The etiology and pathogenesis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are not fully understood, and intestinal microbiota had been assumed as a possible factor in the pathogenesis of IBS.Increasing evidences have shown that alterations of gut microbiota were found in IBS patients and modulation of intestinal microbiota might be effective in the treatment of IBS.This article reviewed the mechanism of involvement of intestinal microbiota in pathogenesis of IBS by altering mucosal permeability, activating immune reaction, disturbing gastrointestinal motility and affecting brain-gut axis.

Objective To investigate prevalence of chronic constipation in Guangdong province and its impact on health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Methods A questionnaire survey was conducted among permanent inhabitants aged 18-80 years in Guangdong province by randomizing clustered sampling under stratification of urban and suburban areas. The impact of symptoms on HRQOL was evaluated using a well-standardized measure, the SF-36. Results A total of 3931 residents (male 1795, female 2136) were investigated. Mean age among the responders was (42.7?14.1) years old. The prevalence of chronic constipation in Guangdong province is 4.0% according to RomeⅡcriteria. The age-and gender-specific standardized constipation rates after gender and age adjustment was 3.6%. The prevalence was increasing with age. A body mass index

Objective To explore the changes of ultrastructural characteristics including interstitial space dilation(ISD) and the number of desmosome in non-erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease(NERD)with abnormal and normal oesophageal acid exposure.Methods Nineteen patients with(abnormal) oesophageal acid exposure,20 with normal oesophageal acid exposure,10 with reflux(esophagitis)(RE) and 10 asymptomatic controls,classified on the basis of pH-metry,underwent(endoscopy.) Three biopsies were taken from the normal mucosa for light microscopy and transmission(electron microscopy) evaluation.ISD was measured and the number of desmosome in the intercellular spaces was calculated by using a digital scanner from photomicrographs of the specimens.The above two markers were compared with each other among the above groups.Results There was no significant difference in the mean score of the interstitial space between NERD and RE patients [(2.21?0.68)?m versus(2.39?0.42)?m,P0.05)].The mean score of the interstitial space of the control was(0.63(?0.21))?m,much lower than those of NERD and RE patients(P0.01).There was a significant(difference) in ISD between NERD with abnormal oesophageal acid exposure and normal oesophageal acid(exposure) [(2.45?0.67)?m versus(1.91?0.67)?m,P0.05].The mean numbers of desmosome in the intercellular space of the NERD and RE patients were(0.141?0.043) entries/?m~2 and(0.124(?0.044)) entries/?m~2,respectively,significantly lower than those of the controls [(0.221?0.031)(entries/?m~2].) But no significant differences were observed between the RE and the NERD patients(P0.05).Conclusions The interstitial space of esophageal mucosa in the NERD patients is dilated as in the RE.In NERD patients,the dilation of interstitial space is associated with abnormal acid exposure.The numbers of desmosome may also be a marker of esophageal mucosal injury of NERD.

Objective To evaluate the value of endoscopic profile in an adult population with typical heartburn. Methods Clinical and endoscopic data were collected from 5042 consecutive outpatients who underwent routine upper endoscopy without any alarm features between March 2006 and Feb. 2007. Results Three hundred and thirteen (6.2%) patients were diagnosed as having typical heartburn. Of these, erosive esophagitis (EE) was found in 99 (31.6%) patients, Barrett's esophagus (BE) in 10 (3. 2%) patients, peptic ulcer disease (PUD) in 21 (6. 7%) patients and carcinoma in three (0.9 %) patients (1 with esophageal carcinoma and 2 with gastric adenocarcinoma).Multivariate analysis revealed that age＞50, male, overweight and alcohol use were independent risk factors for positive endoscopy findings (P＜0.05) and EE (P＜0.05) in heartburn patients. Male and Helicobacter pylori infection were independent risk factors for PUD (P＜ 0.05). Conclusions In China, patients with typical heartburn but without alarm features, early endoscopic examination may be helpful in avoiding missing diagnosis of tumor.

Objective To investigate the effect of IVIG on pre-existing anti-HLA-A2 Ab levels and graft skin survival.Methods C57BL/6 wild type mice were sensitized to HLA-A2 by intraperitoneal injec-tion (IP) of HLA-A2 TgN mouse spleen cells (C57BL/6-TgN [HLA-2.1]1Enge SC) expressing human HLA-A2 at day 0, week 3 and 4.Sensitized mice were respectively treated with human IVIG , albumin, gly-cine, or PBS for 5 days during week 7.Skin transplantation from TgN mice to C57BL/6 wild type mice was performed at week 10 .Efficacy of IVIG DES was assessed by measuring anti-HLA Ab levels by ELISA pre-/post-Rx and graft skin survival was monitored daily post-Tx.Results Changes of HLA-A2-IgG levels:IgG HLA-A2 class I Ab levels in all groups predictably increased from baseline following spleen cell IP and peaked at week 4 ( P <0.01 ) , indicating sensitization .IVIG-treated mice showed significantly lower IgG Ab levels vs.albumin, glycine and PBS-treated at week 9 post-desensitization ( P <0.01).IgG quickly increased to extremely high levels in all groups following skin transplantation ( P <0.01 ) .Graft skin sur-vival between Rx-groups were similar with all rejecting at about 7 days post-transplantation ( P >0.05 ) . Conclusion However, IVIG alone does not inhibit anti-HLA class I Ab production after skin transplanta-tion or prolong SG survival , indicating combination of IVIG with other immunosuppressant or more optimal protocol for desensitization might show more efficacy and should be under explored .

