ALT Key Points Abdominal pain is recognized as one of the major symptoms in patients with FD or IBS, with limited safe and effective treatment options. Home-based taVNS with a special set of stimulation parameters via a wearable device was found to significantly improve abdominal pain and quality of life in both patients with functional dyspepsia and patients with irritable bowel syndrome. The ameliorating effect of taVNS was possibly attributed to the enhancement of vagal activity.

ALT Key Points Muscularis EGR1 expression is reduced in diabetic gastroparesis and is enriched in macrophages, particularly M2 macrophages. EGR1 deficiency disrupts TXN2-dependent mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, impairs M2 macrophage polarization, and enhances CCL5-mediated signaling associated with ICC injury. Local pyloric EGR1 restoration increases M2 macrophage and ICC marker expression and improves gastric emptying and pyloric slow-wave regularity without significantly improving glucose tolerance.

ALT 🚨The Rome Diagnostic Framework: Reflections on the Past and Perspectives for the Future‼️ Rome V represents a major milestone in advancing our understanding and classification of disorders of gut–brain interaction #DGBIs👏 🎯Where should the field go next? ✅Neurogastroenterology & Motility invites original research articles, reviews, and letters to the Editor that critically examine the Rome diagnostic framework and shape its future💡 Submission deadline: September 30, 2027 🔗 Learn more: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/page/journal/13652982/call-for-papers/si-2026-000907 Join us in advancing the conversation—from symptoms to signatures, from diagnostic labels to disease mechanisms, and from classification toward precision care.

ALT The Auckland Classification v1.0, derived by international consensus, presents a structured framework for body surface gastric mapping-defined patient phenotypes. This classification provides a foundation for research and a standardized pathway for integrating BSGM into clinical care.

ALT Key Points Patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) have been shown to have impaired gut barrier function, which may allow substances to pass more easily through the gut lining and contribute to gut symptoms. In this study, a fermented oat-based preparation, ReFerm®, was shown to reduce the passage of substances through the gut lining and strengthen the gut barrier in colonic biopsies from patients with IBS. The barrier-strengthening effect was linked to increased levels of tricellulin, a protein that helps seal the spaces between gut cells, suggesting a potential mechanism behind the beneficial effects.

ALT Key Points VPA exposure is a reliable model of neural tube defects with variable intralitter susceptibility. Fetuses with a VPA-induced neural tube defect have blood in the amniotic sac and within the lumen of the gastrointestinal tract. Enteric nervous system organization is abnormal in the duodenum and jejunum of fetuses with a VPA-induced neural tube defect, with thinner enteric neuronal stripes and narrower interstripe distance. Ex vivo gastrointestinal motility is abnormal in the duodenum and jejunum of fetuses with a VPA-induced neural tube defect, including increased contraction frequency and increased length of the contractile segment.

ALT Key Points A clinical practice guideline has been developed in response to a growing number of patients with DGBI-induced altered food-intake behavior to guide diagnosis and management of this newly recognized condition. These patients often present with multisystem comorbidities, and some require enteral or parenteral nutrition. Managing patients with DGBI-induced altered food-intake behavior requires a multidisciplinary, integrated team approach (including gastroenterologists, dietitians, psychologists, and psychiatrists) to enable effective long-term management. An effective treatment approach begins by establishing a positive diagnosis of DGBI-induced altered food-intake behavior. It rules out structural abnormalities and eating disorders as underlying causes of symptoms. Clinical management relies on empathetic care, includes education to create realistic patient expectations, dietitian-supervised oral nutrition, symptom-targeted neuromodulation, and behavioral/psychological ther

ALT Highlights Opioid-induced constipation impairs quality of life and decreases analgesic adherence. Conventional laxatives often fail to address the μ-opioid receptor-mediated mechanism causing constipation. Japanese guidelines advocate for early intervention with peripherally acting μ-opioid receptor antagonists. Naldemedine shows long-term efficacy and safety for the relief of constipation without affecting analgesia.

ALT Key Points Gut-directed hypnotherapy is a brain–gut behavioral therapy that is effective for patients with irritable bowel syndrome, but access to treatment is limited. In this pilot study, we tested to give nurse-led group hypnotherapy using a digital video platform to increase accessibility further. Study outcomes show that the treatment modality is feasible, efficacious, and acceptable for patients.

ALT Key Points Chronic constipation can substantially affect symptoms and quality of life, but evidence on live physiotherapist-supervised telerehabilitation in adults remains limited. In this randomized controlled trial, adding a 4-week supervised telerehabilitation-based exercise program to online education improved stool form and reduced patient-reported constipation severity more than education alone. High adherence suggests that synchronous telerehabilitation may be a feasible conservative care option, although larger trials with objective physiological outcomes and longer follow-up are needed.

ALT Summary • The Fear of Food Questionnaire (FFQ) may be relevant to functional dyspepsia (FD) and gastroparesis(Gp). We sought to develop and validate a short-form version for use in clinical settings. • The original 18-item FFQ's factor structure was not appropriate in an FD/Gp population. We developed a short-form, 9-item FFQ (FFQ-9) with good convergent and divergent validity and clinical utility. • The FFQ-9 appears to be a valid, clinically useful measure of fear of food in patients. Future research should test whether the FFQ-9 is a useful patient-reported outcome measure.