Association between markers of glucose metabolism and risk of colorectal adenoma.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Diabetes is a risk factor for colorectal cancer. We studied the association between markers of glucose metabolism and metabolic syndrome and the presence of colorectal adenomas in a large number of asymptomatic men and women attending a health screening program in South Korea. We also investigated whether these associations depend on adenoma location. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, we measured fasting levels of glucose, insulin, hemoglobin A1c, and C-peptide and calculated homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) values (used to quantify insulin resistance) for 19,361 asymptomatic South Korean subjects who underwent colonoscopy examinations from January 2006 to June 2009. Participants completed a standardized self-administered health questionnaire and a validated semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. Blood samples were collected on the day of the colonoscopy; fasting blood samples were also collected. Robust Poisson regression was used to model the associations of glucose markers with the prevalence of any adenoma. RESULTS: Using detailed multivariable-adjusted dose-response models, the prevalence ratios (aPR, 95% confidence interval [CI]) for any adenoma, comparing the 90th with the 10th percentile, were 1.08 (1.00-1.16; P = .04) for fasting glucose, 1.07 (0.99-1.15; P = .10) for insulin, 1.09 (1.02-1.18, P = .02) for HOMA, 1.09 (1.01-1.17; P = .02) for hemoglobin A1c, and 1.14 (1.05-1.24; P = .002) for C-peptide. The corresponding ratios for nonadvanced adenomas were 1.11 (0.99-1.25; P = .08), 1.10 (0.98-1.24; P = .12), 1.15 (1.02-1.29; P = .02), 1.14 (1.01-1.28; P = .03), and 1.20 (1.05-1.37; P = .007), respectively. The corresponding ratios for advanced adenomas were 1.32 (0.94-1.84; P = .11), 1.23 (0.87-1.75; P = .24), 1.30 (0.92-1.85; P = .14), 1.13 (0.79-1.61; P = .50), and 1.67 (1.15-2.42; P = .007), respectively. Metabolic syndrome was associated with the prevalence of any adenoma (aPR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.13-1.24; P < .001), nonadvanced adenoma (aPR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.20-1.40; P < .001), and advanced adenoma (aPR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.14-1.78; P = .002). Associations were similar for adenomas located in the distal versus proximal colon. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing levels of glucose, HOMA values, levels of hemoglobin A1c and C-peptide, and metabolic syndrome are significantly associated with the prevalence of adenomas. Adenomas should be added to the list of consequences of altered glucose metabolism.

Outcomes of endoscopic submucosal dissection for differentiated-type early gastric cancer with histological heterogeneity.

BACKGROUND: Long-term clinical outcomes after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is unclear for differentiated-type-predominant early gastric cancer (EGC) mixed with undifferentiated component (MUC-EGC). Therefore, the role and appropriate indication of ESD for MUC-EGC remain to be evaluated. METHODS: Between 2007 and 2011, 1,577 differentiated-type EGC lesions [1,408 pure differentiated-type (PuD)-EGCs and 169 MUC-EGCs] in 1,527 consecutive patients were treated by ESD. After ESD, MUC-EGC was managed in the same way as PuD-EGC. The clinicopathological features and long-term outcomes after ESD of MUC-EGC were compared with those of PuD-EGC. RESULTS: En bloc resection and en bloc with R0 resection rates in MUC-EGC cases were 94.1 % and 81.7 %, respectively. MUC-EGC was significantly associated with larger tumor size, more frequent submucosal invasion, and lymphovascular invasion compared to PuD-EGC. Despite these aggressive features of MUC-EGC, no lymph node metastasis or extragastric recurrence occurred during follow-up after ESD if MUC-EGC met the curative endoscopic resection (ER) criteria for tumors of absolute or expanded indications. Four MUC-EGC cases meeting the curative ER criteria underwent additional radical gastrectomy after ESD, and no case showed lymph node metastasis. During a median 48 months of follow-up, overall survival rates for MUC-EGC meeting the curative ER criteria for tumors of absolute or expanded indications (3-year survival rates, 100 % and 100 %) were comparable to those of PuD-EGC. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term outcomes after ESD were favorable for MUC-EGCs meeting the curative ER criteria for tumors of absolute or expanded indications. Therefore, ESD may be used as a promising treatment option for these cases.

