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Chin J Integr Med 2021 Apr 10. Epub 2021 Apr 10.

Department of Acupuncture and Rehabilitation, Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 610075, China.

Objective: To conduct a pilot trial to explore the effectiveness and safety of moxibustion robots in treating primary dysmenorrhea (PD) and evaluate its feasibility in clinic.

Methods: A total of 70 participants with PD were allocated to either moxibustion robot (MR) group (35 cases) or manual moxibustion (MM) group (35 cases) using computer-generated randomization. One acupoint Guanyuan (CV 4) was selected to receive moxa heat stimulation. Read More

J Pediatr Surg 2021 Mar 26. Epub 2021 Mar 26.

Division of Pediatric Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, 453 Quarry Road, MC 5733, Stanford, CA 94304, United States. Electronic address:

Introduction: short bowel syndrome is marked by inadequate intestinal surface area to absorb nutrients. Current treatments are focused on medical management and surgical reconfiguration of the dilated intestine. We propose the use of spring-mediated distraction enterogenesis as a novel intervention to increase intestinal length. Read More

Pediatr Gastroenterol Hepatol Nutr 2021 Mar 4;24(2):238-243. Epub 2021 Mar 4.

Department of Pediatrics, Kangwon National University Hospital, Chuncheon, Korea.

Caudal regression syndrome (CRS) is a rare neural tube defect that affects the terminal spinal segment, manifesting as neurological deficits and structural anomalies in the lower body. We report a case of a 31-month-old boy presenting with constipation who had long been considered to have functional constipation but was finally confirmed to have CRS. Small, flat buttocks with bilateral buttock dimples and a short intergluteal cleft were identified on close examination. Read More

Front Microbiol 2021 23;12:639948. Epub 2021 Mar 23.

Department of Biology, University of Girona, Girona, Spain.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients have different faecal microbiota profiles compared to healthy controls. Prebiotics intake influences intestinal microbiota composition which in turn influence the growth of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) producing bacteria. This study aimed to evaluate the capacity of Previpect, a new prebiotic obtained from grapes fibre, to balance the dysbiosis found in patients with intestinal disorders. Read More

Colorectal Dis 2021 Apr 7. Epub 2021 Apr 7.

Department of Colorectal Surgery, Digestive Disease Surgical Institute, Cleveland Clinic, USA.

Aim: Despite good overall outcomes in most patients undergoing ileal pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA), there is still hesitation in performing an IPAA in older patients due to comorbidity burden and concern for incontinence. We aimed to identify short- and long-term outcomes in older patinets undergoing IPAA to determine the peri-operative safety and long-term functional success of IPAA in older patients.

Methods: A literature search was performed for all publications of IPAA in adults ≥50 years old that reported short- and long-term outcomes. Read More

J Dig Dis 2021 Apr 6. Epub 2021 Apr 6.

Department of Gastroenterology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.

Aim: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is characterized by recurrent abdominal pain and altered defecation, with a female predominance. Alterations in fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) is associated with IBS. However, little is known regarding sex-based differences in this regard. Read More

Clin Transl Gastroenterol 2021 Apr 5;12(4):e00332. Epub 2021 Apr 5.

Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.

Introduction: Azathioprine-induced pancreatitis is an idiosyncratic and unpredictable response, occurring in up to 7% of azathioprine-exposed patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The haplotype HLADQA1-HLADRB1*07:01A>C is strongly associated with azathioprine-induced pancreatitis in IBD. We aimed to evaluate whether pretreatment HLADQA1-HLADRB1*07:01A>C screening will reduce the risk of azathioprine-induced pancreatitis. Read More

Int J Surg Case Rep 2021 Mar 13:105769. Epub 2021 Mar 13.

Pediatric Surgery Unit, Assiut University Children Hospital, Assiut, Egypt.

Introduction: We present a case of a male child 8 years old presenting with a sigmoid volvulus causing ischemia of most of bowel loops resulting in a short bowel syndrome. It is the first reported case worldwide.

