Endoscopic diagnosis of gastrointestinal graft-versus-host disease

AIM:To evaluate the diagnostic value of endoscopy in patients with gastrointestinal graft-versus-host disease (GI GVHD). METHODS:We identified 8 patients with GI GVHD following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell trans-plantation (HSCT). GVHD was defined histologically as the presence of gland apoptosis, not explained by other inflammatory or infectious etiologies. RESULTS:The symptoms of GI GVHD included anorexia, nausea, vomiting, watery diarrhea, abdominal pain, GI bleeding, etc. Upper endoscopic appearance varied from subtle mucosal edema, hyperemia, erythema to obvious erosion. Colonoscopic examination showed diffuse edema, hyperemia, patchy erosion, scattered ulcer, sloughing and active bleeding. Histological changes in GI GVHD included apoptosis of crypt epithelial cells, dropout of crypts, and lymphocytic infiltration in epithelium and lamina propria. The involvement of stomach and rectocolon varied from diffuse to focal. CONCLUSION:Endoscopy may play a significant role in early diagnosis of GI GVHD patients following allogeneic HSCT, and histologic examination of gastrointestinal biopsies is needed to confirm the final diagnosis.

Fulminant gastrointestinal graft-versus-host disease concomitant with cytomegalovirus infection:Case report and literature review

Here,we report a case of fulminant gastrointestinal graft-versus-host disease(GI-GVHD) with cytomegalovirus(CMV) infection in 44-year-old woman.Despite the difficulties associated with the treatment of GIGVHD and GI-CMV disease,the mucosal findings and the clinical course showed marked improvements during long-term clinical observation.The endoscopic findings were remarkable,with diffuse sloughing mucosa in the stomach and highly active inflammation and deep discrete ulcers throughout the colon.Changes in the CMV quantitative polymerase chain reaction results were correlated with the endoscopic mucosal findings and were useful for assessing the efficacy of the treatment.Although a definite diagnosis of GI-GVHD is generally made by endoscopy with biopsy,the gross appearance of this disease can vary depending on the endoscopy.In this paper,we also conduct a literature review of patients with GI-GVHD.

Predicting short-term major postoperative complications in intestinal resection for Crohn’s disease:A machine learning-based study

BACKGROUND Due to the complexity and numerous comorbidities associated with Crohn’s disease(CD),the incidence of postoperative complications is high,significantly impacting the recovery and prognosis of patients.Consequently,additional stu-dies are required to precisely predict short-term major complications following intestinal resection(IR),aiding surgical decision-making and optimizing patient care.AIM To construct novel models based on machine learning(ML)to predict short-term major postoperative complications in patients with CD following IR.METHODS A retrospective analysis was performed on clinical data derived from a patient cohort that underwent IR for CD from January 2017 to December 2022.The study participants were randomly allocated to either a training cohort or a validation cohort.The logistic regression and random forest(RF)were applied to construct models in the training cohort,with model discrimination evaluated using the area under the curves(AUC).The validation cohort assessed the performance of the constructed models.RESULTS Out of the 259 patients encompassed in the study,5.0%encountered major postoperative complications(Clavien-Dindo≥III)within 30 d following IR for CD.The AUC for the logistic model was 0.916,significantly lower than the AUC of 0.965 for the RF model.The logistic model incorporated a preoperative CD activity index(CDAI)of≥220,a diminished preoperative serum albumin level,conversion to laparotomy surgery,and an extended operation time.A nomogram for the logistic model was plotted.Except for the surgical approach,the other three variables ranked among the top four important variables in the novel ML model.CONCLUSION Both the nomogram and RF exhibited good performance in predicting short-term major postoperative complic-ations in patients with CD,with the RF model showing more superiority.A preoperative CDAI of≥220,a di-minished preoperative serum albumin level,and an extended operation time might be the most crucial variables.The findings of this study can assist clinicians in identifying patients at a higher risk for complications and offering personalized perioperative management to enhance patient outcomes.

