Case-control study of IL23R rs76418789 polymorphism, smoking, and ulcerative colitis in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Interleukin (IL)-23 is involved in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC). A genome-wide significant association between IL23R p.G149R (rs76418789) and UC was previously identified in Japan and Korea. This case-control study aims to examine this association within the Japanese population. METHODS: The study included 384 cases diagnosed with UC within the past 4 years and 661 control subjects. Adjustment was made for sex, age, and smoking. RESULTS: The frequency of the AA genotype of rs76418789 was 0.0 % in cases and 0.5 % in control subjects. In comparison to study subjects with the GG genotype of rs76418789, those with the GA or AA genotype had a significantly reduced risk of UC, with an adjusted odds ratio of 0.67 (95 % confidence interval: 0.44-0.999). A significant multiplicative interaction was observed between rs76418789 and having ever smoked influencing UC (p for interaction = 0.03). A significant positive association was found between having ever smoked and UC in individuals with at least one A allele, while no such positive relationship was observed in those with the GG genotype. CONCLUSION: IL23R SNP rs76418789 showed a significant association with UC. This study provides new evidence regarding the interaction between rs76418789 and smoking in relation to UC.

Adverse Events after Different Endoscopic Resection Procedures for Small and Intermediate-Sized Colorectal Polyps.

INTRODUCTION: Cold snare polypectomy (CSP) and underwater endoscopic mucosal resection (UEMR) have been developed recently, in addition to conventional methods, but adverse events of each method have not been fully clarified. We compared the outcomes of each method for the appropriate choice. METHODS: Patients who underwent CSP, endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR)/hot snare polypectomy (HSP), or UEMR for small and intermediate-sized colorectal polyps between April 2017 and June 2020 were retrospectively examined. The rate of adverse events and recurrences due to each method were determined as the main outcomes. Clinical factors related to adverse events were examined. RESULTS: A total of 1,025 patients with 3,163 polyps underwent polypectomy using any of the methods. CSP, EMR/HSP, and UEMR were performed for 704 (22.2%), 2,145 (67.8%), and 314 polyps (9.9%), and the median size for each method was 4, 6, and 7 mm, respectively. Delayed bleeding for CSP, EMR/HSP, and UEMR was 0%, 0.2%, and 0.6% (p = 0.15), and perforation was 0%, 0.1%, and 0%, respectively (p = 0.62). Recurrence after CSP, EMR/HSP, and UEMR was 0.3%, 0.09%, and 1.3%, respectively (p < 0.01). Recurrence for UEMR was significantly higher in the early stage of procedure introduction (p = 0.015). Oral anticoagulants were the risk factor for delayed bleeding (p < 0.01, respectively). CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference regarding adverse events among each method for small and intermediate-sized polyps, although the recurrence rate after UEMR was higher than other methods.

Two Cases of Cytomegalovirus Colitis During the Treatment of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Associated Colitis.

Herein, we outlined two case reports of patients who developed cytomegalovirus colitis following the initiation of corticosteroid therapy for colitis as a result of immune-related adverse events (irAEs). For both patients, endoscopic findings were similar to those observed for patients with irAE colitis but were devoid of the characteristic features associated with cytomegalovirus colitis, including punched-out ulcers. Given the therapeutic disparities between these two conditions, it is imperative to distinguish between these conditions in clinical practice. When addressing exacerbations or refractory manifestations of irAE-associated colitis, clinicians should remain vigilant with regard to the potential for cytomegalovirus infection, even in the absence of punched-out ulcers in the colorectum.

Real-world NUDT15 genotyping and thiopurine treatment optimization in inflammatory bowel disease: a multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the effectiveness of NUDT15 codon 139 genotyping in optimizing thiopurine treatment for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Japan, using real-world data, and aimed to establish genotype-based treatment strategies. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 4628 IBD patients who underwent NUDT15 codon 139 genotyping was conducted. This study assessed the purpose of the genotyping test and subsequent prescriptions following the obtained results. Outcomes were compared between the Genotyping group (thiopurine with genotyping test) and Non-genotyping group (thiopurine without genotyping test). Risk factors for adverse events (AEs) were analyzed by genotype and prior genotyping status. RESULTS: Genotyping test for medical purposes showed no significant difference in thiopurine induction rates between Arg/Arg and Arg/Cys genotypes, but nine Arg/Cys patients opted out of thiopurine treatment. In the Genotyping group, Arg/Arg patients received higher initial doses than the Non-genotyping group, while Arg/Cys patients received lower ones (median 25 mg/day). Fewer AEs occurred in the Genotyping group because of their lower incidence in Arg/Cys cases. Starting with < 25 mg/day of AZA reduced AEs in Arg/Cys patients, while Arg/Arg patients had better retention rates when maintaining ≥ 75 mg AZA. Nausea and liver injury correlated with thiopurine formulation but not dosage. pH-dependent mesalamine reduced leukopenia risk in mesalamine users. CONCLUSIONS: NUDT15 codon 139 genotyping effectively reduces thiopurine-induced AEs and improves treatment retention rates in IBD patients after genotype-based dose adjustments. This study provides data-driven treatment strategies based on genotype and identifies risk factors for specific AEs, contributing to a refined thiopurine treatment approach.

