Doan Thi Nha Nguyen

Colonic diverticulosis is common in gastrointestinal disease with a rising prevalence in Asia. Regional differences exist in prevalence, distribution, and risk factors of diverticulosis; however, data from Vietnam are still lacking. The purpose of our study was to ascertain the prevalence, colonoscopic features, and risk factors of colonic diverticulosis among Vietnamese adults undergoing colonoscopy. A descriptive cross-sectional study was performed prospectively on patients undergoing colonoscopy at the Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Department of the University Medical Center-Ho Chi Minh City. Metabolic syndrome was established on the Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to identify risk factors. There were 480 participants, with a mean age of 53.2±12.7 years. The male-to-female ratio was 0.8. The prevalence of diverticulosis was 29.6%. Right-sided diverticulosis was observed in 69% of cases. Multiple diverticula were present in 68.4% of cases. Multivariate analysis identified advanced age (odds ratio [OR]=2.38, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.41–4.05, p=0.001), male sex (OR=1.78, 95% CI: 1.05–3.02, p=0.033), central obesity (OR=1.61, 95% CI: 1.03–2.50, p=0.037), metabolic syndrome (OR=1.91, 95% CI: 1.12–3.27, p=0.021), and heavy alcohol consumption (OR=2.23, 95% CI: 1.03–4.84, p=0.042) as independent risk factors of diverticulosis. Diverticulosis was prevalent in Vietnamese, with a right-sided predominance of the colon and multiple diverticula. Advanced age, male sex, central obesity, metabolic syndrome, and heavy alcohol consumption were risk factors.

Introduction: Uninvestigated dyspepsia (UD) and chronic constipation (CC) are common disorders of gut-brain interaction. However, limited research has assessed their risk factors in young adults, particularly the influence of family history. This study investigated the associated factors for UD and CC, focusing on family history among Japanese university students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Hiroshima University. UD and CC were diagnosed using the Rome IV criteria. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify associated factors of UD and CC. Results: Among 10,500 individuals participating in the annual health checkup, 7,496 responded to the web-based questionnaire, and 5,386 completed it. The mean age of the participants was 21.1 ± 4.1 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:1.17. The prevalence of UD and CC was 7.3% and 13.7%, respectively. Family history was associated with both UD (odds ratio [OR]: 4.29; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.17–5.79) and CC (OR: 2.77; 95% CI: 2.31–3.31). Depression and physical inactivity were shared associated factors. Alcohol consumption (OR = 2.36; 95% CI: 1.15–4.83) and smoking (OR = 1.59; 95% CI: 1.02–2.49) were identified as associated factors for UD, while female sex (OR = 2.00; 95% CI: 1.69–2.36) and short sleep duration (OR = 1.28; 95% CI: 1.09–1.50) were associated with CC. Conclusions: Family history was found to be a predominant factor associated with both UD and CC, with a relatively stronger association for UD. Our finding highlights the need to consider familial factors in future prevention and intervention strategies for UD and CC in young adults.

Lupus enteritis and lupus cystitis share a common etiology, characterized by smooth muscle dysmotility resulting from immune complex-mediated damage. This paper describes a case of a patient presenting with concomitant lupus enteritis and lupus cystitis without a prior systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) diagnosis. The onset of symptoms occurred five months earlier with frequent loose stools, persistent abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and a significant weight loss of 16 kg. The patient presented with abdominal pain, distension, dysuria, and urinary urgency lasting for a week. A computed tomography scan upon admission revealed diffuse thickening of the gastric, intestinal, and colon walls, as well as cystitis, ureteral dilation, and bilateral hydronephrosis. Extensive screening excluded infections and other autoimmune diseases, confirming SLE according to the 2019 EULAR/ACR criteria, with a high SLE disease activity index score of 18 points. Treatment with corticosteroids resulted in symptomatic improvement in the intestinal and bladder symptoms and other organ involvements. This case highlights the significance of recognizing autoimmune causes, such as lupus, in cases of widespread gastrointestinal and bladder inflammation.

Chromoendoscopy and narrow-band imaging (NBI) have been reported to aid in the diagnosis of gastric intestinal metaplasia (GIM). This study aimed to assess the diagnostic validity of chromoendoscop...