BOP1 contributes to the activation of autophagy in polycystic ovary syndrome via nucleolar stress response.

Abnormal autophagy is one of the vital features in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unelucidated. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether Block of Proliferation 1 (BOP1) is involved in the onset of autophagy activation of granulosa cells in PCOS. Firstly, we found that BOP1 expression was significantly down-regulated in the ovaries of PCOS mice, which was associated with the development of PCOS. Next, local injection of lentiviral vectors in the ovary for the overexpression of BOP1 significantly alleviated the phenotypes of elevated androgens, disturbed estrous cycle, and abnormal follicular development in PCOS mice. Subsequently, we found that knockdown of BOP1 activated autophagy of granulosa cells in the in vitro experiments, whereas overexpression of BOP1 inhibited autophagy in both in vivo and in vitro models. Mechanistically, BOP1 knockdown triggered the nucleolus stress response, which caused RPL11 to be released from the nucleolus into the nucleoplasm and inhibited the E3 ubiquitination ligase of MDM2, thereby enhancing the stability of p53. Subsequently, P53 inhibited mTOR, thereby activating autophagy in granulosa cells. In addition, the mRNA level of BOP1 was negatively correlated with antral follicle count (AFC), body-mass index (BMI), serum androgen levels, and anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) in patients with PCOS. In summary, our study demonstrates that BOP1 downregulation inhibits mTOR phosphorylation through activation of the p53-dependent nucleolus stress response, which subsequently contributes to aberrant autophagy in granulosa cells, revealing that BOP1 may be a key target for probing the mechanisms of PCOS.

TNFRSF10A downregulation induces retinal pigment epithelium degeneration during the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration and central serous chorioretinopathy.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) are common diseases that can cause vision loss in older and younger populations. These diseases share pathophysiological conditions derived from retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) dysfunction. Tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily 10A (TNFRSF10A)-LOC389641 with the same lead single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (rs13278062) is the only overlapped susceptibility locus found in both AMD and CSC through genome-wide association studies. This lead SNP has been reported to alter the transcriptional activity of TNFRSF10A. This study aimed to elucidate the function of TNFRSF10A in RPE degeneration using human primary RPE cells and Tnfrsf10 knockout (Tnfrsf10-/-) mice. TNFRSF10A was found to be localized in human RPE. In vitro assays revealed that a T allele of rs13278062, the risk allele for AMD and CSC, downregulated TNFRSF10A transcription in RPE, leading to decreased cell viability and increased apoptosis through protein kinase C-α (PKCA) downregulation. Treatment with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, a PKC activator, rescued the cell viability. Morphological RPE abnormality was found in the retina of Tnfrsf10-/- mice. Our data suggest that downregulation of TNFRSF10A expression inactivates PKCA signaling and causes cellular vulnerability of the RPE, which may contribute to the pathogenesis of AMD and CSC.

Early-Stage Protein Adsorption Sequence on Blood-Contacting Surfaces: Answer to Vroman's Question.

Plasma protein adsorption on blood-contacting surfaces is the initiating significant event and modulates the subsequent coagulation response. Despite decades of research in this area, Vroman's questions in 1986 "Who gets there first?" and "When does the next protein arrive?" remain unanswered due to the lack of detection techniques with sufficient temporal resolution. In this work, we develop a droplet microfluidic technology to detect protein adsorption sequences on six typical blood-contacting surfaces in milliseconds. Apolipoproteins (Apo) are found to be the first proteins to adsorb onto the surfaces in a plasma droplet, and the specific type of apolipoprotein depends on the surface. Apo CI is the first protein adsorbed on gold, platinum, graphene, stainless steel, and polyvinyl chloride with the adsorption time varying from 0.01 to 1 s, while Apo CIII preferentially reaches the titanium alloy surface within 1 s. Subsequent to the initial adsorption, Apo AI, AII, and other proteins continue to adsorb until albumin arrives. Thus, the adsorption sequence is revealed, and Vroman's questions are answered. Moreover, this finding demonstrates the influence of the initial protein adsorption on subsequent coagulation at the surface, and it offers new insights into the development of anticoagulant surfaces.