Colorectal cancer-susceptibility single-nucleotide polymorphisms in Korean population.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Considering the significant racial and ethnic diversity in genetic variation, it is unclear whether the genome-wide association studies-identified colorectal cancer (CRC)-susceptibility single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) discovered in European populations are also relevant to the Korean population. However, studies on CRC-susceptibility SNPs in Koreans are limited. METHODS: To investigate the racial and ethnic diversity of CRC-susceptibility genetic variants, we genotyped for the established European CRC-susceptibility SNPs in 198 CRC cases and 329 controls in Korea. To identify novel genetic variants using genome-wide screening in Korea, Illumina HumanHap 370K/610K BeadChips were performed on 105 CRC patients, and candidate CRC-susceptibility SNPs were selected. Subsequently, genotyping for replication was done in 189 CRC cases and 190 controls. RESULTS: Among the European CRC-susceptibility SNPs, rs4939827 in SMAD7 was associated with a significant decreased risk of Korean CRC (age-/gender-adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: additive model, 0.67 [95% CI, 0.47-0.95]; dominant model, 0.59 [95% CI, 0.39-0.91]). rs4779584 and rs10795668 were associated with CRC risk in females and males, respectively. Among candidate CRC-susceptibility SNPs selected from genome-wide screening, novel SNP, rs17051076, was found to be associated with a significantly increased risk of microsatellite instability-high CRC (age-/gender-adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: additive model, 4.25 [95% CI, 1.51-11.98]; dominant model, 3.52 [95% CI, 1.13-10.94]) in the replication study. CONCLUSIONS: rs4939827, rs4779584, and rs10795668 may contribute to the risk of CRC in the Korean population as well as in European populations. Novel rs17051076 could be associated with microsatellite instability-high CRC in Koreans. These associations support the ethnic diversity of CRC-susceptibility SNPs and should be taken into account in large-scale studies.

Incidence and Risk Factors for Urolithiasis in Patients with Crohn's Disease.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of urinary tract calculi is thought to be higher in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) than that in the general population. However, few data are available about urolithiasis in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). We investigated the incidence of urolithiasis and the risk factors for urolithiasis in patients with CD. METHODS: We examined the records of 387 patients with CD followed at Samsung Medical Center from July 2011 to June 2013. Evidence for the presence of calculi was obtained from radiologic findings (plain films, ultrasonography, or computed tomography), urinary colic symptoms, or a treatment history of urolithiasis after diagnosis of CD. Demographic variables, phenotype, concurrent medications, and previous CD-related surgery were analyzed. RESULTS: Urinary tract calculi were found in 18 (4.7%) patients, which developed after the CD diagnosis. The incidence of urolithiasis in CD was 706 per 100,000 patient-years. Cox models with a time-dependent covariate showed that azathioprine (AZA)/6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) treatment (hazard ratio = 0.963; 95% CI: 0.931, 0.996; p = 0.030) was negatively associated with urolithiasis. CONCLUSIONS: The annual incidence rate of urolithiasis in patients with CD was 0.7%. AZA/6-MP therapy was associated with a low risk of urolithiasis in these patients.

Should preoperative chest CT be recommended to all colon cancer patients?

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of preoperative chest computed tomography (CT) and the risk factors for lung metastasis in colon cancer patients without liver metastasis who had negative findings on initial chest X-ray (CXR). BACKGROUND: Preoperative staging with chest CT is recommended in colon cancer patients. However, there have been only scant data on the clinical efficacy. METHODS: Three hundred nineteen consecutive colon cancer patients without liver metastasis were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed. The patients had negative findings on preoperative CXR, and they underwent surgery for colon cancer during the period of January 2008 to April 2010. RESULTS: Lung nodule on chest CT was found in 136 patients (42.6%). Twenty of those were definitely diagnosed with lung metastasis (6.3%) by follow-up chest CT or pathologic confirmation. There was no case of delay in surgery due to findings of lung nodule. Comparing the group with lung metastases to that without lung metastases, postoperative pathologic findings reported more advanced T and N status (P = 0.004, P < 0.001, respectively), and lymphatic invasion was more frequent (P = 0.003) in the group with lung metastasis. By multivariate analysis, CT-predicted lymph node metastases and pathologic lymph node metastases were risk factors for lung metastases. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative staging chest CT is not beneficial to colon cancer patients without liver metastasis and lymph node metastasis suggested on abdominal and pelvic CT who had negative finding on initial CXR.

