Is Metformin Associated with a Lower Prevalence of Polyps, Adenomas, and Colorectal Carcinoma in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus?

PURPOSE: Recent studies suggested a protective role of metformin in the development of colorectal cancer (CRC) and its precursors. We aimed to investigate if metformin was associated with a lower prevalence and number of colorectal polyps in diabetic patients and also adenomas, high-risk adenomas, and CRC. METHODS: Retrospective study on adult patients with diabetes mellitus followed in our hospital with a total colonoscopy between 2015 and 2019, treated with either metformin for > 5 years or other antidiabetic agent (control group). We assessed the number, size, and histopathology examination of proliferative lesions detected on colonoscopy. RESULTS: We included 401 patients aged 69 ± 9 years, 57% males, divided into two groups: treated with metformin (n = 260) and without (n = 141). The number of polyps detected was significantly lower in patients under metformin (p = 0.014). There was a nonsignificant trend towards lower polyp detection rates in the metformin compared to the control group both in unadjusted analysis (50% vs 60%, p = 0.058) and multivariable adjusted analysis (odds ratio [OR] 0.68, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.43-1.09, p = 0.111). In the latter, we identified male gender (OR 2.24, 95%CI 1.44-3.49, p < 0.001), age (OR 1.35 for every 10 years, 95%CI 1.07-1.71, p = 0.012), glycated hemoglobin value (OR 1.20 for every 1% increase, 95%CI 1.06-1.37, p = 0.005), and hypertension (OR 1.76, 95%CI 1.01-3.08, p = 0.046) as factors associated with a higher prevalence of polyps. We saw no statistically significant differences regarding adenoma (p = 0.231), high-risk adenoma (p = 0.810), and CRC (p = 0.705) diagnoses between groups. CONCLUSION: In our study, metformin was associated with less colorectal polyps in diabetic patients compared to other treatment modalities. We observed a nonsignificant trend towards lower polyp detection rates in the metformin group both in unadjusted and adjusted analyses.

Gastric duplication cyst of a bifid pancreas: cause of recurrent vomiting.

An infant girl first presented with recurrent episodes of non-bilious vomiting, having had five hospitalisations over the following months because of dehydration. Laboratory data showed no inflammatory response, normal pancreatic amylase, but increased lipase levels (between 67 and 425 U/L). Several abdominal ultrasound studies suggested an intestinal duplication cyst on left hypochondrium and, later, a dilated and irregular pancreatic duct. CT showed a bifid tailed pancreas and a change in the cyst's characteristics. A communication with the pancreatic duct was hypothesised, which was confirmed on MR cholangiopancreatography. On laparoscopic surgery, the cyst was confirmed to be at the end of the caudal side of the pancreatic bifid tail, having no communication with the stomach. Cystectomy with partial pancreatectomy was performed with pathological findings confirming a gastric duplication cyst originating from the pancreatic bifid tail. At latest follow-up, 4 months after surgery, she remains asymptomatic.

Intestinal Hemangiomatosis: Case Report of an Uncommon Cause of Rectal Bleeding.

A four-month-old girl presented with recurrent low gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Abdominal ultrasound showed diffuse parietal thickening and hyperemia of the colon. Computed tomography (CT) demonstrated diffuse thickening of the colon but also intense arterial globular mural enhancement with diffuse filling in the portal phase. Colonoscopy revealed multiple pseudopolipoid lesions along the colon which were histologically diagnosed as hemangiomas. The infant was diagnosed with gastrointestinal hemangiomatosis and was treated with propranolol resulting in complete resolution of symptoms. Teaching point: Although rare, the possibility of intestinal hemangiomatosis should be considered in the setting of rectal bleeding in an infant.

Transmural remission improves clinical outcomes up to 5 years in Crohn's disease.

INTRODUCTION: Evidence supporting transmural remission (TR) as a long-term treatment target in Crohn's disease (CD) is still unavailable. Less stringent but more reachable targets such as isolated endoscopic (IER) or radiologic remission (IRR) may also be acceptable options in the long-term. METHODS: Multicenter retrospective study including 404 CD patients evaluated by magnetic resonance enterography and colonoscopy. Five-year rates of hospitalization, surgery, use of steroids, and treatment escalation were compared between patients with TR, IER, IRR, and no remission (NR). RESULTS: 20.8% of CD patients presented TR, 23.3% IER, 13.6% IRR and 42.3% NR. TR was associated with lower risk of hospitalization (odds-ratio [OR] 0.244 [0.111-0.538], p < 0.001), surgery (OR 0.132 [0.030-0.585], p = 0.008), steroid use (OR 0.283 [0.159-0.505], p < 0.001), and treatment escalation (OR 0.088 [0.044-0.176], p < 0.001) compared to no NR. IRR resulted in lower risk of hospitalization (OR 0.333 [0.143-0.777], p = 0.011) and treatment escalation (OR 0.260 [0.125-0.540], p < 0.001), while IER reduced the risk of steroid use (OR 0.442 [0.262-0.745], p = 0.002) and treatment escalation (OR 0.490 [0.259-0.925], p = 0.028) compared to NR. CONCLUSIONS: TR improved clinical outcomes over 5 years of follow-up in CD patients. Distinct but significant benefits were seen with IER and IRR. This suggests that both endoscopic and radiologic remission should be part of the treatment targets of CD.