Risk Factors for Delayed Bleeding after Therapeutic Gastrointestinal Endoscopy in Patients Receiving Oral Anticoagulants: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

Background/aims: Delayed bleeding is among the adverse events associated with therapeutic gastrointestinal endoscopy. The aim of this study was to evaluate risk factors for delayed bleeding after gastrointestinal endoscopic resection in patients receiving oral anticoagulants as well as to compare the rates of occurrence of delayed bleeding between the oral anticoagulants used.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed a total of 772 patients receiving anticoagulants.

Evaluation of an e-learning system for diagnosis of gastric lesions using magnifying narrow-band imaging: a multicenter randomized controlled study.

 Magnifying narrow-band imaging (M-NBI) is useful for the accurate diagnosis of early gastric cancer (EGC). However, acquiring skill at M-NBI diagnosis takes substantial effort. An Internet-based e-learning system to teach endoscopic diagnosis of EGC using M-NBI has been developed.

Efficacy of long-term 4.0 g/day mesalazine (Pentasa) for maintenance therapy in ulcerative colitis.

Background: High-dose (4.0 g/day) mesalazine is typically used for induction therapy, but its efficacy as maintenance therapy remains to be determined. We conducted a multicenter retrospective study to investigate the efficacy of continuous treatment with 4.

Early and long-term outcomes of endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric cancer in a large patient series.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) enables the curative resection of early gastric cancer (EGC); however, little information is available on the long-term outcomes of ESD. This study was conducted to clarify the clinical outcomes of a large number of patients with EGC who underwent ESD. The early outcomes were assessed in 1,209 patients and the long-term outcomes were assessed in 300 patients at a follow-up >5 years after the ESD procedure.

[Problems around liver transplantation for alcoholic liver diseases--from the standpoint of alcoholic treatment].

Liver transplantations for alcoholic liver diseases have been carried out recently in domestic medical treatment institutions. It is assumed that a lot of people who have alcoholic liver diseases and have no alternatives except for liver transplantation to sustain their life are alcoholics. Those people need treatment aimed at abstinence from before liver transplantation is carried out.

Management of esophageal stricture after complete circular endoscopic submucosal dissection for superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) permits removal of esophageal epithelial neoplasms en bloc, but is associated with esophageal stenosis, particularly when ESD involves the entire circumference of the esophageal lumen. We examined the effectiveness of systemic steroid administration for control of postprocedural esophageal stricture after complete circular ESD.

Methods: Seven patients who underwent wholly circumferential ESD for superficially extended esophageal squamous cell carcinoma were enrolled in this study.

Usefulness of oral prednisolone in the treatment of esophageal stricture after endoscopic submucosal dissection for superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) permits en bloc removal of superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. However, postprocedure stricture is common after ESD for extensive tumors, and multiple endoscopic balloon dilation (EBD) is required for recalcitrant cases.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of oral prednisolone in controlling postprocedure esophageal stricture.

Magnifying chromoendoscopic findings of early gastric cancer and gastric adenoma.

Purpose: In the field of colorectal cancer and adenoma, Kudo's classification of pit pattern with magnifying chromocolonoscopy using crystal violet (CV) staining is now accepted. Magnifying endoscopy using narrow band imaging has been used for the diagnosis of gastric carcinoma; the characteristic findings of microvascular patterns have been demonstrated. However, there was limited information on magnified endoscopic findings with CV staining for gastric neoplasms in terms of their pit patterns.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection for laterally spreading tumours of the colorectum in 200 consecutive cases.

Background: Colorectal laterally spreading tumours (LSTs) are classified into granular (LST-G) and non-granular (LST-NG) type; each type was sub-grouped into LST-G-H (homogenous) and LST-G-M (nodular mixed) type or LST-NG-F (flat elevated) and LST-NG-FD (pseudodepressed) type, respectively. We assessed the clinicopathological factors associated with clinical outcomes of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for colorectal LSTs, and conducted follow-up after ESD.

Methods: ESD was performed in 196 patients with 204 LSTs that fulfilled the inclusion criteria for colorectal neoplasms.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection for colorectal epithelial neoplasms.

Purpose: Endoscopic submucosal dissection permits removal of colorectal epithelial neoplasms en bloc, but long-term clinical outcomes remain unknown.

Methods: Endoscopic submucosal dissection was performed in 282 patients having 296 colorectal tumors that fulfilled the inclusion criteria, which included lesions greater than 20 mm in size for which en bloc resection would be difficult with endoscopic mucosal resection, lesions with fibrotic scar due to previous endoscopic treatment or biopsies, locally residual lesions after endoscopic resection, or invasive carcinoma with slight submucosal penetration. En bloc or piecemeal resection, complete (en bloc with tumor-free lateral/basal margins) or incomplete resection, and complications were assessed, and factors related to each were analyzed using logistic regression.

A new thin endoscopic method of transanal drainage tube insertion for acute colonic obstruction due to colorectal cancer.

