Evaluating Collection Time of Intragastric Fluid During Endoscopy for Point-of-care Test-based Helicobacter pylori Polymerase Chain Reaction.

Objective To evaluate the influence of sample collection time during esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) on the accuracy of a newly approved point-of-care test (POCT)-based polymerase chain reaction kit for detecting Helicobacter pylori and clarithromycin susceptibility in gastric wash fluid. Methods Intragastric fluid was collected at three time points: Collection Time 1 (start of EGD), Collection Time 2 (during EGD), and Collection Time 3 (after indigo carmine spraying). POCT-based quantitative PCR (qPCR) targeting 23S rRNA domain V (2142/2143) was used to quantify H.

Image J as the quantification tool in endosonography strain elastography may be reflected in the disturbance of endocrine pancreatic dysfunction.

Objectives: Pancreatic fibrosis is one of the main pathological features of chronic pancreatitis (CP), suggesting a strong relationship between CP and pancreatic ductal cancer. There was no available data about pancreatic fibrosis and pancreatic dysfunction in the early CP (ECP) using endosonography (EUS).

Methods: Asymptomatic patients with pancreatic enzyme abnormalities (AP-P; = 56) and patients with ECP ( = 21) were determined by the absence of abnormal findings on upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, abdominal ultrasonography, and abdominal computed tomography.

Impact of mixed-infection rate of clarithromycin-susceptible and clarithromycin-resistant Helicobacter pylori strains on the success rate of clarithromycin-based eradication treatment.

Background: Clarithromycin (CAM) resistance is a major contributor to the failure to eradicate Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). The mixed-infection ratio of CAM-susceptible and CAM-resistant H.

Oncologic significance of lymphovascular invasion in patients with superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma reaching the muscularis mucosae or with slight invasion of the submucosa.

Background: The clinicopathological features and the distribution of lymph node metastasis in patients with T1a-MM and T1b-SM1 superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma remain unclear; therefore, the optimal treatment strategy is still controversial.

Methods: One hundred and ninety-one patients who had undergone a thoracic esophagectomy with 3-field lymphadenectomy and who were pathologically confirmed to have thoracic superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma that had reached the T1a-MM or T1b-SM1 stage were retrospectively reviewed. Risk factors of lymph node metastasis, the distribution of lymph node metastasis, and long-term outcomes were evaluated.

Colonic TRPV4 overexpression is related to constipation severity.

Background: Chronic constipation is prevalent and involves both colon sensitivity and various changes in intestinal bacteria, particularly mucosa-associated microflora. Here we examined regulatory mechanisms of TRPV4 expression by co-culturing colon epithelial cell lines with intestinal bacteria and their derivatives. We also investigated TRPV4 expression in colon epithelium from patients with constipation.

Combination of high-density cholesterol level, elastic score, and severity of exocrine pancreatic dysfunction may be useful for a predictive factor for patients with early chronic pancreatitis.

Background: This study aimed to clarify whether any risk factors including clinical characteristics, endosonographic features, and exocrine pancreatic dysfunction may be useful for a predictive factor for patients with early chronic pancreatitis.

Methods: A total of 163 consecutive patients that presented with functional dyspepsia with pancreatic enzyme abnormalities (FD-P) (n = 46), early chronic pancreatitis (ECP) (n = 47), and asymptomatic patients with pancreatic enzyme abnormalities (AP-P) (n = 70) based on the Rome III classification and the Japan Pancreatic Association were included in this study. The enrolled patients were evaluated using endosonography (EUS) and EUS elastography.

DNA methylation at hepatitis B virus integrants and flanking host mitochondrially encoded cytochrome C oxidase III.

It is widely accepted that hepatitis B virus (HBV) integrants in the human genome are one of the key factors in liver carcinogenesis. Although it is difficult to observe pre/post-HBV infection genomic-level changes in the same clinical sample pairs, they can be observed using artificially infected HBV cell lines such as HepG2.2.

Trypsin may be associated with duodenal eosinophils through the expression of PAR2 in early chronic pancreatitis and functional dyspepsia with pancreatic enzyme abnormalities.

Background: Early chronic pancreatitis (ECP) has been reported to advance into chronic pancreatitis, it may be critical to differentiate the pathophysiology of ECP and functional dyspepsia (FD) in patients with pancreatic enzyme abnormalities (FD-P). This study aimed to clarify differences in the pathophysiology of ECP and FD-P and to determine whether duodenal inflammatory responses in the two diseases were associated with protease-activated receptor (PAR) 2, as the trypsin receptor.

Methods: Eighty patients who presented with FD-P and ECP were enrolled.

