Safety, Efficacy and Persistence of Advanced Therapies in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Results from ORIGINS. A Retrospective Observational Study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Real-world assessments of efficacy and safety of advanced therapies used for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients are limited. We aimed to report safety, efficacy and treatment persistence of new molecules (infliximab, adalimumab, vedolizumab, tofacitinib, ustekinumab) in a retrospective multicentric national Romanian analysis. METHODS: We conducted a nationwide, retrospective observational multicentric study. Data were collected retrospectively from electronic and paper files. Patients who started on one of the five investigated molecules during December 2019-December 2021 were included. The main outcome measures were clinical remission, endoscopic healing, persistence on treatment and safety data. RESULTS: A total of 678 adult patients from 24 Romanian IBD centers with a diagnosis of ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease were included. Participants had previously failure to one (268, 39.5%), two (108, 15%) or more treatment lines and only 38% (259) were biologic naïve. In the 24 months study period, most patients were started on vedolizumab (192, 28%), followed by adalimumab, infliximab, ustekinumab and tofacitinib. In biologic-naïve patients, most physicians (72%) preferred anti-TNF treatment as first line biologic (93 patients started on infliximab, 92 on adalimumab), followed by vedolizumab, ustekinumab and tofacitinib. During follow-up, 71% (470, p=0.05) of patients achieved clinical remission and 36% (134, p=0.03) achieved mucosal healing. The 6 months milestone for persistence was reached in 78% (530) of cases. Almost half of patients (47%, 316 patients) persisted on their current treatment for over 12 months. Overall, an adverse reaction was reported for 67 (10.4%) patients, with no lethal events. CONCLUSIONS: Population of biologic-experienced IBD patients in Romania is increasing and is becoming more difficult to achieve long-term disease control. Discontinuation rates for advanced therapies are high.

TIPS with a Twist - The Real Life Management of a Case of Budd-Chiari-related Acute Liver and Subsequent Multiple Organ Failure.

INTRODUCTION: Budd-Chari syndrome (BCS) is a rare condition defined by the obstruction of hepatic venous outflow. BCS is a relatively infrequent cause of acute liver failure (ALF), accounting for less than 1% of cases. Treatment for acute BCS consists of a stepwise approach, requiring anticoagulation, angioplasty, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS), and liver transplantation. CASE REPORT: We present the case of a 31-year-old female patient with BCS, which led to ALF and subsequent multiple organ failure, which was successfully treated with TIPS and endovascular coil placement. Initial diagnostic workup revealed the complete obstruction of the hepatic venous outflow, spleno-mesenteric confluent thrombosis, and biochemical criteria of ALF. Her condition rapidly deteriorated towards multiple organ failure. At one point, the MELD score was 42, while the SOFA score predicted a mortality rate of >95%. Following continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration with cytokine adsorbent filters, TIPS was inserted, resulting in a portal pressure gradient (PPG) of 14 mmHg. Following TIPS, the patient had persistent ascites and later presented an episode of gastric variceal bleeding with endoscopic and surgical treatment failure. TIPS revision with further dilation led to a final PPG of 6 mmHg. During the procedure, selective embolization by coil placement of the spleno-gastric collateral circulation ultimately resolved the variceal bleeding. In the aftermath, the patient had complete organ failure remission and was successfully discharged with no ascites, encephalopathy, or significant impairment regarding daily life activities. CONCLUSION: In the rare setting of BCS complicated with ALF and portal hypertension-related complications, TIPS and endovascular embolization provide a unique, effective, and against-all-odd solution.

Duodenal Ampulla Neuroendocrine Tumor with GISTs of the Proximal Jejunum: A Case Report.

Neuroendocrine tumors (NEN) are a type of heterogenous, slow-growing tumors, that only in about half of the cases can be found in the gastrointestinal tract. Half of these is in the small intestine. The ampullary NENs are rare, accounting for less than 1% of gastroenteropancreatic NENs. Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are a more common type of tumors of the gastrointestinal tract that consist of pacemaker cells. The occurrence of both tumors simultaneously is rare, but in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1, the co-existence of NEN and GIST is more often. Here we report a case of simultaneous occurrence of a well-differentiated NEN and a GIST in a patient without neurofibromatosis. Also, we provide a short review of the current knowledge and treatment strategies regarding these tumors.

