Direct gastric invasion from the liver metastasis of colorectal origin: A case report

RATIONALE

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed worldwide. At the time of diagnosis of colorectal cancer, one of the most common metastatic sites is liver. Gastric metastasis from colorectal origin is rare. Moreover, a direct invasion of the stomach, by hepatic metastasis from colorectal cancer, is particularly uncommon.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 56-year-old male patient with hematochezia was referred to our hospital.

DIAGNOSIS

The patient was diagnosed with unresectable colorectal cancer because of the presence of >10 metastases involving both lobes of the liver.

INTERVENTIONS AND OUTCOMES

After chemotherapy, the metastatic nodules in the liver nearly disappeared, except for a small nodule in segment VI. The patient underwent a radiofrequency ablation for the single lesion in the liver and laparoscopic low-anterior-resection for the primary tumor. Despite receiving various chemotherapy regimens, he experienced 6 recurrences, leading to 5 hepatectomies including a right hemi-hepatectomy, 1 pulmonary wedge resection, and 2 courses of radiation treatments. Lastly, a metastatic lesion in the liver was observed with invasion into the stomach. Subsequently, gastric wedge resection with resection of segments III and IV of the liver was performed. Direct invasion of the liver metastases into the stomach was confirmed histologically.

LESSONS

The patient is still alive, with a good quality of life, even after more than 8 years since the initial diagnosis. In the last instance of metastatic recurrence, direct invasion from the liver metastases into the stomach was observed, which is rare, and there are currently no reported cases.

Comparison of the Clinical Outcomes of Esophagectomy and Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy in Patients with Locally Advanced Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background/Aims

The efficacy of concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) or esophagectomy for locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is unclear. This study compared the survival and recurrence of patients with locally advanced ESCC after definitive CCRT and surgery.

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted on patients with locally advanced ESCC who underwent CCRT or esophagectomy at Kosin University Gospel Hospital from January 2010 to December 2016. The patients' baseline characteristics, pathology, recurrence rate, and three-year/five-year overall survival were obtained.

Results

This study evaluated ESCC patients with cT1-T2, N+ or cT3-T4, or N, who were treated by definitive CCRT (n=14) or esophagectomy (n=32). No significant difference was noted between the two groups, except for the location of the cancer and performance state. The respective three- and five-year overall survival rates were 30.8% and 23.1% in the CCRT group and 40.2% and 22.5% in the esophagectomy group (p=0.685). In the CCRT group, three patients (21.4%) had a complete response, and two (66.7%) had a recurrence. In the esophagectomy group, an R0 resection was achieved in 28 (87.5%) patients, and a recurrence occurred in 18 (64.3%). The median disease-free survival in the CCRT and esophagectomy groups was 14 and 17 months, respectively (p=0.882).

Conclusions

These results showed no significant difference in survival between the definitive CCRT and surgery as the initial treatment. Nevertheless, larger prospective studies will be needed because of the retrospective nature and small number of patients in this study.

Metabolomic profiles of ovariectomized mice and their associations with body composition and frailty-related parameters in postmenopausal women

BACKGROUND

Menopause, a dramatical estrogen-deficient condition, is considered the most significant milestone in women's health.

PURPOSE

To investigate the metabolite changes attributed to estrogen deficiency using random forest (RF)-based machine learning (ML) modeling strategy in ovariectomized (OVX) mice as well as determine the clinical relevance of selected metabolites in older women.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Untargeted and targeted metabolomic analyses revealed that metabolites related to TCA cycle, sphingolipids, phospholipids, fatty acids, and amino acids, were significantly changed in the plasma and/or muscle of OVX mice. Subsequent ML classifiers based on RF algorithm selected alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG), arginine, carnosine, ceramide C24, phosphatidylcholine (PC) aa C36:6, and PC ae C42:3 in plasma as well as PC aa 34:1, PC aa C34:3, PC aa C36:5, PC aa C32:1, PC aa C36:2, and sphingosine in muscle as top featured metabolites that differentiate the OVX mice from the sham-operated group. When circulating levels of AKG, arginine, and carnosine, which showed the most significant changes in OVX mice blood, were measured in postmenopausal women, higher plasma AKG levels were associated with lower bone mass, weak grip strength, poor physical performance, and increased frailty risk.

CONCLUSIONS

Metabolomics- and ML-based methods identified the key metabolites of blood and muscle that were significantly changed after ovariectomy in mice, and the clinical implication of several metabolites was investigated by looking at their correlation with body composition and frailty-related parameters in postmenopausal women. These findings provide crucial context for understanding the diverse physiological alterations caused by estrogen deficiency in women.

[A Case of Type II Achalasia Occurring in a Nonagenarian Diagnosed with Acute Food Impaction]

Achalasia is an esophageal motility disorder characterized by loss of esophageal peristalsis and impaired relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter. Patients with achalasia often complain of persistent symptoms for several years before diagnosis. On the other hand, achalasia diagnosed as a sudden esophageal food impaction is uncommon, and no report has been issued on the diagnosis and successful treatment of achalasia in a 95-year-old patient. We report a case of achalasia diagnosed by high-resolution esophageal manometry and timed barium esophagography after food material removal by endoscopy in a 95-year-old woman who visited the hospital due to sudden esophageal food impaction and was successfully treated by endoscopic balloon dilatation.

Improvement of Severe Colon Stricture after Rituximab Therapy for Concomitant Mucosa-associated Lymphoid Tissue Lymphoma in a Patient with Ulcerative Colitis

Colorectal strictures are uncommon in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). An extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of mucosa- associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is rarely involved in the colon but may be associated with inflammatory bowel diseases. A 41-year-old female with a six-year history of UC presented with a severe stricture of the sigmoid colon that prevented the passage of a colonoscope. A histological examination revealed non-specific inflammation and fibrosis without dysplasia or cancer. Despite conventional treatment, including mesalazine and azathioprine for one year after that visit, the stricture persisted. In addition, diffuse, edematous exudative inflammation and multiple shallow ulcers were observed in the distal rectum, revealing a MALT lymphoma testing positive for CD20, CD43, CD5, and Bcl-2, but negative for CD3, CD10, CD23, and cyclin-D1. Four weekly doses of rituximab were administered. Follow-up colonoscopy performed one month after treatment revealed slight improvement in the rectal lesion without remnant histological evidence of a MALT lymphoma. In addition, the stricture showed marked improvement, and the colonoscope could pass easily through the stricture site. This is the first case report on an improvement of a severe sigmoid colon stricture in a patient with UC after rituximab treatment for a concomitant rectal MALT lymphoma.

Case of Concomitant Endoscopic Treatment of Achalasia with Superficial Esophageal Cancer

Achalasia, a rare motility disorder of the esophagus, is generally accepted as a premalignant disorder. This paper presents the case of a 72-year-old male with achalasia and synchronous superficial esophageal cancer who experienced dysphagia symptoms for five years. As achalasia is associated with an increased risk of esophageal cancer, both can be treated simultaneously if detected at the time of diagnosis. Achalasia and synchronous esophageal cancer are rarely detected and treated endoscopically. This paper reports a case of concurrent successful treatment.

Tumor microbiome analysis provides prognostic value for patients with stage III colorectal cancer

Introduction

Although patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) can receive optimal treatment, the risk of recurrence remains. This study aimed to evaluate whether the tumor microbiome can be a predictor of recurrence in patients with stage III CRC.

Methods

Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we analyzed the microbiomes of tumor and adjacent tissues acquired during surgery in 65 patients with stage III CRC and evaluated the correlation of the tissue microbiome with CRC recurrence. Additionally, the tumor tissue microbiome data of 71 patients with stage III CRC from another center were used as a validation set.

Results

The microbial diversity and abundance significantly differed between tumor and adjacent tissues. In particular, Streptococcus and Gemella were more abundant in tumor tissue samples than in adjacent tissue samples. The microbial diversity and abundance in tumor and adjacent tissues did not differ according to the presence of recurrence, except for one genus in the validation set. Logistic regression analysis revealed that a recurrence prediction model including tumor tissue microbiome data had a better prediction performance than clinical factors (area under the curve [AUC] 0.846 vs. 0.679, p = 0.009), regardless of sex (male patients: AUC 0.943 vs. 0.818, p = 0.043; female patients: AUC 0.885 vs. 0.590, p = 0.017). When this prediction model was applied to the validation set, it had a higher AUC value than clinical factors in female patients.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that the tumor microbiome of patients with CRC be a potential predictor of postoperative disease recurrence.

