Aldehydes alter TGF-β signaling and induce obesity and cancer.

Obesity and fatty liver diseases-metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH)-affect over one-third of the global population and are exacerbated in individuals with reduced functional aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2), observed in approximately 560 million people. Current treatment to prevent disease progression to cancer remains inadequate, requiring innovative approaches. We observe that Aldh2 and Aldh2Sptbn1 mice develop phenotypes of human metabolic syndrome (MetS) and MASH with accumulation of endogenous aldehydes such as 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE).

CEACAMS 1, 5, and 6 in disease and cancer: interactions with pathogens.

The CEA family comprises 18 genes and 11 pseudogenes located at chromosome 19q13.2 and is divided into two main groups: cell surface anchored CEA-related cell adhesion molecules (CEACAMs) and the secreted pregnancy-specific glycoproteins (PSGs). CEACAMs are highly glycosylated cell surface anchored, intracellular, and intercellular signaling molecules with diverse functions, from cell differentiation and transformation to modulating immune responses associated with infection, inflammation, and cancer.

Impaired reciprocal regulation between SIRT6 and TGF-β signaling in fatty liver.

Dysregulated transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) signaling contributes to fibrotic liver disease and hepatocellular cancer (HCC), both of which are associated with fatty liver disease. SIRT6 limits fibrosis by inhibiting TGF-β signaling through deacetylating SMAD2 and SMAD3 and limits lipogenesis by inhibiting SREBP1 and SREBP2 activity. Here, we showed that, compared to wild-type mice, high-fat diet-induced fatty liver is worse in TGF-β signaling-deficient mice (SPTBN1 ) and the mutant mice had reduced SIRT6 abundance in the liver.

A High-Resolution Wireless Power Transfer and Data Communication System for Studying Gastric Slow Waves.

We present a wireless recording system designed for high-resolution mapping of gastric slow-wave signals. The system is composed of an implantable unit (IU), a wearable unit (WU), and a stationary unit (SU) connected to a computer. Two independent wireless data communication links consisting of IU-WU and IU-SU were developed based on near-field and far-field communication, respectively.

Volumetric laser endomicroscopy features of dysplasia at the gastric cardia in Barrett's oesophagus: results from an observational cohort study.

Objective: Volumetric laser endomicroscopy (VLE) is an advanced imaging modality used in Barrett's oesophagus (BE) to help identify dysplasia in the oesophagus. VLE criteria exist for oesophageal dysplasia but not for dysplasia in the gastric cardia. The aim of this study was to determine if there are in vivo VLE features that can predict gastric cardia dysplasia in BE.

Digital cholangioscopy can detect residual biliary stones missed by occlusion cholangiogram in ERCP: a prospective tandem study.

After stone removal in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), an occlusion cholangiogram (OC) is performed to confirm bile duct clearance. OC can miss residual stones that can lead to recurrent biliary symptoms. The aim of this study was to assess if digital peroral cholangioscopy (POC) increased the diagnostic yield of residual biliary stones that are missed with OC.

Use of Bioelectronics in the Gastrointestinal Tract.

Gastrointestinal (GI) motility disorders are major contributing factors to functional GI diseases that account for >40% of patients seen in gastroenterology clinics and affect >20% of the general population. The autonomic and enteric nervous systems and the muscles within the luminal GI tract have key roles in motility. In health, this complex integrated system works seamlessly to transport liquid, solid, and gas through the GI tract.

Incremental yield of dysplasia detection in Barrett's esophagus using volumetric laser endomicroscopy with and without laser marking compared with a standardized random biopsy protocol.

Background And Aims: Volumetric laser endomicroscopy (VLE) is a new wide-field advanced imaging technology for Barrett's esophagus (BE). No data exist on incremental yield of dysplasia detection. Our aim is to report the incremental yield of dysplasia detection in BE using VLE.

Normal and abnormal physiology, pharmacology, and anatomy of the gastroesophageal junction high-pressure zone.

The high-pressure zone of the gastroesophageal junction acts as a multifunctional valve that comprises different groups of smooth muscles located in the distal esophagus and the proximal stomach, in addition to the extrinsic crural diaphragm, composed of skeletal muscle. In this review article, we evaluate the current literature with respect to human subjects, discussing the anatomic locations and physiologic and pharmacologic processes controlling these muscles. These muscles work individually and as a group to prevent reflux of gastric contents while allowing anterograde passage of food and liquid and retrograde passage of gas.

Defective mucosal movement at the gastroesophageal junction in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Background: Little is known about the role of muscularis mucosa at the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ).

Aim: To evaluate the movement of the mucosa/muscularis-mucosa/submucosa (MMS) at the GEJ in normal subjects and in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Methods: Gastroesophageal junctions of 20 non-GERD subjects and 10 patients with GERD were evaluated during 5 mL swallows using two methods: in high-resolution endoluminal ultrasound and manometry, the change in the GEJ luminal pressures and cross-sectional area of esophageal wall layers were measured; in abdominal ultrasound, the MMS movement at the GEJ was analyzed.

Ileocecal valve dysfunction in small intestinal bacterial overgrowth: a pilot study.

