Aki Sakatani

A Randomized Study on the Effectiveness of Prophylactic Clipping during Endoscopic Resection of Colon Polyps for the Prevention of Delayed Bleeding

Backgrounds. The efficacy of clipping for preventing the delayed bleeding after the removal of colon polyps is still controversial. In order to clarify this efficacy, a randomized controlled study was performed. Methods. One hundred and fifty-six patients with colon neoplasms (288 lesions) were enrolled in the study. The patients were randomly divided into two groups: clipping or nonclipping groups using a sealed envelope method before the endoscopic resections. Eight specialists and nine residents were invited to perform this procedure. The risk factors and the rates of delayed bleeding after the endoscopic resections in each group were investigated. Results. There were no significant differences in the bleeding rate between the clipping and nonclipping groups, while the length of the procedure was significantly longer and the cost was higher in the clipping group than in the nonclipping group. The rate of bleeding was significantly higher in cases with polyps 2 cm or larger and with a longer procedure time, while none of the other factors affected the bleeding rate. Conclusions. This randomized controlled study revealed no significant effect of prophylactic clipping for preventing delayed bleeding after the endoscopic resection of colon polyps.

Infliximab Extends the Duration until the First Surgery in Patients with Crohn’s Disease

Background/Aims. While biological drugs are useful for relieving the disease activity and preventing abdominal surgery in patients with Crohns disease (CD), it is unclear whether the use of biological drugs in CD patients with no history of abdominal surgery is appropriate. We evaluated the effects of infliximab and other factors on extending the duration until the first surgery in CD patients on a long-term basis. Methods. The clinical records of 104 CD patients were retrospectively investigated. The cumulative nonoperation rate until the first surgery was examined with regard to demographic factors and treatments. Results. The 50% nonoperative interval in the 104 CD patients was 107 months. The results of a univariate analysis revealed that a female gender, the colitis type of CD, and the administration of corticosteroids, immunomodulators, or infliximab were factors estimated to improve the cumulative nonoperative rate. A multivariate analysis showed that the colitis type and administration of infliximab were independent factors associated with a prolonged interval until the first surgery in the CD patients with no history of abdominal surgery. Conclusions. This study suggests that infliximab treatment extends the duration until the first surgery in CD patients with no history of abdominal surgery. The early use of infliximab before a patient undergoes abdominal surgery is therefore appropriate.

A Bamboo Joint-Like Appearance is a Characteristic Finding in the Upper Gastrointestinal Tract of Crohn's Disease Patients: A Case-Control Study.

Abstract The clinical importance of Crohns disease (CD)-specific lesions in the upper gastrointestinal tract (upper GIT) has not been sufficiently established. The aim of this case-control study is to investigate the characteristic findings of CD in the upper GIT. In 2740 patients who underwent gastroduodenoscopy at Asahikawa Medical University between April 2011 and December 2012, 81 CD patients, 81 gender- and age-matched non-IBD patients, and 66 ulcerative colitis (UC) patients were investigated in the present study. (1) The diagnostic ability and odds ratio of each endoscopic finding (a bamboo joint-like appearance in the cardia, erosions, and/or ulcers in the antrum, notched signs, and erosions and/or ulcers in the duodenum) were compared between the CD and non-IBD patients or UC patients. (2) The interobserver agreement of the diagnosis based on the endoscopic findings was evaluated by 3 experienced and 3 less-experienced endoscopists. The incidence of detecting a bamboo joint-like appearance, notched signs, and erosions and/or ulcers in the duodenum was significantly higher in the CD patients than in the non-IBD and UC patients. In addition, the diagnostic ability and odds ratio of a bamboo joint-like appearance for CD were higher than those for the other findings. Kendalls coefficients of concordance in the group of experienced and less-experienced endoscopists were relatively high for a bamboo joint-like appearance (0.748 and 0.692, respectively). A cardiac bamboo joint-like appearance is a useful finding for identifying high-risk groups of CD patients using only gastroduodenoscopy.

Decreased numbers of vascular networks and irregular vessels on narrow-band imaging are useful findings for distinguishing intestinal lymphoma from lymphoid hyperplasia

BACKGROUND No method for sufficiently making the differential diagnosis of intestinal lymphoma resembling lymphoid hyperplasia (LH) on endoscopy has yet been established. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of narrow-band imaging (NBI) in diagnosing intestinal lymphoma. DESIGN Prospective study. SETTING Single-center study. PATIENTS Sixty-one patients with primary or systemic lymphoma were enrolled in this study. INTERVENTIONS The terminal ileum and entire colon were observed by using conventional endoscopy. NBI was subsequently performed when small polypoid lesions were detected. A decrease in the number of vascular networks (DVNs) and the presence of irregular vessels on the surface of the epithelia were defined as characteristic findings of intestinal lymphoma. The diagnostic accuracy of these 2 findings in distinguishing intestinal lymphoma from LH was examined. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS The ability to use NBI to distinguish intestinal lymphoma from LH. RESULTS Two hundred ninety-four small polypoid lesions, including 59 lymphomas and 235 LH lesions, were detected. The rates of detecting DVNs and the presence of irregular vessels were significantly higher in the lymphoma samples (81.4% and 62.7%) than in the LH samples (25.5% and 4.7%). Based on these findings, the diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for differentiating intestinal lymphoma from LH were 88.8%, 62.7%, 95.3%, 77.1%, and 91.1%, respectively, which are significantly higher than those of conventional endoscopy. LIMITATIONS Single-center study. CONCLUSION DVNs and the presence of irregular vessels on NBI are thus considered to be useful findings for differentiating intestinal lymphoma from benign LH.

