Non-improvement of atrophic gastritis in cases of gastric cancer after successful Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is closely related to the development of gastric cancer (GC). However, GC can develop even after H. pylori eradication. Therefore, it would be extremely useful if GC could be predicted after eradication. The Kyoto classification score for gastritis (GA) is closely related to cancer risk. However, how the score for GC changes after eradication before onset is not well understood. AIM: To investigate the characteristics of the progression of Kyoto classification scores for GC after H. pylori eradication. METHODS: Eradication of H. pylori was confirmed in all patients using either the urea breath test or the stool antigen test. The Kyoto classification score of GC patients was evaluated by endoscopy at the time of event onset and three years earlier. In addition, the modified atrophy score was evaluated and compared between the GC group and the control GA group. RESULTS: In total, 30 cases of early GC and 30 cases of chronic GA were evaluated. The pathology of the cancer cases was differentiated adenocarcinoma, except for one case of undifferentiated adenocarcinoma. The total score of the Kyoto classification was significantly higher in the GC group both at the time of cancer onset and three years earlier (4.97 vs 3.73, P = 0.0034; 4.2 vs 3.1, P = 0.0035, respectively). The modified atrophy score was significantly higher in the GC group both at the time of cancer onset and three years earlier and was significantly improved only in the GA group (5.3 vs 5.3, P = 0.5; 3.73 vs 3.1, P = 0.0475, respectively). CONCLUSION: The course of the modified atrophy score is useful for predicting the onset of GC after eradication. Patients with severe atrophy after H. pylori eradication require careful monitoring.

Post-embolization syndrome-like symptoms due to shedding of necrotic material of hepatocellular carcinoma into the bile duct following transcatheter arterial chemoembolization: an instructive case.

Fever, abdominal pain, and liver dysfunction are almost inevitable complications of transcatheter arterial chemo embolization (TACE) for hepatocellular carcinoma, but these symptoms may also be due to bile duct obstruction caused by shedding of necrotic tumor material into the bile duct. A 68-year-old man presented with persistent fever, liver dysfunction, and abdominal pain after TACE. Computed tomography revealed stone-like hyperdensities in the bile duct. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography revealed these structures to be necrotic material from hepatocellular carcinoma. We believe this is an instructive case of an often overlooked situation.

Hepatic invasion of a gastric ulcer confirmed by endoscopy and surgery.

A 66-year-old woman who had been suffering from chronic anorexia for two years was transported to the hospital after being unable to consume food for three days. She had no hematemesis or abdominal pain and had no history of taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Blood tests showed marked anemia with hemoglobin of 3.3 g/dL, and esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed a large ulcer lesion in the lesser curvature of the gastric body and a liver-like mass protruding from the ulcer base. Biopsy of the mass showed proliferation of cells showing irregular cord-like structures, suggestive of normal liver tissue or hepatocellular carcinoma. Computed tomography scan showed no obvious free air in the abdomen. Despite conservative treatment, the patient developed hematemesis and progressive anemia, and surgery was performed (total gastrectomy with partial hepatectomy). Surgical specimen showed an ulcer lesion with fibrosis and loss of wall structure in all layers of the stomach, and liver adhesion with fibrosis deep in the ulcer, but no malignant findings. With the advent of powerful gastric acid secretion inhibitors, gastric ulcer invasion into the liver is now very rare, and this case is thus a valuable example showing very clear images.

Progress of ulcerative colitis patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: We have previously demonstrated that the first wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused exacerbations in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients, probably through psychological and physical stress. However, successive waves of the COVID-19 pandemic continuously followed the first. The effects of this chronic stress on the disease condition in UC patients are of interest. AIM: To clarify the effect of chronic stress from COVID-19 on disease condition in patients aggravated after the first wave. METHODS: Our previous study investigated 289 consecutive UC outpatients treated in one center during March and April 2020, the period of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, an identical group of 289 UC patients was evaluated using UC-disease activity index (UC-DAI), endoscopic mucosal appearance score, and Matts pathological grade scoring. RESULTS: Of the 289 UC patients included in the study in 2020, 10 patients dropped out as of 2021 and another 11 patients dropped out as of 2022, making three groups for 2020, 2021 and 2022. No significant differences in characteristics were found among the three groups. UC-DAI scores had aggravated during the period of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, but significantly recovered in 2021 and remained stable in 2022. Matts grade scores significantly recovered in 2021 from those in 2020 and remained stable in 2022. CONCLUSION: Disease activity of UC patients recovered in 2021 and remained stable in 2022, aggravated by the stress of the first wave of COVID-19 in 2020 despite persistence of the pandemic.

