Urgent colonoscopy is not necessary in case of colonic diverticular bleeding without extravasation on contrast-enhanced computed tomography.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding (ALGIB) increase with age and the administration of antiplatelet drugs. Colonic diverticular bleeding (CDB) is the most common cause of ALGIB, and endoscopic hemostasis is an effective treatment for massive CDB. But in patients without extravasation on contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT), the efficacy of urgent colonoscopy (UCS) is controversial from the point of the clinical course, including rebleeding rate. We aimed to establish a potential strategy including UCS for CDB patients without extravasation on CECT. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients from two centers treated for CDB without extravasation on CECT between July 2014 and July 2019 were retrospectively identified (n = 282). Seventy-four underwent UCS, and 208 received conservative management. We conducted two analyses. The first analysis investigates the risk factors of rebleeding rate within 5 days after administration (very early rebleeding), and no UCS (NUCS) was not the independent factor of the very early rebleeding. The second analysis is whether UCS positively influenced the clinical course after hospitalization. RESULTS: The prevalence of very early rebleeding and early rebleeding (6-30 days from admission), patients requiring blood transfusion within 0-5 days and 6-30 days post-admission, and duration of hospitalization were examined as clinical course factors between UCS and NUCS group. There was no significant difference between the UCS and non-UCS groups in the clinical course factors. UCS for the CDB patients without extravasation was not improved rebleeding rate and clinical course. CONCLUSIONS: UCS is not necessary in case ofCDB patient without extravasation on CECT.

Relationships between body mass index and constipation, gastroesophageal reflux disease, stool forms based on the Bristol Stool Form Scale, and education level: results from an internet survey in Japan.

Detailed evaluations of body mass index (BMI) and stool form based on the Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS) in individuals with constipation, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and concomitant constipation and GERD have not been performed in Japan. This study was an internet survey conducted to examine the relationships between BMI and constipation, GERD, stool forms based on the BSFS, and education level. This internet-based survey recruited participants from general public survey panels. 10,000 individuals meeting the eligibility criteria were enrolled. Questions included demographics, medical data, and assessments based on validated measures for constipation and GERD. BMI was significantly lower in males with versus without constipation. BMI was significantly higher with GERD both males and females. Mean BMI increased from the BSFS-1/2 group through the BSFS-3/4/5 to the BSFS-6/7 groups in both sexes. BMI was highest in individuals with a maximum education level of junior high school and second highest in individuals completing high school. This is the first real-world survey that closely examines the relationship between BMI and stool forms of individuals in Japan. When the BMI increased, stool forms varied from hard to watery in Japanese people. BMI was related with education level in Japan. (Trial registration: UMIN000039688).

A Vonoprazan, Clarithromycin, and Metronidazole Regimen as Helicobacter pylori Eradication Therapy for Patients with Penicillin Allergy in Light of Clarithromycin Resistance.

Objective Vonoprazan (VPZ), clarithromycin (CAM), metronidazole (MNZ) and VPZ, MNZ, and sitafloxacin (STFX) regimen are all established Helicobacter pylori eradication therapies for patients with penicillin allergy in Japan. However, no study has assessed the efficacy of a VPZ, CAM, and MNZ (VCM) regimen in patients with clarithromycin resistance (CAM-R). We therefore assessed the efficacy of a VCM regimen for treating H. pylori infection in patients with CAM-R and penicillin allergy. Methods Fifty-three patients with penicillin allergy who received H. pylori eradication therapy were retrospectively analyzed. Eight patients received a 7-day proton-pump inhibitor, CAM, and MNZ (PCM) regimen; 35 patients [11 CAM-R, and 10 with clarithromycin sensitivity (CAM-S)] received 7-day VCM regimens; and 10 patients received 7-day VPZ, MNZ, and STFX (VMS) regimens. A 13C-urea breath test was used to determine eradication. The efficacy of eradication was evaluated via both intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) analyses. Results According to ITT and PP analyses, eradication rates (ERs) with PCM, VCM, and VMS therapies were 50.0% and 50.0%, 94.3% and 100%, and 90% and 90%, respectively. Treatment was successful in all patients with CAM-S. For patients with CAM-R, treatment was successful in 10 patients, and 1 patient discontinued treatment owing to an adverse event. According to ITT and PP analyses, ERs were 90.9% and 100% in CAM-R, and were 100% and 100% in CAM-S, respectively. Conclusion The VCM regimen for H. pylori eradication may be a viable candidate therapy for patients with penicillin allergy, regardless of CAM-R.

