Comparative efficacy of bariatric endoscopic procedures in the treatment of morbid obesity: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The comparative efficacy of bariatric endoscopic procedures has not been completely elucidated. We aimed to comprehensively evaluate the efficacy of bariatric endoscopic procedures. METHODS: We searched for randomized controlled trials investigating the efficacy of bariatric endoscopic procedures, including the use of an intragastric balloon, duodenal-jejunal bypass liner (DJBL), aspiration therapy, primary obesity surgery endoluminal (POSE) procedure, and botulinum toxin injection to the stomach. Network meta-analyses were performed to determine the percentage of weight loss (%weight loss) and percentage of excess weight loss (%EWL). RESULTS: 22 studies with 2141 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Most endoscopic procedures showed superior efficacy in terms of %weight loss compared with the control (mean difference [MD] [95 % confidence interval (CI)]: aspiration therapy 10.4 % [7.0 % to 13.7 %]; fluid-filled balloon 5.3 % [3.4 % to 7.2 %]; POSE 4.9 % [1.7 % to 8.2 %]; and DJBL 4.5 % [1.4 % to 7.7 %]). In terms of %EWL, aspiration therapy, fluid-filled balloon, POSE, and DJBL were superior to the control (MD [95 %CI]: 27.3 % [15.3 % to 39.3 %]; 22.4 % [15.4 % to 29.4 %]; 15.3 % [2.5 % to 28.0 %]; and 13.0 % [4.9 % to 21.2], respectively). The gas-filled balloon and botulinum toxin injection did not show a significant difference in %weight loss or %EWL compared with the control. For the fluid-filled balloon, the %EWL and %weight loss tended to decrease after balloon removal at 6 months after the procedure. CONCLUSION: All bariatric endoscopic procedures, except for gas-filled balloon and botulinum toxin injection to the stomach, showed superior short-term efficacy in terms of %weight loss or %EWL compared with lifestyle modification.

Comparative Efficacy of Bariatric Surgery in the Treatment of Morbid Obesity and Diabetes Mellitus: a Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: The comparative efficacy of various bariatric procedures has not been completely elucidated. We aimed to evaluate efficacy and safety of various bariatric procedures comprehensively. METHODS: We searched for randomized controlled trials investigating the efficacy of bariatric surgery. Network meta-analyses were performed to determine the percentage of excess weight loss (%EWL) and remission of diabetes mellitus (DM). RESULTS: Of 45 studies, 33 and 24 provided the data for %EWL and DM remission rates, respectively. Six months after surgery, biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD-DS), Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), and sleeve gastrectomy (SG) showed superior efficacy for %EWL compared to the standard-of-care (mean difference [MD], [95% confidence interval [CI]]: BPD-DS, 38.2% [7.3%, 69.1%]; RYGB, 32.1% [3.1%, 61.1%]; SG, 32.5% [5.5%, 59.5%]). However, adjustable gastric banding was not superior to standard-of-care (MD [95% CI] = - 0.2% [- 19.6%, 19.2%]). At 1 year, all bariatric procedures were superior to standard-of-care. At 3 years, RYGB and SG showed superior efficacy when compared to standard-of-care (MD [95% CI]: RYGB, 45.0% [21.8%, 68.2%]; SG, 39.2% [15.2%, 63.3%]). With respect to DM remission 3-5 years after surgery, BPD-DS, RYGB, and SG were superior to standard-of-care. Hernias, obstruction/stricture, bleeding, and ulcers were less common in patients who underwent SG than in those who underwent RYGB. CONCLUSIONS: RYGB and SG had excellent long-term outcomes for both the %EWL and DM remission rates. Additionally, SG had a relatively lower risk of adverse events than RYGB.

Interobserver variability and accuracy of high-definition endoscopic diagnosis for gastric intestinal metaplasia among experienced and inexperienced endoscopists.

