Efficacy of Dose Escalation of Oral 5-Aminosalicylic Acid for Ulcerative Colitis With a Mayo Endoscopic Subscore of 1: An Open Label Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Endoscopic healing is generally defined as Mayo endoscopic subscore (MES) ≤1 in ulcerative colitis (UC). However, patients with an MES of 1 are at higher relapse risk than those with an MES of 0. This study evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of proactive dose escalation of oral 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) in UC patients with an MES of 1.

Usefulness of texture and color enhancement imaging in assessing mucosal healing in patients with ulcerative colitis.

Background And Aims: Endoscopic remission is known to be defined as a Mayo endoscopic subscore (MES) of ≤1 in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). However, some individuals experience relapse even after showing endoscopic remission under white-light imaging (WLI), and no tool exists that can detect these individuals. The aim of this study was to clarify the usefulness of texture and color enhancement imaging (TXI) in the assessment of inflammation in patients with UC.

Red dichromatic imaging reduces bleeding and hematoma during submucosal injection in esophageal endoscopic submucosal dissection.

Background: Bleeding and hematoma formation during submucosal injection in esophageal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) reduce the visibility of the submucosa. Red dichromatic imaging (RDI) is an endoscopic technique that provides better visualization of the deep submucosal blood vessels. We speculated that blood vessel injury could be avoided with RDI.

Factors predicting major complications, mortality, and recovery in percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy.

Background And Aim: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) has been used in patients with dysphagia and inadequate food intake via an oral route. Despite being a procedure with a high success rate, complications and death have been reported. The aim was to identify the factors related to major complications and mortality, as well as PEG removal prognostic factors due to improvement of their general condition.

Predictors of technical difficulty for complete closure of mucosal defects after duodenal endoscopic resection.

Background And Aims: It has been reported that the prophylactic closure of mucosal defects after duodenal endoscopic resection (ER) can reduce delayed adverse events; however, under certain circumstances, this can be technically challenging. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the predictors of difficulty during the complete closure of mucosal defects after duodenal ER.

Methods: This was a retrospective study of duodenal lesions that underwent ER between July 2010 and May 2020.

Demarcated redness associated with increased vascular density/size: a useful marker of flat-type dysplasia in patients with ulcerative colitis.

Recent advances in endoscopic equipment and diagnostic techniques have improved the detection of dysplasia in the inflamed mucosa of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). However, it remains difficult to endoscopically identify flat-type dysplasia which has been formerly recognized as invisible dysplasia. In this retrospective, single-center study, we endoscopically identified 10 cases of flat-type-predominant dysplasia by targeted biopsy among 38 intramucosal dysplasia lesions from patients with UC who underwent surgical or endoscopic resection from 2007 to 2017.

Significance of endoscopic deep small bowel evaluation using balloon-assisted enteroscopy for Crohn's disease in clinical remission.

Background: Small bowel lesions of Crohn's disease (CD) are known to be associated with a poor prognosis; however, endoscopic healing leads to favorable patients' outcome. The aim of this study was to clarify the clinical impact of assessing deep small bowel lesions (DSB) using balloon-assisted enteroscopy (BAE) on CD patients in clinical remission.

Methods: From January 2012 to July 2018, a total of 100 CD patients in clinical remission were enrolled to undergo trans-anal enteroscopy using single-balloon enteroscope.

Ulcerative colitis exacerbation after the onset of immune checkpoint inhibitor related colitis.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICPI) have been reported to be effective in various carcinomas. They excessively activate the immune system, resulting in frequent immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Colitis induced by ICPI is one of the most common and is known as immune-mediated colitis (IMC).

Characteristics of the Mucosal Surface on Scanning Electron Microscopy in Patients with Remitting Ulcerative Colitis.

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is characterized by chronic intestinal epithelial damage, and previous studies have evaluated the epithelial structure of patients with active UC using electron microscopy.

Aims: This study aimed to assess the intestinal epithelial structure using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the features of patients with UC who are in remission.

Methods: In total, eight healthy controls and 20 patients with UC were enrolled, and colonic tissue samples from the cecum and rectum were collected.

Water pressure method for duodenal endoscopic submucosal dissection (with video).

Background And Aims: Duodenal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is considered technically challenging and has a high risk of adverse events. However, we recently made some progress with the ESD technique and device by introducing 2 features: a water pressure (WP) method and a second-generation ESD knife (DualKnife) with a water jet function (DualKnife J). The present study aimed to assess whether these changes improved the clinical outcomes of duodenal ESD.

Mucosal concentrations of N-acetyl-5-aminosalicylic acid related to endoscopic activity in ulcerative colitis patients with mesalamine.

Background And Aim: 5-Aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) is a fundamental treatment for mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis (UC). 5-ASA is taken up into the colonic mucosa and metabolized to N-acetyl-5-ASA (Ac-5-ASA). Few studies have assessed whether mucosal 5-ASA and Ac-5-ASA concentrations are associated with endoscopic remission.

