Correlation between anxiety and decreased quality of life in patients with non-esophageal eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases

Background and Aim

Mental status such as anxiety and depression in patients with non-esophageal eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases (non-EoE EGIDs) has not been studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether patients with non-EoE EGIDs had mental disorders and decreased mental-health-related quality of life (QOL) similar to those in patients with disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI).

Methods

We enrolled patients with non-EoE EGIDs and DGBI visiting the Osaka Metropolitan University Hospital, and the measures listed below were compared between the groups. We collected data using the following questionnaires: hospital anxiety and depression scale, and short form (SF)-8 including mental component summary (MCS)-8.

Results

We evaluated 21 and 17 patients with non-EoE EGIDs and DGBI, respectively. The anxiety score was not significantly different between the groups. The proportion of patients with possible anxiety was not significantly different between the groups (19.0% vs 33.3%). These results show that patients with non-EoE EGIDs had anxiety that might be equivalent to that of patients with DGBI. The depression score and proportion of patients with possible depression in the non-EoE EGID group tended to be lower than those in the DGBI group. MCS-8 scores were not significantly different between the non-EoE EGID and DGBI groups, which might imply an equivalent decrease in mental-health-related QOL in both groups of patients. In patients with non-EoE EGIDs, the anxiety score had a significant inverse association with the MCS-8 score.

Conclusions

Patients with non-EoE EGIDs may have anxiety that correlates with decreased mental-health-related QOL.

The impact of COVID-19 on Japanese patients with eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders during the vaccination era

Background

Eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders (EGIDs) are chronic allergic diseases categorized as eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and non-EoE EGIDs. Few studies regarding the association between EGIDs and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been reported. Although most Japanese individuals received the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccine, the incidence of COVID-19 remained high in 2022. This study examines the incidence of COVID-19 in patients with EGIDs during the vaccination era.

Methods

Patients with EGIDs who visited our department between October and December 2022 were enrolled in the study. The incidence and severity of COVID-19 prior to October 1, 2022 were determined. Patients who reported having COVID-19 also reported their hospitalization history, intensive care unit admissions, and EGID flares. The number of SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations received and treatment for EGIDs were obtained from the patients' medical records.

Results

Of 111 patients with EGIDs (65 with EoE and 46 with non-EoE EGIDs) included in this study, 31 (28%) patients reported having COVID-19, including 14 (22%) with EoE and 17 (37%) with non-EoE EGIDs. Fifty-nine (84%) patients received two or more vaccinations, and 11 (16%) patients received no vaccinations. COVID-19 was mild in all but one patient who had moderate symptoms. COVID-19 was not associated with EGID flares. EGID treatments and an unvaccinated status were not associated with an increased risk of COVID-19.

Conclusion

COVID-19 was mild in patients with EGIDs and not associated with EGIDs flares during the vaccination era. There was a relatively high incidence of COVID-19 among patients with non-EoE EGIDs.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Lifestyle and Psychosocial Behavior of Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: A Narrative Review

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has had a considerable impact on the global healthcare system and potentially the clinical course of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Although IBD is a chronic disease, its therapy (except steroid therapy) does not increase the risk of contracting or aggravating COVID-19. However, the clinical course of patients is significantly influenced by environmental factors. Social restrictions due to the pandemic or the fear of contracting the virus have influenced lifestyle and psychosocial behaviors that may worsen the clinical course of patients with IBD. This narrative literature review summarizes the current evidence on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the lifestyle and psychosocial behaviors of patients with IBD. The COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected the lifestyle and psychosocial behaviors of patients with IBD. Furthermore, patients with IBD failed to maintain medication adherence, thus affecting the clinical course of their condition.

Risk factors for adverse events associated with endoscopic submucosal dissection for superficial pharyngeal cancer

BACKGROUND

Superficial pharyngeal cancer can be treated with curative intent while preserving function using minimally invasive peroral endoscopic resection techniques such as endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). However, severe adverse events occasionally occur, such as laryngeal edema requiring temporary tracheotomy and fistula formation. Therefore, we investigated the risk factors for adverse events associated with ESD for superficial pharyngeal cancer.

METHODS

This retrospective observational study was conducted at a single institution, and 63 patients who underwent ESD were enrolled. The primary outcome was the risk factors for adverse events associated with ESD. The secondary outcomes were adverse events associated with ESD and their frequency.

RESULTS

The overall adverse event rate was 15.9% (10/63). The incidence of laryngeal edema requiring prophylactic temporary tracheotomy was 11.1%, while laryngeal edema requiring emergency temporary tracheotomy, postoperative bleeding, aspiration pneumonia, fistula, abscess, and stricture formation occurred in 1.6% of patients, respectively. Logistic regression analyses showed that a history of radiotherapy for head and neck cancer was a risk factor for adverse events (odds ratio [OR], 16.67; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.04-91.34; p = 0.001). After adjusting the model for differences in the baseline risk factors using the inverse probability of treatment weighting method, the adverse events were found to increase in association with a history of radiotherapy for head and neck cancer (OR, 39.66; 95% CI,5.85-268.72; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

History of radiotherapy for head and neck cancer is an independent risk factor for adverse events associated with ESD for superficial pharyngeal cancer. Among adverse events, laryngeal edema requiring prophylactic temporary tracheotomy was particularly high.

Upper gastrointestinal endoscopic findings in functional constipation and irritable bowel syndrome diagnosed using the Rome IV criteria: a cross-sectional survey during a medical check-up in Japan

BACKGROUND

The Rome IV criteria have been established as an international standard for diagnosing disorders of gut-brain interaction. In this study, we aimed to examine the upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopic findings and symptoms of subjects with functional constipation (FC) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) of individuals undergoing a medical check-up.

METHODS

A total of 13,729 subjects underwent a medical check-up at Osaka City University-affiliated clinic, MedCity21, between April 2018 and March 2019. Among the 5,840 subjects who underwent screening upper GI endoscopy and completed a questionnaire based on the Rome IV criteria, 5,402 subjects were consecutively enrolled after excluding subjects with a large amount of gastric residue (n = 6), those who had previously undergone partial or total gastrectomy (n = 40), or those with daily use of low-dose aspirin (n = 82), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (n = 63), or acid secretion inhibitors (n = 308).

RESULTS

Robust Poisson regression analyses adjusted for age, sex, Helicobacter pylori infection status, alcohol intake, and smoking habits showed a significant association between FC and corpus erosion (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR], 2.93; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.51-5.67; p < 0.01) and red streaks (aPR, 3.83; 95% CI, 2.53-5.79; p < 0.01), whereas IBS was significantly associated with erosive gastritis (aPR, 8.46; 95% CI, 4.89-14.67; p < 0.01) and duodenitis (aPR, 7.28; 95% CI, 3.64-14.59; p < 0.01). Red streaks tended to be associated with IBS (aPR, 1.96; 95% CI, 1.00-3.83; p = 0.05). Subjects with IBS were the most to complain of both upper and lower GI symptoms and psychological symptoms, followed by those with FC and controls. IBS subjects with erosive gastritis or duodenitis had significantly more complaints of stomachache and feeling stressed than those without erosive gastritis or duodenitis (54.5% vs. 18.8%; p = 0.03 and 66.7% vs. 25.0%; p = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Subjects with FC and IBS had a variety of upper GI and psychological symptoms. In the upper GI endoscopic findings, corpus erosion and red streaks were associated with FC, and erosive gastritis, duodenitis, and possibly red streaks were associated with IBS.

Esophageal mast cells may be associated with the perception of symptoms in patients with eosinophilic esophagitis

BACKGROUND

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a type 2 helper T-cell (Th2)-mediated allergic disease that involves mast cells. This study aimed to clarify the relationship between perception of symptoms and mast cell levels in patients with EoE.

METHODS

We enrolled patients with asymptomatic esophageal eosinophilia (aEE) and those with symptomatic EoE. Immunofluorescence staining was performed on esophageal biopsy specimens to quantify mast cell-related molecules, such as tryptase, proteinase-activated receptor (PAR)-2, and vasoactive intestinal peptide receptor (VPAC)-1.

RESULTS

We evaluated 28 and 58 patients with aEE and EoE, respectively. There were no significant differences in clinical and endoscopic features and peak eosinophil counts between both groups. Mast cell tryptase-positive areas were significantly higher in EoE than in aEE (4.9 [3.5-6.2] vs. 2.0 [1.2-3.4] %, p < 0.01). The number of PAR-2-positive cells was significantly higher in EoE than in aEE (14 [8.8-20.0] vs. 4 [2.8-8.0] cells/high-power field [HPF], p < 0.01). The number of VPAC-1-positive cells was significantly higher in the EoE group than in the aEE group (13 [8.8-16.0] vs. 6 [3.0-9.3] cells/HPF, p < 0.01). A positive correlation was observed between the numbers of PAR-2-positive cells and VPAC-1-positive cells (r = 0.851, p < 0.01). Moreover, mast cell tryptase-positive areas positively correlated with the number of PAR-2- and VPAC-1-positive cells (r = 0.352, p < 0.01; r = 0.355, p < 0.01, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Esophageal mast cells and their receptors, PAR-2 and VPAC-1, may contribute to the perception of symptoms in patients with EoE.