Presentation: A male child presented with a picture of intestinal obstruction. Read More

Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2021 Apr 2. Epub 2021 Apr 2.

Division of Gastroenterology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.

Patients with post-operative Crohn's disease are difficult to manage due to their risk of experiencing a more severe course, multiple symptom confounders and poor sensitivity of symptomatic remission to rule out intestinal inflammation. In this group, data are lacking on biologic therapeutic efficacy and recommendations are lacking for those with multiple medication failures. Novel non-invasive testing can simultaneously exclude alternate causes of symptoms (serum C4, fecal fat, SIBO breath testing) and assess intestinal inflammation (fecal calprotectin, endoscopic healing index). Read More

J Surg Case Rep 2021 Mar 29;2021(3):rjab059. Epub 2021 Mar 29.

Department of General Surgery, Centro Hospitalar de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (CHTMAD), Vila Real 5000-508, Portugal.

Meckel's diverticulitis is an unusual cause of acute abdomen condition in adults requiring prompt surgical treatment. We report a case of a 53-year-old male with coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19), admitted to the emergency department with an acute abdominal pain. A computed tomography scan with intravenous contrast performed on the patient confirmed an inflamed short segment of the small bowel and the presence of a localized free peritoneal fluid. Read More

J Psychosom Res 2021 Mar 30:110479. Epub 2021 Mar 30.

Department of Internal Medicine, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Department of Community Health Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada. Electronic address:

Objective: Childhood maltreatment is associated with pain catastrophizing. Both childhood maltreatment and pain catastrophizing are prevalent in certain immune-mediated inflammatory disease (IMID) populations. However, it is unknown whether childhood maltreatment contributes to the high rates of pain catastrophizing in IMID cohorts. Read More

EBioMedicine 2021 Apr 1;66:103293. Epub 2021 Apr 1.

Department of Chronic Diseases, Metabolism & Ageing [CHROMETA], Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders [TARGID], KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospitals Leuven, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address:

The gut microbiome and the intestinal immune system are driving contributors to inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Both have an important signalling factor in common: short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). SCFAs (acetate, propionate and butyrate) are produced by bacterial fermentation in the gut and exert several effects on host metabolism and immune system. Read More

Life Sci 2021 Mar 31;277:119468. Epub 2021 Mar 31.

Department of Digestive Diseases, Xijing Hospital, the Fourth Military Medical University, 127th Changle West Road, Xi'an 710032, Shaanxi, China; Department of Colorectal Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 79th Qingchun Road, Hangzhou 310003, Zhejiang, China. Electronic address:

Aim: Small bowel transplantation (SBT) is the only therapy for end-stage short bowel syndrome. However, complicated pathological changes and an increased risk of postoperative infections in the perioperative period are major obstacles to patient survival, but the associated mechanisms remain unclear.

Methods: To explore perioperative alterations in the intestinal microbiota and their functional changes after SBT, 16S rRNA sequencing of ileostomy effluents and plasma analysis were performed pre-SBT and periodically post-SBT. Read More

Gut 2021 Apr 2. Epub 2021 Apr 2.

Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Groningen and University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

Objective: The microbiome directly affects the balance of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory responses in the gut. As microbes thrive on dietary substrates, the question arises whether we can nourish an anti-inflammatory gut ecosystem. We aim to unravel interactions between diet, gut microbiota and their functional ability to induce intestinal inflammation. Read More

Trials 2021 Apr 2;22(1):245. Epub 2021 Apr 2.

Kaleido Biosciences, Inc, Lexington, MA, USA.

Objectives: These 2 parallel studies (K031 and K032) aim to evaluate the safety of KB109 in addition to supportive self-care (SSC) compared with SSC alone in outpatients with mild to moderate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). KB109 is a novel synthetic glycan that was formulated to modulate the gut microbiome composition and metabolic output in order to increase beneficial short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production in the gut. The K031 study is designed to evaluate the safety of KB109 and characterize its impact on the natural progression of COVID-19 in patients with mild to moderate disease. Read More

Nutrients 2021 Mar 5;13(3). Epub 2021 Mar 5.

