Clinical outcomes of different types of metallic stents in malignant distal duodenum stenosis: A retrospective study.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Endoscopic stenting at malignant distal duodenum stenosis (MDDS) is challenging because of the duodenal C-loop configuration, the acute angle of the duodenojejunal junction, and the limited length of the endoscope. Few studies have investigated the clinical outcomes of stenting at the distal duodenum. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the clinical outcomes of treating MDDS with different types of metallic stents. METHODS: From January 2012 to December 2020, fifty-six patients with MDDS who underwent duodenal stenting were enrolled for analysis. Thirty-five patients received uncovered self-expandable metallic stents (UC-SEMS), and twenty-one patients received partially covered self-expandable metallic stents (PC-SEMS). All patients were followed up till death or for 18 months. The clinical success rate, stent dysfunction rate, and stent patency were compared between the groups. Multivariate analysis was conducted to identify factors related to stent dysfunction. RESULTS: The clinical success rates were 85.7 % in both the UC-SEMS and PC-SEMS groups. Stent dysfunction rates (UC-SEMS: 34.3 %, PC-SEMS: 38.1 %, p = 0.773) and the average stent patency (UC-SEMS: 117.2 days, PC-SEMS: 100.0 days, p = 0.576) were not statistically different between the groups. Multivariate analysis disclosed the age ≥65 years was significantly related to stent dysfunction (odds ratio: 4.78, p = 0.031). CONCLUSIONS: Both UC-SEMS and PC-SEMS are safe and effective treatment options for MDDS. However, stent dysfunction remains a significant issue to overcome, particularly in the elderly. Further research is needed to explore novel strategies that can improve the effectiveness of stent placement and reduce the risk of stent dysfunction.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided hepaticogastrostomy in a patient with post esophagectomy and gastric tube reconstruction: a case report.

A 54-year-old woman with a history of esophageal adenocarcinoma suffered from obstructive jaundice after completing esophagectomy with gastric tube reconstruction and adjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy 1 year. An abdominal computed tomography showed that the common bile duct was compressed by metastatic lymphadenopathy. She received endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography first but it was failed in cannulation. Then, endoscopic ultrasound-guided hepaticogastrostomy (EUS-HGS) was performed with a partially covered metallic stent placed from the stomach to the left intrahepatic duct. Though aspiration pneumonia occurred after the procedure, she recovered on the next day. She resumed oral intake since the third day without fever or abdominal pain and she was discharged on the seventh day after the procedure. This is the second case report of placing a partially covered metallic stent through EUS-HGS in a patient with post esophagectomy and gastric tube reconstruction and it can be an alternative treatment.

Clinical and Histologic Features of Patients with Biopsy-Proven Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease.

Background/Aims: Fatty liver disease is defined as a cluster of diseases with heterogeneous etiologies, and its definition continues to evolve. The novel conceptional criteria for metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) were proposed in 2020 to avoid the exclusion of a certain subpopulation, but their evaluations have been limited. We aimed to examine and compare the clinical as well as histologic features of MAFLD versus nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in patients with biopsy-proven hepatic steatosis. Methods: From January 2009 to December 2019, 175 patients with histology-proven hepatic steatosis and 10 with cryptogenic cirrhosis who were treated at National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, were enrolled. Patients were classified into different groups according to the diagnostic criteria of MAFLD and NAFLD. The clinical and histologic features were then analyzed and compared. Results: In total, 76 patients (41.1%) were diagnosed with both MAFLD and NAFLD, 81 patients (43.8%) were diagnosed with MAFLD alone, nine patients (4.9%) were diagnosed with NAFLD alone, and 19 patients (10.3%) were diagnosed with neither. Those with MAFLD alone exhibited a higher degree of disease severity regarding histology and laboratory data than those with NAFLD alone. Advanced fibrosis was associated with the presences of hepatitis B virus infection and metabolic diseases. Conclusions: The novel diagnostic criteria for MAFLD include an additional 38.9% of patients with hepatic steatosis and can better help identify those with a high degree of disease severity for early intervention than can the previous NAFLD criteria.

Pathologic findings of patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and the impact of concurrent hepatitis B virus infection in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Pathologic data of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was limited and the association between NAFLD and chronic hepatitis B remained unclear in Taiwan. This study aimed to determine the pathological manifestations of NAFLD and the impact of concurrent hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in a medical center. METHODS: Retrospective review of 104 consecutive random liver biopsies with the histologic diagnosis of NAFLD or cryptogenic cirrhosis from 2009 to 2018 was conducted. Clinical, biochemical and histological data were compared among various stages of NAFLD and between those with or without concurrent HBV infection. RESULTS: Advanced fibrosis was documented in 39.42% of Taiwanese patients with NAFLD according to METAVIR scoring system and was associated with aging (odds ratio, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.03-1.10), hypertension (odds ratio, 2.97; 95% CI, 1.31-6.74), diabetes mellitus (odds ratio, 4.36; 95% CI, 1.78-10.70) and concurrent HBV infection (odds ratio, 3.55; 95% CI, 1.46-8.58) by multivariate analyses. Concurrent HBV was found in 28.57% of the NAFLD patients. Patients with concurrent HBV had lower platelet counts, longer prothrombin time/INR and higher fibrosis stage than those without CHB. CONCLUSION: Advanced fibrosis in patients with NAFLD was common in the biopsy series, and was related to aging, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and concurrent HBV infection.

Inflammatory bowel disease and its treatment in 2018: Global and Taiwanese status updates.

The global incidence and prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has increased over the last 2-4 decades, likely because of the adoption of a more "western" lifestyle as well as improved detection and awareness, and Taiwan is no exception. To characterize the increasing burden of IBD, we conducted a comprehensive review of IBD in the existing literature. The following parameters were reviewed: background knowledge and current standard care for IBD, including natural history, epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment. In addition, new imaging modalities and treatment options such as combined positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance enterography, new biologic agents, small-molecule therapy, biosimilar therapeutics, mesenchymal stem cell transplantation, and fecal microbiota transplantation, all of which have been introduced for IBD management, were reviewed. We also used the hospital-based as well as population-based Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database to assess Taiwan-specific trends for comparison with global trends.