Gene panel testing detects important genetic alterations in ulcerative colitis-associated colorectal neoplasia.

Ulcerative colitis-associated neoplasia (UCAN) harbors unique genetic alterations and mutational tendencies. The clinical application of gene panel testing enables precision medicine by tailoring treatment to individual gene alterations. We hypothesized that gene panel testing may detect clinically important genetic alterations in UCAN, with potential usefulness for the diagnosis and treatment of UCAN. In the present study, gene panel testing was used to identify genetic alterations in UCAN, and the possibility of clinical utility of gene panel testing in UCAN was investigated. The present study included 15 patients with UCAN, and gene panel testing was performed to identify genetic alterations associated with diagnosis and treatment. Genetic alterations of UCAN were compared with those of 203 patients with sporadic colorectal cancer (CRC). APC and PTEN mutations were less frequent, while RNF43 frameshift or nonsense mutations were more frequent in UCAN compared with sporadic CRC. TP53 mutations were identified in 13/15 patients (87%) with UCAN. Notably, 4/15 patients (27%) with UCAN had no genetic alterations other than TP53 mutation, while this occurred in 1/203 patients (0.5%) with sporadic CRC (P<0.001). Microsatellite instability-high was identified in 2/15 patients (13%) with UCAN. Mutational signature 3, which is associated with homologous recombination deficiency, was detected in 14/15 patients (93%) with UCAN, and enriched in UCAN compared with sporadic CRC (P=0.030). In conclusion, gene panel testing can detect important genetic alterations that can be useful for diagnosis and treatment in UCAN, and may provide clinicians with important information for tailored treatment strategies.

Endoscopic Findings and Treatment of Gastric Neoplasms in Familial Adenomatous Polyposis.

PURPOSE: Gastric neoplasia is a common manifestation of familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). This study aimed to elucidate the clinical characteristics, endoscopic features including fundic gland polyposis (FGPsis), and treatment outcomes of gastric neoplasms (GNs) in patients with FAP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 35 patients diagnosed with FAP, including nine patients from four pedigrees who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), were investigated regarding patient characteristics, GN morphology, and treatment outcomes. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients (60.0%) had 38 GNs; 33 (86.8%) and 5 (13.2%) were histologically diagnosed with adenocarcinoma and adenoma, respectively. There were no specific patient characteristics related to GNs. Nodule-type GNs were more prevalent in patients with FGP than without (52.2% vs. 0.0%, P=0.002) in the upper body of the stomach. Conversely, depressed-type GNs were fewer in patients with FGPsis than in those without (13.0% vs. 73.3%, P<0.001). Slightly elevated-type GNs were observed in both groups (34.8% vs. 20.0%, P=0.538). Even within pedigrees, the background gastric mucosa and types of GNs varied. In total, 24 GNs were treated with endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) and eight with endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR). EMR was selected for GNs with FGPsis because of the technical difficulty of ESD, resulting in a lower en bloc resection rate (62.5% vs. 100%, P=0.014). CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicates the necessity of routine EGD surveillance in patients diagnosed with FAP. Notably, the morphology and location of GNs differed between patients with and without FGPsis. Endoscopic treatment and outcomes require more attention in cases of FGPsis.

Involvement of DNA Damage Response via the Ccndbp1-Atm-Chk2 Pathway in Mice with Dextran-Sodium-Sulfate-Induced Colitis.

The dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis mouse model has been widely utilized for human colitis research. While its mechanism involves a response to double-strand deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage, ataxia telangiectasia mutated (Atm)-checkpoint kinase 2 (Chk2) pathway activation related to such response remains unreported. Recently, we reported that cyclin D1-binding protein 1 (Ccndbp1) activates the pathway reflecting DNA damage in its knockout mice. Thus, this study aimed to examine the contribution of Ccndbp1 and the Atm-Chk2 pathway in DSS-induced colitis. We assessed the effect of DSS-induced colitis on colon length, disease activity index, and histological score and on the Atm-Chk2 pathway and the subsequent apoptosis in Ccndbp1-knockout mice. DSS-induced colitis showed distal colon-dominant Atm and Chk2 phosphorylation, increase in TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling and cleaved caspase 3-positive cells, and histological score increase, causing disease activity index elevation and colon length shortening. These changes were significantly ameliorated in Ccndbp1-knockout mice. In conclusion, Ccndbp1 contributed to Atm-Chk2 pathway activation in the DSS-induced colitis mouse model, causing inflammation and apoptosis of mucosal cells in the colon.

Esophageal Diverticulum - Indications and Efficacy of Therapeutic Endoscopy.

Objective Esophageal diverticulum is rare, and the concomitance of esophageal motility disorders (EMDs) and the efficacy of novel endoscopic treatment have not been investigated in Japan. Methods An examination including high-resolution manometry (HRM) was performed for patients with both EMDs and epiphrenic diverticulum. EMD-related epiphrenic diverticulum and Zenker's diverticulum were treated using salvage peroral endoscopic myotomy (s-POEM) and endoscopic diverticulotomy, respectively. Results Six cases of epiphrenic diverticulum were diagnosed in this study. Among 125 patients with achalasia and spastic disorders, concomitant epiphrenic diverticulum was observed in 4 (3.2%). Of these, three showed a normal lower esophageal sphincter pressure on HRM, although gastroscopy and esophagography revealed typical findings of an impaired lower esophageal sphincter relaxation. These four patients were successfully treated with s-POEM, and the Eckardt score improved from 6.3 to 0.25 at 32.5 (range: 13-56) months of follow-up, with equivalent treatment efficacy to that observed for achalasia and spastic disorders without epiphrenic diverticulum. In contrast, the two remaining cases of epiphrenic diverticulum had normal esophageal motility. Six cases of Zenker's diverticulum were diagnosed, and endoscopic diverticulotomy was successfully performed in all. The dysphagia score decreased from 2.8 to 0.17 at 14.8 (range: 2-36) months of follow-up. Overall, 12 endoscopic treatments were performed for esophageal diverticulum; no adverse events were observed. Conclusion In epiphrenic diverticulum patients, concomitant EMDs are not rare and should be carefully diagnosed. A normal lower esophageal sphincter pressure on HRM does not always mean a normal lower esophageal sphincter relaxation. S-POEM and endoscopic diverticulotomy are effective minimally invasive treatment options for EMD-related epiphrenic diverticulum and Zenker's diverticulum.

Gastric metastasis from small bowel adenocarcinoma in a Lynch syndrome patient.

Gastric cancer is a Lynch syndrome (LS)-associated tumor, with the cumulative lifetime risk in LS patients estimated to be 5.8-13%. Hence, surveillance for gastric cancer is important for LS patients, especially in those with a family history of gastric cancer or of Asian descent. We report a very rare case of a LS patient who showed gastric metastasis from jejunal adenocarcinoma curatively resected 8 years prior. A 79-year-old female was diagnosed with a synchronous gastric submucosal tumor (SMT) and right-sided colon cancer. She was referred to our hospital as she and her family had histories of LS-associated tumors. She underwent curative intent surgery for the tumors. Postoperative histopathological examination revealed the gastric SMT was an adenocarcinoma completely covered by non-neoplastic gastric mucosa. Immunohistochemical analyses showed the gastric SMT had the same expression pattern for CDX2, cytokeratins 7 and 20 as the jejunal adenocarcinoma. Thirty-four months after surgery the patient is alive without recurrence or any other LS-associated tumors. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of gastric metastasis from small bowel adenocarcinoma in a LS patient. Awareness of this case may be important for gastric cancer surveillance in LS patients.

Utility of autologous fecal microbiota transplantation and elucidation of microbiota in diversion colitis.

