Seed dispersal function of the brown bear Ursus arctos on Hokkaido Island in northern Japan: gut passage time, dispersal distance, germination, and effects of remaining pulp.

Megafauna are important seed dispersers because they can disperse large quantities of seeds over long distances. In Hokkaido, Japan, the largest terrestrial animal is the brown bear (Ursus arctos) and other megafauna seed dispersers are lacking. Thus, brown bears are expected to have an important function as seed dispersers in Hokkaido. In this study, we, for the first time, evaluated the seed dispersal function of brown bears in Hokkaido using three fleshy-fruited trees and studied: (1) gut passage time (GPT) in feeding experiments, (2) seed dispersal distance using tracking data of wild bears, and (3) the effect of gut passage and pulp removal on germination rate. Most seeds were defecated intact, and less than 6% were broken. The average GPT without pulp was 3 h and 56 min to 6 h and 13 min, depending on the plant and trial. Each plant's average simulated seed dispersal distance was 202-512 m. The dispersal distance of Actinidia arguta seeds with pulp was significantly longer than those without pulp because of their longer GPT. The germination rate of defecated seeds without pulp was 19-51%, depending on the plant, and was significantly higher or not different comparing with that of seeds with pulp. We concluded that brown bears in Hokkaido are effective seed dispersers. In managing brown bears in Hokkaido, such ecological functions should be considered along with conserving the bear population and reducing human-bear conflicts.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of single colonoscopy versus single fecal test for colorectal cancer diagnosis and treatment.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Regular endoscopy or fecal immunochemical test (FIT) is ideal for screening colorectal cancer. However, only a limited number of individuals undergo regular screening. This study aimed to compare the cost-effectiveness of a single colonoscopy with a single FIT performed for colorectal cancer screening. METHODS: A microsimulation model was constructed based on real-world observational data collected from three institutions between 2019 and 2022 that compared colonoscopy-based screening with FIT-based screening. The total costs of diagnosis and treatment of the detected lesions using the two strategies were calculated. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) per life year gained (LYG) of the colonoscopy-based strategy was calculated. RESULTS: Data from 11 407 patients undergoing colonoscopies and 59 176 patients undergoing FITs were used to establish a model. In the base case analysis of screening strategies, colonoscopy was more cost-effective than FIT (ICER 415 193 yen/LYG). The ICER of the colonoscopy-based strategy among 60- to 69-year-old patients was lowest at 394 200 yen/LYG, whereas that in 20- to 29-year-old patients was highest. Monte Carlo simulations showed that the colonoscopy-based strategy was more cost-effective than the FIT-based strategy (net monetary benefit [NMB]: 5 695 957 yen vs 5 348 253 yen). When the adenoma detection rate in the colonoscopy was over 30% or the positive FIT rate was lower than 8.6% in the FIT-based strategy, the NMB of the colonoscopy-based strategy exceeded that of the FIT-based strategy. CONCLUSION: In the microsimulation model, colonoscopy is recommended as a one-time screening procedure in patients aged >60 years with >30% ADR or <8.6% positive FIT rate.