Pretreatment serum monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 as a predictor of long-term outcome by ustekinumab in patients with Crohn's disease

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Ustekinumab has been proven to be effective for treatment of patients with Crohn's disease; however, 30-40% of patients have been reported to lose clinical response within 2 years. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of ustekinumab and identify predictors of short-term and long-term efficacy in Crohn's disease.

METHODS

Patients with Crohn's disease receiving their first ustekinumab infusion in our hospital between June 2017 and September 2020 were prospectively enrolled. Concentrations of serum cytokines and chemokines were measured using a multiplex bead array assay.

RESULTS

Fifty-nine Crohn's disease patients were enrolled in this study. Among 34 clinically active patients, 38.2% achieved a clinical response at week 8. None of the assayed factors were associated with short-term clinical response. Cumulative persistence rates of ustekinumab were 77.6% at 1 year and 58.9% at 2 years. Univariate Cox regression analysis revealed that Harvey-Bradshaw Index scores at baseline, concomitant immunomodulator treatment, and concentrations of interferon gamma-induced protein-10, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and interleukin (IL)-1RA, IL-4, IL-6, and IL-8 were significantly associated with loss of efficacy. Multivariate Cox regression analysis found that biologic naïve status (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.1191, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.02458-0.5774) and MCP-1 concentrations (HR: 1.038, 95% CI: 1.015-1.062) were significantly and associated with loss of sustained efficacy for ustekinumab treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that pretreatment serum MCP-1 analysis, combined with a history of biologic use, could be a novel biomarker for predicting the long-term efficacy of ustekinumab in patients with Crohn's disease.

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio may predict clinical relapse in ulcerative colitis patients with mucosal healing

Endoscopic mucosal healing (MH) is an important treatment goal for patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) reflects systemic inflammation and has been reported to be a useful predictive marker for UC. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical utility of the NLR for predicting clinical relapse in UC patients with MH. We retrospectively enrolled patients with UC who underwent colonoscopy at the Osaka City University Hospital between January 2010 and December 2010, whose Mayo Endoscopic Subscore was 0 or 1. The correlation between the incidence of relapse and demographic factors, including the NLR, was analyzed. We included 129 patients in the present study. The median NLR at the time of endoscopy was 1.98, and differences in the high NLR group and the low NLR group were compared. During a median follow-up period of 46.4 months, 58 patients (45.0%) experienced relapse. The cumulative relapse-free rate was significantly higher in the low NLR group than in the high NLR group (P = 0.03, log-rank test). Multivariate analysis identified high NLR as an independent prognostic factor for clinical relapse (hazard ratio, 1.74; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-2.98; P = 0.04). NLR is a novel and useful predictor of clinical relapse in UC patients with MH, and it can potentially be a strong indicator to determine the appropriate treatment strategy and decision-making in clinical practice.

Long-term rebleeding rate and predictive factors of rebleeding after capsule endoscopy in patients with obscure GI bleeding

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The incidence of rebleeding in obscure GI bleeding (OGIB) remains unclear. This study used capsule endoscopy (CE) to determine the long-term rebleeding rate and predictive factors for rebleeding in patients with OGIB.

METHODS

This single-center, observational study enrolled consecutive patients with OGIB who underwent CE as the first small intestinal examination between March 2004 and December 2015 and were followed up through medical records or letters.

RESULTS

Three hundred eighty-nine patients were included in the analysis. Survival curve analysis showed that the overall cumulative rebleeding rate in OGIB during the 5 years was 41.7%. Multivariate analysis using the Cox proportional hazards model revealed that overt OGIB (hazard ratio [HR], 2.017; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.299-3.131; P = .002), anticoagulants (HR, 1.930; 95% CI, 1.093-3.410; P = .023), positive balloon-assisted enteroscopy findings after CE (HR, 2.927; 95% CI, 1.791-4.783; P < .001), and iron supplements without therapeutic intervention (HR, 2.202; 95% CI, 1.386-3.498; P = .001) were associated with rebleeding, whereas a higher minimum hemoglobin level (HR, .902; 95% CI, .834-.975; P = .009) and therapeutic intervention (HR, .288; 95% CI, .145-.570; P < .001) significantly reduced the risk of rebleeding. Among the Charlson Comorbidity Index components, liver cirrhosis was an independent predictor associated with rebleeding in patients with OGIB (HR, 4.362; 95% CI, 2.622-7.259; P < .001) and in patients with negative CE findings (HR, 8.961; 95% CI, 4.424-18.150; P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Rebleeding is common during the long-term follow-up of patients with OGIB. Careful follow-up is required for patients with liver cirrhosis or previous massive bleeding.

Gastrointestinal IgG4 Deposition Is a New Histopathological Feature of Eosinophilic Gastroenteritis

BACKGROUND

The pathogenesis of eosinophilic esophagitis involves immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) deposition. However, the relationship between IgG4 and eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EGE) is unclear.

AIMS

To investigate gastrointestinal deposition of IgG4 in EGE.

METHODS

Biopsies of the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine were evaluated in patients with and without EGE. Immunohistochemical staining for IgG4 was performed, and the proportions of the stained areas were compared. Sera from patients with EGE were assayed for food-specific IgG4, including egg white, wheat, rice, soy, and cow milk.

RESULTS

Seventeen patients were included in this study (EGE group, n = 10; control group, n = 7). Compared with the control group, the proportion of IgG4-stained area in the EGE group was approximately threefold higher (40.2% [32.3-49.5]) vs. 12.1% [4.0-21.9], p = 0.014) in the esophagus, fivefold higher in the stomach (17.3% [11.1-26.2] vs. 3.7% [1.5-5.2], p = 0.014), and sixfold higher in the small intestine (28.0% [15.0-33.2] vs. 4.5% [2.6-9.8], p = 0.019). There was no significant association between the proportion of IgG4-stained area and the number of infiltrating eosinophils. Serum egg white-specific IgG4 levels were correlated with the proportion of IgG4-stained areas in the small intestine (R = 0.7, p = 0.035).

CONCLUSIONS

IgG4 accumulated within the gastrointestinal mucosa in EGE. The positive correlation between serum egg white-specific IgG4 levels and the proportion of IgG4-stained areas in the small intestine suggests a role for IgG4 in the disease pathophysiology.

Short bevacizumab infusion as an effective and safe treatment for colorectal cancer

Bevacizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that contains <10% murine protein. To prevent infusion-related hypersensitivity reactions (HSRs), the initial bevacizumab infusion is delivered for 90 min, the second for 60 min and subsequent doses for 30 min. Several previous studies have shown that short bevacizumab infusions are safe and do not result in severe HSRs in patients with colorectal, lung, ovarian and brain cancer. However, the efficacy of short bevacizumab infusions for colorectal cancer management remains unclear. Therefore, to investigate this issue, a prospective multicenter study was conducted using 23 patients enrolled between June 2017 and March 2019. The initial infusion of bevacizumab was for 30 min followed by a second infusion rate of 0.5 mg/kg/min (5 mg/kg over 10 min and 7.5 mg/kg over 15 min. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). The overall response and disease control rates were 57 and 87%, respectively. The median PFS time was 306 days (interquartile range, 204-743 days). No HSRs were noted. Adverse events associated with bevacizumab included grade 4 small intestinal perforation and grade 3 stroke in 1 patient each. These results suggest that a short bevacizumab infusion regime comprising an initial infusion for 30 min followed by a second infusion at 0.5 mg/kg/min is safe and efficacious for the management of colorectal cancer.

Lustrous White Erosions Surrounded by an Erythematous Mucosa: A Novel Endoscopic Finding of Gastric Lesions in Patients with Wilson Disease

Wilson disease is an inherited copper metabolism disorder. We herein report a novel endoscopic finding in three men with Wilson disease. These patients underwent upper endoscopy due to gastrointestinal symptoms or during follow-up. In each case, endoscopy revealed lustrous white erosions surrounded by an erythematous mucosa in the greater curvature of the gastric body. A biopsy of the lesions showed orcein-positive tissue, indicating copper deposition, in the interstitial stroma and fundic glands of the mucosa. All patients had been receiving treatment with zinc acetate. These endoscopic findings might have been related to the cytotoxicity of the accumulated copper and zinc acetate.

Pirfenidone prevents esophageal stricture by inhibiting nucleotide binding oligomerization domain like receptor protein 3 inflammasome activation

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Esophageal injury often results in a scar, leading to refractory strictures. The NLRP3 inflammasome activates caspase-1, causing the maturation of interleukin (IL)-1β. Here, we aimed to investigate the preventive effect of pirfenidone (PFD), an antifibrotic drug, on esophageal stricture after ulcer healing and studied its mechanism by focusing on the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome.

METHODS

Esophageal ulcers were induced in rats via the local application of acetic acid in the serosa. PFD was intraperitoneally administered to the rats 3 days after ulcer induction. The effect of PFD on esophageal stricture after ulcer healing was assessed by esophagography on day 9. The protein levels of mature caspase-1 and IL-1β were assessed by western blotting.

