Modified Endoscopic Ultrasound Needle to Obtain Histological Core Tissue Samples: A Retrospective Analysis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided fine-needle aspiration is very effective for providing specimens for cytological evaluation. However, the ability to provide sufficient tissue for histological evaluation has been challenging due to the technical limitations of dedicated core biopsy needles. Recently, a modified EUS needle has been introduced to obtain tissue core samples for histological analysis. We aimed to determine (1) its ability to obtain specimens for histological assessment and (2) the diagnostic accuracy of EUS-guided fine-needle biopsy (EUS-FNB) using this needle. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed consecutive cases of FNB using modified EUS needles for 342 lesions in 303 patients. The cytology and histological specimens were analyzed. Diagnostic accuracy was calculated. RESULTS: Adequate cytological and histological assessment was possible in 293/342 (86%) and 264/342 (77%) lesions, respectively. Diagnostic accuracy of the cytological specimen was 294/342 (86%) versus 254/342 (74%) for the histological specimen (p<0.01). Diagnostic accuracy of the combined cytological and histological assessment was 323/342 (94.4%), which was significantly higher than that of both histology alone (p<0.001) and cytology alone (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: EUS-FNB with the modified EUS needle provided histologic tissue cores in the majority of cases and achieved excellent diagnostic accuracy with few needle passes.

Serrated polyp detection rate and advanced adenoma detection rate from a US multicenter cohort.

BACKGROUND: Interval colorectal cancers may be associated with a low serrated polyp detection rate (SDR) and advanced adenoma detection rate (AADR). We aimed to determine the SDR and AADR for endoscopists in a United States multicenter cohort. METHODS: We included average-risk screening colonoscopies from five medical centers in the United States. Endoscopists with data on at least 100 average-risk screening colonoscopies were included. We calculated median SDR and AADR for endoscopists with adequate adenoma detection rates (ADRs) > 25 %. We analyzed the relationship between ADR and SDR, and between ADR and AADR using nonparametric Spearman correlation coefficients, scatter plots, and linear regression. RESULTS: We included 3513 screening colonoscopies performed by 26 gastroenterologists. The mean age of patients was 56.8 years (SD 7.4) and 1585 (45 %) were male. All but one endoscopist had an ADR above 25 %. There was a significant positive but modest correlation between ADR and SDR (rho = 0.67, P < 0.01), and between ADR and AADR (rho = 0.56, P < 0.01). For endoscopists with an adequate ADR, median (interquartile range) ADR was 43 % (32.0 % - 48.6 %), median SDR was 8.4 % (7.3 % - 11.4 %), and median AADR was 9.3 % (6.4 % - 12.6 %). CONCLUSION: A significant percentage of endoscopists have either a low SDR or low AADR despite an adequate ADR, justifying the need for separate SDR and AADR benchmarks. Based on our multicenter cohort, endoscopists with adequate ADRs had a median SDR and median AADR of about 8 % and 9 %, respectively.

Experience with endoscopic resection of oesophageal verrucous carcinoma and literature review.

A 65-year-old male patient with chronic dysphagia was found to have a 2 cm mass at gastro-oesophageal junction on endoscopy. Biopsy showed squamous hyperplasia without malignancy. Controlled radial expansion balloon dilatation and partial resection were performed but the symptoms recurred. He finally underwent endoscopic mucosa resection and histology showed well-differentiated verruciform squamous proliferation limited to the mucosa. Small amounts of tumour remnants were treated during subsequent follow-up endoscopies and the patient has been tumour free since then. Diagnosis of oesophageal verrucous carcinoma can be challenging and could be managed with endoscopic resection. In this report, we review the literature and present our experience with a patient with oesophageal verrucous carcinoma.

Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio-Pancreatography-Obtained Bile Culture Can Guide Antibiotic Therapy in Acute Cholangitis.

BACKGROUND: Only a small proportion of patients with biliary tree infection grow microorganisms in blood cultures. Antibiotics chosen or tailored based on organisms identified on blood cultures have a potential for under-treatment and unfavorable outcomes, including recurrent infection and early stent occlusion. In our current practice, we collect bile for culture if an Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio-Pancreatography (ERCP) is performed in patients with suspected cholangitis. In this study, we compare the microbial yield of blood cultures and ERCP-obtained bile cultures in patients with ascending cholangitis. METHODS: We reviewed medical records of all the patients treated for ascending cholangitis who had blood cultures and ERCP-obtained bile cultures at a tertiary care center between 2010 and 2016. Bile was collected for culture before injecting contrast, via a catheter after discarding the initial 3 mL. RESULTS: Ninety-three patients were included with mean age of 71 (±15) years. Out of 93 patients, 11 (12%) had prior sphincterotomy, 29 (31%) had an indwelling biliary stent, and malignant obstruction was the most common etiology (34%). ERCP-obtained bile cultures were positive in 90 out of 93 (97%) patients with monomicrobial growth in 34 out of 93 (39%) patients. Mixed intestinal flora was noted in 3 patients. Blood cultures were positive in only 30 out of 93 patients (32%) and 24 out of 93 (26%) patients had monomicrobial growth. Totally 26 out of 30 patients (87%) grew the same organism as the bile culture, 3 grew an organism different from bile cultures, and one had no growth in the bile culture. On multivariable analysis, the presence of an indwelling biliary stent was the lone factor associated with polymicrobial growth, 83 vs. 52%, p = 0.007. CONCLUSION: ERCP-obtained bile cultures are a reliable and feasible mechanism to evaluate patients with suspected biliary tree infection. This technique has a significantly higher yield when compared to blood culture. Selection and tailoring of antibiotics based on bile culture in the management of ascending cholangitis are advised.

