Artificial intelligence to predict T4 stage of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma using CT imaging.

BACKGROUND: The accurate assessment of T4 stage of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has consistently presented a considerable difficulty for radiologists. This study aimed to develop and validate an automated artificial intelligence (AI) pipeline for the prediction of T4 stage of PDAC using contrast-enhanced CT imaging. METHODS: The data were obtained retrospectively from consecutive patients with surgically resected and pathologically proved PDAC at two institutions between July 2017 and June 2022. Initially, a deep learning (DL) model was developed to segment PDAC. Subsequently, radiomics features were extracted from the automatically segmented region of interest (ROI), which encompassed both the tumor region and a 3 mm surrounding area, to construct a predictive model for determining T4 stage of PDAC. The assessment of the models' performance involved the calculation of the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity. RESULTS: The study encompassed a cohort of 509 PDAC patients, with a median age of 62 years (interquartile range: 55-67). The proportion of patients in T4 stage within the model was 16.9%. The model achieved an AUC of 0.849 (95% CI: 0.753-0.940), a sensitivity of 0.875, and a specificity of 0.728 in predicting T4 stage of PDAC. The performance of the model was determined to be comparable to that of two experienced abdominal radiologists (AUCs: 0.849 vs. 0.834 and 0.857). CONCLUSION: The automated AI pipeline utilizing tumor and peritumor-related radiomics features demonstrated comparable performance to that of senior abdominal radiologists in predicting T4 stage of PDAC.

Effects of Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibitors on Gastrointestinal Malignancies: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are associated with a reduced risk of gastrointestinal malignancies, which is thought to be mediated mainly through the inhibition of cyclooxygenases-2 (COX-2). Due to the severe side effects of aspirin/NSAIDs, selective COX-2 inhibitors may be a more ideal choice. The objective is to evaluate the association of selective COX-2 inhibitors with gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies and premalignant lesions. We searched for published manuscripts evaluating the association between COX-2 inhibitors and GI malignancies or precancerous lesion. Two investigators independently abstracted the data; then, we conducted the analysis by Review Manager V.5.0; evaluation of effectiveness was performed by an intention to treat (ITT) method. Selective COX-2 inhibitors had no beneficial effects on the progression or regression of esophageal and gastric dysplasia (OR = 1.06, 95% CI 0.63-1.78, P = 0.83 for regression of esophageal dysplasia; OR = 1.06, 95% CI 0.58-1.91, P = 0.86 for progression of esophageal dysplasia; OR = 1.95, 95%CI 0.92-4.17, P = 0.08 for regression of gastric dysplasia; and OR = 0.99, 95%CI 0.68-1.43, P = 0.94 for progression of gastric dysplasia). There is no protective effect on colorectal cancer (OR = 0.89, 95% CI 0.77-1.03, P = 0.11), and the use could not improve the effect of chemoradiation (OR = 1.20, 95% CI 0.46-3.19, P = 0.71). This pooled analysis indicates no meaningful association between selective COX-2 inhibitors and GI malignancies.

Discrepancy Between Forceps Biopsy and Resection in Colorectal Polyps: A 1686 Paired Screening-Therapeutic Colonoscopic Finding.