Profilin1 Regulates Trophoblast Invasion and Macrophage Differentiation.

Unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA) has been associated with the dysfunction of trophoblasts and decidual macrophages. Current evidence suggests that profilin1 (PFN1) plays an important role in many biological processes. However, little is known about whether PFN1 is related to URSA. Herein, the location of PFN1 was detected by immunohistochemistry, and the level of PFN1 was detected by quantitative real-time PCR, Western blot analysis, and immunohistochemistry. The proliferation of trophoblasts was detected by CCK8 and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine assays, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling assays were used to detect apoptosis of trophoblasts. The migration and invasion ability of trophoblasts was assessed by using the wound-healing test and transwell test. Polarization of macrophages was detected in macrophages cultured in trophoblast conditioned medium. PFN1 expression was observed in cytotrophoblasts, syncytiotrophoblasts, and extravillous trophoblasts and was decreased in the villous tissue of patients with URSA. The migration and invasion ability and cell viability of trophoblastic cell lines that underwent PFN1 knockdown significantly decreased, and apoptosis increased. Opposite findings were observed after the overexpression of PFN1 in trophoblastic cells. In addition, PFN1 could regulate trophoblast function through phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT signal transduction rather than mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways. Finally, knockdown of PFN1 in trophoblasts promoted tumor necrosis factor-α secretion to induce macrophage polarization to M1 phenotype, mediated by the NF-κB signaling pathway. These findings indicate that PFN1 has a broad therapeutic potential for patients with URSA.

Defence and nutrition synergistically contribute to the distinct tolerance of rice subspecies to the stem borer, Chilo suppressalis.

Damage caused by the rice striped stem borer (SSB), Chilo suppressalis (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), is much more severe on indica/xian rice than on japonica/geng rice (Oryza sativa) which matches pest outbreak data in cropping regions of China. The mechanistic basis of this difference among rice subspecies remains unclear. Using transcriptomic, metabolomic and genetic analyses in combination with insect bioassay experiments, we showed that japonica and indica rice utilise different defence responses to repel SSB, and that SSB exploited plant nutrition deficiencies in different ways in the subspecies. The more resistant japonica rice induced patterns of accumulation of methyl jasmonate (MeJA-part of a defensive pathway) and vitamin B1 (VB1-a nutrition pathway) distinct from indica cultivars. Using gene-edited rice plants and SSB bioassays, we found that MeJA and VB1 jointly affected the performance of SSB by disrupting juvenile hormone levels. In addition, genetic variants of key biosynthesis genes in the MeJA and VB1 pathways (OsJMT and OsTH1, respectively) differed between japonica and indica rice and contributed to performance differences; in indica rice, SSB avoided the MeJA defence pathway and hijacked the VB1 nutrition-related pathway to promote development. The findings highlight important genetic and mechanistic differences between rice subspecies affecting SSB damage which could be exploited in plant breeding for resistance.

Novel miniature transendoscopic telerobotic system for endoscopic submucosal dissection (with videos).

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The lack of tissue traction and instrument dexterity to allow for adequate visualization and effective dissection were the main issues in performing endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). Robot-assisted systems may provide advantages. In this study we developed a novel transendoscopic telerobotic system and evaluated its performance in ESD. METHODS: A miniature dual-arm robotic endoscopic assistant for minimally invasive surgery (DREAMS) was developed. The DREAMS system contained the current smallest robotic ESD instruments and was compatible with the commercially available dual-channel endoscope. After the system was established, a prospective randomized controlled study was conducted to validate the performance of the DREAMS-assisted ESD in terms of efficacy, safety, and workload by comparing it with the conventional technique. RESULTS: Two robotic instruments can achieve safe collaboration and provide sufficient visualization and efficient dissection during ESD. Forty ESDs in the stomach and esophagus of 8 pigs were completed by DREAMS-assisted ESD or conventional ESD. Submucosal dissection time was comparable between the 2 techniques, but DREAMS-assisted ESD demonstrated a significantly lower muscular injury rate (15% vs 50%, P = .018) and workload scores (22.30 vs 32.45, P < .001). In the subgroup analysis of esophageal ESD, DREAMS-assisted ESD showed significantly improved submucosal dissection time (6.45 vs 16.37 minutes, P = .002), muscular injury rate (25% vs 87.5%, P = .041), and workload (21.13 vs 40.63, P = .001). CONCLUSIONS: We developed a novel transendoscopic telerobotic system, named DREAMS. The safety profile and technical feasibility of ESD were significantly improved with the assistance of the DREAMS system, especially in the narrower esophageal lumen.

