A case of undifferentiated pleomorphic rectal sarcoma occurring after radiation exposure.

A 72 year-old man was referred to our hospital for a detailed examination of a recurrent rectal polyp. He had past histories of surgery and radiation therapy for prostate cancer at the age of 66 and endoscopic excision of a rectal polyp at the age of 70. Colonoscopy revealed a semi-pedunculated lesion surrounded by friable mucosa, which was positive under positron-emission tomography-computed tomography. Histopathological examination of the endoscopically excised polyp revealed proliferation of atypical cells, characterized by strong pleomorphic or spindle morphology, which was immunohistochemically compatible with undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma. We diagnosed this case as sarcoma presumably associated with radiation proctitis.

Appropriate leucine-rich α-2 glycoprotein cut-off value for Japanese patients with ulcerative colitis.

BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that serum leucine-rich α-2 glycoprotein (LRG) could be a novel monitoring biomarker for the assessment of disease activity in inflammatory bowel disease. In particular, the relationship between LRG levels and the endoscopically assessed activity of ulcerative colitis (UC) has become a matter of interest. AIM: To clarify appropriate LRG cut-off values for the prediction of endoscopic and histologic remission in Japanese patients with UC. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional, single-center, observational study of Japanese patients with UC. Among 213 patients with UC, in whom LRG was measured from September 2020 to February 2022, we recruited 30 patients for whom a total colonoscopy and measurements of LRG and C-reactive protein (CRP) were performed on the same day. We retrospectively analyzed correlations between the LRG and CRP levels and endoscopic indices, including the Mayo endoscopic subscore and UC endoscopic index of severity. RESULTS: Correlations between the LRG values and the Mayo endoscopic subscore or UC endoscopic index of severity were significant (r = 0.754, P < 0.0001; r = 0.778, P < 0.0001, respectively). There were also significant correlations between CRP levels and Mayo endoscopic subscore or UC endoscopic index of severity (r = 0.599, P = 0.0005; r = 0.563, P = 0.0012, respectively), although the correlation coefficients were higher for LRG. The LRG cut-off value for predicting endoscopic remission was 13.4 µg/mL for a Mayo endoscopic subscore of 0 [area under the curve (AUC): 0.871; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.744-0.998], and 13.4 µg/mL for an UC endoscopic index of severity of 0 or 1 (AUC: 0.904; 95%CI: 0.792-1.000). CONCLUSION: LRG may be a surrogate marker for endoscopic activity in UC, with a cut-off value of around 13.4 µg/mL for endoscopically inactive disease.

Attenuated Familial Adenomatous Polyposis.

A 36-year-old man was diagnosed with multiple gastric polyps by esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Subsequent colonoscopy identified two tubular adenomas, and computed tomography revealed subcutaneous tumors. Based on these findings, we suspected that gastric polyposis was associated with the APC gene, either attenuated familial adenomatous polyposis (AFAP) or gastric adenocarcinoma and proximal polyposis of the stomach (GAPPS). A genetic analysis demonstrated that he had a frameshift variant at codon 1928 of APC, suggesting AFAP. In this era of less Helicobacter pylori infection and frequent use of proton pump inhibitors, diagnoses of AFAP and GAPPS should be considered in patients with prominent gastric fundic gland polyposis.

Successful endoscopic sclerotherapy with bile duct stenting for a vascular malformation neighboring the duodenal papilla in blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome.

A 14-year-old girl, who had been diagnosed with blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome, was referred to our hospital because of iron deficiency anemia. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed a dark and red-colored vascular malformation occurring just above the duodenal papilla. Because the lesion was regarded as the cause of the anemia, we performed polidocanol injection therapy with bile duct stenting. Since esophagogastroduodenoscopy performed a month later revealed a scarred ulcer, the bile duct stent was removed. She has been under observation as an outpatient without any symptoms.

