Treatment strategy after noncurative endoscopic resection for early gastric cancers in patients aged ≥ 85 years: a multicenter retrospective study in a highly aged area of Japan.

BACKGROUND: The guidelines recommend additional gastrectomy after noncurative endoscopic resection for early gastric cancers (EGCs). However, no additional treatment might be acceptable in some patients aged ≥ 85 years. We aimed to identify this patient group using the data in a highly aged area. METHODS: We enrolled patients aged ≥ 85 years after noncurative endoscopic resection for EGCs at 30 institutions of the Tohoku district in Japan between 2002 and 2017. Treatment selection and prognosis after noncurative endoscopic resection were investigated. Fourteen candidates were evaluated using the Cox model to identify risk factors for poor overall survival (OS) in patients with no additional treatment. RESULTS: Of 1065 patients aged ≥ 85 years, 143 underwent noncurative endoscopic resection. Despite the guidelines' recommendation, 88.8% of them underwent no additional treatment. The 5-year OS rates in those with additional gastrectomy and those with no additional treatment were 63.1 and 65.2%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed independent risk factors for poor OS in patients with no additional treatment were the high-risk category in the eCura system (hazard ratio [HR], 2.91), Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) ≥ 3 (HR, 2.78), and male (HR, 2.04). In patients with no additional treatment, nongastric cancer-specific survival was low (69.0% in 5 years), whereas disease-specific survival rates were very high in the low- and intermediate-risk categories of the eCura system (100.0 and 97.1%, respectively, in 5 years). CONCLUSIONS: No additional treatment may be acceptable in the low- and intermediate-risk categories of the eCura system in patients aged ≥ 85 years with noncurative endoscopic resection for EGCs.

A Follow-up Report on the Diagnosis of Gastrointestinal Cancer during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Akita Prefecture, Japan in 2021.

We recently reported the decrease in the number of gastrointestinal (GI) cancer diagnoses in 2020 due to disturbance of the healthcare system by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, using a hospital-based cancer registration system in Akita prefecture, Japan. In this study, we extended the research by showing the latest data (2021) on the number of cancers and examinations. Information on the occurrence and stage of esophageal, gastric, and colorectal cancers was collected from the same database. The number of GI examinations (cancer screening procedures and endoscopic examinations) was also investigated. Following the immediate decrease in the numbers of both GI examinations and GI cancer diagnoses in 2020, a rebound increase in the numbers of GI cancer diagnoses-especially colorectal cancers-was observed in 2021, resulting from an increased number of GI examinations i.e., the total number of colorectal cancers in 2021 increased by 9.0% and 6.8% in comparison to 2020 and pre-pandemic era, respectively. However, the rebound increase in 2021 was largely due to an increase in early-stage cancers, and there was no apparent trend toward the increased predominance of more advanced cancers. It therefore seems that we managed to escape from the worst-case scenario of disturbance of the healthcare system due to pandemic (i.e., an increase in the number of more advanced cancers due to delayed diagnoses). We need to continue to watch the trends in Akita prefecture, which has the highest rate of mortality from the 3 major GI cancers in Japan.

Prediction model of 3-year survival after endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric cancer in elderly patients aged ≥ 85 years: EGC-2 model.

PURPOSE: Little is known about the prognostic factors for survival after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) in elderly patients with early gastric cancer (EGC). The aim of this study is to determine prognostic factors and a prediction model of 3-year survival after ESD for EGC in patients aged ≥ 85 years. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the clinical outcomes of 740 patients with EGC aged ≥ 85 years, who were treated by ESD at 30 institutions in Japan. Overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) were calculated with the Kaplan-Meier method. Prediction models for 3-year OS after ESD were estimated using the Cox proportional hazards model based on Uno's C-statistics. RESULTS: During the follow-up period, 309 patients died of any cause and 10 patients died of gastric cancer. OS and DSS after 3 years were 82.7% and 99.2%, respectively. No significant differences in OS were found among curability categories. The Cox proportional hazards model revealed the geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) and the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) to be predictors of 3-year survival. We established a final model (EGC-2 model) expressed by GNRI - (2.2×CCI) with a cutoff value of 96. The overall survival rate was significantly lower in the model value < 96 group than in the model value ≥ 96 group (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The prediction model using GNRI and CCI will be useful to support decision-making for the treatment of EGC in elderly patients aged ≥ 85 years.