Purpose: To identify pathology discrepancy between forceps biopsies and polypectomy specimens in colorectal polyps, as well as the reliability of biopsy-based treatment strategy. Methods: All endoscopic polypectomy cases with forceps biopsies performed within 6 months were included in the study. The biopsies were compared with polypectomy specimens in terms of concordance of histological diagnosis. A logistic regression model was used to investigate the independent predictors of upgrade in histological diagnosis compared with concordance in histological diagnosis. Results: A total of 1686 paired screening-therapeutic colonoscopies and 1739 paired biopsy-polypectomy specimens were enrolled in the study. The grade of dysplasia in 84.5% of biopsy specimens were concordant to polypectomy specimens, but this proportion decreased to 75.4% when the specimens were classified using tubular or villousness structure. 10.1% and 5.4% of biopsy specimens were upgraded and downgraded in assessing grade of dysplasia, respectively, while 14.3% and 10.3% of biopsy specimens were upgraded and downgraded in assessing tubular or villousness structure, respectively. In subgroup analysis stratified by size of polyps, 9.0% and 10.6% of biopsies obtained from polyps smaller than 10 mm were upgraded in assessing dysplasia and tubular or villousness structure, respectively. This proportion increased to 10.7% and 21.3%, respectively, in biopsies obtained from polyps larger than 10 mm. Larger size of polyps and pedunculated polyps were associated with a higher incidence of upgrade in histological diagnosis. Nearly 25% of biopsy specimens with high-grade dysplasia were identified as adenocarcinoma in polypectomy specimens. Conclusion: The concordance between biopsy and polypectomy specimens is not adequate. The biopsy-based treatment strategy is not reliable and should not be considered as an indicator for further treatment, particularly in large or pedunculated polyps.

Efficacy of Endoscopic Radiofrequency Ablation for Treatment of Reflux Hypersensitivity: A Study Based on Rome IV Criteria.

Objective: Effective therapies for reflux hypersensitivity are lacking. Endoscopic radiofrequency ablation may reduce the sensitivity of the distal esophagus through direct interference with nociceptors or vagal afferent fibers and thus may be useful in reflux hypersensitivity. The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness and possible mechanisms of endoscopic radiofrequency ablation in reflux hypersensitivity patients. Methods: Patients with reflux hypersensitivity who fulfilled the Rome IV criteria and who wished to receive further treatment were recruited. Endoscopic radiofrequency ablation was delivered to the gastroesophageal junction. Data were collected by questionnaire using a 6-point Likert scale. The primary outcome measure was effect on symptoms including heartburn, regurgitation, and chest pain. The secondary outcomes were degree of satisfaction, medication use, acid exposure time (AET), low esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure, and total reflux episodes. We also assessed positive cell density of transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 receptor (TRPV1) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), both of which are biomarkers of afferent fibers, in biopsies obtained from esophageal mucosa 0.5 cm-1 cm above the Z line. These scales will be administered at baseline, 3-month follow-up, 6-month follow-up, and 12-month follow-up. Results: A total of 22 reflux hypersensitivity patients were enrolled (14 males, median age 50.0 years). A significant improvement in symptom scores (heartburn, regurgitation, and chest pain) was noted at 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months (P < 0.001). Satisfaction with life increased to 72.7% (16/22), 72.7% (16/22), and 68.2% (15/22) at 3, 6, and 12 mo, respectively, compared with baseline (P < 0.001). Nineteen patients reduced their medication use after treatment. Of these, 22.7% (5/22), 31.8% (7/22), and 40.9% (9/22) subjects stopped medication use at 3 mo, 6 mo, and 12 mo, respectively. No statistical differences were noted in AET, LES pressure, or total reflux episodes from preoperation to 12 mo postoperation. After treatment, the positive cell density of both TRPV1 and CGRP decreased significantly; however, only TRPV1 had a positive correlation with heartburn (r = 0.51, P = 0.03) and chest pain (r = 0.77, P < 0.01). Conclusion: Endoscopic radiofrequency ablation was an effective and safe therapeutic option in reflux hypersensitivity patients. Further studies with large sample size are required to validate the role of radiofrequency in reflux hypersensitivity.

