The causal role of gut microbiota in susceptibility and severity of COVID-19: A bidirectional Mendelian randomization study.

Growing evidence has shown that altered gut microbiota is associated with the pathogenesis of COVID-19, but their causal effects are still unclear. We conducted a bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) study to assess the causal effects of gut microbiota on COVID-19 susceptibility or severity, and vice versa. The microbiome genome-wide association studies (GWAS) data of 18 340 individuals and GWAS statistics from the COVID-19 host genetics initiative (38 984 European patients and 1 644 784 controls) were used as exposure and outcomes.

"M1/M2" Muscularis Macrophages Are Associated with Reduction of Interstitial Cells of Cajal and Glial Cells in Achalasia.

Background And Aims: Several studies showed muscularis macrophages (MMφ) are associated with GI motility disorders. The purpose of this study was to preliminary explore the association between MMφ and achalasia.

Methods: Tissue samples of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) high-pressure zone were obtained from 27 achalasia patients and 10 controls.

Risk factors for the failure of endoscopic resection of gastric submucosal tumors: a long-term retrospective case-control study.

Objective: Endoscopic resection (ER) is an effective treatment method for gastric submucosal tumors (G-SMTs), but endoscopic resection failure requires emergency surgery. The purpose of this study was to assess potential risk factors for endoscopic resection failure.

Methods: A total of 1041 patients with G-SMT undergoing endoscopic resection were enrolled.

Esophageal Nocturnal Baseline Impedance and Post-reflux Swallow-induced Peristaltic Wave Index in Identifying Proton Pump Inhibitor-refractory Non-erosive Reflux Disease.

Background/aims: Esophageal mean nocturnal baseline impedance (MNBI) levels and post-reflux swallow-induced peristaltic wave (PSPW) index could increase the diagnostic value of 24-hour multichannel intraluminal impedance and pH monitoring in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease. This study aims to compare the MNBI and PSPW index in patients with no evidence of erosive reflux disease.

Methods: Impedance-pH monitoring tracings from 70 patients, 50 with non-erosive reflux disease (NERD) and 20 with functional heartburn (FH), were reviewed.

Sex-Based Differences in pH Parameters and Esophageal Impedance of Patients With Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.

The incidence of reflux esophagitis (RE) has a striking predominance in males. Conversely, non-erosive reflux disease (NERD) is more common in females. This imbalance of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) implies sex-related differences in its pathogenesis.

Value of adjunctive evidence from MII-pH monitoring and high-resolution manometry in inconclusive GERD patients with AET 4-6.

Objectives: Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common disease in gastroenterology outpatients. However, some patients with typical reflux symptoms does not satisfy diagnostic criteria. This study was to explore the value of adjunctive evidence from multichannel intraluminal impedance-pH (MII-pH) monitoring and esophageal high-resolution manometry (HRM) in inconclusive GERD patients with acid exposure time (AET) 4-6%.

Differential diagnosis for esophageal protruded lesions using a deep convolution neural network in endoscopic images.

Background And Aims: Recent advances in deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have led to remarkable results in digestive endoscopy. In this study, we aimed to develop CNN-based models for the differential diagnosis of benign esophageal protruded lesions using endoscopic images acquired during real clinical settings.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the images from 1217 patients who underwent white-light endoscopy (WLE) and EUS between January 2015 and April 2020.

Factors of Reflux Episodes With Post-reflux Swallow-induced Peristaltic Wave in Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.

Background/aims: It is known that post-reflux swallow-induced peristaltic wave (PSPW) index represents the chemical clearance of the esophagus. However, few studies have explored why some reflux episodes could induce PSPW while others in the same patient could not. The purpose of this study is to investigate the characteristics of reflux episodes which could elicit PSPW.

Characteristics of intestinal microflora involved insacral nerve stimulation affecting visceral hypersensitivity.

Objective: This study was to investigate the effect of intestinal flora-intestinal-brain on the visceral sensitivity of normal rat and visceral hypersensitivity model rats, and to explore the effect of intestinal flora-intestinal-brain axis on visceral hypersensitivity in rats.