A case of ulcerative colitis-related postoperative enteritis treated with granulocyte and monocyte apheresis.

A 46-year-old man, receiving continuous steroid therapy for refractory ulcerative colitis with an insufficient response to anti-tumor necrosis factor-α therapy, presented with left buttock pain. He was diagnosed with steroidal left femoral head necrosis, and total proctocolectomy with permanent ileostomy was performed. At 6 months postoperatively, the patient developed general fatigue, abdominal pain, and severe ileostomy diarrhea. Computed tomography revealed continuous intestinal edema from the descending duodenal leg to the upper jejunum. Gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed deep ulcers, coarse mucosa, and duodenal erosion. Based on clinical progress, findings, and pathology, the patient was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis-related postoperative enteritis. Although 5-aminosalicylic acid treatment was initiated, his symptoms persisted, bloody diarrhea from colostomy was observed. Subsequently, granulocyte and monocyte apheresis treatment was added. Symptoms and endoscopic findings improved with granulocyte and monocyte apheresis. Azathioprine was introduced as maintenance therapy, and no sign of recurrence was observed. Although ulcerative colitis-related postoperative enteritis has no definitive treatment, granulocyte and monocyte apheresis may be considered for initial treatment.

A case report of olmesartan-associated sprue-like enteropathy: Diagnosis and healing confirmed by capsule endoscopy.

Herein, we describe a case of olmesartan-related sprue-like enteropathy in which improvement in villous atrophy was confirmed by small-bowel capsule endoscopy (CE). We successfully treated a 66-year-old man with a chief complaint of loose diarrhea. The patient had persistent watery diarrhea 10 times a day and experienced a weight loss of 9 kg in 3 months. An abdominal computed tomography scan showed fluid retention in the small intestine. Blood test results revealed no inflammatory reaction. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy detected villous atrophy in the stomach and duodenum. Moreover, small-bowel CE showed villous atrophy in about two-thirds of the small intestine. Based on other examinations, hyperthyroidism, intestinal tuberculosis, intestinal amyloidosis, and intestinal malignant lymphoma were ruled out. Therefore, the patient was suspected of having an olmesartan-related sprue-like disease. Early after discontinuation of medication, diarrhea symptoms improved, and a repeat CE indicated improvements in small intestinal villous atrophy. Since the patient had been administered olmesartan for a long time and CE showed villous atrophy throughout the small bowel, we suspected him of having the olmesartan-associated sprue-like disease. The findings of gastric mucosa atrophy on esophagogastroduodenoscopy may lead to an early diagnosis of this disease. Olmesartan-related sprue-like enteropathy should be considered as a differential diagnosis in patients with chronic severe watery diarrhea.

Small-Intestinal Metastasis from Lung Carcinoma.

A 62-year-old man was referred to our hospital because of abdominal pain. Computed tomography revealed an approximately 7-cm-diameter tumor in the left abdomen with metastatic lymph nodes, an approximately 1-cm-diameter round tumor in contact with the subclavian artery in the apical lobe of the right lung, and mediastinal lymph node enlargement in contact with the superior vena cava. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy and colonoscopy revealed no abnormalities. Double-balloon endoscopy revealed a whole circumferential ulcer in the jejunum approximately 20 cm from the ligament of Treitz. Biopsy analysis of an ulcer specimen revealed a poorly differentiated carcinoma. Immunohistochemical staining of the specimen showed that it was positive for thyroid transcription factor 1 and cytokeratin 7 and negative for cytokeratin 20, GATA-binding protein 3, caudal-type homeobox protein 2, and paired box 8. Positron emission tomography revealed positive findings in the small-intestinal tumor, nearby mesenteric lymph nodes, lymph nodes around the abdominal aorta, lung tumor, and mediastinal lymph node in the apical lobe of the right lung. Accordingly, the patient was diagnosed as having a lung carcinoma with small-intestinal metastasis (T1b, N3, M1c; cStage IVB). Pathological examination helped distinguish the primary small-intestinal tumor from the metastatic small-intestinal tumor and detect the tumor origin.