Endoscopic resection for undifferentiated early gastric cancer: focusing on histologic discrepancies between forceps biopsy-based and endoscopic resection specimen-based diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: Before endoscopic resection (ER), a considerable number of undifferentiated early gastric cancer (UD-EGC) cases were initially diagnosed as atypical glands, dysplasia, or differentiated EGC (D-EGC) based on forceps biopsy specimens. As UD-EGC carries a high risk of resection margin involvement, identifying the predictive factors for UD-EGC cases with histologic discrepancy (HD) is of clinical importance. AIMS: To investigate the outcomes of ER for UD-EGC and to identify the predictive factors for UD-EGC with HD. METHODS: Among 2,194 EGC lesions treated by ER, 59 lesions were finally diagnosed as UD-EGC and 50 UD-EGC cases showed HD. The demographic and endoscopic characteristics were compared between D-EGC and UD-EGC with HD, and the predictive factors for the latter were investigated among cases of forceps biopsy-based diagnosis of atypical glands, dysplasia, or D-EGC. RESULTS: UD-EGC showed significantly higher rate of lateral margin involvement compared to D-EGC (18.6 vs. 3.4%). Among the UD-EGC cases meeting the expanded criteria and not involving additional surgery, no local or extragastric tumor recurrence was observed during the median follow-up of 27.5 months. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that age (≤60 years), female gender, gastric body, flat or depressed type, and tumor size (>2 cm) were independent predictive factors for UD-EGC with HD among cases of forceps biopsy-based diagnosis of atypical glands, dysplasia, or D-EGC. CONCLUSIONS: For lesions with predictive factors for UD-EGC with HD, a circumferential mapping biopsy before ER or wide marking during ER could be considered to avoid the potential risk of incomplete resection.

The association of serum lipids with colorectal adenomas.

OBJECTIVES: There is suggestive but sparse evidence that dyslipidemia is associated with colorectal neoplasms. We investigated the association of serum lipid and apolipoprotein concentrations with the prevalence of colorectal adenomas. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of 19,281 consecutive participants aged 40-79 years undergoing screening colonoscopy at the Center for Health Promotion of the Samsung Medical Center in Korea from January 2006 to June 2009. RESULTS: We identified 5,958 participants with colorectal adenomas (30.9%), including 5,504 (28.5%) with non-advanced adenomas and 454 (2.4%) with advanced adenomas. The adjusted relative prevalence ratios (aRPRs) comparing the fourth with the first quartiles of serum triglycerides were 1.35 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.20-1.52; P trend<0.001) for non-advanced adenomas and 1.45 (95% CI 1.02-2.06; P trend=0.005) for advanced adenomas. Higher levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-1 (ApoA-1) were significantly associated with 12% (Q4 vs. Q1 aRPR 1.12; 95% CI 1.00-1.26; P trend=0.049) and 17% (Q4 vs. Q1 aRPR 1.17; 95% CI 1.04-1.31; P trend=0.004) higher prevalence of non-advanced adenoma. There was also a non-significant association between higher levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (Q4 vs. Q1 aRPR 1.22; 95% CI 0.91-1.66; P trend= 0.12) and apolipoprotein B (ApoB) (Q4 vs. Q1 aRPR 1.32; 95% CI 0.94-1.83; P trend=0.07) with higher prevalence of advanced adenoma. There was no association between total cholesterol levels with colorectal adenoma. CONCLUSIONS: In this large cross-sectional study, higher levels of serum triglycerides were significantly associated with an increasing prevalence of both non-advanced and advanced colorectal adenomas, while higher levels of ApoA-1 and HDL cholesterol were significantly associated with an increasing prevalence of non-advanced adenomas.

