Short-chain fatty acids(SCFAs)are metabolites of intestinal microbiota produced from dietary fiber fermentation.They regulate the intestinal motility through multiple mechanisms including modulation of intestinal hormones,enteric nervous system,smooth muscle cells and interstitial cells of Cajal(ICC).Alterations in SCFAs content have been observed in patients with intestinal motivity disorders.Therapeutic interventions such as SCFAs supplementation,high-fiber diets,probiotics/prebiotics,and fecal bacteria transplantation(FMT)have demonstrated efficacy in improving clinical symptoms.This article reviewed research progress on the roles and mechanisms of SCFAs in intestinal motility.

Short-chain fatty acids(SCFAs)are metabolites of intestinal microbiota produced from dietary fiber fermentation.They regulate the intestinal motility through multiple mechanisms including modulation of intestinal hormones,enteric nervous system,smooth muscle cells and interstitial cells of Cajal(ICC).Alterations in SCFAs content have been observed in patients with intestinal motivity disorders.Therapeutic interventions such as SCFAs supplementation,high-fiber diets,probiotics/prebiotics,and fecal bacteria transplantation(FMT)have demonstrated efficacy in improving clinical symptoms.This article reviewed research progress on the roles and mechanisms of SCFAs in intestinal motility.

The vagus nerve serves as an important part of the gut-brain axis, which regulates intestinal movement and secretion, emotional and immune response, and is involved in gut-brain interaction disorder in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This article provides an overview of the vagus nerve function, the relationship between vagus nerve dysfunction in gut-brain axis and pathogenesis of IBS, and the application of vagus nerve in IBS treatment, with the aim for helping clinicians to better understand the correlation between vagus nerve and gut - brain interaction disorder, and shedding light on potential treatment in IBS.

Objective To investigate the correlation between serum levels of antiphospholipid antibody(aPL)(ACA-IgG,ACA-IgM,β2-GPI-IgG,β2-GPI-IgM),LAC,ds-DNA,and ANA and preterm labor with pre-maturity,and to analyze the prediction of preterm labor with the combination of age,week of gestation,history of delivery,and history of miscarriage,so as to provide references for the prevention and treatment of preterm la-bor and to promote eugenics.Methods Through a retrospective study design,43 pregnant women with preterm la-bor with preeclampsia diagnosed and treated at Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital from June 2018 to Decem-ber 2020 were collected as a case group,and 47 healthy pregnant women of the same period and similar gestational age were randomly selected as a control group.aPL(ACA-IgG,ACA-IgM,β2-GPI-IgG,β2-GPI-IgM)and ds-DNA were detected by enzyme immunoassay(ELISA)using an enzyme immunoassay instrument,lupus anticoagulant(LAC)in plasma was detected by coagulometer,and ANA was detected by indirect immunofluorescence using an immunofluorescence analyzer,and the application of SPSS 24.0 software was used to statistically analyze the gen-eral information and laboratory test data.the age of the patients was combined,gestational week,birth history,miscarriage history and other general information,logistic regression analysis was performed to find the indepen-dent influencing factors related to preterm labor;the analysis was performed by using the subjects'work charac-teristic curve(ROC curve)to determine the area under the ROC curve(AUC),the best predictive value,sensi-tivity and specificity,and to analyze the predictive value of preterm labor with preterm labor.Results In this study,the pregnant women in the group of pregnant women with preterm labor with preeclampsia were aged 27～40 years,with a mean age of(29.93±3.91)years,and the gestational weeks at the time of blood collection were 27-36 weeks,with a mean gestational week of(31.96±2.35)weeks,while the pregnant women in the healthy control group during the same time period were aged 25～40 years,with a mean age of(30.74±3.44)years,and the gestational weeks at the time of blood collection were 28～36 weeks,with a mean gestational week of(32.84±2.13)weeks.In the same period,healthy control group pregnant women were aged 25～40 years,with a mean age of(30.74±3.44)years,and were 28～36 weeks pregnant at the time of blood collection.The β2-GPI-IgM level of pregnant women in the case group with preterm labor was significantly higher than that of pregnant women in the healthy control group at the same time,with statistically significant differences(P<0.05),while the differences in the levels of β2-GPI-IgG,ds-DNA,and LAC between the two groups were not statistically significant(P>0.05).The analysis of the ROC curves showed that the AUC of β2-GPI-IgM was 0.642(P<0.05),which was the highest in the preterm group,and the AUC was 0.642(P<0.05).0.05),which was an independent influencing factor of preterm labor;age,gestational week,labor history,and miscarriage history could not be used as independent in-fluencing factors of preterm labor.Conclusion β2-GPI-IgM is associated with threatened preterm labor,it can be used as a predictor of threatened preterm labor,and has clinical utility in the monitoring of threatened preterm labor in pregnant women.

