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Topic Review
Transarterial Chemoembolization for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver malignancy. It is principally associated with liver cirrhosis and chronic liver disease. The major risk factors for the development of HCC include viral infections (HBV, HCV), alcoholic liver disease (ALD,) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The optimal treatment choice is dictated by multiple variables such as tumor burden, liver function, and patient’s health status. Surgical resection, transplantation, ablation, transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), and systemic therapy are potentially useful treatment strategies. TACE is considered the first-line treatment for patients with intermediate stage HCC. 
  • 1.2K
  • 24 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
The conventional approach to IBD aims to induce and maintain clinical remission free of corticosteroids, thus minimizing the impact on quality of life.(1) Currently, corticosteroids, sulfasalazine, mesalamine (5-ASA), and immunomodulators are treatment options for patients with IBD. Studies indicate that a substantial proportion of patients do not fully respond to conventional treatment for IBD or that its efficacy wanes over time.(2) Corticosteroid resistance/refractoriness rates range from 8.9% to 25% in individuals with IBD.(3, 4) Identifying safe and effective therapeutic agents for complementary therapy remains an unmet need for these patients. Curcumin also acts by inhibiting the activity of pro-inflammatory proteins such as activated protein-1, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, signal translators, and transcription activators, as well as the expression of b-catenin, cyclooxygenase 2, 5-lipoxygenase, and inducible nitric oxide synthase isoform, which play a key role in inflammation.(5) In addition, it acts by blocking the binding between TNF-α and its receptor, preventing the perpetuation of inflammation caused by this cytokine.(6) Curcumin's excellent anti-inflammatory profile makes it a promising therapeutic agent in the treatment of IBD. 
  • 1.2K
  • 05 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Functional Dyspepsia
Functional dyspepsia is a gastrointestinal disorder characterized by postprandial fullness, early satiation, epigastric pain, and epigastric burning. The pathophysiology of the disease is not fully elucidated and there is no permanent cure, although some therapies (drugs or herbal remedies) try to reduce the symptoms.
  • 1.2K
  • 03 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Acacia Catechu Willd. for CRC
The research for innovative treatments against colon adenocarcinomas is still a great challenge. Acacia catechu Willd. heartwood extract (AC) has health-promoting qualities, especially at gastrointestinal level. This study characterized AC for its catechins content and investigates the apoptotic-enhancing effect in human colorectal adenocarcinoma HT-29 cells, along with its ability to spare healthy tissue. Results showed that AC  induced an increase in apoptotic cells and ROS formation, reduction in mitochondria membrane potential as well as increase in caspase-9 and -3 activity. AC did not affect rat ileum and colon rings viability and functionality, suggesting its safe profile toward healthy tissue. The present findings outline the potential of AC for colon cancer treatment.
  • 1.2K
  • 14 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Curcumin in Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is one of the inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). It is a chronic autoimmune inflammation of unclear etiology affecting the colon and rectum, characterized by unpredictable exacerbation and remission phases. Conventional treatment options for UC include mesalamine, glucocorticoids, immunosuppressants, and biologics. The management of UC is challenging, and other therapeutic options are constantly being sought. More attention is being paid to curcumin, a main active polyphenol found in the turmeric root, which has numerous beneficial effects in the human body, including anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, and antioxidative properties targeting several cellular pathways and making an impact on intestinal microbiota.
  • 1.2K
  • 13 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Alcohol Consumption and Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis is a common inflammatory disorder of the pancreas, associated with high mortality and healthcare burdens worldwide. It mainly consists of two forms: acute pancreatitis (AP) and chronic pancreatitis (CP). Alcohol exposure is a known etiological factor for both AP and CP.
  • 1.2K
  • 19 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Autoimmune Atrophic Gastritis
Autoimmune atrophic gastritis is an organ-specific immune-mediated condition characterized by atrophy of the oxyntic mucosa. Autoimmune atrophic gastritis (AIG) is characterized by a progressive loss of acid-secreting parietal cells leading to hypo-achlorhydria. Due to this peculiar intra-gastric environment, gastric microbiota composition in individuals with autoimmune atrophic gastritis was first supposed and then recently reported to be different from subjects with a normal acidic healthy stomach. Recent data confirm the prominent role of Helicobacter pylori as the main bacterium responsible for gastric disease and long-term complications. However, other bacteria than Helicobacter pylori, for example, Streptococci, were found in subjects who developed gastric cancer and in subjects at risk of this fearful complication, as well as those with autoimmune gastritis. Gastric microbiota composition is challenging to study due to the acidic gastric environment, the difficulty of obtaining representative samples of the entire gastric microbiota, and the possible contamination by oral or throat microorganisms, which can potentially lead to the distortion of the original gastric microbial composition, but innovative molecular approaches based on the analysis of the hyper-variable region of the 16S rRNA gene have been developed, permitting us to obtain an overall microbial composition view of the RNA gene that is present only in prokaryotic cells. 
