Comparing gastrointestinal dysfunction score and acute gastrointestinal injury grade for predicting short-term mortality in critically ill patients

BACKGROUND The prognosis of critically ill patients is closely linked to their gastrointestinal(GI)function.The acute GI injury(AGI)grading system,established in 2012,is extensively utilized to evaluate GI dysfunction and forecast outcomes in clinical settings.In 2021,the GI dysfunction score(GIDS)was developed,building on the AGI grading system,to enhance the accuracy of GI dysfunction severity assessment,improve prognostic predictions,reduce subjectivity,and increase reproducibility.AIM To compare the predictive capabilities of GIDS and the AGI grading system for 28-day mortality in critically ill patients.METHODS A retrospective study was conducted at the general intensive care unit(ICU)of a regional university hospital.All data were collected during the first week of ICU admission.The primary outcome was 28-day mortality.Multivariable logistic regression analyzed whether GIDS and AGI grade were independent risk factors for 28-day mortality.The predictive abilities of GIDS and AGI grade were compared using the receiver operating characteristic curve,with DeLong’s test assessing differences between the curves’areas.RESULTS The incidence of AGI in the first week of ICU admission was 92.13%.There were 85 deaths(47.75%)within 28 days of ICU admission.There was no initial 24-hour difference in GIDS between the non-survival and survival groups.Both GIDS(OR 2.01,95%CI:1.25-3.24;P=0.004)and AGI grade(OR 1.94,95%CI:1.12-3.38;P=0.019)were independent predictors of 28-day mortality.No significant difference was found between the predictive accuracy of GIDS and AGI grade for 28-day mortality during the first week of ICU admission(Z=-0.26,P=0.794).CONCLUSION GIDS within the first 24 hours was an unreliable predictor of 28-day mortality.The predictive accuracy for 28-day mortality from both systems during the first week was comparable.

Prognostic factors associated with gastrointestinal dysfunction after gastrointestinal tumor surgery:A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Explore the risk factors of gastrointestinal dysfunction after gastrointestinal tumor surgery and to provide evidence for the prevention and intervention of gastrointestinal dysfunction in patients with gastrointestinal tumor surgery.AIM To investigate the potential risk factors for gastrointestinal dysfunction following gastrointestinal tumor surgery and to present information supporting the prevention and management of gastrointestinal dysfunction in surgery patients.METHODS Systematically searched the relevant literature from PubMed,Web of Science,Cochrane Library,Embase,CNKI,China Biomedical Database,Wanfang Database,and Weipu Chinese Journal Database self-established until October 1,2022.Review Manager 5.3 software was used for meta-analysis after two researchers independently screened literature,extracted data,and evaluated the risk of bias in the included studies.RESULTS A total of 23 pieces of literature were included,the quality of which was medium or above,and the total sample size was 43878.The results of meta-analysis showed that the patients were male(OR=1.58,95%CI:1.25-2.01,P=0.002)and≥60 years old(OR=2.60,95%CI:1.76-2.87,P<0.001),physical index≥25.3 kg/m2(OR=1.6,95%CI:1.00-1.12,P=0.040),smoking history(OR=1.89,95%CI:1.31-2.73,P<0.001),chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(OR=1.49,95%CI:1.22-1.83,P<0.001),enterostomy(OR=1.47,95%CI:1.26-1.70,P<0.001),history of abdominal surgery(OR=2.90,95%CI:1.67-5.03,P<0.001),surgical site(OR=1.2,95%CI:1.40-2.62,P<0.001),operation method(OR=1.68,95%CI:1.08-2.62,P=0.020),operation duration(OR=2.65,95%CI:1.92-3.67,P<0.001),abdominal adhesion grade(OR=2.52,95%CI:1.90-3.56,P<0.001),postoperative opioid history(OR=5.35,95%CI:3.29-8.71,P<0.001),tumor TNM staging(OR=2.58,95%CI:1.84-3.62,P<0.001),postoperative blood transfusion(OR=2.92,95%CI:0.88-9.73,P=0.010)is a risk factor for postoperative gastrointestinal dysfunction in patients with gastrointestinal tumors.CONCLUSION There are many factors affecting gastrointestinal dysfunction in gastrointestinal patients after surgery.Clinical staff should identify relevant risk factors early and implement targeted intervention measures on the basis of personalized assessment to improve the clinical prognosis of patients.

