Risk factors for gastric cancer in Japan in the 2010s: a large, long-term observational study.

Background: The numbers of Helicobacter pylori (HP)-infected individuals and deaths due to gastric cancer are decreasing in Japan. We aimed to determine whether the serological test for chronic gastritis (the ABC method) is still useful for gastric cancer risk stratification in the 2010s and to analyze risk factors for developing gastric cancer in Japan.

Methods: In this prospective study, we monitored 20773 individuals for the incidence of gastric cancer from 2010 to 2019.

Clinicopathological features and prognosis of developed gastric cancer based on the diagnosis of mucosal atrophy and enlarged folds of stomach by double-contrast upper gastrointestinal barium X-ray radiography.

Background: Mucosal atrophy and enlarged folds of stomach by double-contrast upper gastrointestinal barium X-ray radiography (UGI-XR) are two major features of Helicobacter pylori-induced chronic gastritis. These were previously shown to be risk indicators of gastric cancer, but their predictability for clinicopathological characters of developed gastric cancer is unelucidated. In addition, evidence for decreasing the mortality of gastric cancer by appropriate follow-up of UGI screening is needed.

The association of Helicobacter pylori infection with serum lipid profiles: An evaluation based on a combination of meta-analysis and a propensity score-based observational approach.

Background: Several previous studies have suggested that Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection affects the serum lipid profile. However, it remains controversial and the mechanism has not been elucidated.

Diagnostic Performance and Patient Acceptance of Reduced-Laxative CT Colonography for the Detection of Polypoid and Non-Polypoid Neoplasms: A Multicenter Prospective Trial.

Purpose To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and patient acceptance of reduced-laxative computed tomographic (CT) colonography without computer-aided detection (CAD) for the detection of colorectal polypoid and non-polypoid neoplasms in a population with a positive recent fecal immunochemical test (FIT). Materials and Methods Institutional review board approval and written informed consent were obtained. This multicenter prospective trial enrolled patients who had positive FIT results.

Gastric polyps diagnosed by double-contrast upper gastrointestinal barium X-ray radiography mostly arise from the Helicobacter pylori-negative stomach with low risk of gastric cancer in Japan.

Background: Double-contrast upper gastrointestinal barium X-ray radiography (UGI-XR) is a method broadly used for gastric cancer screening in Japan. Gastric polyp is one of the most frequent findings detected by UGI-XR, but how to handle it remains controversial.

Methods: Gastric polyps of the 17,264 generally healthy subjects in Japan who underwent UGI-XR or upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGI-ES) in 2010 were analyzed.

Atrophic gastritis and enlarged gastric folds diagnosed by double-contrast upper gastrointestinal barium X-ray radiography are useful to predict future gastric cancer development based on the 3-year prospective observation.

Background: Double-contrast upper gastrointestinal barium X-ray radiography (UGI-XR) is the standard gastric cancer screening method in Japan. Atrophic gastritis and enlarged gastric folds are considered the two major features of Helicobacter pylori-induced chronic gastritis, but the clinical meaning of evaluating them by UGI-XR has not been elucidated.

Methods: We analyzed healthy UGI-XR examinees without a history of gastrectomy, previous Helicobacter pylori eradication and usage of gastric acid suppressants.

Comparative analysis of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, double-contrast upper gastrointestinal barium X-ray radiography, and the titer of serum anti-Helicobacter pylori IgG focusing on the diagnosis of atrophic gastritis.

Background: Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGI-ES) and double-contrast upper gastrointestinal barium X-ray radiography (UGI-XR) are two major image-based methods to diagnose atrophic gastritis, which is mostly induced by Helicobacter pylori infection. However, there have been few studies directly comparing them.

Methods: Atrophic gastritis was evaluated using the data of 962 healthy subjects who underwent UGI-ES and UGI-XR within 1 year.

Helicobacter pylori infection is not associated with fatty liver disease including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a large-scale cross-sectional study in Japan.

Background: Fatty liver disease (FLD) including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a rapidly emerging and widely recognized liver disease today, is regarded as a hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome. Helicobacter pylori, one of the most common pathogens worldwide, has been reported to be associated with metabolic syndrome, but whether there is a direct association with FLD is as of yet unclear. The aim of this study was to clarify the association of FLD and NAFLD with causative background factors including Helicobacter pylori infection.

