Background/Aims: Obesity is associated with several gastrointestinal (GI) disorders and has been identified as a potential risk factor for various GI symptoms. Bowel frequency is an important indicator of bowel function. However, the causal link between obesity and gastrointestinal motility remains uncertain. This study aims to determine the causal effect of overall and central obesity on stool frequency. Methods: Four obesity-related anthropometric indicators–body mass index, body fat percentage, waist circumference (WC), and waist-tohip ratio (WHR)–were investigated. Individual-level baseline information from the UK Biobank was used to explore observational associations between obesity and stool frequency. Additionally, summary-level data from published genome-wide association studies were subjected to two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses to examine causal associations. Results: For all 4 indicators of obesity, higher levels of obesity were associated with more frequent bowel movements after adjusting for demographic characteristics, lifestyle, and dietary factors. After rigorous screening, 482 body mass index single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), 7 body fat percentage SNPs, 48 WC SNPs, and 287 WHR SNPs were identified as instrument variables for MR analysis. The MR results were generally consistent with observational findings, proving that the associations observed in the overall obesity indicators were causal. For central obesity, the association between WHR and stool frequency remained consistent in both analysis phases, whereas WC showed a multidirectional association. Conclusions Obesity-related anthropometric indicators were causally associated with increased stool frequency in the overall and central obesity groups. Weight loss could be a potential approach to improve gastrointestinal regularity in individuals with obesity.

Background/Aims: Obesity is associated with several gastrointestinal (GI) disorders and has been identified as a potential risk factor for various GI symptoms. Bowel frequency is an important indicator of bowel function. However, the causal link between obesity and gastrointestinal motility remains uncertain. This study aims to determine the causal effect of overall and central obesity on stool frequency. Methods: Four obesity-related anthropometric indicators–body mass index, body fat percentage, waist circumference (WC), and waist-tohip ratio (WHR)–were investigated. Individual-level baseline information from the UK Biobank was used to explore observational associations between obesity and stool frequency. Additionally, summary-level data from published genome-wide association studies were subjected to two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses to examine causal associations. Results: For all 4 indicators of obesity, higher levels of obesity were associated with more frequent bowel movements after adjusting for demographic characteristics, lifestyle, and dietary factors. After rigorous screening, 482 body mass index single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), 7 body fat percentage SNPs, 48 WC SNPs, and 287 WHR SNPs were identified as instrument variables for MR analysis. The MR results were generally consistent with observational findings, proving that the associations observed in the overall obesity indicators were causal. For central obesity, the association between WHR and stool frequency remained consistent in both analysis phases, whereas WC showed a multidirectional association. Conclusions Obesity-related anthropometric indicators were causally associated with increased stool frequency in the overall and central obesity groups. Weight loss could be a potential approach to improve gastrointestinal regularity in individuals with obesity.

Background/Aims: Obesity is associated with several gastrointestinal (GI) disorders and has been identified as a potential risk factor for various GI symptoms. Bowel frequency is an important indicator of bowel function. However, the causal link between obesity and gastrointestinal motility remains uncertain. This study aims to determine the causal effect of overall and central obesity on stool frequency. Methods: Four obesity-related anthropometric indicators–body mass index, body fat percentage, waist circumference (WC), and waist-tohip ratio (WHR)–were investigated. Individual-level baseline information from the UK Biobank was used to explore observational associations between obesity and stool frequency. Additionally, summary-level data from published genome-wide association studies were subjected to two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses to examine causal associations. Results: For all 4 indicators of obesity, higher levels of obesity were associated with more frequent bowel movements after adjusting for demographic characteristics, lifestyle, and dietary factors. After rigorous screening, 482 body mass index single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), 7 body fat percentage SNPs, 48 WC SNPs, and 287 WHR SNPs were identified as instrument variables for MR analysis. The MR results were generally consistent with observational findings, proving that the associations observed in the overall obesity indicators were causal. For central obesity, the association between WHR and stool frequency remained consistent in both analysis phases, whereas WC showed a multidirectional association. Conclusions Obesity-related anthropometric indicators were causally associated with increased stool frequency in the overall and central obesity groups. Weight loss could be a potential approach to improve gastrointestinal regularity in individuals with obesity.

