Substance use and esophageal neuroendocrine neoplasm: A case-control study.

Esophageal neuroendocrine neoplasms (NEN) are extremely rare and little is known about their risk factors. To identify the potential risk factors, we evaluated whether the history of substance use, including alcohol, tobacco and areca nut consumption was associated with esophageal NEN. Forty-one esophageal NEN patients diagnosed between 2002 and 2019 from 17 hospital in Taiwan were enrolled as the cases.

Child-Pugh Score and -rs2231142 Genotype Independently Predict Survival in Advanced Hepatoma Patients Treated with Sorafenib.

Patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are treated by immunotherapy and/or targeted agents, such as sorafenib. Several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and clinical scores have been proposed as prognostic markers in HCC patients treated with sorafenib. This study aimed to validate the prognostic values of these markers in a tertiary referral medical center.

Surgical outcome of Mirizzi syndrome: Value of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and laparoscopic procedures.

Background: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) with associated procedures and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) have been the standard treatments for both common and rare biliary diseases. Mirizzi syndrome (MS) is a rare and complex biliary condition. We report our experience with MS treatment and investigate the value of laparoscopic procedures and ERCP in patient management.

Association between Hepatitis C Virus Infection and Esophageal Cancer: An Asian Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection causes many extrahepatic cancers, and whether HCV infection is associated with esophageal cancer development remains inconclusive. A nationwide population-based cohort study of the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (TNHIRD) was conducted. From 2003 to 2012, of 11,895,993 patients, three 1:1:1 propensity score-matched cohorts, including HCV-treated (interferon-based therapy ≧6 months, = 9047), HCV-untreated ( = 9047), and HCV-uninfected cohorts ( = 9047), were enrolled.

Clinicopathological features and outcome of esophageal neuroendocrine tumor: A retrospective multicenter survey by the digestive endoscopy society of Taiwan.

Background & Aims: Esophageal neuroendocrine tumors (NET) are very rare and mostly carcinomic, carrying poor prognosis. There is still no guideline or consensus on the treatment for esophageal NET.

Methods: Patients with histologically-proven esophageal neuroendocrine tumor were recruited from 9 hospitals in Taiwan between 2002 and 2017.

Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 is associated with the metabolism and development of advanced colonic polyps.

Implications of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) in colonic polyps remain elusive. A prospective study was conducted with 188 consecutive subjects who underwent colonoscopy at a tertiary referral center. Biochemical parameters, serum PAI-1 levels, PAI-1 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (rs-1799889), and colonic polyp profiles were analyzed at baseline and 24 and 48 weeks postpolypectomy.

Clinical features and outcomes of gastric neuroendocrine tumors after endoscopic diagnosis and treatment: A Digestive Endoscopy Society of Tawian (DEST).

Gastric neuroendocrine tumors (GNETs) are a heterogeneous group of neoplasm with varying biological characteristics. This study aimed to investigate the clinical features and outcomes of GNET patients after endoscopic diagnosis and treatment in a multicenter registry. Patients with GNETs confirmed histologically were recruited from 17 hospitals between January 2010 and April 2016 in Taiwan.

Linked color imaging can help gastric Helicobacter pylori infection diagnosis during endoscopy.

Background: Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) is a standard tool for detection of mucosal and submucosal lesions. However, identification of Helicobacter pylori (H. P) infection using EGD alone is limited in accuracy.

Circulating microRNA-22-3p Predicts the Malignant Progression of Precancerous Gastric Lesions from Intestinal Metaplasia to Early Adenocarcinoma.

Background: Gastric cancer has a poor outcome and identifying useful biomarkers from peripheral blood or tissue could allow its early detection, or potentially precancerous changes, thus improving the curative rates. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been shown to offer great potential in cancer diagnosis and prediction.

Aim: Here, we investigated the role of plasma miRNAs in the natural course of gastric cancer, from intestinal metaplasia to early cancer.

Circulating microRNA-196a is an early gastric cancer biomarker.

MicroRNA-196a (miRNA-196a) is associated with the development of gastric cancer and metastasis. Intestinal metaplasia and low- or high-grade dysplasia are considered to be precursors of intestinal type gastric cancer. Accordingly, we investigated the expression of plasma miRNA-196a as an early detection biomarker in precancerous gastric lesions and early cancer (pT1a/b), which is otherwise treated with endoscopic submucosal dissection.

Preoperative staging of cholangiocarcinoma and biliary carcinoma using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography: a meta-analysis.

This meta-analysis was performed to determine the diagnostic accuracy of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG-PET) in assessing primary cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) and CCA with lymph node and distant metastasis. A literature search for studies reporting the use of 18F-FDG-PET for preoperative work-up/staging in patients with CCA was performed. Diagnostic OR (DOR) was used as an index of diagnostic performance of FDG-PET/CT in predicting primary CCA, lymph node metastases, and distant metastases.

Differentiation of the Follicular Variant of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma From Classic Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: An Ultrasound Analysis and Complement to Fine-Needle Aspiration Cytology.