High-Dose Rate Brachytherapy Alone for Treatment of Unfavorable Intermediate Risk Prostate Cancer: A Propensity-Score Matched Analysis

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

To demonstrate the feasibility of high-dose rate brachytherapy (HDR BT) as monotherapy for unfavorable intermediate risk (UIR) prostate cancer by comparing survival outcomes of HDR BT alone against external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) + HDR BT boost, +/- androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) using propensity-score matched (PSM) data.

MATERIALS/METHODS

This retrospective study queried two data registries collecting patient data from 1991 to present. 633 patients with UIR prostate cancer treated with HDR BT alone, HDR BT+EBRT or HDR+EBRT+ADT were included. HDR BT patients received 42-45Gy/6 fractions (fx) or 27 Gy/2 fx. For HDR BT+EBRT, the HDR dose was 20-24 Gy/2 fx, 24 Gy/4 fx, or 15 Gy/1 fx. EBRT patients received 45 Gy/25 fx to the prostate +/- pelvic nodes. GU/GI toxicities were graded according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v5.0. Time-to-event analyses were carried out to evaluate the relationship between treatments and five primary endpoints of interest: freedom from biochemical recurrence (FFBC), freedom from distant metastasis (FFDM), freedom from local failure (FFLF), cancer specific survival (CSS), and overall survival (OS) at 5 years. PSM was performed with one-to-n matching. Logistic regression was used to estimate the respective propensity scores. The five potential confounders identified were T-stage, Gleason score, pre-treatment PSA, age, and percent positive cores. Balance was checked using the standardized mean difference of covariates. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted on the matched data. Toxicity analysis was performed via association between a change in pre- and post-treatment GU/GI toxicity status and the treatment group, as well as incidence of post-treatment severe GI/GU toxicity (grade 3 or higher) and the treatment group.

RESULTS

Univariate analysis with Kaplan-Meier method and log rank test comparison between the three cohorts demonstrated no significant difference in all survival outcomes FFBC, FFDM, FFLF, CSS, OS (p = 0.15, 0.19, 0.29, 0.57, 0.28, respectively). Multivariate analysis with Cox proportional hazard regression showed no differences in HR for FFBC and OS (p = 0.95, 0.11) with addition of EBRT, or with EBRT+ADT (p = 0.17, 0.24); no fit was obtainable for FFDM, CSS, FFLF. Toxicities between the three cohorts were not significantly different when comparing post-treatment and baseline GI/GU symptoms (p = 0.53/1). No Grade 2 or 3 GI toxicities were identified, while 8%/1% HDR patients, 10%/1% HDR+EBRT patients, and 12%/2% HDR+EBRT+ADT patients experienced Grade 2/3 GU toxicities. The incidence of grade 3 or higher GU toxicities between the three groups was not significantly different (p = 0.91).

CONCLUSION

This propensity-score matched study demonstrates the feasibility of HDR BT alone for effective treatment of UIR prostate cancer when compared to HDR+EBRT or HDR+EBRT+ADT, while potentially minimizing the added toxicities of EBRT and the undesirable side effect profile of ADT.

When should patients take simethicone orally before colonoscopy for avoiding bubbles: A single-blind, randomized controlled study

BACKGROUND

Many studies have reported the use of simethicone before colonoscopy removes bubbles. However, guidelines weakly recommend simethicone administration before colonoscopy. The present study aimed to confirm the advantages of taking simethicone and determine the appropriate time for taking simethicone.

METHODS

We randomly assigned patients to the following 5 groups according to the administration time: 4 groups were divided based on 2 parameters (the day before and on the day of colonoscopy and before and after bowel cleansing) and the remaining group was the control group. We compared bubble score (BS), number of simethicone solution irrigations when visually obscured, satisfaction score of the endoscopist, insertion time.

RESULTS

A total of 204 patients were included in the study. There was a difference in BS according to the timing of simethicone administration (P < .001). The group taking simethicone on the day of the test had a better BS than the group taking simethicone the day before (P < .001). The group taking simethicone on the previous day had a better BS than the control group (P = .001). In the group of taking simethicone on the examination day, the number of irrigations was lower, and satisfaction with the inspector was higher than group of taking simethicone on previous day and control group (both P < .001). The insertion time showed a non-significantly decreasing trend (P = .417).

CONCLUSION

Administering simethicone reduced bubbles and facilitated effective colonoscopy, especially when administrating it on the day of examination. It needs to be administered on the day of the examination regardless of bowel preparation.

Effects of genomic estimated breeding value and dietary energy to protein ratio on growth performance, carcass trait, and lipogenic gene expression in Hanwoo steer

"Genome-based precision feeding" is a concept that involves the application of customised diets to different genetic groups of cattle. We investigated the effects of the genomic estimated breeding value (gEBV) and dietary energy to protein ratio (DEP) on growth performance, carcass traits, and lipogenic gene expression in Hanwoo (Korean cattle) steers. Forty-four Hanwoo steers (BW = 636 kg, age = 26.9 months) were genotyped using the Illumina Bovine 50 K BeadChip. The gEBV was calculated using genomic best linear unbiased prediction. Animals were separated into high gEBV of marbling score or low-gMS groups based on the upper and lower 50% groupings of the reference population, respectively. Animals were assigned to one of four groups in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement: high gMS/high DEP (0.084 MJ/g), high gMS/low DEP (0.079 MJ/g), low gMS/high DEP, and low gMS/low DEP. Steers were fed concentrate with a high or low DEP for 31 weeks. The BW tended to be higher (0.05 < P < 0.1) in the high-gMS groups compared to the low-gMS groups at 0, 4, 8, 12, and 20 weeks. The average daily gain (ADG) tended to be lower (P = 0.08) in the high-gMS group than in the low-gMS group. Final BW and measured carcass weight (CW) were positively correlated with the gEBV of carcass weight (gCW). The DEP did not affect ADG. Neither the gMS nor the DEP affected the MS and beef quality grade. The intramuscular fat (IMF) content in the longissimus thoracis (LT) tended to be higher (P = 0.08) in the high-gMS groups than in the low-gMS groups. The mRNA levels of lipogenic acetyl-CoA carboxylase and fatty acid binding protein 4 genes in the LT were higher (P < 0.05) in the high-gMS group than in the low-gMS group. Overall, the IMF content tended to be affected by the gMS, and the genetic potential (i.e., gMS) was associated with the functional activity of lipogenic gene expression. The gCW was associated with the measured BW and CW. The results demonstrated that the gMS and the gCW may be used as early prediction indexes for meat quality and growth potential of beef cattle.

How is gut microbiome of patients with familial adenomatous polyposis different from healthy people?

The gut microbiome has been increasingly suggested as an underlying cause of various human diseases. In this study, we hypothesized that the gut microbiomes of patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) are different from those of healthy people and attempted to identify the associations between gut microbiome characteristics and FAP. We collected fecal samples from patients with FAP and healthy volunteers and evaluated the diversity, composition, and distribution of the gut microbiome between the 2 groups via 16S rRNA-based taxonomic profiling of the fecal samples. Fecal samples were collected from 10 patients with FAP (4 men and 6 women, mean age 39.2 ± 13.8 years) and 10 healthy volunteers (4 men and 6 women, mean age 40.9 ± 9.8 years). The microbial richness in patients with FAP was significantly lower than that in healthy people. Regarding microbial composition, the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio in patients with FAP was higher than that in healthy people, especially in those with a lower proportion of Bacteroidetes and a higher proportion of Proteobacteria. We also found 7 specific abundant strains in fecal samples of patients with FAP. Patients with FAP had different Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratios and Proteobacteria abundance compared to healthy people and showed the presence of specific bacteria. These findings suggest a promising role of the gut microbiome in patients with FAP, although further studies are needed.

Pattern of pericardial calcification determines the mid-term postoperative outcome after pericardiectomy in chronic constrictive pericarditis

Background/Introduction

Although pericardiectomy is an effective treatment of constrictive pericarditis (CP), clinical outcome is not always successful. Pericardial calcification is a unique finding in CP. However, the amount and localization of calcification vary. Computer tomography (CT) can visualize the pericardial calcification with high sensitivity and provide the anatomical assessment.

Purpose

We investigated that how the pattern and amount of pericardial calcification affect the mid-term postoperative outcome after pericardiectomy in CP.

Methods

All of the patients who underwent total pericardiectomy in our hospital from 2010 to 2020 were derived from electrical medical records (n=105). Among them, preoperative CT scans (non-gated non-contrast) of 98 patients were available and, thus, 98 consecutive patients were finally analyzed. Medical records were reviewed in a retrospective manner. Cardiovascular event is defined as cardiovascular death or hospitalization associated with a heart failure symptom and all cause event is defined as all events that require admission. CT scan was analyzed by Aquarius Workstation, and the volume and localization pattern of pericalcification were derived. Pericardium calcium score was given as an Agatston score.

