Comparison of metronidazole versus clarithromycin in first-line vonoprazan-based triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori: A multicenter randomized trial in Japan.

Background and Aim: To date, no randomized trials have compared the efficacy of 7-day vonoprazan, amoxicillin, and metronidazole triple therapy (VAM) versus 7-day vonoprazan, amoxicillin, and clarithromycin triple therapy (VAC) as a first-line treatment for Helicobacter pylori eradication. This study was performed to compare the efficacy of VAM and VAC as first-line treatments. Methods: This prospective multicenter randomized trial was performed in Japan and involved 124 H. pylori-positive patients without a history of eradication. Patients without antibiotic resistance testing of H. pylori were eligible. The patients were randomized to receive either VAC (vonoprazan 20 mg + amoxicillin 750 mg + clarithromycin 200 or 400 mg twice a day) or VAM (vonoprazan 20 mg + amoxicillin 750 mg + metronidazole 250 mg twice a day) for 7 days, with stratification by age and sex. Eradication success was evaluated using the 13C-urea breath test. We evaluated safety using patient questionnaires (UMIN000025773). Results: The intention-to-treat and per-protocol eradication rates of VAM were 91.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 82.0-96.7%) and 92.6% (95% CI, 83.7-97.6%), respectively, and those of VAC were 89.1% (95% CI, 77.8-95.9%) and 96.1% (95% CI, 86.5-99.5%), respectively. No significant difference was observed between VAM and VAC in either analysis (P = 0.76 and P = 0.70, respectively). Abdominal fullness was more frequent in patients who received VAM than VAC. Conclusions: These findings suggest that VAM as a first-line treatment in Japan can be categorized as grade B (intention-to-treat cure rate of 90-95%) and have potential as a first-line national insurance -approved regimen.

Novel 8-wire basket catheter is useful for endoscopic removal of common bile duct stones up to 10 mm: A multicenter prospective study.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Endoscopic treatment of common bile duct (CBD) stones involves the use of basket or balloon catheters; however, what is the appropriate device remains controversial. In this study we aimed to prospectively evaluate the usefulness of a novel 8-wire helical basket (8WB) catheter made of Nitinol for the removal of CBD stones ≤10 mm. METHODS: We conducted a multicenter prospective trial. Patients with CBD stones ≤10 mm were enrolled. The primary endpoint was the rate of complete stone removal within 10 min using the 8WB. The number of cases was determined using a previous study of stone removal by a conventional basket catheter as a historical control. RESULTS: A total of 155 patients were enrolled and 139 were ultimately included in the analysis. Patients with a single stone were the most common (84 cases, 60.4%), with a median maximum stone diameter of 5 mm. The median stone removal time using the 8WB was 6 min. The complete stone removal rate was 95.0% (132/139). Adverse events were observed in 14 patients (10.1%). CONCLUSIONS: The novel 8WB catheter is useful in the treatment of CBD stones ≤10 mm, presenting a high complete stone removal rate in this study. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: jRCT1032200324.

Cecal Volvulus Resolved Spontaneously.

Cecal volvulus is an uncommon cause of colonic obstruction. First-line treatment for cecal volvulus is surgery, as nonoperative management is rarely achievable. We herein report an extremely rare case of a patient with spontaneously resolved cecal volvulus; no recurrence occurred without elective surgery. A 47-year-old woman presented with acute lower abdominal pain. She was misdiagnosed with small bowel obstruction and treated conservatively. A few hours later, she was correctly diagnosed with cecal volvulus. Subsequently, her symptoms and computed tomography findings of cecal volvulus completely disappeared. She refused elective surgery, but no recurrence occurred during five months of follow-up.

Safety and Efficacy of Lenvatinib Treatment in Child-Pugh A and B Patients with Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Clinical Practice: A Multicenter Analysis.

PURPOSE: To assess the safety, efficacy and prognostic impact of clinical factors related to lenvatinib treatment in Child-Pugh class A (CP-A) and class B (CP-B) patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (u-HCC). METHODS: Patients with u-HCC who were treated with lenvatinib at multiple centers in Japan were retrospectively analyzed for treatment outcomes according to their respective CP status. Radiological objective response (OR) was assessed using modified response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (mRECIST) guidelines. RESULTS: Baseline demographic parameters were comparable between 126 (69.6%) patients with CP-A disease and 55 patients (30.4%) with CP-B disease. Frequency of lenvatinib-related adverse events, including decreased appetite (P=0.034), diarrhea (P=0.040), elevated serum bilirubin (P=0.016) and vomiting (P=0.009), were higher in CP-B than in CP-A patients. Relative dose intensity (RDI) was significantly higher in CP-A (0.69) than CP-B patients (0.50, P <0.001). Furthermore, OR rate (44.0%) was markedly higher in CP-A5 patients as compared to CP-A6 (25.5%), CP-B7 (22.2%), and CP-B8 patients (5.3%), respectively (P=0.002). In multivariable analysis, performance status (0 vs 1, 2, P=0.026), CP class (A vs B, P=0.045) and RDI (≥0.7 vs <0.7, P=0.034) were identified as factors associated with response to lenvatinib treatment. Overall survival (OS) at 12 months was significantly different between CP-A (66.3%) and CP-B patients (30.0%, P=0.002), and between CP 5-7 (59.2%) and CP 8 patients (34.8%, P=0.003). In multivariable analysis, CP class (A vs B, P=0.007) and Barcelona clinic liver cancer (BCLC) stage (B vs C, P=0.002) were associated with OS following lenvatinib treatment. CONCLUSION: Lenvatinib treatment offers significant benefits in patients with good liver function in real-world practice. The various characteristics identified in this study might be helpful as clinical predictors of response to lenvatinib and survival in clinical practice. Further studies are required to address eligibility for lenvatinib treatment in CP 7 patients.

