Ulcerative Colitis in Pregnancy: A Japanese Multicenter Cohort Study Focusing on Their Mutual Influence.

Objective To investigate the clinical course of ulcerative colitis (UC) during pregnancy, focusing on their mutual influence. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 58 patients with UC who had 73 pregnancies and 3 patients with newly developed UC during pregnancy. We recorded the rate of relapse of UC; the relationship between medication use and UC relapse during pregnancy; treatment for relapse; and the incidence of pregnancy, childbirth, and newborn abnormalities.

Multicenter epidemiological survey of pneumatosis intestinalis in Japan.

Background: Pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) is a rare condition characterized by gas collection in the intestinal wall. We aimed to determine the etiology and affected segments associated with complications, treatment, and outcome.

Methods: We conducted a multicenter epidemiological survey using a standardized data collection sheet in Japan.

Early Intervention with Infliximab Prevents Reoperation in Crohn's Disease: A Single-Center Retrospective Analysis.

Background/aims: We aimed to evaluate the prognostic factors that can aid in the prevention of first and second surgeries in patients with Crohn's disease (CD).

Methods: The clinical records of 115 patients with CD whose disease onset was between January 1987 and July 2012 were retrospectively investigated. The cumulative rate of bowel resection for CD-related intestinal manifestations following onset until the first surgery and the cumulative rate of reoperation following the first to second surgeries were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and the relationship to each factor was statistically analyzed using the log-rank test.

[Relationship between visceral fat and development of colorectal neoplasms using computed tomographic colonography and adipocytokine levels].

We evaluated the relationship between colorectal neoplasms and visceral obesity using computed tomographic colonography and adipocytokine levels. We included 123 patients and classified them into four groups as per computed tomographic colonography: no lesion (NL; n=40), adenomatous polyp (polyp; n=41), early colorectal cancer (eCRC; n=21), and advanced CRC (aCRC; n=21). We also measured the patients' serum metabolic markers and adipocytokine levels.

Clinical relevance of patency capsule combined with abdominal ultrasonography to detect small bowel strictures.

Background: PillCam patency capsule (PC) is a novel and radiofrequency identification tag-free device that remains intact in the gastrointestinal tract for 30-33 h after ingestion and then disintegrates. The aim of this study was to determine the clinical relevance of PC combined with abdominal ultrasonography as a reliable indicator of functional patency.

Patients And Methods: The study was prospective and PillCam PC was administered to consecutive patients with known or suspected small bowel strictures.

Safety of gastrointestinal endoscopic biopsy in patients taking antithrombotics.

Background And Aim: Current Japanese gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopic guidelines permit endoscopic biopsy without cessation of antiplatelet agents and warfarin in patients with a therapeutic range of prothrombin time-international normalized ratio (PT-INR) levels, although the evidence levels are low. We evaluated the safety of endoscopic biopsy in patients currently taking antithrombotics.

Methods: Consecutive patients receiving antithrombotics who underwent GI endoscopy from August 2012 to August 2013 were enrolled.

Application of fecal hemoglobin-haptoglobin complex testing for small bowel lesions.

Objective: Fecal hemoglobin-haptoglobin (Hb-Hpt) complex testing is theoretically superior to immunochemical fecal occult blood test detecting human hemoglobin (Hb), as Hb-Hpt is more stable compared to Hb during passage through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The aim was to examine the role of fecal Hb-Hpt complex testing in predicting small bowel lesions detected by video capsule endoscopy (VCE).

Materials And Methods: Stools from patients undergoing small bowel VCE for obscure GI bleeding (OGIB) without ongoing overt bleeding were included.

S100A expression and interleukin-10 polymorphisms are associated with ulcerative colitis and diarrhea predominant irritable bowel syndrome.

Background: Both ulcerative colitis (UC) and diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) are associated with alterations in enteric serotonin (5-HT) signaling.

Aims: The purpose of this study was to compare the rectal and sigmoid colonic mucosal expression of S100A proteins and functional polymorphisms of the 5-HT transporter (5HTT) and interleukin-10 genes in patients with IBS-D or UC with healthy controls.

Methods: mRNA expression of S100 proteins was measured in sigmoid and rectal biopsies and in rectal epithelium isolated by laser-captured microdissection.

Analysis of small-bowel capsule endoscopy reading by using Quickview mode: training assistants for reading may produce a high diagnostic yield and save time for physicians.

Goal: The aim was to investigate the clinical utility of RAPID Access 6.5 Quickview software and to evaluate whether preview of the capsule endoscopy video by a trained nurse could detect significant lesions accurately compared with endoscopists.

Background: As reading capsule endoscopy is time consuming, one possible cost-effective strategy could be the use of trained nonphysicians or newly available software to preread and identify potentially important capsule images.

Association of SLCO1B1 1b with peptic ulcer amongst Japanese patients taking low-dose aspirin.

Background: In the recent case-control study, we showed an inverse association between peptic ulcer and angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1R) blockers (ARBs) or HMG-Co A reductase inhibitors (statins). The aim was to evaluate whether the genotypes of uptake and efflux transporters of ARBs and statins relate to the presence of peptic ulcer and/or ulcer bleeding associated with aspirin use.

Methods: Patients taking 100mg of enteric-coated aspirin for cardiovascular diseases who also participated in endoscopic surveillance were studied.

An evaluation of the performance of a novel stick-type kit for rapid detection of Helicobacter pylori antibodies in urine.

Background: ODK-0702 is a stick-type urinary Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) antibodies detection kit, developed to improve the original housing type urinary H. pylori antibodies detection kit "RAPIRUN H.