Disruption of the gastric epithelial barrier in Correa's cascade: Clinical evidence via confocal endomicroscopy.

BACKGROUND: Gastric epithelial barrier disruption constitutes a crucial step in gastric cancer (GC). We investigated these disruptions during the Correa's cascade timeline to correlate epithelial barrier dysfunction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted as a single-center, non-randomized clinical trial in China from May 2019 to October 2022. Patients with chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG), gastric intestinal metaplasia (GIM), low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (LGIN), high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (HGIN), and intramucosal carcinoma underwent probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy (pCLE). The pCLE scoring system was used to assess gastric epithelial barrier disruption semi-quantitatively. RESULTS: We enrolled 95 patients who underwent a pCLE examination. The control group consisted of 15 individuals, and the experimental group included 17 patients with CAG, 27 patients with GIM, 20 patients with LGIN, and 16 patients with early gastric cancer (EGC). Apart from CAG, which showed no significant difference compared to the control group, a significantly higher incidence of gastric epithelial barrier damage was found in the GIM, LGIN, and EGC groups compared to the control group (Kruskal-Wallis H test = 69.295, p < 0.001). There is no difference in LGIN patients between GIM and LGIN areas, and there is no difference between the two groups compared with the EGC group. The intestinal metaplasia area in LGIN patients causes more severe gastric epithelial damage compared to that in non-LGIN patients. Additionally, compared to control group, a significant difference (p < 0.001) was noted between individuals with Helicobacter pylori-positive atrophic gastritis and those with IM, whereas no significant difference (p > 0.05) was observed among individuals with H. pylori-negative atrophic gastritis. CONCLUSIONS: The gastric epithelial barrier remains dysfunctional from the initiation of H. pylori infection to GC progression. Beyond the "point of no return," subsequent carcinogenesis processes may be attributed to other mechanisms.

Individualized small bowel preparation for computed tomography enterography: A prospective randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The study aims to evaluate the feasibility of body mass index (BMI)-based individualized small bowel preparation for computed tomography enterography (CTE). METHODS: In this prospective randomized controlled study, patients undergoing CTE were randomly assigned to the individualized group or standardized group. Those in individualized group were given different volumes of mannitol solution based on BMI (1000 mL for patients with BMI < 18.5 kg/m2, 1500 mL for patients with 18.5 kg/m2 ≤ BMI < 25 kg/m2 and 2000 mL for patients with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) while patients in the standardized group were all asked to consume 1500-mL mannitol solution. CTE images were reviewed by two experienced radiologists blindly. Each segment of the small bowel was assessed for small bowel image quality and disease detection rates. Patients were invited to record a diary regarding adverse events and acceptance. RESULTS: A total of 203 patients were enrolled and randomly divided into two groups. For patients with BMI < 18.5 kg/m2, 1000-mL mannitol solution permitted a significantly lower rate of flatulence (P = 0.045) and defecating frequency (P = 0.011) as well as higher acceptance score (P = 0.015), but did not affect bowel image quality and diseases detection compared with conventional dosage. For patients with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2, 2000-mL mannitol solution provided better overall image quality (P = 0.033) but comparable rates of adverse events and patients' acceptance compared with conventional dosage. CONCLUSIONS: Individualized bowel preparation could achieve both satisfactory image quality and patients' acceptance thus might be an acceptable alternative in CTE.