Clinical Evaluation of Enteral Nutrition+Probiotics in the Treatment of Gastrointestinal Dysfunction After Severe Traumatic Brain Injury

Objective:To evaluate the therapeutic effect of enteral nutrition+probiotics in patients with gastrointestinal dysfunction after severe craniocerebral injury.Methods:From September 2018 to February 2023,80 patients(20-82 years old)with gastrointestinal dysfunction who were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at the Third People’s Hospital of Xining were included in the study.Their primary condition was severe craniocerebral injury,and all of them received conventional symptomatic treatment.Group A received enteral nutrition+probiotic therapy,whereas group B received enteral nutrition only.The differences in the following indicators were compared before and after treatment:nutritional and biochemical indicators,gastrointestinal function indicators,Glasgow Coma Scale(GCS),Sequential Organ Failure Assessment(SOFA),APACHE II score,serum procalcitonin(PCT),neutrophil(N)ratio,and C reactive protein(CRP).Result:The nutritional and biochemical indicators in group A were higher than those in group B,P<0.05;the time to first passage of flatus,time to first passage of stool,and bowel sound recovery time in group A were shorter than those in group B,P<0.05;the GCS of group A was higher than that of group B,P<0.05;the SOFA and APACHEⅡscores of group A were not different from those of group B,P>0.05;and the PCT,N ratio,and CRP levels of group A were lower than those of group B,P<0.05.Conclusion:In patients with gastrointestinal dysfunction after severe craniocerebral injury,enteral nutrition+probiotic therapy is highly effective and feasible,as it can optimize various nutritional indicators,shorten the gastrointestinal function recovery time,and reduce the body’s stress response.

Gastrointestinal dysfunction is associated with mortality in severe burn patients:a 10-year retrospective observational study from South China

Background:Data on severe and extensive burns in China are limited,as is data on the prevalence of a range of related gastrointestinal(GI)disorders[such as stress ulcers,delayed defecation,opioid-related bowel immotility,and abdominal compartment syndrome(ACS)].We present a multicentre analysis of coincident GI dysfunction and its effect on burn-related mortality.Methods:This retrospective analysis was conducted on patients with severe[≥20%total burn surface area(TBSA)]and extensive(>50%TBSA or>25%full-thickness TBSA)burns admitted to three university teaching institutions in China between January 1,2011 and December 31,2020.Both 30-and 90-day mortality were assessed by collating demographic data,burn causes,admission TBSA,%full-thickness TBSA,Baux score,Abbreviated Burn Severity Index(ABSI)score,and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment(SOFA)score,shock at admission and the presence of an inhalation injury.GI dysfunction included abdominal distension,nausea/vomiting,diarrhoea/constipation,GI ulcer/haemorrhage,paralytic ileus,feeding intolerance and ACS.Surgeries,length of intensive care unit(ICU)stay,pain control[in morphine milligram equivalents(MME)]and overall length of hospital stay(LOHS)were recorded.Results:We analyzed 328 patients[75.6%male,mean age:(41.6±13.6)years]with a median TBSA of 62.0%(41.0%–80.0%);256(78.0%)patients presented with extensive burns.The 90-day mortality was 23.2%(76/328),with 64(84.2%)of these deaths occurring within 30 d and 25(32.9%)occurring within 7 d.GI dysfunction was experienced by 45.4%of patients and had a significant effect on 90-day mortality[odds ratio(OR)=14.070,95%confidence interval(CI)5.886–38.290,P<0.001].Multivariate analysis showed that GI dysfunction was associated with admission SOFA score and%full-thickness TBSA.Overall,88.2%(67/76)of deceased patients had GI dysfunction[hazard ratio(HR)for death of GI dysfunction=5.951],with a survival advantage for functional disorders(diarrhoea,constipation,or nausea/vomiting)over GI ulcer/haemorrhage(P<0.001).Conclusion:Patients with severe burns have an unfavourable prognosis,as nearly one-fifth died within 90 d.Half of our patients had comorbidities related to GI dysfunction,among which GI ulcers and haemorrhages were independently correlated with 90-day mortality.More attention should be given to severe burn patients with GI dysfunction.