Objectives: Diversion colitis (DC) is an inflammatory disorder caused by interruption of the fecal stream and subsequent nutrient deficiency from luminal bacteria. The utility of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for DC was recently investigated; however, the precise pathogenesis of this condition remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the utility of autologous FMT in DC and to determine the related changes in the intestinal microbiota. Methods: Autologous FMT was performed to reestablish the intestinal microbiota in five patients (average age, 64.6 ± 8.3 years) with DC. They underwent double-ended colostomy. We assessed the diverted colon by endoscopy and evaluated the microbiota before and after FMT using the 16S rRNA gene sequencing method. Results: All five patients had mild inflammation (ulcerative colitis endoscopic index of severity [UCEIS] 2-3) in the diverted colon based on the colonoscopic findings. Three patients presented with symptoms, such as tenesmus, mucoid stool, and bloody stool. With FMT treatment, all patients achieved endoscopic remission (UCEIS score of 0 or 1) and symptomatic improvement. We observed a significantly decreased α-diversity in DC patients compared to healthy controls. The frequency of aerobic bacteria, such as Enterobacteriaceae, in the diverted colon decreased after autologous FMT. Conclusions: This study was the first to show that the microbiota in the diverted colon was significantly affected by autologous FMT. Since interruption of the fecal stream is central to the development of DC, FMT can be considered a promising treatment.

Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection for Gastric Tube Carcinoma after Esophagectomy Contributes to Long-Term Outcomes.

The incidence of gastric tube carcinoma (GTC) after esophagectomy for esophageal carcinoma has increased in recent years. Surgical removal of the reconstructed gastric tube is associated with high mortality, and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a promising alternative. There are limited reports of ESD for GTC. This study investigated the efficacy and safety of ESD in GTC. This single-center retrospective study examined patients who underwent ESD for GTC after esophagectomy at our institution between 2003 and 2018. The curability of GTC with ESD was evaluated histologically according to the Japanese Gastric Cancer Treatment Guidelines. Patient characteristics and procedural and long-term outcomes were analyzed. Overall, 31 patients (29 men and 2 women; median age, 73 years) with 45 GTC lesions underwent ESD. The mean period between primary esophagectomy and the diagnosis of GTC was 10.6 years. Bleeding during ESD was noted in two patients (6.5%). No other adverse or fatal events such as perforation were noted. Complete resection and curative resection were documented in 80.6% and 48.4% of cases, respectively. The 3-year and 5-year overall survival rates were 67.6% and 47.7%, respectively. The 3-year and 5-year disease-specific survival rates were 100% and 92.9%, respectively. One patient died of GTC, and fourteen patients died of other diseases, including primary carcinoma in five cases. ESD was safe and provided good long-term outcomes in patients with GTC. Regular long-term gastroscopy is required for the early detection of GTC. Patients with GTC after esophagectomy for esophageal carcinoma have a high risk of other primary carcinomas or comorbidities after ESD.

Benign Duodenal Stenosis Caused by Huge Mesenteric Hematoma Conservatively Improved with Long-term Use of Double Elementary Diet Tube.

Mesenteric hematoma is an uncommon condition caused by focal bleeding in the mesenteric vessels. Hematomas are related to trauma, pancreatitis, arteriopathy, and the use of antithrombotic agents. Although hematomas cause intestinal stenosis by compressing the adjacent small bowel, duodenal stenosis due to hematoma is rare. Therefore, the treatment indications for cases of hematoma with stenosis have not been established. We herein report a case with a large mesenteric hematoma that caused duodenal stenosis by compressing the third portion of the duodenum. Stenosis was successfully ameliorated after long-term use of a double elementary diet tube.

A case of Helicobacter pylori -negative early gastric adenocarcinoma with gastrointestinal phenotype.

