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Ford AC, Staudacher HM, Talley NJ. Postprandial symptoms in disorders of gut-brain interaction and their potential as a treatment target. Gut 2024:gutjnl-2023-331833. [PMID: 38697774 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2023-331833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
Postprandial, or meal-related, symptoms, such as abdominal pain, early satiation, fullness or bloating, are often reported by patients with disorders of gut-brain interaction, including functional dyspepsia (FD) or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). We propose that postprandial symptoms arise via a distinct pathophysiological process. A physiological or psychological insult, for example, acute enteric infection, leads to loss of tolerance to a previously tolerated oral food antigen. This enables interaction of both the microbiota and the food antigen itself with the immune system, causing a localised immunological response, with activation of eosinophils and mast cells, and release of inflammatory mediators, including histamine and cytokines. These have more widespread systemic effects, including triggering nociceptive nerves and altering mood. Dietary interventions, including a diet low in fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols, elimination of potential food antigens or gluten, IgG food sensitivity diets or salicylate restriction may benefit some patients with IBS or FD. This could be because the restriction of these foods or dietary components modulates this pathophysiological process. Similarly, drugs including proton pump inhibitors, histamine-receptor antagonists, mast cell stabilisers or even tricyclic or tetracyclic antidepressants, which have anti-histaminergic actions, all of which are potential treatments for FD and IBS, act on one or more of these mechanisms. It seems unlikely that food antigens driving intestinal immune activation are the entire explanation for postprandial symptoms in FD and IBS. In others, fermentation of intestinal carbohydrates, with gas release altering reflex responses, adverse reactions to food chemicals, central mechanisms or nocebo effects may dominate. However, if the concept that postprandial symptoms arise from food antigens driving an immune response in the gastrointestinal tract in a subset of patients is correct, it is paradigm-shifting, because if the choice of treatment were based on one or more of these therapeutic targets, patient outcomes may be improved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander C Ford
- Leeds Gastroenterology Institute, St James's University Hospital, Leeds, UK
| | - Heidi M Staudacher
- Deakin University-Geelong Waterfront Campus, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Nicholas J Talley
- Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
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Nakane S, Mukaino A, Okumura Y, Hirosawa H, Higuchi O, Matsuo H, Kainuma M, Nakatsuji Y. The Presence of Ganglionic Acetylcholine Receptor Antibodies in Sera from Patients with Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders: A Preliminary Study. J Pers Med 2024; 14:485. [PMID: 38793066 PMCID: PMC11122234 DOI: 10.3390/jpm14050485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs), including functional dyspepsia (FD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), are characterized by chronic and recurrent gastrointestinal symptoms. Clinically, FD and IBS often resemble gastrointestinal dysmotility caused by autoimmune autonomic neuropathy. We examined the seropositive frequency of autoantibodies against ganglionic nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (gnAChRs) in patients presenting with FGIDs. OBJECTIVE To elucidate the seropositivity of gnAChR antibodies and the clinical features of seropositive FD and IBS. MATERIALS AND METHODS We measured autoantibodies against the gnAChR α3 and β4subunits using luciferase immunoprecipitation systems. Serum samples from patients with any autonomic symptoms were obtained from hospitals in Japan between January 2012 and August 2018 (1787 serum samples of 1381 patients). We selected FD and IBS patients and compared the clinical characteristics and prevalence of autonomic symptoms between those with seropositive and seronegative IBS and FD. RESULTS Nine IBS and two FD cases (one comorbid case with IBS) were found. We found four patients (36.4%) in whom gnAChR antibodies were positive in these eleven patients. Sicca symptoms were observed in three of four cases (75%) of seropositive FGID compared with zero of seven cases (0%) of seronegative FGID. CONCLUSIONS We found patients with gnAChR antibodies in FD and IBS patients. These data will be valuable for elucidating the pathophysiology of these FGIDs and developing new treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shunya Nakane
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama 930-0194, Japan
- Department of Neurology and Clinical Research, National Hospital Organization Nagasaki Kawatana Medical Center, Nagasaki 859-3615, Japan (H.M.)
