Correlation Between Serum and Fecal Biomarkers and Patient-Reported Outcomes in Patients with Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis.

BACKGROUND: Patient-reported outcomes (PROs), such as the short CD activity index (sCDAI) and partial Mayo Score (PMS), are used to define clinical remission in IBD, but may not represent the true degree of inflammation and endoscopy is invasive. Non-invasive testing options include c-reactive protein (CRP) and fecal calprotectin (FCP). AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the degree of correlation of non-invasive biomarkers with PROs and the impact other clinical variables can have on their levels. METHODS: We reviewed data collected from the prospective cohort, Study of a Prospective Adult Research Cohort with IBD (SPARC-IBD), comprised of over 3000 patients from 17 tertiary referral centers. Demographic and clinical variables were analyzed by disease type, disease severity was based on PROs, and baseline CRP and FCP were measured. For comparative analysis, we performed Fisher's exact test and Welch's t test, where p < 0.05 was significant. RESULTS: 1547 patients were included; 63% had CD, 56% were female, with an average disease duration of 13.6 years. CRP and FCP were associated with symptom severity in inflammatory CD. CRP was useful to differentiate symptoms across different disease locations in CD, whereas FCP was associated with symptom severity in Crohn's colitis only. For UC, FCP was able to distinguish symptom severity better in distal UC, whereas in extensive or pancolitis, it was useful only to distinguish severe symptoms from other categories of symptom severity. CONCLUSION: PROs correlate with CRP and FCP; however, disease location and phenotype impact their ability to distinguish symptom severity.

Anesthesia Choice and Its Potential Impact on Endoluminal Functional Lumen Imaging Probe Measurements in Esophageal Motility Disorders.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The widespread use of peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) has revolutionized the management of esophageal motility disorders (EMDs). The introduction of an endoluminal functional lumen imaging probe (EndoFLIP) can serve as a complimentary diagnostic tool to assess the mechanical properties (i.e., pressure, diameter, distensibility and topography) of the esophagus. During EndoFLIP measurements, different anesthesia techniques may induce variable degrees of neuromuscular blockade, potentially affecting esophageal motility and altering the results of EndoFLIP metrics. Our study aimed to compare the impact of using total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) versus general anesthesia with inhalational anesthetics (GAIA) on diagnostic EndoFLIP measurements. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of all adult patients (≥18 years) undergoing EndoFlip during the POEM procedure at our institution between February 2017 and February 2022. We obtained the differences in pressure, diameter, and distensibility index using propofol-based TIVA vs sevoflurane-based GAIA with a 30ml and 60ml balloon. The differences were divided into terciles and compared between diagnoses using univariate comparisons and logistic regression models. RESULTS: 49 patients were included (39% Type 1 achalasia, 43% Type 2 or 3 achalasia, and 18% jackhammer esophagus (JE)). Compared to spastic disorders (Type 2, 3 and JE), Type 1 had lower values of pressure differences at 60 mL in univariate (3.75 vs 15.20 p=0.001) and multivariate (aOR 0.89 95%CI 0.82-0.978) analyses. Compared to Type 1, Type 2 and 3 had higher rates of pressure differences at 60 mL in univariate (9.85 vs 3.75 p=0.04); and nearly reached significance in multivariate analysis (1.09 95%CI 1-1.20). Compared to Type 1, JE demonstrated higher values in pressure differences at 60 mL (27.7 vs 3.75 p<0.001) CONCLUSION: Esophageal pressure, as measured by EndoFLIP, was significantly reduced when patients were sedated with sevoflurane-based GAIA. The use sevoflurane-based GAIA for diagnostic EndoFLIP may potentially lead to the misclassification of spastic disorders as Type I achalasia. Therefore, propofol-based TIVA should be considered over sevoflurane-based GAIA for sedation during the diagnostic test.

Routine Axillary Ultrasound for Patients with T1-T2 Breast Cancer Does Not Increase the Rate of Axillary Lymph Node Dissection Based on Predictive Modeling.