Gastric Plexiform Fibromyxoma Resected Using Nonexposed Endoscopic Wall-Inversion Surgery: A Case Report.

Gastric plexiform fibromyxoma is extremely rare. In our case, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy of a 41-year-old woman patient revealed a 1-cm submucosal tumor (SMT) in the greater curvature of the lower body of the stomach. On contrast-enhanced computed tomography, the tumor was hypervascular in the arterial phase with continuous enhancement in the post-venous phase. On endoscopic ultrasonography, it had a low echo pattern. The preoperative diagnosis was a gastric SMT with a rich vasculature; however because the biosy specimen did not contain tumor tissue, a malignant tumor could not be excluded. The patient underwent nonexposed endoscopic wall-inversion surgery (NEWS), and the tumor was completely resected. Immunohistochemical examination revealed that the tumor was positive for D2-40 and α-smooth muscle actin, but negative for c-kit, discovered on gastrointestinal stromal tumor-1, desmin, S100, Melan-A, signal transducer and activator of transcription 6, insulinoma-associated protein 1, CXCL13, ETS transcription factor, follicular dendritic cell, anaplastic lymphoma kinase, human melanoma black, h-caldesmon, and CD1a, 10, 21, 23, 31, 34, 68, and 163. Approximately, 1-2% of the tumor cell nuclei were Ki-67-positive. Finally, we diagnosed the tumor as a plexiform fibromyxoma. In conclusion, NEWS is an effective method for the treatment of SMTs with a diameter of <3 cm.

Lower effectiveness of intravenous steroid treatment for moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis in hospitalised patients with older onset: a multicentre cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The increasing incidence of older-onset ulcerative colitis (UC), which has a higher risk of surgery, is a global health issue. However, data regarding intravenous steroid treatment, one of the important treatment options to avoid surgery, for older-onset UC is lacking. AIMS: To evaluate the association between onset age and effectiveness of intravenous steroids in UC. METHODS: This retrospective multicentre (27 facilities) cohort study included moderate-to-severe hospitalised UC patients who underwent their first intravenous steroids between April 2014 and July 2019. The primary outcome was clinical remission at day 30, using two-item patient-reported outcome scoring. The key secondary outcomes were risks of surgery and adverse events (death, infection and venous thrombosis) within 90 days. A modified Poisson regression model was used for analysis. RESULTS: Overall, 467 UC patients (384 younger-onset and 83 older-onset) were enrolled. Clinical remission at day 30 was observed in 252 (65.6%) among younger-onset patients and 43 (51.8%) among older-onset patients (adjusted risk difference, -21.7% [95% CI, -36.1% to -7.2%]; adjusted risk ratio [ARR], 0.74 [95% CI, 0.59 to 0.93]). The risks of surgery and adverse events were higher in older-onset UC (20.5% vs. 3.1%; ARR, 8.92 [95% CI, 4.13 to 19.27], 25.3% vs. 9.1%; ARR, 2.19 [95% CI, 1.22 to 3.92], respectively). Four deaths occurred, all involving older-onset UC. The risks of infection and venous thrombosis were also higher in older-onset UC (18.1% vs. 8.6%, 7.2% vs. 0.5%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Older-onset was associated with a lower effectiveness of intravenous steroids with higher risks of surgery and adverse events in UC.