College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, National Engineering Research Center for Fruit and Vegetable Processing, Key Laboratory of Fruit and Vegetables Processing Ministry of Agriculture, Engineering Research Centre for Fruits and Vegetables Processing, Ministry of Education, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China.

Supplementation of dietary fiber has been proved to be an effective strategy to prevent and relieve inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) through gut microbiota modulation. However, more attention has been paid to the efficacy of soluble dietary fiber than that of insoluble dietary fiber (IDF). In the present study, we investigated whether IDF from barley leaf (BLIDF) can inhibit gut inflammation via modulating the intestinal microbiota in DSS-induced colitis mice. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2021 Mar 31;22(7). Epub 2021 Mar 31.

Department of Molecular and Cellular Cancer Medicine, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrated Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GE, UK.

Background: Oral iron supplementation causes gastrointestinal side effects. Short-term alterations in dietary iron exacerbate inflammation and alter the gut microbiota, in murine models of colitis. Patients typically take supplements for months. Read More

J Clin Med 2021 Mar 1;10(5). Epub 2021 Mar 1.

Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada.

The response of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) to fecal microbial transplantation (FMT) has been inconsistent possibly due to variable engraftment of donor microbiota. This failure to engraft has resulted in the use of several different strategies to attempt optimization of the recipient microbiota following FMT. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the effects of two distinct microbial strategies-antibiotic pre-treatment and repeated FMT dosing-on IBD outcomes. Read More

Biology (Basel) 2021 Mar 9;10(3). Epub 2021 Mar 9.

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Hyogo College of Medicine, Nishinomiya 663-8501, Japan.

Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders such as celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease are attributed to intestinal barrier disruption. Imbalance of cytokines has been reported in the intestinal epithelium of patients with GI disorders. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), derived from the fermentation of dietary fiber in the intestine, have been reported to benefit the intestinal barrier. Read More

Microorganisms 2021 Mar 9;9(3). Epub 2021 Mar 9.

Institut Micalis, MIHA Team, Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France.

The role of the gut microbiota in health and disease is well recognized and the microbiota dysbiosis observed in many chronic diseases became a new therapeutic target. The challenge is to get a better insight into the functionality of commensal bacteria and to use this knowledge to select live biotherapeutics as new preventive or therapeutic products. In this study, we set up a screening approach to evaluate the functional capacities of a set of 21 strains isolated from the gut microbiota of neonates and adults. Read More

Nutrients 2021 Mar 10;13(3). Epub 2021 Mar 10.

Department of General Surgery, and Clinical Nutrition, Medical Center of Postgraduate Education, 00-416 Warsaw, Poland.

Home parenteral nutrition (HPN) may improve the survival in selected patients with malignant bowel obstruction. This retrospective, medical registry-based study aimed to identify clinical and laboratory markers predicting short survival, which would allow a more accurate selection of patients that would benefit from HPN in inoperative bowel obstruction. In a retrospective analysis of 114 patients receiving HPN, the median survival was 89 days after discharge home, and the three and six-month survival probability was 48% and 26%, respectively. Read More

Nutrients 2021 Mar 21;13(3). Epub 2021 Mar 21.

National Engineering Laboratory for Cereal Fermentation Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China.

() is widely studied as a medicinal and edible fungus. Recent studies have shown that has protective effects for diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease and cancer, which are related to gut microbiota. To investigate the benefits of intake on gut microbiota and blood indices in adulthood, we recruited 13 healthy adults to consume powder as a dietary supplement. Read More

Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021 Mar 28;14(4). Epub 2021 Mar 28.

Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, 1, 5-ga, Anam-dong, Sungbuk-gu, Seoul 02841, Korea.