Reduced antiviral seropositivity among patients with inflammatory bowel disease treated with immunosuppressive agents.

BACKGROUND: Although live-attenuated vaccines are contraindicated under immunosuppression, the immune status of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has not been fully assessed prior to immunosuppressive therapy. AIMS: To investigate antiviral serostatus against viruses requiring live vaccines for prevention in IBD patients undergoing immunosuppressive therapy. METHODS: This multicenter study included IBD patients who were aged <40 years and were treated with thiopurine monotherapy, molecular-targeted monotherapy, or combination therapy. Gender- and age-matched healthy subjects (HS) living in the same areas were included as control group. Antibody titers against measles, rubella, mumps, and varicella were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. RESULTS: A total of 437 IBD patients (163 ulcerative colitis [UC] and 274 Crohn's disease [CD]) and 225 HS were included in the final analysis. Compared with HS, IBD patients had lower seropositivity rates for measles (IBD vs. HS = 83.91% vs. 85.33%), rubella (77.55% vs. 84.89%), mumps (37.50% vs. 37.78%), and varicella (91.26% vs. 96.44%). Gender- and age-adjusted seropositivity rates were lower in UC patients than in both CD patients and HS for measles (UC, CD, and HS = 81.60%, 85.29%, and 85.33%), rubella (76.40%, 78.23%, and 84.89%), mumps (27.16%, 43.70%, and 37.78%), and varicella (90.80%, 91.54%, and 96.44%); the difference was significant for all viruses except measles. Divided by the degree of immunosuppression, there were no significant differences in seropositivity rates among IBD patients. CONCLUSIONS: IBD patients, especially those with UC, exhibit reduced seropositivity rates and may benefit from screening prior to the initiation of immunosuppressive therapy.

Relapse-Free Course in Nearly Half of Crohn's Disease Patients With Infliximab and Plant-Based Diet as First-Line Therapy: A Single-Group Trial.

Introduction Incorporation of a plant-based diet was effective in both induction and short-term relapse prevention in Crohn's disease. Ten-year long-term relapse-free rates in Crohn's disease are around 10% to 23%. Objective We investigated whether infliximab and plant-based diet as first-line therapy enhance the long-term relapse-free rate in patients with Crohn's disease. Methods This single-group, prospective study was performed in tertiary hospitals in Japan. Remission was induced in 24 consecutive newly diagnosed adult patients with Crohn's disease during hospitalization via 3 standard infliximab infusions together with a plant-based diet. Patients were instructed to continue the diet after discharge. Scheduled maintenance infliximab infusion was not used. The primary endpoint was relapse, which was defined as the appearance of symptoms resulting in the alteration of therapeutic modality. The secondary endpoints were C-reactive protein level, plant-based diet score, and surgery. Results The median follow-up period was 8.6 years. Thirteen cases were relapse-free. The relapse-free rate evaluated by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis at 1, 2, 3, and 4 years was 79%, 66%, 57%, and 52%, respectively. There was no further reduction afterward up to 10 years. The relapse-free rate with normal C-reactive protein levels at 1 to 2 and 3 to 10 years was 57% and 52%, respectively. The plant-based diet score at 20 months and 5 years was significantly higher relative to baseline (p < 0.0001). Surgical rates at 5 and 10 years were 12% and 19%, respectively. Conclusions Infliximab and plant-based diet as first-line therapy created an unprecedented relapse-free course in nearly half of patients with Crohn's disease.

Diverse contributions of the visceral fat area to the etiology of two distinct subtypes of esophago-gastric junctional adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: There are two distinct etiologies of esophago-gastric junctional adenocarcinomas (EGJACs): one associated with extensive gastric mucosal atrophy (GA), resembling non-cardiac gastric cancers; and the other related to gastro-esophageal reflux disease, resembling esophageal adenocarcinoma. In this study, we investigated the associations between the visceral fat area (VFA) and EGJACs separately in the two subtypes of EGJACs, depending on the extent of background GA. METHODS: Sixty-four consecutive patients with EGJACs (Siewert type 2) were enrolled from a population-based database in Akita Prefecture, Japan, between 2014 and 2019. Two age- and sex-matched healthy controls were randomly assigned to each EGJAC case. The extents of GA were evaluated endoscopically, and the VFA values were measured based on computed tomography images. Logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the associations between EGJACs and the VFA. RESULTS: Study subjects were classified into 2 subgroups depending on the extent of endoscopic GA: 29 (45.3%) without and 35 (54.7%) with extensive GA. Multivariable regression analyses revealed that a VFA of ≥100 cm2 was significantly associated with EGJACs in subjects without extensive GA [odds ratio (95% confidence interval): 2.65 (1.08-6.54)], while there was no such association in subjects with extensive GA [odds ratio (95% confidence interval): 1.52 (0.60-3.83)]. CONCLUSIONS: The contribution of the VFA to the etiology of EGJACs seems to differ depending on the extent of background GA, with the VFA more prominently associated with EGJACs in subjects without extensive GA than in those with it, providing further rationale concerning the heterogeneous nature of EGJAC etiology.

