Characteristics of Early Gastric Cancer in a Patient with a History of Helicobacter pylori Infection and No History of Eradication Therapy.

Objective The characteristics of gastric cancer in patients with atrophic mucosa and no apparent history of Helicobacter pylori eradication have not been thoroughly investigated. Therefore, this study examined the clinicopathological characteristics of gastric cancer in these patients. Methods We retrospectively examined the endoscopic and pathological characteristics of gastric cancer in patients who underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection. Patients or Materials We divided the patients into 2 groups: those with gastric atrophy and no history of eradication (group A; n =102) and those with a history of eradication (group B; n =161). In group A, patients were further divided into mild atrophy (group C) and severe atrophy (group D) groups, while group B was further divided into those who underwent eradication treatment >5 years ago (group E) and those who underwent eradication 1-5 years ago (group F). Results Group A comprised significantly older individuals (75±8.0 vs. 71±7.5 years old, p <0.001) with a higher frequency of elevated gastric cancer than group B (32.4% vs. 17.4%, p =0.006). Compared with group E, group A was older and had a greater incidence of elevated gastric cancer. The incidence of gastric cancer in the U or M region was lower in group C than in group D. Conclusion Gastric cancer in patients with gastric atrophy and no history of eradication was associated with an older age and higher frequency of elevated-type morphology than in those with a history of eradication.

Clinical significance of gastrointestinal bleeding history in patients who undergo left atrial appendage closure.

Background and Aim: Anticoagulant users with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) sometimes suffer from gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) and have difficulty continuing the medication. Left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) has been developed for such situations. We aimed to clarify the clinical significance of a history of GIB in comparison to other factors in patients who had undergone LAAC. Methods: From October 2019 to September 2023, patients with NVAF who underwent LAAC at our hospital were enrolled. We investigated the percentage of patients with a history of GIB who underwent LAAC and compared the incidence of post-LAAC bleeding in these patients compared to those with other factors. Results: A total of 45 patients were included. There were 19 patients (42%) with a history of GIB who underwent LAAC. In a Kaplan-Meier analysis, the cumulative incidence of bleeding complications after LAAC was significantly higher in patients with a history of GIB in comparison to patients with other factors. There were eight cases of post-LAAC bleeding in total, and seven cases had GIB. Conclusions: We need to recognize that GIB is a significant complication in patients who undergo LAAC. The management of GIB by gastroenterologists is essential to the success of LAAC.

Endocrinological Changes after Anamorelin Administration in Patients with Gastrointestinal Cancer.

Changes in hormone levels in patients with cancer cachexia after anamorelin administration have not been fully investigated. This study aimed to determine how anamorelin affects the endocrine system in patients with gastrointestinal cancer and cachexia. We prospectively enrolled 13 patients and comprehensively investigated their body weight and levels of serum albumin, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and hormones before (week 0) and 3 and 12 weeks after anamorelin administration. The variables were evaluated at week 3 in 9 patients and at week 12 in 5 patients. At week 3, anamorelin administration resulted in body weight gain and increased the levels of growth hormone and HbA1c, as well as insulin-like growth factor-1 standard deviation scores (IGF-1 SD scores). At the same time, negative correlations were observed between ΔIGF-1 SD score and Δthyroidstimulating hormone (TSH) and between ΔIGF-1 SD score and Δfree testosterone. ΔBody weight and ΔIGF-1 SD score correlated positively at week 12. These results suggest that TSH and free testosterone levels can be affected 3 weeks after anamorelin administration; however, those variables tend to return to a state of equilibrium, and anabolic effects of anamorelin appear in long-term (≥ 12 weeks) users.

Postoperative Bleeding Risk after Gastric Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection in Patients Receiving a P2Y12 Receptor Antagonist.