Differential diagnosis of Crohn’s disease and intestinal tuberculosis based on ATR-FTIR spectroscopy combined with machine learning

BACKGROUND Crohn’s disease(CD)is often misdiagnosed as intestinal tuberculosis(ITB).However,the treatment and prognosis of these two diseases are dramatically different.Therefore,it is important to develop a method to identify CD and ITB with high accuracy,specificity,and speed.AIM To develop a method to identify CD and ITB with high accuracy,specificity,and speed.METHODS A total of 72 paraffin wax-embedded tissue sections were pathologically and clinically diagnosed as CD or ITB.Paraffin wax-embedded tissue sections were attached to a metal coating and measured using attenuated total reflectance fourier transform infrared spectroscopy at mid-infrared wavelengths combined with XGBoost for differential diagnosis.RESULTS The results showed that the paraffin wax-embedded specimens of CD and ITB were significantly different in their spectral signals at 1074 cm^(-1) and 1234 cm^(-1) bands,and the differential diagnosis model based on spectral characteristics combined with machine learning showed accuracy,specificity,and sensitivity of 91.84%,92.59%,and 90.90%,respectively,for the differential diagnosis of CD and ITB.CONCLUSION Information on the mid-infrared region can reveal the different histological components of CD and ITB at the molecular level,and spectral analysis combined with machine learning to establish a diagnostic model is expected to become a new method for the differential diagnosis of CD and ITB.

Computed tomography-based radiomics combined with machine learning allows differentiation between primary intestinal lymphoma and Crohn's disease

BACKGROUND Due to similar clinical manifestations and imaging signs,differential diagnosis of primary intestinal lymphoma(PIL)and Crohn's disease(CD)is a challenge in clinical practice.AIM To investigate the ability of radiomics combined with machine learning methods to differentiate PIL from CD.METHODS We collected contrast-enhanced computed tomography(CECT)and clinical data from 120 patients form center 1.A total of 944 features were extracted singlephase images of CECT scans.Using the last absolute shrinkage and selection operator model,the best predictive radiographic features and clinical indications were screened.Data from 54 patients were collected at center 2 as an external validation set to verify the robustness of the model.The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve,accuracy,sensitivity and specificity were used for evaluation.RESULTS A total of five machine learning models were built to distinguish PIL from CD.Based on the results from the test group,most models performed well with a large area under the curve(AUC)(>0.850)and high accuracy(>0.900).The combined clinical and radiomics model(AUC=1.000,accuracy=1.000)was the best model among all models.CONCLUSION Based on machine learning,a model combining clinical data with radiologic features was constructed that can effectively differentiate PIL from CD.

Advances in the research of intestinal fungi in Crohn's disease

This article reviews of the original research published by Wu et al in the World Journal of Gastroenterology,delving into the pivotal role of the gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease(CD).Insights were gained from fecal microbiota transplantation(FMT)in mouse models,revealing the intricate interplay between the gut microbiota,mesenteric adipose tissue(MAT),and creeping fat.The study uncovered the characteristics of inflammation and fibrosis in the MAT and intestinal tissues of patients with CD;moreover,through the FMT mouse model,it observed the impact of samples from healthy patients and those with CD on symptoms.The pathogenesis of CD is complex,and its etiology remains unclear;however,it is widely believed that gut microbiota dysbiosis plays a significant role.Recently,with the development and application of next-generation sequen-cing technology,research on the role of fungi in the pathogenesis and chronicity of CD has deepened.This editorial serves as a supplement to the research by Wu et al who discussed advances related to the study of fungi in CD.

Intestinal Behçet's disease: A review of clinical diagnosis and treatment

Behçet's disease(BD)is a chronic inflammatory disorder prone to frequent re-currences,with a high predilection for intestinal involvement.However,the ef-ficacy and long-term effects of surgical treatment for intestinal BD are unknown.In the current issue of World J Gastrointest Surg,Park et al conducted a retrospec-tive analysis of 31 patients with intestinal BD who received surgical treatment.They found that elevated C-reactive protein levels and emergency surgery were poor prognostic factors for postoperative recurrence,emphasizing the adverse impact of severe inflammation on the prognosis of patients with intestinal BD.This work has clinical significance for evaluating the postoperative condition of intestinal BD.The editorial attempts to summarize the clinical diagnosis and treatment of intestinal BD,focusing on the impact of adverse factors on surgical outcomes.We hope this review will facilitate more precise postoperative management of patients with intestinal BD by clinicians.

