Shunsuke Tano

Human Equilibrative Nucleoside Transporter 1 Expression in Endoscopic Ultrasonography-Guided Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy Samples Is a Strong Predictor of Clinical Response and Survival in the Patients With Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Undergoing Gemcitabine-Based Chemoradiotherapy.

ObjectivesThis study aimed to clarify whether pretreatment human equilibrative nucleoside transporter (hENT1) expressions in endoscopic ultrasonography-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy (EUS-FNAB) specimens obtained from resectable, borderline resectable, and locally advanced unresectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) are concordant with those in the resected specimen after gemcitabine-based chemoradiotherapy (Gem-CRT) and to validate the utility of hENT1 expression using EUS-FNAB samples as a prognostic marker. MethodsWe evaluated the relationship between hENT1 expressions assessed by immunohistochemical staining and clinical outcomes in 51 of 76 patients with PDAC who were diagnosed by EUS-FNAB and received preoperative Gem-CRT. ResultsThe concordance rate of hENT1 expressions was 89.2% (K = 0.681). Median survival time (month) in the 51 whole patients and 37 patients with resection was significantly longer in hENT1 positive than in hENT1 negative: 25.0 and 30.0 versus 9.0 and 9.0, respectively. A multivariate analysis confirmed that hENT1 expression was an independent prognostic factor in both whole patients and those with resection. Regardless of T3 and T4, hENT1-positive patients with resection had significantly better prognosis than hENT1-negative patients, whose prognosis was similar to those without resection. ConclusionsThe assessment of hENT1 expression using EUS-FNAB samples before Gem-CRT provides important information on patients with PDAC who can benefit from curative-intent resection.

Second and Third-look Endoscopy for the Prevention of Post-ESD Bleeding

AbstractThe efficacy of 2nd-look esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) with endoscopic hemostatic therapy (EHT) for the prevention of postendoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) clinical bleeding remains controversial. The aim of this study was to estimate post-ESD bleeding rate using 2nd and 3rd-look strategy, and to determine risk factors for clinical bleeding, and for EHT at 2nd and 3rd-look EGDs.Three hundred forty-four consecutive patients with early gastric cancer or adenoma underwent ESD from January 2006 through March 2012. Second and 3rd-look EGDs were performed on day 1 (D1) and day 7 (D7), respectively, with EHT as needed.Post-ESD clinical bleeding rate was 2.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2%–4.9%). For clinical bleeding, adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for age <65 years and antithrombotic drug uses were 4.40 (95% CI 1.07–19.93) and 7.34 (95% CI 1.80–32.48), respectively. For D1 EHT, adjusted ORs of tumor location in the lower part of the stomach and maximum tumor diameter ≥60 mm were 2.16 (95% CI 1.35–3.51) and 2.20 (95% CI 1.05–4.98), respectively. For D7 EHT, adjusted OR of D1 EHT was 4.65 (95% CI 1.56–20.0).Post-ESD clinical bleeding rate was relatively low using 2nd and 3rd-look strategy. Age <65 years and antithrombotic drug use are significant risk factors for clinical bleeding. Regarding EHT, tumor location in the lower part of the stomach and maximum diameter of resected specimen ≥60 mm are significant predictors for D1 EHT. D1 EHT in turn is a significant risk factor for D7 EHT. The efficacy of sequential strategy for preventing post-ESD bleeding is promising.

Usefulness of endoscopic submucosal dissection for the treatment of rectal carcinoid tumors.

Background and aim Various techniques of endoscopy have been developed to treat rectal carcinoids. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of endoscopic submucosal dissection for the treatment of rectal carcinoids smaller than 10 mm in diameter. Patients and methods A total of 18 consecutive patients were enrolled with 20 carcinoid tumors that had the following characteristics: the diagnosis of a rectal carcinoid smaller than 10 mm, no endoscopic evidence of muscularis propria invasion, and no evidence of lymph node or distant metastasis (11 men and seven women; median age, 69 years; median tumor size, 4 mm). Tumors were resected by endoscopic submucosal dissection with a needle knife and a hook knife. After marking, a one-third to one-half circumferential mucosal incision was made, and subsequently, the submucosa under the lesion was exfoliated. After the submucosa under the tumor was exfoliated, the residual mucosa was incised and the tumor was removed. Complete resection, complication rates, and operation time were evaluated. Results Complete resection was achieved in all cases (100%) without complications. The mean operation time was 34.2 min, which was acceptable in clinical practice. Conclusion Endoscopic submucosal dissection with the strategy described above is feasible and efficacious for selected patients with a rectal carcin-oid smaller than 10 mm.

Endoscopic findings and lesion distribution in amebic colitis

A retrospective cohort study was conducted in 55 symptomatic patients with amebic colitis that visited at St. Lukes International Hospital and Mie University Hospital from 1994 through 2013. To diagnose amebic colitis, 40 patients underwent total colonoscopy within 1 week after hospital visiting and before receiving any treatment. The percentage of characteristic endoscopic findings of amebic colitis including discrete ulcers or erosions with white or yellow exudates were 0% in terminal ileum, 93% in cecum, 28% in ascending, 25% in transverse, 15% in descending, 20% in sigmoid colon and 45% in rectum. The rectal lesions in 55% of patients with amebic colitis were nonspecific. The trophozoite identification rate by direct smear of intestinal tract washings performed during colonoscopy was 88%. The protozoan identification rate was 70% in biopsy specimens taken from the periphery of the characteristic discrete ulcers. Total colonoscopy should be considered for the diagnosis of amebic colitis.

