GI highlights from the literature

Sci Trans Med 2021; 13(597): eaba8146. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aba8146 The antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has well-established efficacy in treating paracetamol-related acute liver injury/liver failure if administered shortly after paracetamol exposure. Using a mouse model of paracetamol-induced liver injury, researchers demonstrated that the significantly raised levels of serum interleukin-11 (IL11) accompanying the condition are hepatocyte-derived, with IL11 causing dose-dependent hepatocyte cell death. Using both cell line and mouse experiments, researchers demonstrated that IL11 causes hepatotoxicity via nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase 4-mediated production of reactive oxygen species. From this cohort, 117 patients (56 patients with IBS, 25 patients with UC and 36 control patients) undergoing colorectal cancer screening (with normal findings at colonoscopy) were selected for in-depth microscopic analysis by 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplicon sequencing using biopsies from areas at least 10 cm from the biofilm in ‘biofilm-positive’ patients and biopsies from equivalent areas in ‘biofilm-negative’ patients.