A 40-year-old man with slightly depressed (0-IIc) type gastric cancer of the pyloric anterior gastric area underwent pre-operative screening for tetralogy of Fallot and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) and was tested for Helicobacter pylori antigens and antibodies. Both tests were negative. He did not have a history of eradication. Pathological diagnosis of ESD showed a well-differentiated adenocarcinoma. The tumor was CD10-positive, MUC5AC-negative, and MUC6-confocal positive; it showed differentiation with gastrointestinal phenotype. Moreover, the tumor cells were lysozyme-positive, resembling Paneth cells. Mucosal glands exhibited intestinal metaplasia on the anal side of the tumor lesion. On the oral side of the tumor, metaplasia was non-existent, with normal pyloric glands present in the mucosal layer. The patient was not infected with H. pylori ; however, intestinal metaplasia existed around the early gastric cancer. This suggested that the intestinal metaplasia occurred due to bile reflux, and the gastric neoplasia arose with the metaplasia without an H. pylori infection. This case may potentially help explain gastric cancer development in the absence of H. pylori infection.

Long-term survival of 11 years with multidisciplinary therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis to the ovary and peritoneum: a case report.

We herein report a rare case of HCC metastases to the ovary and peritoneum in a 61-year-old female patient who has achieved 11-year survival with multidisciplinary therapy. The patient was diagnosed with HCC during balloon angioplasty performed for Budd-Chiari syndrome in 1994 and underwent partial hepatectomy twice. Five years after the second hepatectomy, allochronic recurrence of a single nodule detected in S8 was treated by radiofrequency ablation, followed by percutaneous ethanol injection therapy and stereotactic body radiotherapy. However, her α-fetoprotein level rose to 1862 ng/mL within one year and computed tomography revealed a large pelvic tumor suggesting HCC metastasis to the ovary. The subsequent laparotomy revealed one 11-cm left ovarian tumor, one small right ovarian nodule, and numerous peritoneal nodules. Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and peritoneal resection of as many nodules as possible were performed. Combination therapy with intravenous 5-fluorouracil plus cisplatin and ramucirumab monotherapy effectively suppressed tumor progression with maintenance of hepatic functional reserve, and she has achieved long-term survival of 11 years, illustrating that multidisciplinary therapy with favorable hepatic functional reserve maintenance can contribute to long-term survival in HCC with extrahepatic spread.

Comparison of Oral and Esophageal Microbiota in Patients with Achalasia Before and After Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Patients with achalasia have a high incidence of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), which may be associated with alterations in oral and esophageal microbiota caused by food stasis. This study compared the oral and esophageal microbiota of patients with achalasia before and after peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM). It also compared patients with achalasia to those with ESCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study prospectively examined 6 patients with achalasia and 14 with superficial ESCC. Oral samples obtained from the buccal mucosa using a swab and esophageal samples obtained from the mid-esophagus using a brush via endoscopy were analyzed by 16S rRNA metagenome sequencing. Additionally, endoscopic and histological findings of patients with achalasia before and after POEM were prospectively compared. RESULTS: In patients with achalasia, Streptococcus was most abundant in both the oral and the esophageal microbiota, and these microbiota were significantly different. Although the overall structure of the oral and esophageal microbiota did not change after POEM, the relative abundance rate of Haemophilus and Neisseria increased in the esophagus, and endoscopic findings of inflammation improved after POEM (P = .04). The relative abundance of microbiota was not different among patients with achalasia from those with ESCC. CONCLUSIONS: The oral and esophageal microbiota were significantly different in patients with achalasia, and some of the composition of the esophageal microbiota changed after POEM. However, these findings and disease-specific microbiota should be further evaluated in large-scale studies.

Evaluation of intestinal microbiota, short-chain fatty acids, and immunoglobulin a in diversion colitis.