RESULTS

The ulcers fully developed 3 days after induction and were almost scarred by day 9 with severe strictures. PFD promoted ulcer healing and attenuated fibrotic collagen in the submucosa by suppressing the increase in NLRP3, cleaved caspase-1, and mature IL-1β expression, improving stricture rate (PFD vs vehicle = 55% vs 81%). Exogenous IL-1β abolished the therapeutic effects of PFD on ulcer healing and stricture formation. Furthermore, NLRP3 and caspase-1 inhibitors mimicked the effects of PFD on ulcer healing and stricture formation, with suppression of the increase in cleaved caspase-1 and mature IL-1β proteins and expression of fibrosis-related molecules including transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1.

CONCLUSION

The NLRP3 inflammasome promotes esophageal stricture formation following ulcer healing, and PFD exerts potential prophylactic activity against strictures, possibly via the inhibition of the NLRP3/IL-1β/TGF-β1 axis.

Angle of covered self-expandable metallic stents after placement is a risk factor for recurrent biliary obstruction

BACKGROUND

Studies have shown that covered self-expandable metallic stents (CSEMS) with a low axial forces after placement can cause early recurrent biliary obstruction (RBO) due to precipitating sludge formation.

AIM

To ascertain whether the angle of CSEMS after placement is a risk factor for RBO in unresectable distal malignant biliary obstruction (MBO).

METHODS

Between January 2010 and March 2019, 261 consecutive patients underwent self-expandable metallic stent insertion by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography at our facility, and 87 patients were included in this study. We evaluated the risk factors for RBO, including the angle of CSEMS after placement as the primary outcome. We measured the obtuse angle of CSEMS after placement on an abdominal radiograph using the SYNAPSE PACS system. We also evaluated technical and functional success, adverse events, time to RBO (TRBO), non-RBO rate, survival time, cause of RBO, and reintervention procedure as secondary outcomes.

RESULTS

We divided the patients into two cohorts based on the presence or absence of RBO. The angle of CSEMS after placement (per 1° and per 10°) was evaluated using the multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis, which was an independent risk factor for RBO in unresectable distal MBO [hazard ratio, 0.97 and 0.71; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.94-0.99 and 0.54-0.92; P = 0.01 and 0.01, respectively]. For early diagnosis of RBO, the cut-off value of the angle of CSEMS after placement using the receiver operating characteristic curve was 130° [sensitivity, 50.0%; specificity 85.5%; area under the curve 0.70 (95%CI: 0.57-0.84)]. TRBO in the < 130° angle group was significantly shorter than that in the ≥ 130° angle group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that the angle of the CSEMS after placement for unresectable distal MBO is a risk factor for RBO. These novel results provide pertinent information for future stent management.

Effect of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Lockdown on Lifestyle Factors in Japanese Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Objective To examine the effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown on lifestyle factors and psychological stress in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Methods A retrospective study was conducted on patients with IBD in Japan 2 months after the initiation of the first state of emergency (June 16 to August 21, 2020). A self-reported questionnaire was used to collect data, and lifestyle factors and psychological stress levels before and after the state of emergency were compared. Patients Patients with IBD who were followed up regularly at Osaka City University Hospital from June 16 to August 21, 2020, were included and were classified into elderly (≥65 years old) and non-elderly groups (<65 years old). Results The study sample comprised 451 responders (241, ulcerative colitis; 210, Crohn's disease; 0, COVID-19). The sleep duration increased, whereas the exercise, working, and walking durations decreased during the COVID-19 lockdown. The proportion of patients with psychological stress due to COVID-19, those with an inability to exercise, and those staying indoors increased significantly during COVID-19 lockdown. Lifestyle factors changed more markedly in non-elderly patients, those who were more stressed due to COVID-19, those with the inability to exercise, and those staying indoors during COVID-19 lockdown. Among elderly patients, no significant changes were identified in stress-causing factors. Conclusion The COVID-19 lockdown affected lifestyle factors and psychological stress in patients with IBD, particularly non-elderly patients. These findings may be helpful in suggesting favorable lifestyle changes for patients with IBD.

A case of paradoxical response during anti-tuberculosis treatment in a patient with ulcerative colitis

Emerging anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α antibodies therapy changed treatment strategy to inflammatory bowel diseases because of the efficacy. However, TNF-α inhibitor can be associated with an increased risk of infectious complications, especially tuberculosis. A 71-year-old female with steroid-dependent ulcerative colitis (UC) was admitted due to relapse of UC with endoscopically severe active. Golimumab and adjunctive prednisolone started with 30 mg daily resulted in clinical remission. However, she had general fatigue and fever at the time of seventh injection of golimumab without abdominal symptoms. Based on positive interferon-gamma release assay, polymerase chain reaction positive for tuberculosis (TB) in pleural fluid, and chest computed tomography, she was diagnosed as tuberculous pleuritis. Standard anti-TB treatment (isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol, and pyrazinamide) was started without cessation of golimumab, because cessation of TNF-α inhibitors during anti-TB treatment could cause the paradoxical response by skewing from regulatory to inflammatory immune responses. However, four weeks after initiation of anti-TB treatment, she got fever-up and pleural effusion increased. We then started prednisolone 30 mg daily as diagnosis of paradoxical response, resulting in improving the symptoms. This is a suggestive case of paradoxical response during anti-TB treatment despite continuous TNF-α inhibitors.

Pyogenic Spondylitis Caused by Staphylococcus schleiferi in a Patient with Crohn's Disease

Staphylococcus schleiferi has rarely been reported to cause pyogenic spondylitis. A 42-year-old man had been treated for Crohn's disease with immunosuppressive agents and home parenteral nutrition via a central vein (CV) port. The patient was admitted to our hospital, presenting with neck pain and a fever. A neurological examination showed slight weakness in his left-hand muscles, and he was diagnosed with pyogenic spondylitis of C6 and C7 vertebral bodies due to catheter-related blood stream infection caused by S. schleiferi. An early diagnosis by magnetic resonance imaging, CV port removal and antibiotic therapy targeting S. schleiferi improved his symptoms.

Interferon-α exerts proinflammatory properties in experimental radiation-induced esophagitis: Possible involvement of plasmacytoid dendritic cells

AIMS

Radiation-induced esophagitis, experienced during radiation therapy for lung cancer and head and neck cancer, is a major dose-limiting side effect of the treatment. This study aimed to elucidate the role of interferon-α (IFN-α) in radiation-induced esophagitis.

MAIN METHODS

C57BL/6 mice were exposed to 10 and 25Gy of single thoracic irradiation. Esophageal mucosal damage and inflammatory reactions were assessed for 5 days after irradiation.

KEY FINDINGS

Irradiation induced esophagitis, characterized by reduction in the thickness of epithelial layer, upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, infiltration of inflammatory cells into the esophageal mucosa, and apoptosis of epithelial cells. Irradiation upregulated the level of gene expression for IFN-α in the esophageal tissue, and the neutralizing antibody against IFN-α ameliorated radiation-induced esophageal mucosal damage, while administration of IFN-α receptor agonist (RO8191) had an inverse effect. Depletion of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) by anti-CD317 antibody or pharmacological inactivation with bortezomib suppressed radiation-induced mucosal inflammation and damage, accompanied by decrease in IFN-α expression level.

SIGNIFICANCE

These findings suggest that IFN-α and pDCs exert proinflammatory properties in the pathophysiology of radiation-induced esophagitis.

[Current real-world treatments for Japanese patients with eosinophilic esophagitis]

A total of 306 patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) were analyzed at our department. Proton pump inhibitors or potassium-competitive acid blockers were used as the first-line treatment in 286 (93.5%) patients. Fifty-five (18.0%) patients received topical steroid swallowing therapy. During 17.7-month mean follow-up, 46.4% of the patients were followed-up with no medications, 37.3% of the patients received maintenance or on-demand therapy using acid-suppressive drugs, and 9.8% of the patients received maintenance therapy with steroid swallowing. The majority of patients with EoE were treated using a therapeutic strategy similar to that used for gastroesophageal reflux disease. However, some patients were refractory to the treatment. Current real-world treatment strategies for Japanese patients with EoE are clarified.

A questionnaire-based survey on the etiopathogenesis of chronic constipation during a medical check-up in Japan

The study group of the Japanese Society of Gastroenterology released evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for chronic constipation (CC) in 2017, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) was treated as one of the causes of CC. We examined the differences in characteristics between IBS and non-IBS subjects with CC who underwent a medical check-up in Japan. A total of 10,658 subjects participated in this study, and we focused on 467 subjects who fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of CC using a questionnaire survey. The number of IBS subjects was 21, and they had sleep disorders, were more symptomatic (e.g., abdominal pain, abdominal bloating/distension, feeling stressed, annoyance, lack of motivation, fatigue upon waking, and feeling depressed), and had more episodes of sensation of incomplete evacuation and anorectal obstruction/blockage during defecation than non-IBS subjects. Furthermore, stool frequency of IBS subjects was significantly different from non-IBS subjects. Multivariate ordinal logistic regression analysis revealed that the factors associated with a higher stool frequency were IBS [odds ratio (OR), 2.46; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.00–6.05; p = 0.049], male sex (OR, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.20–3.23; p = 0.007), and regular exercise (OR, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.05–3.07; p = 0.033). These findings suggest that IBS has unique characteristics in subjects with CC.

