Epilepsy is a severe,relapsing,and multifactorial neurological disorder.Studies regarding the accurate diagnosis,prognosis,and in-depth pathogenesis are crucial for the precise and effective treatment of epilepsy.The ...Epilepsy is a severe,relapsing,and multifactorial neurological disorder.Studies regarding the accurate diagnosis,prognosis,and in-depth pathogenesis are crucial for the precise and effective treatment of epilepsy.The pathogenesis of epilepsy is complex and involves alterations in variables such as gene expression,protein expression,ion channel activity,energy metabolites,and gut microbiota composition.Satisfactory results are lacking for conventional treatments for epilepsy.Surgical resection of lesions,drug therapy,and non-drug interventions are mainly used in clinical practice to treat pain associated with epilepsy.Non-pharmacological treatments,such as a ketogenic diet,gene therapy for nerve regeneration,and neural regulation,are currently areas of research focus.This review provides a comprehensive overview of the pathogenesis,diagnostic methods,and treatments of epilepsy.It also elaborates on the theoretical basis,treatment modes,and effects of invasive nerve stimulation in neurotherapy,including percutaneous vagus nerve stimulation,deep brain electrical stimulation,repetitive nerve electrical stimulation,in addition to non-invasive transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcranial direct current stimulation.Numerous studies have shown that electromagnetic stimulation-mediated neuromodulation therapy can markedly improve neurological function and reduce the frequency of epileptic seizures.Additionally,many new technologies for the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy are being explored.However,current research is mainly focused on analyzing patients’clinical manifestations and exploring relevant diagnostic and treatment methods to study the pathogenesis at a molecular level,which has led to a lack of consensus regarding the mechanisms related to the disease.展开更多
The incidence of hematochezia in infants aged three months or younger has shown an upward trend in recent years. This condition is characterized by visible bloody stools, which may appear bright red, dark red, jam-lik...The incidence of hematochezia in infants aged three months or younger has shown an upward trend in recent years. This condition is characterized by visible bloody stools, which may appear bright red, dark red, jam-like, or mucus-purulent bloody stools, and is often accompanied by positive fecal occult blood tests, with or without additional systemic clinical symptoms. The etiology is multifactorial, potentially influenced by the maternal health status during pregnancy, neonatal diseases or treatments received in the NICU, and the methods used for establishing enteral and parenteral nutrition. Notably, allergic factors have gained prominence in recent years. This paper reviews recent studies to elucidate the incidence, primary causes, and current treatment approaches for early infant hematochezia, providing a reference for clinical practice.展开更多
Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disorder chara cterized by inflammation,demyelination,and neurodegeneration in the central nervous system.Although current first-line therapies can help manage symptoms and slow d...Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disorder chara cterized by inflammation,demyelination,and neurodegeneration in the central nervous system.Although current first-line therapies can help manage symptoms and slow down disease progression,there is no cure for multiple sclerosis.The gut-brain axis refers to complex communications between the gut flo ra and the immune,nervous,and endocrine systems,which bridges the functions of the gut and the brain.Disruptions in the gut flora,termed dys biosis,can lead to systemic inflammation,leaky gut syndrome,and increased susceptibility to infections.The pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis involves a combination of genetic and environmental factors,and gut flora may play a pivotal role in regulating immune responses related to multiple scle rosis.To develop more effective therapies for multiple scle rosis,we should further uncover the disease processes involved in multiple sclerosis and gain a better understanding of the gut-brain axis.This review provides an overview of the role of the gut flora in multiple scle rosis.展开更多
Stroke and Alzheimer's disease are common neurological disorders and often occur in the same individuals.The comorbidity of the two neurological disorders represents a grave health threat to older populations.This...Stroke and Alzheimer's disease are common neurological disorders and often occur in the same individuals.The comorbidity of the two neurological disorders represents a grave health threat to older populations.This review presents a brief background of the development of novel concepts and their clinical potentials.The activity of glutamatergic N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-mediated Ca^(2+)influx is critical for neuronal function.An ischemic insult induces prompt and excessive glutamate release and drastic increases of intracellular Ca^(2+)mainly via N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors,particularly of those at the extrasynaptic site.This Ca^(2+)-evoked neuronal cell death in the ischemic core is dominated by necrosis within a few hours and days known as acute excitotoxicity.Furthermore,mild but sustained Ca^(2+)increases under neurodegenerative conditions such as in the distant penumbra of the ischemic brain and early stages of Alzheimer's disease are not immediately toxic,but gradually set off deteriorating Ca^(2+)-dependent signals and neuronal cell loss mostly because of activation of programmed cell death pathways.Based on the Ca^(2+)hypothesis of Alzheimer's disease and recent advances,this Ca^(2+)-activated“silent”degenerative excitotoxicity evolves from years to decades and is recognized as a unique slow and chronic neuropathogenesis.The N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunit GluN3A,primarily at the extrasynaptic site,serves as a gatekeeper for the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor activity and is neuroprotective against both acute and chronic excitotoxicity.Ischemic stroke and Alzheimer's disease,therefore,share an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-and Ca^(2+)-mediated mechanism,although with much different time courses.It is thus proposed that early interventions to control Ca^(2+)homeostasis at the preclinical stage are pivotal for individuals who are susceptible to sporadic late-onset Alzheimer's disease and Alzheimer's disease-related dementia.This early treatment simultaneously serves as a preconditioning therapy against ischemic stroke that often attacks the same individuals during abnormal aging.展开更多
Androgenic alopecia, also known as seborrheic alopecia, is the most common hair loss disorder in dermatology clinics, mainly characterized by hair follicle miniaturization and progressive hair loss. The etiology and p...Androgenic alopecia, also known as seborrheic alopecia, is the most common hair loss disorder in dermatology clinics, mainly characterized by hair follicle miniaturization and progressive hair loss. The etiology and pathogenesis of androgenic alopecia are not clear, but may be related to heredity and androgen metabolism. Currently, minoxidil and finasteride are the only two drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for AGA treatment, other treatments include oral minoxidil, hair transplantation, low energy laser therapy (LLLT), platelet-rich plasma (PRP), Chinese medicine microneedles, and combination therapy. With the development of medicine and science, we have ushered in the era of biologics and targeted therapy. In recent years, a variety of signaling pathways for androgenic alopecia have been found, which may provide a basis for targeted therapy for androgenic alopecia.展开更多
Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma (CSCC) is a common skin malignancy with increasing incidence year by year and is the leading cause of death in patients with skin tumors other than melanoma. The pathogenesis of Cutan...Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma (CSCC) is a common skin malignancy with increasing incidence year by year and is the leading cause of death in patients with skin tumors other than melanoma. The pathogenesis of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma has not yet been clarified, limiting the development of related molecular targeted therapies. Surgical resection, radiotherapy, photodynamic therapy and gene therapy can be selected according to the site of disease and histological differentiation. This article reviews the research on the etiology, pathogenesis and treatment of squamous cell carcinoma in recent years.展开更多
Traditional Chinese Medicine has played an important role in the prevention and treatment of the Corona Virus Disease 2019 epidemic.But in views of different TCM scholars there are different opinions about disease nam...Traditional Chinese Medicine has played an important role in the prevention and treatment of the Corona Virus Disease 2019 epidemic.But in views of different TCM scholars there are different opinions about disease name,characteristic of etiology,law of pathogenesis about this epidemic.Based on related literatures,this article overviews of the characteristics of TCM etiology,law of pathogenesis and methods of syndrome differentiation,hoping to find research method that fit in with TCM clinical practice.Prerequisite of treatment is identifying the cause.The clinical manifestations of patients are important to TCM,and the etiological attributes can be inferred from the clinical manifestations.SARS-CoV-2 belongs to exogenous etiological factors,but there are different opinions about its characteristics of six pathogenic factors.Cold,Dampness,Warm,Dry,Toxin,Summer-heat,Wind,are all involved.Thus,different understanding of the pathogenesis and the law of transmission is caused.Such as cold and dampness hurt Yang,furthermore,consumed of Qi;dampness and toxin infected from external environment,turbid dampness produced inside the body;dryness affecting lungs and consume of Yin;warm-heat-turbid-toxin affected lungs,stomach and intestine;and then produced phlegm stagnation or blood stasis,furthermore consumed Qi and Yin.Based on those differences,methods of syndrome differentiation in treatment of COVID-19 are diverse,which contain pattern differentiation of zang-fu organs,pattern differentiation of Wei-defence,Qi,Ying nutrients and blood;pattern differentiation by the eight principles,and pattern differentiation of six meridians.Because of SARS-CoV-2 can spread to the whole country or even the whole world in a short period of time,its pathogenic nature should be roughly the same.So studying the treatment of COVID-19 based on clinical cases,refining the similarities and differences in the clinical presentation of patients with different subtypes during the epidemic,clarification of the etiologic attribution and evolutionary patterns of disease mechanisms,developing a comprehensive understanding of COVID-19 in Chinese medicine is needed.Furthermore,getting a full understanding of COVID-19,and providing reference for the prevention and treatment of unknown infectious diseases.展开更多
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is an extremely common, yet underappreciated, pathogen that is able to alter host physiology and subvert the host immune response, allowing it to persist for the life of the host. H. py...Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is an extremely common, yet underappreciated, pathogen that is able to alter host physiology and subvert the host immune response, allowing it to persist for the life of the host. H. pylori is the primary cause of peptic ulcers and gastric cancer. In the United States, the annual cost associated with peptic ulcer disease is estimated to be $6 billion and gastric cancer kills over 700000 people per year globally. The prevalence of H. pylori infection remains high (> 50%) in much of the world, although the infection rates are dropping in some developed nations. The drop in H. pylori prevalence could be a double-edged sword, reducing the incidence of gastric diseases while increasing the risk of allergies and esophageal diseases. The list of diseases potentially caused by H. pylori continues to grow; however, mechanistic explanations of how H. pylori could contribute to extragastric diseases lag far behind clinical studies. A number of host factors and H. pylori virulence factors act in concert to determine which individuals are at the highest risk of disease. These include bacterial cytotoxins and polymorphisms in host genes responsible for directing the immune response. This review discusses the latest advances in H. pylori pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment. Up-to-date information on correlations between H. pylori and extragastric diseases is also provided.展开更多
Clostridium difficile(C.difficile)is the leading cause of antibiotic associated colitis and nosocomial diarrhea.Patients with inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)are at increased risk of developing C.difficile infection(CD...Clostridium difficile(C.difficile)is the leading cause of antibiotic associated colitis and nosocomial diarrhea.Patients with inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)are at increased risk of developing C.difficile infection(CDI),have worse outcomes of CDI-including higher rates of colectomy and death,and experience higher rates of recurrence.However,it is still not clear whether C.difficile is a cause of IBD or a consequence of the inflammatory state in the intestinal environment.The burden of CDI has increased dramatically over the past decade,with severe outbreaks described in many countries,which have been attributed to a new and more virulent strain.A parallel rise in the incidence of CDI has been noted in patients with IBD.IBD patients with CDI tend be younger,have less prior antibiotic exposure,and most cases of CDI in these patients represent outpatient acquired infections.The clinical presentation of CDI in these patients can be unique-including diversion colitis,enteritis and pouchitis,and typical findings on colonoscopy are often absent.Due to the high prevalence of CDI in patients hospitalized with an IBD exacerbation,and the prognostic implications of CDI in these patients,it is recommended to test all IBD patients hospitalized with a disease flare for C.difficile.Treatment includes general measures such as supportive care and infection control measures.Antibiotic therapy with either oral metronidazole,vancomycin,or the novel antibiotic-fidaxomicin,should be initiated as soon as possible.Fecal macrobiota transplantation constitutes another optional treatment for severe/recurrent CDI.The aim of this paper is to review recent data on CDI in IBD:role in pathogenesis,diagnostic methods,optional treatments,and outcomes of these patients.展开更多