Inhibition of SCAMP1 suppresses cell migration and invasion in human pancreatic and gallbladder cancer cells.

Lymph node (LN) metastasis is one of the most important risk factors for the prognosis of pancreatic cancer. This study aimed to identify novel LN metastasis-associated markers and therapeutic targets for pancreatic and gallbladder cancers. DNA microarray analysis was carried out to identify genes differentially expressed between 17 pancreatic cancer tissues with LN metastasis and 17 pancreatic cancer tissues without LN metastasis. The expression of LZIC, FXR, SCAMP1, and SULT1E1 is significantly higher in pancreatic cancer tissues with LN metastasis than in pancreatic cancer tissues without LN metastasis. We recently reported that FXR plays an important role in LN metastasis of pancreatic cancer, and in this study, we selected the secretory carrier membrane protein 1 (SCAMP1) gene. To determine that function of the SCAMP1 gene, we examined the effects of SCAMP1 knockdown on pancreatic and gallbladder cancer proliferation, migration, and invasion using SCAMP1 small interfering RNA (siRNA) and the activity of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. SCAMP1 overexpression is associated with LN metastasis in pancreatic cancer patients. The siRNA-mediated downregulation of SCAMP1 resulted in a marked reduction in cell migration and invasion, but not proliferation in MIA-PaCa2, PANC-1, TGBC-1, and TGBC-2 cells. In addition, downregulation of SCAMP1 inhibited VEGF levels of conditioned medium from SCAMP1 siRNA-transfected cells. These results suggest that downregulation of SCAMP1 could be a potential therapeutic target for patients with pancreatic and gallbladder cancer.

Alcohol dehydrogenase, iron containing, 1 promoter hypermethylation associated with colorectal cancer differentiation.

BACKGROUND: The aberrant methylation of CpG islands in the promoter is associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) carcinogenesis. In our previous study, the promoter of alcohol dehydrogenase, iron containing, 1 (ADHFE1) was most highly methylated in CRC compared to normal colorectal mucosa. In this study, we examined the expression and function of the ADHFE1 in CRC. METHODS: We examined the promoter methylation and mRNA expression of ADHFE1 with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-Aza-2-dC) in 12 CRC cell lines, 124 paired CRC and adjacent normal mucosa, and 59 advanced adenomas. To confirm methylation of ADHFE1, we performed bisulfite genomic sequencing in 3 CRC cell lines, 6 paired CRC and adjacent normal mucosa. ADHFE1 protein expression was studied using western blot and immunohistochemistry, respectively in the 36 and 243 paired CRC and adjacent normal tissue. We transfected the DLD-1 with pcDNA3.1 vector containing ADHFE1 and examined the expression of differentiation marker, such as ALP, CEA and Cdx2. We examined the ADHFE1 expression at distinct developmental stages in mouse embryos. RESULTS: The ADHFE1 promoter was hypermethylated in all CRC cell lines, 81.8% in CRCs, and 84.7% in advanced adenomas, with reciprocal change by 5-Aza-2-dC. The expression of ADHFE1 mRNA was down-regulated in all CRC cell lines and 96.3% in CRC tissues. The expression of ADHFE1 protein was down-regulated in 91.7% of CRC tissues. In the immunohistochemistry, normal epithelial cells at the crypt top showed very strong ADHFE1 expression, whereas they were much weaker at the crypt base. In CRC, the good differentiation was significantly associated with high ADHFE1 expression. The activity of differentiation marker, such as ALP and CEA, was higher in pcDNA3.1-ADHFE1 transfected CRC cells with consistent correlation with ADHFE1 protein than control. In mouse embryos, ADHFE1 in the large intestine was the first detected at E15.5. At E18.5, ADHFE1 was predominantly expressed in the top of the mature crypt epithelium. CONCLUSIONS: It showed that the hypermethylation of ADHFE1 promoter in CRC is concordance with down-regulation of ADHFE1 mRNA and ADHFE1 protein. ADHFE1 has an important role of differentiation in CRC, as well as normal colorectal mucosa and embryonic developmental processes.

