1.Bali Chronic Constipation Roundtable Report: Chronic ConstipationManagement in Asia
Yi Ping REN ; Wah Loong CHAN ; Kee Huat CHUAH ; Yong Sung KIM ; Atsushi NAKAJIMA ; Sanjiv MAHADEVA ; Yeong Yeh LEE ; Andrew S B CHUA ; Tao BAI ; Ari Fahrial SYAM ; Chien-Lin CHEN ; Ching-Liang LU ; M. Masudur RAHMAN ; Tanisa PATCHARATRAKUL ; Victoria Ping Y TAN ; Dao Viet HANG ; Xiaohua HOU ; Yinglian XIAO ; Justin WU ; Uday C GHOSHAL ; Hidekazu SUZUKI ; Sutep GONLACHANVIT ; Kewin T H SIAH
Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility 2026;32(1):109-128
Background/Aims:
Chronic constipation is prevalent yet under-diagnosed across Asia, compromising quality of life and burdening healthcare systems. Cultural stigma, varied diets, and limited access to standardized diagnostic tools delay timely care.
Methods:
The Bali Chronic Constipation Roundtable in November 2024, brought together experts from 11 Asian countries. The group reviewed epidemiological data, analyzed multinational questionnaire on clinical practice pattern, and conducted structured discussions to identify key barriers and propose region-specific recommendations.
Results:
Chronic constipation prevalence varies across Asia, ranging from 1.8% in India to 16.6% in Japan, with women and the elderly disproportionately affected. Under-reporting persists owing to cultural taboos and widespread self treatment with laxatives and traditional medications. Although the Rome IV criteria remains the global standard, they may not fully reflect Asian symptom profiles, and diagnosis is limited by scarce motility laboratories. First line therapies such as dietary-fiber optimization and osmotic laxatives are widely available, but newer pharmacotherapies (prucalopride, linaclotide, lubiprostone, and elobixibat) remain costly and unevenly accessible. Biofeedback for dyssynergic defecation is underutilized due to limited availability. Experts recommend expanded regional research on to refine diagnostic criteria, coupled with enhanced physician education and public awareness. They advocate accessibility to second-line and novel therapies that incorporate culturally attuned regional guidelines, and improved access to gastrointestinal motility testing.
Conclusions
The Bali Chronic Constipation Roundtable highlighted Asia’s need for region specific diagnostics and management. Addressing diagnostic and treatment gaps will improve outcomes, while ongoing researcher clinician policy collaboration must standardize guidelines, advance research, and ensure equitable care across Asia.
2.Values of ATX in predicting disease progression in patients with PBC and PBC related HCC.
M Y ZHANG ; H XIE ; J ZHAO ; Q S LIANG ; L HAN ; X R ZHAI ; B S LI ; Z S ZOU ; Y SUN
Chinese Journal of Hepatology 2023;31(6):40-46
Objective: To clarify the values of autotaxin (ATX) in patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and PBC-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: 179 patients with PBC were selected from prospective cohorts of autoimmune liver diseases at the time of first diagnosis of PBC in Department of Hepatology, the Fifth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, from January 2016 to January 2018, all patients with PBC received UDCA therapy, primary endpoint was event of HCC, the follow-up period was censored at the date of HCC. The relationship between level of ATX and clinical features in patients with PBC and its potential value in predicting disease progression and PBC-related HCC were analyzed. Results: The ATX level in the peripheral blood of patients with PBC was significantly higher than that of alcoholic liver cirrhosis(ALC) (t = 3.278, P = 0.001) and healthy controls(HC) (t = 6.594, P < 0.001), however, when comparing PBC to non-PBC related HCC, no significant difference was found between the groups(t=-0.240, P = 0.811). Consistent with peripheral blood levels, histochemical staining indicated that ATX in the liver of patients with PBC was significantly higher than that of HC (Z=-3.633, P < 0.001) and ALC (Z=-3.283, P < 0.001), and the expression of ATX in PBC with advanced histological stage was significantly higher than PBC with early stage (Z=-2.018, P = 0.034). The baseline ATX level in PBC patients without developing to HCC during follow-up had significant difference to patients with developing to HCC (228.451 ± 124.093 ng/ml vs 301.583 ± 100.512 ng/ml, t = 2.339, P = 0.021). The result in multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that ATX were independent predictors of PBC related HCC(OR 1.245, 95%CI 1.097-1.413). The optimal critical value of peripheral blood ATX level at baseline for predicting HCC was 235.254 ng/ml, with the cut-off value of 0.714 in AUC of the ROC (95% CI was 0.597~ 0.857), sensitivity and specificity were 84.6% and 59.0%, respectively. Conclusion: ATX level was significantly higher in PBC patients over controls, and it's concentration was correlated with UDCA efficacy and fibrosis stage. ATX has potential values in predicting disease progression and PBC-related HCC.