Negative Effects of Endoscopists' Fatigue on Colonoscopy Quality on 34,022 Screening Colonoscopies.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: There is still considerable controversy surrounding the relationship between fatigue of endoscopists and the quality of colonoscopy. The aim of this study is to comprehensively explore the association between fatigue and adenoma detection rate (ADR) and cecal intubation rate (CIR). METHODS: The mixed effects logistic regression model was used to explore the relationship between fatigue- related factors including procedure order, session of procedures and the day of week and ADR as well as CIR. RESULTS: When controlling for confounders, the day of week (Monday as reference, Friday, p=0.022; weekends, p=0.015) and session of procedures (P<0.001) were significantly associated with ADR while procedure order (<5 as reference, 6-10, p<0.001; >10, p=0.001) and session of procedures (p=0.004) were independent predictors for CIR. Additionally, there was a significant downward trend on ADR and CIR with the approaching of weekends (p=0.005) and increasing procedure orders (p<0.001), respectively. In the subgroup analysis stratified by gender, age and workload intensity, significant lower ADR was found in the afternoon in all subgroups (male, p<0.001; female, p=0.005; <40 years, p<0.001; ≥40 years, p=0.020; intensity<50 per month, p=0.017; intensity≥50 per month, p<0.001) but the downward trend on ADR as the week progressed was only found in endoscopists with male gender (p=0.011), age<40 (p=0.027) and high workload intensity (p=0.003). Moreover, a significant downward trend on CIR as the procedure order increased was found in all subgroups except endoscopists with age≥40 (male, p=0.005; female, p<0.001; <40 years, p<0.001; intensity<50 per month, p=0.001; intensity≥50 per month, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Colonoscopies in the afternoon will affect ADR negatively while increasing procedure order will cause a lower CIR. Importantly, the significant negative influence of Friday and weekends on ADR was first discovered in this study. Moreover, endoscopists with female gender and advanced age (≥40) but not high workload intensity showed superiority in resistance of fatigue caused by the end of the week and increasing daily procedures.

Comprehensive evaluation of the learning curve to achieve satisfactory adenoma detection rate.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The number of colonoscopies required to reach satisfactory adenoma detection rate (ADR) is not well established. The aim of this study was to identify the appropriate number of procedures required to attain satisfactory ADR for those well-trained endoscopists who have a cecal intubation rate (CIR) ≥ 90% and start to perform colonoscopy independently. METHODS: All endoscopists with compelete independent colonoscopy data during career in our database were enrolled. The number of procedures required to achieve ADR ≥ 20% was identified by cumulative summation (Cusum), learning curve Cusum (LC-Cusum), and moving average method. Mixed effect logistic regression model was developed to determine the relationship between endoscopist as well as patient-related factors and adenoma detection. RESULTS: A total of 24 943 procedures and 14 endoscopists were enrolled. By Cusum analysis, the interest point was at 207 procedures. By LC-Cusum analysis, 71% (10/14) and 86% (12/14) of endoscopists had attained satisfactory ADR after 200 and 300 procedures, respectively. By moving average method, endoscopists reached a mean ADR of 20% at 216 and 261 procedures over blocks of 50 and 100 procedures, respectively. The total number of procedures, number of daily procedures, patient age and gender, bowel preparation, sedation, and diverticulosis were significantly associated with adenoma detection. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to investigate the learning curve of ADR for those well-trained endoscopists who have a CIR ≥ 90% and start to perform colonoscopy independently. Two hundred procedures might be an optimal number required to reach an ADR ≥ 20%.

The Impact of Sedation on Adenoma Detection Rate and Cecal Intubation Rate in Colonoscopy.

PURPOSE: To explore the effect of sedation on the quality of colonoscopy. METHODS: The data collected from the Digestive Endoscopy Center of Shanghai Tongji Hospital from March 2012 to June 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. The rate of sedation and quality metrics of colonoscopy such as adenoma detection rate (ADR) and cecal intubation rate (CIR) were calculated. The logistic regression model was used to explore the relationship between sedation and quality metrics of colonoscopy. The interaction effects between experience of endoscopists and sedation on quality of colonoscopy was also investigated in subgroups stratified by total number of colonoscopies during career using the logistic regression model. RESULTS: A total of 63,417 colonoscopies including 11,417 colonoscopies without sedation and 52,000 colonoscopies with sedation were enrolled in our study. The proportion of colonoscopy with sedation was 82.0%. The ADR and CIR were all significantly higher in cases with sedation compared with cases without sedation (ADR, 22.5% vs. 17.0%, p < 0.001; CIR, 94.7% vs. 91.2%, p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that the sedation was an independent factor associated with adenoma detection (OR = 1.448, 95% CI: 1.372~1.529, p < 0.001) and cecal intubation (OR = 1.560, 95% CI: 1.446~1.683, p < 0.001). A total of 14 endoscopists with complete colonoscopy data in our database and corresponding 20,949 colonoscopies data were enrolled for further analysis. The logistic regression model yielded a similar result that sedation was an independent factor on adenoma detection and cecal intubation when the factor, experience of endoscopists, was also entered into the model as a confounder (adenoma detection, OR = 1.408, 95% CI: 1.333~1.487, p < 0.001; cecal intubation, OR = 1.601, 95% CI: 1.482-1.729, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Colonoscopy with sedation has a positive effect on ADR and CIR in all endoscopists with different experience of colonoscopy, which makes the quality of colonoscopy better.

