Common Gastrointestinal Diseases Research Articles

Infected pancreatic necrosis-Current trends in management.

Acute necrotizing pancreatitis is a common gastrointestinal disease requiring hospitalization and multiple interventions resulting in higher morbidity and mortality. Development of infection in such necrotic tissue is one of the sentinel events in natural history of necrotizing pancreatitis. Infected necrosis develops in around 1/3rd of patients with necrotizing pancreatitis resulting in higher mortality. So, timely diagnosis of infected necrosis using clinical, laboratory and radiological parameters is of utmost importance. Though initial conservative management with antibiotics and organ support system is effective in some patients, amajority of patients still requires drainage of the collection by various modalities. Mode of drainage of infected pancreatic necrosis depends on various factors such as the clinical status of the patient, location and characteristics of collection and availability of the expertise and includes endoscopic, percutaneous and minimally invasive or open surgical approaches. Endoscopic drainage has proved to be a game changer in the management of infected pancreatic necrosis in the last decade with rapid evolution in procedure techniques, development of novel metal stent and dedicated necrosectomy devices for better clinical outcome. Despite widespread adoption of endoscopic transluminal drainage of pancreatic necrosis with excellent clinical outcomes, peripheral collections are still not amenable for endoscopic drainage and in such scenario, the role of percutaneous catheter drainage or minimally invasive surgical necrosectomy cannot be understated. In a nutshell, the management of patients with infected pancreatic necrosis involves a multi-disciplinary team including a gastroenterologist, an intensivist, an interventional radiologist and a surgeon for optimum clinical outcomes.

Progress in Pathogenesis of Pancreatitis with Acute Kidney Injury

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a common gastrointestinal disease. About 20% of patients with acute pancreatitis develop severe acute pancreatitis, often with multiple organ dysfunction and poor prognosis. In the process, about 10% of patients develop acute renal injury (AKI). Acute renal injury (AKI) is a major complication of severe pancreatitis with a case fatality rate of up to 75%. AP associated AKI (AP-AKI) has both common and significant differences from other AKIs associated with intensive care. Although its pathogenesis is not clear, systemic and regional inflammatory responses play a key role. Early detection, early and effective support and pathogen treatment can significantly improve the results.

Hemp seeds attenuate loperamide-induced constipation in mice.

Constipation is a common gastrointestinal disease that seriously affects human physical and mental health. Studies have reported that hemp seeds can improve constipation, however the specific mechanism is still unclear. This study investigates that hemp seed (HS) and its water-ethanol extract (HSE) attenuates loperamide-induced constipation in mice. The research results show that: the fecal water content and small intestinal transit rate of mice in the hemp seed group and hemp seed hydroalcoholic extract group were significantly increased compared with MC group, and the first red feces defecation time was significantly shortened; HS and HSE significantly influence serum levels of Gastrin (Gas), motilin (MTL), substance P (SP), and endothelin (ET), potentially mediating their effects on gastrointestinal motility. HS and HSE can improve colon inflammation in constipated mice with H&E staining. Compared with the model of constipation group, the content of short-chain fatty acids in the HS group and HSE group increased significantly. Gut microbiome studies have shown that the structure and abundance of intestinal flora are altered. HS and HSE changed the abundance of Odoribacter, Bacteroide, Lactobacillus and Prevotella. Together, these results suggest that HS have the potential to stimulate the proliferation of beneficial gut microbes and promote intestinal motility, thereby improving gut health and relieving symptoms of constipation.

Pancreatitis aguda

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is one of the most common gastrointestinal diseases in the emergency department and hospitalization setting. Its incidence is progressively increasing and the main etiologies are cholelithiasis and alcohol. The diagnosis is based on clinical, analytical, and radiological criteria. There are other diseases with similar clinical and analytical abnormalities and thus, it is necessary to make a correct differential diagnosis. The initial treatment is symptomatic (analgesia) and supportive (serum therapy based on targets). Monitoring is especially important for the early identification of patients with poor progress. The treatment for moderately severe AP is based on organ failure support, specific pharmacological treatment in selected cases (antibiotic therapy), nutritional treatment, and interventional treatment for symptomatic pancreatic necrosis. The treatment for cases of moderately severe AP must take place, when possible, in reference centers with multidisciplinary teams. Etiological treatment of the cause of pancreatitis is essential for preventing new episodes.

