Eosinophilic Gastritis and Enteritis Are Increased in Families With Eosinophilic Esophagitis.

INTRODUCTION: There are limited data on the familial risk of distal eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases (EGIDs) in patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). We analyzed the risk of eosinophilic gastritis/gastroenteritis (EG/EGE) and eosinophilic colitis (EC) as forms of distal EGIDs using International Disease Classification-9/10 codes in subjects with EoE and their relatives. METHODS: The Utah Population Database is a resource that links genealogy information and medical records in Utah. We identified EGIDs in probands and their first-degree (FDRs), second-degree (SDRs), and third-degree (TDRs) relatives in the Utah Population Database. Relative risk and 95% confidence intervals were estimated. All individuals with inflammatory bowel disorder were eliminated to avoid misdiagnosis with EGIDs. RESULTS: We included 8,455 subjects with EoE, 396 with EG/EGE, and 172 with EC. Probands with EoE were at increased risk of EG/EGE and EC. Risks of EG/EGE were increased among FDRs and SDRs of probands with EoE , even without concomitant EoE in the relatives. Increased risk of EG/EGE in FDRs and SDRs was also present for EoE probands without EG/EGE or EC. We observed no isolated familial aggregation of EG/EGE after excluding cases with comorbid EoE. EC probands without EoE were at increased risk of EG/EGE, but no evidence of familial risk of EC was observed. DISCUSSION: The relative risk of EG/EGE is significant among relatives of patients with EoE, suggesting that shared genetic factors exist among these EGIDs. EG/EGE and EC showed limited familial clustering, although sample sizes were small.

Hepatitis B Reactivation and Liver Failure Because of COVID-19 Infection.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been associated with liver injury incidence reported between 15% and 53%. Viral binding to ACE2 receptors in hepatobiliary cells is believed to cause liver inflammation. The relationship between hepatitis B and COVID-19 is poorly understood, but patients treated with immunosuppressive therapy for COVID-19 are at higher risk of hepatitis B reactivation (HBVr). We present a case of a patient with HBVr because of COVID-19, in the absence of any immunosuppressive treatment, leading to fulminant liver failure and subsequent requiring liver transplantation. Given low incidence, limited data, and no current guidelines, further studies are needed to evaluate the benefit and cost-effectiveness of anti-HBV prophylaxis in a patient with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and COVID-19. Meanwhile, the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases guidelines for patients with CHB and immunosuppressant use can be considered for anti-HBV prophylaxis for patients with CHB and COVID-19 to prevent HBVr on a case-by-case basis.

Safety and efficacy of direct percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy placement in patients with previous upper gastrointestinal resection: A retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous jejunal enteral access can be obtained with percutaneous endoscopic gastric jejunostomy (PEGJ) and direct percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy (DPEJ) tubes. PEGJ may not be feasible in patients with previous gastric resection (PGR) and DPEJ may be the only option. Our aim is to determine if DPEJ tubes can be placed successfully in patients with history of gastrointestinal (GI) surgery and if success rates are comparable to DPEJ or PEGJ in those without prior GI surgery. METHODS: We reviewed all tube placements performed from 2010 to present. Procedures were performed using a pediatric colonoscope. Previous upper GI surgery was defined as PGR or esophagectomy with gastric pull-up. Adverse events (AEs) were graded per American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy criteria. Mild events included unplanned medical consultation or hospitalization <3 days, and moderate events included repeat endoscopy without surgical intervention. RESULTS: Successful placement rates were high regardless of GI surgical history. Patients receiving a DPEJ with a history of GI surgery were significantly less likely to experience an AE compared with those receiving DPEJ with no history and compared with PEGJ patients with or without a history. CONCLUSIONS: DPEJ placement in patients with previous upper GI surgery has very high success rate. It is associated with lower AE rates than patients receiving DPEJ without previous gastric surgery, or PEGJ regardless of previous gastric surgery. Patients with a history of upper GI surgery requiring enteral access may benefit from DPEJ over PEGJ placement considering its very high success rate and lower incidence of AEs.

Incidence of retained biopsy specimens after esophagogastroduodenoscopy and colonoscopy.

Background and study aims In gastrointestinal endoscopy, biopsies must transit through the accessory channel and cap, presenting an opportunity for loss of tissue. We sought to determine the incidence of specimen retention in the accessory channel or cap and identify procedure characteristics associated with specimen retention. Patients and methods After completion of standard endoscopic procedures in which biopsies were obtained, the biopsy cap and accessory channel were inspected, brushed, and irrigated for any retained biopsy specimens according to a standard protocol. For controls, the same protocol was applied to procedures in which biopsies were not obtained. Specimen bottles from the recovery protocol were sent for pathological examination regardless of whether any visible tissue was present. Results A total of 216 outpatient procedures were included: 55 esophagogastroduodenoscopies (EGDs) and 50 colonoscopies in which biopsies were obtained and 56 EGDs and 55 colonoscopies in the control group. Retained specimens were found in either the cap or channel in 50 of 105 (48%). In 20 of 105 (19%), retained specimens were found just in the cap, in six of 105 (5.7%), retained specimens were found just in the channel, while in 24 of 105 (23%), retained specimens were found in both the cap and channel. Retained specimens were more likely to be found in EGDs compared to colonoscopies (58% vs. 36%, P = 0.031). No retained specimens were found in the control group. Conclusions Retained specimens are startingly common in standard gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures and could potentially change diagnoses and management. Quality improvement measures should be instituted to monitor prevalence of retained biopsies and methods to prevent them should be developed.

Signalling couples hair follicle stem cell quiescence with reduced histone H3 K4/K9/K27me3 for proper tissue homeostasis.

Mechanisms of plasticity to acquire different cell fates are critical for adult stem cell (SC) potential, yet are poorly understood. Reduced global histone methylation is an epigenetic state known to mediate plasticity in cultured embryonic SCs and T-cell progenitors. Here we find histone H3 K4/K9/K27me3 levels actively reduced in adult mouse skin and hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) during G0 quiescence. The level of marks over specific gene promoters did not correlate to mRNA level changes in quiescent HFSCs. Skin hypomethylation during quiescence was necessary for subsequent progression of hair homeostasis (cycle). Inhibiting BMP signal, a known HFSC anti-proliferative factor, elevated HFSC methylation in vivo during quiescence prior to proliferation onset. Furthermore, removal of proliferation factors and addition of BMP4 reduced histone methylases and increased demethylases mRNAs in cultured skin epithelial cells. We conclude that signalling couples hair follicle stem cell quiescence with reduced H3 K4/K9/K27me3 levels for proper tissue homeostasis.