Correlation of toxicities and efficacies of pemetrexed with clinical factors and single-nucleotide polymorphisms: a prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: Pemetrexed is an efficacious multi-targeted antifolate with acceptable toxicity for non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (non-Sq NSCLC) and malignant pleural mesothelioma. Vitamin B12 and folic acid as premedication can reduce the frequency of severe toxicities of pemetrexed chemotherapy. However, adverse effects are frequent in clinical settings. In this study, we aimed to identify the clinical factors and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with the toxicity and efficacy of pemetrexed chemotherapy. METHODS: This observational study was conducted from October 2012 to December 2019; we evaluated the toxicities and efficacies of pemetrexed chemotherapy using multivariate logistic or Cox regression analysis. In total, 106 patients received pemetrexed chemotherapy. SNPs were analyzed for four patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma and 67 with non-Sq NSCLC. RESULTS: The median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival of 63 patients with non-Sq NSCLC, excluding four in the adjuvant setting, were 6.8 and 33.3 months, respectively. Per propensity-score-adjusted multivariate Cox analyses, favorable factors for PFS were folic acid level ≥ 9.3 ng/mL before premedication, platinum combination, bevacizumab combination, vitamin B12 level < 1136 pg/mL before chemotherapy, A/A + A/G of BHMT (742 G > A), and A/A + A/C of DHFR (680 C > A). Favorable prognostic factors included good performance status, low smoking index, body mass index ≥ 20.66 kg/m2, folic acid level ≥ 5.55 ng/mL before premedication, higher retinol-binding protein before chemotherapy, and A/G of MTRR (66 A > G). Among the 71 patients who were analyzed for SNPs, the frequencies of hematologic toxicities and non-hematologic toxicities in Grades 3-4 were 38% and 36.6%, respectively. Per propensity-score-adjusted multivariate logistic analyses, risk factors for Grades 3-4 hematologic toxicities were vitamin B12 level < 486 pg/mL before premedication, leucocyte count < 6120 /µL before chemotherapy, folic acid level < 15.8 ng/mL before chemotherapy, status with a reduced dose of chemotherapy, and C/T + T/T of MTHFR (677 C > T). Risk factors for Grades 2-4 non-hematologic toxicities were homocysteine levels ≥ 11.8 nmol/mL before premedication, transthyretin level < 21.5 mg/dL before chemotherapy, C/C + T/T of MTHFR (677 C > T), and A/A + G/G of SLC19A1 [IVS2 (4935) G > A]. CONCLUSION: The information on metabolites and SNPs of the folate and methionine cycle will help predict the toxicities and efficacies of pemetrexed. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial was retrospectively registered with the University hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN000009366) on November 20, 2012.

A Close Follow-Up Strategy in the Short Period of Time after Helicobacter pylori Eradication Contributes to Earlier Detection of Gastric Cancer.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to optimize the surveillance frequency and period for efficient detection of early gastric cancer (EGC) after Helicobacter pylori (HP) eradication. METHODS: Data from patients with eradicated HP infection were extracted from the endoscopy databases of two institutions from January 2016 to March 2021. The patients were divided into a close follow-up group with frequent surveillance after eradication and an open follow-up group with an intermittent surveillance method, and the cases of post-eradication EGC found in the two groups were analyzed. RESULTS: Thirty-six out of 9,322 patients (0.39%) in the close follow-up group and 20 out of 11,436 patients (0.17%) in the open follow-up group were found to have EGC. The cumulative incidence of EGC after eradication was significantly higher in the close follow-up group (p = 0.004). The duration between eradication and EGC detection was significantly shorter in the close follow-up group (51.7 vs. 90.5 months, p = 0.002). A logistic regression model revealed that duration after eradication was an independent predictor for detecting EGC in the close follow-up group (p = 0.045). A Cox proportional hazards model revealed that the close follow-up strategy was effective in patients with an eradication duration of less than 65 months to identify EGC (p = 0.015), but there was no difference between the two strategies in patients with an eradication duration of more than 65 months (p = 0.624). DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS: Frequent surveillance after HP eradication is efficient for the early detection of EGC during the first 65 months.

Treatments of refractory eosinophilic lung diseases with biologics.

Biologics targeting the molecules associated with type 2 inflammation have significantly improved the outcomes of patients with severe eosinophilic asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). Chronic eosinophilic airway/lung diseases including chronic eosinophilic pneumonia, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis/mycosis, eosinophilic bronchitis, and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis share clinical features with eosinophilic asthma and CRPwNP, which are mostly adult-onset and may develop simultaneously or consecutively. These eosinophilic airway/lung diseases respond well to initial treatment with systemic corticosteroids, but often recur when the corticosteroids are tapered. The management of these "refractory" cases is an unmet need for clinicians. We first reviewed the standard treatments for these chronic eosinophilic airway/lung diseases, followed by the definition and prevalence of refractory diseases and the role of biologics in their management. The available evidence varies from case reports and case series to randomized control trials, depending on the type of disease; however, these studies provide not only a direction for clinical practice, but also insights into the pathophysiology of each disease. Physicians should discuss the efficacy and costs of biologics in patients with refractory eosinophilic airway/lung diseases to minimize not only the current symptoms, but future risks as well.

Questionnaire for diagnosing asthma-COPD overlap in COPD: Development of ACO screening questionnaire (ACO-Q).

