The comparison between endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) and endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle biopsy (EUS-FNB) for the diagnosis of pancreatic masses is still controversial. Many factors can affect the final results. Databases, such as PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Science Citation Index updated from 2000 to 2016 were searched to include eligible articles. In the meta-analysis, the main outcome measurements were the diagnostic accuracy, number of needle passes, specimen adequacy, the rate of complications, and technical success. Eight randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified, and a total of 921 cases were included in the meta-analysis. The diagnostic accuracy was not significantly different between the FNA and FNB groups. The specimen adequacy was higher in the FNB group compared with the FNA group. The number of needle passes to obtain sufficient tissue was lower in the FNB group. The rate of adverse events and technical success did not significantly differ between the 2 groups. But, the forest plot showed a trend toward lower technical success rate and a trend toward higher diagnostic accuracy in the FNB group, compared with FNA. We provide the evidence that FNB is comparable to FNA in terms of diagnostic accuracy, adverse events, and technical success. FNB gives higher specimen adequacy than that of FNA, despite performance of fewer needle passes.

Patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) face a heightened risk of colorectal cancer (CRC), though the estimated risk levels differ across UC populations. This study aims to provide updated, population-based estimates of CRC incidence, standardised incidence ratios (SIR), and prevalence in patients with UC. We searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library to April 12, 2025, for population-based studies on patients with UC reporting CRC risk. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. The primary outcome was CRC risk in UC, evaluated through incidence, SIR, and prevalence. A random-effects model was used for meta-analysis, and meta-regression evaluated the impact of study characteristics. Publication bias was assessed using funnel plots and statistical tests. PROSPERO: CRD42025634800. From 7991 records, 13 population-based studies involving 161,157 patients with UC were included. Most studies were conducted in Europe, with others from North America and Asia. All studies were of good quality, with scores greater than 5 on the NOS quality assessment scale. The pooled CRC incidence was 1.47 per 1000 person-years (95% CI 1.30–1.67; I² = 66.2%), the SIR was 2.48 (95% CI 1.64–3.76; I² = 91.7%), and the prevalence was 1.54% (95% CI 1.14–1.99; I² = 96.1%). Subgroup analyses revealed similar CRC risk in male (SIR 2.14, 95% CI 0.85–5.38) and female (SIR 2.20, 95% CI 1.52–3.19) patients and an increased risk with extensive colitis, with an SIR of 3.95 (95% CI 2.56–6.09). This systematic review and meta-analysis provides population-based estimates of CRC risk in patients with UC, based on high-quality studies with rigorous methodology. The results offer reliable reference values for incidence, SIR, and prevalence, which are applicable to the broader UC population and relevant to clinical decision-making and public health planning. Nonetheless, substantial heterogeneity across studies and limited geographic representation—particularly from Asia, South America, Africa, and Oceania—highlight the need for additional population-based research in underrepresented regions to improve the global applicability of CRC risk estimates in UC. This study was supported by State key Laboratory of Digestive Health.

Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection Versus Endoscopic Mucosal Resection for the Treatment of Early Esophageal Carcinoma: a Meta-analysis Endoscopic submucosal dissection;endoscopic mucosal resection;early esophageal carcinoma; Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) was originally developed for en bloc resection of large, flat gastrointestinal lesions. Compared with endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), ESD is considered to be more time consuming and have more complications for treatment of early esophageal carcinoma, such as bleeding, stenosis and perforation. The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of ESD and EMR for such lesions. We searched databases, such as PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and Science Citation Index updated to 2013 for related trials. In the meta-analysis, the main outcome measurements were the en bloc resection rate, the histologically resection rate and the local recurrence rate. We also compared the operation time and the incidences of procedure-related complications. Five trials were identified, and a total of 710 patients and 795 lesions were included. The en bloc and histologically complete resection rates were higher in the ESD group compared with the EMR group (odds ratio (OR) 27.3; 95% CI, 11.5-64.8; OR 18.4; 95% CI, 8.82-38.59). The local recurrence rate was lower in the ESD group (OR 0.13, 95 % CI 0.04-0.43). The meta-analysis also showed ESD was more time consuming, but did not increase the complication rate (P=0.76). The results implied that compared with EMR, ESD showed better en bloc and histologically resection rates, and lower local recurrence, without increasing the incidence of procedure-related complications in the treatment of early esophageal carcinoma.