Inflammatory bowel disease is a chronic relapsing disease. Multiple factors can cause inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including diet, imbalance of the immune system, and impaired intestinal barrier function. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a complex and chronic metabolic disease caused by a combination of insulin resistance and an ineffective insulin secretory response. Read More

Nutrients 2021 Mar 14;13(3). Epub 2021 Mar 14.

Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6AD, UK.

Intestinal dysbiosis has been described in patients with certain gastrointestinal conditions including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and ulcerative colitis. 2'-fucosyllactose (2'-FL), a prebiotic human milk oligosaccharide, is considered bifidogenic and butyrogenic. To assess prebiotic effects of 2'-FL, alone or in combination with probiotic strains (potential synbiotics), experiments were conducted on stool from healthy, IBS, and ulcerative colitis adult donors. Read More

Expert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2021 Apr 2. Epub 2021 Apr 2.

School of Pharmacy, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.

: The goal for pediatric short bowel syndrome (SBS) patients is intestinal adaptation. Until recently, the medical management of pediatric SBS has centered on the prevention and treatment of complications in order to allow time for adaptation. Teduglutide, glucagon-like peptide 2 (GLP-2) analogue has recently been approved for use in pediatric SBS patients greater than 1 year of age as a novel agent to augment intestinal adaptation. Read More

Mol Med 2021 04 1;27(1):33. Epub 2021 Apr 1.

Department of Medical Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, 4032, Hungary.

Ovarian cancer is characterized by dysbiosis, referred to as oncobiosis in neoplastic diseases. In ovarian cancer, oncobiosis was identified in numerous compartments, including the tumor tissue itself, the upper and lower female genital tract, serum, peritoneum, and the intestines. Colonization was linked to Gram-negative bacteria with high inflammatory potential. Read More

Scand J Gastroenterol 2021 Apr 1:1-7. Epub 2021 Apr 1.

Department of Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.

Background: Prospectively and systematically collected real-world data on the effectiveness of ustekinumab (anti-interleukin-12/23) for treating Crohn's disease (CD) are still limited.

Aim: To assess the short-term real-world effectiveness of ustekinumab in Swedish patients with active CD.

Methods: Prospective multicentre study of adult CD patients initiating ustekinumab according to recommended doses at 20 hospitals, between January 2017 and November 2018. Read More

JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr 2021 Apr 1. Epub 2021 Apr 1.

George Washington University School of Medicine Washington, DC, USA.

Objective: To analyze the outcomes in children with short bowel syndrome (SBS), parenteral nutrition dependence (PND) and intestinal failure associated liver disease (IFALD), treated in our Intestinal Rehabilitation Program (IRP) during 2007-2018.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed charts of 135 patients with SBS-PND at the time of enrollment in IRP; of these 89 (66%) had IFALD, defined as conjugated bilirubin (CB) of ≥2mg/dL at enrollment and/or abnormal liver biopsy showing stage 2-4 fibrosis. Outcomes included resolution of CB, enteral autonomy, laboratory parameters (platelets, AST to Platelet Ratio Index), growth trends, transplant rates, and mortality. Read More

Colorectal Dis 2021 Apr 1. Epub 2021 Apr 1.

Colorectal Surgeon, Department of Colorectal Surgery, University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff, UK.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic led to widespread disruption of colorectal cancer services during 2020. Established cancer referral pathways were modified in response to reduced diagnostic availability. The aim of this paper is to assess the impact of COVID-19 on colorectal cancer referral, presentation and stage. Read More

Gan To Kagaku Ryoho 2021 Mar;48(3):449-451

Dept. of Gastroenterological Surgery, Kanazawa University.

Although radiation therapy for pelvic cancer leads to improved outcomes, it may cause radiation enteritis. Radiation enteritis is classified as early and late reaction. Late reaction indicate progressive and irreversible changes caused by ischemic changes of the intestinal mucosa. Read More