BACKGROUND: Since publication of the American College of Surgeons Oncology Group Z0011 trial results, demonstrating that many patients with nonpalpable axillary lymph nodes and one or two positive sentinel nodes do not require axillary lymph node dissection (ALND), preoperative axillary ultrasound (AUS) has become controversial. Clinicians are concerned that AUS may lead to unnecessary ALND. The authors developed an algorithm (Algorithm 1) in which the number of AUS-suspicious nodes and tumor biology direct management. For estrogen receptor-positive (ER+)/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-) breast cancer with a single AUS-suspicious node and a positive lymph node needle biopsy (LNNB), sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is performed with a specimen X-ray documenting retrieval of the clipped node. Other patients with positive LNNB receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The authors hypothesized that routine AUS and this algorithm could decrease ALND compared with a strategy of no preoperative AUS. METHODS: Decision-tree analysis and Monte Carlo simulation were used to assess the expected number of ALNDs under two strategies (routine AUS vs no AUS). Probabilities were drawn from a literature review and an institutional database. The authors assumed nodal pathologic complete response rates as reported in the literature. Four additional algorithms were created to assess whether any other treatment model could decrease the rate of ALND. RESULTS: Using the routine AUS and the authors' algorithm, the predicted ALND rate was 9%, versus 10% for a strategy of no AUS, with overlapping uncertainty intervals. The remaining treatment algorithms showed similar results. DISCUSSION: Use of AUS may help to tailor patient care without leading to overutilization of ALND, as long as neoadjuvant chemotherapy is administered when appropriate.

Balancing Expectations: Navigating Medically Necessary Torso Procedures with Cosmetic Components in the Military Healthcare System.

Background: Surgeons performing federal insurance-financed procedures involving medically necessary and cosmetic components must navigate patient expectations to avoid postoperative disappointment. This challenge is amplified in military healthcare, where different surgical specialties concurrently address the same diagnosis, while the Department of Defense policy on cosmetic fees and TRICARE's definition of excluded services adds further complexity. With the increasing prevalence of elevated body mass index, focus is directed toward diagnoses involving the torso, specifically gynecomastia in male individuals, and diastasis of the rectus abdominis muscles (DRAM) in female individuals. Methods: The study involves a team of experienced board-certified surgeons conducting a narrative review of surgical procedures addressing gynecomastia and DRAM. Relevant literature from 2000 to 2023 is reviewed, focusing on patient satisfaction regarding outcome of medically necessary and cosmetic aspects. Results: For gynecomastia, distinguishing between true and pseudogynecomastia is critical. A protocol is presented based on the Simon classification, offering evidence-based guidelines for surgical interventions. Similarly, for DRAM, a minimally invasive approach balances deployment readiness and surgical recovery. The presence of a symptomatic panniculus, however, requires more invasive intervention. The downstream ramification of limited Current Procedural Terminology codes for these interventions is discussed. Conclusions: In medically necessary procedures funded through federal health plans such as TRICARE, the primary goal is functional improvement, not the final torso contour. Clear communication and preoperative counseling are crucial to managing patient expectations. Providers in military healthcare must navigate the complex landscape of patient expectations, policy guidelines, and duty readiness while maintaining the standard of care.

A systematic review of yoga for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have reviewed yoga for the treatment of disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI) with most demonstrating a benefit for symptom reduction; however, yoga has been studied beyond DGBI. PURPOSE: The aim of this systematic review is to provide a comprehensive summary of yoga as treatment for gastrointestinal conditions. METHOD: We conducted literature searches in PubMed and Embase and included yoga trials of adults with a diagnosis of a gastrointestinal disorders and diseases. RESULTS: We identified 1275 articles; 12 studies were eligible. Most studies compared yoga to controls, for patients with different GI conditions (irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, chronic pancreatitis, and gastrointestinal cancer). The type, method, and duration of yoga used varied. Across IBS studies, most demonstrated that yoga improved IBS symptom severity, mood-related symptoms, and quality of life compared with controls. In one study of inflammatory bowel disease, yoga improved quality of life compared to controls. Two studies of gastrointestinal cancer demonstrated that yoga led to a reduction in sleep disturbance and mood symptoms. One study of chronic pancreatitis found that yoga led to improvements in quality of life, stress, mood changes, alcohol dependence, and appetite. Yoga was generally safe, and no serious adverse events were attributed to the intervention. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, yoga appears to be safe and has potential to improve functioning across a spectrum of gastrointestinal diseases; however, current studies are limited by heterogeneity and methodological weaknesses. Further research is needed to evaluate the impact of yoga on health outcomes for a broader range of gastrointestinal conditions.