Prevalence and risk factor for chronic diarrhea in participants of a Japanese medical checkup

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Although chronic diarrhea is a major digestive disorder, it has not been well studied. The aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of chronic diarrhea in the Japanese population and to assess the relationship between stool type and frequency and symptoms related to chronic diarrhea.

METHOD

A total of 13 668 adults who underwent a medical checkup at MedCity21 were enrolled, and 9540 who met the inclusion criteria participated in the study. Participants with chronic diarrhea were defined as those who typically had a Bristol Stool Form Scale of type 6 or 7.

RESULTS

The prevalence of chronic diarrhea was 3.0%. The risk factors for chronic diarrhea were younger age (odds ratio [OR] 0.984, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.972-0.996), male sex (OR = 2.270, CI = 1.730-2.960), alcohol intake on ≥5 days per week (OR = 2.390, CI = 1.860-3.060), not getting adequate sleep (OR = 0.712, CI = 0.559-0.907), skipping breakfast ≥3 times a week (OR = 1.490, CI = 1.120-1.980), and absence of diabetes mellitus (OR = 0.384, CI = 0.179-0.824). Only 23.5% of the participants in the diarrhea group had ≥3 bowel movements per day. Chronic diarrhea was significantly associated with heartburn, nausea, stomach ache, abdominal bloating and distension, and feeling of stress.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study shows that chronic diarrhea is common in Japan with a prevalence of 3.0%; unique risk factors related to gender, age, and irregular lifestyle were identified. An understanding of bowel habit in the healthy population is helpful for the assessment of change in bowel habit associated with gastrointestinal disorders.

Impact of the Lockdown Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic on Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Background: The government of Japan declared a state of emergency on April 16, 2020, owing to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The subsequent lockdown altered lifestyles and worsened mental illnesses. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an intestinal disorder that is affected by environmental factors. Therefore, we aimed to assess the effects of COVID-19 and the state of emergency on the lifestyle and disease activity of patients with IBD. Methods: We conducted a questionnaire survey on patients with IBD from June 16 to August 21, 2020 during their regular follow-up at our hospital, 2 months after the state of emergency was declared. Results: Overall, 241 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 210 with Crohn's disease (CD) completed the survey, of which 82 (34%) and 97 (46%) patients, respectively, reported disease exacerbation within 2 months after the lockdown. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified age at enrollment (odds ratio, OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.96-0.99; P < 0.05), sleep hours (OR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.57-0.97; P < 0.05), and increased stress due to the COVID-19 pandemic (OR, 6.06; 95% CI, 1.79-20.50; P < 0.01) as independent factors associated with UC exacerbation. Patients with exacerbated CD were younger at CD onset and had higher patient-reported outcome 2 scores before the state of emergency than patients with non-exacerbated CD. On multivariate analysis, age (OR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.95-0.99; P < 0.01) and active disease before the state of emergency (OR, 2.20; 95% CI, 1.23-3.95; P < 0.01) were independently associated with CD exacerbation. Conclusions: Improving sleep quality and preventing psychological stress may be crucial in IBD management during a pandemic, especially in young patients.

Ovariectomy-Induced Dysbiosis May Have a Minor Effect on Bone in Mice

We determined the bone mineral density (BMD) and the expression of serum bone formation marker (procollagen type I N-terminal propeptide: PINP) and bone resorption marker (C-terminal telopeptide of collagen: CTX) by ELISA to evaluate ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis in ovariectomized (OVX) mice. The intestinal microbiota of the mice was assessed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. OVX mice exhibited a lower BMD of 87% with higher serum levels of CTX and PINP compared to sham-operated (sham) mice. The cecum microbiome of OVX mice showed lower bacterial diversity than that of sham mice. TNFα mRNA levels in the colon were 1.6 times higher, and zonula occludens-1 mRNA and protein expression were lower in OVX mice than in sham mice, suggesting that ovariectomy induced inflammation and increased intestinal permeability. Next, we used antibiotic treatment followed by fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) to remodel the gut microbiota in the OVX mice. A decrease in PINP was observed in antibiotic-treated mice, while there was no change in BMD or CTX between mice with and without antibiotic treatment. Oral transplantation of the luminal cecal content of OVX or sham mice to antibiotic-treated mice did not affect the BMD or PINP and CTX expression. Additionally, transplantation of the luminal contents of OVX or sham mice to antibiotic-treated OVX mice had similar effects on BMD, PINP, and CTX. In conclusion, although ovariectomy induces dysbiosis in the colon, the changes in the gut microbiota may only have a minor role in ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis.

A mask-based infection control method for screening endoscopy may prevent SARS-CoV-2 transmission and relieve staff anxiety

Objectives:

Endoscopy confers high risk for acquiring coronavirus disease 2019. Although guidelines recommend that medical staff use personal protective equipment, no infection control equipment have been established for patients. This study aimed to clarify the usefulness of two face masks we had designed for transnasal and transoral endoscopy.

Methods:

The efficacy of the masks was evaluated by simulating coughing in a mannequin with fluorescent dyes and mapping the droplet trajectory and number. The number of aerosols generated during endoscopy was clinically evaluated in the endoscopy room. Overall, 4356 screening endoscopies were performed with the patients wearing our masks at Medcity21, a health checkup facility, between June and December 2020; the effects of the masks on the patient’s condition were evaluated retrospectively. An 11-item paper-based survey was performed by the endoscopy staff 6 months after the adoption of the mask-based infection control method.

Results:

Use of both masks reduced the number of droplets released during the simulation. Clinically, the use of both masks did not affect the patients’ conditions during endoscopy and prevented an increase in the aerosols in the endoscopy room. This mask-based infection control method was favorably received, and all staff indicated that understanding the efficacy of our mask-based infection control reduced their anxiety regarding infection. Until December 2020, none of our staff had contracted SARS-CoV-2.

Conclusion:

Our mask-based infection control method is easy to adopt, inexpensive, and effective; understanding its effectiveness may help ease the fear of infection among endoscopy staff.

Evaluation of long-term survival in patients with severe comorbidities after endoscopic submucosal dissection for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is becoming widely popular as a less invasive treatment option for superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. However, data on long-term survival after esophageal ESD in patients with severe comorbidities are limited. This study aimed to evaluate long-term survival after ESD in such patients.

METHODS

Altogether, 584 consecutive patients underwent esophageal ESD at our institution from May 2004 to September 2016. Based on the American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status (ASA-PS) classification system, patients were grouped according to severe (ASA-PS ≥ 3) or non-severe comorbidities (ASA-PS 1/2). The overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and risk factors for mortality were compared between the groups using a propensity score matching analysis.

RESULTS

In a matched cohort of 69 pairs, the 5-year OS rate was poorer in ASA-PS 3 patients than in ASA-PS 1/2 patients (63.9% vs. 92.5%, P < 0.01), while the 5-year DSS rate was similar between the groups (100% vs. 100%). The mortality rate was significantly higher in ASA-PS 3 patients than in ASA-PS 1/2 patients (hazard ratio 3.47; 95% confidence interval 1.79-6.74; P < 0.01). Death due to exacerbation of comorbidities was significantly more frequent in ASA-PS 3 patients than in ASA-PS 1/2 patients (42.4% vs. 8.3%, P < 0.04).

CONCLUSION

Because of the exacerbation of comorbidities, patients with severe comorbidities had poorer long-term outcomes after esophageal ESD than those with non-severe comorbidities. Further studies will be necessary to evaluate esophageal ESD in patients with severe comorbidities.

NOD-Like Receptor Family Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Inflammasome Activation Exacerbates 5-Fluorouracil-Induced Small Intestinal Mucositis via Interleukin-1β Activation

BACKGROUND AND AIM

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is an anticancer agent that induces intestinal mucositis, which causes diarrhea and dehydration. The NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is responsible for inflammatory response activation via caspase-1 cleavage and subsequent interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-18 activation and secretion. The objective of this study was to determine the role of the NLRP3 inflammasome in 5-FU-induced small intestinal mucositis.

METHODS

Small intestinal mucositis was induced in wild-type, NLRP3-/-, and caspase-1-/- mice by intraperitoneal injection of 5-FU. Some mice received intraperitoneal injection of a caspase-1 inhibitor, recombinant IL-1β or IL-18, or neutralizing antibody against IL-1β.

RESULTS

Mice treated with 5-FU developed small intestinal mucositis with diarrhea and body weight loss, characterized by a decrease in villus height and the villus height-to-crypt depth ratio. These histological changes peaked on day 3 and were accompanied by an increase in mRNA expression of NLRP3 and IL-1β and protein expression of cleaved caspase-1 and mature IL-1β. Mature IL-18 protein expression was not affected by 5-FU administration. NLRP3-/- mice exhibited less severe 5-FU-induced mucositis, and this phenotype was mimicked by genetic depletion or pharmacological inhibition of caspase-1. Small intestinal mucositis was aggravated by exogenous IL-1β and neutralized by IL-1β antibody treatment. Administration of exogenous IL-18 or anti-IL-18 antibody did not affect any parameters associated with mucositis. NLRP3, cleaved caspase-1, and IL-1β were expressed by inflammatory cells (mainly macrophages) in the lamina propria and damaged epithelial cells.