Bile leakage remains a serious complication after biliary surgery. The aim of this study was to assess the etiology, diagnosis and treatment of postoperative biliary leakage. METHODS:Thirty-eight patients with biliary...Bile leakage remains a serious complication after biliary surgery. The aim of this study was to assess the etiology, diagnosis and treatment of postoperative biliary leakage. METHODS:Thirty-eight patients with biliary leakage we treated in recent 8 years were analyzed retrospectively. Among them, 8 patients had bilioenterostomy leakage, 7 accessory bile duct leakage, 7 cholecyst bed leakage, 6 leakage after removal of T-tube, 5 leakage after laparoscopic cholecystectomy, 3 leakage around T-tube, and 2 leakage caused by choledochal damage. Drainage was performed in 17 patients, reoperarion in 13, drainage plus percutaneous transhepatic cholangio drainage (PTCD) , endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERCP) , endoscopic nasobiliary drainage(ENBD) and endostenting in 5, and drainage plus growth hormone in 3. RESULTS; In this series, 37 patients were cured, and 1 died of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). These patients were hospitalized for 2 weeks to 8 weeks. The drainage group was hospitalized shorter than the undrain-age group. CONCLUSIONS; A piece of white gauze can be used to touch surgical area in detecting biliary leakage intraopera-tively. Mucous to mucous suture of the bile duct and appropriate time for removal of T-tube are recommended to prevent biliary leakage. Reoperation is essential to acute peritonitis. Drainage can be used if leakage don t diffuse or it occurs after pulling out T-tube. Drainage plus ERCP, ENBD,PTCD and drainage are effective.展开更多
Kleptomania is a kind of uncontrollable impulse and behavior of stealing,and it is also a serious disease.At present,studies on pathological theft at home and abroad are not sufficient,and the understanding of the sym...Kleptomania is a kind of uncontrollable impulse and behavior of stealing,and it is also a serious disease.At present,studies on pathological theft at home and abroad are not sufficient,and the understanding of the symptoms,etiology and treatment of this disease is very insufficient.This article focuses on the latest development of symptoms, etiology and treatment of kleptomania,providing a reference for people to further identify, treat and study the disease.展开更多
Objective To investigate the etiology,clinical characteristics,diagnosis,and treatment strategies and efficacy of pulsatile tinnitus(PT)caused by vascular anatomy abnormality.Methods The clinical data of 45 patients w...Objective To investigate the etiology,clinical characteristics,diagnosis,and treatment strategies and efficacy of pulsatile tinnitus(PT)caused by vascular anatomy abnormality.Methods The clinical data of 45 patients with PT in our hospital from 2012 to 2019 were collected and retrospectively analyzed.Results All 45 patients had vascular anatomical abnormalities.The patients were divided into 10 categories according to the different locations of vascular abnormalities:sigmoid sinus diverticulum(SSD),sigmoid sinus wall dehiscence(SSWD),SSWD with high jugular bulb,pure dilated mastoid emissary vein,aberrant internal carotid artery(ICA)in the middle ear,transverse-sigmoid sinus(TSS)transition stenosis,TSS transition stenosis with SSD,persistent occipital sinus stenosis,petrous segment stenosis of ICA,and dural arteriovenous fistula.All patients complained of PT synchronous with heartbeat rhythm.Endovascular interventional therapy and extravascular open surgery were used according to the location of the vascular lesions.Tinnitus disappeared in 41 patients,was significantly relieved in 3 patients,and was unchanged in 1 patient postoperatively.Except for one patient with transient headache postoperatively,no obvious complications occurred.Conclusion PT caused by vascular anatomy abnormalities can be identified by detailed medical history and physical and imaging examination.PT can be relieved or even completely alleviated after appropriate surgical treatments.展开更多
Purpose: To investigate the etiology and the treatment of acquired blepharoptosis inpatients,.especially secondary to surgery.Methods: The clinical records of 65 consecutive patients with acquired ptosis were reviewed...Purpose: To investigate the etiology and the treatment of acquired blepharoptosis inpatients,.especially secondary to surgery.Methods: The clinical records of 65 consecutive patients with acquired ptosis were reviewed from an eye center and a comprehensive hospital..Potential factors responsible for acquired ptosis were investigated..Surgical management principles and post-operative exposure keratitis are discussed.Results:.The top three causes of acquired ptosis were postsurgical ptosis(20 / 65, 30.8%), traumatic ptosis(17 / 65,26.2%) and senile aponeurotic ptosis(12 / 65, 18.5%). Twenty patients had post-surgical ptosis secondary to orbital surgery(8 / 20, 40.0%), enucleation and hydroxyapatite(HA) artificial eye implantation(4 / 20, 20%), eyelid surgery(3 / 20,15%), cataract or glaucoma surgery(2 / 20, 10%), conjunctive surgery(2 / 20, 10%).and superior oblique muscle surgery(1 / 20, 5%). The levator palpebrae superioris(LPS) muscle of ten eyes(10 / 20, 50%) was found during exploration and reattached to the tarsal plate, with shortening of the LPS. Nine eyes(9 / 20, 45%) underwent a frontalis suspension(FS) operation because the LPS muscle was missing. One(1 / 20, 5%)patient was not operated on due to a poor Bell's phenomenon.Two patients(2 / 65, 3.1%)—one patient with post-surgical ptosis and another with aponeurotic ptosis—developed exposure keratitis after ptosis correction.Conclusion: Post-surgical ptosis is one of the most common causes of acquired ptosis. It is important to explore LPS muscle during surgery. LPS reattachment is performed if the muscle is found; otherwise, a FS operation is chosen. Exposure keratitis after correction should be monitored.展开更多
Glioblastoma multiforme(GBM), the literal apogee on the hierarchy of malignant brain tumors, remains one of the greatest therapeutic challenges in oncology andmedicine. Historically this may be contextualized in the f...Glioblastoma multiforme(GBM), the literal apogee on the hierarchy of malignant brain tumors, remains one of the greatest therapeutic challenges in oncology andmedicine. Historically this may be contextualized in the fact that the medical and scientific communities have had a very elementary understanding of its intricate and complex pathophysiology. The last 10-15 years have yielded a number of studies that have elucidated much of the molecular and genetic complexities of GBM that underlie its pathogenesis. Excitingly, some of these discovered genetic mutations and molecular profiles in GBM have demonstrated value in prognostication and utility in predicting response to treatment. Despite this, however, treatment options for patients have remained somewhat limited. These treatment options are expected to expand with the availability of new data and with the transition of novel treatment modalities from animal to human studies. This paper will have a threefold objective: provide an overview of the traditional paradigm in understanding and treating GBM, describe recent discoveries in the molecular pathogenesis of GBM against this historical backdrop, and acquaint the reader with new treatment modalities that hold significant therapeutic potential for patients.展开更多
Chronic total occlusive disease of the coronary artery belongs to the category of"chest palsy"and"true heart pain"in traditional Chinese medicine.Its etiology has two aspects:deficiency of blood,bl...Chronic total occlusive disease of the coronary artery belongs to the category of"chest palsy"and"true heart pain"in traditional Chinese medicine.Its etiology has two aspects:deficiency of blood,blood stasis,qi stagnation,and phlegm.Failure can be caused by deficiency or disease.The pathogenesis of this disease is caused by obstruction of the heart pulse,and its pathogenesis can be transformed into each other.The theory of traditional Chinese medicine believes that the general rule is not painful.Therefore,the treatment of coronary CTO lesions should be based on the combination of Tong and Tong tonic.The chronic complete occlusive disease of the coronary artery can be treated through Xuanbi Tongyang,Huoxue Tongluo,and Aroma Wentong.Based on the Chinese medicine's understanding of the etiology and pathogenesis of coronary CTO lesions,it provides a basis for the diagnosis and treatment of traditional Chinese medicine,solves the problems of interventional medicine in western medicine,and gives play to the unique advantages of traditional Chinese medicine for clinical diagnosis and treatment.展开更多