Influencing factors and preventive measures of infectious complications after intestinal resection for Crohn’s disease

The incidence of Crohn’s disease(CD)has increased in recent years,with most patients requiring intestinal resection.Complications after intestinal resection for CD can lead to poor prognosis and recurrence,among which infectious complic-ations are the most common.This study aimed to investigate the common risk factors,including medications,preoperative nutritional status,surgery-related factors,microorganisms,lesion location and type,and so forth,causing infectious complications after intestinal resection for CD,and to propose corresponding preventive measures.The findings provided guidance for identifying suscept-ibility factors and the early intervention and prevention of infectious complic-ations after intestinal resection for CD in clinical practice.

Machine learning as a tool predicting short-term postoperative complications in Crohn’s disease patients undergoing intestinal resection: What frontiers?

The recent study,“Predicting short-term major postoperative complications in intestinal resection for Crohn’s disease:A machine learning-based study”invest-igated the predictive efficacy of a machine learning model for major postoperative complications within 30 days of surgery in Crohn’s disease(CD)patients.Em-ploying a random forest analysis and Shapley Additive Explanations,the study prioritizes factors such as preoperative nutritional status,operative time,and CD activity index.Despite the retrospective design’s limitations,the model’s robu-stness,with area under the curve values surpassing 0.8,highlights its clinical potential.The findings align with literature supporting preoperative nutritional therapy in inflammatory bowel diseases,emphasizing the importance of compre-hensive assessment and optimization.While a significant advancement,further research is crucial for refining preoperative strategies in CD patients.

Dajianzhong decoction:a review of its phytochemistry and therapeutic potential for gastrointestinal disease

Dajianzhong decoction(DJZD)is one of the traditional herbal prescriptions originated from Synopsis of Golden Chamber,which clinically used for the treatment of various gastrointestinal(GI)disease.This paper was aimed to provide a systematic review on the phytochemistry of DJZD and its therapeutic potential for GI disease and the mechanism.Finally,the possible development and perspectives for future research on this prescription were also discussed.To date,over 60 compounds have been identified form DJZD,including unsaturated fatty acid,saponins,and polyphenols,with hydroxy-sanshool and ginsenoside compounds as the predominant ones.DJZD possessed widely pharmacological activities on the GI disease from the Eastern Han Dynasty to the present,such as intestinal obstruction,colitis,and irritable bowel syndrome.Especially for the intestinal obstruction,it had demonstrated the efficacy of DJZD treatment for relief of postoperative ileus in patients undergoing surgery for GI cancer.The detailed mechanism was mainly related with NF-ᴋB signaling pathway.However,further research elucidating the protective effects of DJZD on GI disease,exploring new clinical effects,as well as establishing criteria for quality control for DJZD should be studied.

Transabdominal intestinal ultrasound and its parameters used in the assessment of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease

This article extends on the use of transabdominal intestinal ultrasound in diagnosing pediatric inflammatory bowel disease.Some of the more essential features used in assessing bowel inflammation,such as hyperemia and wall thickness on ultrasound,are expanded upon from the publication on imaging and endoscopic tools in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease.

Intestinal Microecology in Children with Pneumonia: The Relationship Between Digestive Health and Disease Recovery

This paper explores the association between intestinal microecology and digestive health and disease recovery in children with pneumonia.Intestinal microecological imbalance is common in children with pneumonia,which is closely associated with digestive health and disease recovery.Intestinal microecological imbalance may affect digestive enzyme activity,intestinal mucosal barrier function,and nutrient absorption,which in turn affects digestive health.In addition,intestinal microecological imbalances may be associated with immune regulation,inflammatory responses,and pathogen suppression,affecting disease recovery.Strategies to regulate intestinal microecology include probiotic supplementation,dietary modification,and pharmacological treatment.Currently,the study of intestinal microecology in children with pneumonia faces challenges,and there is a need for improved research methods,individualized treatment strategies,and the development of novel probiotics.In conclusion,the intestinal microecology of children with pneumonia is closely related to digestive health and disease recovery,and the regulation of intestinal microecology is of great significance to the treatment of children with pneumonia.Furthermore,future research should further explore the application of the microecology of the intestinal microecology in the treatment of children with pneumonia.