It is reported that an increase in aerobic bacteria, a lack of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and immune disorders in the diverted colon are major causes of diversion colitis. However, the precise pathogenesis of this condition remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to examine the microbiota, intestinal SCFAs, and immunoglobulin A (IgA) in the diverted colon. Eight patients underwent operative procedures for colostomies. We assessed the diverted colon using endoscopy and obtained intestinal samples from the diverted colon and oral colon in these patients. We analyzed the microbiota and SCFAs of the intestinal samples. The bacterial communities were investigated using a 16S rRNA gene sequencing method. The microbiota demonstrated a change in the proportion of some species, especially Lactobacillus, which significantly decreased in the diverted colon at the genus level. We also showed that intestinal SCFA values were significantly decreased in the diverted colon. Furthermore, intestinal IgA levels were significantly increased in the diverted colon. This study was the first to show that intestinal SCFAs were significantly decreased and intestinal IgA was significantly increased in the diverted colon. Our data suggest that SCFAs affect the microbiota and may play an immunological role in diversion colitis.

Advanced squamous cell carcinoma in an asymptomatic, large, epiphrenic esophageal diverticulum.

An asymptomatic epiphrenic diverticulum (ED) was diagnosed in a man undergoing annual esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) at another hospital 40 years before he presented to our hospital at age 63 years for his annual EGD. However, because substantial food retention was found in the ED, we could not confirm a lesion. After the retained food was removed endoscopically, a second EGD showed a reddish, flat lesion with an elevated mass within the ED. Endoscopic ultrasonography indicated that the elevated mass was deep in the submucosal layer. An esophagram showed that the ED was approximately 80 mm in diameter, which is considered large. An endoscopic biopsy of the lesion confirmed squamous cell carcinoma. Total esophagectomy was performed. Microscopic examination revealed well-differentiated to moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma invading the adventitia at the elevated lesion. The final pathological stage was pT3N0M0. There was no evidence of recurrence for 3 years during the quarterly follow-up examinations. To our knowledge, this case involved the longest asymptomatic term (40 years) since the ED was detected. A review of 18 reported cases of carcinoma in an ED indicated that advanced cancer has a poor prognosis. Periodic follow-up of ED patients is essential for early diagnosis.

Change in body composition in patients with achalasia before and after peroral endoscopic myotomy.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Patients with achalasia experience weight loss because of dysphagia caused by impaired relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter. This study aimed to use dual bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) to determine the change in bodyweight and body composition in patients with achalasia before and after peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM). METHODS: Patients with achalasia who underwent POEM from 2013 to 2018 (n = 72) were retrospectively analyzed for change in bodyweight before and after 3 months. Additionally, change in body composition was prospectively investigated in the final 10 of 72 patients using non-radiation dual BIA. RESULTS: Twenty patients (27.8%) were underweight (body mass index < 18.5) before undergoing POEM. No clinical parameters were identified to be associated with the underweight condition before POEM and be predictive of an increase in bodyweight after POEM. Low visceral fat volume observed on dual BIA correlated closely with the result obtained using computed tomography (Pearson correlation coefficient: r = 0.850, P < 0.01). Patients with achalasia had a statistically significant increase in visceral (P < 0.01) and subcutaneous fat volumes (P < 0.01) after POEM. Skeletal muscle mass index slightly increased (P = 0.02), although the value after POEM was still low. No blood biomarkers were indicators for low bodyweight or low visceral fat volume. CONCLUSIONS: Dual BIA is an effective non-invasive tool to evaluate the change in body composition of underweight patients with achalasia. Skeletal muscle volume was not enough after POEM, although a rapid increase in the intra-abdominal fat volume was observed. Additional studies are warranted to understand the pathological implications.

Achalasia in a Patient with Myotonic Dystrophy.

Myotonic dystrophy is a progressive disorder mainly affecting the voluntary muscles. We herein report a rare case of myotonic dystrophy complicated with high-resolution manometry-defined achalasia, the pathology of which is absent relaxation of the smooth muscles of lower esophageal sphincter (LES). In the present case, achalasia was considered a complication of myotonic dystrophy instead of sporadic achalasia, as on performing high-resolution manometry, the finding of an impaired LES relaxation (myotonic phase) changed to a totally emaciated LES function (muscle weakness phase) as myotonic dystrophy progressed.