Objective:To explore the clinical application value of salivary pepsin test (Peptest) in the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).Methods:From April to October 2022, at the Department of Gastroenterology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, a total of 81 patients with typical reflux and (or) heartburn symptoms for more than 1 month, who were diagnosed with GERD and completed 24-hour esophageal pH impedance monitoring (24 h MII-pH) and high-resolution esophageal manometry were enrolled. Salivary samples were collected after lunch, at the onset of symptoms, and at random time point on the day of intubation, and all patients received standard dose of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) for 2 weeks. The 24 h MII-pH results were taken as the gold standard for diagnosing GERD. The optimal time point of Peptest and the diagnostic value of combination of Peptest and PPI test in GERD diagnosis were analyzed. The 24 h MII-pH negative patients were further divided into Peptest-positive group and Peptest-negative group. The heartbrun scores, gastroesophageal reflux disease questionnaire (GERD-Q), reflux characteristics, and esophageal motility between the 2 groups were compared and to investigate the differential diagnostic value of Peptest in 24 h MII-pH negative patients. Chi-square test and non-parametric test were used for statistical analysis.Results:The results of 24 h MII-pH indicated that 21 patients (25.9%, 21/81) were diagnosed GERD and 60 patients were negative for 24 h MII-pH. The onset of symptoms was the optimal time point for Peptest, with a sensitivity of 80.9%, a specificity of 50.0%, and an accuracy of 58.0%. The specificity and accuracy of Peptest at the onset of symptoms combined with PPI test in GERD diagnosis were higher than those of Peptest at the onset of symptoms alone (75.0% vs. 50.0%, 74.1% vs. 58.0%), and the differences were statistically significant ( χ2=8.00 and 4.65, P=0.005 and 0.031). Among 60 cases of 24 h MII-pH negative patients, 30 were positive for Peptest at the onset of symptoms and 30 were negative for Peptest at the onset of symptoms. The heartburn scores and GERD-Q scores of Peptest-positive group were both higher than those of Peptest-negative group (3.0 (2.0, 3.0) vs. 1.0 (0.0, 2.3), 12.0 (9.8, 13.0) vs. 9.0 (6.0, 11.0) ); the clearance time of acid reflux of Peptest-positive group was longer than that of Peptest-negative group (57.0 s (22.3 s, 88.0 s) vs. 18.3 s (9.6 s, 32.1 s) ); the lower esophageal sphincter resting pressure and integrated relaxation pressure were lower than those of Peptest-negative group (10.40 mmHg (5.75 mmHg, 18.95 mmHg) vs. 21.45 mmHg (10.65 mmHg, 31.70 mmHg), 3.90 mmHg (2.05 mmHg, 5.35 mmHg) vs. 4.90 mmHg (3.76 mmHg, 8.25 mmHg); 1 mmHg=0.133 kPa); the distal mean nocturnal baseline impedance, the distal contractile integral and esophagogastric junction contractile integral were all lower than those of Peptest-negative group ( 1 783 Ω (1 660 Ω, 2 157 Ω) vs. 2 300 Ω(1 805 Ω, 2 370 Ω), 1 416 mmHg·s·cm (919 mmHg·s·cm, 2 176 mmHg·s·cm) vs. 1 858 mmHg·s·cm (1 395 mmHg·s·cm, 2 880 mmHg·s·cm), 27.7 mmHg·cm (19.8 mmHg·cm, 39.5 mmHg·cm) vs. 52.6 mmHg·cm (27.7 mmHg·cm, 74.6 mmHg·cm) ), and the differences were statistically significant ( Z=-4.00, -3.53, -3.31, -2.34, -2.13, -2.75, -2.14 and -2.43; P<0.001, <0.001, =0.001, =0.019, =0.033, =0.006, =0.032 and =0.015). Conclusions:Peptest may be better at diagnosing GERD at the onset of symptoms compared to postprandial, random time points, and the accuracy of diagnosing GERD further improves when combined with PPI test. Peptest at the onset of symptoms may have differential diagnostic value for GERD patients in 24 h MII-pH negative patients.