Relationship between CYP2C19 genotypes and proton pump inhibitorsʹs pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics: review

The purpose of this review is to provide clinicians with information and a concise interpretation of the results of pharmacogenetic testing for the cytochrome P450 2C19 (CYP2C19) genotype when choosing a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) dosage. PPIs are widely used for the treatment and prevention of common gastrointestinal diseases, including gastroesophageal reflux disease, gastric and duodenal ulcers, erosive esophagitis, and other hypersecretory conditions. Most PPIs are metabolized predominantly by cytochrome P450 2C19 (CYP2C19) to form inactive metabolites, and the CYP2C19 genotype determines the action of PPIs, their efficacy and possible side effects. In clinical practice, a gastroenterologist or therapist is faced with problems of insufficient effectiveness or the development of adverse reactions when prescribing PPIs. Thus, consideration of CYP2C19 genotype appears to be necessary to determine the optimal PPI dosing regimen. The above served as a reason for generalizing in the presented review of literature data on the prescription of PPIs depending on the CYP2C19 genotype.

Alteration in the gastric microbiota of Erosive Reflux Disease and Non-erosive Reflux Disease patients: An indicator for disease progression

Introduction and Aim: Erosive reflux disease (ERD) and Non-erosive reflux disease (NERD) are common gastrointestinal (GI) diseases in primary healthcare facilities that might result in alterations in gastric microflora. The aim was to characterize the altered composition of the gastric microflora in both groups and their effects on normal metabolic pathways. Materials and Methods: A total of 27 individuals, consisting of 18 patients of ERD, 4 patients of NERD, and 5 controls based on the questionnaire data and clinical diagnosis. The gastric microbiome was sequenced using 16S rRNA next-generation sequencing. Gastric microbial diversity and compositions were analyzed using MicrobiomeAnalyst. Functional analysis was performed using PICRUST. Results: Dysbiosis was observed in both ERD and NERD groups when compared to the control. Alpha diversity was found to be significant at the ACE index, at the order (p = 0.0239) and class (p = 0.019) taxonomic levels. The gastric microbiome composition at the genus level of the study groups represented a significant decrease of Gram-positive bacterial genera such as Streptococcus, Corynebacterium, and Granulicatella along with an increase of Gram-negative genera such as Helicobacter and Veillonella. Significant alterations in the metabolic pathways due to this dysbiosis were also predicted for both groups. Conclusion: The alterations in the gastric microflora are caused by both ERD and NERD, these alterations are further associated with a shift in microbial consortia towards the abundance of gram-negative bacterial genera that might lead to the progression of GI diseases to a chronic state.

Multidrug-resistant conjugative plasmid carrying mphA confers increased antimicrobial resistance in Shigella

Shigellosis remains a common gastrointestinal disease mostly in children < 5 years of age in developing countries. Azithromycin (AZM), a macrolide, is currently the first-line treatment for shigellosis in Bangladesh; ciprofloxacin (CIP) and ceftriaxone (CRO) are also used frequently. We aimed to evaluate the current epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and mechanism(s) of increasing macrolide resistance in Shigella in Bangladesh. A total of 2407 clinical isolates of Shigella from 2009 to 2016 were studied. Over the study period, Shigella sonnei was gradually increasing and become predominant (55%) over Shigella flexneri (36%) by 2016. We used CLSI-guided epidemiological cut-off value (ECV) for AZM in Shigella to set resistance breakpoints (zone-diameter ≤ 15 mm for S. flexneri and ≤ 11 mm for S. sonnei). Between 2009 and 2016, AZM resistance increased from 22% to approximately 60%, CIP resistance increased by 40%, and CRO resistance increased from zero to 15%. The mphA gene was the key macrolide resistance factor in Shigella; a 63MDa conjugative middle-range plasmid was harboring AZM and CRO resistance factors. Our findings show that, especially after 2014, there has been a rapid increase in resistance to the three most effective antibiotics. The rapid spread of macrolide (AZM) resistance genes among Shigella are driven by horizontal gene transfer rather than direct lineage.

