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Topic Review
Pathogenesis of Esophageal Cancer
Esophageal cancer is rapidly increasing across the world. It is the sixth most common cause of death from cancer and is the eighth most common cancer worldwide. Esophageal cancer is a devastating malignancy which can be detected at an early stage but is more often diagnosed as an advanced process. It affects both men and women and inflicts the young and the elderly. There are multiple underlying factors involved in the pathogenesis of this cancer including inflammation.
  • 770
  • 13 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Oral Manifestations of IBD
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) comprises chronic heterogeneous disorders of unknown etiology, resulting from multifactorial environmental precipitants in genetically susceptible individuals. IBD are distinguished in two main phenotypes, Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), characterized by inflammation of the intestinal mucosa. While UC affects the rectum and a variable extent of the colon, CD can involve any location of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, from the oral cavity to the anus. Furthermore, up to 36% of patients with IBD may have extra-intestinal manifestations (EIM) which can affect almost any organ of the body (eyes, joints, liver, pancreas, skin, blood, and mouth).
  • 769
  • 12 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Metformin Protects Livers against NASH-related-HCC
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is strongly linked to the global epidemic of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Notably, NAFLD can progress from the mildest form of simple steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) that increases the risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which is a malignancy with a dismal prognosis and rising incidence in the United States and other developed counties, possibly due to the epidemic of NAFLD. Metformin, the first-line drug for T2DM, has been suggested to reduce risks for several types of cancers including HCC and protect against NASH-related HCC, as revealed by epidemical studies on humans and preclinical studies on animal models.
  • 767
  • 12 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection
Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is considered superior to endoscopic mucosal resection as an endoscopic resection because of its higher en bloc resection rate, but it is more difficult to perform. As ESD techniques have become more common, and the range of treatment by ESD has expanded, the number of possible complications has also increased, and endoscopists need to manage them.
  • 765
  • 18 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Probiotic-Produced Metabolites
Probiotic bacteria (PB) are live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host. Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria are the most common probiotics, but the yeast Saccharomyces boulardii and Bacillus species are also widely known.
  • 764
  • 30 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Experimental Pharmacotherapy for Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) includes a range of chronic conditions characterized by excessive hepatic lipid accumulation, defined by the presence of steatosis in >5% of hepatocytes, in the absence of significant alcohol consumption or other causes of liver injury.
  • 758
  • 14 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Major Genetic Factors Involved in Liver Diseases Pathogenesis
Over the past century, our genetic background has not changed, but chronic diseases are on the rise globally. In addition to the genetic component, the critical factors for many diseases are lifestyle, eating changes, exposure to drugs, xenobiotics, alcohol, smoking, polluted air, etc. These techniques include genome-wide association studies (GWAS) that allow the identification of unknown genetic risk factors, positional cloning of unknown genes associated with different diseases, the gene tests for single nucleotide variants (SNVs), and next-generation sequencing (NGS) of selected genes or/and the entire genome. Gut microbiome composition and its metabolites are not only regulating factors in carcinogenesis (including de novo after liver transplantation) but also in xenobiotics and anticancer treatment failure, observations that may be related to the genetic background of the individuals.
  • 754
  • 21 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Human Herpesviruses
Human herpesviruses (HHVs): herpes simplex virus (HSV) types 1 (HSV-1) and 2 (HSV-2), varicella-zoster virus (VZV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), HHV-6, HHV-7, and HHV-8, are known to be part of a family of DNA viruses that cause several diseases in humans. In clinical practice of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the complication of CMV enterocolitis, which is caused by CMV reactivation under disruption of intestinal barrier function, inflammation, or strong immunosuppressive therapy, is well known to affect the prognosis of disease. However, the relationship between other HHVs and IBD remains unclear.
