Randomized clinical trial: efficacy and tolerability of two different split dose of low-volume polyethylene glycol electrolytes for bowel preparation before colonoscopy in hospitalized children

Paediatric gastrointestinal endoscopy in the Asian-Pacific region: Recent advances in diagnostic and therapeutic techniques

There has been a rapid expansion in the knowledge of paediatric gastroenterology over the recent decade, with a fast-growing repertoire of diagnostic techniques and management strategies for a wide spectrum of childhood gastrointestinal (GI) diseases. Paediatric GI endoscopy is a core competency every paediatric gastroenterologist should possess, and represents one of the most common procedures performed in children for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Yet there remains a dearth of literature on the utility and outcomes of paediatric GI endoscopy in the Asia-Pacific region. Data on the diagnostic value of paediatric GI endoscopy would be an important aspect of discussion, with the emergence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and eosinophilic GI disease as increasingly common endoscopic diagnoses. Time-based trends in paediatric GI endoscopy do point towards more IBD and gastroesophageal reflux disease-related complications being diagnosed, with a declining incidence of GI bleeding. However, the real-world diagnostic value of endoscopy in Asia must be contextualised to the region-specific prevalence of paediatric GI diseases. Helicobacter pylori infection, particularly that of multidrug-resistant strains, remains a highly prevalent problem in specific regions. Paediatric functional GI disorders still account for the majority of childhood GI complaints in most centres, hence the diagnostic yield of endoscopy should be critically evaluated in the absence of alarm symptoms. GI therapeutic endoscopy is also occasionally required for children with ingested foreign bodies, intestinal polyposis or oesophageal strictures requiring dilation. Endoscopic haemostasis is a potentially life-saving skill in cases of massive GI bleeding typically from varices or peptic ulcers. Advanced endoscopic techniques such as capsule endoscopy and balloon-assisted enteroscopy have found traction, particularly in East Asian centres, as invaluable diagnostic and therapeutic tools in the management of IBD, obscure GI bleeding and intestinal polyposis. State of the art endoscopic diagnostics and therapeutics, including the use of artificial intelligence-aided endoscopy algorithms, real-time confocal laser endomicroscopy and peroral endoscopic myotomy, are expected to gain more utility in paediatrics. As paediatric gastroenterology matures as a subspecialty in Asia, it is essential current paediatric endoscopists and future trainees adhere to minimum practice standards, and keep abreast of the evolving trends in the diagnostic and therapeutic value of endoscopy. This review discusses the available published literature on the utility of paediatric GI endoscopy in Asia Pacific, with the relevant clinical outcomes.

A Systematic Review of Current Applications of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in Horses

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is a technique involving transferring fecal matter from a healthy donor to a recipient, with the goal of reinstating a healthy microbiome in the recipient's gut. FMT has been used in horses to manage various gastrointestinal disorders, such as colitis and diarrhea. To evaluate the current literature on the use of FMT in horses, including its efficacy, safety, and potential applications, the authors conducted an extensive search of several databases, including PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, published up to 11 January 2023. The authors identified seven studies that met their inclusion criteria, all of which investigated the FMT application as a treatment for gastrointestinal disorders such as colitis and diarrhea. The authors demonstrated that FMT was generally effective in treating these conditions. However, the authors noted that the quality of the studies was generally suboptimal and characterized by small sample sizes and a lack of control groups. The authors concluded that FMT is a promising treatment option for certain gastrointestinal disorders in horses. Nevertheless, more research is required to determine the optimal donor selection, dosing, and administration protocols, as well as the long-term safety and efficacy of FMT in horses.

Effect of Compound Polyethylene Glycol Electrolyte Powder on the Quality of Gastrobowel Preparation before Enteroscopy Intervention

Objective

To study the effect of compound polyethylene glycol electrolyte powder (PGEP) on the quality of gastrobowel preparation before enteroscopy intervention.

Methods

From March 2021 to January 2022, among the patients who needed enteroscopy in our hospital, 280 patients who volunteered for this study were randomly selected as the research objects. All the subjects were randomly divided into the control group (140 cases) and the observation group (140 cases). Both groups received routine treatment before enteroscopy intervention. On this basis, patients in the control group were given 9 g of senna every day before operation, and 250 ml of 20% mannitol and 2500 ml of water were taken orally from 9:00 am to 11:00 am on the day of examination. Patients in the observation group took PGEP orally from 9:00 am to 11:00 am. The effective rate of bowel cleaning, the frequency of defecation and duration of diarrhea, the levels of blood electrolyte indexes such as Na+, K+, and Cl- before and after the intervention, and the incidence of adverse reactions were compared between the two groups.

Results

The effective rate of bowel cleaning in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). The frequency of defecation and duration of diarrhea in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the levels of blood electrolyte indexes in the observation group after the intervention were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The incidence of adverse reactions in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Using PGEP for gastrobowel preparation before enteroscopy intervention can achieve high bowel cleaning efficiency, short bowel preparation time, and low incidence of adverse reactions, which does not affect the water-electrolyte balance of patients, and the psychological state of patients before enteroscopy intervention is more stable. This program is worthy of clinical promotion.

Canine Fecal Microbiota Transplantation: Current Application and Possible Mechanisms

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is an emerging therapeutic option for a variety of diseases, and is characterized as the transfer of fecal microorganisms from a healthy donor into the intestinal tract of a diseased recipient. In human clinics, FMT has been used for treating diseases for decades, with promising results. In recent years, veterinary specialists adapted FMT in canine patients; however, compared to humans, canine FMT is more inclined towards research purposes than practical applications in most cases, due to safety concerns. Therefore, in order to facilitate the application of fecal transplant therapy in dogs, in this paper, we review recent applications of FMT in canine clinical treatments, as well as possible mechanisms that are involved in the process of the therapeutic effect of FMT. More research is needed to explore more effective and safer approaches for conducting FMT in dogs.