Endoscopic Grading of Gastric Intestinal Metaplasia Using Magnifying and Nonmagnifying Narrow-Band Imaging Endoscopy.

Several endoscopic findings obtained by magnifying image-enhanced endoscopy (IEE) are reportedly correlated with gastric intestinal metaplasia (IM); however, the differences between magnifying and nonmagnifying IEE for the diagnosis of gastric IM remain unknown. This study included 100 consecutive patients who underwent narrow-band imaging endoscopy. Four areas of the stomach were evaluated using nonmagnifying and magnifying IEE. Light-blue crest (LBC), white opaque substance (WOS), and endoscopic grading of the gastric IM (EGGIM) were assessed. The concordance rates between nonmagnifying and magnifying IEE were 80.5% for LBC and 93.3% for WOS. The strength of agreement between each observation technique showed good reproducibility, with a kappa value of 0.69 and 0.83 for LBC and WOS, respectively. The individual EGGIM score indicated a good correlation between nonmagnifying and magnifying IEE (concordance rate, 75%; kappa value, 0.67). The prevalence of a high EGGIM score in patients with and without gastric cancer (GC) showed a significant difference both with nonmagnifying IEE (odds ratio (OR), 3.3; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.2-9.0), and magnifying IEE (OR, 3.1; 95% CI, 1.1-8.9). Nonmagnifying IEE has the potential to stratify the individual risk of GC, similar to magnifying IEE, warranting further investigation with histological assessment.

Marked reduction in the number of white globe appearance lesions in the noncancerous stomach after exchanging vonoprazan for esomeprazole treatment: a follow-up case report.

Recently, an association has been suggested between development of white globe appearance lesions in the noncancerous stomach and treatment with a potassium-competitive acid blocker or a proton pump inhibitor. We previously reported two cases with development of white globe appearance lesions after vonoprazan treatment, suggesting a similar association. Here, we present the follow-up report of one of those two cases, concerning a 68-year-old woman who developed multiple white globe appearance lesions 1 year after starting vonoprazan treatment for severe gastroesophageal reflux disease leading to esophageal stricture. The patient refused to continue vonoprazan treatment after the lesions developed, and esomeprazole was initiated instead. Three months later, most of the white globe appearance lesions had disappeared, without worsening of her gastroesophageal reflux disease. Histologically, mucosal structural changes induced by vonoprazan, such as parietal cell protrusion with oxyntic gland dilatation, remained unchanged, whereas the gastric glands became less packed and a small calcification in the concentrated eosinophilic material was observed in a remaining white globe appearance cyst after esomeprazole treatment. Here, we discuss possible pathogenic mechanisms of these dramatic gastric mucosal changes observed in the present case, based on our endoscopic and histological findings.

Development of white globe appearance lesions in the noncancerous stomach after vonoprazan administration: a report of two cases with a literature review.

White globe appearance has recently been identified as a novel endoscopic marker useful in the diagnosis of early gastric cancer. Recently, this lesion has also been reported in the noncancerous stomach, including cases with autoimmune atrophic gastritis, although the clinical significance remains unclear. We present the details of a 68-year-old woman who began vonoprazan therapy for severe gastroesophageal reflux disease causing esophageal stricture. On follow-up endoscopy 1 year after beginning vonoprazan, multiple white globe appearance lesions developed in all sections of her stomach, except for the antrum. We also detected lesions during a yearly follow-up in the noncancerous stomach of a 70-year-old man who had received vonoprazan for 3 years. Lesions in both cases constituted cystic gland dilatations containing eosinophilic material. There was no evidence of accompanying autoimmune atrophic gastritis in either patient. This report is the first to our knowledge describing newly developed white globe appearance lesions in the noncancerous stomach during follow-up in two cases who received vonoprazan. Our findings suggest that these lesions in the noncancerous stomach might be associated with vonoprazan treatment. We investigated the two cases endoscopically and histologically, and we report our findings with a literature review.

Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis lesions changing into yellowish plaque-like elastosis lesions during healing.

Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis (PCI) is a rare disease characterized by multiple gas-filled cysts in the intestinal wall. The majority of patients with PCI are asymptomatic and have a benign clinical course without treatment. Regular colonoscopic follow-up is not always clinically necessary for PCI; therefore, whether all patients with PCI eventually achieve complete endoscopic resolution remains unclear. We herein present the details of an asymptomatic 58-year-old man diagnosed with PCI in the right colon in 2011 by colonoscopy. We followed him using colonoscopy for 8 years without treatment. The PCI lesions gradually changed into multiple flat yellowish plaque-like lesions, and biopsies revealed that these were elastosis, which is a very rare pathological finding in the colon. To our knowledge, only two reports discuss morphological or histological changes similar to those of PCI. Because the development of yellowish plaque-like lesions histologically representing elastosis associated with PCI is an unrecognized entity, we herein discuss its clinical features, endoscopic findings, and histological findings with a literature review.

Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis accompanied by intestinal spirochetosis.

Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis (PCI) is a rare but well-recognized entity characterized by multiple gas-filled cysts in the intestinal wall. Although the pathogenesis of PCI remains unclear, several theories, including a bacterial theory, have been postulated. Intestinal spirochetosis (IS) is an uncommon condition defined by the presence of spirochetes attached to the surface of the colonic epithelium. The nature of IS as a commensal or pathogenic process remains debatable. However, recent evidence supports the idea that IS can be invasive and highly pathogenic in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent individuals. We present the case of a 35-year-old asymptomatic and immunocompetent man who underwent colonoscopy because of a positive fecal blood test. Multiple submucosal cystic lesions were detected accompanied by erythematous areas along the ascending colon. Computed tomography-colonography and biopsy specimens from the erythematous areas confirmed coexisting PCI and IS. Both PCI and IS recovered completely 3 months after administration of metronidazole. To the best of our knowledge, this case represents only the second report of the extremely rare concurrence of PCI with IS. Taking into account the published literature, we also discuss the possibility that the development of PCI may be related to IS.