BACKGROUND: The considerable prevalence and worse outcomes of asthma-COPD overlap (ACO) in COPD have been reported, and optimal introduction of ICS is essential for ACO. However, diagnostic criteria for ACO consist of multiple laboratory tests, which is challenging during this COVID-19 era. The purpose of this study was to create a simple questionnaire to diagnose ACO in patients with COPD. METHODS: Among 100 COPD patients, 53 were diagnosed with ACO based on the Japanese Respiratory Society Guidelines for ACO. Firstly, 10 candidate questionnaire items were generated and further selected by a logistic regression model. An integer-based scoring system was generated based on the scaled estimates of items. RESULTS: Five items, namely a history of asthma, wheezing, dyspnea at rest, nocturnal awakening, and weather- or season-dependent symptoms, contributed significantly to the diagnosis of ACO in COPD. History of asthma was related to FeNO >35 ppb. Two points were assigned to history of asthma and 1 point to other items in the ACO screening questionnaire (ACO-Q), and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.883 (95% CI: 0.806-0.933). The best cutoff point was 1 point, and the positive predictive value was 100% at a cutoff of 3 points or higher. The result was reproducible in the validation cohort of 53 patients with COPD. CONCLUSIONS: A simple questionnaire, ACO-Q, was developed. Patients with scores ≥3 could be reasonably recommended to be treated as ACO, and additional laboratory testing would be recommended for patients with 1 and 2 points.

Pre-administration of super-low volume polyethylene glycol is as effective as senna laxative as bowel preparation for colonoscopy: a randomized controlled phase 2 trial.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Senna laxatives are commonly used for bowel preparation before colonoscopies in Japan. However, this laxative frequently causes complications such as abdominal pain. This study aimed to establish a novel method of bowel preparation, which involved the pre-administration of super-low volume polyethylene glycol (PEG) for three days followed by the same-day administration of low volume PEG. METHODS: This study was a prospective, multicenter, investigator-blinded, phase 2, randomized control trial. The intake of 13.9 g (120 mL) of PEG or 1 g of a senna laxative for 3 days before the examination was indicated for each group, and 2 L of PEG solution was used for preparation on the examination day. The primary endpoint was the efficacy of bowel cleansing, as assessed by the Boston bowel preparation scale. The secondary endpoints were the adenoma detection rate and occurrence of complications. RESULTS: A total of 250 patients were initially enrolled. A total of 122 patients from each group were included in the intention-to-treat analysis. In the intention-to-treat analysis, the responder rates were the same for the two groups (56.6% vs 50.8%). Additionally, the adenoma detection rate did not differ between the two groups (34.9% vs 41.8%, P = 0.3795). In contrast, adherence was higher in the PEG group (93.4% vs 82.8%, P = 0.0101), and the occurrence of complications was lower in the PEG group (1.7% vs 16.4%, P = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The novel super-low volume PEG method for bowel preparation was as effective as the conventional method with senna laxatives.

[THE OVERLAPPING ELIGIBILITY FOR BIOLOGICS IN PATIENTS WITH SEVERE ASTHMA AND PHENOTYPES].

BACKGROUND: Biologics are an important treatment option for patients with severe asthma. Four biologics are available in Japan, and an overlapping eligibility has been observed. The eligibility and availability of drugs depend on the local regulations of different countries. However, there is no precise information about the eligibility for biologics, including dupilumab, in Japan. The aim of the study was to investigate the overlapping eligibility and to analyze the phenotypes of patients with multiple eligibility. METHODS: In this observational study, a retrospective chart review of patients was performed. The eligibility criteria for omalizumab were IgE 30-1500IU/mL and positive IgE for perennial aeroallergen. The eligibility criteria for IL-5-targeted biologics (mepolizumab and benralizumab) were eosinophil counts (Eos) > 150µL, while those for dupilumab were Eos > 150µL or fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) > 150ppb or IgE > 167IU/mL. Severe asthma was defined by the severity criteria under treatment based on Japanese guidelines for adult asthma. RESULTS: One hundred patients with severe asthma were identified. The eligibility for omalizumab, IL-5-targeted therapies, and dupilumab was 43%, 69%, and 82%, respectively. Thirty percent of the patients were eligible for all the four biologics and showed the lowest FEV1, frequent exacerbation history, and the highest levels of Eos, FeNO, and serum periostin. Only 11% of the patients were not indicated for any biologics. CONCLUSION: A considerable portion of patients was eligible for all the biologics. Asthma control was poor, and type 2 inflammation was prominent in such patients.

