Gastroenterology Research and Practice
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Acceptance rate5%
Submission to final decision98 days
Acceptance to publication22 days
CiteScore3.900
Journal Citation Indicator0.370
Impact Factor2.0

Lipid Metabolism-Related Gene Signature Predicts Prognosis and Indicates Immune Microenvironment Infiltration in Advanced Gastric Cancer

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Gastroenterology Research and Practice provides a forum for researchers and clinicians working in the areas of gastroenterology, hepatology, pancreas and biliary, and related cancers.

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Chief Editor, Dr Kahaleh’s research is focused on interventional endoscopy and the use of new devices to diagnose and treat biliary and pancreatic diseases primarily focusing on preventing and treating complications of advanced endoscopic procedures.

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Research Article

Efficacy of the Enteroadsorbent Silicol®gel in Adults with Irritable Bowel Syndrome Subtypes IBS-D or Mixed: Observational Open-Label Study

Background. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common chronic gut-brain interaction disorder with limited effective treatment options. Intestinal adsorbents have a high adsorption capacity for gut irritants and may provide nonpharmacological alternatives. Objectives. This post marketing study is aimed at providing up-to-date evidence to support the safety and efficacy in normal use of an established medical device for IBS treatment. Methods. In this open-label, observational study, adults with IBS with predominant diarrhoea (IBS-D) or IBS with mixed bowel habits (IBS-M), according to Rome IV criteria, received 4 weeks of treatment with the enteroadsorbent Silicol®gel, a CE-certified, licenced, medical device containing colloidal silicic acid. Eligible participants were assessed at baseline (visit 1; in-clinic) and after 1 (visit 2; telephone), 2 (visit 3; telephone), and 4 (visit 4; in-clinic) weeks of treatment. The primary endpoint was the proportion of participants with an overall reduction in the IBS severity scoring system , representing clinically meaningful improvement. Key secondary endpoints were a reduction in common IBS symptoms and improved quality of life (QoL). Results. Among the 67 treated participants (IBS-D: 37; IBS-M: 30), 65 completed the study. At visit 4, 83.6% (56/67) of participants achieved a reduction in IBS . The mean (standard deviation [SD]) IBS SSS was 323.4 (55.7) at visit 1 and 160.3 (90.3) at visit 4 (overall change: -163.1 (101.7); 95% confidence interval [CI] 138.3, 187.9, ). Compared with visit 1, significant reductions in the severity of all key IBS symptoms and overall improvement in QoL were observed at visit 4 (), with improvements observed from visits 1 and 2. Conclusions. In this open-label study of participants with IBS-D and IBS-M, Silicol®gel provided clinically significant improvement in IBS symptoms, demonstrating that enteroadsorbents may be clinically beneficial in this population.

Research Article

The Diagnostic Accuracy of a Fecal Immunochemical Test in Detecting Colorectal Cancer and Advanced Precancerous Colorectal Neoplasia in Patients with Iron Deficiency: A Protocol for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background. Iron deficiency (ID) is a common micronutrient deficiency and the leading cause of anemia worldwide. ID can be caused by chronic occult blood loss from colorectal neoplasia including colorectal cancer (CRC) and advanced precancerous colorectal lesions. Current guidelines recommend colonoscopy in both men and postmenopausal women presenting with ID anemia (IDA). However, there is controversy on the investigation of patients presenting with a lower risk of CRC including younger women with ID and those with nonanemic ID (NAID). There is a need for a triaging tool to identify which ID patients may benefit from colonoscopy. The fecal immunochemical test (FIT) is sensitive for CRC screening in an asymptomatic population, but its role in ID patients is unclear. The aim of this study is to conduct a systematic review to determine the diagnostic accuracy of FIT for detecting CRC and advanced precancerous neoplasia in individuals presenting with ID with or without anemia. Methods and Analysis. This protocol conforms with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols and Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Diagnostic Test Accuracy. A comprehensive search of the MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science databases will be undertaken for studies published after 2010 which involve patients with ID, who completed a FIT in the 6 months prior to colonoscopy, with FIT sensitivity and specificity calculated against the reference standard colonoscopy. The search will be limited to studies conducted after 2010 to reduce variability in colonoscopy quality. Risk of bias assessment will be conducted using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies version 2. FIT sensitivity and specificity will be the primary measure of diagnostic accuracy, and data will be analysed using a random effects meta-analysis. Discussion. This review and meta-analysis will be the first to systematically explore the value of the FIT as a triaging tool for patients with ID. This trial is registered with CRD42022367162.