Efficacy and Safety of Cold Snare Polypectomy versus Cold Endoscopic Mucosal Resection for Resecting 3-10 mm Colorectal Polyps: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

INTRODUCTION: The safety and efficacy of cold snare polypectomy (CSP) compared to those of cold endoscopic mucosal resection (CEMR) have been reported. This meta-analysis compared the efficacy and safety of CEMR and CSP. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases were systematically searched to identify randomized controlled trials comparing the efficacy and safety of CEMR and CSP in removing 3-10 mm polyps. The outcomes assessed included complete resection rate, intraoperative bleeding rate, delayed bleeding rate, perforation, and polyp removal time. The results are reported as risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) derived from a Mantel-Haenszel random-effects model. RESULTS: Seven studies comprising 1,911 polyps were included in the analysis. The complete resection rate of CEMR was comparable to that of CSP (RR: 1.01, 95% CI: 0.99-1.04, p = 0.32). Comparable results were also demonstrated for intraoperative bleeding rate (polyp-based analysis: RR: 1.22, 95% CI: 0.33-4.43, p = 0.77), delayed bleeding rate (polyp-based analysis: RR: 1.34, 95% CI: 0.44-4.15, p = 0.61), and polyp removal time (mean difference: 28.31 s, 95% CI: -21.40-78.02, p = 0.26). No studies reported cases of perforation. CONCLUSION: CEMR has comparable efficacy and safety to CSP in removing 3-10 mm polyps. Further randomized controlled trials with long-term follow-up are warranted to compare and validate efficacy.

Analysis of the Nursing Effect of Hemiplegic Limb Rehabilitation Training in the Care of Stroke Patients.

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the impact of hemiplegic limb rehabilitation training on the nursing care of individuals who have experienced a stroke. Methods: Seventy-six stroke patients from Zhangjiagang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine participated in a study comparing the effects of different nursing interventions. The patients were divided into 2 groups: a control that received standard nursing care and an observation group that received rehabilitation training in addition to standard care. The researchers analyzed the effects on limb movement, daily activities, muscle recovery, and nursing satisfaction between the 2 groups. Results: The nursing intervention in the observation group showed a significantly higher effectiveness rate of 94.74% compared to the control group's rate of 55.26% (P < .05). Prior to the intervention, there was no notable difference in limb movement scores between the 2 groups (P > .05). Similarly, there was no significant difference in Barthel Index scores between the 2 groups before the intervention (P > .05). However, after the intervention, the Bathel Index score in the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P < .05). Conclusion: Hemiplegic limb rehabilitation training nursing care positively impacts stroke patients, improving physical mobility, muscle strength, and overall quality of life. This method should be prioritized and implemented in clinical practice.

Functional characterization of 105 factor H variants associated with aHUS: lessons for variant classification.

Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is a life-threatening thrombotic microangiopathy that can progress, when untreated, to end-stage renal disease. Most frequently, aHUS is caused by complement dysregulation due to pathogenic variants in genes that encode complement components and regulators. Among these genes, the factor H (FH) gene, CFH, presents with the highest frequency (15% to 20%) of variants and is associated with the poorest prognosis. Correct classification of CFH variants as pathogenic or benign is essential to clinical care but remains challenging owing to the dearth of functional studies. As a result, significant numbers of variants are reported as variants of uncertain significance. To address this knowledge gap, we expressed and functionally characterized 105 aHUS-associated FH variants. All FH variants were categorized as pathogenic or benign and, for each, we fully documented the nature of the pathogenicity. Twenty-six previously characterized FH variants were used as controls to validate and confirm the robustness of the functional assays used. Of the remaining 79 uncharacterized variants, only 29 (36.7%) alter FH expression or function in vitro and, therefore, are proposed to be pathogenic. We show that rarity in control databases is not informative for variant classification, and we identify important limitations in applying prediction algorithms to FH variants. Based on structural and functional data, we suggest ways to circumvent these difficulties and, thereby, improve variant classification. Our work highlights the need for functional assays to interpret FH variants accurately if clinical care of patients with aHUS is to be individualized and optimized.