Improvements of lung volumes and respiratory symptoms after weight loss through laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the improvement of respiratory function and airway volumes using spirometry and computed tomography (CT) in severely obese Japanese patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). We also evaluated the quality of life (QOL) of enrolled patients using questionnaires. METHODS: A total of 71 patients who underwent LSG at Iwate Medical University Hospital between October 2013 and September 2020 were enrolled. The changes and relationships between respiratory parameters including CT volumetry and weight-loss effects were evaluated. Improvements to QOL and bronchial asthma (BA) were also assessed before LSG and 1 year after LSG. RESULTS: The mean excess weight loss percentage (%EWL) and total weight loss percentage (%TWL) were measured at 55.1% and 26.1%, respectively. The attack frequency of BA significantly decreased (6.1/month vs. 1.5/month; P < 0.001), and the disease severity decreased according to severity classification (P = 0.032). Almost spirometric parameters, lung volume (LV) (4905.0 mL vs. 5490.3 mL; P < 0.001), and airway volume (AV) (108.6 mL vs. 119.3 mL; P = 0.022) significantly improved. The change of functional residual capacity (FRC) was correlated with both %EWL (ρ = 0.69, P < 0.001) and %TWL (ρ = 0.62, P < 0.001). The increase of LV (ρ = 0.79, P < 0.001) and AV (ρ = 0.69, P < 0.001) were correlated with the increase of FRC. Scores of QOL questionnaires dramatically became better owing to improvements in dyspnea. CONCLUSION: Weight loss effects and the reduction of body fat mass correlated significantly with increase in LV and AV. Improvements of respiratory functions after LSG contributes to QOL and BA symptoms.

NLRP3 Inflammasome Inhibitor OLT1177 Suppresses Onset of Inflammation in Mice with Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: NLRP3 inflammasomes have been reported to have a key role in the initiation and perpetuation of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Here we investigated the effects of OLT1177, a selective inhibitor of NLRP3 inflammasomes, in mice with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. METHODS: C57BL/6J mice were given drinking water containing 3% DSS for 5 days. OLT1177 was administered for 5 days during the induction phase (simultaneously with DSS treatment) or the recovery phase (after the DSS treatment ended). The body weight and disease activity index were monitored daily. The mice were sacrificed 10 days after the start of the experiment, and the severity of inflammation in the colon was determined based on histological and biochemical analyses. RESULTS: Administration of OLT1177 during the induction phase effectively suppressed DSS colitis in terms of weight loss, disease activity index, histological score, and expression of inflammatory cytokines compared to the DSS group. In contrast, OLT1177 administration during the recovery phase did not significantly affect the colitis disease course or the results of histological analyses. CONCLUSIONS: OLT1177 was effective in preventing the onset of DSS colitis in mice. These results could guide the use of OLT1177 as a therapy for human IBD.

The mucin phenotype does not affect the endoscopic resection outcome of non-ampullary duodenal epithelial tumors.

Background and study aims Some studies have reported an association between clinicopathological features and mucin phenotypes of non-ampullary duodenal epithelial tumors (NADETs). However, the association between clinical outcomes of endoscopic resection (ER) and mucin phenotypes has not been elucidated. The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze clinical outcomes of ER of NADETs with reference to mucin phenotypes. Patients and methods We retrospectively evaluated the clinical outcomes of ER for NADETs performed from 2006 to 2019 and compared clinicopathological characteristics, ER procedures, and outcomes, including adverse events (AEs) among tumors classified by mucin phenotype. Mucin phenotypes were classified as gastric, gastrointestinal, and intestinal based on immunohistochemical examination. Grade of dysplasia was determined according to the Vienna classification (VCL). Results The proportion of VCL 4/5 was higher in the gastric type (50 %) compared with that in the gastrointestinal (39.1 %, P  = 0.009) and intestinal types (5.4 %, P  = 0.008), respectively. With no statistical difference in tumor size and ER method among the three groups, no significant difference was observed for ER outcomes, i. e., en bloc and R0 resection rates. In the gastrointestinal and intestinal types, AEs occurred in four cases treated with ESD, but none developed in the gastric type. Conclusions This study suggests that the mucin phenotype does not affect resection outcome. However, considering high malignant potential and tendency for low AE rates, the gastric type NADETs may be more appropriate for proactive ER than the others.

Protective effect of proton pump inhibitors and potassium competitive acid blockers against post-gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection bleeding: a single-center, propensity score-matched analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Both potassium-competitive acid blockers (P-CABs) and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are known to be protective against bleeding after gastric endoscopic dissection (ESD) for early gastric cancers. The aim was to compare the effect of PPI and P-CAB treatment against bleeding after gastric ESD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a single-center, retrospective analysis. Among 541 patients who underwent gastric ESD during the period from 2014 to 2019, we recruited subjects who were treated with PPIs (intravenous lansoprazole followed by oral esomeprazole) or a P-CAB before and after ESD. The incidence of post-ESD bleeding was compared between treatment groups. The risks associated with post-ESD bleeding were examined by univariate and multivariate analyses after propensity score-matching. RESULTS: The overall incidence of post-ESD bleeding was not significantly different between patients treated with PPIs (n = 362) and those treated with a P-CAB (n = 156) (3.0% vs 2.6%, respectively; p = .77). Even after propensity score matching (n = 153 in each group), the incidence was not significantly different between groups (2.6% vs 2.6%, respectively; p = 1.00). A multivariate analysis revealed that antithrombotic therapy (OR 4.85, 95% CI 1.14-20.57) was an independent factor associated with post-ESD bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of post gastric ESD bleeding is not different between patients treated with PPI and patients treated with P-CAB. Antithrombotic therapy is an independent risk factor associated with post-ESD bleeding.