A randomized placebo-controlled trial of Chinese medicine acupoint application on gastrointestinal dysfunction after appendectomy

Background:Gastrointestinal dysfunction is one of the common complications of appendectomy,which seriously affects the postoperative recovery and clinical prognosis.Through traditional Chinese medicine acupoint application is suggested for managing postoperative gastrointestinal dysfunction,supporting evidence is weak.Here,the prospective randomized placebo-controlled study was designed to provide high-level evidence regarding whether traditional Chinese medicine acupoint application is effective on the gastrointestinal dysfunction after appendectomy.Methods:A total of 60 patients who underwent appendectomy in Dongfang Hospital Beijing University of Chinese Medicine(Beijing,China)from November 2016 to December 2017 were selected as study objects and randomly divided into control group(n=30)and observation group(n=30).Based on routine postoperative care,the acupoints Zusanli(ST36)and Yongquan(KI1)were selected.The control group was given acupoint application of traditional Chinese medicine placebo and the observation group was given acupoint application of clinical empirical Chinese medicine called Wentongliqi prescription.The course of treatment was performed on the 1st,2nd,and 3rd days after appendectomy,once a day and 4 hours each time.The primary outcome includes the time until the recovery time of bowel sounds(h),the first postoperative flatus(h)and first bowel movement time(h)on the 1st,2nd,and 3rd days after appendectomy.The secondary outcome includes clinical symptom score,life ability score and adverse reactions were observed and recorded on the 1st,2nd,and 3rd days after appendectomy.Results:After treatment,the recovery time of intestinal sound in the observation group was earlier than that in the control group(P<0.05).However,there were no significant difference between the two groups in first anal exhaust time and first bowel movement time,clinical symptom scores and life ability scores between the two groups before and after treatment(P>0.05).Conclusion:Acupoint application therapy has limited effect on the recovery of gastrointestinal dysfunction after appendectomy.Further study with large sample size is needed to confirm its therapeutic effects.

Effect of self-made exhaust plaster on patients with gastrointestinal dysfunction after gynecological operation

Objective:To explore the effect of self-made exhaust patch(SMEP)on gastrointestinal dysfunction after gynecological operation.Methods:A total of 200 patients with gynecological operation in the gynecological ward of Shandong Changle People's Hospital were randomly divided into the control group(n=100)and the treatment group(n=100).The recovery time of bowel sounds,the time of first anal exhaust,the duration of abdominal distention,the duration of abdominal pain,the incidence of abdominal distention and abdominal pain and linical efficacy of SMEP were observed.Results:Compared with the control group,the recovery time of gastrointestinal function and the first anal exhaust time in the treatment group were shorter;the duration of abdominal distention and abdominal pain in the treatment group were shorter than those in the control group(P<0.05);Cure rate of abdominal distention in the treatment is 62.5%and cure rate of abdominal pain in the treatment is 60%within 72 hours after operation,which is higher than that in the control group(44.%,45.9%).Conclusion:The results showed that the self-made exhaust patch can improve the clinical symptoms of patients after gynecological abdominal surgery,and the self-made exhaust patch had a significant effect on gastrointestinal dysfunction after gynecological surgery,which was worthy of clinical promotion.

Mechanisms of gastrointestinal barrier dysfunction in COVID-19 patients

Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2)has become a major global public health event,resulting in a significant social and economic burden.Although COVID-19 was initially characterized as an upper respiratory and pulmonary infection,recent evidence suggests that it is a complex disease including gastrointestinal symptoms,such as diarrhea,nausea,and vomiting.Moreover,it remains unclear whether the gastrointestinal symptoms are caused by direct infection of the gastrointestinal tract by SARS-CoV-2 or are the result of systemic immune activation and subsequent dysregulation of homeostatic mechanisms.This review provides a brief overview of the mechanisms by which SARS-CoV-2 disrupts the integrity of the gastrointestinal barrier including the mechanical barrier,chemical barrier,microbial barrier,and immune barrier.