Objective:Sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (SAHS) is a common sleep disorder, which is manifested as a reduction in tidal volume or apnea during sleep, which results in intermittent hypoxia and tissue hypoxia and induces...Objective:Sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (SAHS) is a common sleep disorder, which is manifested as a reduction in tidal volume or apnea during sleep, which results in intermittent hypoxia and tissue hypoxia and induces oxidative stress and inflammatory responses. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic disease contributing to hyperplasia of synovial membrane, cartilage erosion and joint damage. Fibroblast like synoviocytes (FLS), which make up the lining of the synovial membrane, are believed to play a role in the pathogenesis of RA. RA is a series of inflammation-like responses that induce joint damage and dysfunction and impair patients' life quality. This article first introduced the basic features of RA and analyzes the pathogenesis of RA with SAHS. Then the relationship between RA and SAHS was investigated. Finally, the progress in the treatment for RA with SAHS was reviewed emphatically.展开更多
Gallstone disease(GD) is a chronic recurrent hepatobiliary disease,the basis for which is the impaired metabolism of cholesterol,bilirubin and bile acids,which is characterized by the formation of gallstones in the he...Gallstone disease(GD) is a chronic recurrent hepatobiliary disease,the basis for which is the impaired metabolism of cholesterol,bilirubin and bile acids,which is characterized by the formation of gallstones in the hepatic bile duct,common bile duct,or gallbladder.GD is one of the most prevalent gastrointestinal diseases with a substantial burden to health care systems.GD can result in serious outcomes,such as acute gallstone pancreatitis and gallbladder cancer.The epidemiology,pathogenesis and treatment of GD are discussed in this review.The prevalence of GD varies widely by region.The prevalence of gallstone disease has increased in recent years.This is connected with a change in lifestyle:reduction of motor activity,reduction of the physical load and changes to diets.One of the important benefits of early screening for gallstone disease is that ultrasonography can detect asymptomatic cases,which results in early treatment and the prevention of serious outcomes.The pathogenesis of GD is suggested to be multifactorial and probably develops from complex interactions between many genetic and environmental factors.It suggests that corticosteroids and oral contraceptives,which contain hormones related to steroid hormones,may be regarded as a model system of cholelithiasis development in man.The achievement in the study of the physiology of bile formation and the pathogenesis of GD has allowed expanding indications for therapeutic treatment of GD.展开更多
Budd-Chiari syndrome is a congestive hepatopathy caused by blockage of hepatic veins. This syndrome occurs in 1/100 000 in the general population. Hypercoagulable state could be identified in 75% of the patients; more...Budd-Chiari syndrome is a congestive hepatopathy caused by blockage of hepatic veins. This syndrome occurs in 1/100 000 in the general population. Hypercoagulable state could be identified in 75% of the patients; more than one etiologic factor may play a role in 25% of the patients. Primary myeloproliferative diseases are the leading cause of the disease. Two of the hepatic veins must be blocked for clinically evident disease. Liver congestion and hypoxic damage of hepatocytes eventually result in predominantly centrilobular fibrosis. Doppler ultrasonography of the liver should be the initial diagnostic procedure. Hepatic venography is the reference procedure if required. Additionally liver biopsy may be helpful for differential diagnosis. The prognosis of the chronic form is acceptable compared to other chronic liver diseases.展开更多
Acute pancreatitis is an inflammatory disease of the pancreas.The etiology and pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis have been intensively investigated for centuries worldwide.Many causes of acute pancreatitis have been ...Acute pancreatitis is an inflammatory disease of the pancreas.The etiology and pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis have been intensively investigated for centuries worldwide.Many causes of acute pancreatitis have been discovered,but the pathogenetic theories are controversial.The most common cause of acute pancreatitis is gallstone impacting the distal common bile-pancreatic duct.The majority ofinvestigators accept that the main factors for acute billiary pancreatitis are pancreatic hyperstimulation and bile-pancreatic duct obstruction which increase pancreatic duct pressure and active trypsin reflux.Acute pancreatitis occurs when intracellular protective mechanisms to prevent trypsinogen activation or reduce trypsin activity are overwhelmed.However,little is known about the other acute pancreatitis.We hypothesize that acute biliary pancreatitis and other causes of acute pancreatitis possess a common pathogenesis.Pancreatic hyperstimulation and pancreatic duct obstruction increase pancreatic duct pressure,active trypsin reflux,and subsequent unregulated activation of trypsin within pancreatic acinar cells.Enzyme activation within the pancreas leads to auto-digestion of the gland and local inflammation.Once the hypothesis is confirmed,traditional therapeutic strategies against acute pancreatitis may be improved.Decompression of pancreatic duct pressure should be advocated in the treatment of acute pancreatitits which may greatly improve its outcome.展开更多
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic and debilitating functional gastrointestinal disorder that affects 9%-23% of the population across the world. The percentage of patients seeking health care related to IBS a...Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic and debilitating functional gastrointestinal disorder that affects 9%-23% of the population across the world. The percentage of patients seeking health care related to IBS approaches 12% in primary care practices and is by far the largest subgroup seen in gastroenterology clinics. It has been well documented that these patients exhibit a poorer quality of life and utilize the health care system to a greater degree than patients without this diagnosis. The pathophysiology of IBS is not clear. Many theories have been put forward, but the exact cause of IBS is still uncertain. According to the updated ROME III criteria, IBS is a clinical diagnosis and presents as one of the three predominant subtypes: (1) IBS with constipation (IBS-C); (2) IBS with diarrhea (IBS-D); and (3) mixed IBS (IBS-M); former ROME definitions refer to IBS-M as alternating IBS (IBS-A). Across the IBS subtypes, the presentation of symptoms may vary among patients and change over time. Patients report the most distressing symptoms to be abdominal pain, straining, myalgias, urgency, bloating and feelings of serious illness. The complexity and diversity of IBS presentation makes treatment difficult. Although there are reviews and guidelines for treating IBS, they focus on the efficacy of medications for IBS symptoms using high-priority endpoints, leaving those of lower priority largely unreported. Therefore, the aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive evidence-based review of the diagnosis, pathogenesis and treatment to guide clinicians diagnosing and treating their patients.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.32130060(to XG).
