Reduced gastric mucosal nerve density in functional dyspepsia: clinical significance and functional correlation.

Background: This study aimed to quantitatively examine gastric mucosal nerve density (GMND) in patients with functional dyspepsia (FD) and analyzed its clinical correlation.

Methods: We prospectively enrolled 35 patients with FD and 16 age-and gender-matched healthy controls for comparison of GMND on endoscopic biopsy, scores of Gastroparesis Cardinal Symptom Index (GCSI), and gastric emptying scintigraphy (GES).

Results: Patients with FD had lower GMND than the control subjects in gastric antrum, body, and fundus.

In-room cytologic evaluation by trained endosonographer for determination of procedure end in endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle biopsy of solid pancreatic lesions: a prospective study in Taiwan.

Background/aims: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle biopsy (EUS-FNB) is an essential tool for tissue acquisition in solid pancreatic tumors. Rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE) by cytologists ensures diagnostic accuracy. However, the universal application of the ROSE is limited by its availability.

Antiviral Therapy for Chronic Hepatitis B with Mildly Elevated Aminotransferase: A Rollover Study from the TORCH-B Trial.

Background & Aims: Treatment indications for patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) remain contentious, particularly for patients with mild alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevation. We aimed to evaluate treatment effects in this patient population.

Methods: This rollover study extended a placebo-controlled trial that enrolled non-cirrhotic patients with CHB and ALT levels below two times the upper limit of normal.

Impact of glucose-containing fluid on acute pancreatitis outcomes: A multicenter retrospective analysis.

Introduction: Fluid resuscitation reduces mortality and morbidity in acute pancreatitis (AP); however, whether glucose-containing fluids negatively impact AP remains uncertain. We aimed to examine the association between glucose-containing fluids and AP outcomes.

Methods: This multicenter retrospective cohort study included patients diagnosed with AP between January 2015 and December 2018.

Bleeding Risk of Cold Versus Hot Snare Polypectomy for Pedunculated Colorectal Polyps Measuring 10 mm or Less: Subgroup Analysis of a Large Randomized Controlled Trial.

Introduction: Concerns regarding bleeding remain in cold snare polypectomy (CSP) for small pedunculated (0-Ip) polyps. The aim of this study was to compare the risk of CSP and hot snare polypectomy (HSP) for such lesions.

Methods: Data on 0-Ip colorectal polyps ≤10 mm were extracted from a large, pragmatic, randomized trial.

Tunable zinc benzamidinate complexes: coordination modes and catalytic activity in the ring-opening polymerization of L-lactide.

Seven asymmetric zinc benzamidinate complexes featuring or lacking side-arm functionalities were synthesized. Using equimolar zinc reagent produced distinct dinuclear motifs [(CH-C = NCH)ZnEt] (R = Bu, 1; (CH)OMe, 2; (CH)NMe, 3). Half the zinc reagent yielded dinuclear [(CH-C = NCH)Zn] (R = Bu, 4) or mononuclear zinc bis(chelate) complexes (R = (CH)OMe, 5; (CH)NMe, 6; CHPy, 7).

Altered gut microbiota in Taiwanese A97S predominant transthyretin amyloidosis with polyneuropathy.

Increasing evidence suggests that gut microbiota alterations are related to development and phenotypes of many neuropsychiatric diseases. Here, we evaluated the fecal microbiota and its clinical correlates in patients with hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTRv) and polyneuropathy. Fecal microbiota from 38 ATTRv patients and 39 age-matched controls was analyzed by sequencing 16S V3-V4 ribosomal RNA, and its relationships with clinical characteristics of polyneuropathy and cardiomyopathy were explored.

Intravenous Hemin, a potential heme oxygenase-1 activator, does not protect from post-ERCP acute pancreatitis in humans: Results of a randomized multicentric multinational placebo-controlled trial.

Objective: Hemin, a heme oxygenase 1 activator has shown efficacy in the prevention and treatment of acute pancreatitis in mouse models. We conducted a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to assess the protective effect of Hemin administration to prevent post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) pancreatitis (PEP) in patients at risk.

Methods: In this multicenter, multinational, placebo-controlled, double-blind RCT, we assigned patients at risk for PEP to receive a single intravenous dose of Hemin (4 mg/kg) or placebo immediately after ERCP.

Evaluation of Malignancy Risk of Ampullary Tumors Detected by Endoscopy Using 2-[F]FDG PET/CT.

Objective: We aimed to investigate whether 2-[F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (2-[F]FDG PET/CT) can aid in evaluating the risk of malignancy in ampullary tumors detected by endoscopy.

Materials And Methods: This single-center retrospective cohort study analyzed 155 patients (79 male, 76 female; mean age, 65.7 ± 12.

Clinical outcomes of different types of metallic stents in malignant distal duodenum stenosis: A retrospective study.

Background/purpose: Endoscopic stenting at malignant distal duodenum stenosis (MDDS) is challenging because of the duodenal C-loop configuration, the acute angle of the duodenojejunal junction, and the limited length of the endoscope. Few studies have investigated the clinical outcomes of stenting at the distal duodenum. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the clinical outcomes of treating MDDS with different types of metallic stents.