Down-regulation of HTR1A-modulated ACC activation contributes to stress-induced visceral hyperalgesia in rats.

BACKGROUND: Long-term stress was suggested to cause visceral hypersensitivity and promote functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs). Some brain regions such as the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) may play an important role for generating visceral hypersensitivity; however, its molecular mechanisms are not clear. This study aimed to explore the role of 5-HT1A receptors (HTR1As) in activating ACC and corresponding mechanism, in stress-induced visceral hyperalgesia rats. METHODS: The VH rat model was established by chronic water avoidance stress (WAS), and the visceral sensitivity was measured by electromyogram. Rat's anxiety-like behaviors were evaluated by the open field test (OFT) and elevated plus maze (EPM). To overexpress or down-regulate HTR1A expression, HTR1A-specific lentivirus expressing the green fluorescent protein was administered into the ACC. Protein expression levels were observed by Western blot. RESULTS: The protein expression of HTR1A in bilateral ACC in WAS group was significantly lower than that in normal control (NC) and Sham-WAS groups, while the levels of c-fos in the ACC of WAS rats were significantly higher. Down-regulation of HTR1As could induce VH in control rats with the increased expression of c-fos, p-ERK, and p-Akt in ACC, while up-regulation of HTR1As in the ACC could partly inhibit ACC sensitization and stress-induced visceral hyperalgesia. CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES: Down-regulation of HTR1As modulates ACC activation probably through activating ERK and Akt pathways, thus contributes to the formation of stress-induced visceral hyperalgesia.

Deep Learning: Individual Maize Segmentation From Terrestrial Lidar Data Using Faster R-CNN and Regional Growth Algorithms.

The rapid development of light detection and ranging (Lidar) provides a promising way to obtain three-dimensional (3D) phenotype traits with its high ability of recording accurate 3D laser points. Recently, Lidar has been widely used to obtain phenotype data in the greenhouse and field with along other sensors. Individual maize segmentation is the prerequisite for high throughput phenotype data extraction at individual crop or leaf level, which is still a huge challenge. Deep learning, a state-of-the-art machine learning method, has shown high performance in object detection, classification, and segmentation. In this study, we proposed a method to combine deep leaning and regional growth algorithms to segment individual maize from terrestrial Lidar data. The scanned 3D points of the training site were sliced row and row with a fixed 3D window. Points within the window were compressed into deep images, which were used to train the Faster R-CNN (region-based convolutional neural network) model to learn the ability of detecting maize stem. Three sites of different planting densities were used to test the method. Each site was also sliced into many 3D windows, and the testing deep images were generated. The detected stem in the testing images can be mapped into 3D points, which were used as seed points for the regional growth algorithm to grow individual maize from bottom to up. The results showed that the method combing deep leaning and regional growth algorithms was promising in individual maize segmentation, and the values of r, p, and F of the three testing sites with different planting density were all over 0.9. Moreover, the height of the truly segmented maize was highly correlated to the manually measured height (R2> 0.9). This work shows the possibility of using deep leaning to solve the individual maize segmentation problem from Lidar data.

