The utility of ultrathin endoscopy with flexible spectral imaging color enhancement for early gastric cancer

Global progress and future prospects of early gastric cancer screening

Gastric cancer is a prevalent malignancy that poses a serious threat to global health. Despite advances in medical technologies, screening methods, and public awareness, gastric cancer remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Early gastric cancer frequently does not present with characteristic symptoms, while advanced stage disease is characterized by a dismal prognosis. As such, early screening in gastric cancer is of great importance. In recent years, advances have been made globally in both clinical and basic research for the screening of early gastric cancer. The current predominant screening methods for early gastric cancer include imaging screening, endoscopic screening and serum biomarker screening. Imaging screening encompasses upper gastrointestinal barium meal, multidimensional spiral computed tomography (MDCT), Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and ultrasonography. Endoscopic screening methods include white light endoscopy, chromoendoscopy, computed virtual chromoendoscopy, and other endoscopic techniques like endocytoscopy, confocal laser endomicroscopy, optical coherence tomography and so on. Biomarkers screening involves the assessment of conventional biomarkers such as CEA, CA19-9 and CA72-4 as well as more emerging biomarkers such as peptides (PG, G-17, GCAA, TAAs and others), DNA (cfDNA, DNA methylation, MSI), noncoding RNA (miRNA, lncRNA, circRNA, and tsRNA) and others. Each screening method has its strengths and limitations. This article systematically summarizes worldwide progress and future development of early gastric cancer screening methods to provide new perspectives and approaches for early diagnostic and treatment advancements in gastric cancer worldwide.

Study on the effectiveness of modified colonoscopy nursing pads in colonoscopy

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of modified colonoscopy nursing pads in colonoscopy.

METHODS

A total of 262 subjects who underwent colonoscopy at our endoscopy center between September 1, 2021 and February 28, 2022 were selected and randomly divided into a control group and an experimental group, with 131 cases in each group. The control group used conventional nursing pads, while the experimental group used modified nursing pads. The success rate of the first correct position, the time spent by the nurse to guide the correct position, the bed unit contamination rate, the contamination rate of the operator's protective equipment, the privacy protection of the examinees and the satisfaction degree after the examination were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

The success rate of the first correct position of the examinees in the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05), and the time spent by the nurses to guide the correct position in the experimental group was less than that of the control group (P < 0.05). The bed unit contamination rate and operator's protective equipment contamination rate of the experimental group were lower than those of the control group, and the satisfaction degree of the examinees was higher in the experimental group than in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The modified colonoscopy nursing pad can save the time of correct colonoscopy positioning of examinees, improve the efficiency of colonoscopy, reduce the workload of nursing staff, effectively protect the privacy of patients, reduce the bed unit contamination and protective equipment contamination, and then improve the comfort and satisfaction of patients.

Role of Delta/Notch-like epidermal growth factor-related receptor in gastric cancer patients and cells and its clinical significance

Gastric cancer (GC) is a common digestive system malignancy. The aim of this study was to explore the role of Delta/Notch-like epidermal growth factor-related receptor (DNER) in GC patients and cells. Gene expression omnibus data base public databases were used to analyze the DNER expression in GC patient. A total of 30 cases of GC and adjacent tissue samples were retrospectively obtained to analyze the DNER expression. MTT assay was conducted to measure the cell viability. The apoptosis rate of GC cells was determined by flow cytometry. The migration and invasion were detected by transwell assay. Real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot were performed to measure the DNER expression. Bioinformatics tools exhibited that DNER expression is significantly upregulated in the GC, which was also found in GC tissues and cells. The high levels of DNER were closely related the tumor size, sex and lymph node metastasis. Additionally, the survival rate of patients with high DNER expression is decreased. Furthermore, knockdown of DNER inhibits the proliferation, migration and invasion, and induces the apoptosis rate of the GC cells. DNER was upregulated in GC and knockdown of DNER inhibits the growth and metastasis of DNER. DNER may be a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target of GC patients.

Unsedated Transnasal Endoscopy: A Safe, Well-Tolerated and Accurate Alternative to Standard Diagnostic Peroral Endoscopy

Diagnostic unsedated transnasal endoscopy (uTNE) has been proven to be a safe and well-tolerated procedure. Although its utilization in the United Kingdom (UK) is increasing, it is currently available in only a few centers. Through consideration of recent studies, we aimed to perform an updated review of the technological advances in uTNE, consider their impact on diagnostic accuracy, and to determine the role of uTNE in the COVID-19 era. Current literature has shown that the diagnostic accuracy of uTNE for identification of esophageal pathology is equivalent to conventional esophagogastroduodenoscopy (cEGD). Concerns regarding suction and biopsy size have been addressed by the introduction of TNE scopes with working channels of 2.4 mm. Advances in imaging have improved detection of early gastric cancers. The procedure is associated with less cardiac stress and reduced aerosol production; when combined with no need for sedation and improved rates of patient turnover, uTNE is an efficient and safe alternative to cEGD in the COVID-19 era. We conclude that advances in technology have improved the diagnostic accuracy of uTNE to the point where it could be considered the first line diagnostic endoscopic investigation in the majority of patients. It could also play a central role in the recovery of diagnostic endoscopic services during the COVID-19 pandemic.