Comparison of the efficacy of nal-IRI+5FU/LV and S-1 in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer refractory to gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel.

Introduction: Nanoliposomal irinotecan (nal-IRI) + 5- fluorouracil (FU)/leucovorin (LV) is the new standard second-line therapy for advanced pancreatic cancer (PC). Tegafur, gimeracil, and oteracil potassium (S-1) have been used in advanced PC after gemcitabine (GEM) plus nab-paclitaxel treatment, but the clinical difference between nal-IRI+5-FU/LV and S-1 remains unclear.

Methods: We retrospectively compared the efficacy and safety of nal-IRI+5-FU/LV and S-1 in patients with advanced PC refractory to GEM plus nab-paclitaxel.

Leucine-Rich Alpha-2 Glycoprotein Is Associated With Transmural Inflammation Assessed by Intestinal Ultrasound in Patients With Crohn's Disease.

Background: Intestinal ultrasound (IUS) is a non-invasive tool for evaluating transmural inflammation in Crohn's disease (CD). However, its utility is constrained by operator dependency and limited accessibility.

Aims: To explore the feasibility of serum biomarkers-specifically leucine-rich alpha-2 glycoprotein (LRG)-as an alternative to IUS for assessing transmural inflammation.

Surveillance after Endoscopic Resection for Colorectal Tumors: A Comprehensive Review.

Background: The goal of surveillance after the endoscopic resection of colorectal tumors is to reduce colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and mortality. Considering the effective use of the limited endoscopic capacity and the cost of surveillance, it is desirable to develop a surveillance program that is as minimal as possible. In Europe (European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy [ESGE]) and the USA (Multi-Society Task Force [MSTF]), after the results of the National Polyp Study (NPS) were established, guidelines were developed that stratified risk based on initial endoscopy, and surveillance programs for each risk group were proposed.

Characteristics of multiple esophageal squamous cell carcinomas detected in the surveillance after endoscopic resection.

Background And Study Aim: Endoscopic resection (ER) of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is an organ-preserving treatment; however, heterochronic carcinomas are often encountered. Most patients are treated using ER; however, for some, this is inadequate and requires additional treatment. We sought to identify the characteristics and frequency of lesions at high risk of metastasis during surveillance based on Lugol-voiding lesion (LVL) grading and esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) intervals.

Real-World Comparative Effectiveness and Safety of Filgotinib and Upadacitinib for Ulcerative Colitis: A Multicentre Cohort Study.

Background: Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, filgotinib (FIL) and upadacitinib (UPA) have emerged as promising treatments for ulcerative colitis (UC). However, a comparative analysis of these JAK inhibitors, particularly in patients previously treated with tofacitinib (TOF), has not been performed.

Aims: To compare the efficacy and safety of FIL and UPA in patients with UC, including those previously exposed to TOF.

Adopting Non-invasive Approaches into Precision Colorectal Cancer Screening.

Effective screening is essential to reducing CRC incidence and mortality by detecting the disease at early stages and identifying non-invasive precursors. While colonoscopy remains the most sensitive modality to visualize and remove neoplastic lesions thereby reducing CRC and the related death, its high cost and invasive nature limit its widespread use. The fecal immunochemical test (FIT), which offers a non-invasive alternative with higher public acceptance and comparable cost-effectiveness to colonoscopy, has become the preferred screening method in many regions.

Effectiveness of a novel ex vivo training model for gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection training: a prospective observational study conducted at a single center in Japan.

Background/aims: The efficacy of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for early-stage gastric cancer is well established. However, its acquisition is challenging owing to its complexity. In Japan, G-Master is a novel ex vivo gastric ESD training model.

Risk of colorectal cancer among fecal immunochemical test-positive individuals by timing of previous colonoscopy: A multicenter analysis.

Background And Aim: The risk of colorectal cancer among fecal immunochemistry test-positive individuals who had undergone previous colonoscopies remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the differences in the risk of colorectal cancer among fecal immunochemistry test-positive individuals according to the timing of their previous colonoscopies.

Methods: This multicenter, retrospective, observational study was conducted in Japan as a subgroup analysis of the J-SCOUT study (UMIN000040690), which integrated and analyzed a database comprising all colonoscopies performed at participating Japanese institutions between 2010 and 2020.

Effects of Atezolizumab plus Bevacizumab on Skeletal Muscle Volume and Cardiac Function in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Introduction: Pharmacological treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC) includes sorafenib and lenvatinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, which are linked to low serum levels of carnitine and reduced skeletal muscle volume. Nowadays, atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (Atezo/Bev) combination therapy is recommended as the first-line treatment for patients with uHCC. However, the association with decreased muscle mass or cardiac function is unknown.

Perforation of the bile duct caused by endoscopic papillary large balloon dilation: A case report.

The patient was a woman in her 70s with multiple large biliary stones. Lithotripsy was attempted after endoscopic papillary large balloon dilatation. During balloon dilation, inflator resistance, and body movement due to patient pain were observed, and maximum pressure was required for the disappearance of the balloon waist.

A case of protein-losing gastroenteropathy due to Sjögren's syndrome detected by foggy vision with refractive error of the intraocular lens.