The association between cecal insertion time and colorectal neoplasm detection.

BACKGROUND: Information on the impact of cecal insertion time on colorectal neoplasm detection is limited. Our objective was to determine the association between cecal insertion time and colorectal neoplasm detection rate in colonoscopy screening. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study of 12,679 consecutive subjects aged 40-79 years undergoing screening colonoscopy in routine health check-ups at the Center for Health Promotion of the Samsung Medical Center from December 2007 to June 2009. Fixed effects logistic regression conditioning on colonoscopist was used to eliminate confounding due to differences in technical ability and other characteristics across colonoscopists. RESULTS: The mean cecal insertion time was 5.9 (SD, 4.4 minutes). We identified 4,249 (33.5%) participants with colorectal neoplasms, of whom 1,956 had small single adenomas (<5 mm), 595 had medium single adenomas (5-9 mm), and 1,699 had multiple adenomas or advanced colorectal neoplasms. The overall rates of colorectal neoplasm detection by quartiles of cecal insertion time were 36.8%, 33.4%, 32.7%, and 31.0%, respectively (p trend <0.001).The odds for small single colorectal adenoma detection was 16% lower (adjusted OR 0.84; 95% CI 0.71 to 0.99) in the fourth compared to the first quartile of insertion time (p trend 0.005). Insertion time was not associated with the detection rate of single adenomas ≥5 mm, multiple adenomas or advanced colorectal neoplasms. CONCLUSION: Shorter insertion times were associated with increased rates of detection of small colorectal adenomas <5 mm. Cecal insertion time may be clinically relevant as missed small colorectal adenomas may progress to more advanced lesions.

Characteristics of esophageal proper muscle in patients with non-cardiac chest pain using high-frequency intraluminal ultrasound.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: It is unclear which mechanisms play a predominant role in the pathogenesis of esophageal non-cardiac chest pain (NCCP). We aimed to examine the features of esophageal proper muscle and esophageal contractility using a high-frequency intraluminal ultrasound (HFIUS) in patients with NCCP. METHODS: A total of 68 patients with NCCP were classified into two groups according to the results of typical reflux symptoms and/or esophagogastroduodenoscopy and/or 24-h esophageal pH monitoring: gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)-positive NCCP (n = 34) and GERD-negative NCCP groups (n = 34). Additionally 16 asymptomatic healthy subjects were included as controls. Using HFIUS, we analyzed the esophageal proper muscle thickness and cross-sectional area (CSA) at 3 cm above lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and 9 cm above LES during baseline rest and peak contraction periods among the control, GERD-positive NCCP and GERD-negative NCCP groups, and examined the completeness of three phases of esophageal action during five wet swallows in the three groups. RESULTS: The muscle thickness and CSA tended to be larger in GERD-negative NCCP than in GERD-positive NCCP and in control groups at esophageal body during both periods. All of the controls and patients with GERD-positive NCCP presented the complete peristaltic type. Whereas, 11 of 34 patients with GERD-negative NCCP presented the incomplete peristaltic type. CONCLUSIONS: Using HFIUS, patients with GERD-negative NCCP had increased muscle thickness and CSA. Some GERD-negative NCCP had the incomplete peristaltic type.

Management strategy for small duodenal carcinoid tumors: does conservative management with close follow-up represent an alternative to endoscopic treatment?

