Gastrointestinal motility and absorptive disorders in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases: Prevalence, diagnosis and treatment

Inflammatory bowel diseases(IBD),Crohns disease and ulcerative colitis,are chronic conditions associated with high morbidity and healthcare costs.The natural history of IBD is variable and marked by alternating periods of flare and remission.Even though the use of newer therapeutic targets has been associated with higher rates of mucosal healing,a great proportion of IBD patients remain symptomatic despite effective control of inflammation.These symptoms may include but not limited to abdominal pain,dyspepsia,diarrhea,urgency,fecal incontinence,constipation or bloating.In this setting,commonly there is an overlap with gastrointestinal(GI)motility and absorptive disorders.Early recognition of these conditions greatly improves patient care and may decrease the risk of mistreatment.Therefore,in this review we describe the prevalence,diagnosis and treatment of GI motility and absorptive disorders that commonly affect patients with IBD.

Association between age at diagnosis of diabetes and ocular disease:Insights from a recent article

In this article,we discuss Ye et al's recent article on the association between age at diabetes diagnosis and subsequent risk of age-related ocular diseases.The study,which utilized United Kingdom Biobank data,highlighted a strong link between early diabetes onset and major eye conditions,such as cataracts,glaucoma,agerelated macular degeneration,and vision loss,independent of glycemic control and disease duration.This finding challenges the previous belief that diabetic eye disease primarily correlates with hyperglycemia.As lifestyles evolve and the age of diabetes diagnosis decreases,understanding this relationship may reveal the complex pathogenesis underlying diabetes-related complications.This editorial summarizes potential mechanisms connecting the age of diabetes onset with four types of ocular diseases,emphasizing the significance of early diagnosis.

Gastrointestinal disease in end-stage renal disease

When kidney function declines to a point where it can no longer maintain life and requires renal replacement therapy(i.e.renal transplant or dialysis),it is called end-stage renal disease(ESRD).Patients with ESRD often experience a range of gastrointestinal(GI)symptoms,with prevalence rates reported as high as 77%-79%.These symptoms and pathologies arise from various factors,including electrolyte imbalance,fluid imbalance,toxin buildup,uremia,medications,dietary and lifestyle restrictions,and the effects of dialysis.GI diseases in patients with renal failure can be further categorized into upper GI,small bowel,and lower GI issues.Common conditions include gastroesophageal reflux disease,nausea and vomiting,dysmotility within the esophagus and stomach,upper GI bleeding,peptic ulcer bleeding,angioectasia,irritable bowel syndrome,mesen-teric ischemia,angiodysplasia,diverticular disease,constipation,pancreatitis,and diseases associated with peritoneal dialysis peritonitis and peritoneal stenosis.This review assesses the existing literature on the different GI diseases among individuals with ESRD,shedding light on their pathophysiology and prevalence.

Acoustic and Intraluminal Ultrasonic Technologies in the Diagnosis of Diseases in Gastrointestinal Tract: A Review

Gastrointestinal (GI) auscultation (listening to sounds from stomach and bowel) has been applied for abdominal physical assessment for many years. This article evaluates the technique involved in listening to both bowel and stomach sounds and the significance of both normal and abnormal GI auscultation findings. Moreover, intraluminal ultrasonic techniques have been widely used for gastrointestinal disease diagnosis by providing intraluminal images since 1980s, this article also reviews the existing intraluminal ultrasonic technology for diagnosing of GI disorders.

Morphological and biochemical characteristics associated with autophagy in gastrointestinal diseases

Autophagy is a cellular catabolic process characterized by the formation of double-membrane autophagosomes.Transmission electron microscopy is the most rigorous method to clearly visualize autophagic engulfment and degradation.A large number of studies have shown that autophagy is closely related to the digestion,secretion,and regeneration of gastrointestinal(GI)cells.However,the role of autophagy in GI diseases remains controversial.This article focuses on the morphological and biochemical characteristics of autophagy in GI diseases,in order to provide new ideas for their diagnosis and treatment.

Clinical issues and challenges in imaging of gastrointestinal diseases:A minireview and our experience

Imaging techniques play a crucial role in the modern era of medicine,particularly in gastroenterology.Nowadays,various non-invasive and invasive imaging modalities are being routinely employed to evaluate different gastrointestinal(GI)diseases.However,many instrumental as well as clinical issues are arising in the area of modern GI imaging.This minireview article aims to briefly overview the clinical issues and challenges encountered in imaging GI diseases while highlighting our experience in the field.We also summarize the advances in clinically available diagnostic methods for evaluating different diseases of the GI tract and demonstrate our experience in the area.In conclusion,almost all imaging techniques used in imaging GI diseases can also raise many challenges that necessitate careful consideration and profound expertise in this field.