3.Clinicopathological and molecular genetic characteristics of ELOC mutated renal cell carcinoma.
Z WEN ; W H ZHANG ; J Y LIANG ; J CHAI ; Y M WANG ; W N XU ; Z WANG ; L N FAN
Chinese Journal of Pathology 2023;52(12):1204-1209
Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological features, molecular genetic features, differential diagnosis and prognosis of ELOC mutated renal cell carcinoma. Methods: From January 2015 to June 2022, 11 cases of renal cell carcinoma with clear-cell morphology, expression of CAⅨ and CK7 and no 3p deletion were collected. Two cases of ELOC mutant renal cell carcinoma were diagnosed using whole exome sequencing (WES). The clinical features, morphology, immunophenotype, FISH and WES results were analyzed. The relevant literature was reviewed. Results: The two patients were both male, aged 29 and 51 years, respectively. They were both found to have a renal mass by physical examination. The maximum diameters of the tumors were 3.5 cm and 2.0 cm, respectively. At the low magnification, the tumors were well-defined. The tumor cells showed a pushing border and were separated by thick fibrous bands, forming nodules. The tumor cells were arranged in a variety of patterns, including tubular, papillary, solid nest or alveolar. At high magnification, the tumor cells were large, with well-defined cell borders and clear cytoplasm or fine eosinophilic granules. CAⅨ was diffusely box-like positive in both cases. Case 1 was partially and moderately positive for CK7, strongly positive for CD10, diffusely and moderately positive for P504S, and weakly positive for 34βE12. In case 2, CK7 and CD10 were both partially, moderately positive and P504s were diffusely positive, but 34βE12 was negative. FISH results showed that both cases had no 3p deletion. ELOC c.235T>A (p.Y79N) mutation was identified using WES in case 1, while ELOC c.236_237inv (p.Y79C) mutation was identified in case 2. Conclusions: As a new clinical entity, ELOC mutated renal cell carcinoma may be underdiagnosed due to its overlap with clear cell renal cell carcinoma in morphology and immunophenotype. The diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma with ELOC mutation should be confirmed by morphology, immunohistochemistry, FISH and gene mutation detection. However, more additional cases are needed to explain its biological behavior and prognosis.
Humans
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Male
;
Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics*
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Carcinoma, Renal Cell/pathology*
;
Chromosome Aberrations
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Kidney Neoplasms/pathology*
;
Molecular Biology
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Mutation
;
Prognosis
4.Factors influencing super-long hospital stays in patients undergoing radical gastrectomy in the age of enhanced recovery after surgery.
Y LIU ; Z D CHEN ; J X CUI ; H CUI ; W Q LIANG ; K C ZHANG ; Y H GAO ; L CHEN ; H Q XI
Chinese Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery 2022;25(12):1104-1109
Objective: To obtain experience and generate suggestions for reducing average hospital stays, optimizing perioperative management of patients with gastric cancer and improving utilization of medical resources by analyzing the factors influencing super-long hospital stays in patients undergoing radical gastrectomy in the age of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS). Methods: This was a case-control study. Inclusion criteria: (1) pathologically diagnosed gastric adenocarcinoma; (2) radical surgery for gastric cancer; and (3) complete clinicopathologic data. Exclusion criteria: (1) history of upper abdominal surgery; (2) presence of distant metastasis of gastric cancer or other ongoing neoplastic diseases; (3) concurrent chemoradiotherapy; and (4) preoperative gastric cancer-related complications such as obstruction or perforation. The study cohort comprised 285 eligible patients with hospital stays of ≥30 days (super-long hospital stay group). Using propensity score matching in a 1:1 ratio, age, sex, medical insurance, pTNM stage, and extent of surgical resection as matching factors, 285 patients with hospital stays of < 30 days during the same period were selected as the control group (non-long hospital stay group). The primary endpoint was relationship between pre-, intra-, and post-operative characteristics and super-long hospital stays. Clavien-Dindo grade was used to classify complications. Results: Univariate analysis showed that number of comorbidities, number of preoperative consultations, preoperative consultation, inter-departmental transference, operation time, open surgery, blood loss, intensive care unit time, presence of surgical or non-surgical complications, Clavien-Dindo grade of postoperative complications, and reoperation were associated with super-long hospital stays (all P<0.05). Inter-departmental transference (OR=4.876, 95% CI: 1.500-16.731, P<0.001), preoperative consultation time ≥ 3 d (OR=1.758, 95%CI: 1.036-2.733, P=0.034), postoperative surgery-related complications (OR = 6.618, 95%CI: 2.141-20.459, P=0.01), and higher grade of complications (Clavien-Dindo Grade I: OR = 7.176, 95%CI: 1.785-28.884, P<0.001; Clavien-Dindo Grade II: OR = 18.984, 95%CI: 6.286-57.312, P<0.001; Clavien-Dindo Grade III-IV: OR=7.546, 95%CI:1.495-37.952, P=0.014) were independent risk factors for super-long hospital stays. Conclusion: Optimizing preoperative management, enhancing perioperative management, and surgical quality control can reduce the risk of prolonging average hospital stay.
