Oxidative Stress and Neural Dysfunction in Gastrointestinal Diseases: Can Stem Cells Offer a Solution?

Molecular mechanisms of enteric neuropathies in high-fat diet feeding and diabetes

BACKGROUND

Obesity and diabetes are associated with altered gastrointestinal function and with the development of abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, and constipation among other symptoms. The enteric nervous system (ENS) regulates gastrointestinal motility. Enteric neuropathies defined as damage or loss of enteric neurons can lead to motility disorders.

PURPOSE

Here, we review the molecular mechanisms that drive enteric neurodegeneration in diabetes and obesity, including signaling pathways leading to neuronal cell death, oxidative stress, and microbiota alteration. We also highlight potential approaches to treat enteric neuropathies including antioxidant therapy to prevent oxidative stress-induced damage and the use of stem cells.

Prognostic factors associated with gastrointestinal dysfunction after gastrointestinal tumor surgery: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Explore the risk factors of gastrointestinal dysfunction after gastrointestinal tumor surgery and to provide evidence for the prevention and intervention of gastrointestinal dysfunction in patients with gastrointestinal tumor surgery.

AIM

To investigate the potential risk factors for gastrointestinal dysfunction following gastrointestinal tumor surgery and to present information supporting the prevention and management of gastrointestinal dysfunction in surgery patients.

METHODS

Systematically searched the relevant literature from PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, CNKI, China Biomedical Database, Wanfang Database, and Weipu Chinese Journal Database self-established until October 1, 2022. Review Manager 5.3 software was used for meta-analysis after two researchers independently screened literature, extracted data, and evaluated the risk of bias in the included studies.

RESULTS

A total of 23 pieces of literature were included, the quality of which was medium or above, and the total sample size was 43878. The results of meta-analysis showed that the patients were male (OR = 1.58, 95%CI: 1.25-2.01, P = 0.002) and ≥ 60 years old (OR = 2.60, 95%CI: 1.76-2.87, P < 0.001), physical index ≥ 25.3 kg/m2 (OR = 1.6, 95%CI: 1.00-1. 12, P = 0.040), smoking history (OR = 1.89, 95%CI: 1.31-2.73, P < 0.001), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR = 1.49, 95%CI: 1.22-1.83, P < 0.001), enterostomy (OR = 1.47, 95%CI: 1.26-1.70, P < 0.001), history of abdominal surgery (OR = 2.90, 95%CI: 1.67-5.03, P < 0.001), surgical site (OR = 1.2, 95%CI: 1.40-2.62, P < 0.001), operation method (OR = 1.68, 95%CI: 1.08-2.62, P = 0.020), operation duration (OR = 2.65, 95%CI: 1.92-3.67, P < 0.001), abdominal adhesion grade (OR = 2.52, 95%CI: 1.90-3.56, P < 0.001), postoperative opioid history (OR = 5.35, 95%CI: 3.29-8.71, P < 0.001), tumor TNM staging (OR = 2.58, 95%CI: 1.84-3.62, P < 0.001), postoperative blood transfusion (OR = 2.92, 95%CI: 0.88-9.73, P = 0.010) is a risk factor for postoperative gastrointestinal dysfunction in patients with gastrointestinal tumors.

CONCLUSION

There are many factors affecting gastrointestinal dysfunction in gastrointestinal patients after surgery. Clinical staff should identify relevant risk factors early and implement targeted intervention measures on the basis of personalized assessment to improve the clinical prognosis of patients.

Updates and Challenges in ENS Cell Therapy for the Treatment of Neurointestinal Diseases

Neurointestinal diseases represent a significant challenge in clinical management with current palliative approaches failing to overcome disease and treatment-related morbidity. The recent progress with cell therapy to restore missing or defective components of the gut neuromusculature offers new hope for potential cures. This review discusses the progress that has been made in the sourcing of putative stem cells and the studies into their biology and therapeutic potential. We also explore some of the practical challenges that must be overcome before cell-based therapies can be applied in the clinical setting. Although a number of obstacles remain, the rapid advances made in the enteric neural stem cell field suggest that such therapies are on the near horizon.

The role of mitophagy in metabolic diseases and its exercise intervention

Mitochondria are energy factories that sustain life activities in the body, and their dysfunction can cause various metabolic diseases that threaten human health. Mitophagy, an essential intracellular mitochondrial quality control mechanism, can maintain cellular and metabolic homeostasis by removing damaged mitochondria and participating in developing metabolic diseases. Research has confirmed that exercise can regulate mitophagy levels, thereby exerting protective metabolic effects in metabolic diseases. This article reviews the role of mitophagy in metabolic diseases, the effects of exercise on mitophagy, and the potential mechanisms of exercise-regulated mitophagy intervention in metabolic diseases, providing new insights for future basic and clinical research on exercise interventions to prevent and treat metabolic diseases.