Phase 1 study to determine the safety and dosing of autologous PBMCs modified to present HPV16 antigens (SQZ-PBMC-HPV) in HLA-A*02+ patients with HPV16+ solid tumors.

We conducted a dose escalation Phase 1 study of autologous PBMCs loaded by microfluidic squeezing (Cell Squeeze® technology) with HPV16 E6 and E7 antigens (SQZ-PBMC-HPV), in HLA-A*02+ patients with advanced/metastatic HPV16+ cancers. Preclinical studies in murine models had shown such cells resulted in stimulation and proliferation of antigen specific CD8+ cells, and demonstrated antitumor activity. Administration of SQZ-PBMC-HPV was every 3 weeks. Enrollment followed a modified 3+3 design with primary objectives to define safety, tolerability, and the recommended Phase 2 dose. Secondary and exploratory objectives were antitumor activity, manufacturing feasibility, and pharmacodynamic evaluation of immune responses. Eighteen patients were enrolled at doses ranging from 0.5 × 106 to 5.0 × 106 live cells/kg. Manufacture proved feasible and required < 24 h within the overall vein-to-vein time of 1 - 2 weeks; at the highest dose, a median of 4 doses were administered. No DLTs were observed. Most related TEAEs were Grade 1 - 2, and one Grade 2 cytokine release syndrome SAE was reported. Tumor biopsies in three patients showed 2 to 8-fold increases in CD8+ tissue infiltrating lymphocytes, including a case that exhibited increased MHC-I+ and PD-L1+ cell densities and reduced numbers of HPV+ cells. Clinical benefit was documented for the latter case. SQZ-PBMC-HPV was well tolerated; 5.0 × 106 live cells/kg with double priming was chosen as the recommended Phase 2 dose. Multiple participants exhibited pharmacodynamic changes consistent with immune responses supporting the proposed mechanism of action for SQZ-PBMC-HPV, including patients previously refractory to checkpoint inhibitors.

A novel circRNA, hsa_circ_0069382, regulates gastric cancer progression.

Aberrant expression of circRNAs is closely associated with the progression of gastric cancer; however, the specific mechanisms involved remain unclear. Our aim was to identify new gastric cancer biomarkers and explore the molecular mechanisms of gastric cancer progression. Therefore, we analyzed miRNA and circRNA microarrays of paired early-stage gastric cancer samples. Our study identified a new circRNA called hsa_circ_0069382, that had not been reported before and was expressed at low levels in gastric cancer tissues. Our study also included bioinformatics analyses which determined that the high expression of hsa_circ_0069382 regulated the BTG anti-proliferation factor 2 (BTG2)/ focal adhesion kinase (FAK) axis in gastric cancer lines by sponging for miR-15a-5p. Therefore, proliferation, invasion, and migration of gastric cancer is impacted. miR-15a-5p overexpression partially restored the effects of hsa_circ_0069382. This study provides potential new therapeutic options and a future direction to explore for gastric cancer treatment, and biomarkers.

Pterostilbene ameliorates oxidative damage and ferroptosis in human ovarian granulosa cells by regulating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.

The survival of ovarian granulosa cells is of great significance to the physiological maintenance of the ovary. Oxidative damage to the ovarian granulosa cells can lead to various diseases related to ovarian dysfunction. Pterostilbene exerts many pharmacological effects, such as anti-inflammatory and cardiovascular protective effects. Moreover, pterostilbene was shown to have antioxidant properties. This study aimed to investigate the effect and underlying mechanism of pterostilbene on oxidative damage in ovarian granulosa cells. Ovarian granulosa cell (OGC) lines COV434 and KGN were exposed to H2O2 to establish an oxidative damage model. After treatment with different concentrations of H2O2 or pterostilbene, the cell viability, mitochondrial membrane potential, oxidative stress, and iron levels were detected, and the expression of ferroptosis-related and Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway-related proteins were evaluated. Pterostilbene treatment could effectively improve cell viability, reduce oxidative stress, and inhibit ferroptosis stimulated by H2O2. More importantly, pterostilbene could up-regulate Nrf2 transcription by stimulating histone acetylation, and inhibition of Nrf2 signaling could reverse the therapeutic effect of pterostilbene. In conclusion, this research shows that pterostilbene protects human OGCs from oxidative stress and ferroptosis through the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.