Humans
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Case-Control Studies
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Retrospective Studies
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Length of Stay
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Stomach Neoplasms/pathology*
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Enhanced Recovery After Surgery
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Gastrectomy/adverse effects*
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Postoperative Complications/etiology*
8.Characteristics of HIV-infected persons without long term disease progress and related factors in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
X J ZHOU ; Q Y ZHU ; J J LI ; G H LAN ; S S LIANG ; S F LIU ; X H LIU ; Q MENG ; C X ZHOU ; Z Y SHEN
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2019;40(1):70-73
Objective: To understand the characteristics of HIV infected persons without long term disease progress [also known as long term non-progressors (LTNPs)], and related factors in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (Guangxi). Methods: Data of persons living with HIV and receiving no antiretroviral therapy in Guangxi by the end of 2016 were collected from the national HIV/AIDS comprehensive control and prevention information system of China. Results: By the end of 2016, there were 313 LTNPs in Guangxi, accounting for 2.3% of those being reported for more than 10 years, 5.4% of those being reported for more than 10 years and surviving, and 26.6% of those being reported for more than 10 years, surviving and receiving no antiretroviral therapy. Among the LTNPs, 87.2%(273) were men, 94.9% (297) were aged ≤ 40 years, 32.3% (101) were farmers, 55.6% (174) were single, divorced or widowed, 69.3% (217) were of Han ethnic group, 68.1% (213) were injecting drug users, and 52.1% (163) were from custody facilities. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that factors associated with delayed disease progression included age ≤40 years (compared with age >40 years, aOR=1.55, 95%CI: 1.31-3.12) and injection drug use (compared with sexual transmission, aOR=1.23, 95%CI: 1.10-1.74). Conclusions: A number of LTNPs existed in HIV-infected individuals in Guangxi. Further research are needed to identify the related factors, and it is necessary to conduct large sample size studies on host immunology, genetics and the virology of HIV to explore the related mechanism.
Adolescent
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Adult
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Age Distribution
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China/epidemiology*
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Drug Users/statistics & numerical data*
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Ethnicity/statistics & numerical data*
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HIV Infections/ethnology*
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Humans
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Male
;
Socioeconomic Factors
9.Circulation and etiological characterization of Salmonella enterica serotype in human in Guangdong province, 2007-2016.
B X KE ; H H ZENG ; D M HE ; H L TAN ; B S LI ; Y H LIANG ; C W KE
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2018;39(1):63-66
Objective: To understand the circulation, drug resistance and molecular characteristics of Salmonella1, 4, [5], 12: i:- in human in Guangdong province. Methods:Salmonella1, 4, [5], 12: i:- isolated from diarrhea patients in Guangdong during 2007-2016 were detected for drug resistance, genes and PFGE characteristics. Results: A total of 2 960 strains Salmonella1, 4, [5], 12: i: - were isolated from human diarrhea cases during this period. The positive rates of the isolation increased year by year. The male to female ratio of the infection cases was 1.58∶1, and the infection mainly occurred in infants and young children. Except imipenem, Salmonella1, 4, [5], 12: i: - was resistant to other 17 antibiotics to some extent. The drug resistant rates to ceftazidime, cefotaxime and ciprofloxacin increased from 2011 to 2016. Multi-drug resistance was serious, for example, the multi-drug resistant strains with ASSuT accounted for 70.62% (435/616) and the multi-drug resistant strains with ACSuGSTTm accounted for 27.11% (167/616). The lack of fljA, fljB and hin genes, as well as the retaining of iroB, STM2740, STM2757 genes, resulted in the unable expression of FljBenx gene with 8 different defection profiles. There were 934 different PFGE patterns observed in 2 347 strains, which displayed a relatively large fingerprint polymorphism. The major PFGE pattern was JPXX01. GD0226, which was found in 97 strains, accounting for 4.13% (97/2 347). The PFGE patterns in 168 Salmonella1, 4, [5], 12: i: - strains were consistent with that of Salmonella typhimurium. Conclusions:Salmonella1,4,[5], 12: i: - strains has become the major serotype of Salmonella that cause diarrhea in human in Guangdong. The multi-drug resistance of Salmonella1,4, [5], 12: i: - was serious, and since the defection of fljA, fljB and hin genes, the expression of FljBenx protein failed. The PFGE results were diverse, which displayed polymorphism in inheritance.