  • 753
  • 27 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Overview of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is defined by the presence of >5% of hepatic steatosis demonstrated, either radiographically or histologically, in the absence of significant alcohol consumption. NAFLD is the most common liver disease worldwide, with a continuously growing prevalence. The pathophysiology of the disease is complex and includes several mechanisms, with metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance playing a major role. It is crucial to diagnose NAFLD before it advances to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which can progress to cirrhosis, presented by its complications which include ascites, portal hypertension, bleeding varices and encephalopathy. Another important complication of NAFLD and cirrhosis is hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a cancer with increasing incidence and poor prognosis. Even with the growing prevalence of NAFLD, diagnosis via liver biopsies is unrealistic, considering the costs and complications. Noninvasive tests, including serum biomarkers and elastography, are cost-effective and convenient, thereby replacing liver biopsies in diagnosing and excluding liver fibrosis
  • 753
  • 23 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Microbiome-Immune Interactions in Ulcerative Colitis
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic autoimmune condition affecting the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. IBD includes Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), with UC characterized by inflammation of colonic mucosa and submucosa starting at the rectum and extending through the colon. The precise etiology of UC is unknown but is thought to involve a combination of environmental and genetic factors. Chief among these is the intestinal microbiome, which has been extensively studied both for its role in disease pathogenesis and possible treatment. In this review, we will discuss the microbial changes that have been described in UC, its interplay with host immune function, and evidence supporting its role as a potential therapeutic. We will also discuss parallels between UC, the microbiome and colitis-associated cancer (CAC).   
  • 752
  • 05 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Components of Post-Liver Transplantation Metabolic Syndrome
Survival rates after liver transplantation have increased dramatically over the past 20 years. Cardiovascular disease is the most common extra-hepatic cause of mortality in the long-term post liver transplant. This is intimately linked with both the higher pre-existing rates of metabolic syndrome in these patients as well as increased propensity to develop de novo metabolic syndrome post-transplant. This unfavorable metabolic profile that contributes to cardiovascular disease is multifactorial and largely preventable. 
  • 748
  • 06 Jun 2022
Topic Review
Cytotoxicity of Thiopurine Drugs in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
As the principal representatives of thiopurines, 6-mercaptopurine (6MP) and its prodrug azathioprine (AZA) are primary immunomodulating agents. They are used for example to manage inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), including ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD), chronic inflammatory disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. Thiopurines were used to treat CD in the late 1960s and they are currently applied in around 60% of IBD patients.
  • 747
  • 31 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Developments in the Diagnosis of Postoperative Crohn’s Disease
Crohn’s disease (CD) is a chronic progressive inflammatory bowel disease leading to bowel damage and disability. The diagnosing recurrence in postoperative Crohn's disease is discussed. 
  • 746
  • 06 Dec 2022
Topic Review
COVID-19 and Autoimmune Liver Diseases
SARS-CoV-2 infection can trigger autoimmune responses, either by a systemic hyperstimulation of the immune system or molecular mimicry (or both). COVID-19 can activate a hyperstimulation of the immune system or, through the exposure to foreign peptides homologous to human peptides (molecular mimicry), contribute to the development of autoantibodies and autoimmune liver diseases.
  • 746
  • 01 Jun 2022
Topic Review
ICIs for HCC treatment
Immunotherapies are promising approaches for treating hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) refractory to conventional therapies. However, a recent clinical trial of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) revealed that anti-tumor responses to ICIs are not satisfactory in HCC cases. Therefore, it is critical to identify molecular markers to predict outcome and develop novel combination therapies that enhance the efficacy of ICIs. Recently, several attempts have been made to classify HCC based on genome, epigenome, and transcriptome analyses. These molecular classifications are characterized by unique clinical and histological features of HCC, as well immune phenotype. For example, HCCs exhibiting gene expression patterns with proliferation signals and stem cell markers are associated with the enrichment of immune infiltrates in tumors, suggesting immune-proficient characteristics for this type of HCC. However, the presence of activating mutations in β-catenin represents a lack of immune infiltrates and refractoriness to ICIs. Although the precise mechanism that links the immunological phenotype with molecular features remains controversial, it is conceivable that alterations of oncogenic cellular signaling in cancer may lead to the expression of immune-regulatory molecules and result in the acquisition of specific immunological microenvironments for each case of HCC. Therefore, these molecular and immune characteristics should be considered for the management of HCC using immunotherapy.