Background/Aims: The safety of gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) in users of a P2Y12 receptor antagonist (P2Y12RA) under current guidelines has not been verified. Methods: Patients treated by gastric ESD at Okayama University Hospital between January 2013 and December 2020 were registered. The postoperative bleeding rates of patients (group A) who did not receive any antithrombotic drugs; patients (group B) receiving aspirin or cilostazol monotherapy; and P2Y12RA users (group C) those on including monotherapy or dual antiplatelet therapy were compared. The risk factors for post-ESD bleeding were examined in a multivariate analysis of patient background, tumor factors, and antithrombotic drug management. Results: Ultimately, 1,036 lesions (847 patients) were enrolled. The bleeding rates of group B and C were significantly higher than that of group A (p=0.012 and p<0.001, respectively), but there was no significant difference between group B and C (p=0.11). The postoperative bleeding rate was significantly higher in dual antiplatelet therapy than in P2Y12RA monotherapy (p=0.014). In multivariate analysis, tumor diameter ≥12 mm (odds ratio [OR], 4.30; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.99 to 9.31), anticoagulant use (OR, 4.03; 95% CI, 1.64 to 9.86), and P2Y12RA use (OR, 3.40; 95% CI, 1.07 to 10.70) were significant risk factors for postoperative bleeding. Conclusions: P2Y12RA use is a risk factor for postoperative bleeding in patients who undergo ESD even if receiving drug management according to guidelines. Dual antiplatelet therapy carries a higher risk of bleeding than monotherapy.

Effects of Helicobacter pylori and Nitrate-Reducing Bacteria Coculture on Cells.

Helicobacter pylori infection is an important risk factor for developing gastric cancer. However, only a few H. pylori-infected people develop gastric cancer. Thus, other risk factors aside from H. pylori infection may be involved in gastric cancer development. This study aimed to investigate whether the nitrate-reducing bacteria isolated from patients with atrophic gastritis caused by H. pylori infection are risk factors for developing atrophic gastritis and gastric neoplasia. Nitrate-reducing bacteria were isolated from patients with atrophic gastritis caused by H. pylori infection. Among the isolated bacteria, Actinomyces oris, Actinomyces odontolyticus, Rothia dentocariosa, and Rothia mucilaginosa were used in the subsequent experiments. Cytokine inducibility was evaluated in monocytic cells, and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity and cell cycle were assessed in the gastric epithelial cells. The cytotoxicities and neutrophil-inducing abilities of the Actinomyces and Rothia species were enhanced when cocultured with H. pylori. Th1/Th2-related cytokines were also expressed, but their expression levels differed depending on the bacterial species. Moreover, H. pylori and Actinomyces activated MAPK (ERK and p38) and affected cell cycle progression. Some nitrate-reducing bacteria cocultured with H. pylori may promote inflammation and atrophy by inducing cytokine production. In addition, the MAPK activation and cell cycle progression caused by these bacteria can contribute to gastric cancer development.

Endoscopic findings of gastric neoplasms in familial adenomatous polyposis are associated with the phenotypic variations and grades of dysplasia.

Patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) are at increased risk of developing gastric neoplasms. However, endoscopic findings have not been sufficiently investigated. We investigated the phenotypic expression of gastric adenoma (low-grade dysplasia) and gastric cancer (high-grade dysplasia or carcinoma) in patients with FAP and clarified their relationships to endoscopic findings. Of 29 patients with FAP who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy between 2005 and 2020, 11 (38%) had histologically confirmed gastric neoplasms, including 23 lesions of gastric adenoma and 9 lesions of gastric cancer. The gastric neoplasms were classified into 3 phenotypes (gastric, mixed, or intestinal type) according to the immunostaining results and evaluated for location (U or M region: upper or middle third of the stomach or L region: lower third of the stomach), color (same as the background mucosa, whitish, or reddish), macroscopic type (elevated, flat, or depressed), background mucosal atrophy (present or absent), fundic gland polyps in the surrounding mucosa (present or absent), and morphologic changes in tumor size. Elevated whitish gastric adenomas were further subdivided by macroscopic type (flat elevated, protruded, or elevated with a central depression) and color (milky- or pinkish-white). The gastric adenomas included gastric (11/23, 48%), mixed (4/23, 17%), and intestinal (8/23, 35%) phenotypes. In contrast, no lesions of gastric cancers showed a gastric phenotype (0/9, 0%), while 5 (56%) and 4 (44%) lesions were intestinal and mixed phenotypes, respectively. Gastric cancers were significantly more likely than gastric adenomas to present as reddish depressed lesions with gastric atrophy. All gastric-type adenomas occurred in non-atrophic mucosa, in mucosa with fundic gland polyps in the periphery, in the U or M region, and as flat elevated or protruded lesions with a milky-white color. Half of the lesions increased in size. Meanwhile, the typical endoscopic features of intestinal-type adenomas included occurrence in the L region and elevated pinkish-white lesions with central depression. None of the intestinal-type adenomas increased in size during the observation period. We believe that these endoscopic features will be useful for the prompt diagnosis and appropriate management of gastric neoplasms in patients with FAP.