Preoperative sarcopenia combined with prognostic nutritional index predicts long-term prognosis of radical gastrectomy with advanced gastric cancer: a comprehensive analysis of two-center study.

PURPOSE: This study aims to investigate the predictive value of the combined index smni(skeletal muscle index (SMI)-prognostic nutrition index(PNI)) for the postoperative survival of patients with advanced gastric cancer(AGC). METHODS: 650 patients with AGC from two centers (290 cases from the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian University and 360 points from the Fujian Medical University Union Hospital) were selected as the study subjects based on unified screening criteria. Clinical data, preoperative abdominal CT images, results of hematology-related examinations, tumor-related characteristics, and surgical and follow-up data of the patients were collected and organized. The L3 vertebral level muscle area was measured using computer-assisted measurement techniques, and the skeletal muscle index(SMI) was calculated based on this measurement. The prognostic nutrition index (PNI) was calculated based on serum albumin and lymphocyte count indicators. The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis of data from the First Affiliated Hospital was used to determine that SMI and PNI are significantly correlated with the postoperative survival rate of patients with advanced gastric cancer. Based on this, a novel combined index smni was fitted and stratified for risk. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to determine that the index smni is an independent prognostic risk factor for patients with AGC after surgery. The ROC curve was used to describe the predictive ability of the new combined index and its importance and predictive power in predicting postoperative survival of patients with AGC, which was verified in the data of Fujian Medical University Union Hospital. RESULT: The Kaplan-Meier curve analysis of the combined indicator smni Is clearly associated with long-term survival(3-year OS (P < 0.001) and DSS (P < 0.001)), univariate analysis and multivariate analysis showed that smni was an independent prognostic risk factor, The ROC curve for the first center 3-year OS(AUC = 0.678), DSS(AUC = 0.662) show good predictive ability and were validated in the second center. CONCLUSION: The combined index smni has a good predictive ability for the postoperative survival rate of patients with AGC and is expected to provide a new reference basis and more accurate and scientific guidance for the postoperative management and treatment of patients with AGC.

Endoscopic construction of an antireflux mucosal barrier for the treatment of GERD: a pilot study (with video).

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Based on the porcine natural antireflux mechanism, we developed a novel endoscopic procedure to build an antireflux mucosal flap to block acid reflux and treat GERD. METHODS: The antireflux mucosal valvuloplasty (ARMV) procedure is performed by releasing and reconstructing three-fourths of the circumference of cardiac mucosa at the lesser curvature side into a double-layer mucosal flap. The mucosal flap works together with cardiac scarring to block reflux. We retrospectively reviewed 30 patients who underwent ARMV from 2019 to 2021. Subjective and objective data evaluating GERD were collected before and after ARMV. RESULTS: All 30 ARMV procedures were performed successfully, with a mean operation time of 72.6 ± 20.3 minutes. One patient had postoperative bleeding that required endoscopic hemostasis. The mean follow-up time was 28.9 ± 13.9 months. Twenty-five of 30 patients (83.3%) and 23 of 26 patients (88.5%) reported discontinuation or reduction in proton pump inhibitor therapy 3 months and 1 year after ARMV, respectively. GERD questionnaire and GERD Health-Related Quality of Life questionnaire scores improved significantly from 14.0 ± 2.6 and 48.7 ± 15.0, respectively, before ARMV to 7.7 ± 2.5 and 10.2 ± 5.9, respectively, 12 months after ARMV (P < .0001 in both comparisons). Eleven patients received 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring before and after ARMV. The mean acid exposure time and DeMeester score dropped from 56.9% ± 23.7% and 167.1 ± 80.1, respectively, before ARMV to 5.5% ± 3.0% and 18.6 ± 11.9, respectively, after ARMV (P < .0001 in both comparisons). CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study showed that ARMV is a safe, feasible, and effective procedure for GERD patients. Further prospective and comparative trials are needed to confirm its role among endoscopic antireflux therapies.

