Pathogenesis and clinical features of severe hepatitis E virus infection.

The hepatitis E virus (HEV), a member of the family, is a small, non-enveloped icosahedral virus divided into eight distinct genotypes (HEV-1 to HEV-8). Only genotypes 1 to 4 are known to cause diseases in humans. Genotypes 1 and 2 commonly spread fecal-oral transmission, often through the consumption of contaminated water.

AI-assisted capsule endoscopy reading in suspected small bowel bleeding: a multicentre prospective study.

Background: Capsule endoscopy reading is time consuming, and readers are required to maintain attention so as not to miss significant findings. Deep convolutional neural networks can recognise relevant findings, possibly exceeding human performances and reducing the reading time of capsule endoscopy. Our primary aim was to assess the non-inferiority of artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted reading versus standard reading for potentially small bowel bleeding lesions (high P2, moderate P1; Saurin classification) at per-patient analysis.

Dental evaluation is helpful in the differentiation of functional heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Background: Heartburn is identically the key symptom of both, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and functional heartburn (FHB), making the differential diagnosis resource-intensive. Oral manifestations of GERD can be easily examined; therefore, their exploration might be a cheap, widely available, and useful tool in the differentiation of GERD and FHB.

Aim: To evaluate the prevalence of dental erosions (DE) and periodontal diseases (PD) in patients with heartburn and their association with GERD and FHB.

[Minimally invasive surgery for motility disorders of the oesophagus].

Introduction and aims. We present our experience with minimally invasive surgery for pharyngoesophageal (Zenker) diverticulums, epiphrenic diverticulums and achalasia cardiae focusing on the perioperative features and patients’ quality of life. Patients and methods.

First prospective European study for the feasibility and safety of magnetically controlled capsule endoscopy in gastric mucosal abnormalities.

Background: While capsule endoscopy (CE) is the gold standard diagnostic method of detecting small bowel (SB) diseases and disorders, a novel magnetically controlled capsule endoscopy (MCCE) system provides non-invasive evaluation of the gastric mucosal surface, which can be performed without sedation or discomfort. During standard SBCE, passive movement of the CE may cause areas of the complex anatomy of the gastric mucosa to remain unexplored, whereas the precision of MCCE capsule movements inside the stomach promises better visualization of the entire mucosa.

Aim: To evaluate the Ankon MCCE system's feasibility, safety, and diagnostic yield in patients with gastric or SB disorders.

Prevalence of reflux-related symptoms in South-Hungarian blood donor volunteers.

Background/aim: Population-based studies on the prevalence of GERD-related symptoms are still missing in Eastern Europe, therefore, we aimed to obtain such data in South-East Hungarian subjects.

Methods: A total of 2,002 apparently healthy blood donor volunteers were consecutively enrolled and completed detailed questionnaires related to general factors, demographic data, socioeconomical factors, and the presence and frequency of typical and atypical GERD-related symptoms.

Results: Among 2,002 study participants, 56.

COVID-19-associated diarrhea.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) recently emerged as a highly virulent respiratory pathogen that is known as the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Diarrhea is a common early symptom in a significant proportion of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. SARS-CoV-2 can infect and replicate in esophageal cells and enterocytes, leading to direct damage to the intestinal epithelium.

Surgical Treatment of Esophageal Achalasia in the Era of Minimally Invasive Surgery.

Introduction: We have analyzed the short- and long-term results of various surgical therapies for achalasia, especially changes in postoperative esophageal function.

Patients And Methods: Between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2017, 54 patients with esophageal achalasia were treated in our institution. Patients scheduled for surgery underwent a comprehensive gastroenterological assessment pre- and post-surgery.

Epidemiologic characteristics of infection in southeast Hungary.

Background: Epidemiologic studies have revealed a decrease in the prevalence of () infection in Western Europe.

Aim: To obtain data regarding the prevalence of in Csongrád and Békés Counties in Hungary, evaluate the differences in its prevalence between urban and rural areas, and establish factors associated with positive seroprevalence.

Methods: One-thousand and one healthy blood donors [male/female: 501/500, mean age: 40 (19-65) years] were enrolled in this study.

Laparoscopic Surgery for Epiphrenic Esophageal Diverticulum.

Background And Objectives: We wanted to assess our surgical results focusing on the patients' quality of life. We present our experience with laparoscopic surgery for epiphrenic esophageal diverticulum. Short- and long-term results of surgical therapy were analyzed.

Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-7 in Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma: expression, metabolism, and functional significance.

Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-7, unlike many MMPs, is typically expressed in epithelial cells. It has been linked to epithelial responses to infection, injury, and tissue remodeling including the progression of a number of cancers. We have now examined how MMP-7 expression changes in the progression to esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), and have studied mechanisms regulating its expression and its functional significance.

Modeling Esophagitis Using Human Three-Dimensional Organotypic Culture System.

Esophagitis, whether caused by acid reflux, allergic responses, graft-versus-host disease, drugs, or infections, is a common condition of the gastrointestinal tract affecting nearly 20% of the US population. The instigating agent typically triggers an inflammatory response. The resulting inflammation is a risk factor for the development of esophageal strictures, Barrett esophagus, and esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Role of ion transporters in the bile acid-induced esophageal injury.