Objective:To explore the efficacy and influencing factors of linaclotide in patients with functional defecation disorder (FDD).Methods:From June 1, 2021 to February 28, 2023, at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 160 patients with FDD were enrolled and randomly divided into linaclotide group and polyethylene glycol group by using a random number table method, with 80 cases in each group, and the treatment course both was 4 weeks. The efficacy, weekly complete spontaneous bowel movement (CSBM), patient assessment of constipation symptom (PAC-SYM), numerical rating scale (NRS), Zung′s self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and Zung′s self-rating depression scale (SDS) before and after treatment of linaclotide group and polyethyetylene glycol group were recorded and compared. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze the factors affected linaclotide in the treatment of FDD (including anorectal manometry). Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was used to analyze the predictive value of risk factors on the efficacy of linaclotide in FDD. Independent sample t-test, paired t-test and chi-square test were used for statistical analysis. Results:After treatment, the weekly CSBM frequencies of linaclotide group and polyethylene glycol group were both higher than those before treatment in the same group (3.20±2.03 vs. 2.44±2.09, 3.10±2.26 vs. 2.58±2.06), and the differences were statistically significant ( t=-4.85 and -5.91, both P<0.001). After treatment, PAC-SYM score of stool shape, rectal symptom, abdominal symptom and total score, NRS score, SAS score and SDS score of linaclotide group and polyethylene glycol group were all lower than those before treatment in the same group (1.41±0.96 vs. 1.89±1.13, 0.95±0.49 vs. 1.14±0.46, 0.69±0.57 vs. 1.00±0.58, 0.96±0.43 vs. 1.23±0.40, 1.54±1.11 vs. 2.48±1.24, 43.54±6.26 vs. 45.13±7.30, 42.10±7.95 vs. 43.78±9.15 and 1.36±1.09 vs. 1.88±1.17, 0.83±0.40 vs. 1.10±0.45, 0.81±0.60 vs. 1.01±0.69, 0.91±0.42 vs. 1.21±0.41, 1.90±1.17 vs. 2.23±1.27, 43.55±7.72 vs. 44.61±8.51, 40.00±6.71 vs. 41.18±7.50), and the differences were statistically significant ( t=7.08, 7.73, 7.15, 9.26, 7.66, 7.96, 8.46, 7.26, 7.16, 5.78, 8.37, 6.17, 4.67 and 7.13, all P< 0.001). After treatment, the NRS score of linaclotide group was lower than that of polyethylene glycol group, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=-2.01, P=0.046). The total effective rate of linaclotide group was higher than that of polyethylene glycol group (77.5%, 62/80 vs. 62.5%, 50/80), and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=4.29, P=0.038). The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the threshold of initial sensory volume and maximum tolerable volume were independent risk factors for linaclotide treatment of FDD ( OR=0.965, 95% confidence interval 0.936 to 0.995, P=0.022; OR=0.980, 95% confidence interval 0.962 to 0.999, P=0.041). The results of ROC analysis showed that the efficacy of linaclotide was poor in FDD patients with the threshold of initial sensory volume >67.5 mL or maximum tolerable volume > 117.5 mL. The combined predictive value of initial sensory volume and maximum tolerable volume threshold was higher than that of individual prediction, with an area under the curve of 0.722, sensitivity of 79.0% and specificity of 55.6%. Conclusions:Linaclotide can improve CSBM, constipation symptoms, abdominal pain and psychological status of FDD patients. The initial sensory volume threshold and maximum tolerable volume threshold are independent risk factors of the efficacy of linaclotide in FDD treatment and have certain predictive value in efficacy.

Objective:To investigate the effects of matrine on proliferation, apoptosis and radiotherapy sensitivity of uveal melanoma cells.Methods:An animal experiment study. In vitro experiment: MuM2B cells of human choroidal melanoma were randomly divided into control group and matrine 0.25, 0.50, 1.00, 2.00 g/L groups. The cell morphology was observed by transmission electron microscope. Cell proliferation was detected by thiazole blue colorimetry. The mRNA and relative expression levels of CyclinD D (CyclinD), B lymphoblastoma-2 (Bcl-2) and Bcl2-associated X protein (Bax) were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. In vivo experiment: BALB/C mice were injected with MuM2B cell suspension subcutaneously on the back of forelimb to prepare transplanted tumor model. After successful modeling, they were randomly divided into blank group and matrine treatment group with different concentrations. Mice in blank group were injected with phosphate buffer subcutaneously. Mice in different matrine treatment groups were injected with 15, 25, 50, 100 mg/kg matrine subcutaneously, respectively, for 7 consecutive days. The tumor was weighed and its volume was measured after the last administration. Single factor analysis of variance was used to compare different groups. The t test was used for pairwise comparison between groups. Results:In the control group, the cell structure was normal, the distribution was uniform, and no or rare nuclear pyknosis was seen. With the increase of matrine dosage, the nuclear pyretosis increased gradually and cell morphology changed obviously. Compared with the control group, the cell survival rate in 0.50, 1.00 and 2.00 g/L groups gradually decreased with matrine concentration increasing and treatment time prolongating, the relative expression levels of CyclinD and Bcl-2 mRNA and protein gradually decreased, and the relative expression levels of Bax mRNA and protein gradually increased. Under the same radiation dose X-ray irradiation, the cell survival rate of 0.50, 1.00 and 2.00 g/L groups gradually decreased, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). Compared with blank group, the tumor weight and volume of mice in different doses of matrine group were significantly decreased, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Matrine can down-regulate the expression of CyclinD and Bcl-2, up-regulate the expression of Bax, promote the apoptosis of MuM2B human melanoma cells, inhibit cell proliferation, and enhance cell radiosensitivity.