Accurate diagnosis of gastric intestinal metaplasia is important; however, conventional endoscopy is known to be an unreliable modality for diagnosing gastric intestinal metaplasia (IM). The aims of the study were to evaluate the interobserver variation in diagnosing IM by high-definition (HD) endoscopy and the diagnostic accuracy of this modality for IM among experienced and inexperienced endoscopists. Selected 50 cases, taken with HD endoscopy, were sent for a diagnostic inquiry of gastric IM through visual inspection to five experienced and five inexperienced endoscopists. The interobserver agreement between endoscopists was evaluated to verify the diagnostic reliability of HD endoscopy in diagnosing IM, and the diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were evaluated for validity of HD endoscopy in diagnosing IM. Interobserver agreement among the experienced endoscopists was "poor" (κ = 0.38) and it was also "poor" (κ = 0.33) among the inexperienced endoscopists. The diagnostic accuracy of the experienced endoscopists was superior to that of the inexperienced endoscopists (P = 0.003). Since diagnosis through visual inspection is unreliable in the diagnosis of IM, all suspicious areas for gastric IM should be considered to be biopsied. Furthermore, endoscopic experience and education are needed to raise the diagnostic accuracy of gastric IM.

Outcomes of hemodynamically stable patients with pancreatic injury after blunt abdominal trauma.

BACKGROUND: To date there is no systematical report about blunt pancreatic injury focused on hemodynamically stable patients. This study reports on our experience in this rare subgroup at a tertiary referral hospital. METHODS: A total of 58 adult patients were identified during a 10-year period and their clinical data were analyzed. Injury to the main pancreatic duct (MPD) was basically confirmed by pancreatography or surgical findings. RESULTS: MPD disruption was confirmed in 36 patients (62%) and was more frequent in the pancreatic neck and body. The median time from trauma to confirmation was 14 days [interquartile range (IQR) 3-23 days] including time from admission to confirmation of 10.5 days [IQR 3-20 days]. Patients with MPD injury showed higher injury severity score, more frequent pancreas-specific complications and longer hospital stays. The sensitivity and specificity of initial computed tomography (CT) for MPD injury were 63.9% (23/36) and 81.8% (18/22), respectively. The mortality rate was 7%, and all deaths were directly attributed to pancreatic injury. Complications occurred in 22 patients (37%) and 17 developed during hospitalization. Time from trauma to confirmation of MPD disruption (odds ratio 1.132; 95% confidence interval 1.021-1.255, P=0.019) was the only independent factor associated with unfavorable events among patients with high-grade injury. CONCLUSIONS: MPD injury was not infrequent in hemodynamically stable patients. Physicians were more responsible for the delay in diagnosis of MPD disruption, which was primarily associated with adverse outcomes. A rapid, multidisciplinary approach may lead to better outcomes in hemodynamically stable patients with blunt pancreatic injury.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided choledochoduodenostomies with fully covered self-expandable metallic stents.

AIM: To investigate the long-term outcomes of endoscopic ultrasound-guided choledochoduodenostomy (EUS-CDS) with a fully covered self-expandable metallic stent (FCSEMS). METHODS: From April 2009 to August 2010, 15 patients with distal malignant biliary obstructions who were candidates for alternative techniques for biliary decompression due to a failed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) were included. These 15 patients consisted of 8 men and 7 women and had a median age of 61 years (range: 30-91 years). The underlying causes of the distal malignant biliary obstruction were pancreatic cancer (n = 9), ampulla of Vater cancer (n = 2), renal cell carcinoma (n = 1), advanced gastric cancer (n = 1), lymphoma (n = 1), and duodenal cancer (n = 1). RESULTS: The technical success rate of EUS-CDS with an FCSEMS was 86.7% (13/15), and functional success was achieved in 100% (13/13) of those cases. In two patients, the EUS-CDS failed because an FCSEMS with a delivery device could not be passed into the common bile duct. The mean duration of stent patency was 264 d. Early adverse events developed in three patients (3/13, 23.1%), including self-limited pneumoperitoneum in two patients and cholangitis requiring stent reposition in one patient. During the follow-up period (median: 186 d, range: 52-388 d), distal stent migration occurred in four patients (4/13, 30.8%). In 3 patients, the FCSEMS could be reinserted through the existing choledochoduodenal fistula tract. CONCLUSION: EUS-CDS with an FCSEMS is technically feasible and can lead to effective palliation of distal malignant biliary obstructions after failed ERCP.

A fatal case of hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation during long-term, very-low-dose steroid treatment in an inactive HBV carrier.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) may be reactivated after chemotherapy or immunosuppressive therapy, and therefore administration of antiviral agents before such treatment is recommended. Most reported cases of reactivation are associated with high doses of immunosuppressive agents or combination therapy. We present a case of a previously inactive HBV carrier with an acute severe flare-up during a long-term, very-low-dose (2.5 mg/day) steroid treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. We suggest that even a minimal dose of single-regimen oral steroid can cause reactivation of indolent, inactive HBV.