Research Article

Colonic Endoscopic Tubing Is Safe and Effective Approach for Washed Microbiota Transplantation in Autistic Children

Background. Washed microbiota transplantation (WMT) as the improved methods of fecal microbiota transplantation has been employed as a therapeutic approach for ameliorating symptoms associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In this context, colonic transendoscopic enteral tubing (TET) has been utilized as a novel procedure for administering WMT. Methods. Data of children with ASD who received WMT by TET were retrospectively reviewed, including bowel preparation methods, TET operation time, success rate, tube retention time, the comfort of children, adverse events, and parent satisfaction. Results. A total of 38 participants underwent 124 colonic TET catheterization procedures. The average time of TET operation was 15 minutes, and the success rate was 100% (124/124). There was no significant difference in TET operation time between high-seniority physicians and low-seniority physicians. In 123 procedures (99%), the TET tube allowed the completion of WMT treatment for 6 consecutive days. In 118 procedures (95.2%), the tube was detached spontaneously after the end of the treatment course, and the average TET tube retention time was 8 days. There was no incidence of tube blockage during the treatment course. No severe adverse events occurred during follow-up. Parents of all participants reported a high level of satisfaction with TET. Conclusion. Colonic TET is a safe and feasible method for WMT in children with ASD.

Research Article

Benefits of Early Enteral Feeding with a Locally Prepared Protein-Energy Ration after Surgery for Acute Generalised Peritonitis: A Randomised Trial in Two Hospitals in Bukavu, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

Background. Acute generalised peritonitis (AGP) is a common and serious digestive surgery pathology. Undernutrition exacerbates patient condition and compromises their postoperative prognosis. Early enteral nutrition is recommended to reduce postoperative complications, but its availability and cost are problematic in low-income countries. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of providing early enteral feeding (EEF) to postoperative patients with intestinal perforation AGP using a locally prepared protein-energy food ration in two hospitals in Bukavu, a city of South Kivu, in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Methods. A prospective, randomised controlled trial with two groups of patients was conducted to investigate the effects of EEF with a local mixture versus enteral feeding after peristalsis had returned (control group) in patients who underwent laparotomy for AGP caused by ileal perforation. The local mixture consisted of soybean, maize, white rice, and pineapple. The trial included 66 patients with ileal perforation peritonitis. Results. The results comparing early enteral fed and nonfed patients showed significant differences in peristalsis recovery time (2.1 (0.6) days vs. 3.8 (1.2) days, ) and length of hospital stay (25.5 (14.9) days vs. 39.4 (25.3) days, ). Bivariate analyses indicated a significant early enteral feeding (EEF) reduced of 9.1% (vs. 36.4%, ) in parietal infections and 3.4% (28.1%, ) in fistulas () when EEF was included. In addition, EEF significantly reduced reintervention rates by 9.1% () and eliminated evisceration rates. EEF was also shown to reduce the incidence of malnutrition by 63.6% (). Multivariate analysis showed that enteral nutrition significantly reduced the time to recovery of peristalsis () with an ORa of 0.3 and a 95% CI of 0.1-0.9. Moreover, EEF reduced malnutrition () with an ORa of 0.1 and a 95% CI of 0-0.4. Conclusion. EEF with locally sourced protein-energy rations can enhance a patient’s nutritional status and facilitate postoperative recovery. This procedure is advantageous and involved early enteral nutrition using locally manufactured rations, especially for those operated on for acute generalised peritonitis in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Research Article

Clinical Value of Detecting Fecal Calprotectin by Using Colloidal Gold Assay in Screening or Diagnosing Crohn’s Disease