Animals ; Antibodies, Neutralizing/biosynthesis* ; Antibodies, Viral/biosynthesis* ; Body Weight/immunology* ; COVID-19/virology* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Disease Progression ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lung/virology* ; Male ; Mesocricetus ; Nasal Cavity/virology* ; RNA, Viral/immunology* ; SARS-CoV-2/pathogenicity* ; Severity of Illness Index ; Viral Load

Background: The laryngopharyngeal symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) include hoarseness, foreign body sensation, chronic cough, dysphagia, etc. Its pathogenic mechanisms and reflux characteristics may be different from those of GERD patients simply with typical esophageal symptoms. Aims: To explore the clinical characteristics of GERD patients complicated with laryngopharyngeal symptoms. Methods: Fifty-nine patients having a gastroesophageal reflux disease questionnaire (GerdQ) score ≥8 and abnormal reflux identified by 24 h esophageal impedance-pH monitoring were selected from the outpatients at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2019 to December 2021. Twenty-nine cases simply with typical esophageal symptoms were allocated into typical symptom group, and 30 cases complicated with laryngopharyngeal symptoms were allocated into laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) group. The general information, results of gastroscopy, 24 h esophageal impedance - pH monitoring and esophageal manometry, as well as the efficacy of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) were collected and compared between the two groups. Results: The proportion of esophagitis in GERD patients in typical symptom group was significantly increased than that in LPR group (P<0.05), while the values of mean nocturnal baseline impedance at 7-3 cm above lower esophageal sphincter (LES) were significantly lower (all P<0.05). Compared with typical symptom group, increased frequency of weak acid reflux, prolonged mean acid clearance time, higher LES relaxation rate, lower velocity of peristaltic waves at 11-7 cm above LES, and poor efficacy of PPI treatment were observed in LPR group (all P<0.05). The severity of heartburn was positively correlated with the percentage of total acid exposure time and DeMeester score (all P<0.05); while the severity of foreign body sensation was positively correlated with the frequency of weak acid reflux and mean time of acid clearance (all P<0.05). Conclusions: The esophageal mucosal injury was mild in GERD patients complicated with laryngopharyngeal symptoms. Laryngopharyngeal symptoms are more likely to be associated with the decreased acid clearance capacity due to esophageal body dysmotility. Strengthened acid suppression therapy should be recommended.

Background: The occurrence of gastrointestinal symptoms in cirrhotic patients with gastroesophageal varices (GOV) after endoscopic treatment is obvious, and the role of gastric myoelectrical activity (GMA) and autonomic nerve function imbalance in the development of gastrointestinal symptoms has not been clarified. Aims: To investigate the changes of GMA and autonomic nerve function in cirrhotic patients with GOV after endoscopic treatment. Methods: Twenty-five cirrhotic patients with GOV from May 2019 to October 2019 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University were enrolled, and 10 patients with gastric polyp were served as controls. Electrogastrogram (EGG) and heart rate variability (HRV) were detected before the operation, 1 day after the operation and 5 days after the operation in GOV group. For the gastric polyp group, EGG and HRV were detected before the operation and 1 day after the operation. Changes of GMA and autonomic nerve function were compared between the two groups. Results: No significant differences in GMA and autonomic nerve function were found between GOV group and gastric polyp group before and 1 day after the operation (P>0.05). LF, LF/HF were significantly increased 1 day after the operation in GOV group (P<0.05), while HF was significantly decreased (P<0.01), and the percentage of bradygastria was significantly increased (P<0.01). There were no significant differences in GMA and autonomic nerve function between pre-operation and 5 days after the operation in GOV group (P>0.05). There were no significant differences in GMA and autonomic nerve function 1 day after the operation compared with pre-operation in gastric polyp group (P>0.05). Compared with Child-Pugh A group, Child-Pugh B group had more obvious GMA abnormalities, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusions: In cirrhotic patients with GOV, the percentage of bradygastria and the sympathetic activity increased, and the vagal activity decreased 1 day after the operation. These results suggest that GMA and autonomic nerve dysfunction may be related to the gastrointestinal symptoms after endoscopic treatment.