Major mixed motility disorders: An important subset of esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction.

BACKGROUND: Esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction (EGJOO) is an esophageal motility disorder characterized by a lack of relaxation of the esophagogastric junction (EGJ), with preserved esophageal body peristalsis. We propose new terminology for the coexistence of EGJOO with hypercontractile esophagus and distal esophageal spasm as a major mixed motility disorder (MMMD), and normal peristalsis or a minor disorder of peristalsis such as ineffective esophageal motility with EGJOO as isolated or ineffective EGJOO (IEGJOO). METHODS: We reviewed prior diagnoses of EGJOO, stratified diagnoses as IEGJOO or MMMD, and compared their symptomatic presentations, high-resolution manometry (HRM) and endoluminal functional lumen imaging probe (EndoFLIP) metrics, and treatment responses at 2-6 months of follow-up. RESULTS: Out of a total of 821 patients, 142 met CCv3 criteria for EGJOO. Twenty-two were confirmed by CCv4 and EndoFLIP as having EGJOO and were clinically managed. Thirteen had MMMD, and nine had IEGJOO. Groups had no difference in demographic data or presenting symptoms by Eckardt score (ES). HRM showed MMMD had greater distal contractile integral, frequency of hypercontractile swallows, and frequency of spastic swallows, and greater DI by EndoFLIP. Patients with MMMD showed greater reduction in symptoms after LES-directed intervention when measured by ES compared with IEGJOO (7.2 vs. 4.0). CONCLUSION: Patients with MMMD and IEGJOO present similarly. Detectable differences in HRM portend different responses to endoscopic therapy. Because patients with MMMD have greater short-term prognosis, they should be considered a different diagnostic classification to guide therapy.

Clinical features and gastric myoelectrical activity in patients with idiopathic and post-surgical rapid gastric emptying who present with unexplained chronic nausea.

BACKGROUND: The cause of chronic nausea can be difficult to diagnose. Idiopathic rapid gastric emptying (iRGE) can cause nausea, but limited literature exists on clinical and pathophysiological features. In contrast, dumping syndrome or post-surgical rapid gastric emptying (psRGE) is well-known and may present with early phase vasomotor symptoms, diarrhea, and late phase reactive hypoglycemia. Our aim is to compare clinical and gastric motility characteristics in patients with iRGE and psRGE and unexplained chronic nausea. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on patients with unexplained chronic nausea and RGE (<30% retention of a standard isotope-labeled solid meal at 1-h). Gastric myoelectrical activity (GMA) was recorded during water load satiety tests (WLST) using validated electrogastrogram (EGG) recording methods. KEY RESULTS: Thirty iRGE and sixteen psRGE patients with unexplained chronic nausea were identified; average 1-hour meal retention was 18.6% and 16.2%, respectively. Nausea, bloating, early satiety, and bowel function were similar in the two groups; fewer iRGE patients had abdominal pain and none had vasomotor symptoms. Normal 3 cpm GMA was recorded in 44% of iRGE vs 29% of psRGE, tachygastria in 13% vs 43%, bradygastria in 25% vs 14%, and mixed in 19% vs 14% (p values >0.05). Abnormal WLST volume (<300 ml) was found in 69% of iRGE and 43% of psRGE (p = 0.36). CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES: (a) iRGE and psRGE patients may present with unexplained chronic nausea rather than classic vasomotor symptoms and diarrhea. (b) iRGE and psRGE patients had similar gastric dysrhythmias and accommodation dysfunction, which may contribute to RGE.