Background factors involved in the epidemiology of functional constipation in the Japanese population: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Functional constipation (FC), a functional bowel disorder with symptoms of constipation, has considerable impact on quality of life. As data regarding its prevalence and epidemiology are lacking, this study aimed to evaluate the prevalence, population composition, lifestyle, quality of life, and clinical characteristics of these individuals by comparing people with and without FC. These parameters were also compared among individuals with strong and weak awareness of constipation. METHODS: An internet survey was conducted among 10,000 individuals aged 20-69 years from the general Japanese population; they were registered with an internet survey company. The following data were obtained: age, sex, educational history, occupation, residence, history of other diseases, lifestyle (including smoking/drinking habits using the Japanese Health Practice Index, medication use, symptoms of constipation according to the Rome III criteria, stool types according to the Bristol stool scale, and use of laxatives, including the place of purchase and cost per month or acceptable cost per month. The 8-item Short Form Health Survey Questionnaire was also used; FC was diagnosed based on Rome III criteria. All respondents were classified according to their awareness of constipation (i.e. strong or weak), and their characteristic features were compared. RESULTS: The data of 3000 respondents were evaluated; 262 (8.7%) had FC, which was common among older adults, women, and homemakers. FC was associated with changes in the frequency of bowel movement, sensation of incomplete or scanty evacuation, and the use of manual maneuvers; these are consequential clinical symptoms of FC. These individuals frequently skipped breakfast, had insufficient sleep, had more severe constipation, and had purchased laxatives in pharmacies or online more often than those without FC. A strong awareness of constipation was significantly more prevalent among women and homemakers. A history of anemia and cardiovascular disease was significantly more frequent in the strong awareness group, whereas a history of hypertension was more frequent in the weak awareness group. CONCLUSIONS: Appropriate and comprehensive management should be provided for FC, based on the understanding of its characteristic features and considering the symptoms and lifestyle.

Phase II Prospective Study of Trastuzumab in Combination with S-1 and Oxaliplatin (SOX100) Therapy for HER2-Positive Advanced Gastric Cancer.

PURPOSE: The standard first-line treatment for human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2)-positive advanced gastric cancer (AGC) is trastuzumab in combination with cisplatin and fluoropyrimidines. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of S-1 and oxaliplatin (100 mg/m2) (SOX100) combined with trastuzumab, a monoclonal antibody against HER2 for HER2-positive AGC. METHODS: In this single-arm, multicenter phase II study, patients with HER2-positive AGC received S-1 (80-120 mg per day) orally on days 1-14, oxaliplatin (100 mg/m2) intravenously on day 1, and trastuzumab (8 mg/kg on day 1 of the first cycle, followed by 6 mg/kg every 3 weeks) intravenously. The primary end point was 1-year survival rate. The secondary end points included overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), overall response rate (ORR), and safety. RESULTS: A total of 25 patients from six centers were enrolled from December 2015 to March 2020. In the 25 patients evaluable for analysis, the 1-year survival rate was 70.8% [90% confidence interval (CI) = 55.5-86.1%], whereas the median OS, PFS, and ORR were 17.8 (95% CI 10.5-22.9) months, 7.6 (95% CI 5.0-10.9) months, and 75.0% (95% CI 53.3-90.2), respectively. Major grade 3/4 adverse events included anorexia (20%), anemia (16%), peripheral sensory neuropathy (16%), and diarrhea (15%). CONCLUSION: SOX100 combined with trastuzumab was effective with a favorable safety profile in patients with HER2-positive AGC.

Internet Survey of Japanese Patients With Chronic Constipation: Focus on Correlations Between Sleep Quality, Symptom Severity, and Quality of Life.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Chronic constipation and lifestyle factors can affect sleep quality. We evaluated the relationship between chronic constipation and sleep in the Japanese population. METHODS: This cross-sectional internet-based survey included 3000 subjects with constipation, classified according to sleep status (good/poor). Primary endpoints were Bristol stool form scale (BSFS) score and correlations between sleep disorder criteria of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and sleep status (good/poor sleep). Secondary endpoints included correlations between quality of life (QOL) and mood, medical, lifestyle, and sleep factors. RESULTS: The proportion of participants with BSFS category 4 (normal stool) was significantly higher in the good sleep group (P < 0.001). Sleep disturbance (P < 0.05), sleep quality, and duration, use of hypnotic medication, and daytime dysfunction of PSQI (all P < 0.001) significantly correlated with poor sleep. In the poor sleep group, QOL was significantly worse and anxiety and depression levels were significantly higher (all P < 0.001) compared with the good sleep group. Anemia and smoking (both P < 0.05), recent body weight increases, and poor eating habits (all P < 0.001) were significantly higher in the poor sleep group. Male sex, onset associated with change in frequency of stools, sensation of incomplete evacuation for at least 25% of defecations, and manual maneuvers to facilitate at least 25% of defecations correlated with poor sleep. CONCLUSIONS: Subjects with constipation and poor sleep experienced severe symptoms and had poor QOL. These data support the need for a multifocal treatment approach, including lifestyle advice and pharmacotherapy.