A case of eosinophilic pancreatitis in a patient with ulcerative colitis.

Eosinophilic pancreatitis (EP) is very rare and characterised by infiltration of eosinophils into the pancreatic parenchyma. A 40-year-old man was diagnosed with total-colitis-type ulcerative colitis at the age of 15 years. He was then diagnosed with steroid-dependent ulcerative colitis. He was given golimumab, which resulted in remission. Ten months after beginning golimumab, he was urgently hospitalised with a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis. Hence, endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle biopsy was performed to obtain a definitive diagnosis. Pathologically, abundant infiltration of eosinophils was observed in the edematous intralobular stroma of the pancreas. He was diagnosed with EP, and treated with corticosteroids.

Endoscopic Treatment for Submucosal Heterotopic Gastric Gland in a Case Observed over Nine Years from Development to Enlargement.

A 70-year-old Japanese man with a submucosal gastric mass that continued to increase in size underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection using the pocket creation method. Histologically, some epithelial cell nuclei were enlarged, but there was little atypia overall and no sign of malignancy, suggesting a diagnosis of submucosal heterotopic gastric gland (SHGG). SHGG that enlarges over time has been associated with gastric cancer, but a preoperative diagnosis is difficult. This case was very valuable, as it enabled us to follow the course of SHGG over a period of about nine years, from the onset to enlargement.

Safe Performance of Track Dilation and Bile Aspiration with ERCP Catheter in EUS-Guided Hepaticogastrostomy with Plastic Stents: A Retrospective Multicenter Study.

OBJECTIVES: Endoscopic-ultrasound-guided hepaticogastrostomy (EUS-HGS) with plastic stent placement is associated with a high incidence of adverse events that may be reduced using an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) contrast catheter in the track dilation step. In this study, we evaluated the usefulness of track dilation and bile aspiration performed with an ERCP contrast catheter in EUS-HGS with plastic stent placement. METHODS: In a multicenter setting, 22 EUS-HGS cases dilated with an ERCP contrast catheter were analyzed retrospectively and compared between a bile aspiration group and no bile aspiration group. RESULTS: Overall, adverse events occurred in three (13.6%) cases of bile leakage, three (13.6%) cases of peritonitis, and one (4.5%) case of bleeding. Comparing patients with and without bile aspiration, 6 of the 11 patients (54.5%) with no bile aspiration had adverse events, whereas only 1 of the 11 patients (9.1%) who had bile aspiration, as much bile as possible, had an adverse event (bleeding). In univariate analysis, the only factor affecting the occurrence of adverse events was bile aspiration whenever possible (odds ratio, 12.0; 95%CI 1.12-128.84). CONCLUSIONS: In EUS-HGS with plastic stent placement, track dilation and bile aspiration with an ERCP contrast catheter may be useful in reducing adverse events.

Usefulness of duckbill-type anti-reflux self-expandable metal stents for distal malignant biliary obstruction with duodenal invasion: A pilot study.

Objectives: Early obstruction of a self-expandable metal stent placed for distal malignant biliary obstruction is more likely to occur in the presence of duodenal invasion. An anti-reflux self-expandable metal stent (ARMS) has been developed for the purpose of preventing duodenal fluid reflux into the bile duct. In this study, we evaluated the usefulness and safety of a duckbill-type ARMS (D-ARMS) in the situation of duodenal invasion. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 10 consecutive patients who received D-ARMS for distal malignant biliary obstruction with duodenal invasion. We evaluated non-occlusion cholangitis, recurrent biliary obstruction (RBO), and adverse events after D-ARMS placement. Results: There were no cases of non-occlusion cholangitis. RBO was observed in 2 patients (20%), and time to RBO was 236 days and 117 days, respectively. The causes of RBO were overgrowth and sludge formation. The median time to RBO was 382 days (range, 117-382 days). Only one adverse event was observed (cholecystitis). Conclusions: D-ARMS shows potential as an optimal ARMS.

Use of a twin-channel endoscope for removal of a lumen-apposing metal stent that migrated spontaneously after cystogastrostomy.

Kobori and colleagues report a case of late-onset spontaneous internal migration of a lumen-apposing metal stent in a patient hospitalized with obstructive jaundice caused by a pancreatic fluid collection. Although difficult, it was possible to remove the migrated stent by grasping it with two forceps using a twin-channel endoscope.

Unique membranous gastrin receptor expression of parietal cells and its distribution pattern in the gastric oxyntic mucosa and fundic gland polyps.

