Bleeding Risk of Cold Versus Hot Snare Polypectomy for Pedunculated Colorectal Polyps Measuring 10 mm or Less: Subgroup Analysis of a Large Randomized Controlled Trial.

INTRODUCTION: Concerns regarding bleeding remain in cold snare polypectomy (CSP) for small pedunculated (0-Ip) polyps. The aim of this study was to compare the risk of CSP and hot snare polypectomy (HSP) for such lesions. METHODS: Data on 0-Ip colorectal polyps ≤10 mm were extracted from a large, pragmatic, randomized trial. Immediate postpolypectomy bleeding (IPPB), defined as the perioperative use of a clip for bleeding, was evaluated through polyp-level analysis. Delayed postpolypectomy bleeding (DPPB), defined as bleeding occurring within 2 weeks postoperatively, was assessed at the patient-level among patients whose polyps were all ≤10 mm, including at least one 0-Ip polyp. RESULTS: A total of 647 0-Ip polyps (CSP: 306; HSP: 341) were included for IPPB analysis and 386 patients (CSP: 192; HSP: 194) for DPPB analysis. CSP was associated with a higher incidence of IPPB (10.8% vs 3.2%, P < 0.001) but no adverse clinical events. The procedure time of all polypectomies was shorter for CSP than for HSP (123.0 ± 117.8 vs 166.0 ± 237.7 seconds, P = 0.003), while the procedure time of polypectomies with IPPB were similar (249.8 ± 140.2 vs 227.4 ± 125.9 seconds, P = 0.64). DPPB was observed in 3 patients (1.5%) in the HSP group, including one patient (0.5%) with severe bleeding, but not in the CSP group. DISCUSSION: Despite CSP being associated with more IPPB events, it could be timely treated without adverse outcomes. Notably, no delayed bleeding occurred in the CSP group. Our findings support the use of CSP for 0-Ip polyps ≤ 10 mm.

Association of self-reported and objective sleep disturbance with the spectrum of gastroesophageal reflux disease.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: The relationship between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is complex. We aimed to determine the association of self-reported and objective sleep parameters with diverse manifestations of the GERD spectrum. METHODS: We prospectively recruited 561 individuals who underwent an electrocardiogram-based cardiopulmonary coupling for OSA screening during a health check-up. All participants received the Reflux Disease Questionnaire and an upper endoscopy to determine the presence of troublesome reflux symptoms and erosive esophagitis (EE). Sleep quality was evaluated by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and sleep dysfunction was defined as a Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score > 5. OSA was defined as a cardiopulmonary coupling-derived apnea-hypopnea index exceeding 15 events/h. Comparisons were made between participants on the GERD spectrum with respect to their various self-reported and objective sleep parameters. RESULTS: Among the 277 patients with GERD (49.4%), 198 (35.3%) had EE. Patients with GERD had higher PSQI scores (6.99 ± 3.97 vs 6.07 ± 3.73, P = .005) and a higher prevalence of sleep dysfunction (60.6% vs 49.6%, P = .009). Patients with EE had a higher prevalence of OSA (42.9% vs 33.9%, P = .034). Along the GERD spectrum, symptomatic patients with EE had the highest PSQI scores and prevalence of sleep dysfunction (70.7%), while asymptomatic patients with EE had the highest prevalence of OSA (44%). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate a high prevalence of sleep dysfunction among individuals with GERD. Furthermore, patients on the GERD spectrum are prone to experiencing a range of self-reported and objective sleep disturbances. CITATION: Hu K-Y, Tseng P-H, Hsu W-C, et al. Association of self-reported and objective sleep disturbance with the spectrum of gastroesophageal reflux disease. J Clin Sleep Med. 2024;20(6):911-920.

The impact of comorbidities, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and drug toxicities on quality of life in lung cancer patients receiving EGFR-TKI therapy.

