Difficult biliary cannulation during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for distal malignant biliary obstruction caused by pancreatic cancer: An observational study.

Objectives: Distal malignant biliary obstruction (DMBO) caused by pancreatic cancer often complicates endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), particularly biliary cannulation. While various factors influencing difficult biliary cannulation (DBC) have been studied, data specific to pancreatic cancer-related distant malignant biliary obstruction#x000A0;remains limited. This study identifies factors affecting ERCP success in this patient population to improve clinical outcomes.

Outcomes of percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage versus percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage for obstructive jaundice.

Percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage (PTGBD) is an alternative to percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) for cases with obstructive jaundice in which the bile duct obstruction is below the confluence of the cystic ducts. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of PTGBD and PTBD in patients with obstructive jaundice. We recruited patients who had undergone percutaneous biliary drainage for acute cholangitis and obstructive jaundice at two institutions between January 2017 and March 2024.

Feasibility of endoscopic ultrasound-guided hepaticogastrostomy using a novel long balloon catheter.

Objectives: Recently, a novel long balloon catheter for tract dilation in endoscopic ultrasound-guided hepaticogastrostomy (EUS-HGS) was developed. The balloon measures 6 cm in length, which enables one-step tract dilation of the gastric wall, liver parenchyma, and bile duct wall, contributing to shorter procedure times and reduced bile leakage. This study investigated the feasibility of EUS-HGS with this new balloon catheter.

Early Chronic Pancreatitis Findings by Endoscopic Ultrasonography (EUS) in Asymptomatic Patients with Pancreas Divisum.

Pancreas divisum (PD) is a congenital malformation associated with chronic and recurrent acute pancreatitis. Although PD often presents asymptomatically, the extent to which early chronic pancreatitis (ECP) changes occur in asymptomatic patients with PD remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) findings indicative of ECP in asymptomatic patients with PD and investigate the relationship between these findings and background factors, such as age, sex, main pancreatic duct diameter, and alcohol intake.

Transpancreatic precut sphincterotomy: Can nonexperts match the outcomes of experts?

Background: Nonexpert endoscopists cannot achieve high-quality performance during difficult biliary cannulation, representing a significant challenge; precutting is an effective approach for managing these cases. Transpancreatic biliary sphincterotomy (TPBS) is considered more effective than needle-knife precutting owing to its wire-guided technique, which may be suitable for nonexpert endoscopists; however, comparisons between nonexpert and expert endoscopists performing TPBS are not well documented.

Methods: Consecutive patients who underwent TPBS between January 2010 and April 2024 were evaluated.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition for focal liver lesions can be safely performed in patients with ascites.

In patients with ascites, percutaneous liver biopsy is generally contraindicated. Because endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition (EUS-TA) allows tissue sample obtention from the digestive tract lumen, a biopsy without the intervention of ascites may prevent adverse events (AEs). This study aimed to evaluate the safety of EUS-TA for focal liver lesions in the presence of ascites.

The outcomes of endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition for small focal liver lesions measuring ≤2 cm.

Objectives: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition (EUS-TA) for focal liver lesions has gained attention as an alternative to percutaneous biopsy. Although the outcomes of EUS-TA for focal liver lesions have been reported to be favorable, no studies have focused on small focal liver lesions (≤2 cm). The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of EUS-TA for small focal liver lesions (≤2 cm).

Benefits of endoscopic gallbladder stenting following percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage.

Background: Endoscopic transpapillary gallbladder drainage is challenging because of the complexity of the procedure and high incidence of adverse events (AEs). To overcome these problems, endoscopic gallbladder stenting (EGBS) after percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage (PTGBD) can be effective, as it mitigates inflammation and adhesion.

Aim: To examine the benefits of EGBS after PTGBD to assess its efficacy and impact on AEs.

Efficacy and safety of uncovered self-expandable metal stents for distal malignant biliary obstruction in unresectable non-pancreatic cancer.

Objectives: The efficacy of uncovered self-expandable metal stents (UCSEMS) versus fully covered self-expandable metal stents for distal malignant biliary obstruction remains controversial. Additionally, the heterogeneity of the disease conditions has been indicated in previous studies because pancreatic and non-pancreatic cancers have different characteristics in clinical course. Therefore, the etiology of biliary obstruction necessitates investigations stratified by primary disease.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition for focal liver lesions in patients with a history of multiple primary malignant neoplasms.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the usefulness of endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition (EUS-TA) for diagnosing focal liver lesions in patients with a history of multiple primary malignant neoplasms.

Methods: Among patients who underwent EUS-TA for focal liver lesions between 2016 and 2022, those with a history of multiple malignant neoplasms were included. A histologically confirmed malignant tumor within the past 5 years before EUS-TA was defined as a history of malignant neoplasm.

Efficacy of a Novel Tapered Contrast Catheter for Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Hepaticogastrostomy: A Multicenter Study.

: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided hepaticogastrostomy (EUS-HGS) is an alternative for failed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), with current success rates of 65-84% considered suboptimal. A novel ERCP catheter (SHOREN, Kaneka Corporation, Osaka, Japan) with a tapered 3.3-French tip may facilitate smoother insertion, potentially improving outcomes.

Efficacy of treating bacterial bioaerosols with weakly acidic hypochlorous water: A simulation chamber study.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the dangers of airborne transmission and the risks of pathogen-containing small airborne droplet inhalation as an infection route. As a pathogen control, Weakly Acidic Hypochlorous Water (WAHW) is used for surface disinfection. However, there are limited assessments of air disinfection by WAHW against airborne pathogens like bioaerosols.

Growth Suppression of a Robust Bacterium by Porous Materials with Oxygen Functional Groups.

Suppressing the growth of species without the use of toxic chemicals has been a challenging task owing to their robustness against previous antimicrobial techniques. In this work, we prepared porous materials with various numbers and types of oxygen functional groups and investigated their ability to suppress the growth of . It turned out that the number and type of oxygen functional groups in the porous materials greatly affected the growth of the bacterium.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided infectious liver cyst drainage associated with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease in which percutaneous approach is impossible.

A man in his 70s on maintenance dialysis for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease was admitted with epigastralgia and a fever lasting for 1 week. Computed tomography showed a thickened liver cyst measuring 121 mm in the caudate lobe, suggesting infection. Percutaneous drainage was impossible because multiple liver cysts and ascites entered the puncture route.