ObjectiveTo evaluate the reliability and validity of Chinese version of Asia-Pacific functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) questionnaire. Methods The standardized scale translation program was used to translate the Asia-Pacific functional gastrointestinal disorders questionnaire into Chinese version.From April to May 2011,the functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID) out-patients of the Department of Gastroenterology at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University were asked to complete the Chinese version of the questionnaire,then the feasibility,reliability and validity of the questionnaire were evaluated.ResultsA total of 58 FGIDs patients finished the questionnaire,of which 37 patients with good compliance finished the 2-week interval questionnaire.The retest reliability of the first part of the questionnaire was good (including basic information,disease duration and alarm symptoms),all the test-retest coefficients were more than 0.70.The percentage of poor,medium and good retest reliability items of the second part of the questionnaire (including the symptoms of gastrointestinal system) was 27.8％,61.1％ and 11.1％respectively.After the data was transformed into binary data according to Rome Ⅲ diagnostic criteria,the percentage of poor,medium and good retest reliability items was 5.5％,41.7％ and 52.8％respectively.The percentage of poor,medium and good retest reliability items of the third part of the questionnaire (including previous medical treatment,medication and the impact of the disease on life,etc) was 36.0％,40.0％ and 24.0％ respectively.The validity of the questionnaire was moderate according to the Rome Ⅲ diagnostic criteria.Conclusion The Chinese version of Asia-Pacific functional gastrointestinal disorders is feasible and can be used to screen the adult FGIDs under the Chinese cultural background.

Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction (SOD)is a functional gastrointestinal disorder manifesting with the main symptoms of abdominal pain,abnormal liver function and recurrent idiopathic acute pancreatitis,which involved the abnormal contraction of sphincter of Oddi. The incidence of SOD has been increasing in recent years. More attention should be paid on SOD for decreasing the misdiagnosis in clinical practice. This article reviewed the recent advances in diagnosis and treatment of SOD.

Objective To evaluate safety and clinical significance of single balloon enteroscopy (SBE) for small intestinal diseases. Methods Data of 83 patients with suspected or known small intestinal diseases, who underwent SBE from March 2009 to July 2010, were reviewed in terms of preparation time,procedure time, detection rate and complication occurrence. Results The 83 patients included 37 cases of digestive tract bleeding, 38 chronic abdominal pain, 1 chronic diarrhea, 2 fever and 5 incomplete ileus. A total of 94 procedures of SBE were performed, including oral route in 46 patients, anal route in 26 and both routes in 11. Excluding 6 cases with endoscopic therapy, the mean procedure time of oral approach was 29.6 ± 10. 3 min, and that of anal route was 57.1 ± 15.6 min. Abnormalities were detected in 57 ( 68.7% )of the 83 patients, with detection rate of 81.1% (30/37) in digestive tract bleeding with unknown reason,57. 8% (22/38) in chronic abdominal pain of unknown reason, 50. 0% (1/2) in fever of unknown reason and 80. 0% (4/5) in incomplete ileus. Peutz-Jeghers syndrome was diagnosed in 6 patients and endoscopic polypectomy was performed, with complicated bleeding in one patient. No other procedure-related complications were observed. Conclusion SBE is well-tolerated and safe for diagnosis of small intestine diseases,with easy manipulatiou, short procedure time, high detection rate and satisfactory location of intestinal hemorrhagic lesions.

Objective To investigate the prevalence and the risk factors of gastroduodenal damages induced by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Methods One hundred and eighty-four patients who were prescribed NSA1Ds for long time in rheumatology and cardiovascular clinics were enrolled. Clinical data such as age, sex, medication history and body mass index were recorded. The lesions were estimated by endoscopy and the specimens were tested for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. Results Peptic ulcer was found in 63 (34. 24%) patients including gastric ulcer in 22, duodenal ulcer in 34 and compound ulcer in 7. The endoscopic examination showed that 57 out of 121 patients without peptic ulcer had ≥3 erosive lesions. Logistic regression analysis revealed that H. pylori infection was important risk factor that induced the peptic ulcer in those who were taking NSAIDs for long time (OR = 13. 86, 95% CI: 6. 53 ～ 29. 43). The incidence of gastroduodenal damage was similar in patients taking NSAIDs and low dose aspirin (OR =0.45,95CI:0.16～ 1.28). Conclusions NSAIDs may cause gastroduodenal damages in long-term users and H. pylori infection was an important risk factor. The effect of low dose aspirin on gastroduodenal damages is as same as NSAIDs.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility of transparent cap-fitted endoscopy in improving diagnostic yield of Barrett's esophagus(BE).Methods A total of 168 patients with endoscopieally suspected BE were randomly divided into cap group(n=60)and control group(n=108).A transparent cap-fitted endoscopy Was applied in cap group to take biopsy,while a routine one was used in control group,and 2 biopsies from suspected lesions were collected in each patient.BE was diagnosed in the presence of columnar epithelium and the diagnostic rate was compared between 2 groups.Results The diagnostic rates of BE were 83.3%(50/60)and 69.4%(75/108)in cap and control group,respectively(P＜0.05).Conclusion The lesions at cardia Call be exposed clearly with capped endoscopy,which facilitates localized biopsy and BE diagnosis.