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Limited data exist regarding the natural history of duodenal carcinoid tumors and the efficacy of endoscopic treatment. METHODS: A total of 27 patients with duodenal carcinoid tumors were enrolled. All tumors were located outside the periampullary region and were ≤10 mm in size. 11 patients underwent endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and argon plasma coagulation (APC). 13 patients did not undergo any specific procedure for tumor removal and were followed clinically. RESULTS: Of 13 patients not undergoing treatment, tumors disappeared in 5 cases during follow-up with diagnostic forceps biopsy. Endoscopically visible lesions remained in the last follow-up endoscopy in 8 patients (61.5%). No lymph node or distant metastases or tumor-related deaths occurred during a median follow-up of 37 months. Of 11 cases treated with EMR, tumor-free resection margins were achieved in 10 cases and no local recurrence occurred after treatment. Two perforations occurred during EMR. Of the 3 cases treated with APC, local recurrence occurred in 1 case. CONCLUSIONS: Given the risks associated with EMR and the likely favorable natural history of small duodenal carcinoid tumors, conservative management with close follow-up may represent a viable alternative to endoscopic treatment, especially in patients with a high risk of perioperative complications.

Efficacy and safety of endoscopic treatment for nonampullary sporadic duodenal adenomas.

BACKGROUND: Nonampullary sporadic duodenal adenomas (NSDAs) are uncommon mucosal neoplasms with malignant potential. Recently, endoscopic treatment is used for NSDA with increasing frequency. AIMS: This study therefore aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic treatment for NSDA. METHODS: A total of 36 NSDAs in 35 consecutive patients were endoscopically eradicated at Samsung Medical Center between October 1994 and May 2011. Data on patient demographics, tumor characteristics, and endoscopic treatment outcomes were obtained and retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Of all patients, 19 (52.8 %) were male. The mean age was 56.0 ± 12.2 (SD) years. Of the 36 NSDAs, 23 lesions were removed by endoscopic resection (ER) including endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR, n = 20) and snare polypectomy (n = 3). In the 23 cases treated with ER, en bloc resection was achieved in 20 (87.0 %). All cases undergoing en bloc resection showed tumor-free resection margins. Thirteen lesions were ablated by argon plasma coagulation (APC). During EMR, bleeding occurred in two cases and perforation occurred in one case. One patient bled during APC. All complications were successfully managed with endoscopic treatment without surgical intervention. During a median follow-up period of 11.4 months (range, 1.8-182.4 months), local recurrence occurred in one patient treated with APC (1/10, 10.0 %). Among patients undergoing ER, no local recurrence occurred but one patient treated with EMR experienced metachronous recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic treatment, including EMR, snare polypectomy, and APC, was an effective and safe treatment for NSDA. Further multi-center large prospective studies are warranted to establish appropriate treatment guidelines for NSDA.

Overweight is associated with a favorable survival in patients with colorectal cancer: a prospective cohort study in an Asian population.

BACKGROUND: The influence of body mass index (BMI) on the outcome of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) is largely unknown, particularly in an Asian population. Therefore, we investigated the influence of BMI on survival of patients who underwent surgical treatment for CRC in Korean population. METHODS: This prospective cohort study included CRC patients who underwent surgery between June 2003 and May 2005. Study participants were divided into two BMI groups: normal weight (<23 kg/m(2)) and overweight (≥23 kg/m(2)). RESULTS: A total of 509 CRC patients were included in this study. Of these, 318 patients (62.5%) were male, and the mean ± SD age was 59.1 ± 11.3 years. Two hundred eighteen patients (42.8%) were included in the normal-weight group and 291 (57.2%) were included in the overweight group. During a follow-up of 62.8 ± 27.2 months, 100 (19.6%) of the 509 eligible patients died, and 72 (15.0%) of 479 experienced recurrence. The overall survival of overweight group was more favorable compared with that of the normal-weight group (P = 0.001), while there was no significant difference in recurrence (P = 0.735). Compared with the normal-weight group, the hazard ratios of death and recurrence, respectively, were 0.615 (95% confidence interval 0.408-925; P = 0.020) and 0.992 (95% confidence interval 0.613-1.604; P = 0.973) for the overweight group. CONCLUSIONS: Overweight is not associated with an increased risk of cancer recurrence but rather is associated a favorable overall survival in Asian CRC patients undergoing surgery.

Prognostic significance of ATM and cyclin B1 in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor.