BACKGROUND: Epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) are used as the standard first-line treatment for patients with advanced EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the impact of comorbidities and treatment toxicities on quality of life (QoL) was seldom investigated. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the association of comorbidities, adverse events (AEs), and QoL in treatment-naïve advanced NSCLC patients receiving EGFR-TKI treatments. METHODS: This multi-center prospective observational study was conducted to evaluate QoL and AEs at baseline, the 2nd, 4th, 12th, and 24th week. Clinical characteristics, comorbidities, and pre-treatment laboratory data were recorded. QoL was assessed by using the summary score of the EORTC QLQ-C30 and the dermatology life quality index. The impact of comorbidities, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and AEs on QoL was analyzed by generalized estimating equations. RESULTS: A total of 121 patients were enrolled. Diarrhea (p = 0.033), anorexia (p < 0.001), and NLR ≥4 (p = 0.017) were significantly associated with a QoL impairment. Among skin toxicities, acneiform rash (p = 0.002), pruritus (p = 0.002), visual analogue scale for pruritus (≥3 and < 7, p = 0.006; ≥7, p = 0.001) and pain (1-3, p = 0.041) were associated with a QoL impairment. No significant association was found between comorbidities and QoL changes. CONCLUSION: Diarrhea, anorexia, skin pain, and pruritus may cause a deterioration in QoL in patients receiving EGFR-TKI therapy. NLR may be a potential predictive factor for QoL impairment. Aggressive management and close monitoring for these clinical factors are crucial to improve QoL.

Differential roles of serotonin receptor subtypes in regulation of neurotrophin receptor expression and intestinal hypernociception.

OBJECTIVES: Aberrant serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) metabolism and neurite outgrowth were associated with abdominal pain in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). We previously demonstrated that 5-HT receptor subtype 7 (5-HT7) was involved in visceral hypersensitivity of IBS-like mouse models. The aim was to compare the analgesic effects of a novel 5-HT7 antagonist to reference standards in mouse models and investigate the mechanisms of 5-HT7-dependent neuroplasticity. METHODS: Two mouse models, including Giardia post-infection combined with water avoidance stress (GW) and post-resolution of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-induced colitis (PT) were used. Mice were orally administered CYY1005 (CYY, a novel 5-HT7 antagonist), alosetron (ALN, a 5-HT3 antagonist), and loperamide (LPM, an opioid receptor agonist) prior to measurement of visceromotor responses (VMR). Levels of nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and neurotrophin receptors (NTRs) were assessed. RESULTS: Peroral CYY was more potent than ALN or LPM in reducing VMR values in GW and PT mice. Increased mucosal 5-HT7-expressing nerve fibers were associated with elevated Gap43 levels in the mouse colon. We observed higher colonic Ntrk2 and Ngfr expression in GW mice, and increased Bdnf expression in PT mice compared with control mice. Human SH-SY5Y cells stimulated with mouse colonic supernatant or exogenous serotonin exhibited longer nerve fibers, which CYY dose-dependently inhibited. Serotonin increased Ntrk1 and Ngfr expression via 5-HT7 but not 5-HT3 or 5-HT4, while Ntrk2 upregulation was dependent on all three 5-HT receptor subtypes. CONCLUSIONS: Stronger analgesic effects by peroral CYY were observed compared with reference standards in two IBS-like mouse models. The 5-HT7-dependent NTR upregulation and neurite elongation may be involved in intestinal hypernociception.

Cold Versus Hot Snare Polypectomy for Small Colorectal Polyps : A Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Although cold snare polypectomy (CSP) is considered effective in reducing delayed postpolypectomy bleeding risk, direct evidence supporting its safety in the general population remains lacking. OBJECTIVE: To clarify whether CSP would reduce delayed bleeding risk after polypectomy compared with hot snare polypectomy (HSP) in the general population. DESIGN: Multicenter randomized controlled study. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03373136). SETTING: 6 sites in Taiwan, July 2018 through July 2020. PARTICIPANTS: Participants aged 40 years or older with polyps of 4 to 10 mm. INTERVENTION: CSP or HSP to remove polyps of 4 to 10 mm. MEASUREMENTS: The primary outcome was the delayed bleeding rate within 14 days after polypectomy. Severe bleeding was defined as a decrease in hemoglobin concentration of 20 g/L or more, requiring transfusion or hemostasis. Secondary outcomes included mean polypectomy time, successful tissue retrieval, en bloc resection, complete histologic resection, and emergency service visits. RESULTS: A total of 4270 participants were randomly assigned (2137 to CSP and 2133 to HSP). Eight patients (0.4%) in the CSP group and 31 (1.5%) in the HSP group had delayed bleeding (risk difference, -1.1% [95% CI, -1.7% to -0.5%]). Severe delayed bleeding was also lower in the CSP group (1 [0.05%] vs. 8 [0.4%] events; risk difference, -0.3% [CI, -0.6% to -0.05%]). Mean polypectomy time (119.0 vs. 162.9 seconds; difference in mean, -44.0 seconds [CI, -53.1 to -34.9 seconds]) was shorter in the CSP group, although successful tissue retrieval, en bloc resection, and complete histologic resection did not differ. The CSP group had fewer emergency service visits than the HSP group (4 [0.2%] vs. 13 [0.6%] visits; risk difference, -0.4% [CI, -0.8% to -0.04%]). LIMITATION: An open-label, single-blind trial. CONCLUSION: Compared with HSP, CSP for small colorectal polyps significantly reduces the risk for delayed postpolypectomy bleeding, including severe events. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: Boston Scientific Corporation.

