Structural or functional abnormality of sphincter of Oddi: an important factor for the recurrence of choledocholithiasis after endoscopic treatment.

A high recurrence rate is undesirable after treatment of common bile duct (CBD) stones. A major risk factor identified for recurrence is that invasive techniques, including surgical or endoscopic treatments, will impair the biliary tract system either by direct incision of the CBD or by cutting or dilating the ampulla of Vater. During endoscopic treatment, two main assisted methods for lithotomy, sphincterotomy and papillary balloon dilation, can result in different degrees of damage to the structure and function of the sphincter of Oddi (SO), contributing to slowing of biliary excretion, cholestasis, biliary bacterial infection, and promotion of bile duct stone recurrence.

Percutaneous transhepatic choledochoscopy in the management of hepatolithiasis: a narrative review.

Background And Objective: From the 1980s and continuing into the 21st century, percutaneous transhepatic choledoscopy (PTCS) has been increasingly used in the clinical management of cholelithiasis. However, when compared to conventional minimally invasive techniques such as endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), PTCS is characterized by greater invasiveness and a higher rate of complications. As a result, PTCS is frequently used as a supplementary treatment option.

Role of Secretory Mucins in the Occurrence and Development of Cholelithiasis.

Cholelithiasis is a common biliary tract disease. However, the exact mechanism underlying gallstone formation remains unclear. Mucin plays a vital role in the nuclear formation and growth of cholesterol and pigment stones.

Cav-1 regulates the bile salt export pump on the canalicular membrane of hepatocytes by PKCα-associated signalling under cholesterol stimulation.

Background And Aims: The secretion of bile salts transported by the bile salt export pump (BSEP) is the primary driving force for the generation of bile flow; thus, it is closely related to the formation of cholesterol stones. Caveolin-1 (Cav-1), an essential player in cell signalling and endocytosis, is known to co-localize with cholesterol-rich membrane domains. This study illustrates the role of Cav-1 and BSEP in cholesterol stone formation.

CHMP3 promotes the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma by inhibiting caspase‑1‑dependent pyroptosis.

Charged multivesicular body protein 3 (CHMP3) is an elemental constituent of the endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT) III, whose function as a tumor susceptibility gene in the development of liver cancer remains unclear. CHMP3 was found to be associated with pyroptosis by bioinformatics analysis of data from patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in The Cancer Genome Atlas database. It was aimed to explore the role and potential mechanisms of CHMP3 in the development of liver cancer.

Resistance to Cholesterol Gallstone Disease: Hepatic Cholesterol Metabolism.

Cholesterol gallstone disease (CGD) is one of the most common digestive diseases, and it is closely associated with hepatic cholesterol metabolism. Cholesterol gallstones may be caused by abnormal hepatic cholesterol metabolism, such as excessive cholesterol biosynthesis within the liver, interfering with the uptake or export of cholesterol in the liver, and abnormal hepatic cholesterol esterification. In this review, we begin with a brief overview of the clinical diagnosis and treatment of gallstone disease (GSD).

Causal association between serum total bilirubin and cholelithiasis: a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Observational studies about the association between serum total bilirubin and cholelithiasis are inconsistent. Hence, it is essential to reevaluate the association between serum total bilirubin and cholelithiasis and to verify whether such association is causal or not.

Methods: We selected single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that are strongly associated with exposure as instrumental variable and conducted a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study to explore the causal association between serum total bilirubin and cholelithiasis.

Effectiveness and safety of central pancreatectomy in benign or low-grade malignant pancreatic body lesions: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The best approach for treating benign or low-grade malignant lesions localized in the pancreatic neck or body remains debatable. Conventional pancreatoduodenectomy and distal pancreatectomy (DP) are associated with a risk of impairment of pancreatic function at long-term follow-up. With advances in technology and surgical skills, the use of central pancreatectomy (CP) has gradually increased.

