Endoscopic manifestation of intestinal transplant-associated microangiopathy after stem cell transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic features of intestinal transplant-associated microangiopathy (iTAM) have not been comprehensively investigated. This study aimed to examine the endoscopic characteristics of patients diagnosed with iTAM. METHODS: This retrospective analysis included 14 patients pathologically diagnosed with iTAM after stem cell transplantation for hematolymphoid neoplasms (n = 13) or thalassemia (n = 1). The sex, age at diagnosis, endoscopic features, and prognosis of each patient were assessed. Serological markers for diagnosing transplant-associated thrombotic microangiopathy were also evaluated. RESULTS: The mean age at the time of iTAM diagnosis was 40.2 years. Patients diagnosed based on the pathognomonic pathological changes of iTAM presented with diverse symptoms at the times of endoscopic examinations, including diarrhea (n = 10), abdominal pain (n = 5), nausea (n = 4), appetite loss (n = 2), bloody stools (n = 2), abdominal discomfort (n = 1), and vomiting (n = 1). At the final follow-up, six patients survived, while eight patients succumbed, with a median time of 100.5 days (range: 52-247) post-diagnosis. Endoscopic manifestations included erythematous mucosa (n = 14), erosions (n = 13), ulcers (n = 9), mucosal edema (n = 9), granular mucosa (n = 9), and villous atrophy (n = 4). Erosions and/or ulcers were primarily observed in the colon (10/14, 71%), followed by the ileum (9/13, 69%), stomach (4/10, 40%), cecum (5/14, 36%), duodenum (3/10, 30%), rectum (4/14, 29%), and esophagus (1/10, 10%). Cytomegalovirus infection (n = 4) and graft-versus-host disease (n = 2) coexisted within the gastrointestinal tract. Patients had de novo prolonged or progressive thrombocytopenia (6/14, 43%), decreased hemoglobin concentration (4/14, 29%), reduced serum haptoglobin level (3/14, 21%), and a sudden and persistent increase in lactate dehydrogenase level (2/14, 14%). Peripheral blood samples from 12 patients were evaluated for schistocytes, with none exceeding 4%. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a comprehensive exploration of the endoscopic characteristics of iTAM. Notably, all patients exhibited erythematous mucosa throughout the gastrointestinal tract, accompanied by prevalent manifestations, such as erosions (93%), ulcers (64%), mucosal edema (64%), granular mucosa (64%), and villous atrophy (29%). Because of the low positivity for serological markers of transplant-associated thrombotic microangiopathy in patients with iTAM, endoscopic evaluation and biopsy of these lesions are crucial, even in the absence of these serological features.

Utility of Combined Use of Transabdominal Ultrasonography and Fecal Immunochemical Test Examinations in Ulcerative Colitis.

This study examined the utility of the combined use of transabdominal ultrasonography (TUS) and fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) to detect mucosal inflammation, vis-a-vis the Mayo endoscopic subscore (MES), in ulcerative colitis (UC). Sixty-three UC patients who underwent TUS and FIT were retrospectively enrolled. For TUS, the colon was divided into five segments, and the bowel wall thickness was measured and evaluated. The accuracy of FIT (> 100 ng/ml) in detecting mucosal inflammation (MES>0) was 0.93, whereas that of TUS (BWT>2 mm) in each segment was 0.84-0.97. The combined use of TUS and FIT may be helpful in noninvasive treatment strategies.

Metformin ameliorates chronic colitis in a mouse model by regulating interferon-γ-producing lamina propria CD4+ T cells through AMPK activation.

Metformin, a commonly prescribed drug for type 2 diabetes mellitus, has been shown to activate AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Notably, AMPK activation has recently been observed to be associated with anti-inflammatory responses. Metformin is also reported to elicit anti-inflammatory responses in CD4+ T cells, resulting in improvement in experimental chronic inflammatory diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus. To investigate the effect of metformin on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), we developed a T cell-transfer model of chronic colitis in which SCID mice were injected with CD4+ CD45RBhigh T cells to induce colitis. We examined the effects of metformin via in vitro and in vivo experiments on lamina propria (LP) CD4+ T cells. We observed that metformin suppresses the frequency of interferon (IFN) -γ-producing LP CD4+ T cells in vitro, which were regulated by AMPK activation, a process possibly induced by the inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation. Furthermore, we examined the effects of metformin on an in vivo IBD model. Metformin-treated mice showed AMPK activation in LP CD4+ T cells and ameliorated colitis. Our study demonstrates that metformin-induced AMPK activation in mucosal CD4+ T cells contributes to the improvement of IBD by suppressing IFN-γ production. Moreover, our results indicate that AMPK may be a target molecule for the regulation of mucosal immunity and inflammation. Thus, AMPK-activating drugs such as metformin may be potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of IBD.