Risk factors and Nomogram Prediction for Splanchnic Venous Thrombosis in Moderate and Severe Acute Pancreatitis

BACKGROUND: Acute pancreatitis is one of the most common gastrointestinal diseases with significant morbidity and mortality, especially in the moderate to severe types. Splanchnic vein thrombosis(SVT) is related to acute pancreatitis but the pathogenesis of SVT in patients with AP is incompletely understood. AIM To investigate the risk factors of moderately severe acute pancreatitis (MSAP) and severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) complicated by splanchnic venous thrombosis. METHODS The clinical data of 290 patients with MSAP and SAP admitted to Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University between December 2015 and December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups: 1) with thrombosis and 2) without thrombosis. Sex, age, etiology, severity of acute pancreatitis, platelet (PLT), C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), interleukin-6 (IL-6), prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thrombin time (APTT), D-dimer (D-D) levels, type of pancreatic necrosis, proportion and location of pancreatic parenchymal necrosis (PPN), location of local complications, computed tomography severity index (CTSI) and modified CTSI(mCTSI) were recorded. Univariate, logistic multivariate regression analyses and nomogram were used to determine the risk factors for splanchnic venous thrombosis complicated by acute pancreatitis (AP). A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, decision curve and calibration curve were drawn. RESULTS Among 290 patients with AP, 71 (24.5%) had SAP, and 219 (75.5%) had MSAP. The median age of all the patients was 49 years; 172 patients (59.3%) had biliary disease, 91 patients (31.4%) had hypertriglyceridemia, 13 patients (4.5%) had alcohol disease, and 14 patients (4.8%) had other diseases. Of the 290 patients, SVT was detected in 35 (12.1%). Univariate analysis showed that the severity of acute pancreatitis, PLT, CRP, PCT, IL-6, PT, D-D, proportion of pancreatic parenchyma necrosis (PPN), necrosis of body-tail, and necrosis involving perihepatic and right subphrenic space, CTSI and mCTSI in the thrombus group were all statistically significant (P &lt; 0.05). The results of multivariate analysis showed that PLT≧422 × 109/L, necrosis of body-tail, and necrosis involving perihepatic and right subphrenic space were independent risk factors for AP complicated with splanchnic venous thrombosis. The nomogram incorporating these factors demonstrated good discrimination, calibration and clinical utility. The area under the curve was as high as 0.845. CONCLUSION PLT≧422 × 109/L, necrosis of body-tail, and necrosis involving perihepatic and right subphrenic space are independent risk factors for splanchnic vein thrombosis. A simple nomogram tool helps in the early, accurate prediction of AP. Early and relevant clinical intervention should be provided.