CONCLUSIONS

NLRP3 inflammasome activation may exacerbate 5-FU-induced small intestinal mucositis via IL-1β maturation.

Prevalence and risk factors of functional constipation in the Rome IV criteria during a medical check-up in Japan

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Functional constipation (FC) is one of the functional bowel disorders with symptoms of constipation in the Rome IV criteria. This study aimed to examine the epidemiology of FC in a large-scale survey of individuals undergoing a medical check-up in Japan.

METHODS

A total of 13 729 subjects who underwent a medical check-up at MedCity21 between April 2018 and March 2019 were given a questionnaire that inquired about bowel habits. Among them, 10 658 subjects participated in this study, and FC was diagnosed based on the Rome IV criteria.

RESULTS

The number of subjects who fulfilled diagnostic criteria of FC was 220, and the prevalence of FC was 2.1%. Compared with subjects with non-FC, those with FC were more complaining of abdominal bloating and distension, feeling stressed, getting annoyed, lack of motivation, fatigue upon waking, and feeling depressed. The risk of FC was significantly lower among subjects who drank alcohol more than 5 days a week, exercised for more than 30 min at least twice a week for more than 1 year, and were getting enough rest by sleeping, whereas it was significantly higher among women and subjects who were eating faster than other people.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of FC in Japanese subjects during a medical check-up was relatively low compared with that in Western countries. Subjects with FC had troublesome symptoms, and it might be suggested that female sex, lack of regular exercise with moderate activity, insufficient rest by sleeping, and eating faster were a risk of FC.

Eosinophilic esophagitis and asymptomatic esophageal eosinophilia display similar immunohistological profiles

Patients with asymptomatic esophageal eosinophilia (aEE) do not exhibit clinical symptoms because of esophageal dysfunction, although they have endoscopic and histological findings similar to those of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). The cause of the symptoms and the differences between aEE and EoE are unclear. The aim of this study is to determine whether aEE and EoE are same disease entities by comparing immune-related tissue biomarkers using immunohistological staining. Esophageal biopsy specimens from 61 patients, including 18 with aEE and 43 with EoE, were analyzed. Immunofluorescence staining was performed to quantify the immune-related tissue biomarkers such as major basic protein, eosinophil-derived neurotoxin, eotaxin-3, and immunoglobulin G4. Data are presented as median (interquartile range). There were no significant differences in clinical, endoscopic, or histological features, between patients with aEE and EoE, with the exception of body mass index. There were no significant differences in all immune-related tissue biomarkers between both groups. In conclusions, EoE and aEE displayed similar immunohistological profiles. Hence, they may be similar disease entities with some common pathogenic mechanisms. Our findings suggest that patients with aEE also have histopathological esophageal inflammation.

The impact of cytochrome P450 3A genetic polymorphisms on tacrolimus pharmacokinetics in ulcerative colitis patients

Tacrolimus (Tac) is an effective remission inducer of refractory ulcerative colitis (UC). Gene polymorphisms result in interindividual variability in Tac pharmacokinetics. In this study, we aimed to examine the relationships between gene polymorphisms and the metabolism, pharmacokinetics, and therapeutic effects of Tac in patients with UC. Forty-five patients with moderate-to-severe refractory UC treated with Tac were retrospectively enrolled. Genotyping for cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4*1G, CYP3A5*3, CYP2C19*2, CYP2C19*3, nuclear receptor subfamily 1 group I member 2 (NR1I2)–25385C>T, ATP-binding cassette subfamily C member 2 (ABCC2)–24C>T, ABCC2 1249G>A, and ABCC2 3972C>T was performed. Concentration/dose (C/D) ratio, clinical therapeutic effects, and adverse events were evaluated. The C/D ratio of Tac in UC patients with the CYP3A4*1G allele was statistically lower than in those with the CYP3A4*1/*1 allele (P = 0.005) and significantly lower in patients with CYP3A5*3/*3 than in those with CYP3A5*1 (P < 0.001). Among patients with the CYP3A4*1G allele, the C/D ratio was significantly lower in patients with CYP3A5*1 than in those with CYP3A5*3/*3 (P = 0.001). Patients with the NR1I2–25385C/C genotype presented significantly more overall adverse events than those with the C/T or T/T genotype (P = 0.03). Although CYP3A4*1G and CYP3A5*3 polymorphisms were related to Tac pharmacokinetics, CYP3A5 presented a stronger effect than CYP3A4. The NR1I2–25385C/C genotype was related to the overall adverse events. The evaluation of these polymorphisms could be useful in the treatment of UC with Tac.

Association of Dietary Fatty Acid Intake With the Development of Ulcerative Colitis: A Multicenter Case-Control Study in Japan

BACKGROUND

Dietary fatty acids can affect chronic intestinal inflammation and have been reported to be associated with the development of ulcerative colitis (UC), mainly in Europe and the United States. The association of dietary intake of fatty acids and the risk for UC was investigated in Japan, where dietary habits lead to lower meat and higher fish consumption than in Western countries.

METHODS

A multicenter case-control study of 83 newly diagnosed patients with UC and 128 age- and sex-matched control patients in the hospital was conducted from 2008 to 2014. Dietary fatty acid intake in the preceding 1 month and 1 year were examined using a self-administered diet history questionnaire that was developed for Japanese people.

RESULTS

About 92% of patients had experienced the first symptoms of UC within the preceding 11 months. Regarding dietary habits in the preceding year, the risk for UC was significantly decreased in patients who consumed n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids at a ratio of ≥5.2 (odds ratio [OR] = 0.26; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.10-0.68). Conversely, an increased risk for UC was observed in the highest tertiles of consumption of docosahexaenoic acid (OR = 7.22; 95% CI, 2.09-24.95), eicosapentaenoic acid (OR = 6.91; 95% CI, 1.88-25.44), and docosapentaenoic acid (OR = 4.83; 95% CI, 1.56-14.95).

CONCLUSIONS

The ratio of n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid intake was associated with a decreased risk for UC development. However, high intakes of docosahexaenoic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, and docosapentaenoic acid may increase the risk for UC development.

A case of nivolumab-induced cervical lymphadenopathy in a patient with gastric cancer

Nivolumab is a monoclonal antibody targeting programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) that has been recently shown to exhibit clinical efficacy in patients with gastric cancer. However, various degrees of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) have been reported. We report the case of a 71-year-old male patient diagnosed with gastric cancer with peritoneal metastases. He was treated with nivolumab as third-line chemotherapy. On the 10^th day after completing seven cycles of nivolumab treatment, he urgently visited the hospital because of mild left cervical lymphadenopathy. We suspected it to be due to inflammation and initiated treatment with levofloxacin hydrate. However, 3 days later, he was admitted to the emergency room due to exacerbation of his lymphadenopathy. A diagnosis of nivolumab-induced lymphadenopathy was made as the antibiotics were ineffective, and the patient was administered prednisolone (PSL) 20 mg. One day after admission, the pain and swelling of the lymph node greatly lessened, and the following day, the pain gradually disappeared; thereafter, the PSL dose was tapered and nivolumab treatment was resumed. The patient again developed cervical lymphadenopathy approximately 4-5 days after nivolumab was reintroduced, which disappeared 1 week later. During each episode of lymphadenopathy, he received a dose of 20 mg of PSL for 4 days, which would be eventually tapered to 10 mg without antibiotics and NSAIDs. After 2 months, cervical lymphadenopathy completely disappeared while 10 mg of PSL was continued, which was also eventually tapered off. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of nivolumab-induced lymphadenopathy in a patient with gastric cancer. This case suggested that we should keep in mind that various irAEs may occur during treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors. It is necessary to ensure the absence of infection and metastasis before treatment and to promptly administer systemic corticosteroids to address them.

Vonoprazan shows efficacy similar to that of proton pump inhibitors with respect to symptomatic, endoscopic, and histological responses in patients with eosinophilic esophagitis

BACKGROUND

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic allergic disease with esophageal symptoms and intraepithelial eosinophil infiltration. Effects of potassium-competitive acid blockers (P-CABs) on EoE have not been elucidated. We aimed to examine and compare the effects of P-CABs and PPIs on symptomatic, endoscopic, and histological responses of patients with EoE.

METHODS

We analyzed 118 EoE patients who received PPI or P-CAB therapy with rabeprazole 10 mg (RPZ10, N = 22), rabeprazole 20 mg (RPZ20, N = 34), esomeprazole 20 mg (EPZ20, N = 25), or vonoprazan 20 mg (VPZ20, N = 33). We evaluated symptomatic responses by classifying the patients into three groups: complete relief, partial relief, and no change. Endoscopic responses were evaluated using the endoscopic reference score (EREFS) following PPI or P-CAB therapy. Histological responses were evaluated by determining eosinophil counts in esophageal biopsy samples and classifying the patients into two groups: complete remission [0/1 eosinophil/high-power field (eos/HPF)] and remission (< 15 eos/HPF).