Role of IL-17A in the development of colitis-associated cancer.

A close relationship between inflammation and colon cancer has been widely accepted, and interleukin (IL)-17A plays an important role in controlling colonic inflammation. However, the role of IL-17A has not yet been validated in colitis-associated cancer (CAC). This study aims to identify the effects of IL-17A in tumorigenesis utilizing IL-17A-deficient mice in an experimental CAC model. CAC was induced in both the IL-17A-deficient and the C57BL/6 (wild-type, WT) mice by injection of 12.5 mg/kg azoxymethane followed by three rounds of 1.7% dextran sodium sulfate exposure to elicit colitis. On day 63 after the start of the study, mice were sacrificed. Colonic inflammation, proliferation and tumorigenesis were evaluated. Tumor numbers per mouse (1.43 versus 5.80; P = 0.02) and mean tumor size (1.17 versus 3.58 mm; P = 0.01) were significantly decreased in IL-17A-deficient mice compared with WT mice. Furthermore, the inflammation and the proliferation scores of IL-17A-deficient mice were significantly lower than WT mice. In the analysis of inflammatory mediators, IL-6, interferon-γ, tumor necrosis factor-α and IL-17A were markedly decreased in IL-17A-deficient mice compared with WT mice. In the western blot analysis, p-STAT3, cyclin D1, cyclin-dependent kinase 2, cyclin E, Glycogen synthase kinase 3-ß and p-Akt were downregulated in IL-17A-deficient mice. Immunohistochemical staining with p-STAT3, Ki-67 and ß-catenin revealed lower number of stained cells in IL-17A-deficient mice compared with WT mice. IL-17A ablation significantly decreases CAC tumorigenesis and thus may play an important role associated with chronic colitis.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided transmural and percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage are comparable for acute cholecystitis.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided transmural gallbladder drainage (EUS-GBD) is an alternative to percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage (PTGBD) for patients with acute, high-risk, or advanced-stage cholecystitis who do not respond to initial medical treatment and cannot undergo emergency cholecystectomy. However, the technical feasibility, efficacy, and safety of EUS-GBD and PTGBD have not been compared. METHODS: Fifty-nine patients with acute cholecystitis, who did not respond to initial medical treatment and were unsuitable for an emergency cholecystectomy, were chosen randomly to undergo EUS-GBD (n = 30) or PTGBD (n = 29). The technical feasibility, efficacy, and safety of EUS-GBD and PTGBD were compared. RESULTS: EUS-GBD and PTGBD showed similar technical (97% [29 of 30] vs 97% [28 of 29]; 95% 1-sided confidence interval lower limit, -7%; P = .001 for noninferiority margin of 15%) and clinical (100% [29 of 29] vs 96% [27 of 28]; 95% 1-sided confidence interval lower limit, -2%; P = .0001 for noninferiority margin of 15%) success rates, and similar rates of complications (7% [2 of 30] vs 3% [1 of 29]; P = .492 in the Fisher exact test) and conversions to open cholecystectomy (9% [2 of 23] vs 12% [3 of 26]; P = .999 in the Fisher exact test). The median post-procedure pain score was significantly lower after EUS-GBD than after PTGBD (1 vs 5; P < .001 in the Mann-Whitney U test). CONCLUSIONS: EUS-GBD is comparable with PTGBD in terms of the technical feasibility and efficacy; there were no statistical differences in the safety. EUS-GBD is a good alternative for high-risk patients with acute cholecystitis who cannot undergo an emergency cholecystectomy.

Graduated injection needles and snares for polypectomy are useful for measuring colorectal polyp size.

BACKGROUND: Accurate measurement of polyp size during colonoscopy is important; however, visual estimation of polyp size is inaccurate, and it is cumbersome to use additional accessories to measure polyp size whenever polyps are detected. AIMS: To evaluate the accuracy and usefulness of graduated devices that can also be used for polypectomy. METHODS: The ends of the outer sheath of the injection needles and snares were marked at intervals of 5mm (total 30mm). Four endoscopists measured 53 polyps of 36 patients in the following manner: visual estimation, estimation with biopsy forceps, and measurement with graduated devices. Actual size of all polyps measured through a calliper was used as reference standard. RESULTS: The difference between actual size and size measured by visual estimation was statistically significant (1.27mm, P<0.001), whilst the differences between actual size and size measured by biopsy forceps (0.06mm, P=1.00) or graduated devices (0.15mm, P=0.620) were not. The linear correlation between the estimates and the actual sizes showed that the graduated device gave the largest positive linear correlation (0.986, P<0.001) of the three measurement methods tested. CONCLUSIONS: The graduated devices are efficient methods when measuring polyp size and performing polypectomy in a single step.