COVID-19-induced gastrointestinal autonomic dysfunction:A systematic review

BACKGROUND It is common for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2)infection to occur in the gastrointestinal tract,which can present itself as an initial symptom.The severity of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)is often reflected in the prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms.COVID-19 can damage the nerve supply to the digestive system,leading to gastrointestinal autonomic dysfunction.There is still much to learn about how COVID-19 affects the autonomic nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract.AIM To thoroughly explore the epidemiology and clinical aspects of COVID-19-induced gastrointestinal autonomic dysfunction,including its manifestations,potential mechanisms,diagnosis,differential diagnosis,impact on quality of life,prognosis,and management and prevention strategies.METHODS We conducted a thorough systematic search across various databases and performed an extensive literature review.Our review encompassed 113 studies published in English from January 2000 to April 18,2023.RESULTS According to most of the literature,gastrointestinal autonomic dysfunction can seriously affect a patient's quality of life and ultimate prognosis.Numerous factors can influence gastrointestinal autonomic nervous functions.Studies have shown that SARS-CoV-2 has a well-documented affinity for both neural and gastrointestinal tissues,and the virus can produce various gastrointestinal symptoms by reaching neural tissues through different pathways.These symptoms include anorexia,dysgeusia,heartburn,belching,chest pain,regurgitation,vomiting,epigastric burn,diarrhea,abdominal pain,bloating,irregular bowel movements,and constipation.Diarrhea is the most prevalent symptom,followed by anorexia,nausea,vomiting,and abdominal pain.Although COVID-19 vaccination may rarely induce autonomic dysfunction and gastrointestinal symptoms,COVID-19-induced autonomic effects significantly impact the patient's condition,general health,prognosis,and quality of life.Early diagnosis and proper recognition are crucial for improving outcomes.It is important to consider the differential diagnosis,as these symptoms may be induced by diseases other than COVID-19-induced autonomic dysfunction.Treating this dysfunction can be a challenging task.CONCLUSION To ensure the best possible outcomes for COVID-19 patients,it is essential to take a multidisciplinary approach involving providing supportive care,treating the underlying infection,managing dysfunction,monitoring for complications,and offering nutritional support.Close monitoring of the patient's condition is crucial,and prompt intervention should be taken if necessary.Furthermore,conducting thorough research on the gastrointestinal autonomic dysfunction caused by COVID-19 is vital to manage it effectively.

Effect of Rhubarb on Gastrointestinal Dysfunction in Critically III Patients： A Retrospective Study Based on Propensity Score Matching

Background： Gastrointestinal dysfunction plays a critical role in the prognosis of critically ill patients. Previous studies showed rhubarb, a traditional Chinese herb, can protect the intestinal barrier function, prevent intestinal bacterial translocation, and promote gastrointestinal peristalsis, but the clinical studies are less. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of rhubarb on gastrointestinal dysfunction in critically ill patients. Methods： From June 2015 to May 2017, a total of 368 critically ill patients with Grade I III acute gastrointestinal injury （AGI） were enrolled in this study. Patients were divided into two groups according to the exposure factors （whether the patients received rhubarb treatment）： the rhubarb group and the usual treatment group. Clinical data were collected within the first 24 h of the Intensive Care Unit （ICU） admission and 7 days after treatment. Survival data on day 28 after ICU admission and the durations oflCU and total hospitalization were also collected. Propensity score matching （PSM） was conducted to reduce confounding bias between the groups. The logistic regression was conducted to screen the influence factors. Results： The eligible patients were divided into rhubarb group （n = 219, 59.5%） and usual treatment group （n = 149, 40.5%）. Betbre PSM, the remission rate of feeding intolerance in rhubarb group and usual treatment group were 59.8% and 39.6%, respectively. After PSM, the remission rate of feeding intolerance in rhubarb group and usual treatment group was 77.9% and 30.9%, respectively. The remission rates of feeding intolerance in rhubarb group were significantly higher than those in the usual treatment group （all P 〈 0.05）. Compared with the usual treatment group, the rhubarb group had a higher rate of AGI improvement, lower level of C-reactive protein, shorter stay in ICU before and after PSM （P 〈 0.05）. There was no significant difference in 28-day mortality between rhubarb and usual treatment groups before and after PSM （48 vs. 33, P 0.959; and 16 vs. 21, P = 0.335）. The logistic regression analysis showed that the single factor, whether receiving rhubarb therapy, affected the proportion of patients whose enteral nutrition needs ≥83.7 kJ·kg^-1d^-1 after 7 days of treatment （odds ratio： 7.908, 95% confidence interval： 3.661-17.083, P 〈 0.001）. No serious adverse effects were found in two groups. Conclusions： The rhubarb might significantly improve feeding tolerance and relieve gastrointestinal dysfunction in critically ill patients, without serious adverse reactions. It provided proof for the treatment of gastrointestinal dysfunction with rhubarb during clinical practice.