Real-World Evidence of Effectiveness and Safety of Vedolizumab for Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Taiwan: A Prospective Nationwide Registry (VIOLET) Study.

BACKGROUND: This nationwide prospective registry study investigated the real-world effectiveness, safety, and persistence of vedolizumab (VDZ) in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients in Taiwan. Disease relapse rates after VDZ discontinuation due to reimbursement restriction were assessed. METHODS: Data were collected prospectively (January 2018 to May 2020) from the Taiwan Society of IBD registry. RESULTS: Overall, 274 patients (147 ulcerative colitis [UC] patients, 127 Crohn's disease [CD] patients) were included. Among them, 70.7% with UC and 50.4% with CD were biologic-naïve. At 1 year, 76.0%, 58.0%, 35.0%, and 62.2% of UC patients and 57.1%, 71.4%, 33.3%, and 30.0% of CD patients achieved clinical response, clinical remission, steroid-free remission, and mucosal healing, respectively. All patients underwent hepatitis B and tuberculosis screening before initiating biologics, and prophylaxis was recommended when necessary. One hepatitis B carrier, without antiviral prophylaxis due to economic barriers, had hepatitis B reactivation during steroid tapering and increasing azathioprine dosage, which was controlled with an antiviral agent. No tuberculosis reactivation was noted. At 12 months, non-reimbursement-related treatment persistence rates were 94.0% and 82.5% in UC and CD patients, respectively. Moreover, 75.3% of IBD patients discontinued VDZ due to mandatory drug holiday. Relapse rates after VDZ discontinuation at 6 and 12 months were 36.7% and 64.3% in CD patients and 42.9% and 52.4% in UC patients, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The findings demonstrated VDZ effectiveness in IBD patients in Taiwan, with high treatment persistence rates and favorable safety profiles. A substantial IBD relapse rate was observed in patients who had mandatory drug holiday.

Implementing precision medicine in endoscopy practice.

In contrast to the "one-size-fits-all" approach, precision medicine focuses on providing health care tailored to individual variabilities. Implementing precision medicine in endoscopy practice involves selecting the appropriate procedures among the endoscopic armamentarium in the diagnosis and management of patients in a logical sequence, jointly considering the pretest probabilities of possible diagnoses, patients' comorbidities and preference, and risk-benefit ratio of the individual procedures given the clinical scenario. The aim of this review is to summarize evidence-supported strategies and measures that may enhance precision medicine in general endoscopy practice.

5-HT7 receptor-dependent intestinal neurite outgrowth contributes to visceral hypersensitivity in irritable bowel syndrome.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is characterized by visceral hypersensitivity (VH) associated with abnormal serotonin/5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) metabolism and neurotrophin-dependent mucosal neurite outgrowth. The underlying mechanisms of VH remain poorly understood. We investigated the role of 5-HT7 receptor in mucosal innervation and intestinal hyperalgesia. A high density of mucosal nerve fibres stained for 5-HT7 was observed in colonoscopic biopsy specimens from IBS patients compared with those from healthy controls. Staining of 5-HT3 and 5-HT4 receptors was observed mainly in colonic epithelia with comparable levels between IBS and controls. Visceromotor responses to colorectal distension were evaluated in two mouse models, one postinfectious with Giardia and subjected to water avoidance stress (GW) and the other postinflammatory with trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-induced colitis (PT). Increased VH was associated with higher mucosal density of 5-HT7-expressing nerve fibres and elevated neurotrophin and neurotrophin receptor levels in the GW and PT mice. The increased VH was inhibited by intraperitoneal injection of SB-269970 (a selective 5-HT7 antagonist). Peroral multiple doses of CYY1005 (a novel 5-HT7 ligand) decreased VH and reduced mucosal density of 5-HT7-expressing nerve fibres in mouse colon. Human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells incubated with bacteria-free mouse colonic supernatant, 5-HT, nerve growth factor, or brain-derived neurotrophic factor exhibited nerve fibre elongation, which was inhibited by 5-HT7 antagonists. Gene silencing of HTR7 also reduced the nerve fibre length. Activation of 5-HT7 upregulated NGF and BDNF gene expression, while stimulation with neurotrophins increased the levels of tryptophan hydroxylase 2 and 5-HT7 in neurons. A positive-feedback loop was observed between serotonin and neurotrophin pathways via 5-HT7 activation to aggravate fibre elongation, whereby 5-HT3 and 5-HT4 had no roles. In conclusion, 5-HT7-dependent mucosal neurite outgrowth contributed to VH. A novel 5-HT7 antagonist could be used as peroral analgesics for IBS-related pain.

