Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCA) represents a prevalent, highly aggressive malignancy of the digestive tract. Notably, both its proliferation and metastatic dissemination are facilitated by the tumor microenvironment (TME). One intriguing option for non-invasive biomarkers has been found to be miRNA. MicroRNA-21-5P is an essential regulator of biological processes such as the growth, migration, invasion, and metastasis of some malignancies. The prediction software successfully identified CNTFR as the putative target gene for miR-21-5P. To confirm this interaction, a luciferase reporter gene test was conducted to assess the binding of miR-21-5P to CNTFR. By using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), in comparison to normally adjacent tissues, the tumor tissues of patients with ESCA exhibited elevated relative expression amounts of miR-21-5P and decreased relative expression amounts of CNTFR. Furthermore, miR-21-5P mimics were able to drastically lower the CNTFR gene level, as demonstrated by RT-qPCR and western blot. On the other hand, esophageal cancer cells' expression of CNTFR can be markedly elevated by miR-21-5P inhibitors. Within the context of this research, the association between miR-21-5p and CNTFR was established through bioinformatics, luciferase reporter gene, CCK-8, EdU, transwell, flow cytometry, qRT-PCR, and WB analysis. In summary, our work identifies the miR-21-5p suppresses CNTFR expression to promote ESCA cell proliferation, invasion, and migration; these findings highlight the miR-21-5p/CNTFR axis as a promising candidate for non-invasive diagnostic biomarker development and targeted therapeutic strategy optimization in ESCA.

Sulfotransferase family 1E member 1 (SULT1E1) is a key estrogen-metabolizing enzyme whose dysregulation has been implicated in several hormone-related malignancies. However, its expression pattern, biological function, and clinical significance in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain poorly understood.

Cisplatin plus 5-fluorouracil (CF) remains a cornerstone of treatment for locally-advanced esophageal cancer (EC). However, resistance to CF-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) remains a major clinical challenge. Clarifying whether resistance-associated molecular features are induced by treatment or already present before therapy is crucial for improving patient stratification.

Triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and its composite parameters have been proposed as surrogate indicators of insulin resistance. However, their association with metabolic dysfunction–associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) among older adults living at moderate altitude remains insufficiently examined. The present study aims to investigate the association between TyG-related indices and MAFLD in this population and to identify the optimal screening indicator.

Multimodal profiling of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patient tissue and blood samples has revealed the disease spectrum in unprecedented detail, and cellular and molecular correlates of disease severity and outcome in IBD have been elaborated. Incorporating these in the clinical setting would offer a unique opportunity to increase the granularity of current clinical measures and to better assess treatment response. Remission and healing at a cellular/molecular level are also likely to have predictive value for long-term outcomes. Here, we outline a path forward to implementing the most promising molecular disease descriptors as future clinical treatment targets in IBD. We focus on the concept of cellular/molecular measures of inflammation, remission, healing, response to therapy, and target pathway engagement. Monitoring mode-of-action-specific pharmacodynamic modules in the context of disease-related resolution pathways will guide assessment of novel and existing therapies. Artificial intelligence-assisted tools will be key to enabling this development, improving reproducibility, limiting costs, and delivering fast detection.

Genetic susceptibility to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been widely studied, whereas the genetic contribution to disease progression remains relatively underinvestigated. In a Danish nationwide cohort, we aimed to explore if genetic susceptibility to IBD associated with disease severity.

Angiofibroma of soft tissue (AFST) is a rare benign mesenchymal tumor, typically occurring in the deep soft tissues of the extremities. Histologically, it is characterized by bland spindle cells and an abundant branching vasculature. Owing to the absence of specific markers, this lesion is frequently misdiagnosed as other spindle cell neoplasms, leading to inappropriate clinical management. Primary AFST arising in the small intestine has not been formally reported to date. This report presents a case of primary small intestinal AFST manifesting initially as intussusception and intestinal obstruction.