Zinc Acetate Dihydrate Tablet-associated Gastric Lesions.

Objective This study aimed to determine the prevalence and endoscopic features of zinc acetate dihydrate tablet-associated gastric lesions. Methods We retrospectively examined the endoscopic features of 47 patients taking zinc acetate dihydrate tablets who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Results Gastric mucosal alterations, including redness, erosions, ulcers, and adhesion of the white coat, were observed in 29 of 47 patients (61.7%). Among patients with gastric lesions (group A), there was a significantly higher percentage of symptomatic patients in comparison to patients without lesions (group B) (65.5% vs. 22.2%; p<0.01). The background characteristics of the two groups did not differ to a statistically significant extent. On esophagogastroduodenoscopy, mucosal redness (n=27, 93.1%), erosions (n=26, 90.0%), adhesion of the white coat (n=25, 86.2%), and ulcers (n=9, 31.0%) were observed. None of the 19 patients who previously underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy had gastric lesions before starting zinc acetate dihydrate. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy was performed after the cessation of zinc acetate dihydrate intake in six patients, and revealed the resolution of gastric lesions. Conclusion Gastric lesions were observed in 29 of 47 patients who were taking zinc acetate dihydrate tablets. The most common endoscopic findings were mucosal redness (93.1%), erosions (90.0%), adhesion of the white coat (86.2%), and ulcers (31.0%). Although the exact pathogenesis is uncertain, we believe that understanding the unique manifestations of this gastric lesion will help physicians manage adverse events in patients taking zinc acetate dihydrate tablets.

Clinicopathological examination of ESD as salvage therapy for esophageal cancer after definitive chemo-radiation therapy.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Salvage therapy for esophageal cancer following chemo-radiation therapy (CRT) has not been established. We aimed to evaluate endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) as a salvage therapy based on histopathological features of lesions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We compared 10 lesions in eight patients with local residual, recurrent, or metachronous esophageal squamous cell carcinoma treated by ESD after CRT (CRT group) and 59 lesions treated by ESD without CRT (non-CRT group) during the same period. RESULTS: The en bloc resection rate was 100 % while the complete resection rate was 80.0 % in the lesions after CRT, indicating no difference between the CRT and non-CRT groups. Pathological examination showed that fibrosis was more intense in the lamina propria mucosa, muscularis mucosa, and submucosa. The muscularis mucosa was thicker in both non-tumor and tumor sites in the CRT group compared to the non-CRT group. However, severe submucosal fibrosis was observed only in one lesion in the CRT group. The maximum diameter of the submucosal artery was significantly larger in the CRT group ( P  < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Compared to the non-CRT group, the lesions in the CRT group were accompanied by fibrosis while the muscularis mucosa were thicker; however, severe fibrosis of the submucosa was rare. It is important to dissect the muscularis mucosa appropriately during ESD, which makes successful dissection of the submucosa possible. Attention should be paid to bleeding from large arteries.