Association of Incidence of Acid-related Upper Gastrointestinal Disorders With Glycated Hemoglobin Level.

CONTEXT: Previous cross-sectional studies show diabetes and higher levels of plasma hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) are associated with a higher prevalence of gastrointestinal (GI) complications. However, whether the glycemic status is associated with incident acid-related upper GI disorders remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine the effect of hyperglycemia per se, in terms of HbA1c, on the incidence of acid-related disorders. METHODS: We analyzed consecutive subjects who had undergone repeated upper endoscopies as part of the health examinations at the National Taiwan University Hospital from 2005 to 2011. Acid-related endoscopic abnormalities were defined as erosive esophagitis (EE), Barrett's esophagus (BE), and peptic ulcer disease (PUD), which included gastric ulcers (GUs) and duodenal ulcers (DUs). All subjects were categorized by 3 tertiles of HbA1c levels. We analyzed the occurrence of respective acid-related disorders during the follow-up period. RESULTS: A total of 11 391 participants (mean HbA1c level 5.6 ±â€…0.7%) were enrolled in this longitudinal study. During the 38 426.3 person-years of follow-up (mean duration 3.37 ±â€…1.59 years), the incidence of EE, BE, GU, DU, PUD, and any acid-related disorders were 22.1%, 0.5%, 4.5%, 8.6%, 12.3%, and 30.3%, respectively. The higher HbA1c level was associated with higher risk of disease incidents, except BE, during the follow-up (all log-rank P < .001). In the Cox regression analyses with confounding factors fully adjusted, the hazard ratios for EE, GU, DU, PUD, and acid-related disorders were 1.174, 1.339, 1.24, 1.24, and 1.186, respectively, for the third tertile of HbA1c (all P < .05). CONCLUSION: Higher HbA1c level was associated with a higher risk of acid-related upper GI endoscopic abnormalities. Efforts toward better glycemic control may help to prevent the development of late GI complications.

Obesity Exacerbates Irritable Bowel Syndrome-Related Sleep and Psychiatric Disorders in Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Background/Objectives: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) share similar clinical and psychosocial features. We aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics of IBS in women with PCOS, and its relationship with obesity, metabolic and hormonal profiles, as well as sleep and psychiatric disorders. Subjects/Methods: This is a cross-sectional case-control study of 431 untreated women with PCOS and 259 healthy volunteers. All participants were assessed with a comprehensive clinical evaluation and two questionnaires: the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) and the Brief Symptom Rating Scale (BSRS-5). IBS was diagnosed using the Rome III criteria. Obesity was defined as a BMI ≥30 kg/m2. Anthropometric measurements, metabolic, hormonal profiles, and psychosocial morbidities were compared. Results: Women with PCOS were more likely to have IBS (10.7% vs 5.8%, p=0.029) and obesity (29% vs 4%, p<0.001) than healthy volunteers. Mixed-type IBS (IBS-M) was the most common subtype (74%) among patients with PCOS and IBS. There was a higher prevalence of psychiatric morbidities (total BSRS-5 score ≥10) in women with PCOS than in healthy women (11.4% vs 3.5%, p<0.001). Women with PCOS and IBS were more likely to have sleep difficulties (67.4% vs 30.9%, p<0.001) and psychiatric morbidities (21.7% vs 10.1%, p=0.019) than those without IBS. Anthropometrics, metabolic and hormonal profiles were similar between PCOS women with and without IBS. Among women with PCOS, those with both IBS and obesity had the highest risk of developing sleep difficulties (odds ratio: 5.91; 95% confidence interval: 1.77-19.77) and psychiatric distress (odds ratio: 4.39; 95% confidence interval: 1.26-15.29) than those without. Conclusion: Women with PCOS have increased IBS, obesity, sleep and psychiatric disturbances. The presence of IBS in PCOS women is associated with sleep and psychiatric disorders. The coexistence of obesity and IBS exacerbates sleep difficulties and psychiatric distress. Screening and management of IBS and obesity might be warranted to improve sleep and psychiatric disturbances in women with PCOS.