Endoscopic manifestation of intestinal transplant-associated microangiopathy after stem cell transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic features of intestinal transplant-associated microangiopathy (iTAM) have not been comprehensively investigated. This study aimed to examine the endoscopic characteristics of patients diagnosed with iTAM. METHODS: This retrospective analysis included 14 patients pathologically diagnosed with iTAM after stem cell transplantation for hematolymphoid neoplasms (n = 13) or thalassemia (n = 1). The sex, age at diagnosis, endoscopic features, and prognosis of each patient were assessed. Serological markers for diagnosing transplant-associated thrombotic microangiopathy were also evaluated. RESULTS: The mean age at the time of iTAM diagnosis was 40.2 years. Patients diagnosed based on the pathognomonic pathological changes of iTAM presented with diverse symptoms at the times of endoscopic examinations, including diarrhea (n = 10), abdominal pain (n = 5), nausea (n = 4), appetite loss (n = 2), bloody stools (n = 2), abdominal discomfort (n = 1), and vomiting (n = 1). At the final follow-up, six patients survived, while eight patients succumbed, with a median time of 100.5 days (range: 52-247) post-diagnosis. Endoscopic manifestations included erythematous mucosa (n = 14), erosions (n = 13), ulcers (n = 9), mucosal edema (n = 9), granular mucosa (n = 9), and villous atrophy (n = 4). Erosions and/or ulcers were primarily observed in the colon (10/14, 71%), followed by the ileum (9/13, 69%), stomach (4/10, 40%), cecum (5/14, 36%), duodenum (3/10, 30%), rectum (4/14, 29%), and esophagus (1/10, 10%). Cytomegalovirus infection (n = 4) and graft-versus-host disease (n = 2) coexisted within the gastrointestinal tract. Patients had de novo prolonged or progressive thrombocytopenia (6/14, 43%), decreased hemoglobin concentration (4/14, 29%), reduced serum haptoglobin level (3/14, 21%), and a sudden and persistent increase in lactate dehydrogenase level (2/14, 14%). Peripheral blood samples from 12 patients were evaluated for schistocytes, with none exceeding 4%. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a comprehensive exploration of the endoscopic characteristics of iTAM. Notably, all patients exhibited erythematous mucosa throughout the gastrointestinal tract, accompanied by prevalent manifestations, such as erosions (93%), ulcers (64%), mucosal edema (64%), granular mucosa (64%), and villous atrophy (29%). Because of the low positivity for serological markers of transplant-associated thrombotic microangiopathy in patients with iTAM, endoscopic evaluation and biopsy of these lesions are crucial, even in the absence of these serological features.

Efficacy and safety of filgotinib for ulcerative colitis: A real-world multicenter retrospective study in Japan.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: While filgotinib, an oral Janus kinase (JAK) 1 preferential inhibitor, is approved for moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC), real-world studies assessing its short- and long-term efficacy and safety are limited. METHODS: This is a multicenter, retrospective study of UC patients who started filgotinib between March 2022 and September 2023. The primary outcome was clinical remission, defined as a partial Mayo score ≤1 with a rectal bleeding score of 0, or Simple Clinical Colitis Activity Index (SCCAI) ≤2 with a blood-in-stool score of 0. Secondary outcomes included clinical response, corticosteroid-free remission, and endoscopic improvement. Outcomes were assessed at 10, 26, and 58 weeks based on patients with available follow-up. Adverse events were evaluated. RESULTS: We identified 238 UC patients and 54% had prior exposure to biologics/JAK inhibitors. The median baseline partial Mayo score and SCCAI were 5 (IQR 3-6) and 4 (IQR 2-7). Clinical remission rates based on per-protocol analysis at 10, 26, and 58 weeks were 47% (70/149), 55.8% (48/86), and 64.6% (31/48), respectively. At a median follow-up of 28 weeks (IQR 10-54) with a discontinuation rate of 39%, the rates of clinical remission, clinical response, corticosteroid-free remission, and endoscopic improvement were 39.9% (81/203), 54.7% (111/203), and 36.5% (74/203), and 43.5% (10/23), respectively. These rates were comparable between biologic/JAK inhibitor-naïve and -experienced patients. While three patients (1.3%) developed herpes zoster infection, no cases of thrombosis or death were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Real-world data demonstrate favourable clinical and safety outcomes of filgotinib for UC.

