Favorable impact of a novel endoscopic auxiliary system (NEAS) on fluoroscopy-guided lithotripsy for difficult bile duct stones: A pilot study.

Objectives: Laser lithotripsy under fluoroscopic guidance is difficult to perform and risky due to its invisibility. In this study we aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of a novel endoscopic auxiliary system (NEAS)-assisted lithotripsy under fluoroscopy for treating difficult common bile duct (CBD) stones.

Methods: Patients with difficult CBD stones who were treated with NEAS-assisted laser lithotripsy (NEAS group) or conventional mechanical lithotripsy (ML) under fluoroscopy (ML group) were retrospectively evaluated.

Overexpression of RAB31 in gastric cancer is associated with released exosomes and increased tumor cell invasion and metastasis.

Background: Gastric cancer (GC) is one of most common cancers worldwide. Several studies have suggested that Rab31 functions as a membrane vesicle transport regulator; however, the mechanism by which RAB31 regulates exosome secretion and promotes metastasis remains to be clarified.

Methods: We examined the expression of RAB31 protein and mRNA in GC tissue samples via immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assays, respectively.

Disease burden of primary gallbladder and biliary tract cancers associated with body mass index in 195 countries and territories, 1990-2017: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017.

Objective: To investigate the incidence of primary gallbladder and biliary tract cancer, mortality and disability-adjusted life years (DALY) of the global burden from 1990 to 2017.

Methods: Data of 195 countries and territories from 1990 to 2017 were extracted from the Global Health Data Exchange. The age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) and estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) were employed to quantify trends in the incidence of primary gallbladder and biliary tract cancer.

The feasibility of cap-assisted routine adult colonoscope for therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in patients with Roux-en-Y reconstruction after total gastrectomy.

Objectives: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in patients with Roux-en-Y reconstruction after total gastrectomy is difficult to be performed using routine tools. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of cap-assisted routine adult colonoscope (CARAC) for ERCP in these patients.

Methods: Sixteen consecutive patients with indications of ERCP who had previously undergone total gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y reconstruction at two tertiary care endoscopy centers were identified.

Feasibility and efficacy evaluation of metallic biliary stents eluting gemcitabine and cisplatin for extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Background: Effective endoscopic management is fundamental for the treatment of extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ECC). However, current biliary stents that are widely used in clinical practice showed no antitumor effect. Drug-eluting stents (DESs) may achieve a combination of local chemotherapy and biliary drainage to prolong stent patency and improve prognosis.

The efficacy and safety of balloon dilation for unresectable malignant biliary obstruction before placement of self-expanding metal stents.

Objective: To evaluate whether patients with malignant biliary obstruction (MBO) benefit from balloon dilation before the placement of a self-expanding metal stent (SEMS) for palliative biliary drainage.

Methods: Consecutive patients who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography with SEMS placement for palliative management of MBO were retrospectively included. Comparative analyses of serum bilirubin levels, post-procedural adverse events, stent patency time, stent dysfunction, and patient survival were performed between the dilation and non-dilation groups.

Drug-eluting fully covered self-expanding metal stent for dissolution of bile duct stones .

Background: The treatment of difficult common bile duct stones (CBDS) remains a big challenge around the world. Biliary stenting is a widely accepted rescue method in patients with failed stone extraction under endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Fully covered self-expanding metal stent (FCSEMS) has gained increasing attention in the management of difficult CBDS.

Dilation catheter-guided mini-forceps biopsy improves the diagnostic accuracy of malignant biliary strictures.

Background: Tissue sampling for biliary stricture is important for differential diagnosis and further treatment. The aim of this study was to assess a novel dilation catheter-guided mini-forceps biopsy (DCMB) method in the diagnosis of malignant biliary strictures.

Methods: 42 patients with malignant biliary stricture who underwent both brush cytology and DCMB during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography between October 2014 and November 2015 were retrospectively included.

Endoscopic ultrasonography-guided drainage combined with trans-duodenoscope cyclic irrigation technique for walled-off pancreatic necrosis.

Background: Endoscopic ultrasonography-guided drainage has been established as a good treatment modality in the management of walled-off pancreatic necrosis, but the unmanageable infection of postoperation is still a thorny problem due to the poor drainage ability for solid necrotic debris only through transmural stent and nasocystic catheter.

Aims: Introduce a novel therapeutic method, namely endoscopic ultrasonography-guided drainage combined with cyclic irrigation technique in managing patients with walled-off pancreatic necrosis.

Methods: 18 patients with severe acute pancreatitis complicated with walled-off pancreatic necrosis received treatment with endoscopic ultrasonography-guided drainage combined with cyclic irrigation were involved in this retrospective study.

Comparison of endoscopic balloon dilation with metal stent placement in the treatment of achalasia.

Objective: To compare the outcomes of endoscopic balloon dilation and metal stent placement in patients with achalasia.

Methods: The patients with newly diagnosed achalasia between July 2001 and December 2011 were retrospectively studied. A total of 88 patients underwent either balloon dilation (n = 41) or metal stent placement (n = 47), their global symptom score and esophageal kinetics index were determined before, one week after and one month after the treatment.