Tendency to Consume Probiotics in the General Population: An Ecological Study

Background: Reports indicate that probiotics have beneficial effects on both the prevention and treatment of numerous diseases. Objectives: This study aims to explore the overall inclination toward probiotic consumption, its trends, and its association with common gastrointestinal diseases. Methods: We conducted an ecological study utilizing Google Trends (GTs) and Global Concern data. We analyzed search terms related to “probiotic," “Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)," “Peptic," “Constipation," “Diarrhea," and “Stomach Cancer (SC)" across all searches performed on GTs from January 2014 to July 2023. Results: Globally and in Iran, there has been an increasing interest in consuming probiotics over time. This increase is linked to a rise in cases of stomach cancer and irritable bowel syndrome, which, in turn, boosts the propensity to utilize probiotics. Globally, there is a direct correlation between probiotic consumption and IBS (R = +0.69, P = 0.0001), peptic disorders (R = +0.71, P = 0.001), Constipation (R = +0.93, P = 0.001), and diarrhea (R = +0.89, P = 0.001). In Iran, significant direct correlations were found between probiotic consumption and both constipation (R = +0.36, P = 0.001) and diarrhea (R = +0.40, P = 0.001). Among probiotic-containing products, yogurt was preferred over others worldwide and in Iran. Conclusions: The interest in probiotic use is high globally and in Iran. Consequently, there is a need for strategies to educate the public about the areas where the benefits of probiotics are well-supported by evidence and where information is either weak or lacking.

Efficacy and safety of probiotics in irritable bowel syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundIrritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disease characterized by abdominal pain, distension, and altered bowel habits. Probiotics may alleviate IBS symptoms, but clinical trials remain conflicting. AimsTo conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials to evaluate the efficacy and safety of probiotics for IBS patients. MethodsWe searched relevant trials in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar from 2000 to June 2023. Standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated for continuous outcomes. A risk ratio (RR) and a 95% CI were calculated for dichotomous outcomes. ResultsA total of 20 studies involving 3011 patients were obtained. The results demonstrated that probiotics are more effective than placebo in reducing global IBS symptoms improvement rate (RR = 1.401, 95% CI 1.182 - 1.662, P < 0.001) and quality of life scores (SMD = 0.286, 95% CI = 0.154 - 0.418, P < 0.001). Subgroup analyses showed that a shorter treatment time (less than eight weeks) could reduce distension scores (SMD = 0.197, 95% CI = 0.038 - 0.356, P = 0.015). High doses (daily dose of probiotics ≥ 10ˆ10) or multiple strains of probiotics exhibit beneficial effects on abdominal pain (SMD = 0.412, 95% CI = 0.112 - 0.711, P = 0.007; SMD = 0.590, 95% CI = 0.050 - 1.129, P = 0.032; respectively). However, there was no significant benefit on global symptom scores (SMD = 0.387, 95% CI 0.122 to 0.653, P = 0.004) with statistically high inter-study heterogeneity (I2 = 91.9%, P < 0.001). Furthermore, there was no significant inter-group difference in terms of adverse events frequency (RR = 0.997, 95% CI 0.845 - 1.177, P = 0.973). ConclusionProbiotics are effective and safe for IBS patients. High doses or multiple probiotic strains seem preferable, but definite conclusions are challenging due to the high heterogeneity. Large-scale, well-designed, and rigorous trials are needed to confirm their effectiveness.

Early prediction of gallstone disease with a machine learning-based method from bioimpedance and laboratory data.

Gallstone disease (GD) is a common gastrointestinal disease. Although traditional diagnostic techniques, such as ultrasonography, CT, and MRI, detect gallstones, they have some limitations, including high cost and potential inaccuracies in certain populations. This study proposes a machine learning-based prediction model for gallstone disease using bioimpedance and laboratory data. A dataset of 319 samples, comprising161 gallstone patients and 158 healthy controls, was curated. The dataset comprised 38 attributes of the participants, including age, weight, height, blood test results, and bioimpedance data, and it contributed to the literature on gallstones as a new dataset. State-of-the-art machine learning techniques were performed on the dataset to detect gallstones. The experimental results showed that vitamin D, C-reactive protein (CRP) level, total body water, and lean mass are crucial features, and the gradient boosting technique achieved the highest accuracy (85.42%) in predicting gallstones. The proposed technique offers a viable alternative to conventional imaging techniques for early prediction of gallstone disease.