To systematically evaluate the safety and efficacy of 2 L polyethylene glycol (PEG) versus 3 L PEG in bowel preparation for colonoscopy, and to assess whether 2 L PEG can serve as a safe and effective standard regimen.

Oxaliplatin (OXA) has become a key chemotherapeutic agent in the treatment of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is frequently upregulated in OXA-treated tumors, yet its role in regulating OXA sensitivity in ESCC remains unclear. This study suggests that TLR4 acts as a critical regulator of OXA responsiveness through dual modulation of NF-κB p65-driven inflammation and HIF-1α/GLUT1-mediated glycolysis.

The evidence considering the potential protective impact of statins on the mortality rate caused by colorectal cancer (CRC) is controversial. This study aimed to systematically assess the effect of statins on the survival rate of CRC patients.

Refractory reflux-like symptoms (rRLS) are frequently encountered in clinical practice and often reflect heterogeneous underlying mechanisms beyond acid exposure alone. Esophageal mucosal impedance has emerged as a marker of mucosal integrity, yet its role in phenotyping rRLS remains incompletely defined.

Genetic admixture of United States Hispanic individuals provides a unique opportunity to examine ancestral origins of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) risk. In ∼7.3K Hispanic participants (1660 IBD cases; 5614 controls), we examined ancestral heterogeneity of IBD clinical phenotypes and sought to identify IBD risk loci that displayed heterogeneity of effect or were ancestry-specific.

Opioid dependence, particularly morphine, has been linked to gut microbiota dysbiosis and systemic inflammation, yet the interplay between gut microbial alterations and hepatic inflammatory responses remains poorly understood.

Metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), formerly known as NAFLD, is a growing global public health concern, affecting 30–40% of the population. Its epidemiology in sub-Saharan Africa, including Ethiopia, is still under-investigated. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of MASLD and its associated factors among individuals with cardio metabolic risk factors.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), mainly represented by Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, have a multifactorial etiology and a growing incidence in developing countries. In Brazil, studies on their occurrence and relationship with social conditions remain scarce, which reinforces the importance of updated epidemiological analyses.

Metabolic rewiring plays a crucial role in the energy metabolism of hepatocytes during steatosis. However, the precise alterations in energy metabolism remain unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of lipid exposure on cellular energy metabolism and gene expression in a cellular model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

The quality of bowel preparation significantly affects the outcome of colonoscopy. Adequate bowel cleansing improves diagnostic accuracy while reducing the need for repeat procedures. Currently, evidence regarding factors associated with inadequate bowel preparation in outpatients and inpatients remains limited. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the quality of bowel preparation between outpatients and inpatients undergoing colonoscopy and to identify risk factors for inadequate bowel preparation.

Colonoscopy is a key diagnostic and therapeutic tool for colorectal diseases, including cancer, polyps, and bleeding disorders. In low-resource settings such as the Gaza Strip, challenges in access to healthcare may influence patient characteristics, indications, and outcomes of colonoscopy. Understanding these patterns is critical to improving diagnostic services and patient care.

Lower gastrointestinal bleeding is a prevalent issue in the general population, particularly among older adults. Identifying risk factors is essential for improving healthcare outcomes. This study seeks to evaluate the clinical outcomes related to the use of medications recognized as risk factors, as well as the influence of age, in patients experiencing lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage. The primary endpoint of the study is to examine the effect of age and medication use on 30-day mortality, while the secondary endpoint was to investigate the need for endoscopic treatment, amount of transfusion, need for surgery-embolization, and length of hospital stay.

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) has evolved from a diagnostic method for staging tumors and diagnostic tissue acquisition to a technology that has revolutionized minimally invasive endoscopic care across the disease spectrum. Recent years have witnessed a rapid advance in the number and types of procedures that are performed and in the devices that are designed to deliver EUS-guided interventions. These advances offer safer, less-invasive alternatives to traditional therapies and define disruptive technologies that are impacting patient care. The purpose of this review is to discuss the state of the art in therapeutic EUS procedures, focusing on current advances that are transforming endoscopic patient care.