A multi-analyte cell-free DNA-based blood test for early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma.

The limited performance of guideline-recommended abdominal ultrasound and serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) highlights the urgent, unmet need for new biomarkers for more accurate detection of early hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). To this end, we have conducted a prospective clinical validation study to evaluate the performance of the HelioLiver Test, a multi-analyte blood test combining cell-free DNA methylation patterns, clinical variables, and protein tumor markers. A blinded, multicenter validation study was performed with 247 subjects, including 122 subjects with HCC and 125 control subjects with chronic liver disease.

Comparative quality assessment of esophageal examination with transnasal and sedated endoscopy.

 Unsedated transnasal esophagoscopy (TNE) may offer a less expensive, mobile alternative to sedated esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) for evaluations of reflux related complications. Comparisons of imaging quality by these methods are lacking.  Two reviewers evaluated videos of TNE and EGD procedures, performed during a community randomized study comparing endoscopic techniques.

Changes in the Prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus Infection, Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis, and Alcoholic Liver Disease Among Patients With Cirrhosis or Liver Failure on the Waitlist for Liver Transplantation.

Background & Aims: Concurrent to development of more effective drugs for treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, there has been an increase in the incidence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Data indicate that liver transplantation prolongs survival times of patient with acute hepatitis associated with alcoholic liver disease (ALD). We compared data on disease prevalence in the population with data from liver transplantation waitlists to evaluate changes in the burden of liver disease in the United States.

Effects of carbon dioxide insufflation during direct cholangioscopy on biliary pressures and vital parameters: a pilot study in porcine models.

Background And Aims: Direct per-oral cholangioscopy allows endoscopic visualization of the biliary tract. Insufflation with carbon dioxide (CO) is an alternative to saline solution irrigation during direct cholangioscopy. There are no data on maximal CO insufflation in direct cholangioscopy without causing biliary barotrauma or fatal gas embolism.

Outcomes of double-balloon enteroscopy-assisted direct percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy tube placement.

Background And Study Aims: In a large series, conventional direct percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy (DPEJ) tube placement with push endoscopes failed in approximately one-third of patients. In a pilot study, double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE)-assisted DPEJ tube placement was successful in all patients in whom attempted conventional DPEJ had failed. The study aim was to assess the technical success of and adverse events related to DBE-DPEJ tube placement in a large cohort of patients.

Outcomes and Predictors of Rebleeding After 2-Octyl Cyanoacrylate Injection in Acute Gastric Variceal Hemorrhage.

Background And Aim: Endoscopic injection of 2-octyl cyanoacrylate (2-OCA) is used on an off-label basis for gastric variceal hemorrhage (GVH) in the United States. We assessed the efficacy, safety, and predictors of rebleeding after gastric variceal obturation (GVO) with 2-OCA in patients with acute GVH.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed of patients with GVH who underwent 2-OCA injection for GVO over a 15-year period.

Comparative diagnostic performance of volumetric laser endomicroscopy and confocal laser endomicroscopy in the detection of dysplasia associated with Barrett's esophagus.

Background And Aims: Probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy (pCLE) and volumetric laser endomicroscopy (VLE) (also known as frequency domain optical coherence tomography) are advanced endoscopic imaging modalities that may be useful in the diagnosis of dysplasia associated with Barrett's esophagus (BE). We performed pCLE examination in ex-vivo EMR specimens and compared the diagnostic performance of using the current VLE scoring index (previously established as OCT-SI) and a novel VLE diagnostic algorithm (VLE-DA) for the detection of dysplasia.

Methods: A total of 27 patients with BE enrolled in a surveillance program at a tertiary-care center underwent 50 clinically indicated EMRs that were imaged with VLE and pCLE and classified into neoplastic (N = 34; high-grade dysplasia, intramucosal adenocarcinoma) and nonneoplastic (N = 16; low-grade dysplasia, nondysplastic BE), based on histology.

Prediction of response to endoscopic therapy of Barrett's dysplasia by using genetic biomarkers.

Background: Endoscopic therapy for the treatment of high-grade dysplasia (HGD) and intramucosal cancer (IMC) in Barrett's esophagus (BE) may not always result in complete remission of dysplasia (CRD).

Objective: To determine whether genetic alterations in the Barrett's mucosa can predict response to endoscopic therapy.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Application of confocal laser endomicroscopy in the diagnosis and management of Barrett's esophagus.