Objectives: It is difficult to establish a diagnosis of the follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) using fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). Preoperative features on ultrasound (US) imaging are different between follicular PTC and classic PTC. This study developed a risk score system to differentiate follicular PTC from classic PTC and to correlate the risk score of follicular PTC with its FNAC categories and pathologic features.

Association between Leptin and Complement in Hepatitis C Patients with Viral Clearance: Homeostasis of Metabolism and Immunity.

Background: The association between leptin and complement in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains unknown.

Methods: A prospective study was conducted including 474 (250 genotype 1, 224 genotype 2) consecutive chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients who had completed an anti-HCV therapy course and undergone pre-therapy and 24-week post-therapy assessments of interferon λ3-rs12979860 and HCV RNA/genotypes, anthropometric measurements, metabolic and liver profiles, and complement component 3 (C3), C4, and leptin levels.

Results: Of the 474 patients, 395 had a sustained virological response (SVR).

Predictors for postoperative esophageal stricture after balloon-based radiofrequency ablation for early esophageal squamous neoplasia: a multicenter validation study.

Background: Endoscopic radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a rapidly evolving therapeutic modality for early flat esophageal squamous cell neoplasms (ESCNs), but the risk factors for postoperative stricture have not been elucidated. The objective of this study was to identify and validate a predictor for post-RFA stenosis.

Methods: We consecutively enrolled patients with flat-type 'large' (length no less than 3 cm extending no less than half the circumference of the esophagus), early ESCNs, treated with balloon-based RFA (12 J/cm(2)-clean-12 J/cm(2) regimen).

Association of endoscopic ultrasonographic parameters and gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs): can endoscopic ultrasonography be used to screen gastric GISTs for potential malignancy?

Background: Previous research shows that only 10-30% of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are malignant. Nonetheless, some reports suggest that all of them have some degree of potential for malignancy. Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is a useful technique for differentiation of subepithelial lesions in the gastrointestinal tract.

Peritumoral SPARC expression and patient outcome with resectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Background And Objectives: Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) affects thousands worldwide with increasing incidence. SPARC (secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine) plays an important role in cellular matrix interactions, wound repair, and cellular migration, and has been reported to prevent malignancy from growth. SPARC undergoes epigenetic silencing in pancreatic malignancy, but is frequently expressed by stromal fibroblasts adjacent to infiltrating pancreatic adenocarcinomas.

Modified endoscopic submucosal dissection with enucleation for treatment of gastric subepithelial tumors originating from the muscularis propria layer.

Background: Gastric subepithelial tumors are usually asymptomatic and observed incidentally during endoscopic examination. Although most of these tumors are considered benign, some have a potential for malignant transformation, particularly those originating from the muscularis propria layer. For this type of tumor, surgical resection is the standard treatment of choice.

Endoscopic metal stents for the palliation of malignant upper gastroduodenal obstruction.

Background/aims: Gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) is frequently caused by tumor. Recently, endoscopic implantation of self-expanding metallic stents (SEMS) has been introduced as an improved palliative treatment for GOO. This study aims to study the effect of SEMS placement on nutrient intake in patients with GOO and correlate different SEMS positions with postoperative clinical outcomes.

Direct peroral cholangioscopy and pancreatoscopy for diagnosis of a pancreatobiliary fistula caused by an intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the pancreas: a case report.

Here, we report a case of a pancreatobiliary (PB) fistula caused by an intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) of the pancreas. The PB fistula was suspected after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and diagnosed after direct visualization with a direct peroral cholangioscopy and pancreatoscopy by using an ultra-slim endoscope. No previous reports exist on the precise diagnosis of a PB fistula with direct peroral cholangioscopy and pancreatoscopy.

The role of age in predicting the outcome of caustic ingestion in adults: a retrospective analysis.

Background: Although the outcomes of caustic ingestion differ between children and adults, it is unclear whether such outcomes differ among adults as a function of their age. This retrospective study was performed to ascertain whether the clinical outcomes of caustic ingestion differ significantly between elderly and non-elderly adults.

Methods: Medical records of patients hospitalized for caustic ingestion between June 1999 and July 2009 were reviewed retrospectively.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided tru-cut biopsy for diagnosis of gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

Background/aims: The most common mesenchymal tumors of gastrointestinal tract are gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). These tumors originate from muscularis propria layer. Tissue diagnosis is usually difficult by endoscopic mucosal biopsy.

Achalasia combined with esophageal intramural hematoma: case report and literature review.

A 62-year-old male patient was admitted to our hospital due to severe chest pain, odynophagia, and hematemesis. Chest computed tomography showed an esophageal submucosal tumor. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) revealed a longitudinal purplish bulging tumor of the esophagus.

Impact of circumferential resection margin distance on locoregional recurrence and survival after chemoradiotherapy in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Close circumferential resection margin (CRM) is an established predictor for locoregional recurrence (LR) in rectal cancer but remains controversial in esophageal malignancy. As yet, little is known about the significance of CRM after chemoradiotherapy (CRT), especially in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). This study investigated the relationship between CRM distance and recurrence after neoadjuvant CRT in esophageal SCC patients.