The timing of bowel preparation is more important than the timing of colonoscopy in determining the quality of bowel cleansing.

AIMS: We aimed to compare the quality of bowel preparation and cecal intubation rates between morning and afternoon colonoscopies and to evaluate the difference in quality of bowel preparation according to the intervals between starting and ending intake of bowel preparation agent and the initiation of colonoscopy. METHODS: In this prospective study, 300 outpatients were instructed to drink PEG solution starting either at 5:00 a.m. (morning group) or at 8:00 a.m. (afternoon group) on the same day. The time when PEG intake was started and completed, and when colonoscopy was begun were recorded. The quality of bowel preparation was assessed using the Ottawa bowel preparation scale. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the Ottawa scale between the morning and the afternoon groups (p = 0.14). Patients with intervals of 7 h or less between the initiation of PEG intake and the start of colonoscopy had a better quality of bowel preparation than those with intervals of more than 7 h (p = 0.03). In addition, patients with intervals of 4 h or less between the end of PEG intake and the start of colonoscopy had a better quality of bowel preparation than those with intervals of more than 4 h (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: The time of day at which colonoscopy is performed, whether during the morning or the afternoon, does not have a significant impact on the quality of bowel preparation. The quality of bowel preparation is significantly better in patients with a shorter time between bowel preparation and the start of colonoscopy.

[A case of pleural effusion associated with acute hepatitis A].

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection is common in developing countries, including Korea. It can be accompanied by extrahepatic complications such as renal failure, arthritis, and vasculitis. Pleural effusion is a very rare complication of HAV infection, which has been reported usually in children, and has benign clinical courses. Here we report a case of pleural effusion with ascites which occurred in an adult hepatitis A patient. A 26-year-old-woman presented generalized myalgia and fever and was diagnosed as acute hepatitis A. Despite of the improvement of laboratory findings, fever and cough persisted. Pleural effusion newly appeared on the serial chest radiologic images. After the fever settled down, the pleural effusion resolved spontaneously at 13th day of admission.

Chest wall metastasis from unknown primary site of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Previous reports of a solitary metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma have been rare. Because this tumor has a different treatment modality and prognosis, an accurate differential diagnosis is essential. Here we report a rare case of a solitary chest wall metastasis from unknown primary site of hepatocellular carcinoma. It involves a 51-year-old man who was admitted to our hospital because of a palpable left upper chest wall mass. The mass was resected and pathologic examination confirmed a diagnosis of metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma. Despite our investigation, no evidence was found that indicated the primary origin of the hepatocellular carcinoma. Four months later, the patient was admitted again because of spinal cord compression at the third and fourth thoracic vertebrae. Emergent decompressive laminectomy was performed and microscopic features revealed the same pathology as the initial chest wall mass resected 4 months earlier. After one year, a follow-up abdominal computed tomography (CT) still revealed no evidence of primary hepatocellular carcinoma.

[Incidence of gallbladder stones in renal transplant recipients].

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Gallbladder stone is one of the major cause of morbidity in adults. Renal transplantation has been found to increase the risk of gallbladder stone formation. The real incidence of gallbladder stones in renal transplant recipients is not exactly known. We performed this study to identify the risk factors for cholecystolithiasis. METHODS: We compared the prevalence of gallbladder stone in 222 renal transplantation patients with that in 222 age and sex matched controls. Patients who had chronic liver disease, renal disease, and diabetes were excluded from the control group. RESULTS: In our study, the incidence of gallbladder stones is 8.6% (19/222 patients) in renal transplantation patients, which was significantly higher than 3.60% (8/222 control) in the control group (p=0.029). In the most of our renal transplantation patients, cholecystolithiasis was asymptomatic. We did not find a difference in age, sex, duration after transplantation, causes of renal failure, resistance index between patients with and without gallbladder stones in renal transplantation patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the incidence of gallbladder stones is higher in renal transplant recipients than non-transplant population in Korea. Further studies will be needed to focus the factors contributing to the gallbladder stone formation after renal transplantation, especially in regard to immunosuppressive drugs.