Utility of endoscopic ultrasound and endoscopy in diagnosis and management of hepatocellular carcinoma and its complications: What does endoscopic ultrasonography offer above and beyond conventional cross-sectional imaging?

Hepatocellular carcinoma constitutes over 90% of the primary liver tumors, the rest being cholangiocarcinoma. It has an insidious presentation, which is responsible for the delayed presentation. Hence, the management strategy relies on screening to diagnose it an early stage for curative resection and/or treatment with local ablative techniques or chemotherapy. However, even with different screening programs, more than 60% of tumors are still detected at an advanced stage, leading to an unchanged mortality rate, thereby implying a room for improvement in the screening and diagnostic process. In the last few years, there has been evolution of utility of endoscopy, specifically endoscopic ultrasonography along with Fine needle aspiration, for this purpose, which we comprehensively review in this article.

Immunomodulation for treatment of drug and device refractory gastroparesis.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with generalized autoimmune dysautonomia may also present with gastroparesis. Immune dysfunction in such patients can be evaluated using antibodies to glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) and full thickness biopsy of stomach. In this study, we utilize immunotherapy for treatment of drug and Gastric Electrical Stimulation (GES) resistant gastroparetic patients with evidence of neuroinflammation on full thickness gastric biopsy and had positive GAD65 autoantibodies. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective chart review of 11 female patients with drug and device resistant gastroparesis. Patients were treated for a total of 8-12 weeks with either intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg), or combined mycophenolate mofetil (MM) and methylprednisolone, or only MM. Patients were excluded if they had previous side effects from steroid therapy, low scores on dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan results, immune-compromised conditions with infections like tuberculosis and zoster. Symptoms of nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, early satiety/anorexia, bloating and total symptom score (TSS) as reported by the patients were recorded before and after the treatment at a follow up visit 2 to 16 weeks after initiation of therapy. RESULTS: Maximum symptom improvement was seen in patients treated with IVIg (67%). 6 patients (55%) had improvement in vomiting, whereas 5 patients (45%) had improvements in nausea, abdominal pain and bloating. CONCLUSIONS: Immunomodulatory therapy shows positive outcomes in improving vomiting symptom in some gastroparetic patients who have coexisting positive autoimmune profiles. This preliminary data suggests the need for further investigations in immunotherapy targeted to patients with gastroparetic symptoms refractory to approved drug and device therapies.

Endoscopic management of post-liver transplant biliary complications.

Biliary complications are being increasingly encountered in post liver transplant patients because of increased volume of transplants and longer survival of these recipients. Overall management of these complications may be challenging, but with advances in endoscopic techniques, majority of such patients are being dealt with by endoscopists rather than the surgeons. Our review article discusses the recent advances in endoscopic tools and techniques that have proved endoscopic retrograde cholangiography with various interventions, like sphincterotomy, bile duct dilatation, and stent placement, to be the mainstay for management of most of these complications. We also discuss the management dilemmas in patients with surgically altered anatomy, where accessing the bile duct is challenging, and the recent strides towards making this prospect a reality.

Ribavirin induced hemolysis: a novel mechanism of action against chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is not usually cleared by our immune system, leading to the development of chronic hepatitis C infection. Chronic HCV induces the production of various cytokines, predominantly by Kupffer cells (KCs), and creates a pro-inflammatory state in the liver. The chronic dysregulated production of interferon (IFN) and other cytokines by KCs also promotes innate immune tolerance. Ribavirin (RBV) monotherapy has been shown to decrease inflammation in liver of patients with chronic hepatitis C. Sustained virological response (SVR) is significantly higher when IFN is combined with RBV in chronic HCV (cHCV) infection. However, the mechanism of their synergy remains unclear. Previous theories have attempted to explain the anti-HCV effect based on direct action of RBV alone on the virus or on the immune system; however, these theories have serious shortcomings. We propose that hemolysis, which universally occurs with RBV therapy and which is considered a limiting side effect, is precisely the mechanism by which the anti-HCV effect is exerted. Passive hemolysis results in anti-inflammatory/antiviral actions within the liver that disrupt the innate immune tolerance, leading to the synergy of RBV with IFN-α. Ribavirin-induced hemolysis floods the hepatocytes and KCs with heme, which is metabolized and detoxified by heme oxygenase-1 (HMOX1) to carbon monoxide (CO), biliverdin and free iron (which induces ferritin). These metabolites of heme possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Thus, HMOX1 plays an extremely important anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective role, particularly in KCs and hepatocytes. HMOX1 has been noted to have anti-viral effects in hepatitis C infected cell lines. Additionally, it has been shown to enhance the response to IFN-α by restoring interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs). This mechanism can be clinically corroborated by the following observations that have been found in patients undergoing RBV/IFN combination therapy for cHCV: (1) SVR rates are higher in patients who develop anemia; (2) once anemia (due to hemolysis) occurs, the SVR rate does not depend on the treatment utilized to manage anemia; and (3) ribavirin analogs, such as taribavirin and levovirin, which increase intrahepatic ribavirin levels and which produce lesser hemolysis, are inferior to ribavirin for treating cHCV. This mechanism can also explain the observed RBV synergy with direct antiviral agents. This hypothesis is testable and may lead to newer and safer medications for treating cHCV infection.