Individual feedback and monitoring of endoscopist performance improves the adenoma detection rate in screening colonoscopy: a prospective case-control study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Previous reports have suggested that a longer withdrawal time (WT) during colonoscopy led to an improved adenoma detection rate (ADR); however, there are few controlled studies that substantiated monitoring WT as an educational method. We aimed to validate a feedback and monitoring system to improve the ADR in screening colonoscopy in a prospective case-control setting. METHODS: After collecting data in the pre-feedback period (3.5 months), the individual performance and the average ADR and WT values of the facility were provided to 6 endoscopists in the intervention group, while 3 endoscopists were isolated as the control group during the feedback period (2 weeks). The intervention group consisted of two subgroups, the Fast and Slow WT groups, according to the results from the pre-feedback period. The endoscopists in the intervention group were instructed to be aware of their own WT in each examination during the post-feedback period (4 months). The performances of all endoscopists in the post-feedback period were analyzed and compared with those in the pre-feedback period. RESULTS: Among the initial analyses, the correlation analysis and multivariate analysis revealed that WT was an independent predictor for the ADR (P = 0.0101). After providing individual performance feedback and instruction regarding real-time WT monitoring, the WT was significantly prolonged in the Fast WT group (P = 0.0346) but did not change in the Slow WT and control groups. In addition, the ADR of the Fast WT group significantly improved after the intervention (P = 0.024), whereas the ADR of the Slow WT and control groups did not change. CONCLUSION: Providing individual feedback on ADR and WT and monitoring WT helped improve the endoscopists' ADRs.

IL-9 Blockade Suppresses Silica-induced Lung Inflammation and Fibrosis in Mice.

Recapitulative animal models of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and related diseases are lacking, which inhibits our ability to fully clarify the pathogenesis of these diseases. Although lung fibrosis in mouse models is often induced by bleomycin, silica-induced lung fibrosis is more sustainable and more progressive. Therefore, in this study, we sought to elucidate the mediator(s) responsible for the pathogenesis of lung fibrosis, through the use of a mouse model of silica-induced lung fibrosis. With a single nasal administration of 16 mg of silica, lung inflammation (assessed by elevated cellular components in the BAL fluids [BALFs]) and lung fibrosis (assessed by lung histology and lung hydroxyproline levels) were induced and sustained for as long as 24 weeks. Of the mediators measured in the BALFs, IL-9 was characteristically elevated gradually, and peaked at 24 weeks after silica administration. Treatment of silica-challenged mice with anti-IL-9-neutralizing antibody inhibited lung fibrosis, as assessed by lung hydroxyproline level, and suppressed the levels of major mediators, including IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-12, CCL2, CXCL1, and TNF-α in BALFs. Moreover, human lung specimens from patients with IPF have shown high expression of IL-9 in alveolar macrophages, CD4-positive cells, and receptors for IL-9 in airway epithelial cells. Collectively, these data suggest that IL-9 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of lung fibrosis in diseases such as IPF.

[PREVALENCE OF FUNCTIONAL DYSPEPSIA SYMPTOMS IN PATIENTS WITH ASTHMA].

BACKGROUND: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common comorbidity among patients with asthma. In addition, functional dyspepsia (FD) is characterized by upper abdominal symptoms without organic disease manifestations. However, the prevalence of FD among patients with asthma remains uninvestigated; therefore, herein, we investigated the prevalence of dyspepsia symptoms in these patients. METHODS: We recruited 156 patients with asthma from the outpatient clinic of Teikyo University Hospital and investigated the prevalence of dyspepsia symptoms using the modified Frequency Scale for the Symptoms of GERD. Further, the relationship between dyspepsia symptoms and clinical background of asthma was also investigated. RESULTS: Certain digestive organ symptoms were exhibited by 83% of patients with asthma, dyspepsia symptoms by 44%, and reflux symptoms by 26%. The dyspepsia-dominant group showed significantly higher female ratio and numerically lower %FEV1 than the asymptomatic group. In the group with dyspepsia score >5 points, the ratio of patients undergoing step 4 asthma treatment and the ratio of those using long-acting muscarinic receptor antagonist were higher than those in the group with a score <5 points. Furthermore, endoscopic diagnosis was also made in 84 patients and the prevalence of FD was 21%. CONCLUSION: A considerable proportion of patients with asthma exhibited dyspepsia symptoms, and the asthma severity in patients with dyspepsia was higher than those in asymptomatic patients. Based on the current findings, more attention should be directed to FD, in addition to GERD, as a comorbidity of the digestive system in patients with asthma.