Usefulness of Intestinal Ultrasound to Detect Small Intestinal Stenosis in Patients With Crohn's Disease.

OBJECTIVES: Double balloon enteroscopy (DBE) with retrograde contrast is useful as a monitoring tool for small intestinal lesions in Crohn's disease (CD), but these are burdensome for patients. Intestinal ultrasound (IUS) can be used with ease in daily clinical practice, but there is less evidence regarding the accuracy of detection of small intestinal stenosis in CD. This study aimed to examine the diagnostic power of IUS for small intestinal stenosis in patients with CD. METHODS: The findings of DBE and IUS in 86 patients with CD with small intestinal lesions were evaluated. Using DBE as the reference standard, we examined the detection rate of IUS for small intestinal stenosis. We evaluated three parameters: luminal narrowing, prestenotic dilation, and to-and-fro movement for determining stenosis using IUS. In addition, we compared the characteristics between the stenosis-detectable and stenosis-undetectable groups by IUS. RESULTS: Of the 86 patients, 30 had small intestinal stenosis. In IUS findings, when lesions that met two or more of the three parameters were judged as stenosis, the detection rate was 70.0% for sensitivity, 98.2% for specificity, and 88.4% for accuracy. Moreover, there were patients with a younger age at diagnosis (P < 0.05) and more ileocolonic disease location (P < 0.05) in the stenosis-detectable group by IUS. The stenoses detected by IUS were significantly longer than those undetected by IUS (14.1 mm versus 5.2 mm, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: IUS delivered reliable results for clinically important small intestinal stenosis of CD with high diagnostic accuracy.

Low Patient Weight and Long Intubation Time Are Key Factors for Pain during Colonoscopy.

Although the clinical usefulness of colonoscopy has been established, the procedure remains painful for many patients. This study was designed to clarify the factors predicting colonoscopy-related pain. We evaluated 283 consecutive patients who completed a first-ever, total colonoscopy without sedatives or analgesics. The severity of pain symptoms was evaluated by a numeric rating scale (NRS) in a questionnaire immediately after the colonoscopy. Patient backgrounds and endoscopic findings were analyzed to evaluate their association with pain. Out of 283 patients, 53 scored their pain 0-1 on the NRS while 48 scored it 6-10. We defined the colonoscopies of the former and latter patients as painless and painful, respectively, and compared the two. Multivariate analyses revealed that low body weight (OR 4.95, 95%CI 1.89-12.99) and longer intubation time (OR 3.63, 95%CI 1.46-9.03) were significant risk factors for painful colonoscopy. To identify factors contributing to the increased intubation time, we divided subjects into short- and long-intubation-time groups based on a median insertion time of 7 min. Older age (OR 2.28, 95%CI 1.31-3.98), previous abdominal surgery (OR 1.93, 95%CI 1.13-3.32) and findings of invasive cancer (OR 10.90, 95%CI 1.34-88.90) were significant factors for longer intubation time.

Multicenter survey on mesalamine intolerance in patients with ulcerative colitis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Although oral mesalamine is the first-choice drug for treating mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis (UC), some patients show symptoms of intolerance, including exacerbation of diarrhea and abdominal pain. The present study clarified the current state and clinical courses of patients with mesalamine intolerance. METHODS: Patients who were diagnosed with UC and administered oral mesalamine at eight hospitals in Japan with a follow-up period exceeding 1 year were analyzed. RESULTS: Sixty-seven (11%) of 633 patients showed intolerance to at least one formulation of oral mesalamine. The frequency of mesalamine intolerance has increased in recent years, rising from 5.3% in 2007-2010 to 9.1% in 2011-2013 and 16.2% in 2014-2016. The most common complications were the exacerbation of diarrhea (n = 29), a fever (n = 25), and abdominal pain (n = 22). Readministration of mesalamine/sulfasalazine was attempted in 43 patients, mostly with other types of formulation of mesalamine, and more than half of these patients proved to be tolerant. The risk factors for mesalamine intolerance were female gender (odds ratio [OR] = 1.83; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08-3.12), age < 60 years old (OR = 2.82; CI, 1.19-8.33), and pancolitis (OR = 2.09; 95% CI, 1.23-3.60). There were no significant differences in the use of anti-tumor necrosis factor-α agents, colectomy, or steroid-free remission at the last visit between patients with and without mesalamine intolerance. CONCLUSIONS: Mesalamine intolerance is not rare, and its frequency has been increasing recently. The prognosis of patients with mesalamine intolerance did not differ significantly from that of those without intolerance.

