Chromatin architecture governs cell lineages by regulating the specific gene expression; however, its role in the diversity of cancer development remains unknown. Among pancreatic cancers, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) with an associated invasive carcinoma (IPMNinv) arise from 2 distinct precursors, and their fundamental differences remain obscure. Here, we aimed to assess the difference of chromatin architecture regulating the transcriptional signatures or biological features in pancreatic cancers.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by severe metabolic stress due to fibrosis and poor vascularization. BZW1 is an eIF5-mimic protein involved in tumorigenesis and progression. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of BZW1 in metabolic stress resistance in PDAC.

Diagnostic tests for defecatory disorders (DDs) asynchronously measure anorectal pressures and evacuation and show limited agreement; thus, abdominopelvic-rectoanal coordination in normal defecation and DDs is poorly characterized. We aimed to investigate anorectal pressures, anorectal and abdominal motion, and evacuation simultaneously in healthy and constipated women.

There is a major unmet need to assess the prognostic impact of antifibrotics in clinical trials because of the slow rate of liver fibrosis progression. We aimed to develop a surrogate biomarker to predict future fibrosis progression.

Several genetic and environmental factors increase gastric cancer (GC) risk, with Helicobacter pylori being the main environmental agent. GC is thought to emerge through a sequence of morphological changes that have been elucidated on the molecular level. New technologies have shed light onto pathways that are altered in GC, involving mutational and epigenetic changes and altered signaling pathways. Using various new model systems and innovative approaches, the relevance of such alterations for the emergence and progression of GC has been validated. Here, we highlight the key strategies and the resulting achievements. A major step is the characterization of epithelial stem cell behavior in the healthy stomach. These data, obtained through new reporter mouse lines and lineage tracing, enabled insights into the processes that control cellular proliferation, self-renewal, and differentiation of gastric stem cells. It has become evident that these cells and pathways are often deregulated in carcinogenesis. Second, insights into how H pylori colonizes gastric glands, directly interacts with stem cells, and alters cellular and genomic integrity, as well as the characterization of tissue responses to infection, provide a comprehensive picture of how this bacterium contributes to gastric carcinogenesis. Third, the development of stem cell- and tissue-specific reporter mice have driven our understanding of the signals and mutations that promote different types of GC and now also enable the study of more advanced, metastasized stages. Finally, organoids from human tissue have allowed insights into gastric carcinogenesis by validating mutational and signaling alterations in human primary cells and opening a route to predicting responses to personalized treatment.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common disorder characterized by troublesome symptoms (classically, heartburn and regurgitation). Repeated or prolonged exposure to gastric contents may cause irritation and inflammation of the esophageal mucosa. RefluG™ is a medical device conceived to form a physical barrier on contact with gastric contents, neutralize stomach acid excess, and elicit a mucoprotective effect. The aim of the current study was to investigate the mucoprotective potential of RefluG™ (IHS, Biofarma Group, Lissone, Italy) in a simulated reflux model.

Non-coeliac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) is still a poorly defined clinical condition. This review aims to describe the clinical features of subjects with a symptomatic response to gluten intake, and to estimate the prevalence of NCGS.

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is an inflammatory subtype of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and recent non-invasive test, MACK-3, demonstrated good diagnostic characteristics for fibrosis in several studies. The aim of our study was to assess the liver state using the non-invasive MACK-3 Test, and its link with liver fibrosis stage, inflammatory activity, steatosis, and metabolic markers in NAFLD patients with hypertension (HT).

The management of gastrointestinal (GI) cancers is associated with high health care spending. We estimated trends in United States (US) health care spending for patients with GI cancers between 1996 and 2016 and developed projections to 2030.

Acinar to ductal metaplasia is the prerequisite for the initiation of Kras-driven pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), and candidate genes regulating this process are emerging from genome-wide association studies. The adaptor protein p130Cas emerged as a potential PDAC susceptibility gene and a Kras-synthetic lethal interactor in pancreatic cell lines; however, its role in PDAC development has remained largely unknown.

Incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) in younger adults is increasing in many countries. Given the established association of body mass index (BMI) with CRC risk and the increasing obesity prevalence among younger generations, we aimed to evaluate the association of BMI at different ages during early adulthood with early-onset CRC.

The sucrase-isomaltase (SI) c.273_274delAG loss-of-function variant is common in Arctic populations and causes congenital sucrase-isomaltase deficiency, which is an inability to break down and absorb sucrose and isomaltose. Children with this condition experience gastrointestinal symptoms when dietary sucrose is introduced. We aimed to describe the health of adults with sucrase-isomaltase deficiency.