 mutation: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO) is a syndrome of intestinal motor dysfunction caused by intestinal nerve, muscle, and/or Cajal stromal cell lesions. CIPO is a serious category of gastrointestinal dynamic dysfunction, which can eventually lead to the death of patients with intestinal failure. Due to considerable phenotypic heterogeneity, the estimated incidence of CIPO is 1/476190 and 1/416666 in men and women, respectively. According to the etiology, CIPO can be divided into idiopathic and secondary, of which the latter is the most common, often secondary to tumor, virus infection, connective tissue disease, neurological diseases, and endocrine diseases. Idiopathic CIPO in the intestinal tract is divided into visceral myopathy, neuropathy, and stromal cell lesions according to the location. Surgery is usually not recommended for CIPO, because it often does not benefit patients with CIPO, and postoperative intestinal obstruction is likely to occur, which may even worsen the condition. CASE SUMMARY: Here, we describe the case of a 43-year-old male Han Chinese patient with a 15-year history of recurrent abdominal distention with no clear cause. The results of physical, biochemical, and other relevant examinations showed no clear abnormalities. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) indicated a large duodenum, clear expansion of the intestinal lumen, and CIPO. Whole exome sequencing (WES) of the patient and his mother confirmed the diagnosis of primary familial visceral myopathy type 2 chronic pseudoileus with a rare heterozygous gene mutation in MYH11. This is the second reported case of CIPO with a heterozygous MYH11 [NM_001040113.1: c.5819delC (p.Pro1940Hisfs*91)] mutation. CONCLUSION: This case report indicates that physicians can perform routine clinical examinations, CT, and WES to achieve a diagnosis and treatment of CIPO in early disease stages.

Novel nomogram model for predicting 6-week mortality in liver cirrhosis patients with acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate a nomogram for predicting 6-week mortality in patients with liver cirrhosis and acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) and to compare it with other commonly used scoring systems. METHODS: This retrospective study included cirrhotic patients with acute UGIB hospitalized between January 2013 and December 2020. Random sampling was used to divide patients into the training (n = 676) and validation cohorts (n = 291) at a 7:3 ratio. Multivariate logistic stepwise regression was used to establish a model for predicting 6-week mortality. Multiple indicators were used to validate the nomogram, including the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA). RESULTS: In the training cohort, total bilirubin (TBIL) (odds ratio [OR] 1.75, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.22-2.50), hemoglobin (Hb) (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.95-0.99), C-reactive protein (OR 2.79, 95% CI 1.30-6.07), prothrombin time (OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.05-1.30), and hepatic encephalopathy (stage I-II: OR 4.15, 95% CI 1.73-9.61; stage III-IV: OR 19.6, 95% CI 5.33-76.8) were identified as independent factors of 6-week mortality. The AUROC of the UGIB-LC score was 0.873 (95% CI 0.820-0.927), which was higher than that of the Child-Pugh score (0.781), model for end-stage liver disease score (0.766), and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (0.716). CONCLUSION: The UGIB-LC score is useful for predicting 6-week mortality in patients with liver cirrhosis and acute UGIB, which is superior to the other three scoring systems.

Changhai advanced endoscopy courses for ERCP (CHANCE) training program: A short-term training model in China.

BACKGROUND: There is huge shortage of ERCP practitioners (ERCPists) in China, and ERCP training is urgently needed. ChangHai Advanced eNdoscopy Courses for ERCP (CHANCE) is a 4-month program for ERCP training since 2004. This study evaluated the efficiency of this short-term training model, and reported on the ERCP careers of the trainees following completion of the CHANCE program. METHODS: This study was a retrospective investigation included all the CHANCE trainees from Jan 2004 to Dec 2014. Questionnaires were sent to all trainees. The career competence percentage, ERCP careers and predictive factors of career competence were investigated and analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 413 trainees participated in the CHANCE program over 11 years covered by the survey and 258 questionnaires were valid for the study. The mean (SD) age of the trainees was 35.36 (4.17), and the male to female ratio was 4.4:1. The average follow-up time was 7.77 (3.44) years. A total of 173 (67.1%) trainees had achieved career competence. In terms of ERCP careers, the mean annual ERCP volume was 120.60 (96.67), with a complication percentage of 8.2%. Hospital qualification, compliance with follow-up learning guidance, participating academic activity, and practitioner type were identified predictive factors of career competence. CONCLUSIONS: As a short-term training program, the CHANCE achieved an acceptable career competence percentage, providing endoscopists more chances to learn ERCP and giving them appropriate training guidance for career competence. This training mode is worth promoting in developing countries with shortage of ERCPists.