Association of age at diagnosis of diabetes with subsequent risk of age-related ocular diseases and vision acuity

BACKGROUND The importance of age on the development of ocular conditions has been reported by numerous studies.Diabetes may have different associations with different stages of ocular conditions,and the duration of diabetes may affect the development of diabetic eye disease.While there is a dose-response relationship between the age at diagnosis of diabetes and the risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality,whether the age at diagnosis of diabetes is associated with incident ocular conditions remains to be explored.It is unclear which types of diabetes are more predictive of ocular conditions.AIM To examine associations between the age of diabetes diagnosis and the incidence of cataract,glaucoma,age-related macular degeneration(AMD),and vision acuity.METHODS Our analysis was using the UK Biobank.The cohort included 8709 diabetic participants and 17418 controls for ocular condition analysis,and 6689 diabetic participants and 13378 controls for vision analysis.Ocular diseases were identified using inpatient records until January 2021.Vision acuity was assessed using a chart.RESULTS During a median follow-up of 11.0 years,3874,665,and 616 new cases of cataract,glaucoma,and AMD,respectively,were identified.A stronger association between diabetes and incident ocular conditions was observed where diabetes was diagnosed at a younger age.Individuals with type 2 diabetes(T2D)diagnosed at<45 years[HR(95%CI):2.71(1.49-4.93)],45-49 years[2.57(1.17-5.65)],50-54 years[1.85(1.13-3.04)],or 50-59 years of age[1.53(1.00-2.34)]had a higher risk of AMD independent of glycated haemoglobin.T2D diagnosed<45 years[HR(95%CI):2.18(1.71-2.79)],45-49 years[1.54(1.19-2.01)],50-54 years[1.60(1.31-1.96)],or 55-59 years of age[1.21(1.02-1.43)]was associated with an increased cataract risk.T2D diagnosed<45 years of age only was associated with an increased risk of glaucoma[HR(95%CI):1.76(1.00-3.12)].HRs(95%CIs)for AMD,cataract,and glaucoma associated with type 1 diabetes(T1D)were 4.12(1.99-8.53),2.95(2.17-4.02),and 2.40(1.09-5.31),respectively.In multivariable-adjusted analysis,individuals with T2D diagnosed<45 years of age[β95%CI:0.025(0.009,0.040)]had a larger increase in LogMAR.Theβ(95%CI)for LogMAR associated with T1D was 0.044(0.014,0.073).CONCLUSION The younger age at the diagnosis of diabetes is associated with a larger relative risk of incident ocular diseases and greater vision loss.

Exosomes:A new frontier under the spotlight for diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases

Exosomes are small plasma membrane-bound multivesicular bodies ranging in size from 20-100 nm.Exosomes are degraded fragments of mRNA,microRNA,and enriched in proteins,lipids,and nucleic acid.They are produced in the endosomes of most eukaryotic cells and once secreted,exosomes are involved in cell to cell communication and remodeling of the matrix in the extracellular compartment.Exosome biogenesis plays a crucial role in cellular development,inflammation,immunity,hemostasis,carcinogenesis,and degeneration.Due to their unique biochemical and biophysical properties,exosomes serve a variety of functions including biomarkers of diagnostic and prognostic significance.Besides,there is an increasing level of evidence to expand our understanding of the exosomes as novel therapeutic agents.Inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis,hepatic fibrosis,and gastrointestinal malignancies such as colorectal cancer are the potential avenues where exosomes can be applied as cell therapy and immunotherapy and have shown promising results in several in-vitro and animal models.The purpose of this review article is to highlight the emerging role of exosomes as the diagnostic and therapeutic tool in various diseases involving the gastrointestinal tract like IBD,hepatocellular carcinoma,and colon cancer.A thorough literature search was performed on databases such as PubMed,Ovid Medline,and EMBASE to achieve the objectives of this review article.

Improving early diagnosis of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 by assessing the gastrointestinal symptoms,hypercalcemia,and elevated serum gastrin

Despite advancements in the field,early diagnosis of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1(MEN1)remains unachievable.This letter to the editor highlighted the importance of carefully assessing gastrointestinal symptoms,hypercalcemia,and elevated serum gastrin levels,as suggested by Yuan et al in their paper.They focused on a patient with recurrent abdominal pain and diarrhea whose diagnostic path led to establishing a MEN1 diagnosis within a year.This emphasized the need for clinicians to consider MEN1 in patients with similar presentations,particularly when gastrointestinal symptoms persist or recur after discontinuation of proton pump inhibitors,especially knowing that early recognition and intervention are crucial for improving patient outcomes.