Comparison of Efficacy and Safety between Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography and Percutaneous Transhepatic Cholangial Drainage for the Treatment of Malignant Obstructive Jaundice: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: At present, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and percutaneous transhepatic cholangial drainage (PTCD) are frequently used for reducing malignant obstructive jaundice (MOJ). However, it is controversial as to which method is superior in terms of efficacy and safety.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the safety, feasibility, and clinical benefits of ERCP and PTCD in matched cases of MOJ.

Macrophages and derived-TNF-α promote lipopolysaccharide-induced upregulation of endogenous β-glucuronidase in the epithelial cells of the bile duct: A possible facilitator of hepatolithiasis formation.

Background: Hepatolithiasis is prevalent in Southeast Asian regions, and the role of endogenous β-glucuronidase (β-GD) in the formation of hepatolithiasis is being gradually recognised. Revealing the regulation mechanism of the expression of endogenous β-GD will provide new therapeutic strategies for intervening in the formation of hepatolithiasis.

Methods: Liver specimens from patients with hepatolithiasis were examined by immunohistochemistry to assess the expression of macrophage markers including CD68, CD80, and CD206, as well as that of TNF-α and endogenous β-GD, compared with that in normal liver samples.

Laparoscopic surgery for gallstones or common bile duct stones: A stably safe and feasible surgical strategy for patients with a history of upper abdominal surgery.

Backgrounds/aims: A history of upper abdominal surgery has been identified as a relative contraindication for laparoscopy. This study aimed to compare the clinical efficacy and safety of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) and laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) in patients with and without previous upper abdominal surgery.

Methods: In total, 131 patients with previous upper abdominal surgery and 64 without upper abdominal surgery underwent LC or LCBDE between September 2017 and September 2021 at the Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University.

Developments in the Diagnosis and Management of Cholecystoenteric Fistula.

Cholecystoenteric fistula (CEF) is a rare complication of cholelithiasis. CEF refers to one or more pathological perforations between the gallbladder and the adjacent gastrointestinal tract, first described by Bartholin in 1645. The aim of this review is to examine the etiology, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of CEF.

Osthole: An up-to-date review of its anticancer potential and mechanisms of action.

With its high incidence and mortality rates, cancer is one of the largest health problems worldwide. Investigating various cancer treatment options has been the focus of many domestic and international researchers, and significant progress has been made in the study of the anticancer effects of traditional Chinese medicines. Osthole, a coumarin compound extracted from .

The safety and feasibility of laparoscopic approach for the management of intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile duct stones in patients with prior biliary tract surgical interventions.

The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of laparoscopic and open reoperation for intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile duct stones patients with previous biliary tract surgical procedures. The clinical data were retrospectively analyzed of intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile duct stones patients with previous biliary tract surgical procedures who underwent reoperation in the Second General Surgery Department of China Medical University from January 2012 to February 2018. 44 eligible cases were selected.

Endoscopic nasobiliary drainage-based saline-injection ultrasound: an imaging technique for remnant stone detection after retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

Background: The purpose of this retrospective study aimed to assess the accuracy of detection of remnant common bile duct (CBD) stones by injecting saline through endoscopic nasobiliary drainage (ENBD) tubes under transabdominal ultrasound (US) guidance.

Method: Stone extraction and ENBD are regularly achieved through endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in patients with CBD stones. At 1-3  days thereafter, routine US studies were performed and repeated, using ENBD tubal saline injections (20-100  mL).

Tetramethylpyrazine: A Review of Its Antitumor Potential and Mechanisms.

Cancer remains a major public health threat. The mitigation of the associated morbidity and mortality remains a major research focus. , cancer is defined as uncontrolled cell division and abnormal cell growth caused by various gene mutations.

MUC2 and related bacterial factors: Therapeutic targets for ulcerative colitis.