Ataxia telangiectasia mutated kinase (ATM) and cyclin B1 are involved in cell cycle control. The prognostic significance of both molecules has not yet been investigated in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and prognostic significance of ATM and cyclin B1 in patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. A total of 107 pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor specimens that were surgically resected were immunohistochemically investigated using the tissue microarray technique. Clinicopathologic results and survival were evaluated retrospectively. High expression of ATM and cyclin B1 was related to well-differentiated endocrine tumors of the World Health Organization (WHO) classification, but not related to TNM stages. The high ATM expression group (ATM ≥ 4) had a significantly smaller tumor size, lower recurrence rate, more number of functioning tumor, and well differentiation of WHO classification. The high cyclin B1 expression group (cyclin B1 ≥ 5) was related to smaller tumor size, less vascular invasion, less recurrence rate, and less death rate. However, cyclin B1 was the only significant factor for survival following multivariate analysis (p = 0.008; OR, 0.54; 95 % CI, 0.35-0.85). The current results suggested that expression of ATM and cyclin B1 may be useful markers to identify patients with poor prognosis who may benefit from close follow-up and aggressive therapy in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.

Risk of colorectal neoplasia in patients with solid organ transplantation.

The incidence of colorectal adenomas and advanced neoplasia in the transplant population has not been well characterized. The aim of this study was to determine whether or not there was an increased incidence of colorectal adenomas and advanced neoplasia in solid organ transplantation (SOT) recipients compared with an average-risk population. We reviewed 360 patients with solid organ transplants who underwent colonoscopy between February 1995 and July 2008, and 360 age- and gender-matched patients in an average-risk population. The mean duration from transplantation to colonoscopy in the SOT group was 40.4 ± 34.0 months. Ninety-three (25.8%) adenomas were detected in the SOT group, while 98 (27.2%) adenomas were detected in the control group (p = 0.763). There was a statistically significant difference (p < 0.0001) in the number of patients with advanced neoplasia in the SOT group (24 patients [6.7%]) compared with the control group (3 patients [0.8%]). The independent risk factors of advanced neoplasia were old age (odds ratio [OR], 1.067; 95% CI, 1.019-1.118) and transplantation (OR, 6.069; 95% CI, 1.455-25.314). In summary, there was a significant increase in the incidence of advanced colorectal neoplasia in SOT recipients. The reason for this finding is unclear, and studies with a larger number of patients are needed to further evaluate this group.

Endoscopic findings in mantle cell lymphoma with gastrointestinal tract involvement.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is a rare disease with a poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to determine clinical and endoscopic characteristics of patients with GI MCL. METHODS: Clinical features of 19 patients with GI MCL were reviewed along with the endoscopic findings on 27 anatomical lesions. RESULTS: The initial presenting symptoms were abdominal pain (n = 7, 36.8%), GI tract bleeding (n = 5, 26.3%), dyspnea (n = 2, 10.5%), indigestion (n = 1, 5.3%), diarrhea (n = 1, 5.3%), cervical lymphadenopathy (n = 1, 5.3%), tonsilar mass (n = 1, 5.3%), and no symptoms (n = 1, 5.3%). On endoscopy, in 19 patients with 27 lesions, the anatomic locations of the lesions were: stomach, n = 2 (10.5%); stomach and colon, n = 7 (36.8%); terminal ileum and colon, n = 1 (5.3%); colon, n = 9 (47.4%). There was 1 fungating case (3.7%), 4 ulcerative cases (14.8%), 9 infiltrative cases (33.3%), and 13 polypoid cases (48.1%). CONCLUSIONS: The endoscopic findings in GI MCL are variable, with common presenting manifestations of abdominal pain and GI bleeding.