Rapidly Progressing Aseptic Abscesses in a Patient with Ulcerative Colitis.

Aseptic abscesses (AAs) are extraintestinal manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). IBD-associated AAs are rare in Japan. We treated a 45-year-old man with ulcerative colitis (UC)-associated AAs. During remission, multiple progressive abscesses were detected in the spleen; he underwent splenectomy because an infectious disease was suspected. Although his condition improved temporarily after splenectomy, a large liver abscess was noted, and a diagnosis of UC-associated AAs was made. Granulocytapheresis (GCAP) and infliximab (IFX) administration resolved the abscess. This is the first reported case of UC-associated AAs in a Japanese patient treated by splenectomy, GCAP, and IFX.

The association among enterobacterial flora, dietary factors, and prognosis in patients with ulcerative colitis.

The role of enterobacterial flora in the onset and progression of inflammatory bowel diseases is a topic of considerable interest. Here, we assessed the association among enterobacterial flora, dietary factors, and ulcerative colitis (UC) progression. Forty-six patients with UC who were diagnosed as being in remission were enrolled. We collected each patient's stool sample one or two days before diagnostic colonoscopy. After colonoscopy, we observed the patients for one year and then retrospectively divided them into two groups: remission (n = 39) and relapse (n = 7) groups, depending on whether the relapse occurred during the follow-up period, and analyzed the relationship among patient characteristics, dietary factors, enterobacterial flora, and UC relapse. Overall, there were no significant differences in bacterial community populations between the remission and relapse groups, except that the order Lactobacillales was detected at a significantly higher rate in the relapse than in the remission group (100% vs 71.4%, p<0.05). Vitamin C intake was significantly higher in the remission than in the relapse group (p<0.05). Although there were no obvious differences in enterobacterial flora between the remission and relapse groups, there was a relationship among enterobacterial flora, diet, and UC progression. Given that the enterobacterial flora was only analyzed at the initiation of the study, we conclude that in future analyses, enterobacterial flora should be sampled at numerous time points to examine its role in UC progression. Further long-term longitudinal studies examining enterobacterial flora, dietary factors, and UC progression are also required.

Endoscopic resection of gangliocytic paraganglioma of the duodenum: a case report.

Duodenal gangliocytic paragangliomas are extremely rare. A 79-year-old woman underwent gastrointestinal endoscopy for screening prior to resection of gallbladder carcinoma. Gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a 5-mm submucosal tumor in the second portion of the duodenum. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed no tumor or metastasis. Endoscopic ultrasonography revealed low echo pattern of the tumor. Histopathological examination of the biopsy specimen revealed proliferation of three types of cells (epithelioid cells, spindle cells, and ganglion cells). Immunohistochemical examination revealed that the tumor was positive for S-100 and synaptophysin. The preoperative diagnosis was gangliocytic paraganglioma. The tumor was completely resected by endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR). In conclusion, an early stage of gangliocytic paraganglioma of the duodenum could be resected using EMR.

Internet survey on the actual situation of constipation in the Japanese population under 70 years old: focus on functional constipation and constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome.