Results

Of 98 patients, 25 (25.5%) patients were hospitalized with heart failure symptom after pericardiectomy. Median follow up duration of patients is 172 weeks. A group with cardiovascular event had higher NYHA grade (P&lt;0.001), lower calcium volume (P=0.004), and lower calcium score (P=0.01). Multivariate cox proportional analysis showed that high ln(calcium score) before pericardiectomy was dependent predictor of cardiovascular event (hazard ratio, 0.90; P=0.04) and all cause event (hazard ratio, 0.91, P=0.04) after pericardiectomy. When we set the cut off value at 7.22, based on ROC curve, there was a significant difference in cardiovascular event between the groups divided by this cutoff value in Kaplan-Meier curve (P=0.002) and multivariate cox proportional analysis (P=0.04). In the subgroup analysis, myocardium invasion and circumferential calcification were more common in the high calcium score group. Idiopathic & tuberculosis pericarditis were more associated with high calcium score group and post-operative pericarditis, other reasons (infection, radiation, etc) were more associated with low calcium group.

Conclusion

Low burden of pericardial calcification was associated high rate of mid-term clinical event after pericardiectomy CP. Preoperative evaluation of pericardial calcification pattern can be used as predictor of postoperative outcomes.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

Systemic proinflammatory-profibrotic response in aortic stenosis patients with diabetes and its relationship with myocardial remodeling and clinical outcome

Background

It is unclear whether and how diabetes mellitus may aggravate myocardial fibrosis and remodeling in the pressure-overloaded heart. We investigated the impact of diabetes on the prognosis of aortic stenosis (AS) patients and its underlying mechanisms using comprehensive noninvasive imaging studies and plasma proteomics.

Methods

Severe AS patients undergoing both echocardiography and cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) (n=253 of which 66 had diabetes) comprised the imaging cohort. The degree of replacement and diffuse interstitial fibrosis by late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) and extracellular volume fraction (ECV) was quantified using CMR. Plasma samples were analyzed with the multiplex proximity extension assay for 92 proteomic biomarkers in a separate biomarker cohort of severe AS patients (n=100 of which 27 had diabetes).

Results

In the imaging cohort, diabetic patients were older (70.4±6.8 vs. 66.7±10.1 years) and had a higher prevalence of ischemic heart disease (28.8% vs. 9.1%), with more advanced ventricular diastolic dysfunction. On CMR, diabetic patients had increased replacement and diffuse interstitial fibrosis (LGE% 0.3 [0.0–1.6] versus 0.0 [0.0–0.5], p=0.009; ECV% 27.9 [25.7–30.1] versus 26.7 [24.9–28.5], p=0.025) (Figure 1).

Plasma proteomics analysis of the biomarker cohort revealed that 9 proteins (E-selectin, interleukin-1 receptor type 1, interleukin-1 receptor type 2, galectin-4, intercellular adhesion molecule 2, integrin beta-2, galectin-3, growth differentiation factor 15, and cathepsin D) are significantly elevated in diabetic AS patients (Figure 2). Pathway over-representation analyses of the plasma proteomics with Gene Ontology terms indicated that pathways related to inflammatory response and extracellular matrix components were enriched, suggesting that diabetes is associated with systemic effects that evoke proinflammatory and profibrotic response to the pressure-overloaded myocardium.

During follow-up (median 6.3 years [IQR 5.2–7.2]) of the imaging cohort, 232 patients received aortic valve replacement (AVR) with 53 unexpected heart failure admissions or death. Diabetes was a significant predictor of heart failure and death, independent of clinical covariates and AVR (hazard ratio 1.88, 95% confidence interval 1.06–3.31, p=0.030).

Conclusion

Plasma proteomic analyses indicate that diabetes potentiates the systemic proinflammatory and profibrotic milieu in AS patients. These systemic biological changes underlie the increase of myocardial fibrosis, diastolic dysfunction, and worse clinical outcomes in severe AS patients with concomitant diabetes.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Foundation. Main funding source(s): National Research Foundation of Korea

Role of combined exercise stress echocardiography and cardiopulmonary exercise test in chronic thromboembolic disease

Background

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary disease (CTEPD) without pulmonary hypertension could cause significant exercise limitations. However, interventional or surgical treatments for CTEPD with mild pulmonary hypertension or normal pressure are on controversy.

Purpose

We aimed to evaluate cardiopulmonary function through cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) with stress echocardiography and to determine whether exercise pulmonary hypertension can explain exercise limitations in CTEPD patients with mPAP &lt;30mmHg.

Methods

Patients diagnosed as CTEPD with mPAP less than 30mmHg was derived from our pulmonary hypertension center registry from April 2014 to October 2021.Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) was performed at baseline (resting state) and immediately after CPET. TTE derived parameters and CPET parameters were compared with hemodynamic parameters measured by right catheterization.

Results

Total 37 patients were enrolled. Of these, Thirty-five patients had previously been diagnosed with CTEPH and had undergone PEA, BPA, or both. Most of the patients complained dyspnea of WHO functional class II or III. Pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) was slightly higher than normal (185.0±102.2 dyne sec cm–5). Also VO2max was decreased in CPET (23.1±6.5 mL/kg/min). In correlation analysis, the higher the mPAP and PVR at rest, the lower VO2max during exercise. Meanwhile basal right ventricular (RV) function was normal, an increase in RVSP was notably observed during exercise (RVSP: pre-exercise 36.2±11.9, post-exercise 60.7±19.3, p value &lt;0.001). Furthermore RV function deteriorated during exercise (TAPSE: pre-exercise 16.1±4.8, post-exercise 12.9±5.0, p value &lt;0.001).

Conclusions

CTEPD patients with mild or normal PAP showed limited exercise capacity with exercise induced hypertension. Even in the mPAP less than 30mmHg, PVR and mPAP was significantly associated with exercise capacity. CPET with stress echocardiography could help to identify the main cause of exercise limitation in CTEPD patients and possibly provide the guideline for treatment plan.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

Risk factors and clinical effects of late leaflet thrombosis after transcatheter aortic valve replacement

Background

As the indications for trans-catheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) expand, it is expected that the number of TAVR patients would increase and the follow-up duration would be longer. It is known that the incidence of leaflet thrombosis is higher in TAVR than in surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR), but not much is known about the risk factors of late leaflet thrombosis in TAVR.

Aim

Therefore, in this study, the incidence and risk factors of late leaflet thrombosis at late term after TAVR and the effect on clinical course of late leaflet thrombosis would be investigated.

Method

There were 176 patients undergone TAVR from January 2015 to October 2020 in one tertiary hospital of south korea. 94 patients had follow-up cardiovascular computed tomography (CT) between 3 months and 2 years after TAVR. Among 94 patients, late leaflet thrombosis was discovered at 20 patients, and risk factors were analyzed by comparing clinical factors, echocardiographic and cardiovascular CT information, and angiographic data between the group with and without late leaflet thrombosis. And the difference in aortic valve hemodynamics between the group with and without leaflet thrombosis was examined and clinical outcomes were compared. Clinical outcome was defined as the composite of all-cause death, stroke, heart failure (HF) admission, redo-aortic valve (AV) replacement and major bleeding after detection of late leaflet thrombosis.

Results

Indexed mean sinus of Valsalva diameter, AV calcium score and post procedure estimated orifice area (EOA) had predictability of late leaflet thrombosis with AUC value of 0.670 (95% CI [0.546–0.795], p value = 0.020), AUC value of 0.698 (95% CI [0.544–0.851], p value = 0.012) and AUC value of 0.665 (95 percent CI [0.548–0.782], p value = 0.031), respectively (Figure 1).

In echocardiography performed at the time of follow-up CT, AV max velocity and AV mean pressure gradient were higher in thrombosis group and EOA and Doppler velocity index were lower in thrombosis group than in no thrombosis group within normal range (Figure 2). Clinical outcome was not significant different between the two groups (log rank p value = 0.560).

Conclusion

Larger indexed sinus of Valsalva diameter, higher AV calcium score and smaller post procedure AV EOA were risk factors for late leaflet thrombosis after TAVR. Subclinical late leaflet thrombosis have a benign course when properly managed.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

Critical roles of Parkin and PINK1 in antiviral immunity and protection from cell death in Enterovirus-induced viral myocarditis

Background

Myocarditis is an inflammatory disease of the heart muscle often resulting in cardiac dysfunction and death. One of the most common causes is a cardiac infection with viruses, especially with enteroviruses of the Coxsackievirus B (CVB) family. CVB3-induced viral myocarditis is a well-established model to elucidate viral myocarditis in mice. It is assumed that mitochondrial damage control and mitochondria-associated innate immunity is essential for defence against viral infection of the heart muscle. And Parkinson's disease genes Parkin and PINK1 are well known for their critical function in mitochondrial homeostasis and damage control. We investigated the roles of Parkin and PINK1 in CVB3-induced viral myocarditis mouse model.