RESULTS

There were no differences among the therapy groups in terms of clinical characteristics, endoscopic findings, and histological findings of the patients before treatment. The rate of complete relief in clinical symptoms was 54.5% in the RPZ10 group, 64.7% in the RPZ20 group, 72.0% in the EPZ20 group, and 75.7% in the VPZ20 group. There were no significant differences in the therapeutic effect among the therapy groups. Similarly, endoscopic and histological complete remission rates were not significantly different among the therapy groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Vonoprazan showed similar efficacy to PPIs in EoE.

Comparison of the Diagnostic Efficiency of Radial- and Convex-Arrayed Echoendoscopes for Indirect Findings of Pancreatic Cancer: A Retrospective Comparative Study Using Propensity Score Method

Simple Summary

Pancreatic cancer (PC) has a poor prognosis; however, diagnosing PC at an earlier stage could improve long-term patient outcomes. Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) plays an important role in PC detection, and the indirect findings (caliber change, retention cysts, and dilatation of the branch duct) that are detected by EUS are especially important for the early detection of PC. The aim of this retrospective study was to compare the diagnostic efficacy of radial- and convex-arrayed echoendoscope for the detection rate of indirect findings. As a result, the radial-arrayed echoendoscope was found to be an independent detection factor of indirect findings by multivariate analysis. The radial-arrayed echoendoscope is useful for the detection of indirect findings.

Abstract

Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is useful for detecting early-stage pancreatic cancer. Because the detection of small lesions is difficult, it is important to detect indirect findings, namely caliber change, retention cysts, and dilatation of the branch duct, during the procedure. Although two types of EUS endoscopes are frequently used, there is no comparative study on their efficacy for detecting indirect findings. Therefore, we aimed to compare the diagnostic efficacy of these two types for indirect findings. We retrospectively analyzed 316 consecutive patients who had undergone EUS for pancreaticobiliary disease at a single center between January 2017 and December 2018. The main outcome was the detection rate of indirect findings and its comparison between the two echoendoscope types. This outcome was achieved using the inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) analysis. The detection rate of indirect findings was higher for the radial-arrayed endoscope than for the convex-arrayed echoendoscope (9.2% vs. 2.3% (p = 0.02)). The univariate analysis also revealed that the radial-arrayed echoendoscope was significantly superior to the convex-arrayed echoendoscope in terms of the detection of indirect findings (odds ratio, 5.94; 95% confidence interval, 1.68–21.10; p = 0.01) after IPTW. After adjustment for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT), radial-arrayed echoendoscope remained an independent factor for indirect finding detection (odds ratio, 6.04; 95% confidence interval, 1.74–21.00; p = 0.01). Finally, five patients who had indirect EUS findings were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Our results indicate that the radial-arrayed echoendoscope is useful for the detection of indirect findings.

Role of nucleotide binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 inflammasome in stress-induced gastric injury

BACKGROUND AND AIM

The inflammasomes promote pro-caspase-1 cleavage, leading to processing of pro-interleukin (IL)-1β into its mature form. We investigated the role of the IL-1β and nucleotide binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in gastric injury in mice receiving water-immersion restraint stress (WIRS), focusing on the cyclooxygenase (COX)-2/prostaglandin (PG) E₂ axis.

METHODS

To induce gastric injury, the mice were placed in a restraint cage and immersed in the water bath to the level of the xiphoid process. Protein levels of mature caspase-1 and IL-1β were assessed by western blotting.

RESULTS

Water-immersion restraint stress induced gastric injury with increase in IL-1β expression by activation of NLRP3 inflammasome. Exogenous IL-1β attenuated the injury, whereas anti-IL-1β neutralizing antibody and IL-1β receptor antibody aggravated it. NLRP3^-/- and caspase-1^-/- mice enhanced the injury with reducing of mature IL-1β, and this aggravation was reduced by exogenous IL-1β supplementation. Toll-like receptor 4^-/- mice were hyporesponsive to WIRS in terms of mature IL-1β production. Rabeprazole attenuated the injury with preventing inflammasome activation. WIRS injured the stomach with promotion of COX-2 mRNA and PGE₂ production, and exogenous IL-1β enhanced these molecules, while IL-1β immunoneutralization exerted opposite effect. PGE₂ supplementation abolished the hypersensitivity in NLRP3^-/- and caspase-1^-/- mice through negative regulation of inflammatory cytokines.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that NLRP3 inflammasome-derived IL-1β plays a protective role in stress-induced gastric injury via activation of the COX-2/PGE₂ axis. Toll-like receptor 4 signaling and gastric acid may be involved in NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

Rebamipide ameliorates indomethacin-induced small intestinal damage and proton pump inhibitor-induced exacerbation of this damage by modulation of small intestinal microbiota

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) induce small intestinal damage. It has been reported that rebamipide, a mucoprotective drug, exerts a protective effect against NSAID-induced small intestinal damage; however, the underlying mechanism remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the significance of the small intestinal microbiota in the protective effect of rebamipide against indomethacin-induced small intestinal damage in mice. A comprehensive analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed an alteration in the composition of the small intestinal microbiota at the species level, modulated by the administration of rebamipide and omeprazole. The transplantation of the small intestinal microbiota of the mice treated with rebamipide suppressed the indomethacin-induced small intestinal damage. Omeprazole, a proton pump inhibitor, exacerbated the indomethacin-induced small intestinal damage, which was accompanied by the alteration of the small intestinal microbiota. We found that the transplantation of the small intestinal microbiota of the rebamipide-treated mice ameliorated indomethacin-induced small intestinal damage and the omeprazole-induced exacerbation of the damage. These results suggest that rebamipide exerts a protective effect against NSAID-induced small intestinal damage via the modulation of the small intestinal microbiota, and that its ameliorating effect extends also to the exacerbation of NSAID-induced small intestinal damage by proton pump inhibitors.

Utility of Kyoto Classification of Gastritis in subjects with a high-negative titer of anti-Helicobacter pylori antibody during a medical check-up

Subjects with a high-negative titer (3-9.9 U/ml) of serum anti-Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) antibody represent a heterogeneous group of currently H. pylori-infected, H. pylori-uninfected, and previously H. pylori-infected cases. We investigated the characteristics of subjects with a high-negative titer during a medical check-up and the utility of H. pylori infection score, the sum of scores of endoscopic findings based on the Kyoto Classification of Gastritis, for diagnosing H. pylori infection. Subjects with ¹³C-urea breath test-positive or H. pylori stool antigen test-positive were diagnosed as currently H. pylori-infected. Although around half of subjects with a high-negative titer were after eradication therapy (48.6%), currently H. pylori-infected were considerably confirmed (11.7%). H. pylori infection score showed a high value of area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [0.92; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.84-1.00] with the most suitable cut-off value of 1.0 (sensitivity: 0.92; specificity: 0.90). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that H. pylori infection score was an independent factor associated with increased prevalence of H. pylori infection (odds ratio, 9.53; 95% CI, 2.64-34.40; p<0.001). Currently H. pylori-infected subjects were considerably included among the subjects with a high-negative titer, and the Kyoto Classification of Gastritis was useful to predict current H. pylori infection.

Endoscopic findings of gastric lesions in patients with eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders

Background and study aims  Eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders are classified into eosinophilic esophagitis, eosinophilic gastritis, eosinophilic gastroenteritis, and eosinophilic colitis according to the site of eosinophilic infiltration. Although well established in eosinophilic esophagitis, endoscopic findings in eosinophilic gastritis and eosinophilic gastroenteritis with regard to gastric lesions have not been clearly described. The aim of this study was to identify endoscopic findings of gastric lesions associated with eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders. Patients and methods  Out of 278 patients with eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders, 18 had eosinophilic gastritis or eosinophilic gastroenteritis confirmed by biopsy; their endoscopic images were analyzed retrospectively. The association between endoscopic findings and number of eosinophils in the gastric mucosa was investigated. Results  Erythema was most frequently observed (72 %), followed by ulcers (39 %), discoloration (33 %), erosions (28 %), nodularity (28 %), and polyps (28 %). There were several unique endoscopic findings such as submucosal tumor-like deep large ulcers in three patients, antral Penthorum -like appearances (small nodules radially lined toward the pyloric ring) in three patients, "muskmelon-like appearances" (discolored mucosa-composed mesh pattern) in three patients, multiple white granular elevations in two patients, cracks (appearance of furrows similar to those in eosinophilic esophagitis) in five patients, and antral rings in one patient. No significant association was observed between endoscopic findings and number of gastric eosinophils. Conclusions  Several unique endoscopic findings of gastric lesions were observed in patients with eosinophilic gastritis or eosinophilic gastroenteritis. Submucosal tumor-like ulcers, antral Penthorum -like appearances, muskmelon-like appearances, and cracks might be associated with eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders.

Exosomal hsa-miR-933 in Gastric Juice as a Potential Biomarker for Functional Dyspepsia

BACKGROUND

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) in exosomes represent disease-specific profiles and are applied as biomarkers in oncology. However, in functional dyspepsia (FD), the role of exosomal miRNAs has not been fully elucidated.