Utility of Combined Use of Transabdominal Ultrasonography and Fecal Immunochemical Test Examinations in Ulcerative Colitis.

This study examined the utility of the combined use of transabdominal ultrasonography (TUS) and fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) to detect mucosal inflammation, vis-a-vis the Mayo endoscopic subscore (MES), in ulcerative colitis (UC). Sixty-three UC patients who underwent TUS and FIT were retrospectively enrolled. For TUS, the colon was divided into five segments, and the bowel wall thickness was measured and evaluated. The accuracy of FIT (> 100 ng/ml) in detecting mucosal inflammation (MES>0) was 0.93, whereas that of TUS (BWT>2 mm) in each segment was 0.84-0.97. The combined use of TUS and FIT may be helpful in noninvasive treatment strategies.

Coffee and caffeine intake reduces risk of ulcerative colitis: a case-control study in Japan.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Although diet is one of the potential environmental factors affecting ulcerative colitis (UC), evidence is not sufficient to draw definitive conclusions. This Japanese case-control study examined the association between the consumption of coffee, other caffeine-containing beverages and food, and total caffeine and the risk of UC. METHODS: The study involved 384 UC cases and 665 control subjects. Intake of coffee, decaffeinated coffee, black tea, green tea, oolong tea, carbonated soft drinks, and chocolate snacks was measured with a semiquantitative food-frequency questionnaire. Adjustments were made for sex, age, pack-years of smoking, alcohol consumption, history of appendicitis, family history of UC, education level, body mass index, and intake of vitamin C, retinol, and total energy. RESULTS: Higher consumption of coffee and carbonated soft drinks was associated with a reduced risk of UC with a significant dose-response relationship (P for trend for coffee and carbonated soft drinks were <0.0001 and 0.01, respectively), whereas higher consumption of chocolate snacks was significantly associated with an increased risk of UC. No association was observed between consumption of decaffeinated coffee, black tea, green tea, or oolong tea and the risk of UC. Total caffeine intake was inversely associated with the risk of UC; the adjusted odds ratio between extreme quartiles was 0.44 (95% confidence interval: 0.29-0.67; P for trend <0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed that intake of coffee and caffeine is also associated with a reduced risk of UC in Japan where people consume relatively low quantities of coffee compared with Western countries.

Low Patient Weight and Long Intubation Time Are Key Factors for Pain during Colonoscopy.

Although the clinical usefulness of colonoscopy has been established, the procedure remains painful for many patients. This study was designed to clarify the factors predicting colonoscopy-related pain. We evaluated 283 consecutive patients who completed a first-ever, total colonoscopy without sedatives or analgesics. The severity of pain symptoms was evaluated by a numeric rating scale (NRS) in a questionnaire immediately after the colonoscopy. Patient backgrounds and endoscopic findings were analyzed to evaluate their association with pain. Out of 283 patients, 53 scored their pain 0-1 on the NRS while 48 scored it 6-10. We defined the colonoscopies of the former and latter patients as painless and painful, respectively, and compared the two. Multivariate analyses revealed that low body weight (OR 4.95, 95%CI 1.89-12.99) and longer intubation time (OR 3.63, 95%CI 1.46-9.03) were significant risk factors for painful colonoscopy. To identify factors contributing to the increased intubation time, we divided subjects into short- and long-intubation-time groups based on a median insertion time of 7 min. Older age (OR 2.28, 95%CI 1.31-3.98), previous abdominal surgery (OR 1.93, 95%CI 1.13-3.32) and findings of invasive cancer (OR 10.90, 95%CI 1.34-88.90) were significant factors for longer intubation time.