Maternal Separation Induced Visceral Hypersensitivity from Childhood to Adulthood.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Early adverse life events (EALs) are relevant to irritable bowel syndrome in adulthood. Maternal separation (MS), as one of the EALs, has proved to induce visceral hypersensitivity in adult rats. However, the effect of MS on visceral hypersensitvity from the post-weaning period to adulthood remains unknown. METHODS: One hundred and ten neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: rats in the MS group were exposed to 3 hours daily MS on postnatal day (PND) 2-14; the normal control (NC) group remained undisturbed. Visceral sensitivity was determined by measuring the visceromotor response to colorectal distention on PND21, 35, and 56. Anxiety-like behaviors were measured by the open field test. RESULTS: Compared with NC rats, MS rats showed significant visceral hypersensitivity from the post-weaning period to adult. The proportion of visceral hypersensitive rats decreased with age from 87.5% to 70.0% in the female MS group and from 90.0% to 66.7% in the male MS group. The relative VMR ratio of MS and NC on PND21 was higher than PND35 and PND56. MS rats showed decreased ability of movement and exploration to the novel environment in the post-weaning period, obesity in the prepubertal period, and more anxiety-like behaviors in adulthood. CONCLUSIONS: MS can significantly affect visceral sensitivity and behaviors of rats in different age stages, especially in the post-weaning period. Visceral hypersensitivity of MS rats is more pronounced in the post-weaning period and slightly restored in adults. Thus, visceral hypersensitivity in the post-weaning period might play a more meaningful pathophysiologic role in the formation of adult irritable bowel syndrome.

The characteristics of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma: an analysis of 1317 cases in southeastern China.

AIM OF THE STUDY: To research the demographic and histopathological features of ESCC in southeastern China. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the ESCC cases in the biobank of the National Engineering Centre for Biochip in Shanghai, which cooperates with lots of hospitals and research institutions in southeastern China. The patients were pathologically confirmed as having ESCC. The demographic and histopathological features of these cases were analysed subsequently. RESULTS: A total of 1317 patients were enrolled. The overall male: female ratio was 2.88: 1. 74.34% of these cases occurred in people aged between 50-70 years. Dysphagia was the most common symptom, which accounted for 93.40% of all the patients. Stage II and III were predominant (79.73%). 72.89% of patients had a tumour length greater than 3 cm. Most of the tumours (65.83%) were located in middle third of the oesophagus. There was a significant difference among the tumour stage, length, and location in different sex groups (P < 0.05), but not between different age groups (P > 0.05). In males, ESCC is usually located in the lower parts, with a longer tumour length and higher tumour stage. 24.15% of patients had lymph nodes ratio (LNR) > 0.2. CONCLUSIONS: In our analysis, dysphagia was more common in ESCC patients, to whom more attention should be paid. Additionally, males had a higher incidence, with longer and more distant disease, which gives a poor prognosis.

Role of insular cortex in visceral hypersensitivity model in rats subjected to chronic stress.

Abnormal processing of visceral sensation at the level of the central nervous system has been proven to be important in the pathophysiologic mechanisms of stress related functional gastrointestinal disorders. However, the specific mechanism is still not clear. The insular cortex (IC) was considered as one important visceral sensory area. Moreover, the IC has been shown to be involved in various neuropsychiatric diseases such as panic disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder. However, whether the IC is important in psychological stress related visceral hypersensitivity has not been studied yet. In our study, through destruction of the bilateral IC, we explored whether the IC played a critical role in the formation of visceral hypersensitivity induced by chronic stress on rats. Chronic partial restraint stress was used to establish viscerally hypersensitive rat model. Bilateral IC lesions were generated by N-methyl-D-day (door) aspartate. After a recovery period of 7 days, 14-day consecutive restraint stress was performed. The visceromotor response to colorectal distension was monitored by recording electromyogram to measure rats׳ visceral sensitivity. We found that bilateral insular cortex lesion could markedly inhibit the formation of visceral hypersensitivity induced by chronic stress. The insular cortex plays a critical role in the pathophysiology of stress-related visceral hypersensitivity.

Abnormal activity of default mode network in GERD patients.