Association between Severe SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Severe Acute Pancreatitis in Pregnancy and Postpartum.

INTRODUCTION: SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19) affects the respiratory system but is not limited to it. The gastrointestinal symptoms are polymorphic, including diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and even acute pancreatitis (AP). Pregnant women are more vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infection and have a higher risk of severe outcomes of COVID-19. CASE REPORT: We present a case report of a 31-year-old primigravid patient at 30 weeks of gestation, unvaccinated, with a medical history of thrombophilia, chronic nephropathy of unknown origin, hypertension, and optic neuropathy with left eye hemianopsia. She was diagnosed with moderate-to-severe COVID-19 and respiratory failure, with indication for cesarean section. Postpartum, she developed severe acute pancreatitis, complicated by peripancreatic and supradiaphragmatic abscesses. After 3 months of hospitalization and eight surgical interventions, the patient was discharged. A short mini-review of the literature is introduced. CONCLUSION: Pregnant women with cardiovascular comorbidities are prone to severe complications of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Clinicians should be aware of the association of SARS-CoV-2 and AP in pregnant women.

Endoscopic Ultrasound-guided Biopsy of Liver Tumors.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided liver tumor biopsy has some advantages over the percutaneous and surgical route and, in many cases, should be preferred. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of EUS-fine needle aspiration (FNA) in the diagnosis of liver tumors with an emphasis on its diagnostic accuracy and histological quality of the acquired specimen. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We followed 30 consecutive patients who underwent liver tumor biopsy using EUS guidance. Tissue was acquired using a 22-gauge FNA needle. RESULTS: In 97% of patients, the results of EUS-FNA were adequate for diagnosis. In one case, the pathologist recommended a repeat biopsy. The acquired specimen was a core fragment in 81% of cases while in 19% of cases the specimen was fragmented and subsequently used as a cell block. No complications were reported. CONCLUSION: EUS-FNA is characterized by a high success rate on the acquisition of good-quality tissue specimens, a low rate of complications, and decreased patient discomfort. This procedure should be especially considered in the case of liver lesions that are inaccessible via the percutaneous route or when concurrent biopsies are required for accurate diagnosis.

Non-invasive laparoscopic detection of small tumors of the digestive tract using inductive sensors of proximity.

The precise location of gastric and colorectal tumors is of paramount importance for the oncological surgeon as it dictates the limits of resection and the extent of lymphadenectomy. However, this task proves sometimes to be very challenging, especially in the laparoscopic setting when the tumors are small, have a soft texture, and do not invade the serosa. In this view, our research team has developed a new instrument adapted to minimally-invasive surgery, and manipulated solely by the operating surgeon which has the potential to locate precisely tumors of the digestive tract. It consists of an inductive proximity sensor and an electronic block encapsulated into an autoclavable stainless-steel cage that works in tandem with an endoscopic hemostatic clip whose structure was modified to increase detectability. By scanning the serosal side of the colon or stomach, the instrument is capable to accurately pinpoint the location of the clip placed previously during diagnostic endoscopy on the normal bowel mucosa, adjacent to the tumor. In the current in-vivo experiments performed on large animals, the modified clips were transported without difficulties to the point of interest and attached to the mucosa of the bowel. Using a laparoscopic approach, the detection rate of this system reached 65% when the sensor scanned the bowel at a speed of 0.3 cm/s, and applying slight pressure on the serosa. This value increased to 95% when the sensor was guided directly on the point of clip attachment. The detection rate dropped sharply when the scanning speed exceeded 1 cm/s and when the sensor-clip distance exceeded the cut-off value of 3 mm. In conclusion, the proposed detection system demonstrated its potential to offer a swift and convenient solution for the digestive laparoscopic surgeons, however its detection range still needs to be improved to render it useful for the clinical setting.

Phytochemical Content and Antioxidant Activity of Malus domestica Borkh Peel Extracts.