Diagnostic algorithm of magnifying endoscopy with crystal violet staining for non-ampullary duodenal epithelial tumors.

OBJECTIVES: Little is known about the usefulness of magnifying endoscopy with crystal violet staining (ME-CV) for the diagnosis of duodenal tumors. We assessed the ability of ME-CV to distinguish Vienna classification (VCL) category 4/5 (C4/5) from category 3 (C3) non-ampullary duodenal epithelial tumors (NADETs). METHODS: A total of 76 NADETs were studied. We retrospectively analyzed the diagnostic values of the white light endoscopy (WLE) scoring system and the ME-CV algorithm with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and three endoscopists calculated the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and the area under the curve (AUC) of each. The diagnostic values were tested among NADETs overall and among subgroups of tumors with gastric, gastrointestinal or intestinal mucin phenotypes. Inter-observer agreement of the diagnostic results was also calculated. RESULTS: According to the VCL, 54 lesions (71.1%) were regarded as C3 and 22 lesions (28.9%) as C4/5. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and AUC of ME-CV were higher than those of the WLE scoring system (63.6 vs 54.5, 85.2 vs 75.9, 78.9 vs 69.7, 0.744 vs 0.652, respectively). Inter-observer agreements of the WLE scoring system and ME-CV were both moderate (kappa 0.45 and 0.41). ME-CV had higher sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and AUC than those of the WLE scoring system among the gastric and intestinal phenotypes of NADETs. CONCLUSIONS: ME-CV is appropriate for the diagnosis of C4/5 and C3 NADETs.

Immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced diarrhea: Clinicopathological study of 11 patients.

We reviewed the records of patients with immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-induced diarrhea during 2015 to 2019. ICI included nivolumab and ipilimumab. There were 11 patients with ICI-induced diarrhea aged 46-81 years (median, 63 years). On colonoscopy, four patients appeared normal, whereas loss of vascularity, erythema, granularity, erosions or ulcerations apparently mimicking ulcerative colitis were found in seven patients. Those seven patients had acute inflammation, cryptitis, crypt abscess and apoptosis, suggestive of ICI-induced colitis. Five of the seven patients were treated with prednisolone, two of whom were resistant to prednisolone and required infliximab. In contrast, none of the four patients without ICI-induced colitis required further treatment. Our observations suggest that diversity exists in the clinical, endoscopic and histological severity of patients with ICI-induced diarrhea. Colonoscopy together with biopsy is inevitable for the diagnosis of ICI-induced colitis, which requires intensive treatment.

Risk Factors for Post-gastric Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection Bleeding with a Special Emphasis on Anticoagulant Therapy.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the risk factors for post endoscopic submucosal dissection (post-ESD) bleeding with anticoagulant therapy. AIMS: We aimed to investigate the risk factors for post-ESD bleeding for early gastric cancer (EGC) with an emphasis on anticoagulant therapy. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 2355 EGCs, including 137 lesions in patients treated under anticoagulants. Clinicopathological findings were evaluated between lesions in patients with and without anticoagulant therapy with propensity score matching analysis. The factors associated with post-ESD bleeding were analyzed with multivariate analysis with a logistic regression method. RESULTS: After propensity score matching, post-ESD bleeding was significantly more frequent in lesions of patients with than without anticoagulant therapy (11.7% vs 1.5%, respectively; P = 0.001). A univariate analysis revealed that anticoagulant therapy, heparin bridge therapy, undifferentiated type, deep submucosal invasion, and resected specimen size were associated with post-ESD bleeding. A multivariate analysis revealed anticoagulant therapy (OR 23.1, 95% CI 3.61-147.52) and resected specimen size (OR 1.03, 95% CI 1.00-1.06) to be independent factors associated with post-ESD bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: Anticoagulant therapy and resected specimen size were risk factors associated with post-ESD bleeding for EGC.