BACKGROUND: In Japan, the prevalence of constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-C) and functional constipation (FC) diagnosed by the Rome III criteria is unclear, as are the demographic profile, quality of life (QOL), and habits of persons with IBS-C or FC. METHODS: We performed an internet survey of constipation. After extracting 3000 persons fitting the composition of the general Japanese population, we investigated demographic factors, lifestyle, defecation, and laxatives. IBS-C and FC were diagnosed by Rome III criteria. Respondents also completed the Japanese IBS severity index (IBS-SI-J), Japanese IBS QOL scale (IBS-QOL-J), SF-8, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Japanese Health Practice Index (JHPI). RESULTS: There were 262 respondents with FC (8.73%) [73 men and 189 women; mean age: 49.8 ± 13.1 years; mean body mass index (BMI): 21.0 ± 3.3 g/m2] and 149 respondents with IBS-C (4.97%) (76 men and 73 women; mean age; 41.6 ± 13.7 years; mean BMI: 20.8 ± 3.0 kg/m2). Total IBS-QOL-J score were significantly lower in the IBS-C group than the FC group. With regard to SF-8, score of mental component summary (MCS) was significantly lower in the IBS-C group. The total IBS-SI-J score and item scores, except for satisfactory defecation, were significantly higher in the IBS-C group than the FC group. HADS showed a significant increase of anxiety and depression in both the groups, and the JHPI revealed insufficient sleep. CONCLUSIONS: In Japan, among the population of under 70 years old, the prevalence of IBS-C and FC (Rome III criteria) was 4.97% and 8.76%, respectively. IBS-C caused more severe symptoms than FC, resulting in impairment of QOL.

Radiofrequency catheter ablation-induced gastroparesis successfully treated with administration of mosapride citrate: two case reports.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, and radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) for pulmonary vein isolation is a well-established therapeutic modality for AF. Transient gastroparesis rarely complicates RFCA. We report two cases of RFCA-induced transient gastroparesis, effectively treated with mosapride citrate administration. Case 1. Computed tomography (CT) performed 4 days after RFCA revealed marked gastric dilatation without any gastric or intestinal obstruction. The patient was fasting and was administered mosapride citrate (5 mg thrice a day). The patient's symptoms improved 6 days later, and CT revealed no gastric dilatation. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed gastric peristalsis without residual food in the stomach. Case 2. CT performed 8 days after RFCA revealed marked gastric dilatation without any gastric or intestinal obstruction. The patient was fasting and was administered pantothenic acid (500 mg/day intravenously for 7 days). However, symptoms persisted, and CT revealed residual food in the stomach. The patient was subsequently administered mosapride citrate (5 mg thrice a day). The patient's symptoms improved 4 days later, and contrast-enhanced gastric X-ray using amidotrizoate meglumine revealed gastric peristalsis, passage of amidotrizoate meglumine into the duodenum, and no gastric dilatation. Mosapride citrate is useful to treat RFCA-induced gastroparesis.

Gastric schwannoma with high accumulation on fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography resected by non-exposed endoscopic wall-inversion surgery.

Gastric schwannoma is a relatively rare tumor arising from Auerbach plexus in the muscle layer of the gastric wall, and constitutes 0.1% to 0.2% of all gastric tumors and 5% of benign non-epithelium-related gastric tumors. We report the case of a 49-year-old woman in whom upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed an approximately 2-cm submucosal tumor on the anterior wall of the fornix of the stomach. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed a homogeneously enhanced lesion (~ 17 mm) in the upper third of the stomach as well as a lesion (~ 25 mm) on the left kidney that was strongly enhanced in the early phase. An 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography scan revealed high accumulation that is characteristic of gastric tumors. The possibility of malignancy was not completely excluded, and the gastric tumor was resected by non-exposed endoscopic wall-inversion surgery. The patient was discharged with a good prognosis 5 days after surgery. In conclusion, non-exposed endoscopic wall-inversion surgery is a minimally invasive and effective method for resecting small gastric submucosal tumors (diameters < 3 cm) for which preoperative diagnosis is difficult.

Gut Environment and Dietary Habits in Healthy Japanese Adults and their Association with Bowel Movement.

INTRODUCTION: Constipation is a common symptom that impairs the quality of life (QOL). This study aimed to investigate the relationship between bowel movement and gut microbiota and dietary intake. METHODS: To investigate correlations among bowel movement, food intake, and gut environment, 60 healthy Japanese participants were recruited. Bowel movement was assessed using the Bristol stool form scale (BSFS) and constipation scoring system (CSS). Dietary habit was assessed with a self-administered questionnaire wherein the food intake frequency was classified into 8 categories for 72 food/food groups. Gut microbiota was analyzed using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. RESULTS: The constipation rate was significantly higher in females than in males. The QOL was significantly impaired in the constipated group. The fecal count of Bacteroides was decreased and that of Clostridium cluster IV was increased in participants with constipation. The BSFS score was negatively associated with the fecal count of Clostridium cluster XI and positively associated with the fecal count of Clostridium cluster XVIII and consumption of green tea. The total CSS score was positively associated with the fecal Prevotella count and negatively associated with fecal acetate levels and consumption of vegetables. Discriminant analysis estimated that constipation could be predicted correctly in 83% (p < 0.001) of the participants based on fecal microbiota and fecal short-chain fatty acids. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: Bowel movement was strongly affected by gut environment and food intake in Japanese participants. Improvement in dietary habits could promote bowel movement through the improvement of the environment in the gut, resulting in ameliorated QOL issues in healthy adults.