The incidence and risk factors of venous thromboembolism in Japanese inpatients with inflammatory bowel disease: a retrospective cohort study

Background/Aims Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a major extraintestinal manifestation in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), regarded as an independent risk factor for VTE according to reports from Western countries. However, the incidence and risk factors of VTE in Asian IBD patients are not fully understood. We aimed to reveal the incidence and risk factors of VTE in Japanese IBD inpatients. Methods The incidence of VTE in inpatients with IBD (n=340), gastrointestinal cancers (n=557), and other gastrointestinal diseases (n=569) treated at our hospital from 2009 to 2013 was retrospectively investigated. The characteristics and laboratory data of IBD inpatients with and without VTE were compared in univariate and multivariate analyses. Clinical courses of VTE in IBD were surveyed. Results VTE was detected in 7.1% of IBD inpatients, significantly higher than in gastrointestinal cancer inpatients (2.5%) and inpatients with other gastrointestinal diseases (0.88%). The incidence of VTE in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients (16.7%) was much higher than that in those with Crohns disease (3.6%). In the univariate analysis, the risk factors were an older age, central venous catheter, prednisolone, surgery, low serum albumin, high serum C-reactive protein and D-dimer. According to a multivariate analysis, >50 years of age and surgery were the only risk factors. The in-hospital mortality rate of IBD inpatients with VTE was 4.2%. Conclusions The incidence of VTE with IBD, especially UC, was found to be high compared with other digestive disease, which was almost equivalent to that of Western countries. The efficacy of prophylaxis needs to be investigated in Asian IBD patients.

The Detection of Pancreatic and Retroperitoneal Plasmacytoma Helped to Diagnose Multiple Myeloma: A Case Report.

AbstractMultiple myeloma is characterized by the neoplastic proliferation of a single clone of plasma cells producing a monoclonal protein. However, the involvement of pancreas is a rare event. We herein report a rare case of pancreatic plasmacytoma, which was detected before the diagnosis of multiple myeloma.An 83-year-old male was referred to our hospital for further evaluation of obstructive jaundice and a pancreatic mass. A contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scan revealed solid masses with homogenous enhancement in the pancreatic head and retroperitoneum. The histological findings of the retroperitoneal mass obtained by CT-guided biopsy showed multiple sheets of atypical plasma cells, which were positively immunostained for CD79a, CD138, and the &kgr; light chain. Serum immunoelectrophoresis detected M-component of immunoglobulin A-&kgr;, and the histological findings of the bone marrow revealed an abnormally increased number of atypical plasma cells with irregular nuclei and cytoplasmic vacuolation. The patient was therefore diagnosed to have multiple myeloma involving the pancreas and retroperitoneum. Although chemotherapy was performed, the patient died 6 months after the diagnosis.The pancreatic plasmacytoma was detected before the multiple myeloma in the present case. It is difficult to diagnose a pancreatic plasmacytoma without a history of multiple myeloma and related disease.

A therapeutic barium enema is a practical option to control bleeding from the appendix.

BackgroundAcute lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage originating from the appendix is rare and often intractable, because it is almost impossible to approach the bleeding point by endoscopy. We herein describe the first case of bleeding from the appendix, which was successively controlled by a therapeutic barium enema administered into the appendix.Case presentationA 71-year-old male visited our hospital because of melena. He has been receiving an anti-coagulation drug, ticlopidine hydrochloride, for 10 years. By an emergency colonoscopy, a hemorrhage was detected in the appendix, and the lesion responsible for the bleeding was regarded to exist in the appendix. Two hundred milliliters of 50 W/V% barium was sprayed into the orifice of the appendix using a spraying tube. The bleeding could thus be immediately stopped, and a radiological examination revealed the accumulation of barium at the cecum and the orifice of the appendix. The barium accumulation disappeared by the next day, and no obvious anal bleeding was observed. Two weeks after stopping the bleeding from the appendix, an appendectomy was performed to prevent any further refractory hemorrhaging. The patient has had no complaints of any abdominal symptoms or anal bleeding for 10 months.ConclusionsA therapeutic barium enema is a useful procedure to control bleeding from the appendix and to avoid emergency surgery, such as partial cecectomy and hemicolectomy.

Sa2069 Polyphosphate is a Novel Active Molecule Derived From Lactobacillus brevis That Contributes to the Maintenance of Intestinal Homeostasis and the Improvement of Intestinal Injury in Acute and Chronic Experimental Colitis

P were examined with western blotting and a mannitol flux study, respectively. 2. Cell surface molecules of intestinal epithelia were separately blocked by their inhibitors or neutralizing antibodies and the change of the function of the effective molecule was tested to identify the epithelial sensing system for poly P. 3. Histological severity, cytokine induction in the colon, and the survival rate in DSS (3-4%) -induced acute colitis mice treated with intra-rectal administrations of poly P was examined. Furthermore, in the chronic phase of DSS- induced colitis mouse induced by DSS, the alterations of histological severity, cytokine induction and the activations of cell signal transductions by the intra-rectal administration of the poly P were examined. Results: 1. The synthesized poly P induced HSP27, phosphorylated p38 MAPK mouse intestinal epithelia, and suppressed intestinal permeability under oxidant stress. 2. These poly P functions were reduced by the inhibitor for integrin B1. 3. The daily intra-rectal administration of poly P improved the inflammation and survival in the acute colitis model. In chronic experimental colitis, poly P reduced the NF-kB activity that have become excessively activated in chronic experimental colitis and also improved the intestinal injury of the mouse colon. Conclusion: These findings suggest that poly P plays an important role in maintaining intestinal homeostasis and improving both acute and chronic inflammation through the integrin-p38 MAPK pathway, which is a novel system for mediating host-bacterial interactions.