[Non-surgical management of small bowel diverticulitis with localized perforation:a case report].

A 40-year-old man presented to the emergency department with periumbilical pain and fever. A computed tomographic scan confirmed multiple jejunal diverticulum with localized extraluminal air and panniculitis around it, and jejunal diverticulitis with localized perforation was suspected. His symptoms were mild, and extraluminal air was localized;therefore, he was advised bowel rest and administered only antibiotics. The patient's symptoms resolved without surgical treatment, and at the time of writing this report, there had been no recurrence. Small bowel diverticulitis is rare, and careful analysis of imaging studies is necessary for establishing a diagnosis. This was a rare case where small bowel diverticulitis was resolved without surgical treatment.

Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis: lung window setting on CT.

Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis is a rare and often presents nonspecific symptoms. In this case, CT imaging revealed air collection within the wall of the ileum, which was more clearly defined using the lung window setting. When we consider pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis, we should evaluate CT using the lung window setting.

The Superiority of Vonoprazan-based First-line Triple Therapy with Clarithromycin: A Prospective Multi-center Cohort Study on Helicobacter pylori Eradication.

Objective We evaluated the safety and efficacy of vonoprazan-based amoxicillin and clarithromycin 7-day triple therapy (VAC) in comparison to proton pump inhibitor (PPI)-based (PAC) as a first-line treatment and vonoprazan-based amoxicillin and metronidazole 7-day triple therapy (VAM) in comparison to PPI-based (PAM) as a second-line treatment for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori in Japan. Methods We performed a non-randomized, multi-center, parallel-group study to compare first-line VAC to PAC and second-line VAM to PAM. A pre-planned subgroup analysis on CAM resistance was also performed. Safety was evaluated with an adverse effects questionnaire (AEQ), which was completed by patients during therapy. Results The first-line eradication rates (ER) in the intention-to-treat (ITT) and per protocol (PP) analyses were 84.9% (95% CI: 81.9-87.6%, n=623) and 86.4% (83.5-89.1%, n=612), respectively, for VAC and 78.8% (75.3-82.0%, n=608) and 79.4% (76.0-82.6%, n=603), respectively, for PAC. The ER of VAC was higher than that of PAC in the ITT (p=0.0061) and PP analyses (p=0.0013). The ERs for VAC in patients with CAM-resistant and CAM-susceptible bacteria were 73.2% (59.7-84.2%, n=56) and 88.9% (83.4-93.1%, n=180), respectively. PAC was associated with higher AEQ scores for diarrhea, nausea, headache, and general malaise. In the second-line ITT and PP analyses VAM achieved ERs of 80.5% (74.6-85.6%, n=216) and 82.4% (76.6-87.3%, n=211), respectively, while PAM achieved ERs of 81.5% (74.2-87.4%, n=146) and 82.1% (74.8-87.9%, n=145), respectively. No significant differences were observed in the ITT (p=0.89) or PP (p=1.0) analyses. Conclusion The ER of first-line VAC was higher than that of PAC, but still <90%. No difference was observed between second-line VAM and PAM. Vonoprazan-based triple therapy was safe and well tolerated.

Peritoneal sarcoidosis:an unusual cause of ascites.

An 83-year-old male presented with distended abdomen. A computed tomography scan demonstrated pleural effusion, ascites, peritoneal thickness, and panniculitis. Multiple small white nodules of peritoneum were observed during a laparoscopy examination, and biopsy specimens revealed noncaseating granulomas. Gallium scintigram demonstrated an accumulation in the peritoneum and revealed a panda sign that has been described as an indication of sarcoidosis. Although sarcoidosis rarely induces peritonitis with ascites, peritoneal sarcoidosis was diagnosed and he began receiving steroid therapy. After primary steroid therapy, his ascites completely disappeared, and he has maintained a complete response with continuous low dose steroid therapy.

Abdominal Migraine in a Middle-aged Woman.