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-8556, Japan
| | - Akihiro Mukaino
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-8556, Japan
- Department of Japanese Oriental Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, Toyama 930-0194, Japan
| | | | - Hiroaki Hirosawa
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama 930-0194, Japan
| | - Osamu Higuchi
- Department of Neurology and Clinical Research, National Hospital Organization Nagasaki Kawatana Medical Center, Nagasaki 859-3615, Japan (H.M.)
| | - Hidenori Matsuo
- Department of Neurology and Clinical Research, National Hospital Organization Nagasaki Kawatana Medical Center, Nagasaki 859-3615, Japan (H.M.)
| | - Mosaburo Kainuma
- Department of Japanese Oriental Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, Toyama 930-0194, Japan
| | - Yuji Nakatsuji
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama 930-0194, Japan
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Abraham MJ, Goncalves C, McCallum P, Gupta V, Preston SEJ, Huang F, Chou H, Gagnon N, Johnson NA, Miller WH, Mann KK, Del Rincon SV. Tunable PhenoCycler imaging of the murine pre-clinical tumour microenvironments. Cell Biosci 2024; 14:19. [PMID: 38311785 PMCID: PMC10840224 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-024-01199-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The tumour microenvironment (TME) consists of tumour-supportive immune cells, endothelial cells, and fibroblasts. PhenoCycler, a high-plex single cell spatial biology imaging platform, is used to characterize the complexity of the TME. Researchers worldwide harvest and bank tissues from mouse models which are employed to model a plethora of human disease. With the explosion of interest in spatial biology, these panoplies of archival tissues provide a valuable resource to answer new questions. Here, we describe our protocols for developing tunable PhenoCycler multiplexed imaging panels and describe our open-source data analysis pipeline. Using these protocols, we used PhenoCycler to spatially resolve the TME of 8 routinely employed pre-clinical models of lymphoma, breast cancer, and melanoma preserved as FFPE. RESULTS Our data reveal distinct TMEs in the different cancer models that were imaged and show that cell-cell contacts differ depending on the tumour type examined. For instance, we found that the immune infiltration in a murine model of melanoma is altered in cellular organization in melanomas that become resistant to αPD-1 therapy, with depletions in a number of cell-cell interactions. CONCLUSIONS This work presents a valuable resource study seamlessly adaptable to any field of research involving murine models. The methodology described allows researchers to address newly formed hypotheses using archival materials, bypassing the new to perform new mouse studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madelyn J Abraham
- Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | | | - Paige McCallum
- Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Vrinda Gupta
- Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Samuel E J Preston
- Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Fan Huang
- Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Hsiang Chou
- Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Clinical Research Unit, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Natascha Gagnon
- Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Nathalie A Johnson
- Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Clinical Research Unit, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Wilson H Miller
- Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada.
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
- Clinical Research Unit, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada.
| | - Koren K Mann
- Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada.
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
| | - Sonia V Del Rincon
- Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada.
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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Leites M, Olano C, Freire T. Plasma Interleukin-13 Levels Correlate With the Severity of Symptoms Induced by Functional Dyspepsia. J Clin Gastroenterol 2023:00004836-990000000-00245. [PMID: 38112582 DOI: 10.1097/mcg.0000000000001956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a gastrointestinal functional disorder of the upper gastrointestinal tract that affects the quality of life of patients and poses a significant economic burden. It has been proposed that the local inflammatory immune response at the duodenum is associated with an increase in intestinal permeability, favoring the recruitment of Th2 cells and granulocyte degranulation. Moreover, systemic immune response could also be related to the symptoms of FD. The objective of this study was to evaluate the systemic immune response in Uruguayan patients with FD by analyzing the cytokine levels in plasma and the frequency of circulating T cells associated with duodenal recruitment. PATIENTS AND METHODS An analytic and cross-sectional study in 30 patients with FD and 15 healthy controls (HCs) was carried out. Patients were diagnosed with FD according to the Roma IV Committee definition. Cytokine levels were measured in plasma by a specific assay. Expression of α4β7 and CC chemokine receptor9 in circulating T cells was evaluated by flow cytometry. RESULTS Higher levels of interleukin (IL)-5, IL-13, and IL-8 and lower levels of IL-10 and IL-12p70 were detected in patients with FD than in HC. Furthermore, a positive linear correlation between IL-13 and the severity of FD symptoms was found. CD4+ T cells from patients with FD expressed higher levels of α4β7 and CC chemokine receptor9 than those from HC. CONCLUSIONS An increase of Th2-like cytokines and a positive correlation between the levels of plasma IL-13 and the severity of symptoms in patients with FD from Uruguay were detected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos Leites
- Gastroenterology Department, Clinic Hospital, Avenida Italia
- Immunobiology Department, School of Medicine, University of the Republic, General Flores, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Carolina Olano
- Gastroenterology Department, Clinic Hospital, Avenida Italia
| | - Teresa Freire
- Immunobiology Department, School of Medicine, University of the Republic, General Flores, Montevideo, Uruguay