Electroacupuncture for the prevention of postoperative gastrointestinal dysfunction in patients undergoing vascular surgery under general anesthesia: study protocol for a prospective practical randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND： Postoperative gastrointestinal dysfunction（PGD） is one of the most common complications following major surgeries under general anesthesia（GA）. Despite ongoing research and new drug treatments, abdominal distension within 24 h postoperatively occurs in 8%–28% of all surgeries. We aim to analyze the effectiveness of preventing PGD by preoperatively stimulating Neiguan（PC6）, Zusanli（ST36） and Shangjuxu（ST37） bilaterally twice a day compared with sham-acupuncture treatment and standard treatment.METHODS AND DESIGN： This is a single-center, prospective practical randomized controlled trial. All groups will be given standard treatments. Patients undergoing vascular surgery under GA will be included from the Vascular Surgery Unit in West China Hospital of Sichuan University, China, and divided into three groups. The experimental group will receive routine treatments and acupuncture at PC6, ST36 and ST37 bilaterally with electrical stimulation twice a day for 20 min preoperatively. The sham-acupuncture group will receive pseudo-electroacupuncture at sham acupoints of PC6, ST36 and ST37, which are 1 cun away from the real acupoints. The routine-treatment group will not receive electroacupuncture. The outcomes include the incidence of abdominal distention, abdominal circumference, the degree of abdominal distension, the fi rst time of fl atus and defecation, and hospitalization duration. DISCUSSION： The results from this study will demonstrate whether preoperative electroacupuncture is an effective method for the prevention of PGD in patients undergoing vascular surgery under GA. This study may also provide a standardized acupuncture treatment for reduction of PGD. TRIAL REGISTRATION： This study is registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry： Chi CTR-TRC-13003649.

Severity of acute gastrointestinal injury grade is a good predictor of mortality in critically ill patients with acute pancreatitis

BACKGROUND Gastrointestinal(GI)dysfunction is a common and important complication of acute pancreatitis(AP),especially in patients with severe AP.Despite this,there is no consensus means of obtaining a precise assessment of GI function.AIM To determine the association between acute gastrointestinal injury(AGI)grade and clinical outcomes in critically ill patients with AP.METHODS Patients with AP admitted to our pancreatic intensive care unit from May 2017 to May 2019 were enrolled.GI function was assessed according to the AGI grade proposed by the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine in 2012,which is mainly based on GI symptoms,intra-abdominal pressure,and feeding intolerance in the first week of admission to the intensive care unit.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the association between AGI grade and clinical outcomes in critically ill patients with AP.RESULTS Among the 286 patients included,the distribution of patients with various AGI grades was 34.62%with grade I,22.03%with grade II,32.52%with grade III,and 10.84%with grade IV.The distribution of mortality was 0%among those with grade I,6.35%among those with grade II,30.11%among those with grade III,and 61.29%among those with grade IV,and AGI grade was positively correlated with mortality(χ2=31.511,P<0.0001).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age,serum calcium level,AGI grade,persistent renal failure,and persistent circulatory failure were independently associated with mortality.Compared with the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score(area under the curve:0.739 vs 0.854;P<0.05)and Ranson score(area under the curve:0.72 vs 0.854;P<0.01),the AGI grade was more useful for predicting mortality.CONCLUSION AGI grade is useful for identifying the severity of GI dysfunction and can be used as a predictor of mortality in critically ill patients with AP.