A 52-year-old woman presented with recurrent, severe abdominal pain. Laboratory tests and imaging were insignificant, and treatment for functional dyspepsia was ineffective. The poorly localized, dull, and severe abdominal pain, associated with anorexia, nausea, and vomiting, was consistent with abdominal migraine. The symptoms were relieved by loxoprofen and lomerizine, which are used in the treatment of migraine. We herein report a case of abdominal migraine in a middle-aged woman. Abdominal migraine should be considered as a cause of abdominal pain as it might easily be relieved by appropriate treatment.

Obstructive uropathy caused by chronic constipation.

We herein report a case regarding a 90-year-old woman with a history of recurrent episodes of urinary tract infections presenting with fever. Urinalysis revealed bacteria and white blood cells. Computed tomography showed dilated and fecally loaded rectum and colon with signs of obstructive uropathy. The patient was treated for urinary tract infection and constipation. Her bowel habits were controlled with lubiprostone, and she was discharged in good medical condition. This case highlights the importance of considering fecal impaction as a cause of urinary tract obstruction or infection.

Gallbladder herniation into the lesser sac through the foramen of Winslow: report of a case.

We report a case of gallbladder hernia into the lesser sac through the foramen of Winslow. The patient was a 90-year-old woman, admitted to hospital with obstructive jaundice. Computed tomography (CT) showed a left-deviated and remarkably enlarged gallbladder dragging the liver, and a dilated intrahepatic bile duct. The deviated gallbladder was thought to compress the common bile duct, causing the obstruction. Laparoscopic examination revealed gallbladder herniation into the lesser sac without a floating gallbladder; thus, we performed laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Herniation of the gallbladder is the rarest of all internal hernias and most reported cases have involved a floating gallbladder. The case we report here is therefore considered especially unusual.

Efficacy of fusion imaging combining sonography and hepatobiliary phase MRI with Gd-EOB-DTPA to detect small hepatocellular carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the efficacy of fusion imaging that fuses conventional sonography images with hepatobiliary phase contrast-enhanced MR images obtained with gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA) as the reference image for the detection of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Eighty-seven HCCs with a maximum diameter of between 1 and 3 cm at the time of diagnosis were enrolled in this prospective study. We compared the detection rates of HCCs using three sonography modalities: conventional sonography, late phase of contrast-enhanced sonography with Sonazoid, and fusion imaging combining conventional sonography and the hepatobiliary phase of contrast-enhanced MRI with Gd-EOB-DTPA as the reference image. The comparisons were made using the McNemar test. RESULTS: The detection rate of HCCs using fusion imaging (98%, 85/87) was significantly higher than the detection rates using conventional sonography (76%, 66/87) and contrast-enhanced sonography (83%, 72/87) (p<0.01, for both). For small HCCs (maximum diameter, 1-2 cm), the detection rate using fusion imaging (97%, 59/61) was also significantly higher than those using conventional sonography (66%, 40/61) and contrast-enhanced sonography (80%, 49/61) (p<0.01, for both). The detection rate for atypical HCCs was also significantly higher using fusion imaging (95%, 18/19) than using conventional sonography (53%, 10/19) and contrast-enhanced sonography (26%, 5/19) (p<0.01, for both). CONCLUSION: Fusion imaging combining conventional sonography and the hepatobiliary phase of contrast-enhanced MRI with Gd-EOB-DTPA is more sensitive than conventional sonography or contrast-enhanced sonography for detecting HCCs, especially small or atypical HCCs.

Contrast enhanced ultrasound of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Sonazoid (Daiichi Sankyo, Tokyo, Japan), a second-generation of a lipid-stabilized suspension of a perfluorobutane gas microbubble contrast agent, has been used clinically in patients with liver tumors and for harmonic gray-scale ultrasonography (US) in Japan since January 2007. Sonazoid-enhanced US has two phases of contrast enhancement: vascular and late. In the late phase of Sonazoid-enhanced US, we scanned the whole liver using this modality at a low mechanical index (MI) without destroying the microbubbles, and this method allows detection of small viable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) lesions which cannot be detected by conventional US as perfusion defects in the late phase. Re-injection of Sonazoid into an HCC lesion which previously showed a perfusion defect in the late phase is useful for confirming blood flow into the defects. High MI intermittent imaging at 2 frames per second in the late phase is also helpful in differentiation between necrosis and viable hypervascular HCC lesions. Sonazoid-enhanced US by the coded harmonic angio mode at a high MI not only allows clear observation of tumor vessels and tumor enhancement, but also permits automatic scanning with Sonazoid-enhanced three dimensional (3D) US. Fusion images combining US with contrast-enhanced CT or contrast-enhanced MRI have made it easy to detect typical or atypical HCC lesions. By these methods, Sonazoid-enhanced US can characterize liver tumors, grade HCC lesions histologically, recognize HCC dedifferentiation, evaluate the efficacy of ablation therapy or transcatheter arterial embolization, and guide ablation therapy for unresectable HCC. This article reviews the current developments and applications of Sonazoid-enhanced US and Sonazoid-enhanced 3D US for diagnosing and treating hepatic lesions, especially HCC.