Efficacy and safety of vibrating capsule for functional constipation (VICONS): A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial.

Background: Functional constipation (FC) is an intractable disease that carries large financial burden as well as emotional and physical stress. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of the newly developed smartphone-controlled vibrating capsule (VC) in patients with FC. Methods: From December 2018 to February 2020, we did a multicenter, blinded, placebo-controlled randomised trial in six top general hospitals in China focusing on patients aged 18 to 80 with FC. Patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive VCs or placebo treatment for six weeks (two capsules per week) after a two-week baseline period. The primary outcome was the responder rate, defined as the proportion of patients with an increase of at least one complete spontaneous bowel movement (CSBM) per week during treatment compared to baseline in the full analysis set. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT04671264, and is completed. Findings: 107 patients aged from 18 to 74 were randomly assigned to receive VC (n = 53) or placebo treatment (n = 54). The responder rate in the VC group was significantly higher than that in the placebo group (64·2% vs. 35·8%; difference, 27·7% [95% CI, 10·4-45·1]; P = 0·005). More patients in the VC group reported weekly CSBMs ≥ 1 for at least four weeks during treatment (difference, 22·7% [95% CI, 8-46]; P = 0·022) and follow-up period (difference, 17.3% [95% CI, 0-35]; P = 0·048). The mean Patient Assessment of Constipation-Symptoms score and Patient Assessment of Constipation-Quality of Life score differed significantly from the baseline in both groups (all P < 0·0001). The most common adverse event associated with VC was abdominal discomfort (3·7%). Interpretation: VCs can promote defecation, as well as ameliorating symptoms and improving the quality of life in patients with FC with sustained efficacy. VC appears to be a potential alternative physical treatment for FC with the exact mechanism and parameters warranting further investigation. Funding: The study was supported by "One hundred leading scientists for 21st century" of Health Department of Shanghai Municipal Government (to ZL, No.2017BR005).

Predictive factors for extraction of common bile duct stones during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in Billroth II anatomy patients.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for extraction of common bile duct (CBD) stones in Billroth II anatomy patients is still a technical challenge and factors affecting stone extraction have not yet been clarified. This study aimed to analyze our experience and evaluate potential factors affecting CBD stone extraction. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of CBD stones patients with a history of Billroth II gastrectomy, who underwent therapeutic ERCP for stone extraction at our center from August 1999 to December 2017, was conducted. The outcomes of ERCP and potential factors affecting stone extraction were examined. RESULTS: A total of 227 patients were enrolled, and 176 patients (77.5%) achieved technical success. The success rate of duodenal ampullary access and selective biliary cannulation was 84.1% (191/227) and 92.1% (176/191), respectively. The mean CBD diameter was 15 mm (range 6-35 mm), and the largest stone size was 13 mm (range 4-36 mm). CBD stones were ultimately removed in 137 patients (77.8%), and 105 patients (59.7%) for the first session. Mechanical lithotripsy was used in 17 patients (9.7%). The overall ERCP-related complication rate was 6.3% (11/176), including bleeding in 3 patients (1.7%) and mild pancreatitis in 6 patients (3.4%). The multivariate analysis indicated that CBD stone number ≥ 2 (OR 2.171; 95% CI 1.095-4.306; p = 0.027), and the largest CBD stone size ≥ 12 mm (OR 3.646; 95% CI 1.833-7.251; p < 0.001) were patient-related risk factors for failed stone removal; while the use of endoscopic papillary (large) balloon dilation (EPBD/EPLBD) (OR 0.291; 95% CI 0.147-0.576; p < 0.001) was a procedure-related protective factor for successful stone extraction. CONCLUSIONS: ERCP is safe and effective for extraction of CBD stones in Billroth II anatomy patients. The number and the largest size of CBD stones, and the use of EPBD/EPLBD are predictive factors for CBD stone extraction.