Malignant melanoma:An important differential diagnosis for clear cell sarcoma of the gastrointestinal tract

A case report by Liu et al describes the characteristics of metastatic clear cell sarcoma(CCS)of the pancreas and provides valuable therapeutic insights for this rare malignancy.This case is interesting because of its rarity,suggesting that the pancreas may be a potential target organ for CCS,either primary or metastatic.At the same time,the authors also emphasize the importance of regular postoperative follow-up for timely detection of recurrent lesions,as CCS is characterized by a high degree of malignancy and a high rate of recurrent metastases.Considering that CCS of the gastrointestinal tract is easily confused with malignant melanoma(MM)of the gastrointestinal tract,here we compare the clinical features,histopathological and immunohistochemical characteristics,diagnosis,treatment,and prognosis of CCS and MM of the gastrointestinal tract,hoping to provide a reference for clinical work.

Detachable string magnetically controlled capsule endoscopy for the noninvasive diagnosis of esophageal diseases:A prospective,blind clinical study

BACKGROUND Traditional esophagogastroduodenoscopy(EGD),an invasive examination method,can cause discomfort and pain in patients.In contrast,magnetically controlled capsule endoscopy(MCE),a noninvasive method,is being applied for the detection of stomach and small intestinal diseases,but its application in treating esophageal diseases is not widespread.AIM To evaluate the safety and efficacy of detachable string MCE(ds-MCE)for the diagnosis of esophageal diseases.METHODS Fifty patients who had been diagnosed with esophageal diseases were pros-pectively recruited for this clinical study and underwent ds-MCE and conven-tional EGD.The primary endpoints included the sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value,negative predictive value,and diagnostic accuracy of ds-MCE for patients with esophageal diseases.The secondary endpoints consisted of visualizing the esophageal and dentate lines,as well as the subjects'tolerance of the procedure.RESULTS Using EGD as the gold standard,the sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value,negative predictive value,and diagnostic accuracy of ds-MCE for esophageal disease detection were 85.71%,86.21%,81.82%,89.29%,and 86%,respectively.ds-MCE was more comfortable and convenient than EGD was,with 80%of patients feeling that ds-MCE examination was very comfortable or comfortable and 50%of patients believing that detachable string v examination was very convenient.CONCLUSION This study revealed that ds-MCE has the same diagnostic effects as traditional EGD for esophageal diseases and is more comfortable and convenient than EGD,providing a novel noninvasive method for treating esophageal diseases.

Fecal calprotectin in pediatric gastrointestinal diseases:Pros and cons

BACKGROUND Fecal calprotectin is a valuable biomarker for assessing intestinal inflammation in pediatric gastrointestinal diseases.However,its role,pros,and cons in various conditions must be comprehensively elucidated.AIM To explore the role of fecal calprotectin in pediatric gastrointestinal diseases,including its advantages and limitations.METHODS A comprehensive search was conducted on PubMed,PubMed Central,Google Scholar,and other scientific research engines until February 24,2024.The review included 88 research articles,56 review articles,six metaanalyses,two systematic reviews,two consensus papers,and two letters to the editors.RESULTS Fecal calprotectin is a non-invasive marker for detecting intestinal inflammation and monitoring disease activity in pediatric conditions such as functional gastrointestinal disorders,inflammatory bowel disease,coeliac disease,coronavirus disease 2019-induced gastrointestinal disorders,gastroenteritis,and cystic fibrosis-associated intestinal pathology.However,its lack of specificity and susceptibility to various confounding factors pose challenges in interpretation.Despite these limitations,fecal calprotectin offers significant advantages in diagnosing,monitoring,and managing pediatric gastrointestinal diseases.CONCLUSION Fecal calprotectin holds promise as a valuable tool in pediatric gastroenterology,offering insights into disease activity,treatment response,and prognosis.Standardized protocols and guidelines are needed to optimize its clinical utility and mitigate interpretation challenges.Further research is warranted to address the identified limitations and enhance our understanding of fecal calprotectin in pediatric gastrointestinal diseases.