Crises in Antimicrobial Stewardship: Misuse of Clarithromycin for Helicobacter pylori Therapy

Helicobacter pylori is a class I carcinogen that infects more than 100 million individuals in the United States. Antimicrobial therapy for H. pylori has typically been prescribed empirically rather than based on susceptibility testing. Until recently, therapeutic recommendations have generally ignored the principles of antibiotic stewardship. A combination of a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), amoxicillin, and clarithromycin (triple therapy) remains popular despite increasing clarithromycin resistance and poor cure rates. Concomitant therapy (a PPI, amoxicillin, clarithromycin, and metronidazole) is recommended and widely used despite all patients receiving at least one unneeded antibiotic. In 2020, the Food and Drug Administration approved vonoprazan, amoxicillin, and clarithromycin triple therapy, which administers unneeded clarithromycin to &gt;90% of patients (i.e., ~6 tons of unneeded clarithromycin/million treatments). In the late 1980s, the infectious disease community functionally transferred responsibility for the management of H. pylori to gastroenterology, which has managed the infection as another common gastrointestinal disease such as constipation. In 2022, both traditional and noninvasive molecular-based susceptibility testing for H. pylori became available in the United States. In order to reduce and prevent antibiotic misuse, the infectious disease community should reclaim responsibility for the management of this important infectious disease.

Discoveries of GPR39 as an evolutionarily conserved receptor for bile acids and of its involvement in biliary acute pancreatitis.

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is one of the most common gastrointestinal diseases. Bile acids (BAs) were proposed to be a cause of AP nearly 170 years ago, though the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we report that two G protein-coupled receptors, GPR39 and GHSR, mediated cellular responses to BAs. Our results revealed GPR39 as an evolutionarily conserved receptor for BAs, particularly 3-O-sulfated lithocholic acids. In cultured cell lines, GPR39 is sufficient for BA-induced Ca2+ elevation. In pancreatic acinar cells, GPR39 mediated BA-induced Ca2+ elevation and necrosis. Furthermore, AP induced by BAs was significantly reduced in GPR39 knockout mice. Our findings provide in vitro and in vivo evidence demonstrating that GPR39 is necessary and sufficient to mediate BA signaling, highlighting its involvement in biliary AP pathogenesis, and suggesting it as a promising therapeutic target for biliary AP.

Cholecystokinin and cholecystokinin-A receptor: An attractive treatment strategy for biliary dyskinesia?

Biliary dyskinesia is a relatively common gastrointestinal disease that is increasing in incidence as living standards improve. However, its underlying pathogenesis remains unclear, hindering the development of therapeutic drugs. Recently, "Expression and functional study of cholecystokinin-A receptors on the interstitial Cajal-like cells of the guinea pig common bile duct" demonstrated that cholecystokinin (CCK) regulates the contractile function of the common bile duct through interaction with the CCK-A receptor in interstitial Cajal-like cells, contributing to improving the academic understanding of biliary tract dynamics and providing emerging directions for the pathogenesis and clinical management of biliary dyskinesia. This letter provides a brief overview of the role of CCK and CCK-A receptors in biliary dyskinesia from the perspective of animal experiments and clinical studies, and discusses prospects and challenges for the clinical application of CCK and CCK-A receptors as potential therapeutic targets.

The Use of Diets in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Common Gastrointestinal Diseases in Dogs and Cats.