Usefulness of Small Intestinal Endoscopy in a Case of Adult-onset Familial Mediterranean Fever Associated with Jejunoileitis

A 66-year-old Japanese man consulted our institution due to paroxysmal and repetitive bouts of fever and abdominal pain that had persisted for more than one week. Capsule and double-balloon endoscopy (DBE) showed petal-shaped mucosal redness with white hemming in the jejunum and ileum, and histopathology of the biopsy specimens revealed villous atrophy and cryptitis with extensive severe neutrophil infiltration. A genetic examination disclosed compound heterozygous MEFV mutations (E84K, P369S), and familial Mediterranean fever was diagnosed. Treatment with colchicine and infliximab was very effective in inducing the complete disappearance of symptoms and normalization of the endoscopic findings. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to describe the findings of small intestinal endoscopic images obtained using capsule and DBE.

Magnifying endoscopy for diagnosis of residual/local recurrent gastric neoplasms after previous endoscopic treatment

BackgroundIncomplete resection of gastric neoplasms by endoscopic treatment could lead to residual/local recurrence, which may be difficult to identify. This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of magnifying endoscopy for identifying and demarcating residual/local recurrent gastric neoplasms after endoscopic treatment.MethodsBetween December 2004 and November 2010, magnifying endoscopy was performed in 15 patients with residual/local recurrent gastric neoplasms. All patients underwent conventional magnifying endoscopy (CME) and enhanced-magnification endoscopy with acetic acid instillation (EME) after conventional endoscopy (CE). Eleven patients additionally underwent magnifying endoscopy using narrow-band imaging (NBI-ME) and a combination of narrow-band imaging and acetic acid instillation (NBI-EME). For each procedure, it was recorded whether the location and circumferential demarcation of the lesions were identified. All lesions were resected by endoscopic submucosal dissection.ResultsEleven lesions were identified using CE. However, two and four additional lesions were identified using CME and EME, respectively. In 11 cases, NBI-ME and NBI-EME were performed and all lesions were identified. Three lesions, which were identified by CME, were not demarcated circumferentially. All 15 lesions were well demarcated by EME and 11 by NBI-ME and NBI-EME. Of the resected specimens, histopathology indicated that ten lesions were differentiated tubular adenocarcinomas and five lesions were adenomas. The histopathological diagnosis of the location and demarcation of all neoplasms corresponded to endoscopic findings.ConclusionsMagnifying endoscopy techniques (CME, EME, NBI-ME, and NBI-EME) may be useful for identifying and demarcating residual/local recurrent gastric neoplasms after previous endoscopic treatment.

Peripancreatic Tuberculous Lymphadenitis with Biliary Obstruction Diagnosed by Endoscopic Ultrasound-guided Fine-needle Aspiration Biopsy.

A 57-year-old man with a history of tuberculosis (TB) was found to have a pancreatic head mass, accompanied by stenosis of the common bile duct. Due to the inherent difficulty in differentiating pancreatic carcinoma from an inflammatory mass, endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy (EUS-FNAB) was thus performed. The pathological findings confirmed granuloma with caseous necrosis, and the results of the QuantiFERON TB2G test were positive. Accordingly, the patient was diagnosed with peripancreatic TB and thereafter was successfully treated with anti-TB therapy. Based on the findings of this case, we conclude that EUS-FNAB is a useful modality for the diagnosis of pancreatic TB.

Jejunoiletitis Associated with Adult-onset Familial Mediterranean Fever

The Authors Reply We thank Bachmeyer et al. for their comments regarding our previous case report. Although it is important to establish the presence of genetic abnormalities to support the diagnosis of familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), the current diagnostic criteria recommend that the disease be diagnosed based on clinical findings (the clinical diagnosis cannot be excluded by genetic testing) (1). The diagnosis of our FMF case was based on clinical manifestations, not genetic abnormalities. We reported an adult-onset FMF associated with jujunoileitis, and the genetic examination disclosed compound heterozygous MEFV mutations (E84K, P369S). The patient presented paroxysmal and repetitive bouts of fever and abdominal pain which persisted for more than one week. In addition, the patient complained of chest pain caused by pleuritis. It appears that the patient’s mother also had repetitive attacks of abdominal pain; however, she died before she could be diagnosed with FMF. Our case showed recurrent febrile episodes accompanied by peritonitis and pleuritis, and a favorable response to continuous colchicine treatment; thus the two major features of the Tel-Hashomer Criteria for the diagnosis of FMF were fulfilled. In addition, our case showed peritonitis and pleuritis, which are the two major features of the Livneh Criteria for the diagnosis of FMF. Regarding the MEFV mutation site, the E84K and P369S variants have been reported in Japan, but it remains unclear how these genetic mutations affect the clinical condition (2, 3). In clinical practice, it is always difficult to examine all of the genes that are related to FMF. We believed that the most important features for the diagnosis of FMF were clinical manifestations and the response to colchicine therapy (4). The endoscopic findings in our case were clearly different from those observed in Crohn’s or Behçet’s disease. There were no multiple apthous, discrete or deep ulcers, which are characteristic findings in Crohn’s disease or intestinal Behçet’s disease. He denied the presence of oral aphthosis and genital aphthae. The diagnosis of Behçet’s disease was also ruled out after consultation with dermatology and ophthalmology specialists. The patient was treated with mesalazine, azathioprine and steroids, but showed no response. Steroids were used for more than one year without any effective response. As we discussed in the previous report, anakinra (IL-1 receptor antagonist) was not used because it is not available in Japan. Many studies have shown the clinical effectiveness of infliximab in FMF patients, and we prescribed it to the patient for 1 year (5). After the withdrawal of infliximab the patient was treated with colchicine for more than 1 year with a favorable response.