文摘Epilepsy is a severe,relapsing,and multifactorial neurological disorder.Studies regarding the accurate diagnosis,prognosis,and in-depth pathogenesis are crucial for the precise and effective treatment of epilepsy.The pathogenesis of epilepsy is complex and involves alterations in variables such as gene expression,protein expression,ion channel activity,energy metabolites,and gut microbiota composition.Satisfactory results are lacking for conventional treatments for epilepsy.Surgical resection of lesions,drug therapy,and non-drug interventions are mainly used in clinical practice to treat pain associated with epilepsy.Non-pharmacological treatments,such as a ketogenic diet,gene therapy for nerve regeneration,and neural regulation,are currently areas of research focus.This review provides a comprehensive overview of the pathogenesis,diagnostic methods,and treatments of epilepsy.It also elaborates on the theoretical basis,treatment modes,and effects of invasive nerve stimulation in neurotherapy,including percutaneous vagus nerve stimulation,deep brain electrical stimulation,repetitive nerve electrical stimulation,in addition to non-invasive transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcranial direct current stimulation.Numerous studies have shown that electromagnetic stimulation-mediated neuromodulation therapy can markedly improve neurological function and reduce the frequency of epileptic seizures.Additionally,many new technologies for the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy are being explored.However,current research is mainly focused on analyzing patients’clinical manifestations and exploring relevant diagnostic and treatment methods to study the pathogenesis at a molecular level,which has led to a lack of consensus regarding the mechanisms related to the disease.
文摘The incidence of hematochezia in infants aged three months or younger has shown an upward trend in recent years. This condition is characterized by visible bloody stools, which may appear bright red, dark red, jam-like, or mucus-purulent bloody stools, and is often accompanied by positive fecal occult blood tests, with or without additional systemic clinical symptoms. The etiology is multifactorial, potentially influenced by the maternal health status during pregnancy, neonatal diseases or treatments received in the NICU, and the methods used for establishing enteral and parenteral nutrition. Notably, allergic factors have gained prominence in recent years. This paper reviews recent studies to elucidate the incidence, primary causes, and current treatment approaches for early infant hematochezia, providing a reference for clinical practice.
文摘Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disorder chara cterized by inflammation,demyelination,and neurodegeneration in the central nervous system.Although current first-line therapies can help manage symptoms and slow down disease progression,there is no cure for multiple sclerosis.The gut-brain axis refers to complex communications between the gut flo ra and the immune,nervous,and endocrine systems,which bridges the functions of the gut and the brain.Disruptions in the gut flora,termed dys biosis,can lead to systemic inflammation,leaky gut syndrome,and increased susceptibility to infections.The pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis involves a combination of genetic and environmental factors,and gut flora may play a pivotal role in regulating immune responses related to multiple scle rosis.To develop more effective therapies for multiple scle rosis,we should further uncover the disease processes involved in multiple sclerosis and gain a better understanding of the gut-brain axis.This review provides an overview of the role of the gut flora in multiple scle rosis.
基金supported by National Health Institute(NIH)grant NS099596(to LW and SPY),NS114221(to LW and SPY)Veterans Affair(VA)SPiRE grant RX003865(to SPY)+1 种基金supported by the O.Wayne Rollins Endowment Fund(to SPY)John E.Steinhaus Endowment Fund(to LW)。
文摘Stroke and Alzheimer's disease are common neurological disorders and often occur in the same individuals.The comorbidity of the two neurological disorders represents a grave health threat to older populations.This review presents a brief background of the development of novel concepts and their clinical potentials.The activity of glutamatergic N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-mediated Ca^(2+)influx is critical for neuronal function.An ischemic insult induces prompt and excessive glutamate release and drastic increases of intracellular Ca^(2+)mainly via N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors,particularly of those at the extrasynaptic site.This Ca^(2+)-evoked neuronal cell death in the ischemic core is dominated by necrosis within a few hours and days known as acute excitotoxicity.Furthermore,mild but sustained Ca^(2+)increases under neurodegenerative conditions such as in the distant penumbra of the ischemic brain and early stages of Alzheimer's disease are not immediately toxic,but gradually set off deteriorating Ca^(2+)-dependent signals and neuronal cell loss mostly because of activation of programmed cell death pathways.Based on the Ca^(2+)hypothesis of Alzheimer's disease and recent advances,this Ca^(2+)-activated“silent”degenerative excitotoxicity evolves from years to decades and is recognized as a unique slow and chronic neuropathogenesis.The N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunit GluN3A,primarily at the extrasynaptic site,serves as a gatekeeper for the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor activity and is neuroprotective against both acute and chronic excitotoxicity.Ischemic stroke and Alzheimer's disease,therefore,share an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-and Ca^(2+)-mediated mechanism,although with much different time courses.It is thus proposed that early interventions to control Ca^(2+)homeostasis at the preclinical stage are pivotal for individuals who are susceptible to sporadic late-onset Alzheimer's disease and Alzheimer's disease-related dementia.This early treatment simultaneously serves as a preconditioning therapy against ischemic stroke that often attacks the same individuals during abnormal aging.