Material and methods

Male C57BL/6J WT, Parkin KO and PINK1 KO mice were used in an age of 8 to 12 weeks. The animals were injected intraperitoneally with 1x104 plaque forming units of CVB3 diluted in phosphate-buffered saline. Control and survived virus-infected mice were sacrificed for tissue sampling at day 7 to investigate imaging and molecular workup.

Result

After virus inoculation, the Parkin KO and PINK1 KO groups showed a significantly lower 28-day survival rate compared with the WT group (p&lt;0.001 in Parkin KO; p&lt;0.001 in PINK1 KO). Evans-Blue Dye (EBD) staining image of day 7 after virus-infection showed that the hearts of Parkin KO and PINK1 KO mice were more severely damaged than the hearts of WT mice (3.2-fold, p&lt;0.01 in Parkin KO; 2.6-fold, p&lt;0.05 in PINK1 KO). H&E staining showed that severe inflammatory reaction occurred in the hearts of WT mice, although the inflammatory reaction was much lower compared to WT in the hearts of Parkin KO and PINK1 KO mice (p&lt;0.001 in Parkin KO; p&lt;0.001 in PINK1 KO). In immunohistochemistry, EBD staining positive area colocalized well with CVB3 in Parkin KO and PINK1 KO mice hearts, although EBD staining positive area was rare and didn't colocalized well CVB3 in WT mice hearts. mRNA levels of cell markers (CD3, natural cytotoxicity receptors, F4/80), inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α), type II interferon, macrophage-derived protective factors, and CXCL10 family cytokines were lower in virus-infected Parkin/PINK1 KO mice than WT mice. Western blots showed that phospho-p65 increased less than WT in the heart of Parkin KO (0.7-fold, p&lt;0.05) and PINK1 KO mice (0.58-fold, p&lt;0.05).

Conclusion

The Parkin KO and PINK1 KO mice showed a higher mortality rate and more severe cardiomyocyte damage than the WT mice in the viral myocarditis mouse model. Parkin and PINK1 is critical to the type II IFN pathway that inhibits virus replication. And Parkin and PINK1 play an important role in the recruitment of IFN-γ-producing lymphocytes through NF-κB pathway and CXCL10 family chemokines.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

Colonoscopy Insertion in Patients with Gastrectomy: Does Position Impact Cecal Intubation Time?

BACKGROUND

A history of abdominal surgery is associated with difficulty in colonoscopy insertion. Few studies have reported effective colonoscopy insertion for patients who underwent abdominal surgery due to stomach cancer.

AIM

We aimed to compare the impact of supine position (SP) and left lateral position (LLP) as the starting position of colonoscopy insertion in patients who underwent abdominal surgery due to stomach cancer.

METHODS

This was a prospective, randomized controlled trial. Patients undergoing colonoscopy for screening or post-polypectomy surveillance after gastrectomy due to stomach cancer were enrolled and randomized to the SP or LLP group as the starting position of colonoscopy insertion. All colonoscopic examinations were performed with a transparent cap. The primary outcome was to compare the cecal intubation time between the two groups.

RESULTS

A total of 224 patients were enrolled. The mean cecal intubation time was not significantly different between the SP and LLP groups (364.5 s versus 306.9 s; p = 0.105). In patients with a lower body mass index (< 21 kg/m²) or who underwent gastrectomy within three years, the mean cecal intubation time of the LLP group was shorter than the SP group. In the multivariate analysis for the factors affecting to increase in the cecal intubation time (> 5 min), the starting position was not an independent factor.

CONCLUSION

Either the SP or LLP could serve as a possible starting position of colonoscopy insertion for patients who underwent abdominal surgery due to stomach cancer.

Can the patient pinpoint where the ingested fish bone is impacted?: A single-center, retrospective study

Among the plethora of foreign body impactions, fish bones are common examples that patients may struggle to properly disclose in clinical situations. This study investigated whether patients could pinpoint where the ingested fish bone was lodged. In addition, we investigated the differences between fish bone and other foreign bodies, the usefulness of computed tomography (CT), and the related risk factors for hospitalization. The cases of patients who underwent an endoscopic removal of fish bone between April 2008 and April 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. The clinical outcomes, X-ray scan, CT, and complications of each patient were investigated. A total of 96 patients were included in this study. The mean size of the impacted fish bone was 23.78 mm, and most were found in the upper esophagus (n = 38). There was a weak correlation between pain location and the actual lesion location (r = 0.419, P < .001). Compared to those of other foreign bodies, the location of impacted fish bones was different (P < .001), the X-ray detection rate of fish bones was lower (P < .001), and the complication incidence was higher (P = .030). CT (95.89%) showed higher sensitivity than X-ray scanning (11.24%) (P < .001). Foreign body size (P = .004) and door-to-endoscopy time (P = .029) were related to admission. Patients only managed to point out the approximate location of the ingested fish bone. CT detected fish bones well, but scans should include at least the entire esophagus instead of solely the area where pain is felt. Fish bone impaction has different clinical characteristics from other foreign bodies. Endoscopic removal without delay can reduce the admission rates.

Comparison of the efficacy and safety between oral sulfate tablet and polyethylene glycol for bowel preparation before colonoscopy according to age

BACKGROUND

Recently, a novel oral sulfate tablet (OST) has been introduced for bowel preparation before colonoscopy. However, whether elderly patients can take OST is not yet clear, as OST consists of 28 tablets. We aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of OST and polyethylene glycol (PEG) for bowel preparation for colonoscopy according to age.

METHODS

We randomly divided subjects into an OST group and a PEG group and compared Boston Bowel Preparation Score (BBPS), bubble score, patient compliance and satisfaction, and safety between the 2 groups according to age (under 65 years of age vs 65 years of age and older).

RESULTS

Among the 179 participants, 61 were 65 years of age and older. The BBPS and bubble score of the OST group were better than that of the PEG group, regardless of age. The satisfaction of the OST group was better than that of the PEG group, regardless of age. The compliance was not different between the 2 groups; however, the OST group under 65 years of age had a higher rate of completing the dose within 2 hours compared with the PEG group under 65 years of age. Adverse events including abdominal distension, abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting were not different between the 2 groups.

CONCLUSION

The use of OST for bowel preparation before colonoscopy is as effective and safe as PEG, and these results were consistent in elderly people 65 years of age and older.

Kimchi improves irritable bowel syndrome: results of a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study

Background

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can be caused by abnormal bowel movements, altered brain-gut axis, gut microbiota change, and low levels of inflammation or immune activation. The intake of food containing much fiber and lactic acid bacteria (LABs) can alleviate IBS.

Objective

This study was undertaken to confirm the alleviative effect of kimchi on symptoms of IBS.

Design

Three types of kimchi (standard kimchi, SK; dead nano-sized Lactobacillus plantarum nF1 (nLp) added to standard kimchi, nLpSK; or functional kimchi, FK) were given to 30 individuals in each of three groups, that is, the SK group (n = 30), the nLpSK group (n = 30), or the FK group (n = 30) at 210 g a day for 12 weeks. Food intake records, serum levels of inflammatory factors, fecal levels of harmful enzymes, and microbiome changes were investigated over the 12-week study period.

Results

After intervention, dietary fiber intake was increased in all groups. Typical IBS symptoms (abdominal pain or inconvenience, desperation, incomplete evacuation, and bloating), defecation time, and stool type were also improved. In serum, all groups showed reductions in tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α (P < 0.001) levels. In addition, serum IL-4 (P < 0.001), IL-10 (P < 0.001), and IL-12 (P < 0.01) were significantly reduced in the nLpSK and FK groups, and serum monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1 (P < 0.05) was significantly reduced in the nLpSK group. Furthermore, activities of fecal β-glucosidase and β-glucuronidase were significantly decreased in all three groups, and these reductions were greatest in the nLpSK group. Gut microbiome analysis showed that kimchi consumption increased Firmicutes populations at the expense of Bacteroidetes and Tenericutes populations. In addition, the Bifidobacterium adolescentis population increased significantly in the FK group (P = 0.026).