Barrett's esophagus (BE) is considered to be the most severe complication of gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD), in which the prolonged, repetitive episodes of combined acidic and biliary reflux result in the replacement of the squamous esophageal lining by columnar epithelium. Therefore, the acid-extruding mechanisms of esophageal epithelial cells (EECs) may play an important role in the defense. Our aim was to identify the presence of acid/base transporters on EECs and to investigate the effect of bile acids on their expressions and functions.

A pilot study on faecal MMP-9: a new noninvasive diagnostic marker of colorectal cancer.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading malignancies worldwide, therefore cheap noninvasive screening methods are of great importance. Matrix-metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) has a role in the progression of CRC, and its level is elevated in tumour biopsies. Faecal MMP-9 levels are increased in active ulcerative colitis patients, but in CRC patients, they have never been measured.

[New trends and novel possibilities in the diagnosis of esophageal tumors].

The diagnosis of esophageal malignancies remains to be a significant challenge. The lack of symptoms and widely applicable, predictive screening tests make their early recognition difficult, however this would be essential for the successful treatment, cost-effective management and the improvement of survival. In this manuscript the author discusses the diagnostic tools available at present and in the near future.

[Comparison of surgical patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease and Barrett's esophagus].

Introduction: Barrett's esophagus (BE) is the only known precursor of adenocarcinoma occuring in the lower third of the esophagus. According to statistics, severity and elapsed time of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are major pathogenetic factors in the development of Barrett's esophagus.

Patients And Methods: In a retrospective study between 2001 and 2008, we compared the preoperative results (signs and sympthoms, 24 hour pH manometry, esophageal manometry, Bilitec) and treatment efficacy of 176 GERD patients and 78 BE patients, who have undergone laparoscopic Nissen procedure for reflux disease.

Role of antispasmodics in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a long-lasting, relapsing disorder characterized by abdominal pain/discomfort and altered bowel habits. Intestinal motility impairment and visceral hypersensitivity are the key factors among its multifactorial pathogenesis, both of which require effective treatment. Voltage-gated calcium channels mediate smooth muscle contraction and endocrine secretion and play important roles in neuronal transmission.

Intraductal acidosis in acute biliary pancreatitis.

Acute pancreatitis recently became the most common cause for hospitalization among gastrointestinal diseases. There is no specific therapy against the disease due to insufficient understanding of pathogenesis. Animal and in vitro models indicated that reduced pancreatic ductal bicarbonate secretion and consequent intraductal acidosis is an early event in acute pancreatitis, but human data are lacking.

Luminal cysteine-proteases degrade colonic tight junction structure and are responsible for abdominal pain in constipation-predominant IBS.

Objectives: Luminal serine-proteases lead to increased colonic paracellular permeability and visceral hypersensitivity in patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D). Other proteases, namely cysteine-proteases (CPs), increase airway permeability by digesting epithelial tight junction proteins. In this study, we focused on constipation-predominant IBS (IBS-C) and we aimed to (i) evaluate CP levels in two cohorts of IBS patients, (ii) test if IBS-C fecal supernatant (FSN) affects permeability, and visceral sensitivity after repeated administrations in mice, and (iii) evaluate occludin expression in IBS-C colonic biopsies.

Fecal MMP-9: a new noninvasive differential diagnostic and activity marker in ulcerative colitis.

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is characterized by frequent relapses, with the presence of colorectal inflammation and mucosal lesions. Matrix-metalloprotease 9 (MMP-9) is elevated in colonic biopsies, urine, and blood plasma of UC patients. MMP-9 has been suggested as a predictor of UC in the urine of children; however, 20% of the controls tested positive.

Leaky gut in patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome and inactive ulcerative colitis.

Background/aims: Defective epithelial barrier has been implicated in the pathogenesis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate gut permeability in patients with inactive ulcerative colitis (UC) and in patients with IBS.

Methods: IBS patients of the diarrhea-predominant (IBS-D) and of the constipation-predominant subgroup (IBS-C), patients with inactive UC and healthy subjects were enrolled.

The effects of laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication on Barrett's esophagus: long-term results.

Objective: The aim of our study was to conduct a retrospective investigation of the efficacy of laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication in patients with Barrett's esophagus.

Material And Methods: A total of 78 patients with Barrett's esophagus underwent surgery. Patients were divided into three groups on the basis of the preoperative endoscopic biopsies: a non-intestinal group (n = 63) with fundic or cardiac metaplasia, an intestinal group (n = 18) with intestinal metaplasia, and a dysplastic group (n = 7) with low-grade dysplasia.

Detailed esophageal function and morphological analysis shows high prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease and Barrett's esophagus in patients with cervical inlet patch.

Although the pathogenesis of cervical inlet patch (CIP) is not fully understood, most authors consider it as a congenital abnormality, whereas others surmise it to be related to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). We aimed to evaluate esophageal function and the prevalence of GERD and Barrett's esophagus in patients with CIP. GERD is defined by the presence of erosive esophagitis or an abnormal pH monitoring.

Proteinase-activated receptor-4 evoked colorectal analgesia in mice: an endogenously activated feed-back loop in visceral inflammatory pain.

Background: Activation of proteinase-activated receptor-4 (PAR-4) from the colonic lumen has an antinociceptive effect to colorectal distension (CRD) in mice in basal conditions. We aimed to determine the functional localization of the responsible receptors and to test their role in two different hyperalgesia models.

Methods: Mice received PAR-4 activating peptide (PAR-4-AP, AYPGKF-NH(2)) or vehicle intraperitoneally (IP), and abdominal EMG response to CRD was measured.