Effect of Biostimble Therapy on Gastrointestinal Function Recovery after Gynecological Surgery

Objective:To clarify the effectiveness and safety of the Biostimble therapeutic instrument in postoperative gastrointestinal dysfunction in gynecology.Methods:Eighty cases of gynecological surgery patients from Changle County People's Hospital in Shandong Province were selected and divided into the experimental group and the control group,with 40 patients in each group.Low-frequency pulse electrical stimulation on the Zu San Li acupoint with Biostimble therapy instrument was carried in the experimental group.Electrode pads were arranged at the location of the bilateral Zu San Li acupoints,and the Biostimble treatment was applied twice a day for 30 minutes each time.The patients in the control group received stand postoperative nursing.The time of first anal venting,the time of recovery of bowel sounds,the duration of abdominal distension,the duration of abdominal pain,and the postoperative symptom score were observed in the two groups.Adverse events were recorded.Results:Compared to the control group,the experimental group demonstrated significantly shorter bowel sound recovery time,first anal exhaust time(all P<0.001).The duration of abdominal distension was 23.79±5.12 hours,and the duration of abdominal pain was 30.15±4.24 hours in the experimental group.While the duration of abdominal distension was 29.07±5.06 hours,and the duration of abdominal pain was 37.17±5.24 hours in the control group.There was a significant difference between the two groups(All P<0.001).The mean postoperative symptoms scores in the experimental group(1.17±1.03)were lower than those in the control group(2.08±1.71)at the 72-hour after the operation(P=0.005).The complete recovery rate in the experimental group was higher than that in the control group.The difference in treatment outcome between experimental and control was statistically significant(P=0.013).Conclusion:Biostimble therapy instrument electrostimulation on Zu San Li acupoints can promote rapid recovery of gastrointestinal function in patients after general gynecological surgery.

Duodenal perforation after organophosphorus poisoning: A case report

BACKGROUND Organophosphorus poisoning(OP)is one of the common critical conditions in emergency departments in China,which is usually caused by suicide by taking oral drugs.Patients with severe OP have disturbance of consciousness,respiratory failure,toxic shock,gastrointestinal dysfunction,and so on.As far as we know,the perforation of the duodenum caused by OP has not been reported yet.CASE SUMMARY A 33-year-old male patient suffered from acute severe OP,associated with abdominal pain.Multiple computed tomography scans of the upper abdomen showed no evidence of intestinal perforation.However,retrograde digital subtraction angiography,performed via an abdominal drainage tube,revealed duodenal perforation.After conservative treatment,the symptoms eased and the patient was discharged from hospital.CONCLUSION Clinicians should pay close attention to gastrointestinal dysfunction and abdominal signs in patients with severe OP.If clinical manifestation and vital signs cannot be explained by common complications,stress duodenal ulcer or perforation should be highly suspected.

Sclerosing angiomatoid nodular transformation of the spleen, a rare cause for splenectomy: Two case reports

BACKGROUND Sclerosing angiomatoid nodular transformation(SANT)is a rare benign disease of the spleen with unknown origin.Clinical symptoms are inhomogeneous,and suspicious splenic lesion often found incidentally,leading to splenectomy,as malignancy cannot securely be ruled out.Diagnosis is made histologically after resection.CASE SUMMARY Two cases of German,white,non-smoking,and non-drinking patients of normal weight are presented.The first one is a 26-year-old man without medical history who was exhibiting an undesired weight loss of 10 kg and recurring vomiting for about 18 mo.The second one is a 65-year-old woman with hypertension who had previously undergone gynecological surgery,suffering from a lasting feeling of abdominal fullness.Both showed radiologically an inhomogeneous splenic lesion leading to splenectomy approximately 6 and 9 wk after surgical presentation.Both diagnoses of SANT were made histologically.Follow-up went well,and both were treated according to the recommendation for asplenic patients.CONCLUSION SANT is a rare cause of splenectomy and an incidental histological finding.Further research should focus on clinical and radiological diagnosis of SANT as well as on treatment of patients with asymptomatic and small findings.

Retrospective Analysis of 128 Patients of Acupuncture Consultation After Pancreatic Surgery

This study was conducted to analyze and summaries the current situation of acupuncture post-operative consultation of pancreatic cancer patients in the Qilu hospital of Shandong University,further provide a reference for acupuncture treatment of post-operative complications after pancreatic surgery,especially the effect of acupuncture in treating gastrointestinal dysfunction after pancreatic surgery.The consultation reasons,diagnosis,treatments,patient compliance,and the effect of acupuncture treatment of post-operative was studied and analyzed in 128 cases from October 9,2020 to October 9,2021.A total of 128 patients was selected for this study,and 116 of the patients were completely treated.This study showed that the effective rate of acupuncture;For early post-operative inflammatory bowel obstruction was 94.85%;For post-operative gastric emptying dysfunction was 81.25%;For early post-operative inflammatory bowel obstruction with gastric emptying disorder was 66.67%;and Clinical total effective rate was 91.38%.This study concluded that acupuncture may promote pancreatic gastrointestinal function rehabilitation,and provide a new method to enhance the patient’s recovery after surgery.

