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Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic, lifelong gastrointestinal disease, characterized by periods of activity and remission. The etiology of IBD is closely related to environmental factors. Previous studies have shown that the cyanotoxin microcystin-LR (MC-LR) causes intestinal damage, even IBD. To explore MC-LR's effects and potential mechanisms on IBD occurrence and development, we used dextran-sulfate sodium gavage (DSS) and MC-LR together for the first time in mice. There were four groups of mice: (A) mice given PBS gavage (control, CT); (B) mice given 3% DSS gavage (DSS); (C) mice given 200 µg/kg MC-LR gavage (MC-LR); and (D) mice given 3% DSS + 200 µg/kg MC-LR gavage (DSS + MC-LR). Compared with the CT group, the MC-LR group and the DSS group demonstrated more severe colitis results, which presented as higher weight loss, an increased Disease Activity Index (DAI) score, shorter colon length, a higher degree of tissue structural damage, more apoptotic cells, and greater pro-inflammatory cytokines. Similarly, the DSS + MC-LR group showed more severe colitis compared with the DSS group. Subsequent experiments confirmed that MC-LR or DSS increased the expression of pyroptosis-related proteins mediated by the nucleotide-binding domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3). Likewise, compared with the DSS group, the DSS + MC-LR group expressed these proteins at a higher level. In conclusion, our research is the first to show that MC-LR may induce colitis, and even IBD, through NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis, and it could aggravate DSS-induced colitis in the same way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Although endoscopic ultrasound‐guided fine‐needle biopsy is widely applied, there is no clear consensus on the optimal biopsy technique. We described a modified wet suction technique (MWEST) with the aim to compare the efficacy and safety between MWEST and the dry suction technique (DST). Methods: In this prospective, randomized, crossover, single‐blinded study, patients with suspected pancreatic malignancy were randomized to the DST (group A) or MWEST (group B) for the first pass, and the two techniques were performed alternately. The primary outcome was the comparison of specimen adequacy and diagnostic yield between the techniques. Secondary outcomes included the macroscopic visible core length, blood contamination of specimens, and adverse events of both techniques. Results: From January 2019 to September 2019, 216 passes were performed in 50 patients. The specimen adequacy was significantly higher in "per‐lesion" (P = 0.026), "per‐pass" (cytology: P = 0.034; histology: P = 0.042), and first‐pass analysis (P = 0.034) for MWEST than for DST. In diagnostic yield, MWEST showed significantly superior histological yield (P = 0.014) and first‐pass analysis (κ: MWEST: 0.743 and DST: 0.519) compared with DST. The median macroscopic visible core lengths were 8 mm (interquartile range: 3.25–15 mm) and 10 mm (interquartile range: 5.25–15 mm) for DST and MWEST, respectively (P = 0.036). Blood contamination was significantly more serious in DST than in MWEST (cytology: P = 0.021; histology: P = 0.042). Conclusions: Endoscopic ultrasound‐guided fine‐needle biopsy with MWEST resulted in significantly better quality of specimen, histological, and first‐pass diagnostic yields and comparable safety compared with the DST. MWEST is preferred for endoscopic ultrasound‐guided fine‐needle biopsy in pancreatic solid lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: Hei Yi (meaning black worship and black dress) Zhuang is the most conservative group among the 43 ethnic subgroups of Zhuang in China due to its unique culture and customs. The prevalence of hypertension in this population has not been well defined. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to compare the effects of the demographic characteristics, health-related behaviors and lifestyle factors on the prevalence of hypertension in the middle-aged and elderly of the Guangxi Hei Yi Zhuang and Han populations. Methods:A total of 657 people of Hei Yi Zhuang aged 40 and over were randomly selected from 7 villages in Napo County of China. Information on the demographic characteristics, health-related behaviors and lifestyle factors was collected by questionnaire. Blood pressure, height, weight, waist circumference, serum lipid and apolipoprotein levels were measured, and body mass index (BMI) was calculated as a measure of weight relative to height. The results were compared with those of 520 Han who live in the same district. Results: The prevalence of hypertension and isolated systolic hypertension in Hei Yi Zhuang was significantly higher than in Han (32.9 vs. 24.6%, p < 0.01, and 16.7 vs. 5.2%, p < 0.001, respectively). The systolic blood pressure levels and pulse pressure in Hei Yi Zhuang were also significantly higher than in Han (129 ± 20.1 vs. 125.8 ± 17.4 mm Hg, p < 0.01, and 51.5 ± 16.1 vs. 47.1 ± 12.0 mm Hg, p < 0.01, respectively). The prevalence of hypertension was positively correlated with triglycerides, male, age, and alcohol consumption in Hei Yi Zhuang, whereas it was positively correlated with total cholesterol, male, age, alcohol consumption and BMI in Han. The rates of awareness, treatment and control in Hei Yi Zhuang and Han are 7.9 vs. 19.5%, 4.2 vs. 13.3% and 1.4 vs. 9.4% (p < 0.01 for all), respectively. Conclusion: The current study reveals a significant difference in the prevalence of hypertension, blood pressure levels, and the relative factors between the Hei Yi Zhuang and Han ethnic groups, which may have been due to differences in geographical characteristics, lifestyle, sodium intake, education levels, and even genetic factors. Copyright © 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Digestive endoscopy is an important diagnostic and therapeutic tool for digestive system diseases. The artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted system in endoscopy (hereinafter referred to as AI in digestive endoscopy) has broad application prospects in the field of digestive endoscopy. The trust and acceptance of endoscopic subjects are the cornerstone of the research, application, and promotion of AI in digestive endoscopy. Currently, the tools for measuring the acceptance of AI in digestive endoscopy by subjects are limited at home and abroad. This study aims to develop a scale for measuring the acceptance of AI in digestive endoscopy by subjects, then to evaluate its reliability and validity., Methods: By conducting literature research, an item pool and dimensions were constructed, and a preliminary scale was constructed using Delphi method. Through the first stage of the survey on the subjects, the reliability and validity of the scale were tested, and the revised scale was used for the second stage of survey on the subjects to further verify the structural validity of the scale., Results: The acceptance scale for AI in digestive endoscopy included 11 items in 3 dimensions: accuracy, ethics, benefit and willingness. In the first stage of the survey, 351 valid questionnaires were collected, and the Cronbach's α was 0.864. The correlation coefficient between the total score of the scale and the score of the test item was 0.636, and the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) value in exploratory factor analysis was 0.788. In the second stage of the survey, 335 valid questionnaires were collected, and in confirmatory factor analysis, the χ 2 /df was 3.774, while the root mean squared error of approximation (RMSEA) was 0.091., Conclusions: Acceptance scale for AI in digestive endoscopy by subjects developed in this study has good reliability and validity.

Objectives: Gastrointestinal endoscopy plays an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. The satisfaction degree of gastrointestinal endoscopy can directly affect the patient's compliance and further impact the treating effect. At present, there is no scale to evaluate the satisfaction degree of gastrointestinal endoscopy in China. This study aims to develop a satisfaction scale of gastrointestinal endoscopy suitable for national conditions and to evaluate its reliability and validity, which provides a tool for clinic to evaluate patients' satisfaction with gastrointestinal endoscopy., Methods: The original gastrointestinal endoscopy satisfaction scale was compiled by literature review, consulting senior endoscopists and experts. Through the first round of survey about 120 patients, the original scale was analyzed and modified according to the results to get the gastrointestinal endoscopy satisfaction scale (formal scale). The formal scale was used to conduct the second round of survey about 200 patients. The reliability and validity of the scale were analyzed and evaluated according to the survey results., Results: The reliability of the original scale was good but the validity was poor. The formal scale had 2 dimensions and 10 items, the Cronbach's alpha and split-half reliability were 0.889 and 0.823. The structure validity index χ 2 / df was 2.513, root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) was 0.094, goodness of fit index (GFI) was 0.914, adjusted goodness of fit index (AGFI) was 0.861, comparative fit index (CFI) was 0.946, normed fit index (NFI) was 0.915. The aggregate validity was general, the discriminative validity was good, and the direct score of patients was strongly correlated with the total score of the scale., Conclusions: The gastrointestinal endoscopy satisfaction scale has good reliability and validity, which can be used as a tool to evaluate patients' satisfaction with gastrointestinal endoscopy in China.

The morbidity of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) is rising rapidly but no curative therapies to prevent its recurrence. Cell death is crucial to maintaining homeostasis. Necroptosis is a newly identified programmed cell death and its roles played in IBD need to be explored. Necroptosis is mediated by receptor interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1), RIPK3, and mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL), which resulted in cell swelling, plasma membrane rupture, intracellular content leaking, and eventually cell death as well as the promotion of inflammation. Studies have found that inhibiting necroptosis alleviated IBD in animal models and IBD patients with an increased level of necroptosis in inflammatory tissues, indicating that necroptosis is related to the pathogenesis of IBD. However, due to the complexity in regulation of necroptosis and the involvement of multiple functions of relevant signaling molecules, the specific mechanism remains elusive. Necroptosis may play a vital regulatory role in the pathogenesis of IBD, which provides a new idea and method for further exploring the therapeutic target of IBD.