Aim: To explore whether patients with a defective ileocecal valve (ICV)/cecal distension reflex have small intestinal bacterial overgrowth.

Methods: Using a colonoscope, under conscious sedation, the ICV was intubated and the colonoscope was placed within the terminal ileum (TI). A manometry catheter with 4 pressure channels, spaced 1 cm apart, was passed through the biopsy channel of the colonoscope into the TI.

Circular smooth muscle contributes to esophageal shortening during peristalsis.

Aim: To study the angle between the circular smooth muscle (CSM) and longitudinal smooth muscle (LSM) fibers in the distal esophagus.

Methods: In order to identify possible mechanisms for greater shortening in the distal compared to proximal esophagus during peristalsis, the angles between the LSM and CSM layers were measured in 9 cadavers. The outer longitudinal layer of the muscularis propria was exposed after stripping the outer serosa.

The esophagogastric junction.

The following discussion of the esophagogastric junctions includes commentaries on the three component structures of the sphincteric segment between the stomach and the esophagus; the pressure contributions from the three sphincteric components in normal subjects and in gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) patients; the mechanism of action of endoscopic plication to determine the underlying pathophysiology of GERD; and in vitro muscle strip studies of defects within the gastroesophageal sphincteric segment potentially leading to GERD.

Pharmacologic specificity of nicotinic receptor-mediated relaxation of muscarinic receptor precontracted human gastric clasp and sling muscle fibers within the gastroesophageal junction.

Relaxation of gastric clasp and sling muscle fibers is involved the transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxations underlying the pathophysiology of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). These fibers do not contribute tone to the high-pressure zone in GERD patients, indicating their role in pathophysiology. This study identifies some mediators of the nicotine-induced relaxation of muscarinic receptor precontracted gastric clasp and sling fibers.

Acoustic liver biopsy in patients with hepatitis C and advanced liver fibrosis using endoscopic ultrasound.

Background: Transabdominal ultrasound cannot be used to quantitate fibrosis in patients with advanced liver fibrosis due to variability in the abdominal wall thickness and composition. This variability can be eliminated by using endoscopic ultrasound.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine the amount of fibrosis in the liver of hepatitis C patients with advanced fibrosis using endoscopic ultrasound.

Endoscopic pyloric suturing to facilitate weight loss: a canine model.

Background: More than 66% of adults in United States are overweight or obese.

Objective: To decrease gastric emptying and cause early and prolonged satiety by endoscopically narrowing the gastric pylorus.

Design: Thirteen dogs were randomized into 3 groups (suture, sham, and control).

Induced opening of the gastroesophageal junction occurs at a lower gastric pressure in gerd patients and in hiatal hernia subjects than in normal control subjects.

Purpose. To determine intragastric pressure threshold for inducing gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) opening in normal control subjects with and without hiatal hernia, and in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease. Methods.

Comparison of human and porcine gastric clasp and sling fiber contraction by M2 and M3 muscarinic receptors.

To compare the gastroesophageal junction of the human with the pig, M(2) and M(3) receptor densities and the potencies of M(2) and M(3) muscarinic receptor subtype selective antagonists were determined in gastric clasp and sling smooth muscle fibers. Total muscarinic and M(2) receptors are higher in pig than human clasp and sling fibers. M(3) receptors are higher in human compared with pig sling fibers but lower in human compared with pig clasp fibers.

Minimally invasive measurement of esophageal variceal pressure and wall tension (with video).

Background: There is no simple method to measure intravariceal pressure in patients with esophageal varices.

Objective: Our purpose was to develop a new noninvasive technique to measure resting intravariceal pressure and wall tension.

Design: A model was developed.

Quantitation of the contractile response mediated by two receptors: M2 and M3 muscarinic receptor-mediated contractions of human gastroesophageal smooth muscle.

Although muscarinic receptors are known to mediate tonic contraction of human gastrointestinal tract smooth muscle, the receptor subtypes that mediate the tonic contractions are not entirely clear. Whole human stomachs with attached esophagus were procured from organ transplant donors. Cholinergic contractile responses of clasp, sling, lower esophageal circular (LEC), midesophageal circular (MEC), and midesophageal longitudinal (MEL) muscle strips were determined.

New observations on the gastroesophageal antireflux barrier.

The use of high-frequency ultrasound transducers combined with manometry in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract has yielded important findings concerning the anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology of the high-pressure zone of the gastroesophageal junction and the sphincteric muscles within. These transducers have made previously invisible portions of the GI tract accessible to investigation. Three distinct high-pressure zones have been identified and correlated with anatomic structures: the extrinsic sphincter (crural diaphragm) and the two components of the intrinsic sphincter (an upper LES and a lower LES [the gastric sling fiber/clasp fiber complex]).

Three-dimensional US volume analysis of gastric pseudotumors in a porcine model.

Background: Tumor burden is difficult to estimate by endoscopy and conventional EUS.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy and the reliability of a new 3-dimensional (3D) EUS system in a pseudotumor model (Olympus EUS EXERA EU-M60).

Design: A pseudotumor model was developed in a porcine stomach.