[Two cases of esophageal achalasia, in which localized botulinum toxin injections were effective to improve symptoms].

The cases were a 64-year-old man and a 57-year-old woman both with discomfort and dysphasia. They were given a diagnosis of esophageal achalasia after gastrointestinal endoscopy, barium esophagography and esophageal internal pressure tests. Their symptoms were dramatically improved by localized botulinum toxin injections, which were commonly available in the US.

Evaluation of hemostasis with soft coagulation using endoscopic hemostatic forceps in comparison with metallic hemoclips for bleeding gastric ulcers: a prospective, randomized trial.

Background: Endoscopic high-frequency soft coagulation, recently developed in Japan, is available for the management of gastric bleeding in cases of bleeding gastric ulcers and bleeding during endoscopic submucosal dissection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of hemostasis with soft coagulation for bleeding gastric ulcers by comparing it with hemoclips in a prospective, randomized trial.

Methods: During the period of April 2006 to March 2008, 96 patients that had gastric ulcers with bleeding or nonbleeding visible vessels were enrolled in this study.

Case series of endoscopic balloon dilation to treat a stricture caused by circumferential resection of the gastric antrum by endoscopic submucosal dissection.

Background: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) plays an important role in the management of gastric neoplasms. There are few reports regarding stricture development caused by ESD of gastric neoplasms.

Objective: The present study aimed to determine the incidence of gastric stricture formation after ESD of gastric neoplasms and to report on the outcome and management of this complication: endoscopic intervention (ie, balloon dilation) versus surgery; the outcome of balloon dilation (success or failure/perforation).