Conclusion

Kimchi intake helps alleviate IBS by increasing dietary fiber intake and reducing serum inflammatory cytokine levels and harmful fecal enzyme activities. Notably, nLp improved the immune system, and several functional ingredients in FK promoted the growth of Bifidobacterium adolescentis in gut.

Association between the Blautia/Bacteroides Ratio and Altered Body Mass Index after Bariatric Surgery

BACKGRUOUND

Current evidence support that the gut microbiota plays a potential role in obesity. Bariatric surgery can reduce excess weight and decrease the risk of life-threatening weight-related health problems and may also influence gut microbiota. In this study, we aimed to investigate the changes in gut microbiota before and after bariatric surgery and evaluate the association of the gut microbial shift and altered body mass index (BMI) after bariatric surgery.

METHODS

Between January 2019 and July 2020, stools from 58 patients scheduled for bariatric surgery were collected. Six months after bariatric surgery, stools from 22 of these patients were re-collected, and the changes in gut microbiota before and after bariatric surgery were evaluated. In addition, the differences in gut microbiota between patients with severe obesity (BMI >35 kg/m2, n=42) and healthy volunteers with normal BMI (18.8 to 22.8 kg/m2, n=41) were investigated.

RESULTS

The gut microbiota of patients who underwent bariatric surgery showed increased α-diversity and differed β-diversity compared with those before surgery. Interestingly, Blautia was decreased and Bacteriodes was increased at the genus level after bariatric surgery. Further, the Blautia/Bacteroides ratio showed a positive correlation with BMI. To validate these results, we compared the gut microbiota from severely obese patients with high BMI with those from healthy volunteers and demonstrated that the Blautia/Bacteroides ratio correlated positively with BMI.

CONCLUSION

In the gut microbial analysis of patients who underwent bariatric surgery, we presented that the Blautia/Bacteroides ratio had changed after bariatric surgery and showed a positive correlation with BMI.

Clinical characteristics and treatments of multi-system inflammatory syndrome in children: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) can occur in association with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). It is not easy to differentiate MIS-C from severe COVID-19 or Kawasaki disease based on symptoms. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical and laboratory characteristics of MIS-C.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We searched PubMed/Medline for case series and reports of MIS-C published until June 20, 2020. From a total of nine articles involving 45 cases, various clinical and laboratory data were extracted. Each target case was evaluated by using different diagnostic criteria.

RESULTS

The average age at onset of MIS-C was 8.6 years. In 80% of cases, the age of patients ranged from 5 to 15 years. Fever (100%) and shock (82%) were the most common presenting symptoms. Sixty percent of cases met the diagnostic criteria for typical or atypical Kawasaki disease. Biomarkers indicative of inflammation, coagulopathy, or cardiac injury were characteristically elevated as follows: ferritin (mean: 1,061 ng/mL), CRP (217 mg/L), ESR (69 mm/hr), IL-6 (214.8 pg/mL), TNFα (63.4 pg/mL), D-dimer (3,220 ng/mL), PT (15.5 s), troponin I (1,006 ng/L), and BNP (12,150 pg/mL). Intravenous immunoglobulin was administered in all target cases, and inotropic agents were commonly used as well. No case of death was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated that MIS-C is a serious condition that presents with fever, rash, as well as cardiovascular and gastrointestinal symptoms. Although it is challenging to differentiate MIS-C from Kawasaki disease or severe COVID-19, initiation of appropriate treatments through early diagnosis is warranted.

Helicobacter pylori infection and iron deficiency in non-elderly adults participating in a health check-up program

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Helicobacter pylori infection is presumably associated with iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia (IDA). This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between H. pylori infection and the decline in iron stores in non-elderly adults during their health check-ups.

METHODS

We identified a total of 1,069 subjects who were tested for iron, ferritin, and total iron-binding capacity during their health check-ups, from January 2016 to May 2017. Of these, subjects who underwent endoscopy via rapid urease test and those aged 65 years or below were finally enrolled.

RESULTS

Overall, 281 subjects were enrolled, and 187 patients (66.5%) tested positive for H. pylori. The mean age was 36.1 years (range, 22 to 65), and 176 subjects (62.6%) were male. The mean levels of hemoglobin (14.1 ± 1.7 g/dL vs. 14.6 ± 1.4 g/dL, p = 0.019) and ferritin (121.7 ± 106.9 ng/mL vs. 151.8 ± 107.8 ng/mL, p = 0.027) in the H. pylori-positive group were significantly lower than those in the H. pylori-negative group. Iron deficiency (ferritin < 30 ng/mL) was more common in patients with H. pylori infection (p = 0.002). There was no significant difference in anemia (hemoglobin < 13 g/dL in men, < 12 g/dL in women) or IDA (anemia, ferritin < 10 ng/mL, and transferrin saturation < 16%) with H. pylori. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that female sex (odds ratio, 197.559; 95% confidence interval, 26.461 to 1,475.015) and H. pylori infection (odds ratio, 3.033; 95% confidence interval, 1.216 to 7.567) were factors associated with iron deficiency.

CONCLUSION

H. pylori infection is associated with iron deficiency, suggesting a decline in iron stores among infected non-elderly adults.

Effects of Reproductive Factors on Lauren Intestinal-Type Gastric Cancers in Females: A Multicenter Retrospective Study in South Korea

Background/Aims

Gastric cancers (GCs), particularly the Lauren intestinal type, show a male predominance. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of reproductive factors on GCs in females, according to Lauren classification.

Methods

Medical records of 1,849 males and 424 females who underwent radical gastrectomy or endoscopic resection for GCs between 2010 and 2018 were reviewed. The incidences of intestinal-type GCs were compared between males and groups of females stratified according to postmenopausal period. Associations between reproductive factors in females and intestinaltype GCs were analyzed using multivariate models.

Results

The proportions of intestinal-type GCs were significantly lower in premenopausal (19%), less than 10 years postmenopausal (30.4%), and 10 to 19 years postmenopausal females (44.1%) than in males (61.0%) (p<0.05 for all). Females ≥20 years postmenopause had a proportion of intestinal-type GCs similar to that in males (60.6% vs 61.0%; p=0.948). Multivariate analysis revealed that age (odds ratio [OR], 1.075; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.039 to 1.113; p<0.001) and parity ≥3 (OR, 1.775; 95% CI, 1.012 to 3.114; p=0.045) were positively associated with an increased risk of intestinal-type GCs in postmenopausal females, while long fertility duration (OR, 1.147; 95% CI, 1.043 to 1.261; p=0.005) was positively associated with an increased risk of intestinal-type GCs in premenopausal females.

Conclusions

There were no significant differences in the proportions of intestinal-type GCs between males and females ≥20 years postmenopause, suggesting that female reproductive factors play a role in the prevention of intestinal-type GC.

Localized gastric amyloidosis successfully treated with endoscopic submucosal dissection: A case report

RATIONALE

Amyloidosis is a general term that refers to the extracellular deposition of amyloid. The amyloid can also be deposited in a single organ. However, cases of localized gastric amyloidosis have rarely been reported. Here, we report a case of localized gastric amyloidosis that was successfully treated with endoscopic submucosal dissection.

PATIENT CONCERN

A 60-years-old man underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy as part of a regular check-up without any comorbidities or symptoms.

DIAGNOSTICS

A 12 mm-sized, round, elevated lesion with a central depression, which was covered with normal mucosa, and located on the greater curvature of the lower body of the stomach was discovered during endoscopy. Subsequently, endoscopic ultrasonography was performed, which revealed a 11.7 mm-sized, hypoechoic, heterogeneous lesion located in the muscularis mucosa and submucosa. A biopsy was performed, and amyloid deposition was confirmed. Although other investigations for checking systemic amyloidosis were performed, there were no specific findings. Therefore, the final diagnosis was localized gastric amyloidosis.

INTERVENTIONS

Endoscopic submucosal dissection was performed according to the patient's request and the lesion was completely removed.

OUTCOMES

The patient was followed-up for 3 years without any recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic submucosal dissection can be good diagnostic and treatment option for localized gastric amyloidosis.

Clinical Course of Terminal Ileal Ulcers Observed Incidentally During Colonoscopy

BACKGROUND

Cecal intubation is essential during colonoscopy, and observation of the terminal ileum is performed in most clinical practices. However, data on terminal ileal (TI) ulcers observed incidentally during colonoscopy are rare.

AIM

We aimed to identify the characteristics and clinical course of TI ulcers observed incidentally during colonoscopy.

METHODS

Between January 2008 and December 2018, medical records from multi-centers reporting asymptomatic subjects who underwent biopsy on TI ulcers during colonoscopy were retrospectively reviewed. The characteristics of endoscopic findings and clinical course of TI ulcers were analyzed, and the factors affecting the clinical course of TI ulcers were evaluated.