Effectiveness of clarithromycin in patients with yellow nail syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Yellow nail syndrome (YNS) is a rare disease characterized by the triad of thickened, slow-growing yellow nails, lymphedema, and chronic respiratory manifestations. The cause of YNS is not known; however, it is suggested to be due to a congenital lymph abnormality. Since YNS is accompanied by chronic bronchial infection in more than half of patients, we hypothesized that treatment with clarithromycin (CAM) could be effective. We therefore evaluated the effectiveness of CAM against nail discoloration and respiratory manifestation in patients with YNS. METHODS: We conducted an observational study involving 5 patients with YNS who were treated at our institution between January 2005 and January 2016. CAM was prescribed for every patient. Patient demographic information, comorbidities, medications, chest radiographs, and clinical data such as nail color were extracted to evaluate clinical outcome. RESULTS: Mean patient age was 71.6 years, and 2 patients (40%) were male. Four patients had sinusitis, and 2 had rheumatoid arthritis. Regarding respiratory manifestations, 4 patients had sinobronchial syndrome and 2 had pleural effusion. Nail discoloration improved in every patient after CAM treatment. Four patients also experienced improvement in their respiratory manifestations. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with YNS, the anti-inflammatory activity of macrolides might improve their systemic inflammation. This improvement could help to reduce lymphedema and promote nail growth. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Ethical approval was provided by the institutional review board of the National Center of Global Health and Medicine (NCGM-G-002143-00), in January 2017. This study is retrospectively registered for UMIN Clinical Trial Registry ( UMIN000028514 ) in August 4th, 2017.

[A case of chronic hepatitis B managed with continued adefovir despite treatment-related Fanconi syndrome and osteomalacia].

A 64-year-old woman was prescribed lamivudine and adefovir (ADV) for chronic hepatitis B. Although her serum creatinine level was normal (<1.01 mg/dl), she developed bone pain due to Fanconi syndrome and osteomalacia. Therefore, ADV was discontinued and she was switched to entecavir (ETV); however, she developed an ETV-resistant mutant virus and a small dose of ADV was restarted. Her hepatitis B virus (HBV) -DNA levels and renal function were closely monitored. She has had preserved creatinine levels and tubular function, with almost undetectable HBV-DNA levels for more than a year after treatment.

An algorithm-based active cleansing protocol can reduce the bowel preparation time for screening colonoscopy: A propensity score matching study.

BACKGROUND: Methods that minimize the time for on-site bowel preparation before colonoscopy are needed. We prospectively validated that a novel algorithm-based active cleansing (ABAC) protocol could reduce the time for preparation compared with the conventional method. METHODS: This was an open-label, multicenter, prospective comparative study from April to October 2021. The study compared the bowel preparation time for colonoscopy between patients instructed with the ABAC protocol and control groups. Patients in the ABAC protocol group as well as the control group were administered 2000 mL of polyethylene glycol (PEG) within 2 hours. After the first two hours, patients in the protocol group voluntarily took 300 ml of the solution without the instruction of nursing staff depending on the number of defecations in the first 2 hours. The intervention and control groups were adjusted for background characteristics by propensity score matching (PSM). RESULTS: After adjustment by PSM, 174 patients in each of the two groups were included in the final analysis. In the intention-to-treat analysis, the preparation time was significantly shorter in the intervention group than that in the control group (126.3 ± 32.7 min vs. 144.9 ± 39.9 min, P = 0.018). The proportion of additional PEG intake was significantly higher in the intervention group (16 [9.2%] vs. 6 [3.4%], P = 0.047). The number of defecations was also higher in the intervention group than in the control group (7.8 ± 2.5 vs. 6.3 ± 2.2, P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Simple active instruction protocol is effective to reduce on-site bowel preparation time and nursing staff labor for colonoscopy.

Dietary restriction after cold snare polypectomy of colorectal polyp for prevention of delayed bleeding.