BACKGROUND: Abnormal processing of esophageal sensation at the level of the central nervous system has been proven to be involved in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). However, most studies were focused on the possible functions of perceptual processing related network during task status, little attention has been paid to default mode network, which has been manifested to be important in the pathogenesis of many diseases. In our study, we compared the brain activity characteristic in GERD patients with the healthy subjects (HS) at baseline, looking for whether activities of default mode network were abnormal in GERD patients and attempting to identify their possible roles in GERD. In present study, fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation was adopted to detect the brain activities at baseline. Group-level analyses were conducted by one-sample t test within groups (voxel thresholds were p<0.001 and cluster level>42, corrected P<0.05) and independent-samples t test between groups (p<0.01 and cluster level>90, corrected P<0.05) using SPM5. RESULTS: The predominant activity area in both groups mainly located in default mode network such as medial superior frontal gyrus, precuneus, posterior cingulate gyrus, etc. However, the activities of precuneus and posterior cingulate gyrus were significantly lower in GERD patients than those in the HS. CONCLUSIONS: The activities of precuneus and posterior cingulate gyrus of default mode network in GERD patients were significantly lower compared to the HS, suggesting abnormal activities of brain regions in default mode network may be involved in pathophysiology of GERD symptom generation.

Maintenance treatment of mild gastroesophageal reflux disease with proton pump inhibitors taken on-demand: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To evaluate the efficacy of on-demand strategy with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in mild gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). METHODOLOGY: A literature search was conducted to identify randomized controlled clinical trials which investigating on-demand treatment with PPIs in mild GERD. The control group should be placebo or once-daily treatment. Comparison of treatment effect was performed. RESULTS: Eight studies met the inclusion criteria, of which six were compared with placebo, two others with once-daily treatment. The percentage of patients unwilling to continue the study was 12.1% in the on-demand group while 39.6% in the placebo group. The meta-analysis revealed a statistically significant difference between the two groups (RR: 0.32; 95% CI: 0.23, 0.43). We obtained a similar result when compared with once-daily treatment (RR: 0.52; 95% CI: 0.34, 0.79). CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis indicates that on-demand therapy with PPIs is superior to placebo or once-daily treatment in terms of mild GERD.

Dietary intake and risk for reflux esophagitis: a case-control study.

Background. Specific dietary components have been associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in Europe and the United States. However, the relationship between dietary components and GERD in Chinese still remains unclear. Methods. A total of 268 patients who were newly diagnosed as reflux esophagitis (RE) in Outpatient Endoscopy Center of Tongji Hospital were recruited. In addition, 269 sex- and age-matched subjects were also recruited as controls. The body measurements were determined, and the dietary intake during the previous year was evaluated using food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the association between nutrients and RE. Results. After adjustment for WC, WHR, total energy intake, and demographics, there were a positive dose-response relationship between RE and calcium, meat, oils, and salt and a negative dose-response relationship between RE and protein, carbohydrate, calories from protein (%), vitamin C, grains and potatoes, fruits, and eggs. Conclusion. High intake of meat, oils, salt, and calcium is associated with an increased risk for RE while high intake of protein, carbohydrate, calories from protein (%), vitamin C, grains and potatoes, fruits, and eggs correlates with a reduced risk for RE.

The Diagnostic Significance of Coapplying a Rabeprazole Test with the SF-36 for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a diversity disease that affects life quality of people in the world. Due to the complicated pathogenesis and variations in clinical manifestations, there is still no true gold standard for GERD diagnosis, and it is still difficult to diagnose this disease in some patients. The proton pump inhibitor's diagnostic test (the PPI test) is noninvasive, of low cost, tied to treatment, and widely accepted. Our aim is to evaluate the diagnostic significance of coapplying a rabeprazole test with the SF-36 for GERD in this study. Our study shows that the SF-36 in combination with the rabeprazole test can screen GERD patients and increase the sensitivity and specificity of GERD diagnosis through reference to the change in SF-36 score before and after the treatment (65 in the trial).