AIMS

To investigate exosomal miRNAs as potential biomarkers of FD using liquid biopsy.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included 11 subjects with FD and 11 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs). We collected gastric juice and isolated exosomal miRNAs. In a discovery cohort, expression levels of 2565 miRNAs were evaluated by 3D-Gene^® microarray. miRNA expression profiles from exosomes of subjects with FD and HCs were compared by two normalization methods: (1) global normalization and (2) normalization by internal control. Subsequently, in a validation cohort, the expression levels of miRNAs were validated by quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR).

RESULTS

Through microarray analysis using the two methods, we identified 39 miRNAs that were consistently and significantly downregulated in FD cases compared with those in HCs. Of these, 12 miRNAs (hsa-miR-933, hsa-miR-345-5p, hsa-miR-708-5p, hsa-miR-203a-3p, hsa-miR-619-5p, hsa-miR-4294, hsa-miR-4481, hsa-miR-196a-5p, hsa-miR-3918, hsa-miR-372-3p, hsa-miR-658, and hsa-miR-3654) were further validated by RT-qPCR. Our results indicated that hsa-miR-933 was significantly downregulated in FD compared with HCs (0.317 ± 0.205-fold, P = 0.0317). Furthermore, the expression level of hsa-miR-933 was negatively associated with dyspepsia score and the frequency of epigastric pain and/or burning (P < 0.01, r = - 0.835; P = 0.0280, r = - 0.688, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Exosomal hsa-miR-933 in gastric juice could be a candidate biomarker for FD.

Eosinophilic esophagitis and asymptomatic esophageal eosinophilia display similar immunohistological profiles

Patients with asymptomatic esophageal eosinophilia (aEE) do not exhibit clinical symptoms because of esophageal dysfunction, although they have endoscopic and histological findings similar to those of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). The cause of the symptoms and the differences between aEE and EoE are unclear. The aim of this study is to determine whether aEE and EoE are same disease entities by comparing immune-related tissue biomarkers using immunohistological staining. Esophageal biopsy specimens from 61 patients, including 18 with aEE and 43 with EoE, were analyzed. Immunofluorescence staining was performed to quantify the immune-related tissue biomarkers such as major basic protein, eosinophil-derived neurotoxin, eotaxin-3, and immunoglobulin G4. Data are presented as median (interquartile range). There were no significant differences in clinical, endoscopic, or histological features, between patients with aEE and EoE, with the exception of body mass index. There were no significant differences in all immune-related tissue biomarkers between both groups. In conclusions, EoE and aEE displayed similar immunohistological profiles. Hence, they may be similar disease entities with some common pathogenic mechanisms. Our findings suggest that patients with aEE also have histopathological esophageal inflammation.

Novel prognostic biomarkers of pouchitis after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis: Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio

OBJECTIVES

Pouchitis is a major complication after restorative proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). Although there have been many investigations of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in various diseases, its role in predicting the development of pouchitis remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate the clinical utility of the NLR for predicting the development of pouchitis after IPAA in UC patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

UC patients who underwent IPAA at Osaka City University Hospital between May 2006 and March 2019 were included. The incidence of pouchitis was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Potential preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative predictors for pouchitis, including various demographic and clinical variables, were analyzed. The combined impact of the NLR and other known prognostic factors were investigated using Cox proportional hazard regression with inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW).

RESULTS

Forty-nine patients with UC who underwent IPAA were included. The median follow-up period was 18.3 months (interquartile range: 10.7-47.2 months). Eighteen patients (36.7%) developed pouchitis. The incidence of pouchitis was 19.2%, 32.6%, and 45.9% at 1, 2, and 5 years, respectively. NLR was significantly associated with the development of pouchitis in the univariate Cox regression analysis (hazard ratio (HR), 1.14; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.01-1.28; P = 0.03). The NLR cutoff value of 2.15 was predictive of the development of pouchitis according to receiver operating characteristic analysis (specificity: 67.7%, sensitivity: 72.2%). The incidence of pouchitis was significantly lower in the low NLR group than that in the high NLR group (P = 0.01, log-rank test). Cox regression analyses using IPTW also identified NLR as a prognostic factor for the development of pouchitis by statistically adjusting for background factors (HR, 3.60; 95% CI, 1.31-9.89; P = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

NLR may be a novel and useful indicator for predicting the development of pouchitis after IPAA in UC and should be introduced in clinical practice.

Exploratory Study of the Effectiveness of Granulocyte and Monocyte Adsorptive Apheresis Before Initiation of Steroids in Patients With Active Ulcerative Colitis (EXPECT Study): A Multicenter Prospective Clinical Trial

Background

Granulocyte and monocyte adsorptive apheresis (GMA) has been used for therapy of steroid-dependent/refractory ulcerative colitis (UC). The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of GMA in UC patients not receiving steroids.

Methods

We conducted a single-arm, open-label, and multicenter prospective clinical trial. UC patients who had insufficient responses to 5-aminosalicylic acid received GMA twice a week for 5 weeks.

Results

The response rate of all patients was 58.2% (39/67). Of the 39 patients who achieved a response, 74.4% achieved endoscopically confirmed mucosal healing.

Conclusions

GMA shows effectiveness in inducing remission in UC patients not receiving steroid.

EXPECT study demonstrates that granulocyte and monocyte adsorptive apheresis has promising effectiveness with regard to inducing remission in patients with active ulcerative colitis (UC) who are not receiving steroid treatment. The first episode of UC was an independent predictor of a response in multiple logistic regression.

Proton pump inhibitors enhance intestinal permeability via dysbiosis of gut microbiota under stressed conditions in mice

BACKGROUND

Intestinal permeability and psychological stress are considered the key mechanism(s) in functional dyspepsia (FD). Although proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are commonly used for the treatment of FD, the effect of PPIs on intestinal permeability has not been elucidated. This study investigated the effect of PPI on intestinal permeability under stressed conditions.

METHODS

C57BL/6J mice were subjected to water avoidance stress (WAS) and administered rabeprazole (40 mg/kg) or vehicle treatment (VT). We then evaluated intestinal permeability both in vivo and ex vivo using plasma fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran and by assessing the paracellular permeability and transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) in an Ussing chamber, respectively. Furthermore, we evaluated the effect of PPI-treated fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) on intestinal permeability in vivo. Microbiota profiles of donor feces were assessed by 16S rRNA gene analysis using MiSeq and QIIME2.

KEY RESULTS

In the WAS treatment, PPI significantly enhanced intestinal permeability in vivo compared to that in VT. Moreover, PPI significantly increased paracellular permeability and decreased TEER in the duodenum and jejunum, respectively, compared to those in VT under stressed conditions. Moreover, both vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) receptor antagonist and ketotifen significantly reversed the effect of PPI on intestinal permeability. Furthermore, PPI-treated FMT significantly increased the intestinal permeability in vivo compared to that in vehicle-treated FMT. Proton pump inhibitors treatment altered the gut microbiota composition, indicating that PPI induced dysbiosis.

CONCLUSIONS AND INFERENCES

Under stressed conditions, PPI enhances intestinal permeability via dysbiosis of gut microbiota. Vasoactive intestinal peptide and mast cells are also implicated in the underlying mechanisms.

Positive correlation between pancreatic volume and post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) pancreatitis (PEP) remains the most common and serious adverse event associated with ERCP. Risk factors for PEP have been described in various reports. However, risk factors have not been quantified to date. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors for PEP by quantification of pancreatic volume using pre-ERCP images.

METHODS

Overall, 800 patients were recruited from April 2012 to February 2015 for this study. There were 168 patients who satisfied the inclusion criteria. Measurement of pancreatic volume was achieved using the volume analyzer SYNAPSE VINCENT in all cases and was used to evaluate the risk factors for PEP.

RESULTS

According to the criteria established by the consensus guidelines (Cotton classification), 17 patients (10.1%) were classified as having mild disease, 4 (2.4%) as having moderate disease, and 5 (3.0%) as having severe disease. Multivariate model analysis showed that a large pancreatic volume was a significant risk factor for PEP (odds ratio [OR] 1.10, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06-1.13; P < 0.001). In addition, the association between the pancreatic volume and the severity of PEP was positively correlated (the effect of volume [per 1 mL]; OR 1.09, 95% CI 1.07-1.12; P < 0.001, the effect of volume [per 10 mL]; OR 2.27, 95% CI 1.72-3.00; P < 0.001). A larger pancreatic volume was significantly associated with a higher incidence of PEP.

CONCLUSIONS

A large pancreatic volume was identified as a risk factor for PEP. The results of this study suggest that pre-ERCP images might be useful for predicting PEP.

A Rare Case of Clival Metastasis in a Patient with Gastric Cancer

We report a rare case of clival metastasis from gastric cancer. A 73-year-old man with advanced gastric cancer treated with nivolumab as a third-line chemotherapy experienced headache, tongue deviation, and difficulties in speaking clearly. We suspected stroke or brain metastasis, but brain contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a clival mass, diagnosed as clival metastasis from gastric cancer. The tumor could not be identified by plain computed tomography and plain magnetic resonance imaging alone. He received palliative radiotherapy (30 Gy/10 fr); his symptoms improved gradually. Although metastasis from gastric cancer to other organs is common, bone metastases are rare.