Evaluating the effect of injecting triamcinolone acetonide in two sessions for preventing esophageal stricture after endoscopic submucosal dissection.

Background and study aims Several previous reports indicate that endoscopic injection of triamcinolone acetonide (TA) after widespread endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is effective for preventing esophageal stricture. We investigated the efficacy of injecting TA in two sessions for preventing stricture formation post-ESD. Patients and methods Sixty-six consecutive patients with widespread mucosal defects that affected more than three-fourths of the circumference of the esophagus were included. The study group (n = 40) received TA injections over two sessions: immediately after and 14 days after ESD. The control group (n = 26) did not receive a TA injection. This study was performed retrospectively against historical controls. The primary endpoint of this study was frequency of stricture after TA injection. The secondary endpoint was number of required endoscopic balloon dilations (EBDs) after TA injection. Results The post-ESD stricture rate among patients who had subcircumferential mucosal defects was 45.7 % in the study group (16/35 patients), which was significantly lower than the rate of 73.9 % in the control group (17/23 patients; P  = 0.031). The number of EBD procedures required was significantly lower in the study group (median 0, range 0 - 7) than in the control group (median 4, range 0 - 20; P  < 0.001). There was no significant difference between the study and control groups among the patients who had full circumferential mucosal defects. Conclusion This study showed that performing two sessions of TA injection is an effective and safe treatment for prevention of esophageal stricture following subcircumferential ESD.

Esophageal diverticulum: New perspectives in the era of minimally invasive endoscopic treatment.

Esophageal diverticula are rare conditions that cause esophageal symptoms, such as dysphagia, regurgitation, and chest pain. They are classified according to their location and characteristic pathophysiology into three types: epiphrenic diverticulum, Zenker's diverticulum, and Rokitansky diverticulum. The former two disorders take the form of protrusions, and symptomatic cases require interventional treatment. However, the esophageal anatomy presents distinct challenges to surgical resection of the diverticulum, particularly when it is located closer to the oral orifice. Since the condition itself is not malignant, minimally invasive endoscopic approaches have been developed with a focus on alleviation of symptoms. Several types of endoscopic devices and techniques are currently employed, including peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM). However, the use of minimally invasive endoscopic approaches, like POEM, has allowed the development of new disorder called iatrogenic esophageal diverticula. In this paper, we review the pathophysiology of each type of diverticulum and the current state-of-the-art treatment based on our experience.

Overlap in disease concept of functional esophageal disorders and minor esophageal motility disorders.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Functional gastrointestinal disorders are the most common disorders in gastroenterology and are currently considered as gut-brain interaction disorders with multiple related factors including motility disturbance. However, high-resolution manometry (HRM) had revealed a new disease concept known as minor esophageal motility disorders. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between functional esophageal disorders (FEDs) and minor esophageal motility disorders. METHODS: Functional esophageal disorders were diagnosed using upper endoscopy, pH monitoring, and HRM, to exclude achalasia, esophago-gastric junction outflow obstruction, and other major esophageal motility disorders. FEDs with or without minor esophageal motility disorders were compared using the Chicago classification. RESULTS: Twelve healthy volunteers also subjected to HRM showed no minor esophageal motility disorders. Of the 40 patients with FEDs, 15 (37.5%) were diagnosed with minor esophageal motility disorders. Characteristics were not different between patients with and without minor esophageal motility disorders (sex: P = 0.609, age: P = 0.054, body mass index: P = 0.137, and presence of psychiatric disorders: P = 0.404). The type and location of symptoms were not related to the comorbidity rate of minor esophageal motility disorders (P = 0.744 and 0.094). No patients with FEDs developed major esophageal motility disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Minor esophageal motility disorders were frequently observed in FEDs, but the causal relationship between esophageal symptoms remains unclear. The disease concepts of FEDs and minor esophageal motility disorders are considered to overlap and are both independent of major esophageal motility disorders.