Visceral obesity is associated with an increased risk of developing esophago-gastric junctional adenocarcinoma in Japan: a population-based case-control study in Akita Prefecture.

BACKGROUND: While an association between esophago-gastric junctional adenocarcinomas (EGJACs) and obesity, especially visceral obesity, has been suggested in Western countries, the association remains unclear in Asia, including Japan. In this population-based case-control study, we investigated the association between EGJACs and obesity. METHODS: To perform near-population-based data collection for all early-stage EGJACs occurring in Akita Prefecture from 2014 to 2019, clinical data, including endoscopic and computed tomography (CT) findings, were collected from 11 cancer treatment base hospitals in the area. Age- and gender-matched controls were extracted at a case-to-control ratio of 1:2 from healthy subjects who received health checkups in the same area. The visceral fat area (VFA) was calculated using CT images. Logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the associations between EGJACs and obesity-related parameters. RESULTS: In total, 74 EGJAC cases (62 males, median age of 70 years old) and 148 controls were extracted. Multivariable analyses showed a significantly negative association between the BMI and EGJACs and a significantly positive association between the VFA and EGJACs with odds ratios (ORs) (95% confidence intervals [CIs]) of 0.65 (0.53-0.80) and 1.01 (1.01-1.02), respectively. These findings were confirmed in another dataset (40 EGJACs and 80 controls). In addition, as a categorical variable, VFA ≥ 100 cm2 showed a significantly positive association with EGJACs (OR [95% CI] 1.96 [1.02-3.76]). CONCLUSIONS: We found paradoxical associations between EGJACs and obesity-related parameters (BMI vs. VFA) in a Japanese population, suggesting a potentially pivotal role of the VFA rather than the BMI as a risk factor for EGJACs.

Effects of anti-thrombotic drugs on all-cause mortality after upper gastrointestinal bleeding in Japan: A multicenter study with 2205 cases.

OBJECTS: Although anti-thrombotic use is recognized as a risk factor for upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB), there has been no clear evidence that it worsens the outcomes after the bleeding. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of anti-thrombotic agents on in-hospital mortality following UGIB. METHODS: Information on clinical parameters, including usage of anti-thrombotic agents, was retrospectively collected from consecutive patients with UGIB at 12 high-volume centers in Japan between 2011 and 2018. The all-cause in-hospital mortality rate was evaluated according to the usage of anti-thrombotic agents. RESULTS: Clinical data were collected from 2205 patients with endoscopically confirmed UGIB. Six hundred and forty-five (29.3%) patients used anti-thrombotic agents. The all-cause in-hospital mortality rate was 5.7% (125 deaths). After excluding 29 cases in which death occurred due to end-stage malignancy, 96 deaths (bleeding-related, n = 22 ; non-bleeding-related, n = 74) were considered "preventable." Overall, the "preventable" mortality rate in anti-thrombotic users was significantly higher than that in non-users (6.0% vs. 3.7%, P < 0.05). However, the "preventable" mortality of anti-thrombotic users showed a marked improvement over time; although the rate in users remained significantly higher than that in non-users until 2015 (7.3% vs. 4.2%, P < 0.05), after 2016, the difference was no longer statistically significant (4.8% vs. 3.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Although the usage of anti-thrombotic agents worsened the outcomes after UGIB, the situation has recently been improving. We speculate that the recent revision of the Japanese guidelines on the management of anti-thrombotic treatment after UGIB may have partly contributed to improving the survival of users of anti-thrombotic agents.