  • 1.2K
  • 08 Dec 2020
Topic Review
The Role of Immune Cells in Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disease with an underlying excessive immune response directed against resident microbiota and/or dietary antigens. The condition is diagnosed mostly between the ages of 20 to 40, however it can occur at every age. Characteristic of UC are alternating periods of clinical relapse and remission.
  • 1.2K
  • 29 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Adrenomedullin
Adrenomedullin (AM) is a bioactive peptide with various physiological functions, including vasodilation, angiogenesis, anti-inflammation, organ protection, and tissue repair.
  • 1.2K
  • 12 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Intestinal Barrier Dysfunction in Gut Dysbiosis and Diseases
The intestinal mucosal barrier, also referred to as intestinal barrier, is widely recognized as a critical player in gut homeostasis maintenance as it ensures the complex crosstalk between gut microbes (both commensals and pathogens) and the host immune system. Highly specialized epithelial cells constantly cope with several protective and harmful agents to maintain the multiple physiological functions of the barrier as well as its integrity. However, both genetic defects and environmental factors can break such equilibrium, thus promoting gut dysbiosis, dysregulated immune-inflammatory responses, and even the development of chronic pathological conditions.
  • 1.2K
  • 17 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Focal Nodular Hyperplasia-like Regenerative Nodules
Budd–Chiari syndrome (BCS) is a rare clinical entity characterized by hepatic venous outflow obstruction, resulting in liver congestion and subsequent chronic parenchymal damage. This condition often leads to the development of focal liver lesions, including benign focal nodular hyperplasia-like regenerative nodules, hepatocellular carcinoma, and perfusion-related pseudo-lesions. Computed tomography, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance are the commonly employed imaging modalities for the follow-up of BCS patients and for the detection and characterization of new-onset lesions. The accurate differentiation between benign and malignant nodules is crucial for optimal patient management and treatment planning. 
  • 1.2K
  • 19 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Related Pancreatitis
The indications for immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have expanded to include carcinomas of various organs. ICIs include drugs that target programmed cell death-1 (PD-1), programmed cell death ligand 1 (PDL-1), and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4). The indications for these drugs have been expanded to include many types of cancer, as efficacies have been reported for malignant melanoma and lung, kidney, head and neck, stomach, liver, ovarian, and pancreatic cancers .
  • 1.2K
  • 05 May 2022
Topic Review
Pathophysiology of NAFLD
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), including nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), is a growing cause of liver cirrhosis and liver cancer worldwide because of the global increases in obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes mellitus.
  • 1.2K
  • 27 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Microbial Metabolites in Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading cancers that cause cancer-related deaths worldwide. The gut microbiota has been proved to show relevance with colorectal tumorigenesis through microbial metabolites. By decomposing various dietary residues in the intestinal tract, gut microbiota harvest energy and produce a variety of metabolites to affect the host physiology. However, some of these metabolites are oncogenic factors for CRC.
  • 1.1K
  • 27 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Cholesterol-to-Coprostanol Conversion
Cholesterol (examples of synonyms 3β-hydroxy-5-cholestene or 5-cholesten-3β-ol) in the intestine may be either absorbed or undergo microbial conversion to different metabolites, of which non-absorbable coprostanol (examples of synonyms 5β-cholestanol or 5β-cholestan-3β-ol) is the end and predominant product found in feces. Note that multiple synonyms can be employed for a same steroid molecule, which does not help the reader to find his way. Cholesterol is a 27-carbon molecule with a structure formed by a polycyclic ring skeleton with a trans A/B ring junction, a β-hydroxyl group in the equatorial position at C3 (i.e., in plane of the molecule), a double bond at C5 (Δ5double bond), two methyl groups at C10 and C13, and a side chain at C17 (A).