Criteria for assessing the diagnostic significance of modern methods of imaging gastrointestinal diseases in practical gastroenterology

Imaging methods are frequently used to diagnose gastrointestinal diseases and play a crucial role in verifying clinical diagnoses among all diagnostic algorithms.However,these methods have limitations,challenges,benefits,and advantages.Addressing these limitations requires the application of objective criteria to assess the effectiveness of each diagnostic method.The diagnostic process is dynamic and requires a consistent algorithm,progressing from clinical subjective data,such as patient history(anamnesis),and objective findings to diagnostics ex juvantibus.Caution must be exercised when interpreting diagnostic results,and there is an urgent need for better diagnostic tests.In the absence of such tests,preliminary criteria and a diagnosis ex juvantibus must be relied upon.Diagnostic imaging methods are critical stages in the diagnostic workflow,with sensitivity,specificity,and accuracy serving as the primary criteria for evaluating clinical,laboratory,and instrumental symptoms.A comprehensive evaluation of all available diagnostic data guarantees an accurate diagnosis.The“gold standard”for diagnosis is typically established through either the results of a pathological autopsy or a lifetime diagnosis resulting from a thorough examination using all diagnostic methods.

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.

Gastrointestinal polyposis with esophageal polyposis is useful for early diagnosis of Cowden's disease

Cowden's disease, one of the several hamartoma syndromes, is characterized by hyperplastic lesions and hamartomas distributed in the whole body. About thirty percent of patients with Cowden's disease have been reported to be complicated by malignant tumors. Based on the criteria of the International Cowden Consortium, this disease is mainly diagnosed as trichilemmoma of the face and oral mucosal papillomatosis. However, Cowden's disease patients themselves often do not recognize trichilemmoma of the face and oral mucosal papillomatosis. We report a case of Cowden's disease in a 33-year-old female patient who was diagnosed based on the characteristic findings at gastrointestinal endoscopy. Clinically, the patient was aware of having bloody stools. Multiple polyps found endoscopically in the esophagus, stomach, ileum, colon and rectum showed histopathologically hamartomatous changes and epithelial hyperplasia. Physical examination revealed oral papillomatosis and facial trichilemmomas. A germline mutation in exon 8 of the phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN) gene was found in this case. It was a point mutation of C to T at codon 1003 (CGA→TGA, arginine→stop codon). The characteristic findings on gastrointestinal endoscopy led us to a diagnosis of Cowden's disease. It has been reported that gastrointestinal polyposis with esophageal polyposis is found in about 85.7% of Japanese patients with Cowden's disease. The characteristic findings on gastrointestinal endoscopy can be a useful diagnostic clue to Cowden's disease.

Clinical value of CT three-dimensional imaging in diagnosing gastrointestinal tract diseases

AIM： To discuss the clinical value of CT three-dimensional （3-D） imaging in diagnosing gastrointestinal tract diseases.METHODS： Three-D imaging findings of 52 patients were retrospectively analyzed. Three-D imaging methods included shaded surface display （SSD）, volume rendering （VR）, virtual endoscopy （VE） and multiplanar reformatting （MPR）. The diagnosis results of CT 3-D were evaluated by comparison with those of endoscopy and/or surgical finding.RESULTS： Fifty-two patients with gastrointestinal tract diseases were diagnosed by CT 3-D imaging, of whom 50 cases were correctly diagnosed and 2 were misdiagnosed. There were 33 cases of gastric diseases （27 with carcinoma, 5 with peptic ulcer and 1 with leiomyoma） and 19 large intestinal diseases （10 with colon carcinoma, 2 with carcinoma of the rectum, 5 with colon polypus and 2 with tuberculosis of the ileocecal junction）. Twenty-two cases with prominent lesions （9 with subsequent hollow lesions）, 20 with stenosis of cavity （8 with concomitant prominent lesions） and 10 with hollow lesions （5 with concomitant prominent lesions） were shown in 3-D images. The minimal lesion shown was 1.0 cm × 0.8 cm × 0.5 cm.CONCLUSION： CT 3-D imaging, a non-invasive examination without pain, can display clearly and directly the lesions of gastrointestinal tract with accurate location and high diagnosis accuracy. It is an important complementary technique to endoscopy.

