Gut and Liver最新文献

Background/aims: : Recently, patients with pancreatic cancer (PC) who underwent resection have exhibited improved survival outcomes, but comprehensive analysis is limited. We analyzed the trends of contributing factors.

Methods: : Data of patients with resected PC were retrospectively collected from the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) database and separately at our institution. Cox regression analysis was conducted with the data from our institution a survival prediction score was calculated using the β coefficients.

Results: : Comparison between the periods 2013-2015 (n=3,255) and 2016-2018 (n=3,698) revealed a difference in the median overall survival (25.9 months vs not reached, p<0.001) when analyzed with the HIRA database which was similar to our single-center data (2013-2015 [n=119] vs 2016-2018 [n=148], 20.9 months vs 32.2 months, p=0.003). Multivariable analyses revealed six factors significantly associated with better OS, and the scores were as follows: age >70 years, 1; elevated carbohydrate antigen 19-9 at diagnosis, 1; R1 resection, 1; stage N1 and N2, 1 and 3, respectively; no adjuvant treatment, 2; FOLFIRINOX or gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel after recurrence, 4; and other chemotherapy or supportive care only after recurrence, 5. The rate of R0 resection (69.7% vs 80.4%), use of adjuvant treatment (63.0% vs 74.3%), and utilization of FOLFIRINOX or gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel (25.2% vs 47.3%) as palliative chemotherapeutic regimen, all increased between the two time periods, resulting in decreased total survival prediction score (mean: 7.32 vs 6.18, p=0.004).

Conclusions: : Strict selection of surgical candidates, more use of adjuvant treatment, and adoption of the latest combination regimens for palliative chemotherapy after recurrence were identified as factors of recent improvement.

Background/aims: Studies on elective switching to the subcutaneous (SC) formulation of infliximab revealed comparable efficacy and safety and higher infliximab level than those exhibited by intravenous (IV) infliximab. However, no studies have reported on the effectiveness of SC switching in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients who experienced IV infliximab failure during maintenance treatment.

Methods: This retrospective study included UC patients who had been switched to SC infliximab because of IV infliximab failure, between January 2021 and January 2023. Group A was defined as having clinically and biochemically active UC (secondary loss of response), and group B consisted of patients with stable symptoms but biochemically active UC.

Results: Twenty-three patients met the inclusion criteria: 15 in group A and eight in group B. The serum infliximab levels significantly increased after SC switching in both groups. The electively switched group also exhibited increased infliximab levels after SC switching. Patients in group A showed improved partial Mayo score with a significant decrease in fecal calprotectin and C-reactive protein after switching. In group B, the fecal calprotectin level significantly decreased without clinical relapse after switching. A high proportion of patients (≥80%) in both groups achieved clinical and/or biochemical responses at the last follow-up. During the follow-up period, only two patients in group A discontinued SC infliximab, and only one complained of severe injection site reaction.

Conclusions: In UC patients who experience IV infliximab failure during maintenance treatment, switching to SC infliximab may be a promising option because of better efficacy and safety.

Background/aims: : A few studies have suggested the association between Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection and ischemic stroke. However, the impact of HP eradication on stroke risk has not been well evaluated. This study aimed to assess the influence of HP eradication on the incidence of ischemic stroke, considering the potential effect of sex.

Methods: : This prospective observational cohort study was conducted at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, from May 2003 to February 2023, and involved gastroscopy-based HP testing. Propensity score (PS) matching was employed to ensure balanced groups by matching patients in the HP eradicated group (n=2,803) in a 3:1 ratio with patients in the HP non-eradicated group (n=960). Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was used to evaluate the risk of ischemic stroke.

Results: : Among 6,664 patients, multivariate analysis after PS matching indicated that HP eradication did not significantly alter the risk of ischemic stroke (hazard ratio, 0.531; 95% confidence interval, 0.221 to 1.270; p=0.157). Sex-specific subgroup analyses, both univariate and multivariate, did not yield statistically significant differences. However, Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a potential trend: the females in the HP eradicated group exhibited a lower incidence of ischemic stroke than those in the HP non-eradicated group, although this did not reach statistical significance (p=0.057).

Conclusions: : This finding suggests that HP eradication might not impact the risk of ischemic stroke. However, there was a trend showing that females potentially had a lower risk of ischemic stroke following HP eradication, though further investigation is required to establish definitive evidence.

Background/aims: Despite advances in imaging and endoscopic technology, diagnostic modalities for small bowel tumors are simultaneously performed. We investigated the discrepancy rate between each modality and predictive factors of discrepancy in patients with definite small bowel tumors.

Methods: Data of patients with definite small bowel tumors who underwent both device-assisted enteroscopy (DAE) and computed tomography (CT) were retrieved from web-based enteroscopy registry database in Korea. Predictive risk factors associated with discrepancy were analyzed using logistic regression analysis.