Meckel's Diverticulum Diagnosed by Balloon-Assisted Enteroscopy: A Multicenter Report from the Taiwan Association for the Study of Small Intestinal Diseases (TASSID).

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Patients with Meckel's diverticulum (MD) are difficult to preoperatively diagnose because of its endoscopic inaccessibility. Balloon-assisted enteroscopy (BAE) allows endoscopic access to the entire small intestine. The aim of the current study was to investigate patients with MD diagnosed by BAE in Taiwan. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, multicenter study of patients with MD who were diagnosed by BAE in Taiwan. The clinical characteristics, endoscopic features, histopathological findings, treatment methods, and outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 55 patients with MD were enrolled (46 males and 9 females). The mean age at diagnosis was 34.1 years. Overt gastrointestinal bleeding (87.3%) was the primary indication for BAE, followed by abdominal pain (9.1%), suspected small bowel tumor (1.8%), and Crohn's disease follow-up (1.8%). The mean distance between the ileocecal valve and MD was 71.6 cm (regarding diagnostic yields: BAE-100%, capsule endoscopy-40%, Meckel's scan-35.7%, computed tomography-14.6%, small bowel series-12.5%, and angiography-11.1%; regarding endoscopic features of MD: a large ostium-89.1%, a small ostium-7.3%, and a polypoid mass-3.6%). Surgical treatment was performed in 76.4% patients, and conservative treatment was performed in 23.6% patients. The mean length of MD in 42 patients who underwent surgical resection was 5.2 cm (in 43 patients of MD with available histopathology: heterotopic gastric tissue, 42.4%, heterotopic gastric and pancreatic tissues, 7%; heterotopic pancreatic tissue, 4.7%; heterotopic colonic tissue, 2.3%; and a neuroendocrine tumor, 2.3%). CONCLUSIONS: The current study showed BAE is a very useful modality for detecting MD compared with other conventional modalities.

Incidence of suboptimal response to tumor necrosis factor antagonist therapy in inflammatory bowel disease in newly industrialised countries: The EXPLORE study.

BACKGROUND: Incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increasing in newly industrialised countries (NICs); however, data on suboptimal response to anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) agents are limited. OBJECTIVES: To assess incidence and indicators of suboptimal response to first anti-TNF therapy in IBD patients in NICs. METHODS: A chart review was conducted in ten countries from Asia-Pacific (APAC), Latin America (LatAm), and Russia and the Middle East (RME) regions among patients diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn's disease (CD), initiating anti-TNF therapy in 2010-2015. The cumulative incidence of suboptimal response to anti-TNF therapy was assessed using the following indicators: dose escalation or discontinuation, augmentation with non-biologic therapy, IBD-related hospitalization, or surgery. RESULTS: The study included 1,674 patients (570 UC; 1,104 CD). At 24 months, 32.9% of UC (APAC: 45.1%; LatAm: 38.2%; RME: 23.8%) and 41.2% of CD patients (APAC: 54.1%; LatAm: 42.5%; RME: 29.5%) had experienced suboptimal response. The most frequent first indicator was non-biologic therapy augmentation in LatAm (41.7%), IBD-related hospitalization in RME (UC: 50.7%; CD:37.3%) and in APAC for CD (39.1%), and anti-TNF discontinuation in APAC for UC (38.3%). CONCLUSION: Suboptimal response to anti-TNF agents is common in IBD patients in NICs. Observed regional differences in the incidence and indicators may reflect local practice and anti-TNF restrictions in IBD management. NCT REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03090139.