Trend and risk factors of diverticulosis in Japan: age, gender, and lifestyle/metabolic-related factors may cooperatively affect on the colorectal diverticula formation.

Background: Despite the marked increase of diverticulosis, its risk factors have not been adequately elucidated. We therefore aim to identify significantly associated factors with diverticulosis. We also aim to investigate the present state of diverticulosis in Japan.

Colonic distention at CT colonography: randomized evaluation of both IV hyoscine butylbromide and automated carbon dioxide insufflation.

Objective: The purpose of this article is to evaluate the efficacy of IV hyoscine butylbromide as a bowel relaxant and automated carbon dioxide insufflation in CT colonography in terms of colonic distention and perceived burden. SUBJECTS AND METHODS; Two hundred twenty-four participants were randomly allocated to one of four groups: control (no bowel relaxant and IV saline placebo before CT colonography with manual carbon dioxide insufflation), hyoscine butylbromide (IV hyoscine butylbromide before examination with manual carbon dioxide insufflation), automated (no bowel relaxant before examination with automated carbon dioxide insufflation), and combined (hyoscine butylbromide before examination with automated carbon dioxide insufflation). The degree of colonic distention on a 4-point scale, examination time, and participants' satisfaction, as measured by their responses to a questionnaire, were assessed.

Effect of listening to music and essential oil inhalation on patients undergoing screening CT colonography: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To prospectively evaluate the effect of listening to music and inhaling aroma oil on patients undergoing screening computed tomography colonography.

Materials And Methods: Two hundred and twenty four participants were randomly allocated to one of the four groups including: (1) combined music and aroma, (2) music alone, (3) aroma alone, and (4)control. The visual analog scale for pain and a questionnaire were used for subjective outcomes.

Associated factors of atrophic gastritis diagnosed by double-contrast upper gastrointestinal barium X-ray radiography: a cross-sectional study analyzing 6,901 healthy subjects in Japan.

Background: Double-contrast upper gastrointestinal barium X-ray radiography (UGI-XR) is one of the most widely conducted gastric cancer screening methods. It has been executed to find gastric cancer, but has not been usually executed to detect premalignant atrophic mucosa of stomach. To understand the meaning of UGI-XR-based atrophic gastritis, we analyzed its association with several causative factors including Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection.

Evaluation of dose reduction and image quality in CT colonography: comparison of low-dose CT with iterative reconstruction and routine-dose CT with filtered back projection.

Objective: To prospectively evaluate the radiation dose and image quality comparing low-dose CT colonography (CTC) reconstructed using different levels of iterative reconstruction techniques with routine-dose CTC reconstructed with filtered back projection.

Methods: Following institutional ethics clearance and informed consent procedures, 210 patients underwent screening CTC using automatic tube current modulation for dual positions. Examinations were performed in the supine position with a routine-dose protocol and in the prone position, randomly applying four different low-dose protocols.

Pulse-wave velocity, the ankle-brachial index, and the visceral fat area are highly associated with colorectal adenoma.

Background: Although both colorectal neoplasms and atherosclerosis may be induced by visceral fat accumulation, no association between these factors has yet been elucidated.

Methods: Among Japanese participants in our colonoscopic screening and annual surveillance programs, asymptomatic subjects were investigated. Visceral fat area was measured by computed tomography, and the ankle-brachial index and pulse-wave velocity (markers of systemic atherosclerosis) were also estimated.

Categorization of upper gastrointestinal symptoms is useful in predicting background factors and studying effects and usages of digestive drugs.

Background: There have been very few reports assessing the relationship between various upper gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms or evaluating each individual upper GI symptom separately.

Methods: Based on the answers to Frequency Scale for the Symptoms of GERD from a large-scale population of healthy adults in Japan, a hierarchical cluster analysis was performed to categorize the typical 12 upper GI symptoms. The associations between the 12 symptoms and 13 background factors were systematically analyzed among the 18,097 digestive drug-free subjects, 364 proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) users, and 528 histamine H₂-receptor antagonist (H₂RA) users.

Background factors of reflux esophagitis and non-erosive reflux disease: a cross-sectional study of 10,837 subjects in Japan.

