Clinical Significance of Bmi1 Expression in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Background: Although the stem cell marker Bmi1 is overexpressed in many malignancies, its role in inflammation-associated cancer is unclear. Colitis-associated cancer (CAC) is caused by chronic intestinal inflammation and often results from refractory inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Methods: To assess the involvement of Bmi1 in the development of CAC, we analyzed the gene expression of colon tissues collected from 111 patients with IBD and CAC.

Comparative Study of Clarithromycin- versus Metronidazole-Based Triple Therapy as First-Line Eradication for Helicobacter pylori.

Introduction: Clarithromycin (CAM)-based triple therapy comprising proton pump inhibitors and amoxicillin is administered as first-line eradication treatment against Helicobacter pylori infection. However, the eradication rate achieved with CAM-based triple therapy has decreased to <80% owing to the emergence of CAM-resistant strains. This prospective randomized study aimed to compare the efficacy of CAM-based and metronidazole (MNZ)-based triple therapy in terms of H.

Clinical Analysis of Esophageal Stricture in Patients Treated with Intralesional Triamcinolone Injection after Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection for Superficial Esophageal Cancer.

Introduction: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has been widely used in the resection of superficial esophageal cancers. Since its use has been extended to cases involving large esophageal tumors occupying nearly the whole or the whole circumference of the lumen, the occurrence of esophageal stricture has increased. Although endoscopic injection of triamcinolone (TA) is widely used for the prevention of postoperative stricture, a significant number of patients still develop stricture after TA injection therapy.

Risk Factors for Postoperative Bleeding in Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection of Colorectal Tumors.

Background: Colonoscopic removal of adenomatous polyps or early cancer prevents death from colorectal cancer. Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), which enables endoscopists to perform en bloc resection of flat or depressed colorectal tumors >20 mm, has recently been introduced and become a standard procedure in Japan. Although postoperative bleeding (POB) is a major complication associated with ESD, risk factors for POB have not been fully identified.

Removal of diminutive colorectal polyps: A prospective randomized clinical trial between cold snare polypectomy and hot forceps biopsy.

Aim: To compare the efficacy and safety of cold snare polypectomy (CSP) and hot forceps biopsy (HFB) for diminutive colorectal polyps.

Methods: This prospective, randomized single-center clinical trial included consecutive patients ≥ 20 years of age with diminutive colorectal polyps 3-5 mm from December 2014 to October 2015. The primary outcome measures were resection (endoscopic evaluation) and complete resection rates (pathological evaluation).