Predictors of technical difficulty with duodenal ESD.

 Duodenal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is still considered technically challenging; however, few studies have objectively analyzed predictors of the technical difficulty. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to elucidate predictors of the technical difficulty of duodenal ESD.  This was a retrospective observational study.

Efficacy of Novel Ultrathin Single-Balloon Enteroscopy for Crohn's Disease: A Propensity Score-Matched Study.

Background/aims: The evaluation of small bowel lesions of Crohn's disease (CD) using balloon-assisted enteroscopy (BAE) is crucial because mucosal healing is associated with a good prognosis. However, BAE procedures are invasive, requiring sedation or analgesia to reduce the patient's pain. This study evaluated the clinical usefulness of a novel ultrathin single-balloon enteroscopy (SBE) procedure for CD.

Clinical and Endoscopic Characteristics of Pyogenic Granuloma in the Small Intestine: A Case Series with Literature Review.

Pyogenic granuloma (PG) generally appears in the skin or oral cavity, but rarely occurs in the small intestine, where it can cause bleeding. To date, only 35 cases of small intestinal PG have been reported in the English literature. We retrospectively collected information from the clinical records of seven cases of small intestinal PG that were managed in our hospital and summarized the characteristics.

How I do it: Endoscopic diagnosis for superficial non-ampullary duodenal epithelial tumors.

There are no reports on detailed endoscopic diagnosis of superficial non-ampullary duodenal epithelial tumors (SNADET) except for relatively small case series. Herein, we conducted a prospective observational study to investigate the relationship between endoscopic findings and histopathological diagnosis of SNADET. A total of 163 SNADET diagnosed using magnified endoscopic examination with image-enhanced endoscopy (IEE-ME) were prospectively registered in this study.

Feasibility study comparing underwater endoscopic mucosal resection and conventional endoscopic mucosal resection for superficial non-ampullary duodenal epithelial tumor < 20 mm.

Background And Aim: Underwater endoscopic mucosal resection (UEMR) has been reported as an alternative to conventional EMR for superficial non-ampullary duodenal epithelial tumors (SNADET). However, the detailed outcomes are unclear. This study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes between UEMR and EMR for SNADET <20 mm.

Intramucosal poorly differentiated and signet-ring cell components in patients with ulcerative colitis-associated high-grade dysplasia.

Despite the rarity of colorectal poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma (Por) and signet-ring cell carcinoma (Sig), they are more frequent in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). However, little is known about these components of early colitis-associated cancer due to the difficulty of detection at an early stage. Here, we reviewed colitis-associated high-grade dysplasia/cancer with Por/Sig components within the submucosa among 103 lesions of 79 UC patients who presented between 1997 and 2017.

Development of an Indigo Naturalis Suppository for Topical Induction Therapy in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis.

Background: Indigo naturalis (IN) consists of ligands for the aryl hydrocarbon receptor and exhibits anti-inflammatory effects. Previously, we demonstrated that an 8-week treatment with oral IN is effective in inducing a clinical response in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). Some UC patients with proctitis are refractory to topical mesalamine or corticosteroids and therefore require an alternative topical treatment.

Difference in the clinical characteristic and prognosis of colitis-associated cancer and sporadic neoplasia in ulcerative colitis patients.

Background: Although various studies have been conducted on colitis-associated cancer (CAC), few have assessed the differences in the clinical and endoscopic features, treatment, and prognosis of CAC and sporadic neoplasia (SN) in the inflamed mucosa of ulcerative colitis (UC) patients.

Aims: To compare the characteristics of CAC and SN within the previously or currently inflamed mucosa.

Methods: Between 1997 and 2017, we retrospectively analyzed the endoscopic chart data of 348 colonic lesions from 266 UC patients.

Efficacy of Therapeutic Intervention for Patients With an Ulcerative Colitis Mayo Endoscopic Score of 1.

Background: Mucosal healing (MH) is proposed as a therapeutic target for ulcerative colitis (UC). Recent studies have indicated that the rate of clinical relapse in patients with a Mayo endoscopic score (MES) of 1 is higher than that of patients with an MES of 0. However, no study has yet investigated whether therapeutic intervention prevents clinical relapse in patients with an MES of 1.

The risk factor of clinical relapse in ulcerative colitis patients with low dose 5-aminosalicylic acid as maintenance therapy: A report from the IBD registry.

Background: 5-Aminosalicylic acids (5-ASA) are effective for ulcerative colitis (UC) as a maintenance therapy. It is not clear when and how to reduce a dose of 5-ASA after inducing remission. We aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics and evaluate the risk factors of relapse for UC patients receiving 5-ASA.

Endocytoscopy can be used to assess histological healing in ulcerative colitis.

 Endocytoscopy (ECS) is used in the in vivo microscopic inspection of microstructural mucosal features and enables endoscopists to assess the histological severity of ulcerative colitis (UC). The aim of this study was to assess histological healing in UC patients by using ECS.  A total of 64 patients in clinical and endoscopic remission who underwent ECS were selected.