Changes of upper gastrointestinal symptoms and endoscopic findings in Japan over 25 years.

Background And Aims: In Japan, the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection has decreased recently, but there has been little longitudinal research on the changes of symptoms and endoscopic findings over many years. The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in endoscopic findings and symptoms over time in patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for assessment of upper abdominal symptoms.

Methods: Over a period of 25 years, between 1981 and 2005, we performed three investigations (1981-2, 1990-1 and 2004-5) on the symptoms and endoscopic findings of patients undergoing endoscopy at Kawasaki Medical School Hospital for the assessment of upper abdominal symptoms.

Combination of low-dose aspirin and thienopyridine exacerbates small bowel injury.

Objective: Antithrombotics is increasingly being used for cardiovascular prevention. In more recent studies, small bowel injury and enteropathy associated with low-dose aspirin are increasingly being recognized. Aim of this study was to evaluate small bowel injury using video capsule endoscopy (VCE) in obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB) patients taking low-dose aspirin including other antithrombotics.

Renin-angiotensin system associated with risk of upper GI mucosal injury induced by low dose aspirin: renin angiotensin system genes' polymorphism.

Background: We have previously shown that co-treatment of angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1R) blocker (ARB) or angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor seem to reduce peptic ulcer among patients taking low dose aspirin. It is reported that a series of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) gene polymorphisms significantly influence the rate of the gene transcription.

Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the genotypes of RAS genes related to the risk of peptic ulcer and ulcer bleeding among patients taking low dose aspirin.

Evaluation of RAPID(®) 5 Access software for examination of capsule endoscopies and reading of the capsule by an endoscopy nurse.

Background: Since capsule endoscopy (CE) is time consuming, one possible cost-effective strategy could be the use of an expert endoscopic assistant and available software to select images. Aims were to examine the clinical utility of RAPID(®) 5 Access software and find the optimum setting mode for reading. We also evaluated whether a nurse could preview the CE video and detect significant lesions accurately.

Expression of Sonic hedgehog (SHH) and CDX2 in the columnar epithelium of the lower oesophagus.

Background: Decreases in Sonic hedgehog (SHH) and CDX2 expression are associated with atrophy and intestinal metaplasia in the gastric mucosa. The pathogenesis of development of Barrett's oesophagus is still unclear.

Objective: To examine the gene expression of CDX2 and SHH and their signalling pathways in the columnar epithelium and the association with endoscopic appearance, gastric pH or bile acids.

Aspirin-induced peptic ulcer and genetic polymorphisms.

There are a few studies of the association between genetic polymorphisms and the risks of acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin)-induced ulcer or its complications. Two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), A-842G and C50T, exhibited increased sensitivity to aspirin and had lower prostaglandin synthesis capacity, lacking statistical significance in the association with bleeding peptic ulcer. A recent Japanese study indicated that the number of COX-1-1676T alleles was a significant risk factor for peptic ulcer in users of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Long-term outcome after double-balloon endoscopy in patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding.

Background And Aims: There are limited data concerning the clinical outcome of patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB) after double-balloon endoscopy (DBE). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the long-term outcome of patients with OGIB after DBE.

Patients And Methods: Eighty-seven consecutive patients with OGIB (47 men and 40 women; mean age 65.

Rectal mucosal prolapse syndrome as an unusual gastrointestinal manifestation of Sjögren's syndrome: a case report.

Introduction: Rectal mucosal prolapse syndrome, histologically characterized by fibromuscular obliteration in the lamina propria, hyperplastic glands and thickened muscularis mucosa, causes rectal bleeding. Sjögren's syndrome is an autoimmune exocrinopathy that chiefly destroys the salivary and lacrimal glands by lympho-plasmacytic infiltration. Although various gastrointestinal manifestations have been reported in patients with Sjögren's syndrome, there have not been to our knowledge any case reports to date of rectal mucosal prolapse syndrome in association with Sjögren's syndrome.

The preventive factors for aspirin-induced peptic ulcer: aspirin ulcer and corpus atrophy.

Purpose: Interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) polymorphisms are associated with peptic ulcer and atrophic gastritis. This study aimed to examine effects of corpus atrophy and the genotypes of genes related to peptic ulcer, including IL-1beta, on risk of aspirin ulcer.

Methods: 232 patients taking 100 mg of aspirin for cardiovascular diseases, of whom 40 had peptic ulcer, were enrolled.

Upper gastrointestinal ulcer in Japanese patients taking low-dose aspirin.

Background: There are few studies on the association of the risks of upper gastrointestinal (GI) ulcer induced by aspirin combined with other medicines. We investigated the association between peptic ulcer and clinical parameters, including Helicobacter pylori infection and combinations of medicines.

Methods: Patients taking 100 mg aspirin for cardiovascular diseases who were planning to undergo endoscopy were enrolled.

Blockade of tumor necrosis factor-alpha-converting enzyme improves experimental small intestinal damage by decreasing matrix metalloproteinase-3 production in rats.

Objective: Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha-converting enzyme (TACE), which has been purified, regulates maturity of TNF-alpha. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play a key role in various inflammatory conditions. The incidence of intestinal damage has increased, but the mechanism and treatment have not been well understood.

GI involvement in Henoch-Schönlein purpura.

Background: The diagnosis of Henoch-Schönlein purpura is difficult, especially when abdominal symptoms precede cutaneous lesions. The aim of this study was to determine the distribution of GI involvement in Henoch-Schönlein purpura.

Methods: Endoscopic or radiographic findings throughout the entire GI tract were retrospectively reviewed for 7 patients with Henoch-Schönlein purpura.