RESULTS

The median follow-up durations from first to second colonoscopy and from second to third colonoscopy were 20 months (interquartile range, 12-36) and 24 months (interquartile range, 12-34), respectively. A total of 134 subjects were included in the analysis. The histopathologic findings of TI ulcers were mostly chronic or active ileitis/inflammation (92.7%). On the second colonoscopy, 59 (44.0%) patients had no ulcers, 38 (28.4%) showed a decrease in size or number, and 37 (27.6%) patients showed no change in ulcers. Among 62 subjects who underwent a third colonoscopy, 14 (10.4%) had decreased size or number, 10 (7.5%) had no ulcer change, and two (1.5%) had increased ulcer size or number. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, a star shape was the only factor affecting continuation without improvement of incidental TI ulcers.

CONCLUSIONS

Most TI ulcers observed incidentally showed no unusual findings on biopsy and improved on follow-up colonoscopy without treatment.

Efficacy and safety of epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) monotherapy for advanced EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer: systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

It is controversial whether there is efficacy or safety benefit of epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) in advanced EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) compared to standard chemotherapy. We aim to assess the efficacy and safety of EGFR-TKIs compared to other chemotherapeutics in EGFR-mutated NSCLC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Up to April 27th, 2020, PubMed, Embase, Medline, Scopus, Cochrane library, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched for articles or trials meeting the inclusion criteria. After filtering, 230 eligible studies were initially identified. Data extraction followed PRISMA and included outcomes were progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and severe adverse events (SAEs). Direct and indirect meta-analyses were generated in the context of log-linear mixed-effects models, with fixed effects for each relative comparison and random effects for each study.

RESULTS

The results showed that EGFR-TKI therapy had improved PFS with a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.40 (95% CI: 0.36-0.44, p<0.001) compared to standard chemotherapy. Nevertheless, the EGFR-TKIs showed no benefit on OS (HR: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.83-1.10, p=0.556). In the analysis of adverse events, EGFR-TKIs had fewer SAEs than standard chemotherapy (HR: 0.29, 95% CI: 0.26-0.33, p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Our systemic review indicates that EGFR-TKI therapy has improved PFS, and reduced SAEs compared to standard chemotherapy in advanced EGFR-mutated NSCLC.

Hypocomplementemia (C3) as an independent predictor for children with acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis: a long-term observation

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to examine the altering patterns in clinical characteristics and severity of acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN) in children.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We analyzed the medical records of 119 children who were diagnosed with APSGN from 1987 to 2018, retrospectively. The patients were divided into two groups: Group I (n=72, before 1998) and Group II (n=47, after 1998). Clinical, radiologic, and laboratory findings were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

The clinical manifestations, including vomiting (20.8% vs. 4.3%, p=0.014), oliguria (40.3% vs. 19.1%, p=0.016), and generalized edema (86.1% vs. 63.8%, p=0.005), were statistically less frequent since 1998. Pulmonary edema on chest X-ray (22.7% vs. 4.4%, p=0.014) was less frequent in Group II than in Group I. The level of BUN (23.3±19.3 vs. 18.8±11.2, p=0.009) was lower in Group II than in Group I, while that of creatinine was not significantly different between the two groups. C3 level was an independent factor for predicting the development of edema (odds ratio [OR]: 1.034, 95% CI: 1.010-1.060, p=0.006) and acute nephritic symptoms (≥2) (OR: 0.974, 95% CI: 0.952-0996, p=0.020). It was also negatively correlated with an increasing number of acute nephritic symptoms, including oliguria and edema, in patients with APSGN (R=-0.182, p=0.048).

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated that APSGN had favorable clinical manifestations and severity over the past 30 years. The monitoring of C3 levels can be used to assess the disease severity and risk of complications, including edema and oliguria, which are decreasing in South Korean children.

Efficacy of Seven-day High-dose Esomeprazole-based Triple Therapy versus Seven-day Standard Dose Non-esomeprazole-based Triple Therapy as the First-line Treatment of Patients with Helicobacter pylori Infection

Background/Aims

The rates of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication have declined with the use of proton pump inhibitor- amoxicillin-clarithromycin as the first-line triple therapy. On the other hand, several studies have suggested that high gastric pH levels could affect the H. pylori eradication rate by enhancing the efficacy of antimicrobials. This study compared the efficacy of seven-day high-dose esomeprazole-based triple therapy (7-HEAC) for first-line H. pylori eradication with the seven-day standard dose non-esomeprazole-based triple therapy (7-NEAC) to identify the risk factors related to eradication failure.

Methods

This study included 223 patients who were diagnosed with a H. pylori infection and received 7-HEAC or 7-NEAC between June 2016 and January 2017. The H. pylori eradication rates, as well as demographic and clinical factors, were investigated retrospectively. H. pylori eradication was confirmed by a ¹³C-urea breath test or rapid urease test at least 4 weeks after the completion of therapy.

Results

The eradication rates were 67.7% (105/155; 95% CI 59.5-74.8%) in the 7-NEAC group and 80.9% (55/68; 95% CI 69.9-89.8%) in the 7-HEAC group (p=0.045). The adverse event rates were 5.8% (9/155) in the 7-NEAC group and 7.4% (5/68) in the 7-HEAC group (p=0.661). Multivariate analysis revealed being female (OR 2.08; 95% CI 1.15-3.76) to be associated with the failure of H. pylori eradication therapy.

Conclusions

The eradication rate of the 7-HEAC group was higher than that of the 7-NEAC group. Nevertheless, more effective first-line therapies may be necessary for H. pylori eradication in the near future.

Impact of Fusobacterium nucleatum in the gastrointestinal tract on natural killer cells

BACKGROUND

Gut microbial dysbiosis contributes to the development and progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). Natural killer (NK) cells are involved in early defense mechanisms to kill infective pathogens and tumor cells by releasing chemokines and cytokines. To better understand the relationship between the gut microbiome and CRC, it was hypothesized here that a high abundance of Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum) in the gastrointestinal tract could cause reduced NK cell activity.

AIM

To identify associations between gastrointestinal tract F. nucleatum levels and NK cell activity.

METHODS

In vitro experiments were performed on NK cells treated with F. nucleatum, Peptostreptococcus anaerobius, and Parvimonas micra to identify the effects of gut microbiome species on NK cells. Following 24 and 48 h of treatment, NK cell counts were measured. In parallel studies, C57BL/6 mice were given broad-spectrum antibiotics in their drinking water to reduce resident gut flora. After 3 wk, the mice received the various bacterial species or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) via oral gavage every 2 d for 6 wk. At the study end, blood samples were acquired to perform NK cell activity assessment and cytokine analysis. Intestinal tissues were collected and analyzed via immunohistochemistry (IHC).

RESULTS

The data show that after 3 wk of broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment, levels of total bacteria and F. nucleatum were markedly decreased in mice. Gavage of F. nucleatum significantly decreased NK cell activity relative to the activities of cells from mice treated with antibiotics only and PBS. The administration of F. nucleatum decreased the proportion of NK46⁺ cells based on IHC staining and increased the production of interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α.

CONCLUSION

High levels of F. nucleatum in the gastrointestinal tract reduced NK cell activity in mice, and the decrease in NK cell activity might be affected by increased pro-inflammatory cytokines after F. nucleatum treatment.

Randomised clinical trial: comparison of tegoprazan and placebo in non-erosive reflux disease

BACKGROUND

Tegoprazan is a novel, fast- and long-acting potassium-competitive acid blocker that suppresses gastric acid secretion, which could benefit patients with non-erosive reflux disease (NERD), a type of gastroesophageal reflux disease.

AIM

To evaluate the efficacy and safety profiles of tegoprazan compared with those of a placebo in Korean patients with NERD.

METHODS

In this phase 3, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre study, 324 Korean patients with NERD were randomised into three treatment groups: tegoprazan 50 mg, tegoprazan 100 mg and placebo. These drugs were provided once daily for 4 weeks. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients with complete resolution of major symptoms (both heartburn and regurgitation) for the last 7 days of the 4-week treatment period. Other outcomes related to efficacy, safety and tolerability were also evaluated.

RESULTS

Among all, 42.5% (45/106), 48.5% (48/99) and 24.2% (24/99) of patients showed complete resolution of major symptoms at week 4 after receiving tegoprazan 50 mg, tegoprazan 100 mg, and placebo, respectively. Both doses of tegoprazan showed superior efficacy than the placebo (P = 0.0058 and P = 0.0004, respectively). The complete resolution rates of heartburn and proportions of heartburn-free days (as other efficacy outcomes) were significantly higher in both tegoprazan groups than in the placebo group (P < 0.05 for all). No significant difference in the incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events were noted.