Adolescent
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Adult
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Aged
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Aged, 80 and over
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Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology*
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Child
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Child, Preschool
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China/epidemiology*
;
Diarrhea/microbiology*
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Drug Resistance, Bacterial
;
Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field
;
Female
;
Humans
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Infant
;
Male
;
Microbial Sensitivity Tests
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Middle Aged
;
Salmonella Infections/prevention & control*
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Salmonella enterica/isolation & purification*
;
Salmonella typhimurium
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Serogroup
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Serotyping
;
Young Adult
10.Characteristic and dynamic of HIV-1 subtype distribution in men who have sex with men in Guangzhou, 2008-2015.
Z G HAN ; Y L ZHANG ; H WU ; W B CHENG ; C Y LIANG ; F ZHONG ; K GAO ; H F XU
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2018;39(1):67-71
Objective: To understand the characteristics and dynamic of HIV-1 subtype distribution in men who have sex with men (MSM) in Guangzhou between 2008 and 2015. Methods: HIV-1 RNAs were extracted from serum samples of the individuals newly diagnosed with HIV-1 infection among MSM living in Guangzhou between 2008 and 2015. The pol gene segments of HIV-1 genome from these RNA samples were amplified by nested reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (nested-PCR) and were sequenced. Subsequently, the phylogenetic tree was reconstructed using pol sequences of samples and references together and the subtype of HIV-1 was determined. The distributions of HIV-1 subtypes detected in MSM with different demographic characteristics in different years were compared. Results: A total of 2 210 pol gene segments were successfully obtained from 2 473 serum samples of the MSM. The average age of 2 210 MSM was 30.19 years with standard deviation of 8.22 years, the unmarried MSM and those in Han ethnic group accounted for 73.39% and 90.81%, respectively. The proportion of subtype CRF07_BC (38.10%) was highest, followed by CRF01_AE (34.84%), CRF55_01B (14.62%), B (6.06%), URFs (3.58%), CRF59_01B (2.17%) and other subtypes (0.63%). The annual proportions of subtype B (P=0.000, 99%CI:0.000-0.000), CRF07_BC (χ(2)=14.965, P=0.036), CRF55_01B (χ(2)=18.161, P=0.011) and URFs (P=0.001, 99% CI: 0.000-0.001) were significantly different. The proportion of subtype B showed a gradual decrease from 14.08% to 4.33% (P=0.000, 99%CI: 0.000-0.000), while the proportion of URFs rapidly increased from 0% to 6.40% (P=0.000, 99% CI: 0.000-0.000). The rate of URFs was significantly higher in farmers and migrant workers than in other groups (P=0.017, 99%CI: 0.014- 0.020) and the rate of URFs was higher in individuals who had multi sexual partners (χ(2)=5.733, P=0.017). Conclusions: CRF07_BC and CRF01_AE were the predominant HIV-1 subtypes and multiple subtypes co-circulated among MSM in Guangzhou between 2008 and 2015. The recombinations of HIV-1 continue to occur in MSM. Strengthening behavioral intervention for farmers, migrant workers and individuals who have multi sexual partners has the important epidemiological significance against the emerging and circulating of the novel recombinant virus among MSM in Guangzhou.
China/epidemiology*
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Genes, pol
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Genotype
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HIV Infections/virology*
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HIV Seropositivity/genetics*
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HIV-1/isolation & purification*
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Homosexuality, Male
;
Humans
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Male
;
Phylogeny
;
Polymerase Chain Reaction
;
RNA, Viral/blood*
;
Sexual Behavior

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