Apple is an important dietary source of carotenoids and phenolic compounds, and its regular consumption is associated with several health benefits. The aim of this study was to evaluate the phytochemical composition of fresh peels of four red-skinned ("Champion", "Generos", "Idared", "Florina") and two yellow-skinned ("Golden Delicious", "Reinette Simirenko") apple varieties. Antioxidant activity of apple peel extracts was determined by ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and ABTS radical scavenging capacity assays. Total carotenoid and polyphenolic contents were determined spectrophotometrically, while the profile of individual carotenoids and anthocyanins (in red-skinned varieties) was analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to a photodiode array detector (HPLC-PDA). Carotenoid composition was specific for each variety, and total carotenoid content was slightly higher in yellow-skinned apple peels compared to red-skinned varieties. In contrast, total phenolic content was higher in the peels of red-skinned cultivars. Anthocyanin profile was predominated by cyanidin-3-O-galactoside. Antioxidant potential followed the trend of the total polyphenolic content, being highest in "Florina", as measured by both FRAP and ABTS assays. Our results demonstrated apple peels have high phytochemical content with diverse compositions, and their regular consumption can be an excellent source of antioxidants.

Ultrasound Image Computerized Analysis for Non-invasive Quantitative Evaluation of Hepatic Fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: Assessing the diagnostic value of liver ultrasound image computerized analysis (USICA) for hepatic fibrosis (HF) staging in respect to the "gold standard" provided by liver biopsy (LB). METHODS: Two-hundred twenty-eight patients with chronic hepatopathies were prospectively enrolled in the study. All the patients underwent LB and abdominal ultrasound (US). For quantitative US assessment of HF, an image analysis software was developed and 3 parameters were extracted by wavelet processing of the region of interest: mHLlivermHHliver, mHLlivermLLliver, and mHLlivermHLspleen. To assess the relevance of each feature, the support vector machine (SVM) classifiers were employed to discriminate between the 2 severity classes (i.e., incipient F1-F2 vs advanced F3-F4 fibrosis). The statistical significance of the HF staging was assessed using SVM classifiers, in terms of sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp), and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. RESULTS: A cut-off value of 0.342 of mHLlivermHHliver allowed the discrimination between the incipient and advanced HF with 79.5% Se and 77.4% Sp, at an area under receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) value of 0.867 (P < .001). CONCLUSION: The proposed USICA using wavelet filter parameters proved to be an innovative method that is useful for the initial noninvasive evaluation and quantification of HF, with the advantages of simplicity, short calculation time, accessibility, and repeatability. The mHLlivermHHliver parameter has demonstrated good accuracy in distinguishing incipient and advanced HF and can be considered an effective non-invasive imaging marker for the assessment of HF in patients with chronic hepatic disease.

PD-1/PD-L1 expression in pancreatic cancer and its implication in novel therapies.

Pancreatic cancer is the seventh leading cause of death in developed countries and it still has a poor prognosis despite intense research in the last 20 years. Immunotherapy is a relatively new strategy in cancer treatment. The aim of immunotherapy is to block the immunosuppressive effect of tumoral cells. The PD1/PD-L1 axis has an important role in the inhibition of effector T cells and the development of regulatory T cells (Tregs). Blocking these checkpoints, and also inhibitory signals, leads to apoptosis of Tregs and increased immune response of effector T cells against tumoral antigens. Unfortunately, pancreatic cancer is generally considered to be a non-immunogenic tumor. Thus PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors demonstrated poor results in pancreatic cancer, excepting some patients with MSI/dMMR (microsatellite instability/deficient mismatch repair). Furthermore, pancreatic cancer has a particular microenvironment with a strong desmoplastic reaction, increased interstitial fluid pressure, hypoxic conditions, and acidic extracellular pH, which promote tumorigenesis and progression of the tumor. Mismatch repair deficiency (dMMR) is correlated with a high level of mutation-associated neoantigens, most recognized by immune cells which could predict a favorable response to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy. PD-1/PD-L1 molecules could be also found as soluble forms (sPD-1, sPD-L1). These molecules have a potential role in the prognosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Transthoracic ultrasound: an essential diagnostic tool in a very rare case of thoracic lymphangiomatosis.

Thoracic lymphangiomatosis (proliferation of anastomosing lymphatic vessels, of different sizes, in pulmonary, pleural and mediastinal regions) is an extremely rare disorder occurring mostly in childhood. We present a diffuse pulmonary lymphangiomatosis (DPL) case in a young adult female patient in which repeated surgical biopsies were inconclusive and transthoracic ultrasound-guided (TUS) biopsy led to the diagnosis. Even histologically, DPL is very difficult to differentiate from other lymphatic diseases such as lymphangioma and lymphangiomyomatosis, requiring an experienced pathologist and proper immunohistochemistry staining. This case highlights the importance of TUS-guided biopsies in the armamentarium of imagistic techniques in this very rare case.