Vonoprazan-Based Triple-Therapy Could Improve Efficacy of the Tailored Therapy of Helicobacter pylori Infection.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The prevalence of clarithromycin resistant bacteria is increasing, and the effectiveness of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) triple therapy is gradually decreasing in Japan. Vonoprazan, a potassiumcompetitive acid blocker, has been reported for its effectiveness in eradicating H. pylori. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of tailored vonoprazan-based triple therapy in patients with H. pylori. This study is the first to compare the efficacy of vonoprazan-based tailored triple therapy to that of vonoprazan-based conventional therapy. METHOD: This retrospective cohort study evaluated the treatment efficacy in 920 patients. Of these, 541 received conventional and 379 received tailored therapy. Successful eradication was confirmed by a negative 13C-urea breath test 6-8 weeks following completion of H. pylori eradication therapy, and the data were evaluated using the Chi-square test, or Fisher's exact test, as appropriate. RESULTS: The eradication rate of tailored therapy was 90% and 96.3% by intent-to-treat analysis and per protocol analysis, respectively, which was significantly higher than the 85% and 90.2% found for conventional therapy (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively). Amoxicillin- or clarithromycin-resistant bacteria did not affect treatment outcomes. By univariate and multivariate analysis, both amoxicillin- and clarithromycin-resistant bacteria and conventional therapy were detected as risk factors for eradication failure (odds ratio = 6.267, 95% CI [1.056-119.924], p < 0.05, and odd ratio =3.113, 95% confidence interval [1.688-6.160], p < 0.001, by multivariate analysis). CONCLUSION: Vonoprazan-based triple therapy could be a more effective treatment for H. pylori infection than conventional therapy when combined with a therapy regimen tailored according to bacterial antibiotic susceptibility.

[Internet survey of the actual situation of constipation in Japanese general population REACTION-J:Research for Actual Situation of Constipation in the Japanese].

Although chronic constipation is highly prevalent, its definition remains unclear. Therefore, the prevalence varies depending on reports, and the understanding of actual situations is unclear. Hence, we performed an internet survey on constipation among the Japanese general population to study the background factors and actual situations. Preliminary study on the awareness of constipation was conducted among 10000 people in which 9523 of them was asked if they had constipation at the time of the survey. In this population, 51.5% realized that they had constipation. Multivariate analysis showed the significant association of constipation to age, sex, and past histories or complications of diabetes, hemorrhoids, and cerebrovascular diseases. In a main research composed of 3000 general Japanese population, approximately 30.9% of the subjects reported the use of laxatives to treat constipation, and 43.8% of them were found to use irritant laxatives. Moreover, 67.5% of the subjects purchased laxatives at a pharmacy. The frequency of bowel movement less than 3 times per week was manifested in 36.3% of the subjects, and more than once per week in 21.4%. The percentage of hard (Bristol Stool Form Scale [BSFS] Type 1-2), normal (BSFS Type 3-5), and diarrhea stools (BSFS Type 6-7) was 33.1%, 60.0%, and 6.9%, respectively. The quality of life (QOL) of the subjects with hard and diarrhea stools evaluated by SF-8 was significantly lower than that of those with normal stools. Furthermore, the actual monthly cost for the therapeutic drugs used for treating constipation was less than 1000 yen in 75% of the subjects. Analysis of the IBS-QOL-J indicated that the ≥5000 yen payable group had the lowest satisfaction of defecation among the study groups. At present, many Japanese patients with constipation have not been receiving enough treatment for constipation. Therefore, appropriate medication by physicians as well as instruction to patients is required.