Clinical evaluation of a novel molecular diagnosis kit for detecting Helicobacter pylori and clarithromycin-resistant using intragastric fluid.

Background: Although there are many Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) diagnostic methods, the culture and antibiotic susceptibility test is an important method for selecting the most effective H. pylori eradication regimen.

Comparison of treatment outcomes between endoscopic submucosal dissection with the needle-type knife and insulated-tip knife for superficial esophageal neoplasms.

Our study aimed to compare the treatment outcomes between endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) with an insulated-tip knife (ESD-IT) and a needle-type knife (ESD-N) for large superficial esophageal neoplasms, as no study of this kind has been previously reported. We used the dataset of a multicenter, randomized controlled trial that compared conventional ESD (C-ESD) and traction-assisted ESD (TA-ESD) for superficial esophageal neoplasms. We compared the procedural outcomes between ESD-IT and ESD-N in a post hoc analysis and conducted sub-analyses based on traction assistance and electrical knife type.

Long-term changes in aberrant DNA methylation and gastritis after Helicobacter pylori eradication focused on metachronous gastric cancer.

Background: A persistently high methylation level in gastric mucosa after Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication is presumed to be a risk for metachronous gastric cancer (MGC); however, long-term changes in aberrant DNA methylation and histological gastritis have been unclear. Our aim was to examine changes in DNA methylation and histological gastritis according to the occurrence of MGC.

Heterogeneity assessment of vaccine-induced effects using point-of-care surrogate neutralization test for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.

Introduction: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has become a global pandemic even after vaccination. We aimed to identify immunological heterogeneity over time in vaccinated healthcare workers using neutralization antibodies and neutralizing activity tests.

Methods: Serum samples were collected from 214 healthcare workers before vaccination (pre) and on days 22, 90, and 180 after receiving the first dose of BNT162b2 vaccine (day 0).

Visibility of early gastric cancer in texture and color enhancement imaging.

Objective: There are little data regarding the efficacy of texture and color enhancement imaging (TXI) for early gastric cancer (EGC) diagnosis. This study aimed to compare the color difference and visibility of EGC between white light imaging (WLI) and TXI.

Methods: This study included 20 EGCs of 18 patients undergoing endoscopic submucosal dissection.

Endoscopic resection of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: Current indications and treatment outcomes.

Endoscopic resection (ER) is an alternate minimally invasive treatment for superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SESCC). We aimed to review the clinical indications and treatment outcomes of ER for SESCC. Endoscopic mucosal resection is relatively easy and efficient for SESCC ≤ 15 mm.

Activating KRAS and GNAS mutations in heterotopic submucosal glands of the stomach.

Background: The heterotopic submucosal gland (HSG) is a common incidental finding in gastrectomy specimens. The majority of HSGs are small incidental lesions, which are also known as gastritis cystica profunda. However, larger lesions may appear as an inverted growth of well-organized mucosa referred to as gastric inverted polyps.

Second gastric cancer after curative endoscopic resection of differentiated-type early gastric cancer: post-hoc analysis of a single-arm confirmatory trial.

Background And Aims: Endoscopic resection (ER) for early gastric cancer (EGC) can preserve the stomach; however, the remaining stomach can develop second gastric cancer. Few reports have prospectively investigated the incidence and treatment outcomes of second gastric cancer.

Methods: This post-hoc analysis used the dataset of the single-arm confirmatory trial, JCOG0607.

Combination of artificial intelligence-based endoscopy and miR148a methylation for gastric indefinite dysplasia diagnosis.

Background And Aim: Gastrointestinal endoscopy and biopsy-based pathological findings are needed to diagnose early gastric cancer. However, the information of biopsy specimen is limited because of the topical procedure; therefore, pathology doctors sometimes diagnose as gastric indefinite for dysplasia (GIN).

Methods: We compared the accuracy of physician-performed endoscopy (trainee, n = 3; specialists, n = 3), artificial intelligence (AI)-based endoscopy, and/or molecular markers (DNA methylation: BARHL2, MINT31, TET1, miR-148a, miR-124a-3, NKX6-1; mutations: TP53; and microsatellite instability) in diagnosing GIN lesions.

Evaluation of a new point-of-care quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain test for detecting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is rapidly spreading worldwide, and the resultant disease, coronavirus disease (COVID-19), has become a global pandemic. Although there are multiple methods for detecting SARS-CoV-2, there are some issues with such tests, including long processing time, expense, low sensitivity, complexity, risk of contamination, and user friendly. This study evaluated the reproducibility and usability of a new point-of-care test (POCT) using real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) for detecting SARS-CoV-2.