Pathophysiology of constipation in the older adult

This review provides information on the definition of constipation, normal continence and defecation and a description of the pathophysiologic mechanisms of constipation. In addition, changes in the anatomy and physiology of the lower gastrointestinal tract associated with aging that may contribute to constipation are described. MEDLINE (1966-2007) and CINAHL (1980-2007) were searched. The following MeSH terms were used: constipation/etiology OR constipation/ physiology OR constipation/physiopathology) AND (age factors OR aged OR older OR 80 and over OR middle age). Constipation is not well defined in the literature. While self-reported constipation increases with age, findings from a limited number of clinical studies that utilized objective measures do not support this association. Dysmotility and pelvic floor dysfunction are important mechanisms associated with constipation. Changes in GI function associated with aging appear to be relatively subtle based on a limited amount of conflicting data. Additional research is warranted on the effects of aging on GI function, as well as on the timing of these changes.

Prediction of mechanical ventilation outcome by early abdominal-visceral-blood-flow-and-function score in critically ill patients after cardiopulmonary bypass in the ICU: A prospective observational study

Background:Abdominal organs are important organs that sense and respond to ischemia and hypoxia,but there are few evaluation methods.We use ultrasonography to evaluate abdominal organ function and blood flow in patients with mechanical ventilation(MV)after cardiopulmonary bypass and to obtain a semiquantitative score for abdominal organ function and blood flow.Methods:Patients with cardiopulmonary bypass in the Critical Care Department of Peking Union Medical College Hospital in China from March to July 2021 were enrolled in this prospective observational study.The correlation of the abdominal-visceral-blood-flow-and-function score(AVBFS)with the duration of MV,number of days spent in the intensive care unit(ICU),acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II(APACHE-II),sequential organ failure assessment(SOFA),lactate,epinephrine,and norepinephrine use was analyzed,and the results were used to assess the predictive value of the receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC)regression analysis score for the duration of MV.Results:Of the 92 patients who underwent cardiopulmonary bypass,41 were finally included.The AVBFS were significantly correlated with the duration of MV,number of days spent in the ICU,APACHE-II score,SOFA score,and norepinephrine use time.The AVBFS in a group of patients using ventilators≥36 h were significantly higher than those obtained for a group of patients using ventilators<36 h(P<0.05).The evaluation results for the AVBFS at 0-12 h after ICU admission were as follows:area under the ROC curve(AUC)=0.876(95%confidence interval[CI]:0.767 to 0.984),cut-off value=2.5,specificity=0.842,and sensitivity=0.773.Conclusions:Abdominal visceral organ function and blood perfusion can be used to evaluate gastrointestinal function.It is related to early and late extubation after cardiac surgery.

Evaluation of clinical application of ESICM acute gastrointestinal injury grading system： a single-center observational study

Background In 2012,the working group on abdominal problems of the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine （ESICM） proposed a definition and also guidelines for the grading system and treatment of acute gastrointestinal injury （AGI）.Until now,clinical reports on this topic have not been available,and the practicality of using the AGI grading system requires further validation in the clinic.Therefore,we conducted this study to evaluate the feasibility of utilizing the current AGI grading system in a clinical environment,and to provide evidence for its usefulness in assessing the severity and prognosis of critically ill patients with gastrointestinal dysfunction.Methods A total of 133 patients were examined for the presence or absence of AGI,their scores on the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation （APACHE） Ⅱ and Lausanne Intestinal Failure Estimation （LIFE） test,and 28 days mortality.The presence and severity of AGI was based on guidelines provided by the ESICM.The patients were assigned to a NOAGI group （n=50） or an AGI group （n=83）.The AGI group was then further divided into three subgroups,consisting ofAGI Ⅰ （risk group,n=38）,AGI Ⅱ （gastrointestinal dysfunction group,n=33） and AGI Ⅲ＋AGI Ⅳ （gastrointestinal failure group,n=12）.These subgroups were then compared for differences in AGI indicators.Results There were no statistically significant differences between the AGI group and the NO-AGI group in terms of age,gender,APACHE Ⅱ score or LIFE score （P ＞ 0.05）; however,the two groups showed a significant difference in their respective rates of 28 days mortality （32.5％ in the AGI group vs.8.0％ in the NO-AGI group （P ＜ 0.05））.Patients in the three AGI subgroups showed significant differences in their 28 d mortality rates,APACHE Ⅱ,and LIFE scores.AGI grading system showed strong positive correlations with APACHE Ⅱ and LIFE scores （P ＜ 0.05）.Conclusions The currentAGI grading system can be used to identify and evaluate gastrointestinal dysfunction in critically ill patients,and also to provide a preliminary assessment regarding the prognosis for patients with different grades of AGI.

