A stag beetle knife can achieve stabler and safer endoscopic submucosal dissection in the esophagus.

Esophageal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has a higher complication rate than gastric ESD. Scissor-type devices, including the stag beetle (SB) knife, are reportedly safer and have shorter procedure times than tip devices. To clarify the characteristics of the SB knife, we compared the treatment outcomes of esophageal ESD with a tip-type knife to those with an SB knife combination.

The Association between the Growth Pattern and Malignancy in the Formation of Ulceration in Gastric Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor.

Objective In general, surface ulceration in gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is considered a malignant feature; however, the mechanism underlying its formation has not been evaluated in detail. In this study, we analyzed the factors involved in ulceration using resected specimens of gastric GIST. Methods A total of 48 samples were retrospectively analyzed.

Novel image enhancement technology that helps find bleeding points during endoscopic submucosal dissection of gastric neoplasms.

Background And Aim: The management of bleeding during endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is critical and related to the procedure time. We collaborated on a new image enhancement algorithm with parameter optimization for clinical use being developed by FUJIFILM Co. and processed white light image data offline to evaluate the effectiveness of this technology.

Complete omission of second-look endoscopy after gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection in real-world practice.

Gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is increasingly performed in patients receiving antithrombotic therapy. Second-look endoscopy (SLE) has been performed empirically in several clinical settings. We investigated whether SLE omission was associated with an increased risk of postESD bleeding in all patients, including those administered antithrombotic agents.

Clinical response and changes in the fecal microbiota and metabolite levels after fecal microbiota transplantation in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and recurrent infection.

Objectives: We determined the efficacy of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) and subsequent changes in fecal microbiota and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) levels in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), Crohn's disease (CD), and recurrent infection (rCDI).

Methods: A filtered solution of Japanese donor feces was endoscopically administered. The efficacy of FMT was evaluated after 8 weeks using the Mayo score, Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI), and the absence of diarrhea with stool toxin negativity in patients with active UC, CD, and rCDI, respectively.

3D Shape Reconstruction of 3D Printed Transparent Microscopic Objects from Multiple Photographic Images Using Ultraviolet Illumination.

We propose and demonstrate a simple, low-cost, three-dimensional (3D) shape acquisition method for transparent 3D printed microscopic objects. Our method uses ultraviolet (UV) illumination to obtain high-contrast silhouette images of transparent 3D printed polymer objects. Multiple silhouette images taken from different viewpoints make it possible to reconstruct the 3D shape of this transparent object.

Evaluation of a 12-mm diameter covered self-expandable end bare metal stent for malignant biliary obstruction.

 Biliary metallic stents are used to drain unresectable malignant distal biliary obstructions. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a novel 12-mm-diameter covered, self-expandable end bare metal stent (12-mm CSEEMS). We evaluated 99 patients with unresectable malignant distal biliary obstructions treated with covered biliary metallic stents.