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Gallstone is a common surgical disease. The factors which related to intestine during the process of gallstone formation have attracted increasing attention. The main factors affecting the formation of cholesterol gallstone including cholesterol absorption, bile acid concentration, gut microbiota changing, are all related to the intestine. A correct understanding of the factors related to intestine during gallstone formation is helpful for the prevention and treatment of gallstone disease. In future, different targets related to intestine may play an important role in both prevention of gallstone disease and post-cholecystectomy management.

To avoid CO2 pneumoperitoneum-associated cardiopulmonary side-effects during conventional laparoscopic surgeries, we have developed a gasless laparoscopic operation field formation (LOFF) device for laparoendoscopic single-site surgery. The aim of this study is to analyze the safety and efficacy of the LOFF device for laparoendoscopic single-site cholecystectomy and to verify its advantage of avoiding CO2 pneumoperitoneum-associated complications. In this prospective, randomized, observer-blinded clinical trial, eligible participants were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to undergo either conventional CO2 pneumoperitoneum assisted laparoendoscopic single-site cholecystectomy (LESS) or the new gasless LOFF device assisted laparoendoscopic single-site cholecystectomy (LOFF-LESS). Outcomes including intra-operative respiratory and hemodynamic parameters, operation time, conversion rate, complication rate, et al were compared between the two groups. A total of 100 patients were randomized to the LESS group [n = 50; mean (SD) age, 49.5 (13.9) years; 24 (48.0%) women] and the LOFF-LESS group [n = 50, mean (SD) age, 47.4 (13.3) years; 27 (54.0%) women]. Compared with the LOFF-LESS group, the LESS group witnessed significant fluctuations in intra-operative respiratory and hemodynamic parameters. The tracheal extubation time of the LESS group was significantly longer (P = 0.001). The gasless LOFF device is safe and feasible for simple laparoscopic cholecystectomy and has a predominance of avoiding CO2 pneumoperitoneum-associated cardiopulmonary side-effects. Trial registration number: ChiCTR2000033702 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The gut microbiome is essential for human health due to its effects on disease development, drug metabolism and the immune system. It may also play a role in the interaction with environmental toxicants. However, the effect of epoxiconazole, a fungicide active ingredient from the class of azoles developed to protect crops, on the abundance and composition of the gut microbiome has never been studied. We put forward the hypothesis that changes in gut microbiota may be early signs of toxicity induced by epoxiconazole. Methods: In this study, female rats were fed with epoxiconazole-adulterated diets (0, 4 and 100 mg/kg/day) for 90 days. The gut microbiome was determined by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Body and organ weight, and blood biochemistry were also measured after 90 days of oral epoxiconazole exposure. Results: Interestingly, the abundance of gut Firmicutes decreased, and Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria increased. At family level, Lachnospiraceae and Enterobacteriaceae were selectively enriched following epoxiconazole exposure. Our results indicate that epoxiconazole exposure may induce changes in the gut microbiome and potential liver toxicity. Conclusion: Changes in the gut microbiome may be used as early indicators for monitoring the health risk of the host. © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role and mechanism of insulin-like growth factor-2 mRNA-binding protein 3 (IGF2BP3) in the metastasis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remain unclear. In this study, IGF2BP3 mRNA and protein expression levels were evaluated in ESCC tissues. Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), plasmid overexpression, and stable lentivirus transfection were used to manipulate intracellular IGF2BP3 expression levels. The role of IGF2BP3 in ESCC tumorigenesis was investigated in vitro and in vivo. IGF2BP3 target transcripts were detected, and the acetylation effect ratios of the IGF2BP3 promoter region by H3K27ac were determined. IGF2BP3 mRNA expression levels were significantly higher in ESCC tissues than in normal esophageal tissues. Increased IGF2BP3 expression levels were detected in node-negative ESCC tissues and correlated with greater lesion depth in ESCC. Overexpression of IGF2BP3 promoted ESCC development in vitro and in vivo, and IGF2BP3 knockdown caused an opposite effect. IGF2BP3 was found to directly bind to the zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox 1 (Zeb1) mRNA, and the downregulation of IGF2BP3 reduced the stability of Zeb1 mRNA. IGF2BP3 induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in ESCC cells in a Zeb1-dependent manner. IGF2BP3 was transcriptionally activated in ESCC cell lines via H3K27 acetylation. Our results demonstrate that IGF2BP3 plays a vital role in ESCC cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis and is a potential therapeutic target for treating ESCC., (© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)