Transesophageal endoscopic ultrasound fine needle aspiration of vertebral body osteolytic tumors - a novel diagnostic approach. Case series.

AIMS: Vertebral lesions, either primary or more frequently metastasis, are difficult targets for percutaneous guided biopsies and surgical biopsies and are associated with greater risks of complications. We investigated the feasibility of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy in the assessment of vertebral osteolytic tumors as an alternative to CT guided biopsy which is the technique currently used. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Four patients with osteolytic tumors of the vertebral bodies identified by imaging methods (CT or MRI) - 3 patients, and one with a tumor detected primarily during EUS procedure were included in order to evaluate the feasibility of the procedure. The lesions were located either at the dorsal or lumbar vertebrae. In all cases we performed EUS FNA of the osteolytic vertebral body lesions with 22G needles using the transesophageal or transgastric approach. RESULTS: In all cases EUS FNA provided enough tissue for an accurate histopathological report, with no procedural complication. We diagnosed lung adenocarcinoma, hepatocarcinoma and a pancreatic adenocarcinoma vertebral metastasis and one case of lymphoma. CONCLUSIONS: EUS FNA is a valuable technique which should be considered in selected cases, when a "traditional approach" is not applicable or associated with a higher risk. Treatment guidelines are based on the histology of the tumor, histopathological examination being nowadays mandatory. Therefore, we propose for selected cases a feasible technique, with significantly lower procedural risks, as an alternative for open surgical biopsies or computed tomography guided biopsies.

Laparoscopic compatible device incorporating inductive proximity sensors for precise detection of gastric and colorectal small tumors.

The accurate localization of small tumors of the digestive tract is of paramount importance in surgical oncology because it dictates the limits of resection and the extent of lymph node dissection. In this view, we have designed and fabricated a highly efficient sensing laparoscopic instrument focused on precise non-invasive extralumenal intraoperative detection of small colorectal or gastric tumors. The equipment is fully adapted for laparoscopic surgery and consists of an inductive proximity sensor encapsulated into a watertight stainless-steel case that is connected to an electronic functional block dimensionally scaled-down by the desired form and size for optimal surgical manipulation. The sensor-case unit and the electronic block are coupled together using a modular system which allows disconnection of the latter and sterilization by autoclavation of the former, followed by swift plugging of the electronic block just before surgery in a sterile-controlled environment. The instrument works in tandem with a modified endoscopic hemostatic clip which is attached endoscopically, before surgery, in the mucosa proximal and distal to the tumor. By scanning the serosal side of the digestive organ during the laparoscopic surgical procedure, the detector senses the modified clip and thus pinpoints to the location of the tumor. Additional engineering of the standard endoscopic hemostatic clips by coating them with various combinations of metallic alloys of Cu and Zn was necessary to improve the detection range and sensitivity without compromising on their functionality. The clips were also covered with nanometric layers of Au to ensure their biocompatibility. The ex-vivo dry-lab experiments showed a satisfactory detection distance which was later confirmed in ex-vivo wet-lab experiments on animal organs and human surgical specimens.

Which is the Optimal Method of Reconstruction After Laparoscopic Right Hemicolectomy, the Intracorporeal or Extracorporeal Anastomosis Technique?