Fecal Incontinence in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

BACKGROUND: Fecal incontinence (FI) is frequently reported in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed data from the Study of a Prospective Adult Research Cohort with IBD registry. RESULTS: Three hundred forty-seven patients had Crohn disease and 145 had ulcerative colitis. 14.2% of patients reported FI. FI was associated with active disease. FI was not associated with disease location, phenotype, or perianal involvement. Greater than 50 years of age or 15 years of disease increased the odds of FI and remission decreased the odds of FI. CONCLUSIONS: Further research into the mechanism of FI in IBD is needed.

Dysphagia lusoria: utility of high-resolution impedance manometry to identify true disease.

Dysphagia lusoria is a rare cause of dysphagia due to impingement of the esophagus by an aberrant right subclavian artery. Although most remain asymptomatic, this aberrant vessel can lead to progressive dysphagia in childhood or even later in life as a result of arteriosclerotic burden and attenuation of esophageal compliance that led to esophageal compression. We present a 56-year-old man with a 3-year history of progressively worsening dysphagia to solids and liquids and globus sensation. Videofluoroscopic swallowing study (modified barium esophagram) and barium esophagram showed delayed barium tablet transit in the upper esophagus and focal smooth narrowing of the upper esophagus caused by external compression, respectively. Computed tomography imaging demonstrated external compression of proximal esophagus from an aberrant right subclavian artery with high atherosclerotic burden. In addition, high-resolution impedance manometry (HRiM) revealed a striking high-pressure pulsatile vascular band in the proximal esophagus (108 mmHg) associated with poor bolus transit, demonstrating the utility of HRiM in strengthening the diagnoses of true dysphagia lusoria.

Outcomes in Hepatitis C Positive Liver Transplantation: Timing of Direct-Acting Antiviral Treatment and Impact on Graft Fibrosis.

Liver transplantation for hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related disease has the lowest five-year graft survival among all liver transplant recipients. Graft failure due to accelerated fibrosis from unrestrained HCV replication is common. Optimal timing of HCV treatment with direct-acting antiviral agents remains unknown. We compared HCV liver transplant recipients successfully treated for HCV before transplant to those treated within 1 year of transplant to determine if graft fibrosis, measured by Fib-4 scores, differs with timing of treatment. Fib-4 scores less than or equal to 1.45 defined minimal fibrosis and greater than 1.45 defined greater than minimal fibrosis. We identified 117 liver transplant recipients: 52 treated before transplantation and 65 treated within 1 year of transplantation. Overall, 34% of recipients had minimal fibrosis, and the likelihood of having minimal fibrosis following treatment and liver transplantation did not differ by timing of treatment. The odds ratio of having greater than minimal fibrosis was 0.65 (95% CI 0.30, 1.42) among those treated within 1 year after transplantation compared to those treated before transplantation (p-value 0.28). Importantly, nearly 2/3 of these patients had evidence of fibrosis progression one year after sustained virologic response, supporting recommendations for early antiviral-based treatment to prevent accumulation of HCV-related disease.