Plasma metabolites of aromatic amino acids associate with clinical severity and gut microbiota of Parkinson's disease.

Gut microbial proteolytic metabolism has been reportedly altered in Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the circulating aromatic amino acids (AAA) described in PD are inconsistent. Here we aimed to investigate plasma AAA profiles in a large cohort of PD patients, and examine their correlations with clinical severity and gut microbiota changes.

Hepatitis B core-related antigen dynamics and risk of subsequent clinical relapses after nucleos(t)ide analog cessation.

Background/aims: Finite nucleos(t)ide analog (NA) therapy has been proposed as an alternative treatment strategy for chronic hepatitis B (CHB), but biomarkers for post-treatment monitoring are limited. We investigated whether measuring hepatitis B core-related antigen (HBcrAg) after NA cessation may stratify the risk of subsequent clinical relapse (CR).

Methods: This retrospective multicenter analysis enrolled adults with CHB who were prospectively monitored after discontinuing entecavir or tenofovir with negative HBeAg and undetectable HBV DNA at the end of treatment (EOT).

Primary antibiotic resistance of Helicobacter pylori in the Asia-Pacific region between 1990 and 2022: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: We previously showed rising primary antibiotic resistance of Helicobacter pylori during 1990-2015 in the Asia-Pacific region. However, whether primary antibiotic resistance continues to rise is unknown. Therefore, we aimed to assess the latest prevalence of H pylori antibiotic resistance in this region.

Hepatitis B reactivation: A possible cause of coronavirus disease 2019 vaccine induced hepatitis.

Background And Aims: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines were rapidly implemented globally and vaccine-associated immune-related hepatitis was recently reported. We aim to investigate its impact in regions endemic of chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

Methods: We retrospectively collected patients who developed hepatitis within 90 days after COVID-19 vaccination in Taiwan.

Diversity and composition of gut microbiota in healthy individuals and patients at different stages of hepatitis B virus-related liver disease.

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) causes chronic hepatitis B (CHB), liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The evolution of human gut microbiota during the progression of HBV-related liver diseases remains unclear. Therefore, we prospectively enrolled patients with HBV-related liver diseases and healthy individuals.

Molecular testing-guided therapy versus susceptibility testing-guided therapy in first-line and third-line Helicobacter pylori eradication: two multicentre, open-label, randomised controlled, non-inferiority trials.

Background: Helicobacter pylori infection is an important causal factor of gastric cancer and peptic ulcer disease and is associated with immune thrombocytopenic purpura and functional dyspepsia. In H pylori strains, point mutations in the 23S rRNA and gyrA genes are associated with clarithromycin resistance and levofloxacin resistance, respectively. Whether the efficacy of molecular testing-guided therapy is non-inferior to that of susceptibility testing-guided therapy for H pylori eradication is unclear.

Cold Versus Hot Snare Polypectomy for Small Colorectal Polyps : A Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Although cold snare polypectomy (CSP) is considered effective in reducing delayed postpolypectomy bleeding risk, direct evidence supporting its safety in the general population remains lacking.

Objective: To clarify whether CSP would reduce delayed bleeding risk after polypectomy compared with hot snare polypectomy (HSP) in the general population.

Design: Multicenter randomized controlled study.

Second-line levofloxacin-based quadruple therapy versus bismuth-based quadruple therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication and long-term changes to the gut microbiota and antibiotic resistome: a multicentre, open-label, randomised controlled trial.

Background: Levofloxacin-based therapy or bismuth-based quadruple therapy are the recommended second-line regimens for Helicobacter pylori eradication after failure of clarithromycin-based therapy. However, resistance to levofloxacin has increased in the past decade. Furthermore, little is known about the long-term effects of H pylori eradication on the antibiotic resistome.

Randomized trial of contrast-enhanced harmonic guidance versus fanning technique for EUS-guided fine-needle biopsy sampling of solid pancreatic lesions.

Background And Aims: For EUS-guided fine-needle biopsy sampling (EUS-FNB) of solid pancreatic lesions (SPLs), the role of sampling strategy between targeted biopsy sampling and wide sampling has not been reported. This study aimed to investigate the benefits of the 2 sampling techniques on EUS-FNB using rapid on-site evaluation.

Methods: Patients with SPLs were prospectively enrolled and randomly assigned (1:1) to undergo EUS-FNB using either contrast guidance or the fanning technique.

Positive and negative impact of anti-reflux mucosal intervention on gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Background: Anti-reflux mucosal intervention (ARMI), including anti-reflux mucosectomy (ARMS) and anti-reflux mucosal ablation (ARMA), is a promising endoscopic treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Few studies reported a detailed analysis of the objective reflux parameters.

Methods: Patients with chronic PPI-dependent GERD and receiving ARMI were prospectively enrolled.

Dietary Exposure to Antibiotic Residues Facilitates Metabolic Disorder by Altering the Gut Microbiota and Bile Acid Composition.

Antibiotics used as growth promoters in livestock and animal husbandry can be detected in animal-derived food. Epidemiological studies have indicated that exposure to these antibiotic residues in food may be associated with childhood obesity. Herein, the effect of exposure to a residual dose of tylosin-an antibiotic growth promoter-on host metabolism and gut microbiota was explored .