Results: Among 998 patients, 210 (21.0%) were diagnosed with small bowel tumor using DAE, in 193 patients with definite small bowel tumor, DAE and CT were performed. Of these patients, 12 (6.2%) showed discrepancy between examinations. Among 49 patients who underwent DAE and video capsule endoscopy (VCE) examination, 13 (26.5%) showed discrepancy between examinations. No significant independent risk factors were associated with concordance between DAE and CT in multivariate logistic regression analysis among the patients. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, red blood cell transfusion was negatively associated with concordance between DAE and VCE in patients with small bowel tumor (odds ratio, 0.163; 95% confidence interval, 0.026 to 1.004; p=0.050).

Conclusions: For small bowel tumors, the discrepancy rate between DAE and CT was 6.2%, and 26.5% between DAE and VCE. Despite developments in cross-sectional imaging (VCE and DAE modalities), discrepancies still exist. For small bowel bleeding that require significant transfusion while showing insignificant VCE findings, DAE should be considered as the next diagnostic approach, considering the possibility of missed small bowel tumor.

Background/aims: : Appropriate tissue tension and clear visibility of the dissection area using traction are essential for effective and safe endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). In this study, we developed a retractable robot-assisted traction device and evaluated its performance in colorectal ESD.

Methods: : An experienced endoscopist performed ESD 18 times on an ex vivo porcine colon using the robot and 18 times using the conventional method. The outcome measures were procedure time, dissection speed, procedure-related adverse events, and blind dissection rate.

Results: : Thirty-six colonic lesions were resected from ex vivo porcine colon samples. The total procedure time was significantly shorter in robot-assisted ESD (RESD) than in conventional ESD (CESD) (20.1±4.1 minutes vs 34.3±8.3 minutes, p<0.05). The submucosal dissection speed was significantly faster in the RESD group than in the CESD group (36.8±9.2 mm²/min vs 18.1±4.7 mm²/min, p<0.05). The blind dissection rate was also significantly lower in the RESD group (12.8%±3.4% vs 35.1%±3.9%, p<0.05). In an in vivo porcine feasibility study, the robotic device was attached to a colonoscope and successfully inserted into the proximal colon without damaging the colonic wall, and ESD was successfully performed.

Conclusions: : The dissection speed and safety profile improved significantly with the retractable RESD. Thus, our robotic device has the potential to provide simple, effective, and safe multidirectional traction during colonic ESD.

Background/aims: : Nutritional factors associated with gastric cancer (GC) are not completely understood. We aimed to determine the effect of nutrient intake on the incidence of GC.

Methods: : This was a post hoc analysis of a prospective trial that evaluated modalities for GC screening in participants aged 30 to 74 years living in high-risk areas for GC in Japan between June 2011 and March 2013. The patients were followed up for GC incidence for 6 years. All participants completed a self-administered food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) upon enrollment before GC screening. Daily nutrient intake was calculated from the FFQ and dichotomized at each cutoff value using receiver operating characteristic analysis. Risk factors associated with GC incidence were investigated in terms of nutrient intake and participant characteristics using Cox proportional hazards regression analysis.

Results: : Overall, 1,147 participants were included in this analysis. The median age was 62 years, and 50.7% of the participants were men. The median follow-up period was 2,184 days. GC was detected in 25 participants during the follow-up. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis revealed that the intake of sodium (adjusted hazards ratio [aHR], 3.905; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.520 to 10.035; p=0.005) and vitamin D (aHR, 2.747; 95% CI, 1.111 to 6.788, p=0.029) were positively associated with GC incidence, whereas the intake of soluble dietary fiber (aHR, 0.104; 95% CI, 0.012 to 0.905; p=0.040) was inversely associated with GC incidence.

Conclusions: : Daily high intake of sodium and vitamin D and low soluble dietary fiber intake are associated with GC incidence.

Background/aims: : Palliative chemotherapy (PC) is not standardized for patients with advanced ampulla of Vater adenocarcinoma (AA). This multicenter, retrospective study evaluated first-line PC outcomes in patients with AA.

Methods: : Patients diagnosed with AA between January 2010 and December 2020 who underwent PC were enrolled from 10 institutions. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) according to the chemotherapy regimen were analyzed.

Results: : Of 255 patients (mean age, 64.0±10.0 years; male, 57.6%), 14 (5.5%) had locally advanced AA and 241 (94.5%) had metastatic AA. Gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GP) was administered as first-line chemotherapy to 192 patients (75.3%), whereas capecitabine plus oxaliplatin (CAPOX) was administered to 39 patients (15.3%). The median OS of all patients was 19.8 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 17.3 to 22.3), and that of patients who received GP and CAPOX was 20.4 months (95% CI, 17.2 to 23.6) and 16.0 months (95% CI, 11.2 to 20.7), respectively. The median PFS of GP and CAPOX patients were 8.4 months (95% CI, 7.1 to 9.7) and 5.1 months (95% CI, 2.5 to 7.8), respectively. PC for AA demonstrated improved median outcomes in both OS and PFS compared to conventional bile duct cancers that included AA.

Conclusions: : While previous studies have shown mixed prognostic outcomes when AA was analyzed together with other biliary tract cancers, our study unveils a distinct clinical prognosis specific to AA on a large scale with systemic anticancer therapy. These findings suggest that AA is a distinct type of tumor, different from other biliary tract cancers, and AA itself could be expected to have a favorable response to PC.