Aim: Insertion of a transanal drainage tube is effective in the management of obstructing colorectal cancer. We devised a new method of inserting the transanal drainage tube safely and quickly using a thin endoscope.

Methods: Sixteen patients (seven men and nine women) with obstructive left-sided colorectal cancer were treated by inserting a transanal drainage tube using a thin endoscope.

Clinical outcomes of endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric cancer by indication criteria.

Background And Study Aims: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) can remove early gastric cancer (EGC) en bloc. We sought to assess the feasibility and efficacy of ESD and the clinical outcomes based on the indication criteria.

Patients And Methods: 551 patients with 589 EGC lesions were divided into the guideline criteria group (elevated lesion < or =20 mm in diameter and depressed lesion < or =10 mm without ulceration) and the expanded criteria group (mucosal cancer without ulcer findings irrespective of tumor size; mucosal cancer with ulcer findings < or =3 cm in diameter; and minute submucosal invasive cancer < or =3 cm in size).

Endoscopic submucosal dissection for rectal carcinoid tumors.

Background: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has an advantage over endoscopic mucosa resection (EMR) by enabling removal of gastrointestinal neoplasms en bloc. The ESD procedure is the treatment of choice for rectal carcinoids that have classic histologic architecture with minimal cellular pleomorphism and sparse mitoses, but it has not been applied for such tumors.

Methods: The ESD procedure was performed for patients with colorectal tumors that fulfilled the inclusion criteria specifying tumor with a diameter of 10 mm or less, no muscular layer invasion, and no metastases to the lymph nodes or distal organs.

Clinical outcomes of endoscopic submucosal dissection in elderly patients with early gastric cancer.

Objectives: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has advantages over conventional endoscopic mucosa resection. The number of elderly patients (more than 75 years old) with early gastric cancer (EGC) has been steadily increasing. We sought to assess clinical outcomes of ESD for EGC in elderly.

Factors related to the curability of early gastric cancer with endoscopic submucosal dissection.

Background: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) yields substantially high rates for curative resection of early gastric cancer (EGC). It is suggested that larger, ulcerative, or upper EGCs may prevent successful ESD. A detailed analysis of factors associated with the curability of ESD was performed.

A case of Cronkhite-Canada syndrome: remission after treatment with anti-Helicobacter pylori regimen.

A 67-year-old man with nausea, appetite loss, frequent diarrhea and severe weight loss presented with alopecia, skin hyperpigmentation and onychodystrophy. Laboratory investigations showed mild anemia, hypoproteinemia and hypoalbuminemia. Colonoscopy identified the numerous, hyperemic and sessile polyps with mucous exudation of various sizes throughout the colorectum.

Development of ulcerative colitis during the course of rheumatoid arthritis: Association with selective IgA deficiency.

A 56-year-old woman with a 29-year history of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was admitted to the hospital, complaining of high fever, abdominal pain and severe bloody diarrhea. Colonoscopy revealed friable and edematous mucosa with spontaneous bleeding, diffuse erosions and ulcers extending from the rectum to the distal transverse colon. Histopathological findings of rectal biopsies were compatible with ulcerative colitis (UC).

Chronic visceral hypersensitivity renders defecation more susceptible to stress via a serotonergic pathway in rats.

Visceral hypersensitivity, intestinal dysmotility, and stress play major roles in irritable bowel syndrome. However, the significance of visceral hypersensitivity in stress-induced changes of colorectal motor function is not conclusive. A rat model of chronic visceral hypersensitivity was induced by mechanical colorectal irritation during postnatal development.

Successful treatment with cyclosporin in adult-onset Still disease manifesting as acute hepatitis with marked hyperferritinemia.

A 48-year-old woman was admitted because of spiking high fever, sore throat, and jaundice. A diagnosis was made of adult-onset Still disease (AOSD) presenting with acute hepatitis and very high serum ferritin levels (32,240 ng/mL), and she was treated with 2 courses of pulse therapy of methylprednisolone (2 g/day for 3 days) followed by 40 mg/day prednisolone. Subsequently, the serum level of ferritin decreased, but serum total bilirubin increased to 17.

Validation of endoscopic 13C-urea breath test with nondispersive infrared spectrometric analysis in the management of Helicobacter pylori infection.

Background/aims: 13C-EUBT (endoscopic 13C-urea breath test), that combines the conventional urea breath test with endoscopy, provides excellent accuracy for detection of H. pylori. Recently, a simpler, less expensive and isotope-selected nondispersive infrared spectrometer has been developed for the urea breath test.

Lafutidine, a novel histamine H2-receptor antagonist, vs lansoprazole in combination with amoxicillin and clarithromycin for eradication of Helicobacter pylori.

Background: In contrast to the growing amount of data concerning proton pump inhibitor-based triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori infection, it is still controversial whether proton pump inhibitor can be replaced by H2 receptor antagonist without compromising efficacy. Lafutidine is a novel potent H2 receptor antagonist with gastroprotective activities such as enhancement of gastric mucosal blood flow.

Methods: 122 outpatients with positive cultures and subsequent successful cultivation of H.