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Impact of surveillance colonoscopy on colorectal cancer incidence and mortality in Lynch syndrome: a national observational cohort study of patients in the English NHS 2010-2022

Aug 6, 2026

The authors aimed to evaluate the adherence of MMR carriers in Lynch syndrome to national surveillance guidelines and assess the impact of colonoscopic surveillance on colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and mortality. Their findings suggest that while regular surveillance (≤3 years) is linked to reduced CRC-specific and all-cause mortality, it did not significantly change total CRC incidence, and more frequent surveillance (≤2 years) was associated with increased CRC incidence, particularly of early-stage cancers. The study highlights potential biases and the need for further investigation into the effects of surveillance on CRC outcomes.

Circulating extracellular vesicles carrying PD-1, PD-L1 and CTLA-4 inform resistance to anti-PD-L1-based therapy in HCC

Aug 6, 2026

The authors aimed to investigate whether profiling immune checkpoints on circulating extracellular vesicles (EVs) could serve as non-invasive biomarkers to predict treatment response and survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) undergoing anti-PD-L1 therapy. Their findings indicate that levels of PD-1, PD-L1, and CTLA-4 on EVs can effectively differentiate between responders and non-responders, as well as predict progression-free and overall survival, potentially identifying resistance to therapy earlier than traditional imaging methods.

Faecal proteases and immune signatures drive subtype-specific enteric neuronal activation in IBS

Aug 4, 2026

The authors investigate how faecal mediators differentially activate enteric neurons in patients with different subtypes of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and whether specific proteolytic and proteomic profiles can explain these neuronal responses. Their findings reveal that faecal supernatants from IBS-D patients significantly enhance neuronal activation via proteases and PAR-1, while IBS-C mediators do not exhibit this effect, indicating distinct pathological mechanisms between the two subtypes. This study highlights a novel connection between faecal protease activity, enteric nervous system signaling, and immune profiles, suggesting new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for managing IBS based on subtype.

Enhanced acetate uptake and metabolism in endothelial cells promote tumour angiogenesis and immunosuppression by increasing histone acetylation

Jul 31, 2026

The authors investigate whether the acetate-acetylation axis is exploited in tumor endothelial cells (TECs) to drive the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). They find that elevated acetate uptake and metabolism in TECs enhance histone acetylation, promoting angiogenesis and immunosuppression, which ultimately contributes to tumor growth. Targeting this metabolic-epigenetic pathway may offer a novel therapeutic strategy to improve HCC treatment and enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapy.

Rate and clinical predictors of skeletal muscle loss in patients with cirrhosis

Jul 30, 2026

The authors aimed to characterize the rate of skeletal muscle loss in patients with cirrhosis and its association with clinical outcomes, particularly waitlist mortality for liver transplantation. They found a median annual skeletal muscle loss of 1.6%, with rapid muscle loss (RML) significantly predicting increased waitlist mortality, particularly in patients with ascites and higher MELD-Na scores. These findings highlight the importance of monitoring muscle mass changes in this population to inform future therapeutic strategies targeting sarcopenia.

Decompression of portal hypertension by transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt reverses markers of gut barrier dysfunction and cirrhosis-associated immune dysfunction

Jul 30, 2026

The authors investigate whether portal hypertension (PH) is a key factor driving cirrhosis-associated immune dysfunction (CAID) and if its reduction through transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) can reverse this dysfunction. Their findings indicate that TIPS significantly decreases markers of gut barrier dysfunction, inflammation, and immune activation in patients with decompensated cirrhosis, suggesting that PH plays a central role in CAID. The study concludes that alleviating PH restores immune homeostasis and gut barrier integrity, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

Proteomic resolution of the MASLD cardiometabolic spectrum identifies sex-driven endotypes and predicts systemic mortality

Jul 29, 2026

The authors aimed to elucidate the molecular heterogeneity of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and identify distinct sub-phenotypes that influence prognostic outcomes. Through latent class analysis and large-scale proteomic profiling, they discovered clinically relevant MASLD subtypes with significant sex differences and developed a four-protein score (PS4) that outperformed existing mortality prediction methods. This research highlights the biological pathways linking hepatic dysfunction to systemic mortality, offering a new framework for understanding MASLD's impact on long-term health.

Macropinocytosis of neutrophil extracellular trap by gastric cancer cells promotes immune escape and peritoneal metastasis

Jul 28, 2026

This study investigates how ascitic neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) contribute to immune escape and peritoneal metastasis (PM) in gastric cancer (GC). The authors demonstrate that GC cells internalize NETs through macropinocytosis, which activates the cGAS-STING pathway, leading to the upregulation of immune checkpoint molecules CEACAM1 and PD-L1, thereby promoting an immunosuppressive environment. The findings suggest that targeting NETs and PD-L1 could offer a novel therapeutic strategy for improving outcomes in patients with PM.

Galectin-14, a primate-specific oncofetal protein, impairs anti-tumour immunity in hepatocellular carcinoma by driving elevated heparan sulphate modification

Jul 28, 2026

The authors investigate the role of heparan sulphate (HS) modification in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its impact on anti-tumor immunity. They identify galectin-14, a primate-specific oncofetal protein, as a key regulator that enhances HS synthesis, leading to T cell exhaustion and poor patient prognosis. This study highlights galectin-14's potential as both a diagnostic marker and a therapeutic target in HCC.

In-person therapist-delivered hypnotherapy versus smartphone-based self-guided hypnotherapy in IBS: a multicentre three-armed randomised controlled trial

Jul 25, 2026

The authors aimed to compare the effectiveness of smartphone-based self-guided hypnotherapy to in-person therapist-delivered hypnotherapy for treating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). In a multicentre randomized controlled trial, they found that while in-person hypnotherapy was more effective in reducing abdominal pain, smartphone-based hypnotherapy showed promising response rates, suggesting it could serve as a cost-effective alternative despite not demonstrating non-inferiority.