Higher risk of advanced histology in adenoma less than 10 mm in fecal immunochemical test screening: Implication for management.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Whether diminutive or small adenomas detected by fecal immunochemical tests (FITs) are associated with a higher risk of advanced histology remains unknown. We investigated the prevalence of advanced histology in diminutive and small adenomas detected by FIT and compared with that detected by colonoscopy screening. METHODS: We prospectively compared 1860 FIT-positive patients (FIT-positive cohort) and 6691 average-risk patients (screening colonoscopy cohort). Both groups underwent colonoscopies and were shown to have neoplastic lesions. The prevalence of advanced histology was determined, as was the associations with size and FIT positivity. RESULTS: We analyzed 3920 neoplastic lesions from the FIT-positive cohort and 9789 neoplastic lesions from the screening colonoscopy cohort. Eighty (4.3%) diminutive lesions in FIT-positive cohort had advanced histology but without any invasive cancer. Twenty-one patients in the FIT-positive cohort and 49 in the screening colonoscopy cohort with diminutive adenomas displayed advanced histology (3.5% vs 1.2%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.99, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.77-5.06). Sixteen patients in the FIT-positive cohort (2.7%) with diminutive adenomas might have changed the surveillance interval if a resect-and-discard strategy was applied, with a higher likelihood compared with the screening colonoscopy cohort (aOR = 2.76, 95% CI: 1.53-4.99). CONCLUSIONS: Fecal immunochemical test screening detected more diminutive and small adenomas with advanced histology compared with colonoscopy screening. Its impact on current management of diminutive polyp is limited.

Endoscopic management of strictures in patients with Crohn's disease - A multi-center experience in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic gastrointestinal (GI) disorder that causes relapsing inflammation and severe mucosal damage in the intestine. Crohn's disease (CD)-related stricturing complications are a major cause of surgery, disability, and reduced quality of life. Endoscopic balloon dilation (EBD) has been shown to reliably delay or prevent surgery in patients with stricturing CD. However, cases of EBD performed for stricture in CD in Taiwan are rare. In this study, we want to evaluate the experiences regarding EBD for stricturing CD in Taiwan. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 9 medical centers in Taiwan. Patients with CD-related strictures who were treated with EBD were included and analyzed. RESULTS: In nine medical centers, a total of 26 CD patients (19 male, 7 female, mean disease duration 75.4 ± 65.2 months) underwent 42 EBD procedures during the study period. Among the subjects, an 83.3% (35/42) EBD success rate was seen, but 26.9% (7/26) patients underwent surgery after ineffective EBD. In the surgery group, the the small bowel strictures was high compared with the non-surgery group (p = 0.01). There were no significant differences in disease phenotype, disease duration or history of fistulizing disease. In the surgery group, immunosuppressant use was high, and 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) use was low compared with the non-surgery group. After EBD, the physicians tended to change the drugs, especially increasing the use of biologic agents. CONCLUSION: EBD is a safe and effective procedure for CD-related stricture, with a 83.3% success rate in Taiwan.

Early timing of single balloon enteroscopy is associated with increased diagnostic yield in patients with overt small bowel bleeding.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Although performing balloon enteroscopy soon after the onset of small bowel bleeding appeared to enhance diagnostic rate, the optimal timing was unclear. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study in a single referral center. Patients with overt, suspected small bowel bleeding who underwent primary single-balloon enteroscopy (SBE) were evaluated to determine the association between procedure timing and diagnostic yield rates. RESULTS: A total of 220 patients were enrolled (47.7% males; mean age, 65.6 ± 18.1 years). They were stratified into four groups based on the timing of SBE: emergency (<24 h after onset or continued bleeding, n = 64), 24-72 h (n = 28), 3-7 days (n = 41), and >7 days (n = 87). A significant trend of decreasing diagnostic yields was observed across the groups (90.6%, 67.9%, 68.3%, and 44.8%, respectively, P < 0.0001). Diagnostic yield rates were different between emergency and 24-72 h groups (P < 0.0001), and between 3 and 7 days and >7 days groups (P < 0.05), but not between 24 and 72 h and 3-7 days groups (P = 0.97). In multivariate regression analysis, emergency, ≤ 3 days, and ≤7 days SBEs had greater yield rates than SBEs at later timings. CONCLUSION: The likelihood of diagnostic yield was highest when SBE was performed during continued bleeding or within 24 h of onset, and gradually declined as waiting time increased. We therefore recommend that SBE should be performed as soon as possible, preferably no later than seven days.

Increased Pancreatic Echogenicity with US: Relationship to Glycemic Progression and Incident Diabetes.