Predator evasion in the open ocean is difficult because there are no objects to hide behind. The silvery surface of fish plays an important role in open water camouflage. Various models have been proposed to account for the broadband reflectance by the fish skin that involve one-dimensional variations in the arrangement of guanine crystal reflectors, yet the three-dimensional organization of these guanine platelets have not been well characterized. Here, we report the three-dimensional organization and the optical properties of integumentary guanine platelets in a silvery marine fish, the lookdown (Selene vomer). Our structural analysis and computational modelling show that stacks of guanine platelets with random yaw angles in the fish skin produce broadband reflectance via colour mixing. Optical axes of the guanine platelets and the collagen layer are aligned closely and provide bulk birefringence properties that influence the polarization reflectance by the skin. These data demonstrate how the lookdown preserves or alters polarization states at different incident polarization angles. These optical properties resulted from the organization of these guanine platelets and the collagen layer may have implications for open ocean camouflage in varying light fields.

In order to predict related risk factors for lymph node metastasis (LNM) in patients with superficial esophageal carcinoma (SEC) and provide reference for endoscopic minimally invasive treatment, we included a total of 93 patients with superficial esophageal carcinoma who have underwent esophagectomy and lymph node dissection from 2010 to 2015. The depth of invasion was remeasured and classified into 6 groups according to their wall penetration. The prediction model was founded based on the independent risk factors. The results shows that lymph node metastasis of m1, m2, m3, sm1, sm2, and sm3 of superficial esophageal carcinoma was 0%, 0%, 5.3%, 8.7%, 17.6%, and 37.5%, respectively. The tumor size, differentiation, and lymphvascular invasion were also significantly related to lymph node metastasis by univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis showed that the depth of invasion and lymphovascular invasion were independent risk factors of lymph node metastasis. A prediction model for lymph node metastasis was established as follows: p=ex/(1+ex), and x = −5.469 + 0.839 × depth of invasion + 1.992 × lymphavascular metastasis. The area under ROC curve was 0.858 (95% CI: 0.757–0.959). It was also shown that the depth of invasion was related to tumor differentiation, macroscopic type, and tumor size.

Purpose: To explore the molecular mechanisms of intestinal injury and treatment by analyzing changes in cellular heterogeneity and composition in rat ileal tissue during injury and treatment processes. Methods: We constructed a rat model of SAP and evaluated treatment with an injected of monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) inhibitor (JZL184) solution using three experimental groups: healthy male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats injected with vehicle (CON), male SD SAP model rats injected with vehicle (SAP), and male SAP rats injected with JZL184. We obtained and prepared a single-cell suspension of ileal tissue of each rat for single-cell transcriptome sequencing. Results: This project classified changes in cellular heterogeneity and composition in rat ileal tissue during SAP-induced intestinal injury and MAGL treatment. We found that the number of fibroblast clusters was decreased in the SAP group relative to the CON group, and increased after JZL184 treatment. Further analysis of differences in gene expression between cell clusters in each group reveals that fibroblasts had the greatest number of differentially expressed genes. Most notably, expression of genes involved in communication between cells was found to vary during SAP-induced intestinal injury and JZL184 treatment. Among these changes, the degree of difference in expression of genes involved in communication between fibroblasts and other cells was the highest, indicating that fibroblasts in rat ileal tissue affect intestinal injury and repair through cell-to-cell communication. In addition, our results reveal that differentially expressed RNA-binding proteins in fibroblasts may affect their functions in intestinal injury and treatment by affecting the expression of genes regulating communication between cells. Conclusion: These findings emphasize the importance of understanding the interactions between fibroblasts and other cells in the context of intestinal injury, providing valuable insights for further exploring molecular mechanisms and insight for discovering new treatment targets and strategies.