文摘Androgenic alopecia, also known as seborrheic alopecia, is the most common hair loss disorder in dermatology clinics, mainly characterized by hair follicle miniaturization and progressive hair loss. The etiology and pathogenesis of androgenic alopecia are not clear, but may be related to heredity and androgen metabolism. Currently, minoxidil and finasteride are the only two drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for AGA treatment, other treatments include oral minoxidil, hair transplantation, low energy laser therapy (LLLT), platelet-rich plasma (PRP), Chinese medicine microneedles, and combination therapy. With the development of medicine and science, we have ushered in the era of biologics and targeted therapy. In recent years, a variety of signaling pathways for androgenic alopecia have been found, which may provide a basis for targeted therapy for androgenic alopecia.
文摘Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma (CSCC) is a common skin malignancy with increasing incidence year by year and is the leading cause of death in patients with skin tumors other than melanoma. The pathogenesis of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma has not yet been clarified, limiting the development of related molecular targeted therapies. Surgical resection, radiotherapy, photodynamic therapy and gene therapy can be selected according to the site of disease and histological differentiation. This article reviews the research on the etiology, pathogenesis and treatment of squamous cell carcinoma in recent years.
基金This work was supported by China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences’Science and technology innovation project(CI2021B001)-Innovation team of Basic Theories of Chinese MedicineChina Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences’Youth Science and Technology Talent Project(Inheritance)(ZZ13-YQ-112)+2 种基金Shanxi Province Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Project(2022ZYYC280)Shanxi province Basic Research Program(202303021212235)Fundamental Research Funds for the Central public welfare research institutes(YZ-202034).
文摘Traditional Chinese Medicine has played an important role in the prevention and treatment of the Corona Virus Disease 2019 epidemic.But in views of different TCM scholars there are different opinions about disease name,characteristic of etiology,law of pathogenesis about this epidemic.Based on related literatures,this article overviews of the characteristics of TCM etiology,law of pathogenesis and methods of syndrome differentiation,hoping to find research method that fit in with TCM clinical practice.Prerequisite of treatment is identifying the cause.The clinical manifestations of patients are important to TCM,and the etiological attributes can be inferred from the clinical manifestations.SARS-CoV-2 belongs to exogenous etiological factors,but there are different opinions about its characteristics of six pathogenic factors.Cold,Dampness,Warm,Dry,Toxin,Summer-heat,Wind,are all involved.Thus,different understanding of the pathogenesis and the law of transmission is caused.Such as cold and dampness hurt Yang,furthermore,consumed of Qi;dampness and toxin infected from external environment,turbid dampness produced inside the body;dryness affecting lungs and consume of Yin;warm-heat-turbid-toxin affected lungs,stomach and intestine;and then produced phlegm stagnation or blood stasis,furthermore consumed Qi and Yin.Based on those differences,methods of syndrome differentiation in treatment of COVID-19 are diverse,which contain pattern differentiation of zang-fu organs,pattern differentiation of Wei-defence,Qi,Ying nutrients and blood;pattern differentiation by the eight principles,and pattern differentiation of six meridians.Because of SARS-CoV-2 can spread to the whole country or even the whole world in a short period of time,its pathogenic nature should be roughly the same.So studying the treatment of COVID-19 based on clinical cases,refining the similarities and differences in the clinical presentation of patients with different subtypes during the epidemic,clarification of the etiologic attribution and evolutionary patterns of disease mechanisms,developing a comprehensive understanding of COVID-19 in Chinese medicine is needed.Furthermore,getting a full understanding of COVID-19,and providing reference for the prevention and treatment of unknown infectious diseases.
文摘Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is an extremely common, yet underappreciated, pathogen that is able to alter host physiology and subvert the host immune response, allowing it to persist for the life of the host. H. pylori is the primary cause of peptic ulcers and gastric cancer. In the United States, the annual cost associated with peptic ulcer disease is estimated to be $6 billion and gastric cancer kills over 700000 people per year globally. The prevalence of H. pylori infection remains high (> 50%) in much of the world, although the infection rates are dropping in some developed nations. The drop in H. pylori prevalence could be a double-edged sword, reducing the incidence of gastric diseases while increasing the risk of allergies and esophageal diseases. The list of diseases potentially caused by H. pylori continues to grow; however, mechanistic explanations of how H. pylori could contribute to extragastric diseases lag far behind clinical studies. A number of host factors and H. pylori virulence factors act in concert to determine which individuals are at the highest risk of disease. These include bacterial cytotoxins and polymorphisms in host genes responsible for directing the immune response. This review discusses the latest advances in H. pylori pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment. Up-to-date information on correlations between H. pylori and extragastric diseases is also provided.
文摘Clostridium difficile(C.difficile)is the leading cause of antibiotic associated colitis and nosocomial diarrhea.Patients with inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)are at increased risk of developing C.difficile infection(CDI),have worse outcomes of CDI-including higher rates of colectomy and death,and experience higher rates of recurrence.However,it is still not clear whether C.difficile is a cause of IBD or a consequence of the inflammatory state in the intestinal environment.The burden of CDI has increased dramatically over the past decade,with severe outbreaks described in many countries,which have been attributed to a new and more virulent strain.A parallel rise in the incidence of CDI has been noted in patients with IBD.IBD patients with CDI tend be younger,have less prior antibiotic exposure,and most cases of CDI in these patients represent outpatient acquired infections.The clinical presentation of CDI in these patients can be unique-including diversion colitis,enteritis and pouchitis,and typical findings on colonoscopy are often absent.Due to the high prevalence of CDI in patients hospitalized with an IBD exacerbation,and the prognostic implications of CDI in these patients,it is recommended to test all IBD patients hospitalized with a disease flare for C.difficile.Treatment includes general measures such as supportive care and infection control measures.Antibiotic therapy with either oral metronidazole,vancomycin,or the novel antibiotic-fidaxomicin,should be initiated as soon as possible.Fecal macrobiota transplantation constitutes another optional treatment for severe/recurrent CDI.The aim of this paper is to review recent data on CDI in IBD:role in pathogenesis,diagnostic methods,optional treatments,and outcomes of these patients.
