Background/Aims: Evidence suggests that intestinal microbiota, along with factors such as diet and host genetics, contributes to obesity, metabolic dysfunction and diabetes. Therefore, we examined the relationship between gut microbiota, blood metabolic markers, dietary habits and fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: Dietary habits, blood and fecal samples from 59 T2DM patients were recruited, and the association of intestinal microbiota with metabolic markers and dietary habits was analyzed. Results: Total energy intake was 1,692 ± 380 kcal/day. Carbohydrate, fat and protein intakes were 57.5 ± 5.2, 23.2 ± 5.3 and 13.2 ± 2.2%, respectively. Dietary habits - high carbohydrate, fat, and protein intake - were associated with increased counts of Clostridium clusters IV and XI and decreased counts of Bifidobacterium spp., order Lactobacillales and Clostridium cluster IV. Protein intake was negatively correlated with fecal acetate and total SCFAs. Total SCFAs, propionate and acetate were negatively correlated with blood insulin levels and the homeostasis model of insulin resistance. Conclusion: Diets low in protein and carbohydrates favor a healthy gut microbiome and improve glucose tolerance in T2DM patients, although further elucidation of the role of the gut microbiome could lead to better therapies and prophylaxes.

Background & Aims: With improved technology, the size of artificial ulcers after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has increased. The aim of our study was to examine the risk factors for delayed gastric ulcer healing after ESD, including the possible benefit of potassium-competitive acid blocker (P-CAB) treatment.Methods: The primary outcome was the rate of healing of the artificial ulcers induced by ESD at 8 weeks post intervention. Design: retrospective case series. Setting: Aichi Medical University Hospital. Patients: patients who underwent ESD for gastric neoplasm, between April 2015 and March 2017. Intervention: ESD, with a follow-up endoscopic examination at 8 weeks post-ESD. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify the independent risk factors for delayed healing.Results: Of the 73 gastric neoplasms included in the analysis, delayed ulcer healing was identified in 21.9%. Dyslipidemia (p=0.04), ESD procedure time (p=0.003) and artificial ulcer size (p<0.001) were identified as risk factors for delayed healing, with location in the lower third of the stomach [Odds ratio (OR) 6.76; p=0.016] and artificial ulcer size (OR, 1.18; p=0.024) retained as independent risk factors. A cut-off ulcer size of 854 mm2 was predictive of delayed healing, with a sensitivity of 29.8% and specificity of 87.5%. For large ulcers, the rate of healing of 70% with vonoprazan was higher than the rate of 47.6% with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), although this difference was not significant.Conclusion: For artificial ulcers after ESD with a resection diameter >35 mm, it might be desirable to use PPIs for >8 weeks or P-CAB.Abbreviations: EGC: early gastric cancers; EMR: endoscopic mucosal resection; ESD: endoscopic submucosal dissection; H. pylori: Helicobacter pylori; H2RA: H2-receptor antagonist: PRP: platelet rich plasma; PGA: polyglycolic acid; P-CAB: potassium-competitive acid blocker; PPI: proton pump inhibitor.

Background: Recent studies have highlighted the relationship between gut microbiota and bowel movements. Objective: We aimed to evaluate transglucosidase treatment efficacy for bowel movements in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and to clarify the relationship between bowel movements, dietary habits, gut microbiota and fecal short-chain fatty acids. Methods: In this randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 66 patients received placebo or transglucosidase (300 or 900 mg/day) orally, for 12 weeks. Fecal bacterial communities and short-chain fatty acids were analyzed before and after the treatment. Results: Transglucosidase treatment significantly (p < 0.05) affected fecal microbiota (Prevotella spp., Bacteroides spp., Bifidobacterium spp., and Clostridium subcluster XIVa) and fecal short-chain fatty acid (acetate, valerate, succinate and lactate) content. Clostridium cluster IV, Clostridium subcluster XIVa, Clostridium cluster XVIII and fecal pH increased significantly and order Lactobacillales decreased in patients with bowel movement disorder compared with controls. Transglucosidase treatment significantly improved bowel movements compared with placebo treatment (46.2%, 95% confidence interval: 19.2-74.9% vs. 0%, 95% confidence interval: 0-33.6%, p < 0.05). This effect was not observed in patients without bowel movement disorder. Conclusion: Patients with bowel movement disorder suffer from gut dysbiosis. Transglucosidase treatment alleviates bowel movement disorder symptoms in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients by increasing fecal acetate level.

Esophageal carcinosarcoma is a rare malignant neoplasm consisting of both carcinomatous and sarcomatous components. It is generally treated by surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy according to the protocols used for other esophageal cancers. However, the treatment of esophageal carcinosarcoma by radiotherapy alone before surgery has not been previously described. We report a patient with a rapidly growing esophageal carcinosarcoma that was efficiently reduced by neoadjuvant radiotherapy alone. A previously healthy 69-year-old man was admitted with dysphagia. Initial esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) revealed a small nodular polypoid lesion of about 10 mm in the middle esophagus. A second EGD 1 month later showed that the tumor had expanded into a huge mass. A biopsy specimen revealed that the tumor comprised squamous cell carcinoma with spindle cell components, and the tumor was diagnosed as carcinosarcoma which was diagnosed as stage I (T1bN0M0). Due to renal dysfunction, the patient was treated with neoadjuvant radiotherapy (40 Gy) without chemotherapy. A third EGD 1 month later revealed remarkable tumor reduction. He then underwent total esophagectomy with regional lymph node dissection (pStage 0, pT1aN0M0). After surgical operation, the patient was followed up without adjuvant therapy. Whole body computed tomography revealed lung metastasis 14 months after surgery, and the patient died 2 months later. The neoadjuvant radiotherapy for esophageal carcinosarcoma was considered to have contributed to the subsequent surgery and his prolonged survival time. Thus, radiotherapy alone might be a suitable neoadjuvant therapy for esophageal carcinosarcomas.

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