A simple prediction score for in-hospital mortality in patients with nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

BACKGROUND: No prediction scores for the mortality of both inpatients and outpatients who developed nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) without endoscopic findings have been established. We aimed to derive and validate a novel prediction score for in-hospital mortality. METHODS: We conducted a three-stage, multicenter retrospective study. In the derivation stage, patients with nonvariceal UGIB at six institutions were enrolled to derive the prediction score by logistic regression analysis. External validation of the score was performed to analyze discrimination by patients at six other institutions. Then the performance of this score was compared with that of four existing scores. RESULTS: We enrolled 1380 and 825 patients in the derivation and validation cohorts, respectively. A prediction score (CHAMPS-R Score) comprising seven variables (Charlson Comorbidity Index ≥ 2, in-hospital onset, albumin < 2.5 g/dL, altered mental status, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status ≥ 2, steroids, and rebleeding) with equal-weight scores was established, with high discriminative ability in both derivation and validation cohorts (c statistic, 0.91 and 0.80, respectively). When rebeeding was excluded from the score (an onset model; CHAMPS Score), this score also achieved high discriminative ability (c statistic, 0.90 and 0.81, respectively). The prediction scores had significantly higher discriminative ability than the Glasgow Blatchford Score, AIMS65, ABC Score, and clinical Rockall Score in both cohorts (all, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We derived and externally validated prediction scores for in-hospital mortality in patients with nonvariceal UGIB. The CHAMPS Score might be optimal for managing such patients. Its mobile application is freely available ( https://apps.apple.com/app/id1565716902 for iOS and https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=hatta.CHAMPS for Android).

Stepwise Treatment With Plant-Based Diet and Medication for Patient With Mild Ulcerative Colitis.

INTRODUCTION: We regard inflammatory bowel disease as a lifestyle disease mainly mediated by a westernized diet. We developed a plant-based diet (PBD) to counter the westernized diet. PBD can induce remission without medication in a subset of mild cases of ulcerative colitis. Medication is provided when induction of remission is not achieved solely with PBD. We describe such a case in this report. CASE PRESENTATION: A 34-year-old woman visited us in October 2016 with a complaint of loose stool for nearly 5 years. Laboratory examination revealed mild abnormalities including elevation of C-reactive protein (CRP). Ulcerative colitis was diagnosed due to diffuse colonic inflammation and pathological findings consistent with ulcerative colitis. She was admitted for educational hospitalization for 19 days in the middle of November, during which PBD was provided. A few days after admission, her stool became normal. CRP concentration decreased to within the normal range. However, colonoscopy on discharge showed minimum improvement. Thereafter, CRP was abnormal on three successive occasions, and her stool alternated between normal and loose. Sulfasalazine was initiated at the end of March 2017. Thereafter, her stool was normally formed, and CRP decreased to normal. Endoscopic remission was confirmed in August. Her PBD score, which evaluates adherence to PBD, was 8 before admission, and 37 and 16 at 7 and 21 months after discharge, respectively. CONCLUSION: Medication was administered when restoration of a healthy dietary lifestyle was insufficient to induce remission. Our stepwise treatment makes the shift from one-size-fits-all medication toward medication to the right patient. REGISTRATION: http://www.umin.ac.jp UMIN000019061.

Ulcerative colitis in the postpartum period

We describe a scarcely reported case in which ulcerative colitis (UC) occurred in the postpartum period. The aims of this case report are to reinforce the recent assertion that a diet is a ubiquitous environmental factor in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and that a plant-based diet (PBD) is recommended for IBD. A 29-year-old woman normally delivered her first child. She first noticed bloody diarrhea 4.5 months after delivery. She was diagnosed with UC (left-sided colitis, moderate severity). Sulfasalazine induced remission. She then experienced and learned about PBD during an educational hospitalization. She resumed breast-feeding and stopped medication. An interview and questionnaire revealed a change in her diet 3 months after delivery, from a sound diet (plant-based diet score: 25) to an unhealthy diet (score: 9). It happened along with a change in residence, from her parent's home where her mother prepared traditional Japanese meals to her home where she prepared meals by herself. A feeling of release from childbirth prompted her to eat sweets and cheese despite being aware that the quality of the meals deteriorated. We described a scarcely reported case in which UC occurred in the postpartum period. It happened along with a change in her diet, from a sound diet to an unhealthy diet due to a feeling of release from childbirth. She replaced an omnivorous diet by PBD and stopped medication. The critical role of diet is largely ignored by healthcare professionals. We believe that greater appreciation of diet will change and improve management of IBD.

Is Additional Surgery Always Sufficient for Preventing Recurrence After Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection with Curability C-2 for Early Gastric Cancer?