CONCLUSIONS

Tegoprazan 50 and 100 mg showed superior therapeutic efficacy compared with the placebo, as well as a favourable safety profile in patients with NERD. Registration number: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02556021.

Eosinophilic Esophagitis with Angina Pectoris

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is an immune or antigen-mediated chronic inflammatory esophageal disorder that is relatively rare in Asian countries. The main symptoms of EoE are dysphagia and food impaction. Although chest pain is a symptom of EoE, it is also a symptom of coronary heart disease. This paper reports a case of EoE with angina pectoris in a 45-year-old male who was referred to the authors' hospital for chest pain. He was diagnosed with angina pectoris because of mild stenosis in the left coronary artery on coronary angiography. On the other hand, the symptoms did not improve with angina medication therapy. Therefore, he underwent a chest CT scan, which revealed esophageal thickening. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy was performed. His endoscopic findings showed linear furrows with edema, and >90 eosinophils existed per high-power field on the histology findings. He was diagnosed with EoE. Through additional examinations, he was also diagnosed with asthma. The patient was treated with a proton pump inhibitor and a fluticasone inhaler. His symptoms and abnormal endoscopic findings disappeared after eight weeks of treatment. This case shows that physicians should consider the possibility of the symptoms for EoE when unexplained chest pain persists.

Survival Benefit of Palliative Primary Tumor Resection Based on Tumor Location in Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: A Single-center Retrospective Study

Backgrounds/Aims

The molecular underpinnings of colorectal cancer (CRC) vary according to the tumor location. The advantages of a palliative primary tumor resection in patients with metastatic CRC are controversial. This study examined the survival outcomes of a palliative primary tumor resection based on the tumor location in patients with metastatic CRC.

Methods

The medical records of 600 patients diagnosed with metastatic CRC between January 2000 and June 2018 were reviewed retrospectively. Patients undergoing surgery for both the primary tumor and metastatic lesions were excluded. The clinical factors affecting the long-term outcomes were evaluated according to the primary tumor location, and the long-term survival was compared between patients with and without a palliative primary tumor resection. The data were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier estimator and multivariate Cox regression models.

Results

The median follow-up duration was 18 months (interquartile range, 10-28). Patients with right-sided CRC had a poor overall- and progression-free survival compared to those with left-sided CRC. In multivariate Cox regression analysis, the palliative primary tumor resection was an independent prognostic factor predicting better overall survival in patients with metastatic CRC, regardless of the primary tumor location.

Conclusions

The primary tumor location influences the prognosis, and that a primary tumor resection can improve the overall survival in patients with metastatic CRC, regardless of the primary tumor location.

Mucosa-associated Lymphoid Tissue Lymphoma-mimicking Primary Gastrointestinal Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma

Malignant lymphoma in the gastrointestinal tract is mainly secondary. Primary gastric malignant lymphoma constitutes 1-4% of gastric malignant tumors without specific endoscopic findings, and histopathologically, it is mainly classified as non-Hodgkin lymphoma of B-cell origin. Otherwise, a rare type of gastrointestinal lymphoma is small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL). SLL is the same as a chronic lymphocytic lymphoma and tends to grow slowly. Here, we report a case of a patient diagnosed with primary gastrointestinal SLL upon endoscopy screening with non-specific mucosal findings.

Low recurrence rate after endoscopic resection in non-ampullary duodenal lesions: A 16-year single-center retrospective study

Endoscopic resection (ER) for non-ampullary duodenal lesions (NADLs) is technically more difficult than lesions of the stomach. However, endoscopic treatment of duodenal lesions has been increasingly performed in recent years. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ER for NADLs.Patients who underwent ER for NADLs between 2004 and 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical and pathologic features of the lesions including the clinical outcomes and adverse events were analyzed.The study included 80 patients with NADLs. The mean age of patients was 59.3 years (22-80 years), the mean size of the lesion was 8.8 ± 7.0 mm, and the mean procedure time was 13.2 ± 11.2 min. Half (40/80) of the lesions were in the duodenal bulb including the superior duodenal angle. Final histological data showed 56 adenomas (70.5%), 13 Brunner gland tumors (16.2%), and 4 pyloric gland tumors (5.0%). The final diagnoses of 5 lesions after ER showed higher-grade dysplasia compared to pre-ER biopsy findings. The en bloc resection rate was 93.8% (75/80), and the complete resection rate with clear margins was 90.0% (72/80). Micro-perforation occurred in 2 of 80 patients and was successfully treated with conservative treatment. There were no cases of delayed bleeding. The mean follow-up period was 27.0 months (2-119 months) with no cases of recurrence.ER may be an effective treatment for NADLs with favorable long-term outcomes. However, the possibility of perforation complications should always be considered during ER.

Gender difference in the overlap of irritable bowel syndrome and functional dyspepsia: a prospective nationwide multicenter study in Korea

BACKGROUND

The overlap between functional dyspepsia (FD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is associated with more severe gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and lower quality of life. However, the gender differences in FD-IBS overlap remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the gender differences in patients with FD-IBS overlap.

METHODS

Controls and cases were prospectively enrolled from July 2019 to June 2020 at nine tertiary referral centers. The patients underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy, and their symptoms were evaluated using a questionnaire including GI symptom-related items and the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS). FD and IBS were diagnosed according to the Rome IV criteria, and the clinical characteristics of the FD-IBS overlap group were compared with those of the FD-only or IBS-only group.

RESULTS

Among 667 subjects (334 healthy controls, 168 with FD-only, 37 with IBS-only, 128 with FD-IBS overlap), the FD-IBS overlap group (19.2%) showed a higher rate of preference for dairy products, a higher rate of history of Helicobacter pylori eradication, and higher HADS scores than the non-overlap group (P < 0.05). In the FD-IBS overlap group, men complained of reflux symptom and loose/watery stools more than women (P < 0.05), whereas women showed more severe GI symptoms, especially epigastric pain/burning symptoms, and higher depression scores than men (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

FD-IBS overlap patients are associated with severe upper GI symptoms and depression compared to non-overlap patients. Moreover, women with FD-IBS overlap experience more severe GI and depression symptoms than men.

A study of the microbiological profile of filler-induced skin necrosis

Skin necrosis is one of the most severe complications following filler injections, and can result in permanent aesthetic defects. Although an increasing number of studies have addressed the management of dermal filler complications, no study has described the spectrum of microbial pathogens. The aim of this study was to delineate the bacterial profile and prognostic factors of filler-related skin necrosis by reviewing the clinical and microbiological features of these patients. A retrospective medical record review of patients undergoing treatment for skin necrosis induced by fillers was conducted. In total, 10 cases were identified, with injection sites being the nasolabial fold (70%; n = 7), nasal dorsum (20%; n = 2) and nasal tip (10%; n = 1). Reviewing the culture results, the true culture-positive rate was found to be 50% after cases of contamination were excluded. To avoid permanent sequelae, all physicians should be aware of possible secondary infections when treating filler-induced skin necrosis.

Terahertz magnetoplasmon resonances in coupled cavities formed in a gated two-dimensional electron gas

We report on both experiments and theory of low-terahertz frequency range (up to 400 GHz) magnetoplasmons in a gated two-dimensional electron gas at low (<4K) temperatures. The evolution of magnetoplasmon resonances was observed as a function of magnetic field at frequencies up to ∼400 GHz. Full-wave 3D simulations of the system predicted the spatial distribution of plasmon modes in the 2D channel, along with their frequency response, allowing us to distinguish those resonances caused by bulk and edge magnetoplasmons in the experiments. Our methodology is anticipated to be applicable to the low temperature (<4K) on-chip terahertz measurements of a wide range of other low-dimensional mesoscopic systems.

Randomized, double-blind, active-controlled, multicentre, phase III clinical trial with two stages to assess the safety and efficacy of letibotulinum toxin a vs. onabotulinum toxin a for subjects with moderate to severe crow's feet

BACKGROUND

Letibotulinum toxin A (LeBA) was approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (known as the Korea Food & Drug Administration) for cosmetic indications in 2012. However, the efficacy and safety of this newly introduced LeBA have not been investigated in crow's feet lines (CFL) treatment and standardization before its universal use.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this multicentre, double-blind, randomized, parallel, active-controlled Phase III clinical trial with two stages (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03408236) was to investigate the non-inferiority of LeBA vs. the existing onabotulinum toxin A (OnBA) for the treatment of CFL.