Predictive Factors for Efficacy of Oral Tacrolimus Induction Therapy in Moderate to Severe Ulcerative Colitis Patients: Large Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Tacrolimus (TAC), a calcineurin inhibitor, is used for remission induction therapy in patients with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis (UC), with short-term efficacy and related predictive factors shown in previous cohort studies. However, most studies reported data for only a limited number of patients enrolled from a single center. We performed a large multicenter retrospective cohort study to identify factors related to prediction of clinical remission in UC patients treated with oral TAC. METHODS: The medical records of patients with moderate to severe UC treated with oral TAC as induction therapy at 7 institutions between April 2009 and March 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 216 patients who received TAC for induction were analyzed, of whom 123 (56.9%) showed clinical remission at week 12. Logistic regression analysis indicated that previous or current use of antitumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α antibodies (odds ratio [OR], 0.259; P = .006), and concomitant treatment with 5-aminosalicylate (5-ASA) at the baseline (OR, 0.268; P = .005) were independent predictive factors correlated with failure of clinical remission, whereas higher levels of C-reactive protein (OR, 1.124; P = .014) predicted achievement of clinical remission. CONCLUSIONS: Results of this multicenter study clearly indicate the efficacy of TAC induction therapy for patients with moderate to severe UC. Notably, previous or current use of anti-TNF-α antibodies was associated with poor achievement of clinical remission by week 12.

Trajectory analyses to identify persistently low responders to COVID-19 vaccination in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a prospective multicentre controlled study, J-COMBAT.

BACKGROUND: The degree of immune response to COVID-19 vaccination in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients based on actual changes in anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody titres over time is unknown. METHODS: Data were prospectively acquired at four predetermined time points before and after two vaccine doses in a multicentre observational controlled study. The primary outcome was humoral immune response and vaccination safety in IBD patients. We performed trajectory analysis to identify the degree of immune response and associated factors in IBD patients compared with controls. RESULTS: Overall, 645 IBD patients and 199 control participants were analysed. At 3 months after the second vaccination, the seronegative proportions were 20.3% (combination of anti-tumour necrosis factor [TNF]α and thiopurine) and 70.0% (triple combination including steroids), despite that 80.0% receiving the triple combination therapy were seropositive at 4 weeks after the second vaccination. Trajectory analyses indicated three degrees of change in immune response over time in IBD patients: high (57.7%), medium (35.6%), and persistently low (6.7%). In the control group, there was only one degree, which corresponded with IBD high responders. Older age, combined anti-TNFα and thiopurine (odds ratio [OR], 37.68; 95% confidence interval [CI], 5.64-251.54), steroids (OR, 21.47; 95%CI, 5.47-84.26), and tofacitinib (OR, 10.66; 95%CI, 1.49-76.31) were factors associated with persistently low response. Allergy history (OR, 0.17; 95%CI, 0.04-0.68) was a negatively associated factor. Adverse reactions after the second vaccination were significantly fewer in IBD than controls (31.0% vs 59.8%; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Most IBD patients showed a sufficient immune response to COVID-19 vaccination regardless of clinical factors. Assessment of changes over time is essential to optimize COVID-19 vaccination, especially in persistently low responders.

Anxiety and behavioral changes in Japanese patients with inflammatory bowel disease due to COVID-19 pandemic: a national survey.

BACKGROUND: Given the increasing health concerns for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, we investigated the impact of the pandemic on the anxiety and behavioral changes in Japanese patients with IBD. METHODS: We analyzed 3032 questionnaires from patients with IBD, aged 16 years or older visiting 30 hospitals and 1 clinic between March 2020 and June 2021. The primary outcome was the score of the anxiety experienced by patients with IBD during the pandemic. RESULTS: Participants reported a median age of 44 years; 43.3% of the patients were women. Moreover, 60.6% and 39.4% were diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, respectively, with a median disease duration of 10 years. Participants indicated an average of disease-related anxiety score of 5.1 ± 2.5 on a ten-point scale, with a tendency to increase, 1 month after the number of infected persons per population increased. The top three causes for anxiety were the risk of contracting COVID-19 during hospital visits, SARS-CoV-2 infection due to IBD, and infection by IBD medication. Factors associated with anxiety were gender (women), being a homemaker, hospital visit timings, mode of transportation (train), use of immunosuppressive drugs, and nutritional therapy. Most patients continued attending their scheduled hospital visits, taking their medications, experienced the need for a family doctor, and sought guidance and information regarding COVID-19 from primary doctors, television, and Internet news. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with IBD experienced moderate disease-related anxiety due to the pandemic and should be proactively informed about infectious diseases to relieve their anxiety.