Usefulness of duodenal biopsy during routine upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for diagnosis of celiac disease

AIM： To describe the trend in duodenal biopsy performance during routine upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in an adult Spanish population, and to analyze its value for the diagnosis of celiac disease in clinical practice. METHODS： A 15 year-trend （1990 to 2004） in duodenal biopsy performed when undertaking upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was studied. We analysed the prevalence of celiac disease in the overall group, and in the subgroups with anaemia and/or chronic diarrhoea. RESULTS： Duodenal biopsy was performed in 1033 of 13 678 upper gastrointestinal endoscopies （7.6%）; an increase in the use of such was observed over the study period （1.9% in 1990-1994, 5% in 1995-1999 and 12.8% in 2000-2004）. Celiac disease was diagnosed in 22 patients （2.2%）, this being more frequent in women than in men （3% and 1% respectively）. Fourteen out of 514 （2.7%） patients with anaemia, 12 out of 141 （8.5%） with chronic diarrhoea and 8 out of 42 （19%） with anaemia plus chronic diarrhoea had celiac disease. A classical clinical presentation was observed in 55% of the cases, 23% of the patients had associated dermatitis herpetiformis and 64% presented anaemia; 9% were diagnosed by familial screening and 5% by cryptogenetic hypertransaminasaemia. CONCLUSION： Duodenal biopsy undertaken during routine upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in adults, has been gradually incorporated into clinical practice, and is a useful tool for the diagnosis of celiac disease in high risk groups such as those with anaemia and/or chronic diarrhoea.

Upper gastrointestinal endoscopic findings in celiac disease at diagnosis:A multicenter international retrospective study

BACKGROUND Gastroduodenal endoscopy and biopsy following positive specific serology is considered the gold standard to diagnose celiac disease(CeD)in adults.Whether upper endoscopy helps detect comorbid conditions is unknown.AIM To investigate the prevalence of non-celiac endoscopic findings in patients in whom endoscopy was performed to confirm CeD diagnosis.METHODS This is an observational,descriptive,multicenter,retrospective study that reports endoscopic findings obtained in adult patients enrolled in local registries from four tertiary centers.We collected data reported on first endoscopy,indicated for investigation of CeD.Diagnosis of CeD was performed by histology(≥Marsh 2type mucosal damage)and specific serology.Two European and one North American center included biopsy-confirmed CeD following positive serology.A fourth center(South America)included symptomatic patients undergoing endoscopy,irrespective of CeD serology.The latter cohort included a non-CeD control group.RESULTS A total of 1328 patients(80%female;35 years median age)were enrolled,of whom 95.6%had positive specific serology.In 135 patients,endoscopy revealed 163 abnormalities unrelated to CeD(prevalence:10.1%).Erosive reflux esophagitis(6.4%),gastric erosions(2.0%),and suspicion of esophageal metaplasia(1.2%)were the most common findings.Biopsy-confirmed Barrett’s esophagus was infrequent(0.2%).No endoscopic cancer was detected.Older patients(≥51 years of age)had a higher prevalence of endoscopic findings than those≤50(P<0.01).Within the South American cohort,CeD was associated with a lower rate(8.2%)of comorbid endoscopic findings compared with controls(29.1%;P<0.001).In the adjusted multivariate analysis of this cohort,having CeD was associated with a 72%reduction in the risk of any endoscopic abnormality(P<0.0001),and having alarm symptoms was associated with a 37%reduction in the risk of finding at least one endoscopic lesion(P<0.02).CONCLUSION In this large multicenter study,young adults with positive CeD serology had few comorbid endoscopic findings.Although patients over 51 years had a high prevalence of non-CeD gastroduodenal mucosal damage,no malignancy or premalignant lesions were found.

Radiological diagnosis of inflammatory ulcerative diseases of small bowel

AIMS To analyze the radiological features of the ul- cerative diseases of the small bowel. METHODS Thirty-five patients (20 men,15 women) with inflammatory ulcerative bowel diseases were stud- ied radiographically (barium meal and/or double con- trast study),including:11 cases of tuberculosis,13 Crohn disease,7 bowel Behcet disease,2 simple ulcer and 2 ischemic bowel disease. Diagnosis was estab- lished pathologically in 33 cases and by clinical obser- vation after therapy in 2 cases. RESULTS The lesions were located in ileum,in 9 of 11 cases of TB;in 10 of 13 cases of Crohn disease;in 5 of 7 cases of bowel Behcet disease;in 1 of 2 cases of simple ulcer and in 2 cases of ischemic bowel disease. Ulceration was always present with variable appearances. Longitudinal ulcers,and fissures were noted in Crohn disease only. There were 5 cases of large and deep ulcer and 3 occurred in bowel Behcet disease,10 of 13 cases of superficial and irregular ul- cers were tuberculous,2 cases of transverse ulcer were also tuberculous. CONCLUSIONS The morphologic appearances of the ulcer,surrounding mucosal alterations and bowel deformation were the basis for the radiologic diagnosis. Correct diagnosis was dependent on optimal X-ray ex- amination technique and proper interpretation of the morphologic changes.