文摘Bile leakage remains a serious complication after biliary surgery. The aim of this study was to assess the etiology, diagnosis and treatment of postoperative biliary leakage. METHODS:Thirty-eight patients with biliary leakage we treated in recent 8 years were analyzed retrospectively. Among them, 8 patients had bilioenterostomy leakage, 7 accessory bile duct leakage, 7 cholecyst bed leakage, 6 leakage after removal of T-tube, 5 leakage after laparoscopic cholecystectomy, 3 leakage around T-tube, and 2 leakage caused by choledochal damage. Drainage was performed in 17 patients, reoperarion in 13, drainage plus percutaneous transhepatic cholangio drainage (PTCD) , endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERCP) , endoscopic nasobiliary drainage(ENBD) and endostenting in 5, and drainage plus growth hormone in 3. RESULTS; In this series, 37 patients were cured, and 1 died of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). These patients were hospitalized for 2 weeks to 8 weeks. The drainage group was hospitalized shorter than the undrain-age group. CONCLUSIONS; A piece of white gauze can be used to touch surgical area in detecting biliary leakage intraopera-tively. Mucous to mucous suture of the bile duct and appropriate time for removal of T-tube are recommended to prevent biliary leakage. Reoperation is essential to acute peritonitis. Drainage can be used if leakage don t diffuse or it occurs after pulling out T-tube. Drainage plus ERCP, ENBD,PTCD and drainage are effective.
文摘Kleptomania is a kind of uncontrollable impulse and behavior of stealing,and it is also a serious disease.At present,studies on pathological theft at home and abroad are not sufficient,and the understanding of the symptoms,etiology and treatment of this disease is very insufficient.This article focuses on the latest development of symptoms, etiology and treatment of kleptomania,providing a reference for people to further identify, treat and study the disease.
基金supported by the Medical Science and Technology Project of Zhejiang Province(No.2019KY584)Traditional Chinese Medicine Science and Technology Project of Zhejiang Province(No.2023ZL648).
文摘Objective To investigate the etiology,clinical characteristics,diagnosis,and treatment strategies and efficacy of pulsatile tinnitus(PT)caused by vascular anatomy abnormality.Methods The clinical data of 45 patients with PT in our hospital from 2012 to 2019 were collected and retrospectively analyzed.Results All 45 patients had vascular anatomical abnormalities.The patients were divided into 10 categories according to the different locations of vascular abnormalities:sigmoid sinus diverticulum(SSD),sigmoid sinus wall dehiscence(SSWD),SSWD with high jugular bulb,pure dilated mastoid emissary vein,aberrant internal carotid artery(ICA)in the middle ear,transverse-sigmoid sinus(TSS)transition stenosis,TSS transition stenosis with SSD,persistent occipital sinus stenosis,petrous segment stenosis of ICA,and dural arteriovenous fistula.All patients complained of PT synchronous with heartbeat rhythm.Endovascular interventional therapy and extravascular open surgery were used according to the location of the vascular lesions.Tinnitus disappeared in 41 patients,was significantly relieved in 3 patients,and was unchanged in 1 patient postoperatively.Except for one patient with transient headache postoperatively,no obvious complications occurred.Conclusion PT caused by vascular anatomy abnormalities can be identified by detailed medical history and physical and imaging examination.PT can be relieved or even completely alleviated after appropriate surgical treatments.
基金Key Projects in Science and Technology Development from Guangzhou,China(No.11BppZXaa2060017)
文摘Purpose: To investigate the etiology and the treatment of acquired blepharoptosis inpatients,.especially secondary to surgery.Methods: The clinical records of 65 consecutive patients with acquired ptosis were reviewed from an eye center and a comprehensive hospital..Potential factors responsible for acquired ptosis were investigated..Surgical management principles and post-operative exposure keratitis are discussed.Results:.The top three causes of acquired ptosis were postsurgical ptosis(20 / 65, 30.8%), traumatic ptosis(17 / 65,26.2%) and senile aponeurotic ptosis(12 / 65, 18.5%). Twenty patients had post-surgical ptosis secondary to orbital surgery(8 / 20, 40.0%), enucleation and hydroxyapatite(HA) artificial eye implantation(4 / 20, 20%), eyelid surgery(3 / 20,15%), cataract or glaucoma surgery(2 / 20, 10%), conjunctive surgery(2 / 20, 10%).and superior oblique muscle surgery(1 / 20, 5%). The levator palpebrae superioris(LPS) muscle of ten eyes(10 / 20, 50%) was found during exploration and reattached to the tarsal plate, with shortening of the LPS. Nine eyes(9 / 20, 45%) underwent a frontalis suspension(FS) operation because the LPS muscle was missing. One(1 / 20, 5%)patient was not operated on due to a poor Bell's phenomenon.Two patients(2 / 65, 3.1%)—one patient with post-surgical ptosis and another with aponeurotic ptosis—developed exposure keratitis after ptosis correction.Conclusion: Post-surgical ptosis is one of the most common causes of acquired ptosis. It is important to explore LPS muscle during surgery. LPS reattachment is performed if the muscle is found; otherwise, a FS operation is chosen. Exposure keratitis after correction should be monitored.
文摘Glioblastoma multiforme(GBM), the literal apogee on the hierarchy of malignant brain tumors, remains one of the greatest therapeutic challenges in oncology andmedicine. Historically this may be contextualized in the fact that the medical and scientific communities have had a very elementary understanding of its intricate and complex pathophysiology. The last 10-15 years have yielded a number of studies that have elucidated much of the molecular and genetic complexities of GBM that underlie its pathogenesis. Excitingly, some of these discovered genetic mutations and molecular profiles in GBM have demonstrated value in prognostication and utility in predicting response to treatment. Despite this, however, treatment options for patients have remained somewhat limited. These treatment options are expected to expand with the availability of new data and with the transition of novel treatment modalities from animal to human studies. This paper will have a threefold objective: provide an overview of the traditional paradigm in understanding and treating GBM, describe recent discoveries in the molecular pathogenesis of GBM against this historical backdrop, and acquaint the reader with new treatment modalities that hold significant therapeutic potential for patients.
