The Reliability and Quality of Videos as Guidance for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy: Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Gastrointestinal endoscopy represents a useful tool for the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. Video platforms for spreading endoscopy-related knowledge may help patients understand the pros and cons of endoscopy on the premise of ensuring accuracy. However, videos with misinformation may lead to adverse consequences.

Fungal mycobiome dysbiosis in choledocholithiasis concurrent with cholangitis.

Background: The gut mycobiome might have an important influence on the pathogenesis of choledocholithiasis concurrent with cholangitis (CC). The aim of this study was to characterize the fungal mycobiome profiles, explore the correlation and equilibrium of gut interkingdom network among bacteria-fungi-metabolites triangle in CCs.

Methods: In a retrospective case-control study, we recruited patients with CC (n = 25) and healthy controls (HCs) (n = 25) respectively to analyze the gut fungal dysbiosis.

miR-541 is associated with the prognosis of liver cirrhosis and directly targets JAG2 to inhibit the activation of hepatic stellate cells.

Background: The activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) has been emphasized as a leading event of the pathogenesis of liver cirrhosis, while the exact mechanism of its activation is largely unknown. Furthermore, the novel non-invasive predictors of prognosis in cirrhotic patients warrant more exploration. miR-541 has been identified as a tumor suppressor in hepatocellular carcinoma and a regulator of fibrotic disease, such as lung fibrosis and renal fibrosis.

Rifaximin treatment shapes a unique metagenome-metabolism network in patients with decompensated cirrhosis.

Background: Patients with decompensated cirrhosis face poor prognosis and increased mortality risk. Rifaximin, a non-absorbable antibiotic, has been shown to have beneficial effects in preventing complications and improving survival in these patients. However, the underlying mechanisms of rifaximin's effects remain unclear.

Skeletal muscle alterations indicate poor prognosis in cirrhotic patients: a multicenter cohort study in China.

Introduction: We aimed to determine the diagnostic criteria of myosteatosis in a Chinese population and investigate the effect of skeletal muscle abnormalities on the outcomes of cirrhotic patients.

Methods: Totally 911 volunteers were recruited to determine the diagnostic criteria and impact factors of myosteatosis, and 480 cirrhotic patients were enrolled to verify the value of muscle alterations for prognosis prediction and establish new noninvasive prognostic strategies.

Results: Multivariate analysis showed age, sex, weight, waist circumference, and biceps circumference had a remarkable influence on the L3 skeletal muscle density (L3-SMD).

Sustained ameliorating effects and autonomic mechanisms of transcutaneous electrical acustimulation at ST36 in patients with chronic constipation.

Background And Aims: The treatment of chronic constipation is still a great challenge in clinical practice. This study aimed to determine the efficacy and sustained effects of transcutaneous electrical acustimulation (TEA) at acupoint ST36 on the treatment of chronic constipation and explore possible underlying mechanisms.

Methods: Forty-four patients with chronic constipation were recruited and randomly assigned to a TEA group or sham-TEA group.

Effects of Low-dose and High-dose Rifaximin in the Treatment of Covert Hepatic Encephalopathy.

Background And Aims: Rifaximin is effective in preventing and treating hepatic encephalopathy (HE). This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of different dosages of rifaximin in the treatment of cirrhotic patients with covert HE (CHE).

Methods: In this single-center, randomized, controlled, open-label study, CHE was diagnosed using a combination of the psychometric HE score and the EncephalApp Stroop test.

The presence of NAFLD in nonobese subjects increased the risk of metabolic abnormalities than obese subjects without NAFLD: a population-based cross-sectional study.

Background: With lifestyle modification and over-nutrition, the prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been increasing annually. Here we aimed to assess the updated prevalence of NAFLD, and to evaluate the association of NAFLD with metabolic abnormalities according to gender, body mass index and age.

Methods: A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Shanghai from December 2016 to July 2017.

Treatment of patients with Covid-19 with a high dose of ulinastatin.

Currently, there are no specific therapeutic agents available for the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). The present study aimed to assess the efficacy of high-dose ulinastatin for the treatment of patients with Covid-19. A total of 12 patients hospitalized with confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection were treated with a high dose of ulinastatin alongside standard care.

Sarcopenia as a prognostic predictor of liver cirrhosis: a multicentre study in China.

Background: Diagnostic criteria for sarcopenia have not been established in Chinese. This study established criteria based on the L3-skeletal muscle index (L3-SMI) and assessed its value for outcomes predicting in cirrhotic Chinese patients.

Methods: Totally 911 subjects who underwent a CT scan at two centres were enrolled in Cohort 1 (394 male and 417 female subjects, aged 20-80 years).

Alterations of gut microbiome and metabolite profiles in choledocholithiasis concurrent with cholangitis.

Background And Aims: Gut microbiota and their metabolic products might play important roles in regulating the pathogenesis of choledocholithiasis concurrent with cholangitis (CC). The aim of this study was to explore the characteristic gut dysbiosis, metabolite profiles and the possible roles in patients with CC.

Methods: A case-control study was carried out to analyze the alterations in the intestinal microbiota and their metabolites in patients with CC (n = 25) compared with healthy controls (HCs) (n = 25) by metagenomic sequencing to define the gut microbiota community and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) analysis to characterize the metabolite profiles.

Low-dose rifaximin prevents complications and improves survival in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis.

Background And Aims: Rifaximin has been recommended as a prophylactic drug for hepatic encephalopathy (HE) and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP). This study aims to explore whether low-dose rifaximin can prevent overall complications and prolong survival in cirrhotic patients.

Methods: In this multi-centre randomized open-labelled prospective study, 200 patients with decompensated cirrhosis were randomly assigned at a ratio of 1:1.

Combined Scores from the EncephalApp Stroop Test, Number Connection Test B, and Serial Dotting Test Accurately Identify Patients With Covert Hepatic Encephalopathy.

Background & Aims: The EncephalApp Stroop test is a high-sensitivity but low-specificity test that has been used to identify patients with covert hepatic encephalopathy (CHE). We aimed to develop a new strategy to detect CHE, combining EncephalApp Stroop test score with scores from subtests of the psychometric hepatic encephalopathy scoring system (PHES).

Methods: We performed a survey of 569 adult volunteers (229 men) in 9 communities in Shanghai, China, administering the EncephalApp Stroop test to determine the range of scores in the general population.

FOXA2 alleviates CCl-induced liver fibrosis by protecting hepatocytes in mice.

The liver-enriched transcription factor Forkhead Box A2 (FOXA2) has been reported to be involved in bile acid homeostasis and bile duct development. However, the role of FOXA2 in liver fibrogenesis remains undefined. In this study, we found that the abundance of FOXA2 was significantly lower in fibrotic livers of patients and mice treated with CCl than in controls.

New formula for predicting standard liver volume in Chinese adults.

Aim: To obtain a reference range of morphological indices and establish a formula to accurately predict standard liver volume (SLV) in Chinese adults.

Methods: Computed tomography (CT)-estimated total liver volume (CTLV) was determined in 369 Chinese adults. Age, sex, body weight, body height, body mass index, and body surface area (BSA) were recorded using CT.