Transcriptome analysis suggests broad jejunal alterations in Linghu’s obesity-diarrhea syndrome:A pilot study

BACKGROUND Obesity is associated with a significantly increased risk for chronic diarrhea,which has been proposed as Linghu’s obesity-diarrhea syndrome(ODS);however,its molecular mechanisms are largely unknown.AIM To reveal the transcriptomic changes in the jejunum involved in ODS.METHODS In a cohort of 6 ODS patients(JOD group),6 obese people without diarrhea(JO group),and 6 healthy controls(JC group),high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics analyses were performed to identify jejunal mucosal mRNA expression alterations and dysfunctional biological processes.In another cohort of 16 ODS patients(SOD group),16 obese people without diarrhea(SO group),and 16 healthy controls(SC group),serum diamine oxidase(DAO)and D-lactate(DLA)concentrations were detected to assess changes in intestinal barrier function.RESULTS The gene expression profiles of jejunal mucosa in the JO and JC groups were similar,with only 1 differentially expressed gene(DEG).The gene expression profile of the JOD group was significantly changed,with 411 DEGs compared with the JO group and 211 DEGs compared with the JC group,129 of which overlapped.The enrichment analysis of these DEGs showed that the biological processes such as digestion,absorption,and transport of nutrients(especially lipids)tended to be up-regulated in the JOD group,while the biological processes such as rRNA processing,mitochondrial translation,antimicrobial humoral response,DNA replication,and DNA repair tended to be down-regulated in the JOD group.Eight DEGs(CDT1,NHP2,EXOSC5,EPN3,NME1,REG3A,PLA2G2A,and PRSS2)may play a key regulatory role in the pathological process of ODS,and their expression levels were significantly decreased in ODS patients(P<0.001).In the second cohort,compared with healthy controls,the levels of serum intestinal barrier function markers(DAO and D-LA)were significantly increased in all obese individuals(P<0.01),but were higher in the SOD group than in the SO group(P<0.001).CONCLUSION Compared with healthy controls and obese individuals without diarrhea,patients with Linghu’s ODS had extensive transcriptomic changes in the jejunal mucosa,likely affecting intestinal barrier function and thus contributing to the obesity and chronic diarrhea phenotypes.

SGK3 overexpression correlates with a poor prognosis in endoscopically resected superficial esophageal squamous cell neoplasia:A long-term study

BACKGROUND The expression status of serum and glucocorticoid-induced protein kinase 3(SGK3)in superficial esophageal squamous cell neoplasia(ESCN)remains unknown.AIM To evaluate the SGK3 overexpression rate in ESCN and its influence on the prognosis and outcomes of patients with endoscopic resection.METHODS A total of 92 patients who had undergone endoscopic resection for ESCN with more than 8 years of follow-up were enrolled.Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate SGK3 expression.RESULTS SGK3 was overexpressed in 55(59.8%)patients with ESCN.SGK3 overexpression showed a significant correlation with death(P=0.031).Overall survival and disease-free survival rates were higher in the normal SGK3 expression group than in the SGK3 overexpression group(P=0.013 and P=0.004,respectively).Cox regression analysis models demonstrated that SGK3 overexpression was an independent predictor of poor prognosis in ESCN patients(hazard ratio 4.729;95% confidence interval:1.042-21.458).CONCLUSION SGK3 overexpression was detected in the majority of patients with endoscopically resected ESCN and was significantly associated with shortened survival.Thus,it might be a new prognostic factor for ESCN.

Interventional radiology followed by endoscopic drainage for pancreatic fluid collections associated with high bleeding risk: Two case reports

BACKGROUND Endoscopic ultrasound(EUS)-guided transluminal drainage is an advanced technique used to treat pancreatic fluid collections(PFCs). However, gastric varices and intervening vessels may be associated with a high risk of bleeding and are, therefore, listed as relative contraindications. Herein, we report two patients who underwent interventional embolization before EUS-guided drainage.CASE SUMMARY Two 32-year-old males developed symptomatic PFCs after acute pancreatitis and came to our hospital for further treatment. One patient suffered from intermittent abdominal pain and vomiting, and computed tomography(CT) imaging showed an encapsulated cyst 7.93 cm × 6.13 cm in size. The other patient complained of a mass inside the abdomen, which gradually became enlarged. Gastric varices around the ideal puncture site were detected by EUS when we evaluated the possibility of endoscopic drainage in both patients. Interventional embolization was recommended as the first procedure to decrease the risk of bleeding. After that, EUS-guided transluminal drainage was successfully conducted, without vascular rupture. No postoperative complications occurred during hospitalization, and no recurrence was detected at the last follow-up CT scan performed at 1 mo.CONCLUSION Interventional embolization is a safe, preoperative procedure that is performed before EUS-guided drainage in PFC patients with gastric varices or at high risk of bleeding.

pH Induced Self-assembly of AIE Fluorescent Probe for Tumor Imaging

This work reported an AIE fluorescent probe for tumor imaging based on the p H induced self-assembly strategy. The fluorescent probe was composed of an acid-responsive soluble copolymer PEG-b-PAMA-DMMA with a maleic acid amide group and an anionic soluble aggregation-induced emission fluorogen(AIEgen) TPE-2SO_(3)^(-). The polymer could be transformed into a protonated amine-containing polymer after the hydrolysis of maleic acid amide in acidic tumor microenvironment, which would be further self-assembled with TPE-2SO_(3)^(-)to form aggregated nanoparticles. The transition of TPE-2SO_(3)^(-)from dispersed state to aggregated state led to an obvious increase in fluorescence intensity due to its AIE characteristics.