基金National natural science foundation of China(No.81774247)
文摘Chronic total occlusive disease of the coronary artery belongs to the category of"chest palsy"and"true heart pain"in traditional Chinese medicine.Its etiology has two aspects:deficiency of blood,blood stasis,qi stagnation,and phlegm.Failure can be caused by deficiency or disease.The pathogenesis of this disease is caused by obstruction of the heart pulse,and its pathogenesis can be transformed into each other.The theory of traditional Chinese medicine believes that the general rule is not painful.Therefore,the treatment of coronary CTO lesions should be based on the combination of Tong and Tong tonic.The chronic complete occlusive disease of the coronary artery can be treated through Xuanbi Tongyang,Huoxue Tongluo,and Aroma Wentong.Based on the Chinese medicine's understanding of the etiology and pathogenesis of coronary CTO lesions,it provides a basis for the diagnosis and treatment of traditional Chinese medicine,solves the problems of interventional medicine in western medicine,and gives play to the unique advantages of traditional Chinese medicine for clinical diagnosis and treatment.
文摘Objective:Sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (SAHS) is a common sleep disorder, which is manifested as a reduction in tidal volume or apnea during sleep, which results in intermittent hypoxia and tissue hypoxia and induces oxidative stress and inflammatory responses. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic disease contributing to hyperplasia of synovial membrane, cartilage erosion and joint damage. Fibroblast like synoviocytes (FLS), which make up the lining of the synovial membrane, are believed to play a role in the pathogenesis of RA. RA is a series of inflammation-like responses that induce joint damage and dysfunction and impair patients' life quality. This article first introduced the basic features of RA and analyzes the pathogenesis of RA with SAHS. Then the relationship between RA and SAHS was investigated. Finally, the progress in the treatment for RA with SAHS was reviewed emphatically.
文摘Gallstone disease(GD) is a chronic recurrent hepatobiliary disease,the basis for which is the impaired metabolism of cholesterol,bilirubin and bile acids,which is characterized by the formation of gallstones in the hepatic bile duct,common bile duct,or gallbladder.GD is one of the most prevalent gastrointestinal diseases with a substantial burden to health care systems.GD can result in serious outcomes,such as acute gallstone pancreatitis and gallbladder cancer.The epidemiology,pathogenesis and treatment of GD are discussed in this review.The prevalence of GD varies widely by region.The prevalence of gallstone disease has increased in recent years.This is connected with a change in lifestyle:reduction of motor activity,reduction of the physical load and changes to diets.One of the important benefits of early screening for gallstone disease is that ultrasonography can detect asymptomatic cases,which results in early treatment and the prevention of serious outcomes.The pathogenesis of GD is suggested to be multifactorial and probably develops from complex interactions between many genetic and environmental factors.It suggests that corticosteroids and oral contraceptives,which contain hormones related to steroid hormones,may be regarded as a model system of cholelithiasis development in man.The achievement in the study of the physiology of bile formation and the pathogenesis of GD has allowed expanding indications for therapeutic treatment of GD.
基金Yusuf Bayraktar, MD, Gastroenterology Department, Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. bayrak@hacettepe.edu.trTelephone: +90-312-3051712 Fax: +90-312-3051490
文摘Budd-Chiari syndrome is a congestive hepatopathy caused by blockage of hepatic veins. This syndrome occurs in 1/100 000 in the general population. Hypercoagulable state could be identified in 75% of the patients; more than one etiologic factor may play a role in 25% of the patients. Primary myeloproliferative diseases are the leading cause of the disease. Two of the hepatic veins must be blocked for clinically evident disease. Liver congestion and hypoxic damage of hepatocytes eventually result in predominantly centrilobular fibrosis. Doppler ultrasonography of the liver should be the initial diagnostic procedure. Hepatic venography is the reference procedure if required. Additionally liver biopsy may be helpful for differential diagnosis. The prognosis of the chronic form is acceptable compared to other chronic liver diseases.
文摘Acute pancreatitis is an inflammatory disease of the pancreas.The etiology and pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis have been intensively investigated for centuries worldwide.Many causes of acute pancreatitis have been discovered,but the pathogenetic theories are controversial.The most common cause of acute pancreatitis is gallstone impacting the distal common bile-pancreatic duct.The majority ofinvestigators accept that the main factors for acute billiary pancreatitis are pancreatic hyperstimulation and bile-pancreatic duct obstruction which increase pancreatic duct pressure and active trypsin reflux.Acute pancreatitis occurs when intracellular protective mechanisms to prevent trypsinogen activation or reduce trypsin activity are overwhelmed.However,little is known about the other acute pancreatitis.We hypothesize that acute biliary pancreatitis and other causes of acute pancreatitis possess a common pathogenesis.Pancreatic hyperstimulation and pancreatic duct obstruction increase pancreatic duct pressure,active trypsin reflux,and subsequent unregulated activation of trypsin within pancreatic acinar cells.Enzyme activation within the pancreas leads to auto-digestion of the gland and local inflammation.Once the hypothesis is confirmed,traditional therapeutic strategies against acute pancreatitis may be improved.Decompression of pancreatic duct pressure should be advocated in the treatment of acute pancreatitits which may greatly improve its outcome.
文摘Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic and debilitating functional gastrointestinal disorder that affects 9%-23% of the population across the world. The percentage of patients seeking health care related to IBS approaches 12% in primary care practices and is by far the largest subgroup seen in gastroenterology clinics. It has been well documented that these patients exhibit a poorer quality of life and utilize the health care system to a greater degree than patients without this diagnosis. The pathophysiology of IBS is not clear. Many theories have been put forward, but the exact cause of IBS is still uncertain. According to the updated ROME III criteria, IBS is a clinical diagnosis and presents as one of the three predominant subtypes: (1) IBS with constipation (IBS-C); (2) IBS with diarrhea (IBS-D); and (3) mixed IBS (IBS-M); former ROME definitions refer to IBS-M as alternating IBS (IBS-A). Across the IBS subtypes, the presentation of symptoms may vary among patients and change over time. Patients report the most distressing symptoms to be abdominal pain, straining, myalgias, urgency, bloating and feelings of serious illness. The complexity and diversity of IBS presentation makes treatment difficult. Although there are reviews and guidelines for treating IBS, they focus on the efficacy of medications for IBS symptoms using high-priority endpoints, leaving those of lower priority largely unreported. Therefore, the aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive evidence-based review of the diagnosis, pathogenesis and treatment to guide clinicians diagnosing and treating their patients.