METHODS

A total of 240 subjects were randomized to either the test (LeBA) or control (OnBA) group. At the baseline and at weeks 4 while maximum smiling (primary efficacy assessment), 8, 12 and 16, investigator's on-site evaluation, independent evaluator, evaluation by the subjects, subjects' satisfaction assessment and safety assessment were performed.

RESULTS

At week 4, the response rate of primary efficacy assessment was 69.75% and 68.33% in the test (LeBA) and control (OnBA) groups, respectively, without a significant difference. Other minor secondary evaluation results showed significant differences suggesting that LeBA offered better improvement than OnBA, but the overall results did not show significant differences between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

This study showed that LeBA was as effective and safe as OnBA for the treatment of CFL at the same doses.

Difficulty in distinguishing malignant gastric lymphoma from advanced gastric cancer: Focusing on endoscopic findings of the Borrmann type

Malignant gastric lymphoma (MGL) accounts for a small proportion (upto 5%) of gastric malignancies. However, unlike for advanced gastric cancer (AGC) that requires surgical treatment, the standard treatments for MGL are chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Hence, the initial impression of the endoscopist is critical for the differential diagnosis and for planning future treatment. The purpose of this study was to assess the endoscopic diagnostic accuracy and the possibility of distinguishing between AGC and MGL depending on the endoscopist's experience.A total of 48 patients who had MGL, and 48 age and sex-matched patients who had AGC were assessed by endoscopic review at a tertiary referral hospital between June 2008 and February 2017. Two endoscopic specialists reviewed the endoscopic findings and divided these diagnoses into 5 groups: Borrmann type (1, 2, 3, and 4) and early gastric cancer-like type. After this, 7 experts and 8 trainees were asked to complete a quiz that was comprised of 6 images for each of the 96 cases and to provide an endoscopic diagnosis for each case. The test results were analyzed to assess the diagnostic accuracy according to the pathologic results, endoscopic subgroups, and endoscopists' experience. For inter-observer agreement was calculated with Fleiss kappa values.The overall diagnostic accuracy of endoscopic findings by the experts was 0.604 and that by the trainees was 0.493 (P = .050). There was no significant difference in the diagnosis according to the final pathology (lymphoma cases, 0.518 vs 0.440, P = .378; AGC cases, 0.690 vs 0.547, P = .089, respectively). In the subgroup analysis, the experts showed significantly higher diagnostic accuracy for the endoscopic Borrmann type 4 subgroup, including lymphoma or AGC cases, than the trainees (P = .001). Inter-observer agreement of final diagnosis (Fleiss kappa, 0.174) and endoscopic classification groups (Fleiss kappa, 0.123-0.271) was slightly and fair agreement.The experts tended to have a higher endoscopic diagnostic accuracy. Distinguishing MGL from AGC based on endoscopic findings is difficult, especially for the beginners. Even if the endoscopic impression is AGC, it is important to consider MGL in the differential diagnosis.

Therapeutic Potential of Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 in Clinically Remission-attained Ulcerative Colitis Patients: A Hospital-based Cohort Study

Background/Aims

Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (EcN) alone therapy is as effective as mesalamine in inducing and maintaining remission in ulcerative colitis (UC). The efficacy and safety of EcN in combination with standard therapies have not been studied. This study examined the changes in the inflammation markers and symptoms following the additional administration of EcN to patients showing the clinical remission of UC.

Methods

UC patients who received EcN after being in clinical remission for more than 3 months at Kosin University Gospel Hospital between 2013 and 2018 were evaluated through the retrospective medical-record-based review. The partial Mayo score, fecal calprotectin (FC), BMI, hemoglobin, serum cholesterol, serum albumin levels, and the safety profiles were examined at 3rd and 6th months after initiating EcN.

Results

Ninety-four patients were included. After 3 months of treatment, there was no significant change in FC (156.3 μg/g to 141.1 μg/g) (p=0.653). On the other hand, partial Mayo score decreased significantly from 0.085 to 0.014 (p=0.025), and the bodyweight (p=0.001), BMI (p<0.001), hemoglobin (p=0.009), and cholesterol level increased (p=0.148). One patient (1.1%) experienced a serious adverse event with UC flare-up, and 14 patients (14.9%) discontinued EcN due to adverse events; all developed within 3 months.

Conclusions

Additional administration of EcN to clinically remission-attained UC patients may improve the UC symptoms without changing the FC levels. EcN-associated adverse events develop within the early few weeks.

Differences in Endoscopic Findings of Primary and Secondary Gastric Lymphoma

Objectives : Since endoscopic findings of primary gastric lymphoma are ambiguous and diverse, it is not easy to distinguish them from gastric adenocarcinoma or secondary gastric lymphoma. The aim of this study was to investigate the difference in clinical and endoscopic features between primary gastric lymphoma and gastric involvement of lymphoma. Methods : Forty-eight patients were enrolled in this retrospective study between June 2008 and February 2017. The patients were divided into primary gastric lymphoma group (primary group, n = 18) and gastric involvement group (secondary group, n = 30) based on whether or not they carried gastric lesions alone. Patients’ clinical characteristics, endoscopic findings and pathologic data were retrospectively reviewed based on electronic medical records. Results : The mean age of patients was 63.3 ± 13.1 years and 29 patients were female (60.4%). Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma pathology (81.3%), gastric body involvement (47.9%) and ulceroinfiltrative morphology on endoscopy (43.8%) were common features. Regardless of the two groups, the initial endoscopic diagnosis was considered as lymphoma only in 41.7%. Compared with the primary group, fundus ( P = 0.035) and regional lymph node ( P &lt; 0.001) were significantly associated with the secondary group. However, there was no significant difference in endoscopic findings including location, size, number, and morphology of lesion. Conclusions : Endoscopic diagnosis of gastric lymphoma is a challenge. There is no difference in endoscopic findings between the primary and secondary groups even when confirmed separately. However, when the lesion is present in the fundus, we keep in mind the possibility of secondary gastric lymphoma.

Changes in the Crohn's Disease Activity Index and Safety of Administering Saccharomyces Boulardii in Patients with Crohn's Disease in Clinical Remission: A Single Hospital-based Retrospective Cohort Study

Background/Aims

Crohn's disease (CD) is characterized by uncontrolled inflammation of the intestine. Saccharomyces boulardii (S. boulardii), a probiotic, stabilizes the intestinal wall. This study examined the changes in the CD activity index (CDAI) after taking S. boulardii in patients with CD in clinical remission.

Methods

In this single hospital-based retrospective cohort study, the medical records of CD patients in clinical remission, who had received S. boulardii for more than 6 months, were reviewed. The CDAI, BMI, and serum levels of hemoglobin (Hb), ferritin, iron, vitamin B12, folate, total protein, albumin, total cholesterol, CRP, and fecal calprotectin (FC) between the initiation and the 6th month were compared. The timing and reasons for the discontinuation were also investigated.

Results

One hundred and fifty-four patients were included, and 92 patients, who received for more than 6 months, were analyzed. The changes in CDAI, BMI, Hb, and total cholesterol were significant as follows: CDAI from 38.52 to 30.53 (p<0.01), BMI (kg/m² ) from 23.38 to 23.97 (p<0.01), Hb (g/dL) from 13.73 to 14.03 (p<0.01), and total cholesterol (mg/dL) from 154.9 to 161.5 (p<0.01). On the other hand, the changes in FC, CRP, ferritin, vitamin B12, folate, total protein, and albumin were not statistically significant. Only one patient stopped due to a flare-up, but this was not believed to be related to the drug.

Conclusions

In patients with CD in remission, S. boulardii appears to improve the CDAI, BMI, serum Hb, and total cholesterol level without safety issues. Further randomized controlled studies will be needed.

Systemic contact dermatitis induced by Rhus allergens in Korea: exercising caution in the consumption of this nutritious food

Systemic contact dermatitis (SCD) develops when a person who was previously sensitized to an allergen is exposed to the same allergen via the systemic route. In East Asia, the use of lacquer for polishing furniture is common and a part of the traditional culture. Contact exposure to tableware polished with Rhus lacquer may lead to sensitization. In Korea, SCD is commonly observed after systemic exposure to Rhus, a nutritious food item consumed because of the common belief of it improving the immune system. In this study, we reviewed the medical records of 21 Korean patients with SCD caused by Rhus ingestion. We found that the most significant epidemiological factor for SCD was the season of the year. Furthermore, 66.67% of the patients presented with leucocytosis and 23.81% showed increased liver enzyme levels. It is important to educate people on the risks associated with the systemic ingestion of Rhus.