Structural changes of gut microbiota in Parkinson's disease and its correlation with clinical features

The aim of this study was to compare the structure of gut microbiota in Parkinson's disease(PD) patients and healthy controls;and to explore correlations between gut microbiota and PD clinical features. We analyzed fecal bacterial composition of 24 PD patients and 14 healthy volunteers by using 16 S rRNA sequencing. There were significant differences between PD and healthy controls, as well as among different PD stages. The putative cellulose degrading bacteria from the genera Blautia(P=0.018),Faecalibacterium(P=0.048) and Ruminococcus(P=0.019) were significantly decreased in PD compared to healthy controls.The putative pathobionts from the genera Escherichia-Shigella(P=0.038), Streptococcus(P=0.01), Proteus(P=0.022), and Enterococcus(P=0.006) were significantly increased in PD subjects. Correlation analysis indicated that disease severity and PD duration negatively correlated with the putative cellulose degraders, and positively correlated with the putative pathobionts. The results suggest that structural changes of gut microbiota in PD are characterized by the decreases of putative cellulose degraders and the increases of putative pathobionts, which may potentially reduce the production of short chain fatty acids, and produce more endotoxins and neurotoxins; and these changes is potentially associated with the development of PD pathology.

Novel compound FLZ alleviates rotenoneinduced PD mouse model by suppressing TLR4/MyD88/NF-kB pathway through microbiotaegutebrain axis

Parkinson’s disease(PD)is the second most common neurodegenerative disease,but none of the current treatments for PD can halt the progress of the disease due to the limited understanding of the pathogenesis.In PD development,the communication between the brain and the gastrointestinal system influenced by gut microbiota is known as microbiota-gut-brain axis.However,the explicit mechanisms of microbiota dysbiosis in PD development have not been well elucidated yet.FLZ,a novel squamosamide derivative,has been proved to be effective in many PD models and is undergoing the phase I clinical trial to treat PD in China.Moreover,our previous pharmacokinetic study revealed that gut microbiota could regulate the absorption of FLZ in vivo.The aims of our study were to assess the protective effects of FLZ treatment on PD and to further explore the underlying microbiota-related mechanisms of PD by using FLZ as a tool.In the current study,chronic oral administration of rotenone was utilized to induce a mouse model to mimic the pathological process of PD.Here we revealed that FLZ treatment alleviated gastrointestinal dysfunctions,motor symptoms,and dopaminergic neuron death in rotenone-challenged mice.16 S rRNA sequencing found that PD-related microbiota alterations induced by rotenone were reversed by FLZ treatment.Remarkably,FLZ administration attenuated intestinal inflammation and gut barrier destruction,which subsequently inhibited systemic inflammation.Eventually,FLZ treatment restored blood-brain barrier structure and suppressed neuroinflammation by inhibiting the activation of astrocytes and microglia in the substantia nigra(SN).Further mechanistic research demonstrated that FLZ treatment suppressed the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway both in the SN and colon.Collectively,FLZ treatment ameliorates microbiota dysbiosis to protect the PD model via inhibiting TLR4 pathway,which contributes to one of the underlying mechanisms beneath its neuroprotective effects.Our research also supports the importance of microbiota-gut-brain axis in PD pathogenesis,suggesting its potential role as a novel therapeutic target for PD treatment.