Background. Crohn’s disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory disease, and its incidence is gradually increasing. Thus, the use of a simple and convenient examination method to detect CD in the natural population as early as possible is crucial. This study is aimed at using the colloidal gold semiquantitative assay to detect fecal calprotectin (FCP) and determine whether it is helpful in screening or diagnosing CD. Methods. Using a prospectively maintained database, 59 patients with CD were analyzed using FCP measurement. Subsequently, 76 patients and 89 healthy individuals were assigned to the gastrointestinal dysfunction and control groups, respectively. To aid in the screening or diagnosis of CD, the receiver operating characteristic curve was used to determine the diagnostic efficacy of FCP thresholds. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were presented with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results. Patients with CD showed significantly higher FCP levels. Compared with the healthy population, when the FCP level cut-off was 15 μg/g and 60 μg/g, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV for CD diagnosis were 98.3% (CI, 95.0%–100%) and 78.0% (CI, 67.4–88.6%), 84.3% (CI, 76.7%–91.8%) and 98.9% (CI, 96.7%–100%), 80.6% (CI, 71.5%–89.7%) and 97.9% (CI, 93.7%–100%), and 98.7% (CI, 96.2%–100%) and 87.1% (CI, 80.6%–93.6%), respectively. The AUCs were 0.969 (CI, 0.941–0.997). Compared with the gastrointestinal dysfunction group, using the same FCP level cut-off, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV for CD diagnosis were 98.3% (CI, 95.0%–100%) and 78.0% (CI, 67.4%–88.6%), 71.1% (CI, 60.9%–81.3%) and 89.5% (CI, 82.3%–96.7%), 72.5% (CI, 62.7%–82.3%) and 85.2% (CI, 75.7%–94.7%), and 98.1% (CI, 94.5%–100%) and 84.0% (CI, 76.0%–92.0%), respectively. The AUCs were 0.908 (CI, 0.856–0.960). Conclusion. Detecting FCP by using the colloidal gold semiquantitative assay can be effective in screening and adjunct diagnosing of CD.

Research Article

Intestinal Ultrasound Combined with Blood Inflammatory Markers Is a More Efficient Tool in Evaluating Severity of Crohn’s Disease: A Pilot Study

Background and Aims. Intestinal ultrasound (IUS) is considered a nonirradiating, noninvasive, well-tolerated, and valuable tool for objectively assessing Crohn’s disease (CD) activity. However, there is no widely accepted intestinal ultrasound scoring system. This study is aimed at evaluating the efficacy of IUS key parameters, the International Bowel Ultrasound Activity Score (IBUS-SAS), and IBUS-SAS combined with blood inflammatory markers in assessing CD activity. Methods. 40 CD patients were reviewed in this retrospective study and were divided into the moderate-severe group () and nonmoderate-severe group () based on a simplified endoscopic score of Crohn’s disease (SES-CD). Double-balloon enteroscopy/colonoscopy were reviewed by three gastroenterologists. A transabdominal ultrasound was performed by two ultrasound specialists. Blood inflammatory markers were measured from morning samples. Results. In evaluating moderate to severe CD patients, (1) IBUS-SAS had a good predictive effect with an area-under-the-curve (AUC) of 0.855 (); (2) IUS key parameters (including BWT, CDS, BWS, and I-fat) yielded good predictive effects with AUC of 0.811, 0.731, 0.724, and 0.747, respectively (); (3) blood inflammatory markers (including ESR, CRP, PLR, MLR, and NLR) also had good predictive effects with AUC of 0.771, 0.837, 0.728, 0.743, and 0.775, respectively (); (4) IBUS-SAS combined with ESR and CRP exerted the best predictive effect with the highest AUC of 0.912 (95% CI: 0.823-1.000), and the sensitivity and specificity were 88.0% and 80.0%, respectively (). Conclusion. IBUS-SAS combined with ESR and CRP is a more efficient tool than IBUS-SAS alone or inflammatory markers alone in evaluating CD patients with moderate to severe disease activity.

Gastroenterology Research and Practice
 Journal metrics
See full report
Acceptance rate5%
Submission to final decision98 days
Acceptance to publication22 days
CiteScore3.900
Journal Citation Indicator0.370
Impact Factor2.0
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