Coexistence of early gastric cancer and benign submucosal lesions mimic invasive cancer: a retrospective multicenter experience.

OBJECTIVE: To present a study to identify the characteristics of coexisting early gastric cancer (EGC) and benign submucosal lesions, with the aim of reducing the adverse consequences of overdiagnosis and overtreatment. METHODS: In this retrospective study, we searched the endoscopic databases of three tertiary centers. We screened of patients suspected of early gastric cancer submucosal infiltration by conventional endoscopy and ultimately selected for endoscopic submucosal dissection treatment after endoscopic ultrasonography and magnifying endoscopy with narrow-band imaging examination. Patients with coexisting EGC and benign submucosal lesions in histological sections were included. Clinical data and endoscopic images were reviewed. To evaluate the precision of endoscopists' diagnoses for this type of lesion, eight endoscopists with different experiences were recruited to judge the infiltration depth of these lesions and analyze the accuracy rate. RESULTS: We screened 520 patients and retrospectively identified 18 EGC patients with an invasive cancer-like morphology. The most common lesion site was the cardia (12/18, 66.67%). The coexisting submucosal lesions could be divided into solid (5/18, 27.78%) and cystic (13/18, 72.22%). The most common type of submucosal lesion was gastritis cystica profunda (12/18, 66.67%), whereas leiomyoma was the predominant submucosal solid lesion (3/18, 16.67%). Ten (55.56%) patients < underwent endoscopic ultrasonography; submucosal lesions were definitively diagnosed in 6 patients (60.00%). The accuracy of judgement of the infiltration depth was significantly lower in cases of coexistence of EGC with benign submucosal lesions (EGC-SML) than in EGC (38.50% versus 65.60%, P = 0.0167). The rate of over-diagnosis was significantly higher within the EGC-SML group compared to the EGC group (59.17% versus 10.83%, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: We should be aware of the coexistence of EGC and benign submucosal lesions, the most common of which is early cardiac-differentiated cancer with gastritis cystica profunda.

Efficacy and Safety of Vonoprazan and Amoxicillin Dual Therapy for Helicobacter pylori Eradication: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Vonoprazan, a novel potassium-competitive acid blocker, has a strong acid suppression effect and potent efficacy in acid-associated diseases, including Helicobacter pylori eradication. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the efficacy and safety of vonoprazan/amoxicillin dual therapy for H. pylori eradication. METHODS: We conducted a systematic literature search through PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library up to June 2022, to identify randomized controlled trials and cohort studies comparing vonoprazan/amoxicillin dual therapy and triple therapies for H. pylori eradication. Primary outcomes were cure rates and relative efficacy. Secondary outcomes included adverse events, dropout rate, and subgroup analysis. RESULTS: Five studies with 1,852 patients were included in the analysis. The cure rates of vonoprazan/amoxicillin dual therapy were 85.6% with 95% confidence interval (CI) of 79.7-91.5% and 88.5% (95% CI: 83.2-93.8%) in the intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses. The efficacy of vonoprazan/amoxicillin dual therapy was not inferior to that of triple therapy with pooled risk ratio (RR) of 1.03 (95% CI: 0.97-1.10) and 1.02 (95% CI: 0.98-1.08) in intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses; while it was significantly superior to the omeprazole or lansoprazole-based triple therapy (RR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.05-1.25, p = 0.001). For clarithromycin-resistant strains, vonoprazan/amoxicillin dual therapy showed superiority to vonoprazan-based triple therapy (86.7% vs. 71.4%, RR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.03-1.39, p = 0.02); however, vonoprazan/amoxicillin dual therapy was significant inferior to vonoprazan-based triple therapy for clarithromycin-sensitive strains (83.0% vs. 92.8%, RR = 0.90, 95% CI: 0.85-0.95, p = 0.0002). The adverse effects of vonoprazan/amoxicillin dual therapy were lower than those of triple therapy (21.2% vs. 26.5%, RR = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.73-1.01, p = 0.06), especially the incidence of diarrhea (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy of vonoprazan/amoxicillin dual therapy is noninferior to vonoprazan-based triple therapy but superior to the omeprazole or lansoprazole-based triple therapy and has less side effects. Patients with clarithromycin-resistant strains are particularly expected to benefit from vonoprazan/amoxicillin dual therapy.