Background: Despite the high prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), its risk factors are still a subject of controversy. This is probably due to inadequate distinction between reflux esophagitis (RE) and non-erosive reflux disease (NERD), and is also due to inadequate evaluation of adjacent stomach. Our aim is therefore to define background factors of RE and NERD independently, based on the evaluation of Helicobacter pylori infection and gastric atrophy.

No association of coffee consumption with gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, reflux esophagitis, and non-erosive reflux disease: a cross-sectional study of 8,013 healthy subjects in Japan.

Probably due to caffeine-induced gastric acid secretion, negative effects of coffee upon various upper-gastrointestinal diseases have been precariously accepted, despite the inadequate epidemiological evidence. Our aim is to evaluate the effect of coffee consumption on four major acid-related diseases: gastric ulcer (GU), duodenal ulcer (DU), reflux esophagitis (RE), and non-erosive reflux disease (NERD) based on the large-scale multivariate analysis. Of the 9,517 healthy adults, GU, DU, and RE were diagnosed by endoscopy, and NERD was diagnosed by the symptoms of heartburn and regurgitation without esophageal erosion.

Helicobacter pylori infection is positively associated with gallstones: a large-scale cross-sectional study in Japan.

Background: Our aim is to elucidate causative factors for gallstones, especially focusing on Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection.

Methods: We analyzed 15,551 Japanese adults who had no history of gastrectomy, cholecystectomy, HP eradication, and didn't use proton pump inhibitors, anti-diabetic drugs, or anti-cholesterol drugs. 1,057 subjects who previously had HP eradication were analyzed separately.

The significance and robustness of a plasma free amino acid (PFAA) profile-based multiplex function for detecting lung cancer.

Background: We have recently reported on the changes in plasma free amino acid (PFAA) profiles in lung cancer patients and the efficacy of a PFAA-based, multivariate discrimination index for the early detection of lung cancer. In this study, we aimed to verify the usefulness and robustness of PFAA profiling for detecting lung cancer using new test samples.

Methods: Plasma samples were collected from 171 lung cancer patients and 3849 controls without apparent cancer.

Lifestyle factors affecting gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms: a cross-sectional study of healthy 19864 adults using FSSG scores.

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a very common disorder worldwide, comprised of reflux esophagitis (RE) and non-erosive reflux disease (NERD). As more than half of GERD patients are classified into the NERD group, precise evaluation of bothersome epigastric symptoms is essential. Nevertheless, compared with many reports targeting endoscopic reflux esophagitis, large-scale studies focusing on GERD symptoms have been very scarce.

Plasma free amino acid profiling of five types of cancer patients and its application for early detection.

Background: Recently, rapid advances have been made in metabolomics-based, easy-to-use early cancer detection methods using blood samples. Among metabolites, profiling of plasma free amino acids (PFAAs) is a promising approach because PFAAs link all organ systems and have important roles in metabolism. Furthermore, PFAA profiles are known to be influenced by specific diseases, including cancers.

Combination of sigmoidoscopy and a fecal immunochemical test to detect proximal colon neoplasia.

Background & Aims: The combination of sigmoidoscopy and a sensitive fecal occult blood test was recommended as one strategy for colorectal cancer screening by the US Preventive Services Task Force in 2008. However, there have been no studies to evaluate the sensitivity of a one-time screen that uses both flexible sigmoidoscopy and a fecal immunochemical test (FIT) to detect advanced colorectal neoplasia.

Methods: We analyzed data from 21,794 asymptomatic persons who had undergone colonoscopy and a FIT.

High-risk population for gastric cancer development based on serum pepsinogen status and lifestyle factors.

Background: Gastric atrophy is a major risk factor for non-cardiac gastric cancer. Serum pepsinogen status could identify people at high-risk for gastric cancer development during our previous cohort study. However, lifestyle-related factors may additionally affect this risk.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and interstitial lung disease in patients with lung cancer.

Background And Objective: Although lung cancer is frequently accompanied by COPD and interstitial lung disease (ILD), the precise coincidence of these diseases with lung cancer is not well understood. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of abnormal CT and spirometric findings suggestive of COPD or ILD in a population of patients with untreated lung cancer, and to estimate the lung cancer risk in this population.

Methods: The study population consisted of 256 patients with untreated lung cancer and 947 subjects participating in a CT screening programme for lung cancer.