BACKGROUND: When a lesion does not meet the curative criteria of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for early gastric cancer (EGC), referred to as non-curative resection or curability C-2 in the guidelines, an additional surgery is the standard therapy because of the risk of lymph node metastasis (LNM). OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify high-risk patients for recurrence after additional surgery for curability C-2 ESD of EGC. METHODS: This multicenter retrospective cohort study enrolled 1064 patients who underwent additional surgery after curability C-2 ESD for EGC. We evaluated the recurrence rate and the risk factors for recurrence after additional surgery in these patients. RESULTS: The 5-year recurrence rate after additional surgery was 1.3%. Multivariate Cox analysis revealed that the independent risk factors for recurrence after additional surgery were LNM (hazard ratio [HR] 32.47; p < 0.001) and vascular invasion (HR 4.75; p = 0.014). Moreover, patients with both LNM and vascular invasion had a high rate of recurrence after additional surgery (24.6% in 5 years), with a high HR (119.32) compared with those with neither LNM nor vascular invasion. Among patients with no vascular invasion, a high rate of recurrence was observed in those with N2/N3 disease according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer TNM staging system (27.3% in 5 years), in contrast with no recurrence in those with N1 disease. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with both LNM (N1-N3) and vascular invasion, as well as those with N2/N3 disease but no vascular invasion, would be candidates for adjuvant chemotherapy after additional surgery for curability C-2 ESD of EGC.

Age Affects Clinical Management after Noncurative Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection for Early Gastric Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Additional surgery is recommended after noncurative endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for early gastric cancer due to the risk of lymph node metastasis. However, age may affect the clinical management of these patients. OBJECTIVES: The aim of our retrospective multicenter study was to clarify whether age affects decision-making after noncurative ESD and if the decision affects long-term outcomes. METHODS: Age was classified as follows: non-elderly, <70 years (n = 811); elderly, 70-79 years (n= 760); and super-elderly, ≥80 years (n = 398). Age associations with the selection for additional surgery were evaluated using logistic regression analysis. Long-term outcomes were also evaluated in each age group. RESULTS: Age was inversely related to the rate of additional surgery, which ranged from 70.0% in the non-elderly group to 20.1% in the super-elderly group (p < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, age <70 years (versus age ≥80 years) was associated with the -selection of additional surgery (OR 18.6). Overall survival (OS) in patients who underwent additional surgery was -significantly higher in the non-elderly and elderly groups (p< 0.001), whereas the difference was not significant in the super-elderly group (p = 0.23). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the fact that almost 80% of super-elderly patients did not undergo additional surgery, the difference of OS between patients with and without additional surgery was not significant only in patients ≥80 years. Therefore, establishment of criteria for selecting treatment methods after noncurative ESD in elderly patients is required.

Is the new potent acid-inhibitory drug vonoprazan effective for healing idiopathic peptic ulcers? A multicenter observational study in Akita Prefecture, Japan.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of peptic ulcers unrelated to H. pylori infection and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), termed idiopathic peptic ulcers (IPUs), has increased worldwide. We recently reported that IPUs were refractory to proton pump inhibitor (PPI) treatment. Vonoprazan, which was recently developed in Japan, has shown a more potent acid-inhibitory effect than ordinary PPIs. In the present study, we compared the healing rates among peptic ulcers of different etiologies following treatment with vonoprazan. METHOD: A multicenter observational study was performed at six participating hospitals in Akita Prefecture, Japan. Consecutive patients who had endoscopically confirmed gastro-duodenal ulcers were enrolled between August 2016 and March 2018. For each patient, the Helicobacter pylori infection status and NSAID use, including aspirin, were checked, and 20 mg vonoprazan was administered for 6 weeks for duodenal ulcers and 8 weeks for gastric ulcers. The healing status was checked by endoscopy at the end of vonoprazan treatment. Patients were divided into four subgroups according to the H. pylori status and NSAID usage. RESULTS: The proportion of IPUs was 18.2%. A total of 162 patients completed the study protocol. The healing rate of IPUs was marginally lower than that of simple H. pylori-associated ulcers (81.2% vs. 93.5%, P = 0.05). Similarly, the healing rate of NSAID-related ulcers, irrespective of concomitant H. pylori infection, was significantly lower than that of simple H. pylori-associated ulcers. CONCLUSIONS: Six- or 8-week vonoprazan treatment still seems to be insufficient for healing IPUs. Longer-term vonoprazan or another treatment option may be required to heal potentially refractory peptic ulcers.