  • 745
  • 02 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Pathogenesis and Oxidative Stress
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a challenging disease caused by multiple factors, which may partly explain why it still remains an orphan of adequate therapies. It highlights the interaction between oxidative stress (OS) and disturbed lipid metabolism. Several reactive oxygen species generators, including those produced in the gastrointestinal tract, contribute to the lipotoxic hepatic (and extrahepatic) damage by fatty acids and a great variety of their biologically active metabolites in a “multiple parallel-hit model”. This leads to inflammation and fibrogenesis and contributes to NAFLD progression. The alterations of the oxidant/antioxidant balance affect also metabolism-related organelles, leading to lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and endoplasmic reticulum stress. This OS-induced damage is at least partially counteracted by the physiological antioxidant response. Therefore, modulation of this defense system emerges as an interesting target to prevent NAFLD development and progression. For instance, probiotics, prebiotics, diet, and fecal microbiota transplantation represent new therapeutic approaches targeting the gut microbiota dysbiosis. The OS and its counter-regulation are under the influence of individual genetic and epigenetic factors as well.
  • 745
  • 14 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Gastric Polyps and Gastric Cancer
Gastric cancer is still an important disease causing many deaths worldwide, although there has been a marked reduction in prevalence during the last few decades. The decline in gastric cancer prevalence is due to a reduction in Helicobacter pylori infection which has occurred for at least 50 years. The most probable mechanism for the carcinogenic effect of H. pylori is hypergastrinemia since H. pylori infected individuals do not have increased risk of gastric cancer before the development of oxyntic atrophy. When atrophy has developed, the carcinogenic process continues independent of H. pylori. Autoimmune gastritis also induces oxyntic atrophy leading to marked hypergastrinemia and development of ECL cell neoplasia as well as adenocarcinoma. Similarly, long-term treatment with efficient inhibitors of acid secretion like the proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) predisposes to ECL cell neoplasia of a different degree of malignancy. Contrasting the colon where most cancers develop from polyps, most polyps in the stomach have a low malignant potential. Nevertheless, gastric polyps may also give rise to cancer and have some risk factors and mechanisms in common with gastric cancer.
  • 744
  • 22 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Pathogenesis of Choledochal Cyst
Choledochal cysts (CC) is characterized by extra- and/or intra-hepatic b\ile duct dilations. There are two main theories, “pancreaticobiliary maljunction” and “congenital stenosis of bile ducts” proposed for the pathogenesis of CC. Although family cases or CC associated with other anomalies have been reported, the molecular pathogenesis of CC is still poorly understood. Advances in transcriptomics and genomics analysis platforms have unveiled key expression signatures/genes/signaling pathways in the pathogenesis of human diseases including CC.
  • 743
  • 24 Jun 2022
Topic Review
Molecular Classification of Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal cancer, being mostly colorectal carcinomas (CRC), represents the third most diagnosed cancer and the second cause of cancer-related death. Molecular classification serves as indicator of targeted therapy
  • 742
  • 24 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Liver Injury and Macrophage Issue
The liver is an essential immunological organ due to its gatekeeper position to bypassing antigens from the intestinal blood flow and microbial products from the intestinal commensals. The tissue-resident liver macrophages, termed Kupffer cells, represent key phagocytes that closely interact with local parenchymal, interstitial and other immunological cells in the liver to maintain homeostasis and tolerance against harmless antigens. Upon liver injury, the pool of hepatic macrophages expands dramatically by infiltrating bone marrow-/monocyte-derived macrophages. The interplay of the injured microenvironment and altered macrophage pool skews the subsequent course of liver injuries. It may range from complete recovery to chronic inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis and eventually hepatocellular cancer.
  • 740
  • 29 Jul 2021
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