The nutritional health of dogs and cats is important to pet owners around the world. Nutrition is inextricably linked to the health of the gastrointestinal system and vice versa. Gastrointestinal signs, such as vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, or weight loss, are one of the most common reasons that dog and cat owners make non-routine appointments with veterinarians. Those patients are evaluated systematically to identify and/or rule out the causes of the symptoms. Some causes of chronic diarrhea are within the gastrointestinal tract while others are secondary to pathogenic factors outside the digestive system. Some useful biomarkers of chronic intestinal disease (enteropathy) exist in serum and feces. After determination that the clinical signs are due to primary gastrointestinal disease and that there is no parasitism, specific diets are used for at least two weeks. There are several types of diets for pets with chronic enteropathies. There are limited ingredient diets and hydrolyzed protein diets with reduced levels of allergens. There are also highly digestible and fiber-enhanced diets. Some diets contain probiotics and/or prebiotics. If symptoms do not improve and the patient is stable, a diet from a different class may be tried. For chronic enteropathies, the prognosis is generally good for symptom resolution or at least improvement. However, if interventions with novel diets do not ameliorate the symptoms of chronic enteropathy, then antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, or immunosuppressant therapy or further, more invasive diagnostics such as taking an intestinal biopsy, may be indicated. Pancreatitis is a common gastrointestinal disease in dogs and cats and patients may present with mild to severe disease. Many patients with mild to moderate disease can be successfully treated with early supportive care, including feeding a low-fat diet. A novel pharmaceutical, fuzapladib (Panoquell-CA1) looks very promising for treating more severe forms of acute pancreatitis in dogs. Maintenance on a low-fat diet may prevent pancreatitis in at-risk dogs. Future advances in medicine will allow pet owners and veterinarians to use dietary management to maximize the health of their dogs and cats.

Utility of Pyloric Length Measurement for Detecting Severe Metabolic Alkalosis in Infants with Hypertrophic Pyloric Stenosis.

Infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS) is a common gastrointestinal disease in neonates and hypochloremia metabolic alkalosis is a typical laboratory finding in affected patients. This study aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics of infants with IHPS and evaluate the association of clinical and laboratory parameters with ultrasonographic findings. Infants diagnosed with IHPS between January 2017 and July 2022 were retrospectively evaluated. A total of 67 patients were included in the study. The mean age at diagnosis was 40.5±19.59 days, and the mean symptom duration was 11.97±9.91 days. The mean pyloric muscle thickness and pyloric canal length were 4.87±1.05 mm and 19.6±3.46 mm, respectively. Hyponatremia and metabolic alkalosis were observed in five (7.5%) and 36 (53.7%) patients, respectively. Serum sodium (p=0.011), potassium (p=0.023), and chloride levels (p=0.015) were significantly lower in patients with high bicarbonate levels (≥30 mmol/L). Furthermore, pyloric canal length was significantly higher in patients with high bicarbonate levels (p=0.015). To assess metabolic alkalosis in IHPS patients, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of pyloric canal length was 0.910 and the optimal cutoff value of the pyloric canal length was 23.5 mm. We found a close association between laboratory and ultrasonographic findings of IHPS. Clinicians should give special consideration to patients with pyloric lengths exceeding 23.5 mm and appropriate fluid rehydration should be given to these patients.

The effects of dairy on the gut microbiome and symptoms in gastrointestinal disease cohorts: a systematic review

Abstract Bovine dairy foods provide several essential nutrients. Fermented bovine dairy foods contain additional compounds, increasing their potential to benefit gastrointestinal health. This review explores the effects of dairy consumption on the gut microbiome and symptoms in gastrointestinal disease cohorts. Human subjects with common gastrointestinal diseases (functional gastrointestinal disorders and inflammatory bowel disease) or associated symptoms, and equivalent animal models were included. A systematic literature search was performed using PubMed, Embase and Web of Science. The search yielded 3014 studies in total, with 26 meeting inclusion criteria, including 15 human studies (1550 participants) and 11 animal studies (627 subjects). All test foods were fermented bovine dairy products, primarily fermented milk and yogurt. Six studies reported increases in gastrointestinal bacterial alpha diversity, with nine studies reporting increases in relative Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium abundance. Six studies reported increases in beneficial short-chain fatty acids, while three reported decreases. Gastrointestinal symptoms, specifically gut comfort and defecation frequency, improved in 14 human studies. Five animal studies demonstrated reduced colonic damage and improved healing. This review shows fermented bovine dairy consumption may improve gut microbial characteristics and gastrointestinal symptoms in gastrointestinal disease cohorts. Further human intervention studies are needed, expanding test foods and capturing non-self-reported gastrointestinal measures.