  • 1.1K
  • 26 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Gastric Intestinal Metaplasia
Gastric cancer (GC) remains one of the most common causes of mortality worldwide. Intestinal metaplasia (IM) is one of the preneoplastic gastric lesions and is considered an essential predisposing factor in GC development. Here we present a review of recent most relevant papers to summarize major findings on the molecular alterations in gastric IM. The latest progress in novel diagnostic methods allows scientists to identify various types of molecular alterations in IM, such as polymorphisms in various genes, changes in the expression of micro-RNAs and long noncoding RNAs, and altered microbiome profiles. The results have shown that some of these alterations have strong associations with IM and a potential to be used for screening, treatment, and prognostic purposes; however, one of the most important limiting factors is the inhomogeneity of the studies. Therefore, further large-scale studies and clinical trials with standardized methods designed by multicenter consortiums are needed. As of today, various molecular alterations in IM could become a part of personalized medicine in the near future, which would help us deliver a personalized approach for each patient and identify those at risk of progression to GC.
  • 1.1K
  • 24 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Helicobacter pylori in Gastric Cancer
The H. pyloriinfection generates an inflammatory reaction in the stomach, resulting in the loss of parietal cells and an elevation in gastric pH. H. pylorimay contribute to microbial dysbiosis, and effective eradication can restore the gut microbiota to a state comparable to that of uninfected people.
  • 1.1K
  • 02 Sep 2021
Topic Review
PD-L1
The gastrointestinal (GI) mucosa is among the most complex systems in the body. It has a diverse commensal microbiome challenged continuously by food and microbial components while delivering essential nutrients and defending against pathogens. For these reasons, regulatory cells and receptors are likely to play a central role in maintaining the gut mucosal homeostasis. Recent lessons from cancer immunotherapy point out the critical role of the B7 negative co-stimulator PD-L1 in mucosal homeostasis. In this entry, we summarize the current knowledge supporting the critical role of PD-L1 in gastrointestinal mucosal tolerance and how abnormalities in its expression and signaling contribute to gut inflammation and cancers. Abnormal expression of PD-L1 and/or the PD-1/PD-L1 signaling pathways have been observed in the pathology of the GI tract. We also discuss the current gap in our knowledge with regards to PD-L1 signaling in the GI tract under homeostasis and pathology. Finally, we summarize the current understanding of how this pathway is currently targeted to develop novel therapeutic approaches.
  • 1.1K
  • 22 Dec 2020
Topic Review
Esophageal Vagal afferent C-fibers' Functions
Heartburn and non-cardiac chest pain are the predominant symptoms in many esophageal disorders, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), non-erosive reflux disease (NERD), functional heartburn and chest pain, and eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). At present, neuronal mechanisms underlying the process of interoceptive signals in the esophagus are still less clear. Noxious stimuli can activate a subpopulation of primary afferent neurons at their nerve terminals in the esophagus. The evoked action potentials are transmitted through both the spinal and vagal pathways to their central terminals, which synapse with the neurons in the central nervous system to induce esophageal nociception. Over the last few decades, progress has been made in our understanding on the peripheral and central neuronal mechanisms of esophageal nociception. In this review, we focus on the roles of capsaicin-sensitive vagal primary afferent nodose and jugular C-fiber neurons in processing nociceptive signals in the esophagus. We briefly compare their distinctive phenotypic features and functional responses to mechanical and chemical stimulations in the esophagus. Then, we summarize activation and/or sensitization effects of acid, inflammatory cells (eosinophils and mast cells), and mediators (ATP, 5-HT, bradykinin, adenosine, S1P) on these two nociceptive C-fiber subtypes. Lastly, we discuss the potential roles of capsaicin-sensitive esophageal afferent nerves in processing esophageal sensation and nociception. A better knowledge of the mechanism of nociceptive signal processes in primary afferent nerves in the esophagus will help to develop novel treatment approaches to relieve esophageal nociceptive symptoms, especially those that are refractory to proton pump inhibitors.
  • 1.1K
  • 16 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Macrophages as Key Players in Intestinal Fibrogenesis
Intestinal fibrosis is a common complication in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) without specific treatment. Macrophages are the key actors in inflammatory responses and the wound healing process. By their exceptional ability to integrate diverse stimuli in their surrounding environment, macrophages display a multitude of phenotypes to underpin a broad spectrum of functions, from the initiation to the resolution of inflammation following injury. The hypothesis that distinct macrophage subtypes could be involved in fibrogenesis and wound healing is emerging and could open up new therapeutic perspectives in the treatment of intestinal fibrosis. 
  • 1.1K
  • 11 Mar 2022
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