The mucin2 (MUC2) mucus barrier acts as the first barrier that prevents direct contact between intestinal bacteria and colonic epithelial cells. Bacterial factors related to the MUC2 mucus barrier play important roles in the response to changes in dietary patterns, MUC2 mucus barrier dysfunction, contact stimulation with colonic epithelial cells, and mucosal and submucosal inflammation during the occurrence and development of ulcerative colitis (UC). In this review, these underlying mechanisms are summarized and updated, and related interventions for treating UC, such as dietary adjustment, exogenous repair of the mucus barrier, microbiota transplantation and targeted elimination of pathogenic bacteria, are suggested.

Advances in the Study of Acute Acalculous Cholecystitis: A Comprehensive Review.

Background: Acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC) is characterized by acute necrotizing inflammation with no calculi and is diagnosed based on imaging, intraoperative, and pathological examinations.

Key Message: Although AAC has been studied clinically for a long time, it remains difficult to diagnose and treat. The pathogenesis of AAC is still not fully understood, and it is often regarded as a relatively independent clinical disease that is different from acute calculous cholecystitis (ACC).

Role of caveolin-1 in human organ function and disease: friend or foe?

Caveolin-1 (Cav-1) is a structural protein component of caveolae, which are invaginations of the plasma membrane involved in various cellular processes, including endocytosis, extracellular matrix organization, cholesterol distribution, cell migration and signaling. Mounting evidence over the last 10-15 years has demonstrated a central role of Cav-1 in many diseases, such as cancer, diabetes and fibrosis. Cav-1 plays positive and negative roles in various diseases through its different regulation pathways.

Role of Forkhead Box O Proteins in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Biology and Progression (Review).

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of malignant tumor of the digestive system, is associated with high morbidity and mortality. The main treatment for HCC is surgical resection. Advanced disease, recurrence, and metastasis are the main factors affecting prognosis.

Cholesterol gallstones: Focusing on the role of interstitial Cajal-like cells.

Cholesterol gallstone (CG) is a common, frequent biliary system disease in China, with a complex and multifactorial etiology. Declined gallbladder motility reportedly contributes to CG pathogenesis. Furthermore, interstitial Cajal-like cells (ICLCs) are reportedly present in human and guinea pig gallbladder tissue.

Biliary Microbiota in Choledocholithiasis and Correlation With Duodenal Microbiota.

Background: The pathogenesis of choledocholithiasis is closely related to the role of bacteria. However, little is known about the predictive role of bile bacteria in clinical conditions of patients and the compositional and functional characteristics of biliary microbiota in choledocholithiasis.

Methods: To investigate the predictive value of biliary bacteria, clinical data of 488 patients with choledocholithiasis were collected.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Male Accessory Breast Cancer: A Comprehensive Systematic Review.

Background: Accessory breast cancer is extremely rare, especially in male patients, and only a few cases have been reported in the literature. To date, no specific guidelines regarding its diagnosis and treatment are available.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of male accessory breast cancer by reviewing the available literature on this disease.

Regulatory mechanisms of the bile salt export pump (BSEP/ABCB11) and its role in related diseases.

The bile salt export pump (BSEP/ABCB11) is located on the apical membrane and mediates the secretion of bile salts from hepatocytes into the bile. BSEP-mediated bile salt efflux is the rate-limiting step of bile salt secretion and the main driving force of bile flow. BSEP drives and maintains the enterohepatic circulation of bile salts.

Curcumin inhibits the proteolytic process of SREBP-2 by first inhibiting the expression of S1P rather than directly inhibiting SREBP-2 expression.

Many studies have demonstrated that curcumin can downregulate mRNA levels of sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBP-2); however, our study did not find similar results. This study was designed to demonstrate that curcumin inhibits the proteolytic process of SREBP-2 by first inhibiting the expression of membrane-bound transcription factor site-1 protease (S1P) rather than directly inhibiting SREBP-2 expression. After curcumin treatment, Caco-2 cells were collected to observe the dose- and time-dependent dynamics of precursor and mature SREBP-2, transcription factor-specific protein 1 (SP-1), and SREBP cleavage-activating protein (SCAP).