Modified bowel preparation regimen for use in second-generation colon capsule endoscopy in patients with ulcerative colitis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: We have reported that second-generation colon capsule endoscopy (CCE-2) might be feasible for assessing the severity of mucosal inflammation in ulcerative colitis (UC). However, because of the low rate (69%) of complete evaluation of the colon and owing to inadequate cleansing. We believe that the method of bowel preparation could be improved by reducing volume. In the present study, we attempted to improve the colon-cleansing regimen in order to optimize the usefulness of CCE-2 in the management of UC patients. METHODS: Twenty patients with histologically confirmed UC were enrolled. Patients took a maximum 2.2 L lavage solution (polyethylene glycol solution and magnesium citrate) in two or three divided doses. To assess the effectiveness of the modified bowel preparation regimen, we evaluated the rate of total colonobservation, the effectiveness of bowel cleansing, andinterobserver agreement in assessing UC disease activity. We used a four-point grading scale (poor, fair, good, and excellent) for evaluating the quality of bowel cleansing. Matts' endoscopic score was used to evaluate disease activity. RESULTS: The rate of total colon observation was 85%, and 15 patients (75%) excreted the CCE-2 within 8 h. The proportion of excellent plus good cleansing was approximately 60%. There was a substantial interobserver agreement (κ = 0.777) in assessment of overall cleansing, which was still substantial at the fair cleansing level (κ = 0.700). CONCLUSION: Using CCE-2, the modified bowel preparation regimen, with reduced volume has the potential to succeed in the evaluation of mucosal severity in UC.

Applicability of second-generation colon capsule endoscope to ulcerative colitis: a clinical feasibility study.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Colon capsule endoscopy has already been used for colon visualization and detection of polyps but its applicability to inflammatory bowel disease is still unconfirmed. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of evaluating the severity of mucosal inflammation in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) using a second-generation colon capsule endoscope (CCE-2). METHODS: Forty patients with histological confirmed diagnosis of UC were enrolled. Low-volume (2 L) polyethylene glycol solution with prokinetics (mosapride citrate and metoclopramide) regimen was used for the bowel preparation. In Phase 1, consisting of 10 patients, to confirm appropriate CCE-2 bowel preparation for UC. In Phase 2, consisting of 30 patients, CCE-2 was performed with a fixed bowel preparation regimen. CCE-2 findings were recorded for 8 h starting from capsule ingestion and conventional colonoscopy was subsequently performed on the same day. CCE-2 procedure completion rate and the colon cleansing level with a 4-point grading scale (poor, fair, good, and excellent) were evaluated in Phase 2. Correlations between Matts endoscopic scores as judged by CCE-2 and conventional colonoscopy were calculated. RESULTS: CCE-2 procedure was completed within 8 h in 69% of the patients. The proportion of patients with good or excellent cleansing level was below 50%. However, Matts endoscopic scores determined by CCE-2 showed a strong correlation with scores obtained by conventional colonoscopy (average ρ = 0.797). CONCLUSIONS: Although modifications in bowel preparation are needed, CCE-2 might be feasible for assessing the severity of mucosal inflammation in patients with UC.

Prominent steatosis with hypermetabolism of the cell line permissive for years of infection with hepatitis C virus.