Heterogeneous distribution of Fusobacterium nucleatum in the progression of colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn) is involved in colorectal cancer (CRC) growth and is a biomarker for patient prognosis and management. However, the ecology of Fn in CRC and the distribution of intratumoral Fn are unknown. METHODS: We evaluated Fn and the status of KRAS and BRAF in 200 colorectal neoplasms (118 adenomas and 82 cancers) and 149 matched adjacent normal mucosas. The differentiation status between "surface" and "deep" areas of cancer tissue and matched normal mucosa were analyzed in 46 surgical samples; the Ki-67 index was also evaluated in these samples. RESULTS: Fusobacterium nucleatum presence in the tumor increased according to pathological stage (5.9% [adenoma] to 81.8% [stage III/IV]), while Fn presence in normal mucosa also increased (7.6% [adenoma] to 40.9% [stage III/IV]). The detection rates of Fn on the tumor surface and in deep areas were 45.7% and 32.6%, while that of normal mucosa were 26.1% and 23.9%, respectively. Stage III/IV tumors showed high Fn surface area expression (66.7%). Fn intratumoral heterogeneity (34.8%) was higher than that of KRAS (4.3%; P < 0.001) and BRAF (2.2%; P < 0.001). The Ki-67 index in Fn-positive cases was higher than that in negative cases (93.9% vs 89.0%; P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Fusobacterium nucleatum was strongly present in CRC superficial areas at stage III/IV. The presence of Fn in the deep areas of adjacent normal mucosa also increased. The intratumoral heterogeneity of Fn is important in the use of Fn as a biomarker, as Fn is associated with CRC proliferative capacity.

Evaluation of complete cold forceps polypectomy resection rate for 3- to 5-mm colorectal polyps.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: The propriety of cold forceps polypectomy (CFP) using jumbo biopsy forceps for diminutive polyps remains controversial. We conducted a prospective study to evaluate the complete CFP resection rate of 3-5-mm polyps using additional endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) specimens following CFP. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with 3-5-mm protruded or flat elevated colorectal polyps diagnosed endoscopically as adenomas or serrated lesions were prospectively enrolled. CFP using jumbo biopsy forceps was used to remove the eligible polyps and repeated until the absence of residuals were confirmed via image-enhanced endoscopy or chromoendoscopy. After CFP, saline was injected at the defect, and the marginal specimen of the defect was resected using EMR to histologically evaluate the residue. The primary outcome was the complete CFP resection rate, which was defined as no residue at the EMR site. Other outcomes were the number of CFP bites and the complete resection rate by lesion size. RESULTS: Eighty patients with 120 polyps were enrolled. The mean polyp size was 4.1 ± 0.7 mm. The overall complete resection rate was 96.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 91.7-98.7), and the rates for 3-, 4- and 5-mm polyps were 100% (95% CI, 86.7-100), 96.0% (95% CI, 86.5-98.9) and 95.5% (95% CI, 85.1-98.8), respectively. The one-bite CFP rates were 92%, 60% and 31% for the 3-, 4- and 5-mm polyps, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The complete CFP resection rate for 3-5-mm polyps was acceptable, although the one-bite clearance rate decreased as the polyp size increased (UMIN000028841).

Liquid biopsy for patients with IBD-associated neoplasia.