Purpose To evaluate the association between increased pancreatic echogenicity (IPE) and the risk of glycemic progression and incident diabetes. Materials and Methods This retrospective study was approved by the institutional review board, with waiver of informed consent. Consecutive individuals who had undergone abdominal ultrasonography as part of a health examination at a tertiary hospital between January 2005 and December 2011 were included. IPE was defined as increased echogenicity of the pancreas compared with that of the left lobe of liver. Glycemic progression was defined as the development of new prediabetes or diabetes in normoglycemic participants or as new diabetes in prediabetic participants during the follow-up period (median, 3.17 years; interquartile range, 2.01-4.67 years). The occurrence of incident diabetes, defined as a new diagnosis of diabetes during follow-up, was also analyzed. Results Mean age of the 32 346 participants was 50.4 years ± 12.2, and 48% (15 489 of 32 346) were female. The prevalence of IPE and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was 8.4% (2720 of 32 346) and 41.4% (13 389 of 32 346), respectively. A total of 8856 participants were included in the follow-up analysis. During the 29 819.2 person-years of follow-up, 1217 (13.7%) and 449 (5.1%) of the 8856 participants developed glycemic progression and new diabetes, respectively. IPE was associated with more glycemic progression (hazard ratio, 1.54; 95% confidence interval: 1.23, 1.92; P < .001) and incident diabetes (hazard ratio, 1.49; 95% confidence interval: 1.05, 2.11; P = .024) after adjustment for confounders, HbA1c concentration, and NAFLD. Conclusion Increased pancreatic echogenicity is associated with deteriorating glycemic parameters and higher risk of glycemic progression and incident diabetes, independent of HbA1c concentration and NAFLD. © RSNA, 2018 Online supplemental material is available for this article.

Adjunctive use of chromoendoscopy may improve the diagnostic performance of narrow-band imaging for small sessile serrated adenoma/polyp.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Endoscopic diagnosis of sessile serrated adenoma/polyp (SSA/P) is challenging because of their subtle appearance. Narrow-band imaging (NBI) is useful for diagnosis, but its utility with concurrent chromoendoscopy (CE), especially to detect small SSA/P, is unproven. METHODS: This prospective study enrolled 367 consecutive patients who underwent screening colonoscopy with the finding of serrated polyps. Patients were divided into derivation and validation cohorts: Diagnostic criteria using different endoscopic modalities were generated by regression analysis in the derivation cohort and were validated in the validation cohort for sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy. RESULTS: There were 180 patients with 119 SSA/P and 147 hyperplastic polyps (HP) in the derivation cohort and 187 patients with 177 SSA/P and 125 HP in the validation cohort. With white-light endoscopy plus NBI, mucus cap, surface grooves, and expanded crypt were most associated with SSA/P. With white-light endoscopy plus CE, II-O pit pattern, mucus cap, and superficial telangiectasia were most associated with SSA/P. With the combined use of these three modalities, II-O pit pattern, mucus cap, and surface grooves were most associated with SSA/P. For large serrated polyp, NBI in combination with CE had a better accuracy than NBI alone (91% vs 86%, P = 0.025) to distinguish SSA/P from HP. CE alone had a better accuracy than NBI alone for distinguishing small SSA/P from small HP (85% vs 72%, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Compared with NBI alone, adjunctive use of CE can improve the diagnostic accuracy for distinguishing SSA/P from HP, especially for small SSA/P.

Timing and Risk Factors for a Positive Fecal Immunochemical Test in Subsequent Screening for Colorectal Neoplasms.

BACKGROUND: Following a negative test, the performance of fecal immunochemical testing in the subsequent screening round is rarely reported. It is crucial to allocate resources to participants who are more likely to test positive subsequently following an initial negative result. OBJECTIVE: To identify risk factors associated with a positive result in subsequent screening. METHODS: Dataset was composed of consecutive participants who voluntarily underwent fecal tests and colonoscopy in a routine medical examination at the National Taiwan University Hospital between January 2007 and December 2011. Risk factor assessment of positive fecal test in subsequent screening was performed by using the Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS: Our cohort consisted of 3783 participants during a 5-year period. In three rounds of subsequent testing, 3783, 1537, and 624 participants underwent fecal tests, respectively; 5.7%, 5.1%, and 3.9% tested positive, respectively, and the positive predictive values were 40.2%, 20.3%, and 20.8%, respectively. Age ≥60 years (adjusted hazard ratio: 1.53, 95% CI: 1.21-1.93) and male gender (1.32, 95% CI: 1.02-1.69) were risk factors; however, an interaction between age and gender was noted. Men had higher risk than women when they were <60 years of age (p = 0.002), while this difference was no longer observed when ≥60 years of age (p = 0.74). The optimal interval of screening timing for participant with baseline negative fecal test was 2 years. CONCLUSIONS: Following a negative test, older age and male gender are risk factors for a positive result in the subsequent rounds while the gender difference diminishes with age. Biennial screening is sufficient following a negative fecal test.