Usefulness of Intestinal Ultrasound to Detect Small Intestinal Stenosis in Patients With Crohn's Disease.

OBJECTIVES: Double balloon enteroscopy (DBE) with retrograde contrast is useful as a monitoring tool for small intestinal lesions in Crohn's disease (CD), but these are burdensome for patients. Intestinal ultrasound (IUS) can be used with ease in daily clinical practice, but there is less evidence regarding the accuracy of detection of small intestinal stenosis in CD. This study aimed to examine the diagnostic power of IUS for small intestinal stenosis in patients with CD. METHODS: The findings of DBE and IUS in 86 patients with CD with small intestinal lesions were evaluated. Using DBE as the reference standard, we examined the detection rate of IUS for small intestinal stenosis. We evaluated three parameters: luminal narrowing, prestenotic dilation, and to-and-fro movement for determining stenosis using IUS. In addition, we compared the characteristics between the stenosis-detectable and stenosis-undetectable groups by IUS. RESULTS: Of the 86 patients, 30 had small intestinal stenosis. In IUS findings, when lesions that met two or more of the three parameters were judged as stenosis, the detection rate was 70.0% for sensitivity, 98.2% for specificity, and 88.4% for accuracy. Moreover, there were patients with a younger age at diagnosis (P < 0.05) and more ileocolonic disease location (P < 0.05) in the stenosis-detectable group by IUS. The stenoses detected by IUS were significantly longer than those undetected by IUS (14.1 mm versus 5.2 mm, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: IUS delivered reliable results for clinically important small intestinal stenosis of CD with high diagnostic accuracy.

RNA Editing is a Valuable Biomarker for Predicting Carcinogenesis in Ulcerative Colitis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Ulcerative colitis [UC] can lead to colitis-associated colorectal neoplasm [CAN]. Adenosine-to-inosine RNA editing, which is regulated by adenosine deaminase acting on RNA [ADAR], induces the post-transcriptional modification of critical oncogenes, including antizyme inhibitor 1 [AZIN1], leading to colorectal carcinogenesis. Therefore, we hypothesized that ADAR1 might be involved in the development of CAN in UC. METHODS: We systematically analysed a cohort of 139 UC cases [40 acute phase, 73 remission phase, 26 CAN]. The degree of inflammation was evaluated using the Mayo endoscopic score [MES]. RESULTS: The type 1 interferon [IFN]-related inflammation pathway was upregulated in the rectum of active UC, rectum of UC-CAN and tumour site of UC-CAN patients. ADAR1 expression was upregulated in the entire colon of CAN cases, while it was downregulated in non-CAN MES0 cases. ADAR1 expression in the rectum predicted the development of CAN better than p53 or ß-catenin, with an area under the curve of 0.93. The high expression of ADAR1 and high AZIN1 RNA editing in UC was triggered by type 1 IFN stimulation from UC-specific microbiomes, such as seen in Fusobacterium in vitro analyses. The induction of AZIN1 RNA editing by ADAR1, whose expression is promoted by Fusobacterium, may induce carcinogenesis in UC. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of CAN can be evaluated by assessing ADAR1 expression in the rectum of MES0 UC patients, freeing UC patients from unnecessary colonoscopy and reducing their physical burden. RNA editing may be involved in UC carcinogenesis, and may be used to facilitate the prevention and treatment of CAN in UC.

A consensus statement on health-care transition for childhood-onset inflammatory bowel disease patients.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic relapsing inflammatory disorder of the intestine. The incidence of IBD is increasing worldwide, including Japan, and in approximately 25% of all affected patients it is diagnosed before 18 years of age. For the health maintenance of such patients, planned transition to adult care systems is essential. Previous Japanese surveys have revealed gaps between adult and pediatric gastroenterologists with regard to their knowledge and perception of health-care transition for patients with childhood-onset IBD. In 2021-2022, several Web workshops to discuss issues related to the transitional care of IBD patients were held by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan as part of their program for research on intractable diseases. Clinicians experienced in IBD treatment for pediatric and adult patients participated. As a result, this panel of adult and pediatric gastroenterologists developed five consensus statements on the issue of "transfer from pediatric to adult care" and nine statements on the issue of "addressing transitional care (transition program)." To address current gaps in health-care transition for childhood-onset IBD patients, a programmed approach to transition, and better partnerships between pediatric and adult gastroenterologists are indicated. It is hoped that this consensus statement will provide a basis for the development of appropriate guidelines for clinical practice.