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Burns GL, Potter M, Mathe A, Bruce J, Minahan K, Barnes JL, Pryor J, Nieva C, Sherwin S, Cuskelly A, Fairlie T, Cameron R, Bollipo S, Irani MZ, Foster R, Gan LT, Shah A, Koloski N, Foster PS, Horvat JC, Walker MM, Powell N, Veysey M, Duncanson K, Holtmann G, Talley NJ, Keely S. TRAV26-2 T-Cell Receptor Expression Is Associated With Mucosal Lymphocyte Response to Wheat Proteins in Patients With Functional Dyspepsia. Clin Transl Gastroenterol 2023; 14:e00638. [PMID: 37753952 PMCID: PMC10749711 DOI: 10.14309/ctg.0000000000000638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION An association between functional dyspepsia (FD) and wheat-containing foods has been reported in observational studies; however, an adaptive response has not been demonstrated. We examined whether antigens present in wheat could provoke a response from FD duodenal lymphocytes. METHODS Lamina propria mononuclear cells (LPMCs) were isolated from duodenal biopsies from 50 patients with FD and 23 controls. LPMCs were exposed to gluten (0.2 mg/mL) or gliadin (0.2 mg/mL) for 24 hours. Flow cytometry was performed to phenotype lymphocytes. Quantitative PCR was used to measure the expression of gliadin-associated T-cell receptor alpha variant ( TRAV ) 26-2. RESULTS In response to gliadin (but not gluten) stimulation, the effector Th2-like population was increased in FD LPMCs compared with that in controls and unstimulated FD LPMCs. Duodenal gene expression of TRAV26- 2 was decreased in patients with FD compared with that in controls. We identified a positive association between gene expression of this T-cell receptor variant and LPMC effector Th17-like cell populations in patients with FD, but not controls after exposure to gluten, but not gliadin. DISCUSSION Our findings suggest that gliadin exposure provokes a duodenal effector Th2-like response in patients with FD, supporting the notion that food antigens drive responses in some patients. Furthermore, these findings suggest that altered lymphocyte responses to wheat proteins play a role in FD pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace L. Burns
- School of Biomedical Sciences & Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
- NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Digestive Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Australia
| | - Michael Potter
- NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Digestive Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Australia
- School of Medicine & Public Health, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
- Department of Gastroenterology, John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, Australia
| | - Andrea Mathe
- School of Biomedical Sciences & Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Australia
| | - Jessica Bruce
- School of Biomedical Sciences & Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
- NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Digestive Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Australia
| | - Kyra Minahan
- School of Biomedical Sciences & Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
- NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Digestive Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Australia
| | - Jessica L. Barnes
- School of Biomedical Sciences & Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Australia
| | - Jennifer Pryor
- School of Biomedical Sciences & Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
- NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Digestive Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Australia
| | - Cheenie Nieva
- School of Biomedical Sciences & Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
- NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Digestive Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Australia
| | - Simonne Sherwin
- School of Biomedical Sciences & Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
- NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Digestive Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Australia
| | - Annalisa Cuskelly
- NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Digestive Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
- School of Psychological Sciences, College of Engineering, Science and Environment, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
| | - Thomas Fairlie
- NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Digestive Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Australia
- Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia.
| | - Raquel Cameron
- NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Digestive Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Australia
- School of Medicine & Public Health, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
| | - Steven Bollipo
- School of Medicine & Public Health, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
- Department of Gastroenterology, John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, Australia
| | - Mudar Zand Irani
- NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Digestive Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Australia
- School of Medicine & Public Health, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
- Department of Gastroenterology, John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, Australia
| | - Robert Foster
- Department of Gastroenterology, John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, Australia
| | - Lay T. Gan
- Department of Gastroenterology, John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, Australia
| | - Ayesha Shah
- NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Digestive Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Australia
- Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia.
| | - Natasha Koloski
- NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Digestive Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Australia
- Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia.
| | - Paul S. Foster
- School of Biomedical Sciences & Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Australia
| | - Jay C. Horvat
- School of Biomedical Sciences & Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Australia
| | - Marjorie M. Walker
- NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Digestive Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Australia
- School of Medicine & Public Health, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
| | - Nick Powell
- Division of Digestive Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Martin Veysey
- School of Medicine & Public Health, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
- Hull-York Medical School, University of Hull, Hull, United Kingdom
| | - Kerith Duncanson
- NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Digestive Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Australia
- School of Medicine & Public Health, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
| | - Gerald Holtmann
- NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Digestive Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Australia
- Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia.