Salivary Pepsin as an Intrinsic Marker for Diagnosis of Sub-types of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease-related Disorders.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To determine the value of salivary pepsin in discriminating sub-types of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and GERD-related disorders. METHODS: Overall, 322 patients with different sub-types of GERD and 45 healthy controls (HC) were studied. All patients took Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Questionnaire (GerdQ) and underwent endoscopy and 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring and manometry. Salivary pepsin concentration (SPC) was detected by using colloidal gold double-antibody immunological sandwich assay. Oral esomeprazole treatment was administrated in the patients with non-erosive reflux disease (NERD) and extra-esophageal symptoms (EES). RESULTS: Compared to HC, patients with erosive esophagitis, NERD, EES, EES plus typical GERD symptoms, or Barrett's esophagus had a higher prevalence of saliva and SPC (all P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the positive rate for pepsin in patients with functional heartburn or GERD with anxiety and depression, compared to HC. After esomeprazole treatment, the positive rate and SPC were significantly reduced in NERD (both P < 0.001) and in EES ( P = 0.001 and P = 0.002, respectively). Of the 64 NERD patients, 71.9% (n = 46) were positive for salivary pepsin, which was significantly higher than the rate (43.8%, n = 28) of pathological acid reflux as detected by 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring (P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Salivary pepsin has an important significance for the diagnosis of GERD and GERD-related disorders. Salivary pepsin and 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring may complement with each other to improve the diagnostic efficiency.

Altered diversity and composition of gut microbiota in Chinese patients with chronic pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Gut microbiota alterations in chronic pancreatitis (CP) are seldomly described systematically. It is unknown whether pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI) and different etiologies in patients with CP are associated with gut microbiota dysbiosis. METHODS: The fecal microbiota of 69 healthy controls (HCs) and 71 patients with CP were compared to investigate gut microbiome alterations in CP and the relationship among gut microbiome dysbiosis, PEI and different etiologies. Fecal microbiomes were analyzed through 16S ribosomal RNA gene profiling, based on next-generation sequencing. Pancreatic exocrine function was evaluated by determining fecal elastase 1 activity. RESULTS: Patients with CP showed gut microbiota dysbiosis with decreased diversity and richness, and taxa-composition changes. On the phylum level, the gut microbiome of the CP group showed lower Firmicutes and Actinobacteria abundances than the HC group and higher Proteobacteria abundances. The abundances of Escherichia-Shigella and other genera were high in gut microbiomes in the CP group, whereas that of Faecalibacterium was low. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways (lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis and bacterial invasion of epithelial cells) were predicted to be enriched in the CP group. Among the top 5 phyla and 8 genera (in terms of abundance), only Fusobacteria and Eubacterium rectale group showed significant differences between CP patients, with or without PEI. Correlation analysis showed that Bifidobacterium and Lachnoclostridium correlated positively with fecal elastase 1 (r = 0.2616 and 0.2486, respectively, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The current findings indicate that patients with CP have gut microbiota dysbiosis that is partly affected by pancreatic exocrine function.

Comparison of smear cytology and liquid-based cytology in EUS-guided FNA of pancreatic lesions: experience from a large tertiary center.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Studies comparing the diagnostic efficacy of liquid-based cytology (LBC) and smear cytology (SC) of pancreatic tissue sampling obtained via EUS-guided FNA (EUS-FNA) are still insufficient, mainly because results were controversial. We compared the diagnostic efficiency of LBC and SC of EUS-FNA of pancreatic lesions in one of the largest tertiary hospitals in China. METHODS: A retrospective database search (January 2015 to January 2019) was performed for patients who underwent EUS-FNA with both LBC and SC. Demographic, cytologic, and endosonographic data were collected from 819 patients; 514 cases met the inclusion criteria. Diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were compared. Rapid on-site evaluation was not available in all cases. RESULTS: Three hundred eighty-five cases (74.90%) had confirmed malignancy, and 40 cases (7.78%) confirmed benign neoplasm. Adequate tissue sampling rates showed no significant difference between the 2 groups. The sensitivity, accuracy, and negative predictive value (NPV) of LBC were higher than those of SC with statistical significance (71.4% vs 55.1%, 76.1% vs 61.6%, and 40.6% vs 27.7%, respectively). The sensitivity, accuracy, and NPV of combined SC and LBC were higher than those of LBC alone with statistical significance (83.9% vs 71.4%, 86.5% vs 76.1%, and 56.8% vs 40.6%, respectively). Multivariate analysis revealed that pancreatic neck/body/tail lesions (P = .003), solid lesions (P < .001), 22-gauge needle size (P < .001), and number of needle passage >3 (P = .041) were associated with higher diagnostic sensitivity in all participants using LBC, whereas number of needle passage >3 (P = .017) was associated with higher diagnostic sensitivity using SC. CONCLUSIONS: LBC was more accurate and sensitive than SC in EUS-FNA of pancreatic lesions with higher NPV when rapid on-site evaluation is unavailable. Pancreatic neck/body/tail lesions, solid lesions, 22-gauge needle, and more than 3 passes were associated with higher sensitivity when using LBC. Performing more than 3 passes is associated with higher sensitivity when using SC.