mDIXON-Quant technique diagnostic accuracy for assessing bone mineral density in male adult population.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the diagnostic efficacy of mDIXON-Quant technique for prediction of bone loss in male adults. METHODS: One hundred thirty-eight male adults were divided into normal, osteopenia, and osteoporosis groups based on DXA and QCT for the lumbar spine. Differences in mDIXON-Quant parameters [fat fraction (FF) and T2* value] among three groups, as well as the correlation of mDIXON-Quant parameters and bone mineral density (BMD) were analyzed. The areas under the curves (AUCs) for mDIXON-Quant parameters for prediction of low bone mass were calculated. RESULTS: According to DXA standard, FF and T2* value were significantly increased in osteoporosis group compared with normal group (P = 0.012 and P < 0.001). According to QCT standard, FF was significantly increased in osteopenia and osteoporosis groups compared with normal group (both P < 0.001). T2* values were significantly different among three groups (all P < 0.05). After correction for age and body mass index, FF was negatively correlated with areal BMD and volumetric BMD (r = -0.205 and -0.604, respectively; both P < 0.05), and so was T2* value (r = -0.324 and -0.444, respectively; both P < 0.05). The AUCs for predicting low bone mass according to DXA and QCT standards were 0.642 and 0.898 for FF, 0.648 and 0.740 for T2* value, and 0.677 and 0.920 for both combined, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: FF combined with T2* value has a better diagnostic efficacy than FF or T2* value alone in prediction of low bone mass in male adults, which is expected to be a promising MRI method for the screening of bone quality. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR1900024511 (Registered 13-07-2019).

A preliminary study on degenerate characteristics of lumbar and abdominal muscles in middle-aged and elderly people with varying bone mass.

BACKGROUND: With the wide application of QCT in the clinical assessment of osteoporosis and sarcopenia, the characteristics of musculoskeletal degeneration in middle-aged and elderly people need to be further revealed. We aimed to investigate the degenerate characteristics of lumbar and abdominal muscles in middle-aged and elderly people with varying bone mass. METHODS: A total of 430 patients aged 40-88 years were divided into normal, osteopenia, and osteoporosis groups according to quantitative computed tomography (QCT) criteria. The skeletal muscular mass indexes (SMIs) of five muscles [abdominal wall muscles (AWM), rectus abdominis (RA), psoas major muscle (PMM), posterior vertebral muscles (PVM), and paravertebral muscles (PM)] included in lumbar and abdominal muscles were measured by QCT. Differences in SMIs among three groups, as well as the correlation between SMIs and volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) were analyzed. The areas under the curves (AUCs) for SMIs for prediction of low bone mass and osteoporosis were calculated. RESULTS: In male group, SMIs of RA and PM in osteopenia group were significantly lower than those in the normal group (P = 0.001 and 0.023, respectively). In female group, only SMI of RA in osteopenia group was significantly lower than that in the normal group (P = 0.007). SMI of RA was positively correlated with vBMD with the highest coefficients in male and female groups (r = 0.309 and 0.444, respectively). SMIs of AWM and RA had higher AUCs varying from 0.613 to 0.737 for prediction of low bone mass and osteoporosis in both genders. CONCLUSIONS: The changes of SMIs of the lumbar and abdominal muscles in patients with varying bone mass are asynchronous. SMI of RA is expected to be a promising imaging marker for predicting abnormal bone mass. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR1900024511 (Registered 13-07-2019).