A woman in her forties visited an ophthalmologist for rapidly progressive foggy vision. Naked visual acuity had decreased to 0.15, and although her eyes showed no abnormalities, internal disease was suspected and albumin 2.

The Usefulness of Serum Interleukin-6 as a Predictor of Response to Atezolizumab plus Bevacizumab Combination Treatment in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Introduction: In atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (Atezo/Bev) combination treatment, both drugs act on the immune system. Previously, we reported that immunological changes after Atezo/Bev administration for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC) revealed significant alterations in interleukin (IL)-6, soluble IL-2 receptor, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and programmed cell death-1 levels. Among these variable factors, serum levels of IL-6 can be easily measured on a commercial basis.

New insights into predictors of autoimmune pancreatitis relapse after steroid therapy.

Objectives: While autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) responds well to steroid therapy, the high relapse rate in type 1 AIP remains a critical problem. The present study examined predictors of relapse of type 1 AIP following steroid therapy.

Materials And Methods: Nine factors potentially predictive of relapse were analyzed in 81 AIP patients receiving steroid therapy with follow-up ≥ 12 months.

Efficacy and safety of a novel polytetrafluoroethylene-coated self-expandable metal stent for distal malignant biliary obstruction.

Background: Stent migration and sludge formation remain significant problems associated with covered self-expandable metal stents (CSEMSs). The EGIS biliary stent fully covered flare type (EGIS biliary stent), a new type of polytetrafluoroethylene-coated self-expandable metal stent with low axial force and an anti-migration system, was developed to overcome these disadvantages. We conducted this study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of this stent in comparison with conventional CSEMS (c-CSEMS).

Development of irreversible pancreatic ductal change triggered by pancreatic duct stenting in chronic pancreatitis.

Background And Aim: Stent-induced ductal change is a complication of endoscopic pancreatic stent placement for chronic pancreatitis, potentially leading to irreversible changes that may contribute to pancreatic dysfunction. This study aimed to examine the long-term outcomes of stent-induced ductal change and evaluate factors that correlate with the development of irreversible ductal changes.

Methods: Between January 2008 and December 2022, 52/223 patients with chronic pancreatitis in whom an S-type plastic stent was successfully placed from the main papilla for duct stricture were detected with stent-induced ductal change on pancreatography at stent removal.

Symptomatic hepatic cyst treated with endoscopic ultrasound-guided drainage and minocycline hydrochloride injection: a case report.

A 72 year-old male patient with a history of a hepatic cyst presented to our hospital with epigastric pain. The cyst had enlarged to approximately 130 mm and was diagnosed as a symptomatic hepatic cyst. Percutaneous cyst drainage was deemed challenging because of the risk of intestinal perforation; therefore, transgastric endoscopic ultrasound-guided hepatic cyst drainage was performed with external nasal cyst drainage.

Real-World Data on the Effectiveness and Safety of Filgotinib for Ulcerative Colitis in Japanese Patients: A Single-Center Experience.

Introduction Filgotinib is a JAK-1 selective inhibitor approved for ulcerative colitis (UC) treatment in Japan. Its effectiveness has been confirmed but remains unknown in actual clinical practice. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of filgotinib and identify suitable patients in the Japanese population.

Pancreatico-renal fistula associated with pancreatic cysts caused by type 1 autoimmune pancreatitis.

To our best knowledge, the formation of a pancreatico-renal fistula and the presence of pancreatic fluid collection in the renal subcapsular space have not been reported as autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) complications. We describe a case of a pancreatico-renal fistula associated with type 1 AIP. The patient presented with abdominal and back pain accompanied by pancreatic cystic lesions during an untreated course of AIP.

An effective endoscopic hand-suturing method for fistula closure after endoscopic transgastric drainage for walled-off necrosis.

Video 1How to use an endoscopic hand-suturing device (video version).

Colorectal adenoma detection rate using texture and color enhancement imaging versus white light imaging with chromoendoscopy: a propensity score matching study.

Background And Aim: Few studies have evaluated the adenoma detection rate (ADR) of colonoscopy with texture and color enhancement imaging (TXI), a novel image-enhancing technology. This study compares the detection of colorectal polyps using TXI to that using white light imaging (WLI).

Methods: This single-center retrospective study used propensity-matched scoring based on the patients' baseline characteristics (age, sex, indication, bowel preparation, endoscopist, colonoscope type, and withdrawal time) to compare the results of patients who underwent chromoendoscopy using WLI or TXI at the Toyoshima Endoscopy Clinic.

Early change in serum leucine-rich α-2-glycoprotein predicts clinical and endoscopic response in ulcerative colitis.

Background/aims: Leucine-rich α-2-glycoprotein (LRG) is a new serum biomarker reflecting the disease activity of ulcerative colitis (UC), but its change during the acute phase has not been enough investigated.

Methods: Patients with UC who initiated the induction therapy with steroid or advanced therapy (biologics or Janus kinase inhibitors) were prospectively enrolled. Associations of LRG, C-reactive protein (CRP) and fecal calprotectin (FC) at baseline, week 1, and week 8 with clinical remission at week 8 and subsequent endoscopic improvement within 1 year (Mayo endoscopic subscore of 0 or 1) were assessed.