Identification of novel immune cell signature in gastroesophageal reflux disease: altered mucosal mast cells and dendritic cell profile.

Introduction: Heartburn pathogenesis in GERD remains incompletely understood. We aimed to identify differences in the immune cell signature and sensory mucosal markers between reflux phenotypes and healthy asymptomatic subjects.

Methods: Thirty-seven patients with heartburn symptoms were phenotyped endoscopically and with objective reflux studies into erosive reflux disease (ERD) (N=10), nonerosive reflux disease (NERD) (N=9), functional heartburn (FH) (N=9), and Barrett's esophagus (BO) (N=9).

Development of an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) Patient-Reported Experience Measure (PREM): A patient-led consensus work and 'think aloud' study for a quality improvement programme.

Background: Patient-Reported Experience Measures (PREMs) are key in improving healthcare quality, but no PREM exists for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This study aimed to co-produce a PREM with IBD service users for IBD service evaluation and quality improvement programme.

Methods: A pool of 75 items was drawn from published survey instruments covering interactions with services and aspects of living with IBD.

Association Between Sex Hormone Levels and Gut Microbiota Composition and Diversity-A Systematic Review.

Goals/background: Animal studies have highlighted how the microbiota acts in a sex-specific manner with sex hormones demonstrating an association with the composition and diversity of the microbiota. This systematic review aimed to gather the available scientific evidence to explore the association between sex hormones and gut microbiota composition and diversity, in humans.

Study: Four bibliographic databases were searched in July 2020 using terms related to "microbiota," "microflora," "sex hormones," "testosterone," and "estrogen.