Obstructive Gastroparesis: Patient Selection and Effect of Laparoscopic Pyloroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Functional obstructive gastroparesis is an understudied subtype of gastroparesis with normal 3 cycle per minute gastric myoelectrical activity that responds to botulinum toxin A injection and balloon dilation of the pylorus. AIMS: To determine the effect of pyloroplasty on symptoms, weight, gastric emptying, and gastric myoelectrical activity in patients with gastroparesis and normal 3 cycle per minute gastric myoelectrical activity. METHODS: Ten patients (average age 36 years with gastroparesis and normal 3 cycle per minute gastric myoelectrical activity) who had at least two successful endoscopic pyloric therapies and then underwent pyloroplasty were identified. Electrogastrography with water load satiety test was performed to determine gastric myoelectrical activity. Gastric emptying was measured with 4-h scintigraphy. KEY RESULTS: Six months after pyloroplasty, nine of ten patients reported improved symptoms and weight increased an average of 6.4 lb (p = 0.04). The average percentage of meal retained at 4 h decreased from 47% before to 16% after pyloroplasty (p < 0.01) and normalized in six patients. After pyloroplasty, the percent distribution of gastric myoelectrical activity power in the 3 cycle per minute range decreased at each measured interval compared with pre-pyloroplasty (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: (1) Pyloroplasty in these patients with obstructive gastroparesis improved gastric emptying and decreased 3 cycle per minute gastric myoelectrical activity, consistent with relief of functional gastric outlet obstruction. (2) Pyloric neuromuscular dysfunction is a key factor in delayed emptying in patients with functional obstructive gastroparesis.

Embedding public health advocacy into the role of school-based nurses: addressing the health inequities confronted by vulnerable Australian children and adolescent populations.

There has been a growth in Australian school-based nurses to address the inequities confronted by vulnerable students and school populations. Failure to address inequities can be evidenced in intergenerational poverty, poorer health and educational attainment and diminished life opportunities. School-based nurses are ideally located to advocate for public health policies and programs that address social determinants that detrimentally affect the health of school populations. However, school-based nurses can confront professional and speciality challenges in extending their efforts beyond individual student advocacy to effect change at the school population level. Guidance is required to redress this situation. This paper describes public health advocacy, the professional and speciality advocacy roles of school-based nurses and the barriers they confront in advocating for the health of school populations and strategies that can be used by key stakeholders to enhance school-based nursing public health advocacy efforts. School-based nurses who are competent, enabled and supported public health advocates are required if we are to achieve substantial and sustained health equity and social justice outcomes for vulnerable school populations.

Poetic Justice: A Case of Resolved Intractable Hiccups Following POEM for Achalasia.

Achalasia is an esophageal motility disorder of impaired lower esophageal sphincter relaxation and absent peristalsis. The presenting symptoms are commonly dysphagia, chest pain, regurgitation, and weight loss. Hiccups have been associated with gastrointestinal diseases but uncommonly associated with achalasia. We present a 62-year-old man with a history of dysphagia, weight loss, and intractable hiccups. High-resolution impedance manometry revealed Type I achalasia, which was treated with per oral endoscopic myotomy. Postoperatively, his dysphagia, weight loss, and intractable hiccups resolved.

Effect of endoscopic pyloric therapies for patients with nausea and vomiting and functional obstructive gastroparesis.

Gastroparesis (GP) is associated with loss of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) and gastric dysrhythmias such as tachygastria. We hypothesized that a subset of patients with GP, normal 3cycles per minute (cpm) gastric myoelectrical activity (GMA), and normal upper endoscopy may respond to pyloric therapies. AIMS: To determine the effect of botulinum toxin A (btA) injection or balloon dilation (BD) of the pylorus on symptoms and body weight in patients with GP and 3cpm GMA. METHODS: Patients were identified who had GP, normal 3cpm GMA, and normal endoscopy that excluded mechanical obstruction of the pylorus. Electrogastrograms (EGG) with water load tests (WLT) were recorded to determine GMA. Gastric emptying was measured with 4h scintigraphy. Each patient underwent up to three pyloric treatments with btA or BD. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients (29 women) with an average age of 42years were studied. Seventy-nine percent had idiopathic GP and 21% had diabetic GP. The average percent meal retained at 4h was 42% and each EGG test showed normal 3cpm GMA. Nausea was the major symptom in 76% of patients. Complete or partial symptom response occurred in 75%, 72%, and 88% of patients after the first, second, or third endoscopic pyloric treatment, respectively. Overall, 78% of the 33 patients reported improvement in symptoms and average weight gain was 1.54lb from baseline to final treatment (p<0.04). CONCLUSION: Pyloric therapies appear to be effective treatments in symptomatic patients with GP and 3cpm GMA and controlled trials are warranted.