Most of experiments for HCV infection have been done using lytic infection systems, in which HCV-infected cells inevitably die. Here, to elucidate metabolic alteration in HCV-infected cells in a more stable condition, we established an HCV-persistently-infected cell line, designated as HPI cells. This cell line has displayed prominent steatosis and supported HCV infection for more than 2 years, which is the longest ever reported. It enabled us to analyze metabolism in the HCV-infected cells integrally combining metabolomics and expression arrays. It revealed that rate-limiting enzymes for biosynthesis of cholesterol and fatty acids were up-regulated with actual increase in cholesterol, desmosterol (cholesterol precursor) and pool of fatty acids. Notably, the pentose phosphate pathway was facilitated with marked up-regulation of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, a rete-limiting enzyme, with actual increase in NADPH. In its downstream, enzymes for purine synthesis were also up-regulated resulting in increase of purine. Contrary to common cancers, the TCA cycle was preferentially facilitated comparing to glycolysis pathway with a marked increase of most of amino acids. Interestingly, some genes controlled by nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2), a master regulator of antioxidation and metabolism, were constitutively up-regulated in HPI cells. Knockdown of Nrf2 markedly reduced steatosis and HCV infection, indicating that Nrf2 and its target genes play important roles in metabolic alteration and HCV infection. In conclusion, HPI cell is a bona fide HCV-persistently-infected cell line supporting HCV infection for years. This cell line sustained prominent steatosis in a hypermetabolic status producing various metabolites. Therefore, HPI cell is a potent research tool not only for persistent HCV infection but also for liver metabolism, overcoming drawbacks of the lytic infection systems.

Role of enhanced visibility in evaluating polyposis syndromes using a newly developed contrast image capsule endoscope.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: A flexible spectral imaging color enhancement system was installed in new capsule software for video capsule endoscopy. Contrast image capsule endoscopy (CICE) is a novel technology using light-emitting diodes selected for the main absorption range of hemoglobin. We assessed the feasibility and diagnostic effi cacy for small bowel surveillance in patients with polyposis syndromes. METHODS: Six patients with polyposis syndromes, four with familial adenomatous polyposis and one each with Cowden syndrome (CS) and Cronkhite-Canada syndrome (CCS) were examined using CICE. We conducted three evaluations to assess the effect on the numbers of the detected polyps; compare polyp diagnostic rates between adenoma and hamartoma; and assess polyp visibility. RESULTS: The numbers of detected polyps and diagnostic accuracy did not differ signifi cantly between pre-contrast and contrast images. However, 50% of the adenomatous polyps displayed enhanced visibility on contrast images. CICE contrast images exhibited clearly demarcated lesions and improved the visibility of minute structures of adenomatous polyps. Hamartomatous polyp micro-structures in patients with CS and CCS were more clearly visualized on contrast than pre-contrast images. CONCLUSIONS: CICE is an effective tool for enhancing the visibility of polyps in patients with polyposis syndrome.

Evaluation of liver fibrosis by transient elastography using acoustic radiation force impulse: comparison with Fibroscan(®).

BACKGROUND: Accurate evaluation of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic liver damage is required to determine the appropriate treatment. Various approaches, including laboratory tests and transient elastography, have been used to evaluate liver fibrosis. Recently, transient elastography with acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) has been developed and applied with conventional ultrasonography. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical utility of transient elastography with ARFI and to compare the results with this method and those of the Fibroscan(®) procedure. METHODS: One hundred and thirty-one patients with liver damage, who underwent liver biopsy at our department, were enrolled prospectively in this study. Elastography with ARFI (applied with ACUSON S2000(®)), and Fibroscan(®) was performed at the same time as liver biopsy. These measurements were compared with histological findings in liver biopsy specimens, and measurement accuracy was evaluated by receiver-operating characteristic analysis. RESULTS: Elastography values with both procedures were significantly correlated with the stages of liver fibrosis and there was little difference in the results obtained using the 2 procedures. The accuracy of differential diagnosis between no fibrosis at F0 and more than F1 stage was insufficient with ARFI, but this procedure was sufficient for diagnosing advanced fibrosis. The accuracy of ARFI was almost equivalent to that of the Fibroscan(®) method. Moreover, both ARFI and Fibroscan(®) values increased in proportion to the severity of hepatic inflammation when fibrosis stage is low, but not in proportion to the severity of steatosis. CONCLUSIONS: Transient elastography with ARFI is simple, non-invasive and useful for diagnosing the stage of fibrosis in chronic liver disease. The utility of ARFI was almost equivalent to that of the Fibroscan(®) method.