BACKGROUND: It is often difficult to diagnose inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)-associated neoplasia endoscopically due to background inflammation. In addition, due to the absence of sensitive tumor biomarkers, countermeasures against IBD-associated neoplasia are crucial. The purpose of this study is to develop a new diagnostic method through the application of liquid biopsy. METHODS: Ten patients with IBD-associated cancers and high-grade dysplasia (HGD) with preserved tumor tissue and blood were included. Tumor and non-tumor tissues were analyzed for 48 cancer-related genes using next-generation sequencing. Simultaneously, circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) was analyzed for mutations in the target genes using digital PCR. RESULTS: Out of 10 patients, seven had IBD-related cancer and three had IBD-related HGD. Two patients had carcinoma in situ; moreover, three had stageII and two had stage III. To avoid false positives, the mutation rate cutoff was set at 5% based on the control results; seven of 10 (70%) tumor tissue samples were mutation-positive. Mutation frequencies for each gene were as follows: TP53 (20.9%; R136H), TP53 (25.0%; C110W), TP53 (8.5%; H140Q), TP53 (31.1%; R150W), TP53 (12.8%; R141H), KRAS (40.0%; G12V), and PIK3CA (34.1%; R 88Q). The same mutations were detected in the blood of these seven patients. However, no mutations were detected in the blood of the remaining three patients with no tumor tissue mutations. The concordance rate between tumor tissue DNA and blood ctDNA was 100%. CONCLUSION: Blood liquid biopsy has the potential to be a new method for non-invasive diagnosis of IBD-associated neoplasia.

Factors Predicting a Favorable Disease Course Without Anti-TNF Therapy in Crohn's Disease Patients.

Determining factors that predict a favorable disease course without anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents would help establish a more cost-effective strategy for Crohn's disease (CD). A retrospective chart review was performed for CD patients with disease durations > 10 years who had not received anti-TNF agents as first-line therapy. Patients were divided into 2 groups: those who received neither anti-TNF agents nor bowel resection (G1), and those who had received an anti-TNF agent and/or bowel resection (G2). The patient backgrounds, therapies and clinical courses were compared between the groups. A total of 62 CD patients met the inclusion criteria (males: 71%; median duration of follow-up: 19 years). Six patients were included in G1; they were significantly less likely to have upper gastrointestinal lesions than G2 (p=0.007). A multivariate analysis revealed that the significant factors for avoidance of bowel resection without anti-TNF treatment were non-stricturing and non-penetrating behaviors, and absence of upper gastrointestinal lesions at the diagnosis (hazard ratios 0.41 and 0.52; p=0.004 and 0.04, respectively). In consideration of the long treatment course of CD, patients with non-stricturing and non-penetrating behaviors and no upper gastrointestinal lesions should not be treated with anti-TNF agents as first-line therapy.

Blue laser imaging and linked color imaging improve the color difference value and visibility of colorectal polyps in underwater conditions.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Underwater endoscopic mucosal resection (UEMR) has become widespread for treating colorectal polyps. However, which observational mode is best suited for determining polyp margins underwater remains unclear. To determine the best mode, we analyzed three imaging modes: white light imaging (WLI), blue laser imaging (BLI) and linked color imaging (LCI). METHODS: Images of consecutive colorectal polyps previously examined by these three modes before UEMR were analyzed according to the degree of underwater turbidity (transparent or cloudy). Color differences between the polyps and their surroundings were calculated using the Commission Internationale d'Eclairage Lab color space in which 3-D color parameters were expressed. Eight evaluators, who were blinded to the histology, scored the visibility from one (undetectable) to four (easily detectable) in both underwater conditions. The color differences and visibility scores were compared. RESULTS: Seventy-three polyps were evaluated. Sixty-one polyps (44 adenomatous, 17 serrated) were observed under transparent conditions, and 12 polyps (seven adenomatous, five serrated) were observed under cloudy conditions. Under transparent conditions, color differences for the BLI (8.5) and LCI (7.9) were significantly higher than that of WLI (5.7; P < 0.001). Visibility scores for BLI (3.6) and LCI (3.4) were also higher than that of WLI (3.1; P < 0.0001). Under cloudy conditions, visibility scores for LCI (2.9) and WLI (2.7) were significantly higher than that of BLI (2.2; P < 0.0001 and P = 0.04, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: BLI and LCI were better observational modes in transparent water; however, BLI was unsuitable for cloudy conditions.