Prophylactic somatostatin can reduce incidence of post-ERCP pancreatitis: multicenter randomized controlled trial.

Background And Study Aim: Post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) pancreatitis (PEP) remains the most common complication of ERCP. Somatostatin may inhibit pancreatic secretion and has been tested for PEP prophylaxis. However, the results of previous studies are inconsistent.

Safety and efficacy of a novel plastic stent coated with stone-dissolving agents for the treatment of biliary stones in a porcine model.

Background And Study Aim: We previously reported on a plastic stent that was coated with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and sodium cholate, which dissolved common bile duct (CBD) stones ex vivo. The aim of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of such stents on biliary stones in a live porcine model.

Methods: Stents without coating or with degradable membranes containing 0 % or 50 % EDTA and sodium cholate were inserted together with human CBD stones into the porcine CBD.

Endoscopic nasobiliary drainage with sphincterotomy in acute obstructive cholangitis: a prospective randomized controlled trial.

Objective: We aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of endoscopic nasobiliary drainage (ENBD) with or without endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) for temporary biliary decompression in patients with acute obstructive cholangitis.

Methods: In total, 72 patients with acute obstructive cholangitis were prospectively randomized to undergo emergency ENBD with EST (EST group, n = 36) or without EST (non-EST group, n = 36). The clinical outcomes and complications between the two groups were compared.

The effect of a novel drug-eluting plastic stent on biliary stone dissolution in an ex vivo bile perfusion model.

Background: Temporary plastic stent insertion has been considered a safe and effective bridge therapy for difficult common bile duct (CBD) stones. Infusing chemicals to directly dissolve stones through the bile duct might also be effective. However, there are no studies on the efficacy of the combination of these 2 approaches.

Comparison of the safety and effectiveness of endoscopic biliary decompression by nasobiliary catheter and plastic stent placement in acute obstructive cholangitis.

Background: Endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage (ERBD) using a plastic stent is suggested to be as effective as endoscopic nasobiliary drainage (ENBD) with a nasobiliary catheter for temporary biliary drainage in acute obstructive cholangitis. However, there are few studies that have compared the two methods. We therefore compared the safety and effectiveness of endoscopic biliary decompression by nasobiliary catheter versus plastic stent placement in these patients.

Comparison between botulinum injection and removable covered self-expanding metal stents for the treatment of achalasia.

Background: Intrasphincteric injection of botulinum toxin (BTX) and removable self-expanding metal stents (SEMS) have both been used for the treatment of achalasia.

Aim: To compare the effectiveness and long-term outcome of SEMS placement and BTX injection in patients with achalasia.

Methods: A total of 110 patients with newly diagnosed achalasia were enrolled in the study between July 2003 and December 2009.

Endoscopic sphincterotomy associated cholangitis in patients receiving proximal biliary self-expanding metal stents.

Background: Endoscopic biliary stent placement during the procedure of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is preferred to provide biliary drainage for unresectable malignant biliary obstruction. There is considerable controversy over the use of endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) prior to stent placement. This study aimed to determine whether ES before intraductal self-expanding metal stent (SEMS) placement affects the clinical outcome and complications in patients with proximal malignant obstructive biliary diseases.

Endoscopic treatment for biliary stricture after orthotopic liver transplantation: success, recurrence and their influencing factors.

Objective: To investigate the success and recurrence rates and factors influencing the effect of endoscopic therapy for patients with biliary stricture after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT).

Methods: Data of 56 patients who underwent endoscopic therapy for biliary stricture after OLT from 2006 to 2009 were reviewed in this study. Their clinical data, laboratory parameters and endoscopic features were recorded.

Success rate and complications of endoscopic extraction of common bile duct stones over 2 cm in diameter.

Background: Clinically, common bile duct (CBD) stones >2 cm are difficult to remove by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). To evaluate this observation, the rates of successful clearance of CBD stones and complications were compared between ERCP extraction of CBD stones of >2 cm and <2 cm in diameter.

Methods: All patients who had undergone endoscopic extraction of CBD stones at the Endoscopy Center of Shanghai First People's Hospital from May 2004 to May 2008 were reviewed.

[Treatment of refractory malignant biliary obstraction: comparing results of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage with external catheters or endoscopic metallic stenting].

Objective: To compare the initial results and adverse events of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage with external catheters or metallic stents for refractory malignant biliary obstruction.

Methods: To review the data of those patients with refractory malignant biliary obstruction treated with external catheters or metallic stents in Changhai hospital from Sept. 1999 to Aug.

[Expression and function of apoptosis-related genes Bcl-2/Bax and Fas/Fas L in the course of stress ulcer].

Objective: To investigate the correlation between the expressions of apoptosis-promoting gene Bax, apotosis-inhibiting gene Bcl-2, and Fas/FasL in gastric mucosa in the course of stress ulcer.

Methods: Fifty-six rats were exposed to water immersion-restraint stress (WRS) and then randomly divided into 7 groups of 8 rats: WRS 2 h, RS 3.5 h, and 2 h, 5 h, 8 h, 12 h, and 24 h after termination of WRS.