Introduction: The laparoscopic approach to right colectomy is gradually gaining a leading role in the surgical treatment of right colonic diseases. However, not all aspects of the procedure are standardized and the method of reconstruction of the digestive tract is still under debate. The present study critically evaluates the extracorporeal (EA) and intracorporeal (IA) techniques used for creation of the ileocolic anastomosis during a laparoscopic right colectomy. Material and Method: The EA and IA anastomotic techniques are described in detail. The peri operative data of a cohort of consecutive patients operated by our surgical team was retrospectively recorded and analyzed regarding type of anastomosis, the path for transition from EA to IA and the incidence of postoperative complications. Furthermore, an analysis of randomized clinical trials, reviews and meta-analyses that provided a comparative evaluation of EA versus IA was performed to provide a more in-depth integration of our own data into the literature. Results: EA was used at the beginning of our experience but was later replaced by IA which became the favorite anastomotic technique. There was no anastomotic fistula recorded in the EA or IA groups but in our cohort IA was unexpectedly associated with higher incidence of peritoneal drainage, prolonged ileus, surgical site infections, anastomotic bleeding and chyloperitoneum. However, IA allows better visualization of the ileal and colonic stumps, avoids twisting of the anastomosis, prevents extraction-related tearing of the mesocolon and reduces the risk of post operative hernia. Data from the literature also shows that IA is generally associated with earlier postoperative return of bowel function, less morbidity and less postoperative pain. Conclusions: Based on this study and the data currently present in the literature it can not be concluded that IA should be considered as the standard of care for laparoscopic right colectomy. The decision for an EA or IA anastomosis ultimately belongs to the surgeon and is influenced by his surgical skill and experience. The results of ongoing randomized controlled trials on large group of patients may bring more clarity on this issue in the future.

Monocyte chemotactic protein-1 and nitrotyrosine in irritable bowel syndrome.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one the most frequent and common functional gastrointestinal disorders that has a multifactorial etiopathogenesis. Multiple biomarkers have been tested in search for a reliable and specific biomarker, but there is not yet a specific biomarker for IBS. The aim of this study was to evaluate two biomarkers of different putative pathways of the pathogenesis of IBS: the monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and nitrotyrosine, in order to establish their role as potential biomarkers. We enrolled 42 consecutive IBS patients diagnosed by Rome III criteria and 35 consecutive healthy controls. Serum concentrations for the two biomarkers (MCP-1 and nitrotyrosine) were determined using commercial ELISA kits. Serum levels of MCP-1 were not statistically significantly higher in IBS patients than in controls (204±130 vs. 174±73 pg/ml; P=0.311). Nitrotyrosine levels were statistically significantly lower in IBS patients than in controls (30±12 vs. 353±14 nM; P=0.050). MCP-1 levels were higher in IBS patients with metabolic syndrome versus IBS patients without metabolic syndrome (239±153 vs. 168±120 pg/ml; P=0.948) and in controls with metabolic syndrome (174±56 pg/ml). MCP-1 serum levels were statistically significantly higher in IBS patients with metabolic syndrome than in controls (239±153 vs. 157±89 pg/ml; P=0.037), suggesting multiple factors being involved, particularly the diet and its relation with the metabolic syndrome, and it suggests that MCP-1 could be a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis. Low-grade inflammation might be related to oxidative stress, which plays an underestimated role in the pathogenesis of IBS.

Accuracy of endoscopic ultrasound-guided biopsy of focal liver lesions.

AIM: Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) has become an indispensable method for diagnosis in gastroenterology and new indications for EUS continue to emerge. However, there are limited data regarding the accuracy of EUS-guided biopsy of hepatic focal lesions. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic yield of EUS-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) of focal liver lesions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a prospective study in which patients with focal liver lesions, detected by transabdominal ultrasound and computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, underwent EUS-guided FNA to determine the diagnostic yield of the procedure. RESULTS: In 47/48 of patients, the results of EUS-FNA were positive for malignancy, while in one case the acquired fragment was insufficient for appropriate histological analysis. Diagnostic yield was 0.98. In 83% of the cases biopsies were taken from the left lobe and in 17% from the right lobe with the same technical success rate. The most common diagnosis was metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas (26% cases) followed by cholangiocarcinoma (17% cases). Concurrent sampling of other sites in addition to the liver and/or primary tumor was realized in 35% of the cases, with results that correlated with the liver biopsy and with the primary tumor biopsy. We reported no immediate or long-term complications in any of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: EUS guided fine needle aspiration/biopsy of focal liver lesions is safe, provides a very high diagnostic accuracy and should not be considered only as a rescue method after failure of percutaneous guided biopsies.

Assessment of the Quality of Polluted Areas in Northwest Romania Based on the Content of Elements in Different Organs of Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.).