Long-term outcomes of patients with Crohn's disease who received infliximab or adalimumab as the first-line biologics.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Although previous studies compared the efficacy of infliximab (IFX) versus adalimumab (ADA) as the first-line biologics for Crohn's disease (CD), the difference in long-term prognosis based on which biologic was used first has scarcely been reported. In particular, the clinical courses after loss of response (LOR) of the first-line biologics are largely unknown. METHODS: A multicenter, retrospective study was performed. Disease courses of biologic-naïve CD patients who were started on IFX or ADA treatment were evaluated, even after LOR of the initial biologics. RESULTS: In total, 263 CD patients were eligible for analysis, 183 were treated with IFX first, and 80 were treated with ADA first. The median observation period was 64.2 months. The cumulative steroid-free remission rates and surgery-free rates did not differ significantly between the patients treated with IFX first and those treated with ADA first (log-rank test P = 0.42 and P = 0.74, respectively). In addition, no significant difference was observed in the rate of occurrence of events associated with ineffectiveness (modification of anti-tumor necrosis factor treatment including intensification, switch, discontinuation, or surgery) between the patient groups (log-rank test P = 0.62). The patients treated with IFX first were likely to discontinue the agent due to adverse events, whereas those treated with ADA first were likely to discontinue due to treatment failure or LOR. CONCLUSIONS: No significant difference was observed in the long-term prognosis between biologic-naïve patients with CD who were started treatment with IFX first and ADA first.

Feasibility of Underwater Clip Closure for Large Mucosal Defects after Colorectal Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Clip closure of mucosal defects after colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection (C-ESD) may decrease the incidence of delayed adverse events. The size of the defect to be closed by conventional clip is limited, however, and we sometimes encounter incomplete closure when the defect is located at the flexure. As, theoretically, underwater clip closure (UCC) could achieve complete closure despite these difficult cases, we investigated its feasibility. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 21 patients who underwent UCC after C-ESD. The main outcome was the UCC success rate, defined as complete closure of the defect. Other outcomes were procedure time, number of clips, and the delayed adverse event rate. RESULTS: The median resected specimen size was 31 mm (range 18-47 mm). The UCC success rate was 100%. The median procedure time was only 11 min (range 6-21 min). The median number of clips was 9 (range 5-16). No delayed adverse event occurred. CONCLUSION: It is feasible to use UCC to close large mucosal defects, although further studies are warranted to assess its efficacy.

Comparison of Two Electrosurgical Modes for Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection of Superficial Colorectal Neoplasms: A Prospective Randomized Study.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is reportedly one of the standard treatment strategies for large superficial colorectal neoplasms in Japan because of its high en bloc resection rate. A few technical issues regarding ESD should be considered, one of which is the selection of the Endo-cut I mode versus the Swift-coagulation mode as the electrosurgical unit mode setting during submucosal dissection. We seek to determine which of these two modes is more suitable for submucosal dissections of colorectal tumors with regard to procedure time and safety.

[Clinical Experience of Patients with Metastatic Gastric Cancer Treated Using Nab-PTX plus RAM chemotherapy].

The present study reports the outcomes of chemotherapy using nab-PTXplus RAM in 6 patients with metastatic gastric cancer as recommended in the JGCA guidelines for special conditions. Four cases exhibited Grade 3 neutropenia, 1 exhibited Grade 3 hypertension, and no case developed febrile neutropenia; however, the adverse events were tolerated. One case showed partial response, 1 showed stable disease, 2 cases showed non-complete response/non-progressive disease, and 2 cases could not be evaluated. These results suggest that this treatment may be performed safely in ambulatory patients.

Villous atrophy in the terminal ileum is a specific endoscopic finding correlated with histological evidence and poor prognosis in acute graft-versus-host disease after allo-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a common complication of allo-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Endoscopic biopsy can provide a definitive diagnosis, but the optimal endoscopic approach for diagnosis remains uncertain. This study evaluated whether ileocolonoscopic imaging can predict acute GVHD severity after allo-HSCT. METHODS: Consecutive patients who underwent allo-HSCT were referred to our institution, and those diagnosed with acute GVHD by pathology were included in this retrospective study. RESULTS: Fifty-one of 261 patients who underwent ileocolonoscopy were suspected to have acute intestinal GVHD. We performed univariate and multivariate conditional logistic regression with stepwise variable selection; villous atrophy in the terminal ileum remained a statistically significant predictor of GVHD severity (odds ratio, 4.69; 95% confidence interval, 1.07-20.60, P = 0.04). Patients were classified into three groups based on ileal endoscopic findings in the terminal ileum: group S, GVHD with severe villous atrophy; group M, mild atrophy; and group N, no atrophy. Compared with patients in groups M and N, those in group S had significant clinical GVHD at diagnosis (P = 0.03). In group S, three of four, compared with five of 13 patients in groups M and N, required the addition of second-line agents (P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that severe atrophy of the terminal ileum predicts severe clinical GVHD that is likely to be refractory to steroid treatment. Thus, the severity of terminal ileum atrophy may serve as a tool in predicting clinically severe GVHD. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Trial Registration Number UMIN 000022805 , Registration date July 1, 2016.