Objective:To systematically evaluate the efficacy of ATP bioluminescence technology versus traditional microbiology detection method in assessing flexible endoscope cleaning and disinfection.Methods:Eight Chinese and English databases, including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CNKI, Wanfang Database, VIP Chinese Medical Journal Database and China Biology Medicine disc, were searched from inception to October 1, 2023. Comparative studies on evaluating post-reprocessing endoscope quality using both methods were included. Positive sample numbers and positive rates were taken as the main effect indicators, and the fixed effect model was used to conduct a meta-analysis of the included literature.Results:A total of 14 Chinese and English articles were included, involving 4 569 samples (gastroscopes, colonoscopes, duodenoscopes and fiberbronchoscopes). The pooled analysis demonstrated low heterogeneity across studies ( I2=23%), with a combined odds ratio ( OR) of 1.57 (95% CI: 1.27-1.94). It indicated a statistically significant difference in positive detection rates between the two methods ( P<0.001). However, funnel plot analysis suggested potential publication bias. Conclusion:ATP bioluminescence correlates with microbiological methods for monitoring endoscope reprocessing. While ATP offers rapid assessment advantages, its consistently higher positive rates preclude replacement of conventional microbiological verification for terminal disinfection.

Objective:To systematically evaluate the efficacy of ATP bioluminescence technology versus traditional microbiology detection method in assessing flexible endoscope cleaning and disinfection.Methods:Eight Chinese and English databases, including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CNKI, Wanfang Database, VIP Chinese Medical Journal Database and China Biology Medicine disc, were searched from inception to October 1, 2023. Comparative studies on evaluating post-reprocessing endoscope quality using both methods were included. Positive sample numbers and positive rates were taken as the main effect indicators, and the fixed effect model was used to conduct a meta-analysis of the included literature.Results:A total of 14 Chinese and English articles were included, involving 4 569 samples (gastroscopes, colonoscopes, duodenoscopes and fiberbronchoscopes). The pooled analysis demonstrated low heterogeneity across studies ( I2=23%), with a combined odds ratio ( OR) of 1.57 (95% CI: 1.27-1.94). It indicated a statistically significant difference in positive detection rates between the two methods ( P<0.001). However, funnel plot analysis suggested potential publication bias. Conclusion:ATP bioluminescence correlates with microbiological methods for monitoring endoscope reprocessing. While ATP offers rapid assessment advantages, its consistently higher positive rates preclude replacement of conventional microbiological verification for terminal disinfection.

Objective:To analysis the necessity of additional surgical intervention for non-curative endoscopic resection patients with early gastric cancer.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 73 patients with early gastric cancer who underwent additional surgical procedures after non-curative endoscopic resection at Chinese PLA General Hospital from July 2009 to May 2023. The main outcome measures included pathological classification, positive horizontal margins, positive vertical margins, invasion depth, vascular and lymphatic invasion, eCura grade, lymph node metastasis, and overall survival rate.Results:A total of 73 patients with early gastric cancer who were determined to have non-curative endoscopic resection underwent additional surgical procedures, including 58 males and 15 females with a mean age of 61 (53-67) years. In terms of the site of onset, 37 cases were located in the upper part of the stomach, 24 cases in the lower part, 11 cases in the middle part, and 1 case had multiple lesions. In terms of pathological classification, 43 cases were highly differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma, 16 cases were mucinous/signet ring cell carcinoma, 10 cases were poorly differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma, and 4 cases were high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia. In terms of morphological classification, 22 cases were type 0-Ⅱa, 43 cases were type 0-Ⅱb, and 8 cases were type 0-Ⅲ. In terms of invasion depth, 17 cases were mucosal cancer, 23 cases had submucosal invasion less than 500 μm, and 33 cases had submucosal invasion more than 500 μm. In terms of vascular and lymphatic invasion, 8 cases had lymphatic vessel invasion and 8 cases had venous invasion. Among the 73 patients, 4 were diagnosed as having eCura A, 5 as eCuraB, 4 as eCura C1, and 60 as eCura C2. Among the 60 patients diagnosed as having eCura C2, only 2 cases (3.3%) were found to have lymph node metastasis around the stomach based on postoperative pathological evaluation. Among the 73 endoscopic specimens, 7 patients had positive horizontal margins, 21 had positive vertical margins, and 2 had positive margins in both directions, totaling 30 patients with positive horizontal or vertical margins. According to postoperative pathological evaluation, 9 cases (30.0%) had residual tumors in the original site. Among the 73 patients, 5 were lost to follow-up and 4 died, resulting in an overall survival rate of 94.12% (64/68) and disease-specific survival rate of 98.53% (67/68). The follow-up time of patients was 61.37 (10-166) months.Conclusion:For early gastric cancer patients with eCura C2 following non-curative endoscopic resection, additional surgery is feasible. However, the proportion of patients with actual lymph node metastasis is relatively low.