The aim of this study was to clarify the correlation between gastrin receptor (GR) expression in the gastric oxyntic mucosa and fundic gland polyps (FGPs) and the histological and immunohistochemical findings of the mucosa as well as the history of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) administration. The unique membranous linear positivity of GR in parietal cells was reproducibly observed by immunohistochemistry, which was also validated by immunofluorescence. Further histological and immunohistochemical examination of 34 oxyntic mucosae and 43 FGPs revealed the following: 1) parietal cells (PCs) with membranous linear GR expression (mGR) were observed to be limited to the isthmus-neck region in the normal state; 2) appearance of PCs with mGR in the deep oxyntic gland regions was significantly related to the PPI medication history; 3) PCs with mGR were more frequently observed in the deep oxyntic gland regions when the oxyntic mucosa showed derangement of mucosal component cell compartmentalization revealed by MUC5AC and MUC6 immunohistochemistry, which was also significantly related to the PPI use; and 4) PCs with intense membranous linear positivity of GR were observed to be diffusely distributed in all of the cases of FGPs. In conclusion, the distribution of unique GR membranous linear expression in PCs of the oxyntic mucosa under PPI medication and FGPs could reflect the pathologic mucosal state characterized by derangement of the compartmentalization of mucosal component cells, which could be another basis for evaluating physiologic and/or pathophysiologic conditions of the gastric mucosa.

Two cases of gastric penetration by fish bones with differing courses.

Most foreign bodies swallowed accidentally are naturally excreted. Gastric penetration by a fish bone is rare due to anatomical and physiological features such as the thick stomach wall, wide lumen and gastric acid. The most common penetration site is the antral region. The clinical course of fish bone penetration of the gastric antrum may differ depending on the direction of penetration. In this report, two cases of gastric perforation by fish bones that followed different courses are presented. One case was treated conservatively with antibiotics alone, and another case was considered for surgery, due to increased hematoma and penetration of the fish bone into the pancreas. However, the patient's comorbidities were so severe that surgery was not possible, resulting in meticulous follow-up. Diagnostic imaging was important in these cases.

Predictive value of risk score using Kyoto classification of gastritis a few years prior to diagnosis of early gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Based on past diagnostic classifications of gastritis, the Kyoto classification of gastritis adopts simpler, more objective gastritis findings according to Helicobacter pylori infection status and evaluates the risk of gastric cancer. To clarify whether this score can predict future gastric cancer, we retrospectively examined risk scores obtained using the Kyoto classification of gastritis a few years prior to the diagnosis of early gastric cancer. METHODS: We reviewed data from 50 individuals who had undergone upper gastrointestinal endoscopy 2-3 years prior to the diagnosis of early gastric cancer in our hospital. Two expert endoscopists evaluated and compared risk scores obtained using the Kyoto classification of gastritis between cancer and control groups. RESULTS: With regard to the risk score obtained using the Kyoto classification of gastritis in all cases, atrophy, intestinal metaplasia, diffuse redness, and total score were significantly higher among gastric cancer cases. Among H. pylori-eradicated cases, atrophy score was higher in the gastric cancer group. Among patients for whom H. pylori had been eradicated for >3 years at first endoscopy, atrophy score was still higher in the gastric cancer group. CONCLUSION: This retrospective study suggested that the risk score obtained using the Kyoto classification of gastritis was useful for predicting the onset of gastric cancer. In particular, patients with a high atrophy score even after H. pylori eradication may be at high risk of developing gastric cancer.

Histopathologic Change of a Case of Gastric Oxyntic Neoplasm (Gastric Adenocarcinoma of Fundic Gland Mucosa Type) Through 5 Years With Concurrent Other Oxyntic Gland Lesions.

Some gastric epithelial neoplasms show predominant chief cell differentiation (oxyntic gland neoplasms), in which the entity of "gastric adenocarcinoma of fundic gland type" was firstly designated, whereas a possible more aggressive subgroup "gastric adenocarcinoma of fundic gland mucosa type" (GA-FGM) was subsequently proposed. However, the histopathologic progression mode of these neoplasms has not been sufficiently reported. In this article, we describe a case of GA-FGM in which we could observe its progression during 5 years. The tumor was removed by endoscopic submucosal dissection 5 years after the first biopsy, which had already shown a feature of oxyntic gland neoplasm. During the follow-up period, the endoscopy revealed little change in the tumor appearance. However, the histology of endoscopic submucosal dissection showed submucosal extension with its histological progression. Besides, other oxyntic gland neoplasms of the stomach were observed metachronously or synchronously, giving an implication about a common pathogenetic basis of these lesions.