Intestinal ultrasound as a non-invasive tool to monitor inflammatory bowel disease activity and guide clinical decision making

Intestinal ultrasound(IUS)is a non-invasive,real-time,cross-sectional imaging tool that can be used at the point-of-care to assess disease activity in patients with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.IUS promotes quick and impactful treatment decisions that can modify disease progression and enhance patient compliance.This review will summarize the technical aspects of IUS,the evidence to support the use of IUS in disease activity monitoring,the comparison of IUS to current standard of care monitoring modalities such as colonoscopy and calprotectin,and the optimal positioning of IUS in a tight-control monitoring strategy.

Intestinal barrier in inflammatory bowel disease:A bibliometric and knowledge-map analysis

BACKGROUND Barrier surfaces composed of specialized epithelial cells separate the host body from the external environment,and are essential for maintaining proper intestinal physiologic and immune homeostasis.AIM To explore the development trends and research hotspots of intestinal barrier research in inflammatory bowel disease(IBD).METHODS The publications related to the intestinal barrier in IBD were obtained from the Web of Science Core Collection database.Bibliometric analysis and visualization were conducted using VOSviewer,CiteSpace and R software.RESULTS A total of 4482 articles published between 2002 and 2022 were identified.The United States is dominant in intestinal barrier research,whereas the University of Chicago is the most active institution.Jerrold from Harvard Medical School was the most productive authors with the most citations.The journals Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Gastroenterology have made significant contributions in this field.The keywords appearing at high frequency related to the intestinal barrier in IBD were detected,including nuclear factor kappa B,tumor necrosis factor-α,apoptosis,oxidative stress and probiotics.Among them,antioxidants,Akkermansia muciniphila,nanoparticles,short-chain fatty acids and extracellular vesicles have received growing interest in recent research.CONCLUSION The intestinal barrier field is developing rapidly with extensive cooperation.Targeting the gut microbiota and dietary metabolism to regulate the intestinal barrier has shown promising prospective applications and has generated broad interest.The importance of the intestinal barrier in IBD is gradually being fully recognized,providing a new therapeutic perspective for improving inflammation and prognosis.

Intestinal microecology-based treatment for inflammatory bowel disease:Progress and prospects

Inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)is a chronic,recurrent,and debilitating disorder,and includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.The pathogenesis of IBD is closely associated with intestinal dysbiosis,but has not yet been fully clarified.Genetic and environmental factors can influence IBD patients’gut microbiota and metabolism,disrupt intestinal barriers,and trigger abnormal immune responses.Studies have reported the alteration of gut microbiota and metabolites in IBD,providing the basis for potential therapeutic options.Intestinal microbiota-based treatments such as pre/probiotics,metabolite supplementation,and fecal microbiota transplantation have been extensively studied,but their clinical efficacy remains controversial.Repairing the intestinal barrier and promoting mucosal healing have also been proposed.We here review the current clinical trials on intestinal microecology and discuss the prospect of research and practice in this field.

Intestinal barrier in inflammatory bowel disease:A bibliometric analysis

The primary objective of this investigation was to examine the evolving trajectories and pivotal focal points within the domain of research on intestinal barriers with regard to inflammatory bowel disease(IBD).Publications germane to the intestinal barrier in the context of IBD were procured from the Science Citation Index Expanded within the Web of Science Core Collection database.Bibliometric scrutiny and visualization were executed employing the R package"bibliometrix"through the R software platform(version:4.3.0).A comprehensive compilation of 7344 English-language articles spanning from January 1,2001 to December 31,2021 was meticulously identified and included in the analysis.Remarkably,China emerged as the preeminent force in the realm of intestinal barrier research in relation to IBD.The significance of the intestinal barrier in the context of IBD has been progressively and comprehensively acknowledged.This recognition has ushered in a fresh therapeutic perspective that offers the promise of enhancing the management of inflammation and prognostication.

Research progress on the relationship between Paneth cellssusceptibility genes,intestinal microecology and inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)is a disorder of the immune system and intestinal microecosystem caused by environmental factors in genetically susceptible people.Paneth cells(PCs)play a central role in IBD pathogenesis,especially in Crohn's disease development,and their morphology,number and function are regulated by susceptibility genes.In the intestine,PCs participate in the formation of the stem cell microenvironment by secreting antibacterial particles and play a role in helping maintain the intestinal microecology and intestinal mucosal homeostasis.Moreover,PC proliferation and maturation depend on symbiotic flora in the intestine.This paper describes the interactions among susceptibility genes,PCs and intestinal microecology and their effects on IBD occurrence and development.