Endoscopy-based decision is sufficient for predicting completeness in lateral resection margin in colon endoscopic submucosal dissection.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Our aim was to investigate the incidence of tumor recurrence in cases in which there was a discrepancy in the diagnosis of complete resection by pathologists and colonoscopists, especially in the lateral resection margin. METHODS: We reviewed 245 patients with colorectal tumors that were treated by endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) between March 2006 and June 2011. We evaluated the recurrence rate in cases judged as pathologically incomplete resection despite endoscopically complete resection. RESULTS: Of the 24 cases with tumor cells on the lateral resection margin, the histologies of the colorectal tumors were found to be tubular adenoma (TA) with low-grade dysplasia (n = 19), TA with high-grade dysplasia (n = 3) and differentiated adenocarcinoma (n = 2). No tumor recurrence was observed in 22 patients after ESD. Four patients did not receive surveillance colonoscopy. The median tumor size was 28 mm (12-35) and the median follow-up period was 19 months (5-42). CONCLUSIONS: This retrospective analysis was limited by a short follow-up period. However, surveillance colonoscopy could be attempted without additional ESD in those cases in which incomplete resection on the lateral margin was judged pathologically, if endoscopic complete resection was grossly achieved.

Impact of previous gastric or colonic resection on polyethylene glycol bowel preparation for colonoscopy.

INTRODUCTION: Adequate bowel preparation is essential for successful completion of colonoscopy. This study examines whether previous bowel resection affects the quality of bowel preparation. METHODS: This study prospectively included patients who had gastric or colonic resection (bowel resection group, n = 92) and a control group (n = 92). All patients received 4 L polyethylene glycol (PEG) for bowel preparation. Quality of colonic preparation was assessed using the Aronchick scale (excellent, good, fair, or poor) and was categorized as satisfactory (excellent or good) or unsatisfactory (fair or poor). We analyzed whether previous gastric or colonic resection is associated with unsatisfactory preparation. RESULTS: Bowel preparation quality was significantly different between the resection group (0, 39.1, 43.5, and 17.4%, for excellent, good, fair, and poor) and control group (3.3, 53.3, 38.0, and 5.5% for excellent, good, fair, and poor, P = 0.011). Inadequate bowel preparation was significantly higher in the resection group than in the control group (60.9% vs. 43.5%, P = 0.018). Univariate analysis revealed height, weight, body mass index, and bowel resection to be predictors of unsatisfactory preparation. Multivariate analysis revealed bowel resection [odds ratio (OR) 2.12; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.16-3.86] and obesity (body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m(2)) (OR 2.16; 95% CI: 1.13-4.12) to be independent predictors of unsatisfactory preparation. The prevalence of unsatisfactory and poor bowel preparation quality was 79.3 and 37.9% in obese patients with previous bowel resection. CONCLUSIONS: Previous bowel resection was an independent predictor of unsatisfactory PEG bowel preparation. More attention is needed for patients with previous bowel resection, especially for obese patients.

Factors associated with adherence to the recommended postpolypectomy surveillance interval.

BACKGROUND: Appropriate surveillance intervals are important to ensure that the benefits of surveillance are not offset by harm. This study aimed to determine the factors associated with nonadherence to recommended colonoscopic surveillance intervals. METHODS: The study enrolled 296 patients who underwent screening colonoscopy. The colonoscopies were performed by four endoscopists in the first or second year of fellowship. After each procedure, the endoscopists responded to a questionnaire that elicited information on the degree of concern for missed polyps (using a visual analog scale [VAS]), colonoscopic technical factors, and surveillance intervals. RESULTS: Of the 296 patients, 105 (36%) were adherent and 191 (64%) and were nonadherent to the guidelines. There were no differences in insertion time, withdrawal time, or polyp detection rate between the adherence and nonadherence groups. The endoscopy at cecal intubation was longer in the nonadherence group than in the adherence group (P = 0.013). The proportion of patients with poor bowel preparation was higher in the nonadherence group than in the adherence group (P = 0.011). The endoscopist's concern for missed polyps was greater in the nonadherence group than in the adherence group (P < 0.001). Based on multivariate analysis, only the endoscopist's concern was an independent factor associated with adherence to guidelines (P = 0.008). Poor bowel preparation, loop formation, and colonoscopy experience were independent factors associated with a high concern for missed polyps. CONCLUSIONS: Nonadherence to the recommended guidelines was associated with the endoscopist's concern for missed polyps. Improving colonoscopic skills and bowel preparation may decrease nonadherence to the recommended postpolypectomy surveillance interval.