Role of Probiotics in the Treatment and Prevention of Common Gastrointestinal Conditions in Children.

Probiotics are live microorganisms that confer health benefits to the host when administered in adequate amounts. Although recommendations for probiotic use should be strain-specific, many systematic reviews, including recommendations from different societies, recommend probiotic use in general, providing no relevant information for healthcare professionals regarding which probiotic to recommend for which clinical indication, at what dose, and for how long. This narrative review aimed to present the available evidence on the use of probiotics in the prevention and treatment of common gastrointestinal diseases in children, considering the strain and dose used. Furthermore, this study summarizes the evidence on the possible side effects and quality of products containing probiotics.

The Association between Smoking Exposure and Reflux Esophagitis: A Cross-sectional Study among Men Conducted as a Part of Health Screening.

Objective Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), including reflux esophagitis (RE), is recognized as a common gastrointestinal disease, and its prevalence is reported to be increasing. While current cigarette smoking has been established as a risk factor for RE in several cross-sectional studies, most of these studies did not include details concerning the smoking status in their analyses. Smoking-related conditions, such as chronic lung disease and cough, are reportedly also related to GERD. Methods To investigate the association between RE and detailed smoking habits, we performed a cross-sectional analysis of healthy men enrolled in a comprehensive health checkup program conducted in 2015 that included esophago-gastro-duodenoscopy. Smoking status was assessed using a self-reported questionnaire. Other smoking-related parameters, including the lung function, cough symptoms and presence of chronic lung disease, were also assessed. Unconditional logistic regression was applied to calculate the odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) after adjusting for confounding factors. Results The study included 151 subjects with RE (RE group) and 814 without RE (control group). Compared with never-smokers, former smokers (OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 0.9-2.9) and current smokers (OR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.5-3.9) showed an increased risk of RE. An increased risk of RE was also observed among subjects with current smoking for 10-20 PYs and more than 20 PYs (OR, 2.8; 95% CI, 1.4-5.8, OR, 3.1; 95% CI, 1.6-5.7 respectively). An elevated risk was observed in former smokers who reported more than 20 PYs (OR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.3-4.8). When former smokers were stratified according to time since smoking cessation, a significant RE risk was observed in participants who had stopped smoking less than 10 years earlier compared with never smokers (OR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.1-3.3). No significant associations were observed between chronic cough, FEV1.0%, and RE. Conclusion Cumulative lifetime exposure to smoking plays an important role in the risk of RE.

Gut microbiota and common gastrointestinal diseases: a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomized study.

Several recent studies have shown an association between gut microbiota and gastrointestinal diseases. However, the causal relationship between gut microbiota and gastrointestinal disorders is unclear. We assessed causal relationships between gut microbiota and eight common gastrointestinal diseases using Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses. IVW results were considered primary results. Cochrane's Q and MR-Egger tests were used to test for heterogeneity and pleiotropy. Leave-one-out was used to test the stability of the MR results, and Bonferroni correction was used to test the strength of the causal relationship between exposure and outcome. MR analyses of 196 gut microbiota and eight common gastrointestinal disease phenotypes showed 62 flora and common gastrointestinal diseases with potential causal relationships. Among these potential causal relationships, after the Bonferroni-corrected test, significant causal relationships remained between Genus Oxalobacter and CD (OR = 1.29, 95% CI: 1.13-1.48, p = 2.5 × 10-4, q = 4.20 × 10-4), and between Family Clostridiaceae1 and IBS (OR = 0.9967, 95% CI: 0.9944-0.9991, p = 1.3 × 10-3, q = 1.56 × 10-3). Cochrane's Q-test showed no significant heterogeneity among the various single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). In addition, no significant level of pleiotropy was found according to the MR-Egger. This study provides new insights into the mechanisms of gut microbiota-mediated gastrointestinal disorders and some guidance for targeting specific gut microbiota for treating gastrointestinal disorders.