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the environmental quality of polluted areas near the Baia Mare Mining and Smelting Complex for future improvements the quality of the environment in polluted areas, such as the city of Baia Mare and its surroundings. Samples of soil and organs of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) were collected from Baia Mare, Baia Sprie and surrounding areas (Simleul Silvaniei) and their content of Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Ni, Co, As, Cr, Hg were analyzed. Most soil and plant samples showed higher metal concentrations in Baia Mare and Baia Sprie areas compared to Simleul Silvaniei, exceeding the normal values. The results obtained from the translocation factors, mobility ratio, as well as from Pearson correlation study confirmed that very useful information is recorded in plant organs: root, canes, leaves and fruit. Results also indicated that Vitis vinifera L. has some highly effective strategies to tolerate heavy metal-induced stress, may also be useful as a vegetation protection barrier from considerable atmospheric pollution. At the same time, berries are safe for consumption to a large degree, which is a great advantage of this species.

New inductive proximity sensor platform for precise localization of small colorectal tumors.

Location of small gastric or colorectal tumors during a laparoscopic procedure is often imprecise and can be misleading. There is a real need for a compatible and straightforward tool that can be used intraoperatively to help the surgeon in this regard. We emphasize in the present work on the fabrication of a new and innovative inductive proximity switch architecture, fully compatible with laparoscopic surgery and with direct application in precise localisation of bowel tumors. An electromagnetic detection probe optimized for laparoscopic surgery and preconditioned for sterilisation was designed and constructed. Various metallic markers designed to be attached to the gastrointestinal mucosa were used for detection by the probe, from standard endoscopic and laparoscopic haemostatic clips to other custom made tags. Experiments were performed in dry and wet-lab experimental laboratory environment using ex-vivo segments of calf's small bowel and colonic surgical specimens from human patients. The dry-lab detection range varied considerably depending on the metallic component of the tags, from 0.5 mm for the endoscopic hemostatic clip to 3.5 mm for the 0.9 mm thickness stainless-steel custom tags. The latter was actually detectable from the serosal side of the fresh colonic surgical specimens in 85% of the attempts if the scanned area was less than 150 cm2 and less than 2 mm of fat was interposed between the probe and the bowel. The newly designed system has the potential to discover metallic tags attached to the bowel mucosa for precise intraoperative laparoscopic location of digestive tumors. Further work is in progress to increase the sensitivity and detection range of the system in order to make it fully compatible with the clinical use.

Serum patterns of mir-23a and mir-181b in irritable bowel syndrome and colorectal cancer - A pilot study.

Emerging evidence demonstrates that microRNAs (miRNAs) could serve as reliable biomarkers of inflammation and oncogenesis. The aim of this study was to determine whether miR-23a and miR-181b were suitable as biomarkers of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and colorectal cancer (CRC). Forty patients with IBS (29 females, 11 males), 33 with CRC (14 females, 19 males), and 33 healthy controls (17 females, 16 males) were prospectively included. Serum levels of miRNAs were evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR. The serum levels of miR-23a and miR-181b were significantly higher in the IBS group (p = 0.0009 and 0.004, respectively) and CRC group (p = 0.002 and 0.029, respectively) than in the control group. Serum levels of miR-23a and miR-181b were upregulated in CRC vs. IBS, but the differences did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.169 and 0.179, respectively). The miRNet and Reactome databases identified phosphatase and tensin homolog as a major common pathway, indicating inflammation as a central hallmark. Although miRNAs could serve as reliable biomarkers in clinical practice, future studies are needed to establish appropriate cut-off limits.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) of paraesophageal lung tumors - diagnostic yield and added value.

AIMS: There are few data on the use of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) for the biopsy of suspected malignant lesions of the lung. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of transesophageal EUS fine needle aspiration (EUSFNA) for the diagnosis of paraesophageal lung tumors and also for the confirmation of metastatic sites of lung cancer during the same procedure. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective study in a tertiary care unit including 19 patientswith paraesophageal lung tumors referred to our department for a lung biopsy. Transesophageal EUS-FNA was performed using a linear echoendoscope and 22G needles. RESULTS: In all 19 patients with suspected lung tumors the confirmation of the malignant disease was achieved. Pathological examination revealed 16 cases of non-small cell lung cancers, 2 small cell lung cancers and one case of lung metastases. Diagnostic yield of lung EUS-FNA was 1, with no post-procedural complications. In 7 cases, we performed also biopsies of suspected metastasis and all biopsies revealed the same histopathological type as the primary tumor. CONCLUSIONS: Our study supports the use of this minimally invasive technique for paraesophageally locatedlung tumors and demonstrates that EUS-FNA is safe and has an excellent diagnostic yield.