Evaluation of the Upper Gastrointestinal Tract in Ulcerative Colitis Patients.

To analyze the clinical characteristics of patients with ulcerative colitis who have upper gastrointestinal lesions, we retrospectively reviewed the data of 216 patients with ulcerative colitis who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy at our institute in April 2008-March 2016. We investigated the endoscopic features and compared the clinical characteristics between the patients with and without upper gastrointestinal lesions. Forty-two patients (19.4%) had upper gastrointestinal lesions, including multiple erosions (n=18), bamboo joint-like appearance (n=17), mucosa with white spots (n=4), friable mucosa (n=2), ulcer (n=1), and purulent deposits within the mucosa (n=1) in the stomach and/or duodenum. Compared to the patients without upper gastrointestinal lesions, those with upper gastrointestinal lesions showed significantly more frequent extraintestinal manifestations (19.0% vs. 8.0%, p<0.05) and a significant history of colectomy (33.3% vs. 12.1%, p<0.01). There were no significant differences with regard to the sex ratio, age at esophagogastroduodenoscopy, gastrointestinal symptoms, time since the diagnosis of ulcerative colitis, type of colitis at the initial diagnosis of ulcerative colitis, or gastric atrophy between the groups. In conclusion, gastroduodenal lesions were identified in 19.4% of the patients with ulcerative colitis. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy is particularly recommended for ulcerative colitis patients who show extraintestinal manifestations and for those who have undergone a colectomy.

Ten Initial Cases of Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy for Treatment of Esophageal Motility Disorders at Okayama University Hospital.

Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) for treatment of esophageal motility disorders has recently been reported to be highly effective and less invasive than other treatment. POEM was recently introduced in Okayama University Hospital under the supervision of a physician from a high-volume center. To verify the safety and efficacy of POEM during its introduction in our institution. We examined 10 cases in whom POEM was performed between January 2016 and April 2017. The patients included 7 men and 3 women, with a median age (range) of 49 years (17-74) and median symptom duration of 6 years (1-21). Seven patients had a straight esophagus, and the remaining 3 had a sigmoid esophagus. According to the Chicago classification, 6 patients were diagnosed with type I achalasia, 2 with type II achalasia, and 2 with distal esophagus spasm. Treatment outcomes and adverse events were evaluated. Treatment success was defined as a > 3 decrease in Eckardt score or a score of <3 at the time of discharge. The treatment success rate was 90%, with the average Eckardt score decreasing significantly, from 4.7 to 0.9 (p<0.05). No mucosal perforation, severe infection, mediastinitis, severe bleeding, or gastroesophageal reflux occurred intraoperatively or postoperatively. POEM was introduced to Okayama University Hospital, and the first 10 cases were accomplished safely and effectively under the supervision of an expert physician from a high-volume center.

[A Case of Suspected Therapy-Related Leukemia after Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer].

Therapy-related leukemia(TRL)is a distinctive clinical syndrome that occurs after exposure to chemotherapy or radiotherapy. We report a case of suspected TRLafter chemotherapy in a patient with breast cancer. A 61-year-old woman underwent total mastectomy and sentinel lymph node biopsy(negative)for her breast cancer. Histopathologic analysis showed invasive ductal carcinoma, pStage I. Her subtype histology was Luminal B-type, and postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy and endocrine therapy were administered. Four years after chemotherapy, a blood examination showed pancytopenia. Bone marrow examination showed acute promyelocytic leukemia. She was treated with chemotherapy and achieved complete remission. Breast cancer provides long-term survival after treatment. Attention should be paid to the occurrence of TRLin breast cancer surveillance.