Background and Aim: Cold snare polypectomy (CSP) for small colorectal polyps is a safe technique; however, there is little evidence on whether dietary restriction after CSP is essential. This study aimed to determine whether dietary restriction after CSP is necessary to prevent delayed bleeding. Methods: This is a randomized, controlled, non-inferiority trial conducted between November 2021 and March 2022. Patients with non-pedunculated small colorectal polyps (<10 mm) and who did not take anticoagulants were randomly allocated to two groups: (i) the normal diet (ND) group, and (ii) the low-residue diet (LRD) group. The ND group was instructed to eat anything after CSP, whereas the LRD group was advised to take LRD for 3 days after CSP. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of delayed major bleeding that needed endoscopic hemostasis. Results: A total of 193 patients (average 57.5 years old, 51.9% male) were enrolled in the study. Subsequently, 97 and 96 patients were allocated to the ND and LRD group, respectively. The occurrence of delayed major bleeding was 1.0% in the ND group and 2.1% in the LRD group (95% confidence interval [CI]: -4.4% to 2.4%; difference: -1.1%), which showed the non-inferiority of the ND group. In addition, there was no difference between the two groups with respect to the occurrence of minor delayed bleeding (3.1% and 4.2%, respectively; difference: -1.1% [95% CI: -6.4% to 4.2%]). Conclusion: Dietary restriction after CSP for low-bleeding-risk colorectal polyps is not necessary for the prevention of delayed bleeding (Registration number: UMIN000045669).

Short- and long-term efficacy of bronchial artery embolization using a gelatin sponge for the treatment of cryptogenic hemoptysis.

Bronchial artery embolization (BAE) is the first choice treatment for hemoptysis. With advances in endovascular treatment, various embolic materials have become available. However, the optimal embolic material for the treatment of cryptogenic hemoptysis has not been determined. This study aimed to investigate the short-and long-term efficacy of BAE using a gelatin sponge in the treatment of patients with cryptogenic hemoptysis. The clinical characteristics, angiographic findings, and short- and long-term outcomes of BAE were retrospectively analyzed in 22 consecutive patients who underwent BAE for control of cryptogenic hemoptysis between January 2010 and September 2018. Selective angiography and super-selective BAE were successfully performed for all patients. A gelatin sponge was used in all patients. Further, polyvinyl alcohol was mixed with the gelatin sponge in 11 patients (50%). Angiography showed that the bronchial artery was responsible for hemoptysis in all patients, along with the intercostal artery in one patient (4.5%) and the inferior phrenic artery in one patient (4.5%). Immediate hemostasis was achieved in all patients. The recurrence-free rate was 100% for 1 month, 94.1% for 3 months, 94.1% for 12 months, and 87.4% for 24 months. Of two patients with recurrent hemoptysis, one underwent bronchoscopic hemoptysis and the other received intravenous hemostatic agents. No patient underwent BAE for recurrence. No severe complications occurred. In conclusion, BAE using a gelatin sponge has short- and long-term hemostatic efficacy for treating cryptogenic hemoptysis without any severe complications. A gelatin sponge is a suitable embolic material for patients with cryptogenic hemoptysis.

Erratum: Quality management system for screening esophagogastroduodenoscopy improves detection of Helicobacter pylori -negative interval gastric cancer.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1055/a-1594-1833.].

Quality management system for screening esophagogastroduodenoscopy improves detection of Helicobacter pylori -negative interval gastric cancer.

Background and study aims Double-checking the findings of examinations is necessary for endoscopy quality control in gastric cancer screening; however, there have been no reports showing its effectiveness. We prospectively analyzed the effectiveness of a quality management system (QMS) in endoscopy for gastric cancer screening. Patients and methods QMS was defined as having images and reports checked by a second endoscopist on the same day and reporting inconsistencies to the examining endoscopist. Patients diagnosed with early gastric cancer (EGC) in the 2 years before and after the introduction of QMS were divided into two groups: the interval cancer group, which included those for whom cancer was detected within 1 year of the last endoscopy and the noninterval cancer group. Changes in detection rates were compared. Results Before the introduction of QMS, 11 interval EGC cases were diagnosed among 36,189 endoscopies, whereas after the introduction, 32 interval ECG cases were diagnosed among 38,290 endoscopies ( P  = 0.004). Fifteen noninterval EGC cases were diagnosed before the introduction, while 12 noninterval EGC cases were diagnosed after the introduction; no significant difference was observed. Subanalyses by Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection status revealed no difference in the detection rate among HP-positive EGC patients, but the detection rates among HP-eradicated and HP-naïve EGC patients were improved ( P  = 0.005 and P  = 0.011). Logistic regression analysis showed that QMS was an independent predictor for detection of HP-negative interval EGC ( P  = 0.017, OR = 4.4, 95 % CI: 2.0-9.7). Conclusions QMS improved the detection rate for HP-negative interval early gastric cancer. (UMIN000042991).