Objective:To analyze the differences in clinical and endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) findings between diffuse and focal IgG4-related autoimmune pancreatitis (IgG4-AIP).Methods:Data of patients diagnosed as having IgG4-AIP who underwent EUS at Chinese PLA General Hospital from September 2011 to April 2022 were retrospectively collected. General clinical data, EUS features, and postoperative pathology were analyzed for characteristic differences.Results:A total of 40 patients were included in the study, 60.03±10.87 years old, a higher proportion of males (85.0%, 34/40). All patients underwent EUS, and 28 underwent EUS-guided fine-needle aspiration. Among the 40 patients, 29 (72.5%) had diffuse type and 11 (27.5%) had focal type. Abdominal pain [65.5% (19/29) VS 18.2% (2/11), χ2=5.393, P=0.020] and thickening of the bile duct wall [51.7% (15/29) VS 9.1% (1/11), χ2=4.394, P=0.036] were more common in the diffuse type, while main pancreatic duct dilation [45.5% (5/11) VS 10.3% (3/29), χ2=4.146, P=0.042] was more common in the focal type, with the lesion most commonly located in the pancreatic head (90.9%, 10/11). There was no significant difference in the presence of chronic pancreatitis parenchymal changes between the two groups [34.5% (10/29) VS 27.3% (3/11), χ2=0.003, P=0.955]. Conclusion:There are certain differences in abdominal pain and biliary and pancreatic duct lesions between diffuse and focal AIP. The high expression of chronic pancreatitis characteristics is not observed in either group, which provides clues for the classification of AIP in clinical practice.

Humans ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Constriction, Pathologic/diagnosis* ; Bile Duct Neoplasms/diagnosis* ; Endoscopy, Digestive System

Background::To date, there is still a lack of standardized management strategies for gastric low-grade dysplasia (LGD), which is a direct neoplastic precancerous lesion and requires specifically superficial destruction. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is expected to be an effective method for gastric LGD, but post-RFA pain may affect patients’ satisfaction and compliance. The current study aimed to evaluate the value of a submucosal injection prior to RFA (SI-RFA) for postoperative pain and treatment outcomes.Methods::Between October 2014 and July 2021, gastric LGDs without risk factors (size >2 cm, unclear boundary, and abnormal microsurface and microvascularity) undergoing regular RFA and SI-RFA were retrospectively analyzed. Postoperative pain scores, wound healing, and clinical efficacy were compared. Propensity score matching, stratified analysis, and multivariable logistic regression were performed to control the confounding variables.Results::One hundred and ninety-seven gastric LGDs in 151 patients received regular RFA. Forty-nine gastric LGDs in 36 patients received SI-RFA. Thirty-six pairs of patients were selected for the assessment of postoperative pain by propensity score matching. Compared to regular RFA, SI-RFA significantly decreased the degree and duration of postoperative pain (OR, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.13-0.84; P = 0.020), improved wound healing rate (80.0% [36/45] vs. 58.9% [89/151], P = 0.012), increased the complete ablation rate (91.8% [45/49] vs. 86.3% [170/197], χ 2 = 1.094, P = 0.295), but correlated with higher rates of local recurrence and progression (25.6% [10/39] vs. 13.2% [18/136], χ 2 = 3.471, P = 0.062; 8.3% [3/36] vs. 0.9% [1/116], P = 0.042). The multivariable logistic regression model confirmed that submucosal injection was associated with local recurrence (OR, 2.93; 95% CI, 1.13-7.58; P = 0.027). Conclusions::Submucosal injections prior to RFA may reduce postoperative pain and scar formation while ensuring complete ablation of gastric LGD. However, local recurrence and progression should be considered seriously.

Background::Endoscopic papillectomy (EP) is recommended as the first-line therapy for ampullary tumors, despite a relatively high incidence of complications. Pancreatic and/or biliary stents are placed at the endoscopist’s discretion to prevent post-EP complications. The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of different stents.Methods::A total of 117 patients who underwent EP and met the criteria between June 2006 and October 2022 were enrolled in the study. These patients were divided into a pancreatic stent group (PS group, n = 47), a biliary stent group (BS group, n = 38), and a two-stent group (PBS [PS and BS] group, n = 32). Relevant clinical data were collected and compared among the three groups. Multivariate logistic analyses were performed to explore risk factors for post-EP complications. Results::The incidence of all complications was 37.6% (44/117). Pancreatitis and hemorrhage were the two most common complications with incidence rates of 14.5% (17/117) and 17.9% (21/117). The incidence rates of post-EP pancreatitis were 10.6% (5/47), 23.7% (9/38), and 9.4% (3/32) in the PS group, BS group, and PBS group, respectively, with no significant differences. There were also no significant differences in other complications among the three groups. Age (odds ratio [OR]: 0.95; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.91-0.99; P = 0.022) was independently associated with post-EP pancreatitis while tumor size (OR: 1.66; 95% CI: 1.06-2.60; P = 0.028) was independently associated with post-EP hemorrhage. Conclusions::While pancreatic stenting is the first choice to prevent post-EP pancreatitis, biliary stenting could also be considered as a substitute for patients with difficulties in pancreatic cannulation. Two-stent (biliary and pancreatic stent) placement is unnecessary unless it is required due to other concerns.