Methods: Sixty SD male newborn rats were randomly divided into 4 groups according to the random number table: group A, group B, group C, and group D, with 15 rats in each group. 15 sterile SD newborn rats, numbered E group.

Effect and mechanisms of sacral nerve stimulation on visceral hypersensitivity mediated by nerve growth factor.

To investigate the efficacy of sacral nerve stimulation (SNS) on nerve growth factor (NGF) mediated visceral sensitivity in normal rat and visceral hypersensitivity model rats. 120 male newborn rats were randomly divided into 6 groups: group A was normal model group; group B ~ F were all sensitized with acetic acid enema and grouped again. Group c2 was given NGF antagonist, d2 group was given NGF agonist, e2 group was given PI3K inhibitor, and f2 group was given PLC-γ inhibitor.

Retraction Note: HDAC6 inhibitor TST strengthens the antiproliferative effects of PI3K/mTOR inhibitor BEZ235 in breast cancer cells via suppressing RTK activation.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

EGF Stimulates Rab35 Activation and Gastric Cancer Cell Migration by Regulating DENND1A-Grb2 Complex Formation.

The aim of this study was to reveal the specific molecular mechanisms by which DENND1A accepts EGF signaling and activates Rab35 in gastric cancer. The expression of proteins related to DENND1A was examined by western blot analysis. Activation of Rab35 was assessed by GST-pulldown.

HDAC6 inhibitor TST strengthens the antiproliferative effects of PI3K/mTOR inhibitor BEZ235 in breast cancer cells via suppressing RTK activation.

NVP-BEZ235 (BEZ235), an available dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitor, showed antitumor effect and provided a therapy strategy in carcinomas. However, the acquired upregulation of multiple receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) by NVP-BEZ235 in tumors limits its clinical efficacy. HDAC6, a class II histone deacetylase, is associated with expressions of multiple RTKs.

MICAL1 facilitates breast cancer cell proliferation via ROS-sensitive ERK/cyclin D pathway.

Molecule interacting with CasL 1 (MICAL1) is a multidomain flavoprotein mono-oxygenase that strongly involves in cytoskeleton dynamics and cell oxidoreduction metabolism. Recently, results from our laboratory have shown that MICAL1 modulates reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and the latter then activates phosphatidyl inositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) signalling pathway which regulates breast cancer cell invasion. Herein, we performed this study to assess the involvement of MICAL1 in breast cancer cell proliferation and to explore the potential molecular mechanism.

Esophageal Body Motility for Clinical Assessment in Patients with Refractory Gastroesophageal Reflux Symptoms.

Background/aims: Little data exists about esophageal body dysmotility and reflux patterns in refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease (RGERD) patients off therapy. We aimed to evaluate effects of esophageal body dysmotility on reflux parameters in RGERD patients by combining impedance-pH monitoring and high-resolution manometry (HRM).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the impedance-pH data and HRM metrics in patients with refractory gastroesophageal reflux symptoms.

Role of altered esophageal intraluminal baseline impedance levels in patients with gatroesophageal reflux disease refractory to proton pump inhibitors.

Numerous studies have investigated utility of esophageal intraluminal baseline impedance levels (BILs) in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). However, effect of BILs in refractory GERD (RGERD) has not been well investigated. The aim of this study is to evaluate role of BILs in RGERD patients.

EGF-stimulated activation of Rab35 regulates RUSC2-GIT2 complex formation to stabilize GIT2 during directional lung cancer cell migration.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains one of the most metastasizing tumors, and directional cell migration is critical for targeting tumor metastasis. GIT2 has been known to bind to Paxillin to control cell polarization and directional migration. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying roles of GIT2 in controlling cell polarization and directional migration remain elusive.

[Predictors of efficacy of biofeedback therapy in patients with chronic constipation].

Objective: To explore the anorectal physiology, psychological state, quality of life, lifestyle of patients with chronic constipation (CC) and evaluate the factors which potentially predict the efficacy of biofeedback therapy (BF).

Methods: Seventy CC patients receiving BF training were enrolled in this study. Anorectal physiology, Zung's Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), Zung's Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Chinese version of the MOS 36-item short form healthy survey (SF-36), lifestyle scale were recorded before BF training.