Long-term outcomes after non-curative endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric cancer according to hospital volumes in Japan: a multicenter propensity-matched analysis.

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of data regarding the long-term outcomes of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for early gastric cancer (EGC) without curative resection, and the relationship of these outcomes with hospital volumes remains unclear. This study evaluated long-term outcomes of patients who underwent ESD for EGC without curative resection according to hospital volumes in Japan. METHODS: This multicenter retrospective study evaluated 1,969 patients who did not meet the criteria of the Japanese Gastric Cancer Association for curative resection between January 2000 and August 2011. Hospitals were classified according to the annual number of ESD procedures: low- and medium-volume group (LMVG), high-volume group (HVG), and very high-volume group (VHVG). Clinicopathological features, overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were compared across groups after a generalized propensity score matching analysis. RESULTS: In 495 pairs of generalized propensity score-matched patients, the 5-year OS, DSS, and RFS rates were 81.5%, 97.9%, and 97.6% for LMVG; 86.9%, 98.2%, and 97.0% for HVG; and 85.4%, 98.5%, and 97.6% for VHVG, respectively. The 5-year DSS and RFS rates did not significantly differ among the three groups. However, 5-year OS was significantly worse in the LMVG than in the HVG and VHVG (P < 0.001 and P = 0.008, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: DSS and RFS in patients with EGC who did not meet the criteria for curative resection did not differ across hospital volumes in Japan. Even in cases in which ESD for EGC involved non-curative resection, the procedure is feasible across Japanese hospitals with different volumes.

Relapse Prevention in Ulcerative Colitis by Plant-Based Diet Through Educational Hospitalization: A Single-Group Trial.

CONTEXT: No known published study has focused on a plant-based diet (PBD) in the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC). OBJECTIVE: To investigate relapse prevention in UC after consumption of a PBD during educational hospitalization in Japan. DESIGN: Prospective study of patients with mild UC or UC in remission who did not need immediate treatment. A PBD and dietary guidance were provided during a two-week hospitalization. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary end point was relapse (a flare-up that required more aggressive treatment) during the follow-up period. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to calculate the cumulative relapse rate. Secondary end points were immediate improvement in symptoms or laboratory data during hospitalization and a chronologic change in the PBD score, which evaluated adherence to the PBD. RESULTS: Sixty cases were studied: 29 initial episode cases and 31 relapse cases. Of these, 31 involved proctitis; 7, left-sided colitis; and 22, extensive colitis. Thirty-seven patients were receiving medication; 23 were not. The median age was 34 years; median follow-up was 3 years 6 months. Eight cases relapsed during follow-up. The cumulative relapse rates at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years of follow-up were 2%, 4%, 7%, 19%, and 19%, respectively. Most patients (77%) experienced some improvement such as disappearance or decrease of bloody stool during hospitalization. The short- and long-term PBD scores after the hospitalization were higher than baseline PBD scores. CONCLUSION: Relapse rates after educational hospitalization providing a PBD were far lower than those reported with medication. Educational hospitalization is effective at inducing habitual dietary changes.

The Role of an Undifferentiated Component in Submucosal Invasion and Submucosal Invasion Depth After Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection for Early Gastric Cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The role of an undifferentiated component in submucosal invasion and submucosal invasion depth (SID) for lymph node metastasis (LNM) of early gastric cancer (EGC) with deep submucosal invasion (SID ≥500 µm from the muscularis mucosa) after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has not been fully understood. This study aimed to clarify the risk factors (RFs), including these factors, for LNM in such patients. METHODS: We enrolled 513 patients who underwent radical surgery after ESD for EGC with deep submucosal invasion. We evaluated RFs for LNM, including an undifferentiated component in submucosal invasion and the SID, which was subdivided into 500-999, 1,000-1,499, 1,500-1,999, and ≥2,000 µm. RESULTS: LNM was detected in 7.6% of patients. Multivariate analysis revealed that an undifferentiated component in submucosal invasion (OR 2.22), in addition to tumor size >30 mm (OR 2.51) and lymphatic invasion (OR 3.07), were the independent RFs for LNM. However, the SID was not significantly associated with LNM. CONCLUSION: An undifferentiated component in submucosal invasion was one of the RFs for LNM, in contrast to SID, in patients who underwent ESD for EGC with deep submucosal invasion. This insight would be helpful in managing such patients.