Prognostic role of intestinal ultrasound in Crohn’s disease

The majority of patients affected by Crohn’s disease(CD)develop a chronic condition with persistent inflammation and relapses that may cause progressive and irreversible damage to the bowel,resulting in stricturing or penetrating complications in around 50%of patients during the natural history of the disease.Surgery is frequently needed to treat complicated disease when pharmacological therapy failes,with a high risk of repeated operations in time.Intestinal ultrasound(IUS),a non-invasive,cost-effective,radiation free and reproducible method for the diagnosis and follow-up of CD,in expert hands,allow a precise assessment of all the disease manifestations:Bowel characteristics,retrodilation,wrapping fat,fistulas and abscesses.Moreover,IUS is able to assess bowel wall thickness,bowel wall stratification(echo-pattern),vascularization and elasticity,as well as mesenteric hypertrophy,lymph-nodes and mesenteric blood flow.Its role in the disease evaluation and behaviour description is well assessed in literature,but less is known about the potential space of IUS as predictor of prognostic factors suggesting response to a medical treatment or postoperative recurrence.The availability of a low cost exam as IUS,able to recognize which patients are more likely to respond to a specific therapy and which patients are at high risk of surgery or complications,could be a very useful instrument in the hands of IBD physician.The aim of this review is to present current evidence about the prognostic role that IUS can show in predicting response to treatment,disease progression,risk of surgery and risk of post-surgical recurrence in CD.

Rifaximin in the Treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: A New Idea Based on the Relationship between Intestinal Microecology and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Rifaximin in the Treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is a common clinical disorder, the most common symptom of which is a burning sensation behind the breastbone (heartburn) or reflux of stomach contents into the upper pharynx (acid reflux). The prevalence in China is increasing year by year, which can affect the quality of life of patients and also increase the economic burden on families and society. The pathogenesis of GERD is still unclear, and some studies suggest that intestinal microecology may be closely related to the development of GERD. Rifaximin is not readily absorbed orally and acts locally in the intestine, so it has mild adverse effects and good safety, and can be used to treat gastrointestinal diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome, traveler’s diarrhea, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, diverticulosis, inflammatory bowel disease and hepatic encephalopathy. Therefore, this paper focuses on intestinal microecology as a possible pathogenesis of GERD and further explores the feasibility of rifaximin for the treatment of GERD.

Intestinal complications in patients with Crohn's disease in the Brazilian public healthcare system between 2011 and 2020

BACKGROUND This is a secondary database study using the Brazilian public healthcare system database.AIM To describe intestinal complications(ICs)of patients in the Brazilian public healthcare system with Crohn’s disease(CD)who initiated and either only received conventional therapy(CVT)or also initiated anti-tumor necrosis factor(anti-TNF)therapy between 2011 and 2020.METHODS This study included patients with CD[international classification of diseases–10th revision(ICD-10):K50.0,K50.1,or K50.8](age:≥18 years)with at least one claim of CVT(sulfasalazine,azathioprine,mesalazine,or methotrexate).IC was defined as a CD-related hospitalization,pre-defined procedure codes(from rectum or intestinal surgery groups),and/or associated disease(pre-defined ICD-10 codes),and overall(one or more type of ICs).RESULTS In the 16809 patients with CD that met the inclusion criteria,the mean follow-up duration was 4.44(2.37)years.In total,14697 claims of ICs were found from 4633 patients.Over the 1-and 5-year of follow-up,8.3%and 8.2%of the patients with CD,respectively,presented at least one IC,of which fistula(31%)and fistulotomy(48%)were the most commonly reported.The overall incidence rate(95%CI)of ICs was 6.8(6.5–7.04)per 100 patient years for patients using only-CVT,and 9.2(8.8–9.6)for patients with evidence of anti-TNF therapy.CONCLUSION The outcomes highlighted an important and constant rate of ICs over time in all the CD populations assessed,especially in patients exposed to anti-TNF therapy.This outcome revealed insights into the real-world treatment and complications relevant to patients with CD and highlights that this disease remains a concern that may require additional treatment strategies in the Brazilian public healthcare system.