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Is Associated With QT Prolongation in the General Population.

BACKGROUND: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is independently associated with QT prolongation among patients with diabetes. It has not yet been determined whether this association remains valid in the general population. We designed an observational study to explore this association. METHODS AND RESULTS: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 31 116 consecutive participants in our health management program. Heart rate-corrected QT (QTc) interval was derived from 12-lead electrocardiography and by Bazett's formula. NAFLD was diagnosed by abdominal ultrasonography and classified as none, mild, moderate, or severe, according to the ultrasonographic criteria. A multivariable linear regression model was fitted for the association between QTc interval and potential predictors (including demographic, anthropometric, biochemical factors, and comorbidities). Multivariable logistic regression analyses were fitted to assess the association between the severity of NAFLD and QTc prolongation, with the adjustment of significant predictors derived from multivariable linear regression. The mean QTc interval was 421.3 ms (SD 45.4 ms). In the multivariable linear regression analyses, mild, moderate, and severe NAFLD were associated with increases of 2.55, 6.59, and 12.13 ms, respectively, in QTc interval compared with no NAFLD (all P<0.001). In the multivariable logistic regression analyses, mild, moderate, and severe NAFLD were associated with an increased risk for QTc prolongation, with odds ratios of 1.11 (95% CI: 1.01 to 1.21, P<0.05), 1.61 (95% CI: 1.36 to 1.9, P<0.001), and 1.31 (95% CI: 1.16 to 2.24, P<0.01), respectively, in women, and 1.11 (95% CI: 1.01 to 1.21, P<0.05), 1.39 (95% CI: 1.22 to 1.59, P<0.001), and 1.87 (95% CI: 1.16 to 2.24, P<0.001), respectively, in men, after adjusting for predictors known to be associated with the QTc interval. The association remained significant among subgroups with or without diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: The severity of NAFLD was associated with a higher risk for QTc prolongation in the general population with and without diabetes.

Effects of metabolic syndrome and findings from baseline colonoscopies on occurrence of colorectal neoplasms.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Metabolic syndrome is associated with increased risk of colorectal neoplasm, but little is known about its effects on the occurrence of neoplasm after colonoscopy. We investigated the effects of metabolic syndrome on the risk of advanced neoplasm after colonoscopy. METHODS: We performed a prospective study of 4483 subjects age 50 years and older who underwent screening and surveillance colonoscopies as part of an annual health check-up at National Taiwan University Hospital. Baseline demographic data and colonoscopic findings were recorded. Subjects with either advanced adenoma or 3 or more adenomas detected at baseline were classified as high risk; those with fewer than 3 nonadvanced adenomas were classified as low risk; and those without any neoplastic lesions were classified as normal. The cumulative risk of detecting an advanced neoplasm during surveillance colonoscopies (3 and 5 years later) was correlated with risk group and metabolic syndrome. Hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated for occurrence of neoplasm according to baseline colonoscopic findings and clinical risk factors, including metabolic syndrome. RESULTS: Advanced neoplasms were detected during the surveillance colonoscopies in 1.3% of subjects in the normal group and in 2.4% of those in the low-risk group at 5 years, and in 8.5% of subjects in the high-risk group at 3 years. Subjects with metabolic syndrome had a significantly higher risk for subsequent advanced neoplasms (P < .0001). After stratification based on findings from baseline colonoscopies, the risk for neoplasm was significant in the normal (P < .001) and low-risk groups (P = .04), but not in the high-risk group (P = .48). In Cox regression analysis, metabolic syndrome had significant effects on the risk for advanced neoplasms in the normal (HR, 2.07; 95% confidence interval, 1.13-3.81) and low-risk groups (HR, 2.34; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-5.41), but not in the high-risk group. CONCLUSIONS: Metabolic syndrome is a significant risk factor for occurrence of an advanced adenoma after a negative or low-risk finding from a baseline colonoscopy. Metabolic syndrome should be considered in risk stratification for surveillance intervals.