Repeated methamphetamine treatment increases spine density in the nucleus accumbens of serotonin transporter knockout mice.

AIM: Repeated psychostimulant drug treatment, including methamphetamine, in rodents readily produces behavioral sensitization, which reflects altered brain function caused by repeated drug exposure. Dendritic remodeling of medium spiny neurons in the nucleus accumbens is thought to be an essential mechanism underlying behavioral sensitization. We recently showed that chronic methamphetamine treatment did not produce behavioral sensitization in serotonin transporter knockout mice. METHODS: In this study, we report the spine density of medium spiny neurons in the nucleus accumbens after repeated methamphetamine injection to examine morphological alterations in serotonin transporter knockout mice. RESULTS: Golgi-COX staining clearly showed that the spine density of medium spiny neurons in the nucleus accumbens increased following repeated methamphetamine treatment in both wild-type and serotonin transporter knockout mice. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggested that augmented serotonergic neurotransmission produced by serotonin transporter deletion prevents the development of behavioral sensitization in a manner that is independent of dendritic remodeling in the nucleus accumbens.

Solitary extramedullary plasmacytoma of the rectum complicating ulcerative colitis.

Solitary extramedullary plasmacytoma (EMP) arising in the rectum is an extremely rare clinical entity. Only ten cases have been reported in the English-language literature. We experienced a case of an EMP in the rectum of a 55-year-old man with an 8-year history of proctitis-type ulcerative colitis (UC). The plasmacytoma appeared as an 8-mm semipedunculated polypoid lesion in the actively inflamed rectal mucosa when the remittent UC flared. The tumor was treated using endoscopic mucosal resection. This is the second case of rectal EMP associated with UC after a similar report was published in 2004. Both patients had a chronic history of proctitis-type UC and were taking no immunosuppressive agents that could cause Epstein-Barr virus-associated plasmacytoma, such as thiopurines. The UC activity seemed to correspond well with the development of the rectal EMP. Therefore, we herein discuss a possible association between rectal EMP and UC and review the past literature of rectal EMP.

Multicenter phase II randomized study evaluating dose-response of antiperistaltic effect of L-menthol sprayed onto the gastric mucosa for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.

AIM: Peppermint oil solution was found to be effective for reducing gastric spasm during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. The aim of the present study was to assess whether the gastric peristalsis-suppressing effect is dose-dependently induced by L-menthol, the major constituent of peppermint oil, and to determine the recommended dose of an L-menthol preparation. METHODS: In this phase II, multicenter, double-blind, dose-response study, 131 eligible patients were randomly assigned to receive 20 mL of 0.4% L-menthol (n = 32), 0.8% L-menthol (n = 35), 1.6% L-menthol (n = 30), or placebo (n = 34). The primary efficacy measure was the proportion of subjects with no peristalsis in two time periods, 75 to 105 s after treatment and immediately before the completion of endoscopy. RESULTS: The peristalsis-suppressing effect of L-menthol increased dose dependently (5.6%, 32.0%, 47.4% and 52.9% in the 0%, 0.4%, 0.8% and 1.6% groups, respectively: P < 0.001, one-tailed Cochran-Armitage trend test). As compared with the placebo group, the proportion of subjects with no peristalsis after administration was significantly higher in the 0.8% group (P = 0.015) and 1.6% group (P = 0.009). Adverse events in the L-menthol dose groups occurred with similar frequencies in the placebo group. CONCLUSION: L-menthol suppresses peristalsis in a dose-dependent manner, and the dose-response reaches a plateau at 0.8% L-menthol. Further Phase III studies are needed to establish the superiority of 0.8% L-menthol over placebo.

Antiperistaltic effect and safety of L-menthol sprayed on the gastric mucosa for upper GI endoscopy: a phase III, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

BACKGROUND: GI peristalsis during GI endoscopy commonly requires intravenous or intramuscular injection of antispasmodic agents, which sometimes cause unexpected adverse reactions. OBJECTIVE: Our ultimate goal was to evaluate whether the antiperistaltic effect of L-menthol-based preparations facilitates endoscopic examinations in a clinical setting. DESIGN: Multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. SETTING: Six Japanese referral centers. PATIENTS AND INTERVENTION: A total of 87 patients scheduled to undergo upper GI endoscopy were randomly assigned to receive 160 mg of L-menthol (n=45) or placebo (n=42). Both treatments were sprayed endoscopically on the gastric mucosa. The degree of gastric peristalsis was assessed by an independent committee. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: The proportion of subjects with no peristalsis 90 to 135 seconds after administration and at the end of the endoscopic examination (complete suppression of gastric peristalsis). Other outcomes were the proportion of subjects with no or mild peristalsis (adequate suppression of gastric peristalsis) and the ease of intragastric observation as evaluated by the endoscopist who performed the procedure. RESULTS: Gastric peristalsis was completely suppressed in 35.6% (21.9, 51.2) of the L-menthol group compared with only 7.1% (1.5, 19.5) of the placebo group (P<.001). In the L-menthol group, 77.8% (62.9, 88.8) (35/45 subjects) of the subjects had no or mild peristalsis at the completion of endoscopy. Minor peristalsis interfered with intragastric examination in only 1 of these 35 patients (2.9%). The incidence of adverse events did not differ significantly between the groups (P=.512). LIMITATION: Small sample size. CONCLUSIONS: During upper GI endoscopy, L-menthol sprayed on the gastric mucosa significantly suppresses peristalsis with minimal adverse drug reactions compared with placebo. ( CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT00742599.).