Snare-assisted flexible endoscope in trans-gastric endoscopic gallbladder-preserving surgery: A pilot animal study.

Background: Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) gallbladder-preserving surgery by flexible endoscopy is an emerging technology. However, the gallbladder fails to obtain traction and positioning functions during the operation.

Aim: To evaluate the feasibility and safety of a new surgical method, "snare-assisted pure NOTES gallbladder-preserving surgery".

The Diagnosis Performance of the TCM Syndromes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome by Gastroenterologists Based on Modified Simple Criteria Compared to TCM Practitioners: A Prospective, Multicenter Preliminary Study.

Purpose: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) including Chinese patent medicine has been widely used to treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Syndrome differentiation is the essence of TCM. However, the diagnostic ability of gastroenterologists to detect TCM syndromes in IBS in China remains unknown.

Agreement of gastroenterologists in traditional Chinese medical differential diagnosis of functional dyspepsia compared with traditional Chinese medical practitioners: A prospective, multicenter study.

Objective: To compare the performance of gastroenterologists major in western medicine in diagnosing traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome types of functional dyspepsia (FD), postprandial distress (PDS) and epigastric pain syndromes (EPS) based on the main symptoms, with that of traditional TCM practitioners in outpatient services.

Methods: Patients with PDS or EPS were enrolled in the study from six tertiary referral centers between January 2016 and December 2017. Their symptoms were first diagnosed by medical doctors, and then by the TCM practitioners.

Differential diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis with the linked-color imaging score.

Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in gastric mucosa is the main risk factor for gastric cancer. The purpose of this study was to assess the value of the linked-color imaging (LCI) score for the identification of H.

The Diagnostic and Prognostic Value of miR-200c in Gastric Cancer: A Meta-Analysis.

Background: The role of miR-200c in gastric cancer remains controversial. This study is aimed at clarifying the diagnostic and prognostic value of miR-200c in gastric cancer through a meta-analysis.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search of PubMed, Embase, and Ovid library databases was conducted.

A Randomized, Double-Blind, Multicenter, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Qi-Zhi-Wei-Tong Granules on Postprandial Distress Syndrome-Predominant Functional Dyspepsia.

Background: Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a common upper gastrointestinal disorder worldwide, but the current treatments for FD are still unsatisfactory. The aims of this study were to investigate the efficacy and safety of Qi-Zhi-Wei-Tong granules in patients with postprandial distress syndrome (PDS)-predominant FD.

Methods: The study was conducted as a randomized, double-blinded, multicenter, placebo-controlled design in 197 patients with PDS.

Deanxit relieves symptoms in a patient with jackhammer esophagus: A case report.

Jackhammer (hypercontractile) esophagus presents with dysphagia and chest pain. Current treatments are limited. We describe a 60-year-old man who presented with dysphagia, chest pain and heartburn for a period of 1 year.

Role of mast cell-miR-490-5p in irritable bowel syndrome.

Aim: To determine the functional role of miR-490-5p in mast cell proliferation and apoptosis, and in the mast cell tryptase/PAR-2 signal pathway.

Methods: The 3 generation of lentivirus vector systems containing enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) (Ruisai Inc., Shanghai, China), which acts as a reporter gene was used to construct the mmu-miR-490-5p lentivirus expression vector pEGFP-antagomiR-490-5p, and the lentivirus vector pEGFP-negative was used as a negative control.

Tryptase and Protease-Activated Receptor 2 Expression Levels in Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Background/aims: Previous studies have revealed that mast cells (MCs) may activate the protease-activated receptors and release of neuropeptides involved in the pathogenesis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The levels of proteaseactivated receptor 2 (PAR-2) and tryptase can contribute to understanding the pathogenesis of IBS.

Methods: Colonoscopic biopsies were performed of 38 subjects (20 with IBSdiarrhea [IBS-D], eight with IBS-constipation [IBS-C], and 10 healthy volunteers).

[The change of intestinal mucosa barrier in chronic severe hepatitis B patients and clinical intervention].

Objective: To study the change of intestinal mucosa barrier in chronic severe hepatitis B patients and clinical intervention.

Method: (1) 30 normal healthy controls and 60 chronic severe hepatitis B patients were enrolled in this study. The change of intestinal permeability was determined by urine lactulose/ mannitol ratio (L/M), and the serum diamine oxidase (DAO) was measured.

Antinociceptive property of tegaserod in a rat model of chronic visceral hypersensitivity.

Objective: To establish a model of chronic visceral hypersensitivity in rats and to investigate the effect of tegaserod, a partial 5-hydroxytryptamine-4 receptor agonist, on visceral hypersensitivity.

Methods: Neonate Sprague-Dawley rats at 8-21 days after birth underwent colorectal distension once daily. Adult rats aged 8-10 postnatal weeks underwent colorectal distension and the abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) during the distension was determined.