Gastric acid inhibitor aggravates indomethacin-induced small intestinal injury via reducing Lactobacillus johnsonii

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) alter the composition of the intestinal microbiome, exacerbating indomethacin (IND)-induced small intestinal damage. Vonoprazan fumarate inhibits gastric acid secretion using a different mechanism from PPIs. We investigated the effects of both drugs on the intestinal microbiome and IND-induced small intestinal damage. We sought to clarify whether PPI-induced dysbiosis and worsening of the damage were due to a specific drug class effect of PPIs. Rabeprazole administration increased operational taxonomic unit numbers in the small intestines of C57BL/6 J mice, whereas the difference was not significant in the vonoprazan-treated group but exhibited a trend. Permutational multivariate analysis of variance of the unweighted UniFrac distances showed significant differences between vehicle- and vonoprazan- or rabeprazole-treated groups. L. johnsonii was the predominant microbial species, and the population ratio decreased after vonoprazan and rabeprazole administration. The vonoprazan- and rabeprazole-treated groups showed increased IND-induced damage. This high sensitivity to IND-induced damage was evaluated by transplantation with contents from the small intestine of mice treated with either vonoprazan or rabeprazole. Supplementation of L. johnsonii orally in mice treated with rabeprazole and vonoprazan prevented the increase in IND-induced small intestinal damage. In conclusion, both rabeprazole and vonoprazan aggravated NSAID-induced small intestinal injury by reducing the population of L. johnsonii in the small intestine via suppressing gastric acid secretion.

High-fat diet-mediated dysbiosis exacerbates NSAID-induced small intestinal damage through the induction of interleukin-17A

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) cause damage in the small intestine in a bacteria-dependent manner. As high-fat diet (HFD) is a potent inducer of gut dysbiosis, we investigated the effects of HFD on bacterial flora in the small intestine and NSAID-induced enteropathy. 16S rRNA gene analysis revealed that the population of Bifidobacterium spp. significantly decreased by fold change of individual operational taxonomic units in the small intestine of mice fed HFD for 8 weeks. HFD increased intestinal permeability, as indicated by fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran absorption and serum lipopolysaccharide levels, accompanied by a decrease in the protein expressions of ZO-1 and occludin and elevated mRNA expression of interleukin (IL)-17A in the small intestine. HFD-fed mice exhibited increased susceptibility to indomethacin-induced damage in the small intestine; this phenotype was observed in normal diet-fed mice that received small intestinal microbiota from HFD-fed mice. Administration of neutralizing antibodies against IL-17A to HFD-fed mice reduced intestinal permeability and prevented exacerbation of indomethacin-induced damage. Thus, HFD-induced microbial dysbiosis in small intestine caused microinflammation through the induction of IL-17A and increase in intestinal permeability, resulting in the aggravation of NSAID-induced small intestinal damage.

Association between dietary iron and zinc intake and development of ulcerative colitis: A case-control study in Japan

BACKGROUND AND AIM

The prevalence of ulcerative colitis (UC) has been increasing in Japan. Trace elements, such as iron, zinc, magnesium, and copper, can cause digestive symptoms where there is a deficiency or excess. We focused on the dietary intake of trace elements and their associations with UC development.

METHODS

A multicenter, hospital-based case-control study was conducted in Japan. Cases were 127 newly diagnosed UC patients, and 171 age-matched and sex-matched hospital controls were recruited. We considered that UC patients had potentially changed their dietary habits due to disease symptoms. The dietary habits were investigated using a self-administered diet history questionnaire to analyze the dietary intakes and frequencies at two points, the previous 1 month and 1 year before.

RESULTS

In the assessment of dietary habits 1 year before, the highest intake of iron showed an increased odds ratio (OR) for UC on multivariate analysis (OR = 4.05, 95% confidence interval, 1.46-11.2, P < 0.01). The highest intake of zinc 1 year before showed a decreased OR for UC (OR = 0.39, 95% confidence interval, 0.18-0.85, P = 0.01). Intakes of magnesium and copper had no significant association with UC. Because most UC cases had experienced the first symptom of UC within the previous 11 months, these intakes at 1 year before represented an association with pre-illness dietary habits.

CONCLUSION

A high intake of iron has some effect on the development of UC. In contrast, a high intake of zinc has a protective effect on the development of UC.

Azathioprine Is Useful for Maintaining Long-term Remission Induced by Tacrolimus for the Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis: An Inverse Probability of a Treatment Weighing Analysis

Objective The need for and efficacy of immunomodulators for maintaining remission after tacrolimus therapy have not been sufficiently defined. This study evaluated the efficacy of immunomodulators for maintaining remission in patients with ulcerative colitis after tacrolimus therapy. Methods Patients with active ulcerative colitis who started oral tacrolimus between January 2009 and September 2017 and were responsive were retrospectively evaluated. Long-term outcomes were compared using Cox proportional hazard regression with inverse probability of treatment weighting. Results Among the 63 patients in the study, 45 received immunomodulators. During the follow-up, 30 patients (47.6%) experienced a relapse. The relapse-free survival rate was significantly worse in the group that did not receive immunomodulators than in those that did (p=0.01, log-rank test); the 2-year relapse-free rates were 22.5% and 63.6% in the non-immunomodulator and immunomodulator groups, respectively. A multivariate analysis showed immunomodulator treatment to be an independent protective factor for clinical relapse (adjusted hazard ratio: 0.35, 95% confidence interval: 0.16-0.78, p=0.01). A Cox regression analysis using inverse probability of treatment weighting also showed that immunomodulator maintenance therapy was correlated with a longer relapse-free survival (hazard ratio: 0.31, 95% confidence interval: 0.15-0.64, p<0.01), A similar response was also observed in non-steroid-dependent patients (hazard ratio: 0.36, 95% confidence interval: 0.14-0.99, p=0.047). No serious adverse events occurred due to tacrolimus or immunomodulator, and immunomodulator use did not increase the incidence of adverse events caused by tacrolimus. Conclusion Our data suggest that the use of immunomodulators to maintain remission after tacrolimus therapy is beneficial for patients with ulcerative colitis.

Changes in Clock Genes Expression in Esophagus in Rat Reflux Esophagitis

BACKGROUND

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is strongly associated with sleep disturbances. Clock genes harmonize circadian rhythms by their periodic expression and regulate several physiological functions. However, the association between clock genes and GERD is still unknown.

AIMS

We investigated whether reflux esophagitis affects circadian variability of clock genes in the esophagus and other organs using a rat reflux esophagitis model.

METHODS

Reflux esophagitis was induced in 7-week-old male Wistar rats. Sham-operated rats were used as controls. Rats were killed at 09:00 (light period) and 21:00 (dark period) 3 days (acute phase) and 21 days (chronic phase) after induction of esophagitis. The expression levels of clock gene mRNAs such as Per1, Per2, Per3, Cry1, Cry2, Arntl, and Clock in the esophagus were investigated by qPCR. Arntl expression was examined in stomach, small intestine, colon, and liver tissues. Serum melatonin and IL-6 levels were measured by ELISA.

RESULTS

Histological examination of reflux esophagitis mainly revealed epithelial defects with marked inflammatory cell infiltration in the acute phase and mucosal thickening with basal cell hyperplasia in the chronic phase. Circadian variability of clock genes, except Cry1, was present in the normal esophagus and was completely disrupted in reflux esophagitis during the acute phase. The circadian variability of Per2, Per3, and Arntl returned to normal, but disruption of Per1, Cry2, and Clock was present in the chronic phase. Disruption of circadian variability of Arntl was observed in the esophagus, as well as in the stomach, small intestine, and liver tissues in reflux esophagitis during the acute phase. There were no significant differences in serum melatonin and IL-6 levels between control and reflux esophagitis animals in both acute and chronic phases.

CONCLUSIONS

Disruption to circadian variability of clock genes may play a role in the pathogenesis of GERD.

A comparison of short-term therapeutic efficacy between infliximab and tacrolimus for moderate to severe ulcerative colitis

INTRODUCTION

Both infliximab (IFX) and tacrolimus (Tac) are effective for inducing clinical remission in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). However, no randomized study has addressed the relative efficacies of IFX and Tac for patients with moderate to severe UC. This study aimed to conduct a retrospective study on the relative efficacy of IFX and Tac in patients with moderate to severe UC, using an inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) technique to adjust background factors statistically.

METHODS

Between July 2009 and March 2016, data obtained from 122 patients with moderate to severe UC who were treated with either IFX (n = 58) or Tac (n = 64) were analyzed retrospectively. We compared the short-term therapeutic efficacy between the IFX group and Tac group using IPTW technique.

RESULTS

The clinical remission rate at 14 weeks after treatment was 37.9% (22/58) in the IFX group and 50% (32/64) in the Tac group, respectively. The efficacy of IFX and Tac for clinical remission rate was not different according to univariate (Odds ratio [OR] 1.64, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.80-3.37 P = 0.18) and multivariate analyses (OR 2.19, 95% CI 0.85-5.61, P = 0.10). After the background and confounders factors were adjusted by using IPTW based on propensity score, the efficacy of IFX and Tac for clinical remission rate was not differed statistically (OR, 1.483; 95% CI, 0.581-3.785; P = 0.409) Conclusion. IFX and Tac have equivalent short-term efficacies for induction in patients with moderate to severe UC.