A Novel Convolutional Neural Network Model as an Alternative Approach to Bowel Preparation Evaluation Before Colonoscopy in the COVID-19 Era: A Multicenter, Single-Blinded, Randomized Study.

Introduction: Adequate bowel preparation is key to a successful colonoscopy, which is necessary for detecting adenomas and preventing colorectal cancer. We developed an artificial intelligence (AI) platform using a convolutional neural network (CNN) model (AI-CNN model) to evaluate the quality of bowel preparation before colonoscopy.

Methods: This was a colonoscopist-blinded, randomized study.

[Value of Blood Urea Nitrogen-to-Creatinine Ratio for Differentiating the Site of Gastrointestinal Bleeding and Assessing the Prognosis of Patients with Acute Nonvariceal Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding].

Objective: To explore the diagnostic performance of blood urea nitrogen-to-creatinine (BUN/Cr) ratio in differentiating the site of gastrointestinal bleeding, and to assess the predictive value of early elevated BUN/Cr ratio for clinical outcomes in patients with acute nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (ANVUGIB).

Methods: The adult patients diagnosed with gastrointestinal bleeding who were hospitalized in the Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongshan Hospital, Xiamen University between May 2020 and May 2021 were retrospectively enrolled. According to the site of gastrointestinal bleeding, the patients were divided into the upper gastrointestinal tract group, the proximal small intestinal bleeding group, and the distal small intestinal and colonic bleeding group.

Effects of Proton Pump Inhibitors on the Gastrointestinal Microbiota in Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are commonly used to lessen symptoms in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). However, the effects of PPI therapy on the gastrointestinal microbiota in GERD patients remain unclear. We examined the association between the PPI usage and the microbiota present in gastric mucosal and fecal samples from GERD patients and healthy controls (HCs) using 16S rRNA gene sequencing.

Overlap of gastroesophageal reflux disease and functional bowel disorders in the general Chinese rural population.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of the overlap between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and functional bowel disorders (FBD) in the general population in rural areas in China.

Methods: A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in six villages in Nanmazhuang area in Lankao County (Henan Province, China) from December 2010 to October 2011. The GERD questionnaire (GerdQ) and Rome III criteria were used for the diagnosis of GERD and FBD and to determine the prevalence of GERD-FBD overlap.