Journal of Gastrointestinal & Digestive System
Open Access

The prestige and influence of the Journal of Gastrointestinal & Digestive System are evidenced by the fact that it is the highly cited journals in the field of Medicine, particularly focusing on Digestive Diseases, Gastrointestinal cancer, and Hepatology. Acknowledging the significant learning experience and the opportunity to steward this journal, this editorial focuses on recognizing the efforts of key people, reflecting on the journal’s accomplishments and challenges, and passing on any potential insights gained in the journey to date. This editorial aims to (1) recognize the key people who had continued to support the journal relentlessly (2) provide a snapshot of the state of the journal, and (3) highlight some potential insights gained in 2019, to help advance marketing strategies for involving more elite members of the scientific community. In pursuing these objectives, I also seek to emphasize the journal’s purpose, achieved through the considerable efforts of authors and editorial board members. Any progress that this journal has made would not have been possible without the excellent efforts contributions kept in by our distinguished group of Editors-in- Chief Dr. Trevor A Winter, USA, Dr. Francesco Marotta, Italy, Dr. Kazuki Takakura, Japan, and also other 50+ eminent editorial board members.

In 2019, we held the 14^th Euro-Global Gastroenterology Conference dedicated to an array of topics. The discovery of the new era of Nanomedicine and Nanotechnology and its application in Gastroenterology was discussed, and major topics like acute liver failure (ALF), gastric diverticula, gastric linitis adenocarcinoma, ischemic colitis, gastric cancer, esophageal tracheal fistula, pediatric gastro-intestinal endoscopy, colorectal cancer, adenomatous polyposis and ulcerative colitis were presented as abstracts. These efforts primarily sought to expand our research scope to include substantive or managerially impactful papers from different domains. The Journal has covered major topics on Ulcerative Colitis and associated disorders, Acute Cholangitis, Eosinophilic Esophagitis diagnosis and treatment. Endoscopic treatment of Esophageal Tracheal Fistula. Journal also focused in Pediatric Gastro-Intestinal Endoscopy. Treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases, the impact of Gut Microbiota on Host Obesity.

The major topics included so far in 2020 are Barrett’s esophagus, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and signet-ring adenocarcinoma.

Our upcoming special issues include “Gastrointestinal Malignant Tumors Treatment: From the Bench to the Clinic, Natural Products Chemoprevention against Gastrointestinal and Digestive disorders, Role of Polyamines on GI Mucosal Growth, The Crohn’s Disease Anoperineal Lesions, Relationship Between Bowel Disease and Osteoporosis, and The Role of Functional Autophagy in Intestinal Health and Diseases”.

Another key point I would like to discuss herein is the ability to build networks of social media followers that has helped foster communication and collaboration between scientists regardless of their geographical location.

Apart from the broad social media outlets such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, this is also possible through more specialized platforms that cater to smaller collaborating groups, some of which are focused at the workplace, for instance, Slack. The digital revolution has indeed provided alternative routes to disseminating scientific discoveries and keeping up-to-date with the literature.

Readers who use this journal are welcome to use @Gastrojournal. I would hereby thank all the reviewers and editors for their unending contributions.