| | - Nicholas J. Talley
- NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Digestive Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Australia
- School of Medicine & Public Health, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
| | - Simon Keely
- School of Biomedical Sciences & Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
- NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Digestive Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Australia
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Zhang T, Zhang B, Ma X, Zhang J, Wei Y, Wang F, Tang X. Research trends in the field of the gut-brain interaction: Functional dyspepsia in the spotlight – An integrated bibliometric and science mapping approach. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1109510. [PMID: 36968499 PMCID: PMC10035075 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1109510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023] Open
Abstract
ObjectivesThis study aims to perform a bibliometric analysis of functional dyspepsia (FD), which includes visualizing bibliographic information, in order to identify prevailing study themes, topics of interest, contributing journals, countries, institutions, and authors as well as co-citation patterns.MethodsThe Web of Science™ Core Collection Database was used to retrieve all peer-reviewed scientific publications related to FD research. The validated search terms were entered into the “title” and “author keywords” fields, and the results were sorted by publication year from 2006 to 2022. There were no restrictions on language. On 12 February 2023, a manual export of the complete metadata for each original publication and review article was performed. CiteSpace was used to reveal co-authorship, publication, and co-citation patterns to find prominent authors, organizations, countries, and journals in FD research as well as to identify author keywords with strong citation bursts, which could indicate an emerging research area. VOSviewer was used to build the co-occurrence indicator (co-word) to identify the main author keywords on which previous studies focused and to induce clustered scientific landscape for two consecutive periods to identify intriguing areas for future research.ResultsA search of the database retrieved 2,957 documents. There was a wave-like pattern in the number of publications until 2017, after which there was a spike in publication volume. The USA, China, and Japan provided the majority of contributions. In terms of institution, Mayo Clin, Univ Newcastle, and Katholieke Univ Leuven were found to be the prolific institutions. Additionally, the results indicate that eastern Asian researchers contributed significantly to the global knowledge of literature that led other countries; however, Canada, the USA, Australia, England, and Germany were found to have the highest degree of betweenness centrality. Nicholas J. Talley, Jan Tack, Gerald Holtmann, Michael Camilleri, Ken Haruma, and Paul Moayyedi occupied the top positions based on productivity and centrality indicators. Six thematic clusters emerged (Helicobacter pylori infection; pathophysiological mechanisms of FD; extraintestinal co-morbidities and overlap syndromes associated with FD; herbal medicine in FD; diabetic gastroparesis; and dietary factors in FD). “Acupuncture,” “duodenal eosinophilia,” “gut microbiota,” and others were among the author keywords with rising prevalence.ConclusionIn FD research, eastern Asian countries have established themselves as major contributors with the highest publishing productivity; however, research has primarily been driven by North America, Europe, and Australia, where cooperation is generally more active and highly influential scientific results are produced. Our analysis suggests that increased investments, training of human resources, improved infrastructures, and expanded collaborations are essential to improving the quality of FD research in Asia. The emerging author keyword analysis suggests that eosinophil-mast cell axis, gut microbiota, mental disorders, and acupuncture are the key areas that attract researchers’ attention as future research boulevards. There is a highly skewed distribution of research output across Asia, with most focus on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) coming from Chinese, Japanese, and South Korean centers. However, CAM remains an underexplored area of research in the context of FD, and it deserves greater research efforts in order to obtain quality scientific evidence. Furthermore, we propose that the research framework of CAM should not be limited to dysmotility; rather, it could be interpreted within a more holistic context that includes the brain-gut-microbiota axis, as well as novel concepts such as duodenitis, increased mucosal permeability, and infiltration and activation of eosinophils and mast cells, among others. Overall, we provided bibliometrics-based overviews of relevant literature to researchers from different backgrounds and healthcare professionals to provide an in-depth overview of major trends in FD research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tai Zhang
- Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Institute of Digestive Diseases, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Beihua Zhang
- Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Institute of Digestive Diseases, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiangxue Ma
- Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Institute of Digestive Diseases, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jiaqi Zhang
- Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Institute of Digestive Diseases, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yuchen Wei
- Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Institute of Digestive Diseases, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Fengyun Wang
- Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Institute of Digestive Diseases, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Fengyun Wang,
| | - Xudong Tang
- Institute of Digestive Diseases, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Xudong Tang,
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