The diagnostic ability to classify neoplasias occurring in inflammatory bowel disease by artificial intelligence and endoscopists: A pilot study.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Although endoscopic resection with careful surveillance instead of total proctocolectomy become to be permitted for visible low-grade dysplasia, it is unclear how accurately endoscopists can differentiate these lesions, as classifying neoplasias occurring in inflammatory bowel disease (IBDN) is exceedingly challenging due to background chronic inflammation. We evaluated a pilot model of an artificial intelligence (AI) system for classifying IBDN and compared it with the endoscopist's ability. METHODS: This study used a deep convolutional neural network, the EfficientNet-B3. Among patients who underwent treatment for IBDN at two hospitals between 2003 and 2021, we selected 862 non-magnified endoscopic images from 99 IBDN lesions and utilized 6 375 352 images that were increased by data augmentation for the development of AI. We evaluated the diagnostic ability of AI using two classifications: the "adenocarcinoma/high-grade dysplasia" and "low-grade dysplasia/sporadic adenoma/normal mucosa" groups. We compared the diagnostic accuracy between AI and endoscopists (three non-experts and four experts) using 186 test set images. RESULTS: The diagnostic ability of the experts/non-experts/AI for the two classifications in the test set images had a sensitivity of 60.5% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 54.5-66.3)/70.5% (95% CI: 63.8-76.6)/72.5% (95% CI: 60.4-82.5), specificity of 88.0% (95% CI: 84.7-90.8)/78.8% (95% CI: 74.3-83.1)/82.9% (95% CI: 74.8-89.2), and accuracy of 77.8% (95% CI: 74.7-80.8)/75.8% (95% CI: 72-79.3)/79.0% (95% CI: 72.5-84.6), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnostic accuracy of the two classifications of IBDN was higher than that of the experts. Our AI system is valuable enough to contribute to the next generation of clinical practice.

IL12B rs6887695 polymorphism and interaction with alcohol intake in the risk of ulcerative colitis in Japan.

BACKGROUND: The interleukin (IL)-23/Th17 pathway plays a critical role in ulcerative colitis (UC). The IL-12p40 subunit, which is shared by IL-23 and IL-12, is encoded by the IL12B gene. The current case-control study investigated the association between IL12B SNP rs6887695 and the UC risk. METHODS: There were 384 cases within 4 years of UC diagnosis and 661 controls who were enrolled. Adjustments were made for sex, age, pack-years of smoking, alcohol consumption, history of appendicitis, family history of UC, education level, and body mass index. RESULTS: Subjects with the GG IL12B SNP rs6887695 genotype had a significantly increased risk of UC compared with those with the CC genotype (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.60; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08-2.36). This positive association was also significant using the additive and recessive models (AOR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.03-1.52; AOR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.08-2.09, respectively). An independent inverse relationship was observed between ever alcohol consumption and the UC risk in those with the CC genotype while no significant association was found in those with at least one G allele (P for interaction = 0.0008). CONCLUSIONS: IL12B SNP rs6887695 was significantly associated with UC. The influence of alcohol consumption might rely on rs6887695.

Fever and electrocoagulation syndrome after colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection for patients with immunosuppressants and steroids.

Objectives: Transient fever and electrocoagulation syndrome after colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) remain a challenge. The aim of this study was to assess the risk factors of post-ESD fever and post-ESD coagulation syndrome (PECS), focusing on the involvement of immunosuppressive drugs and steroids (IM). Methods: This retrospective analysis included 510 patients who underwent colorectal ESD at Okayama University Hospital from 2015 to 2020. The incidence rate, clinical outcome, and factors associated with post-ESD fever and PECS were investigated. Results: Post-ESD fever and PECS occurred in 63 patients (12.4%) and 43 patients (8.4%), respectively. In multivariate analysis, the American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status ≥3, the use of immunosuppressants or prednisolone ≥5mg (IM group), and injury to muscle layer/perforation were significantly associated with post-ESD fever. In PECS, IM group, tumors located on the right side, treatment time ≥60 min, injury to the muscle layer, and multiple lesions were independent risk factors. Both post-ESD fever and PECS improved conservatively in the IM group, and no serious complication was observed. Conclusions: The use of IM was a risk factor for both post-ESD fever and PECS. However, there were no serious complications in colorectal ESD for patients taking IM.