Confocal laser endomicroscopy is an advanced endoscopic imaging modality that can be used for the diagnosis of early mucosal dysplasia in various gastrointestinal conditions. It provides histology-like images at 1000-fold magnification. The technology offers potential advantages in the diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus and early esophageal cancer due to the low yield of the current practice of surveillance endoscopy with biopsies.

Barrett oesophagus in 2013: risk stratification and surveillance in Barrett oesophagus.

Advances are being made in understanding the pathogenesis, treatment outcomes and surveillance of Barrett oesophagus. Central obesity and age at onset of gastro-oesophageal reflux are being recognized as risk factors that have implications for screening. The persistent finding of nondysplastic Barrett oesophagus during surveillance is associated with low risk of malignant progression, whereas dysplastic Barrett oesophagus requires continued surveillance.

Obstructive sleep apnea is a risk factor for Barrett's esophagus.

Background & Aims: Common risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and Barrett's esophagus (BE) include obesity and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The aims of this study were to assess the association between OSA and BE and to determine whether the association is independent of GERD and body mass index (BMI).

Methods: Patients who had undergone a diagnostic polysomnogram and esophagogastroduodenoscopy were identified by using Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Minnesota) databases from January 2000-November 2011.

Preprocedural considerations in gastrointestinal endoscopy.

The current practice of open-access endoscopy allows primary care and other non-gastroenterology physicians to directly refer patients for routine gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures. Open-access endoscopy is considered to be more cost-effective and time efficient than the traditional practice of referring patients for preprocedural consultation with a gastrointestinal endoscopist. Several studies have evaluated the performance of endoscopic procedures in an open-access environment and the utility of structured referral mechanisms to ensure safe and appropriately indicated procedures.

A new era: endoscopic tissue transplantation.

Purpose Of Review: To describe basic principles of tissue engineering with emphasis on the potential role of gastrointestinal endoscopy in regenerative medicine.

Recent Findings: Stricturing associated with endoscopic submucosal resection and circumferential endoscopic mucosal resection can be prevented through transplantation of autologous epidermal cell sheets or seeded decellularized biological scaffolds. Lower esophageal sphincter augmentation through injection of muscle-derived cells is a novel potential treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Pediatric case of mesalazine-induced interstitial nephritis with literature review.

We present the case of a 14-year-old boy with ulcerative colitis who was diagnosed with mesalazine-induced interstitial nephritis (M-IIN). Improvement in renal function occurred with discontinuation of mesalazine and corticosteroid therapy. We systematically searched the literature for pediatric cases of M-IIN.

Barrett's esophagus in 2012: updates in pathogenesis, treatment, and surveillance.

Barrett's esophagus (BE) is the only established precursor lesion in the development of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) and it increases the risk of cancer by 11-fold. It is regarded as a complication of gastroesophageal reflux disease. There is an ever-increasing body of knowledge on the pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and surveillance of BE and its associated dysplasia.

Recurrence of esophageal intestinal metaplasia after endoscopic mucosal resection and radiofrequency ablation of Barrett's esophagus: results from a US Multicenter Consortium.

Background & Aims: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is an established treatment for dysplastic Barrett's esophagus (BE). Although short-term end points of ablation have been ascertained, there have been concerns about recurrence of intestinal metaplasia (IM) after ablation. We aimed to estimate the incidence and identify factors that predicted the recurrence of IM after successful RFA.

Endoscopic therapy for Barrett's esophagus and early esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Endoscopic therapy for Barrett's esophagus is feasible and likely to decrease the future risk of development of esophageal adenocarcinoma. The most commonly used therapy is radiofrequency ablation, which has been shown to produce reproducible superficial injury in the esophagus. Other thermal therapies include multipolar coagulation, argon plasma coagulation, and thermal laser therapy.

Utility of baseline positron emission tomography with computed tomography for predicting endoscopic resectability and survival outcomes in patients with early esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Background And Aims: Positron emission tomography with computed tomography (PET/CT) has been used to detect metastasis in the diagnosis of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). However, the utility of PET/CT to assess primary tumor for endoscopic resectability and prognosis in early EAC remains unclear. We conducted a retrospective study to determine the association of PET/CT findings with histopathological tumor invasion depth and survival outcomes.

Nutritional consequences of chronic diarrhoea.

There is an undeniable link between gastrointestinal disorders and malnutrition. Chronic diarrhoea is one of the most common gastrointestinal conditions that can impact a patient's nutritional status. The nutritional consequences will depend on the cause of the diarrhoea as well as the location and extent of gastrointestinal involvement.