Efficacy of daily abdominal self-massage for the prevention of recurrent common bile duct stones after endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy.

Recurrent common bile duct stones (CBDS) can occur after endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy (EST). Bile flow through the papilla of Vater could be improved by means of abdominal massage. We report the results of self-abdominal massage in four patients who had previously undergone cholecystectomy and experienced multiple CBDS recurrences after EST.

Importance of mediastinal screening-based observation during endoscopic ultrasound to examine gastrointestinal pathologies.

In all endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) examinations performed at our hospital, the heart, vasculature, and mediastinal lymph nodes from the esophagus are observed after checking for gastrointestinal pathologies. Since the introduction of EUS using a convex linear-array echoendoscope at our hospital in April 2015, EUS examinations have been performed in 371 cases for examining pancreaticobiliary diseases, submucosal tumors, and other pathologies during the 3-year period, till March 2018. We diagnosed 2 patients with asymptomatic cardiovascular disease while observing the mediastinum during EUS examination to examine identified pancreaticobiliary disease. No subjective symptoms associated with cardiovascular disease were observed and the respective conditions had not been identified previously in either case. One case involved a left atrial myxoma while the other involved a saccular aortic aneurysm in the thoracic aorta. A left atrial tumor resection and aortic replacement surgery were performed in each case. Their postoperative courses have been favorable. As cardiovascular diseases are often life-threatening, as in the present 2 cases, observational screening of the cardiovascular system from the esophagus should also be performed during EUS examinations just as the pharyngeal region is examined during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.

Extracorporeal abdominal massage may help prevent recurrent bile duct stones after endoscopic sphincterotomy.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) is effective, but recurrent bile duct stones are a common late complication. Because there are still no effective therapies for preventing this complication, some patients have experienced bile duct stone recurrence many times. We describe herein a method of abdominal massage to treat patients with prior cholecystectomy who have experienced recurrence of bile duct stones.

[A Case of Acute Afferent Loop Obstruction after Total Gastrectomy, Successfully Managed by Endoscopic Treatment].

The patient was a 76-year-old man who had 3 times previously undergone laparotomies, including distal gastrectomy with a Billroth Ⅰ operation. In the current case, a total gastrectomy, end-to-side esophagojejunostomy, and a Roux-en-Y anastomosis for adenocarcinoma of the remnant stomach were performed. On postoperative day (POD) 7, he complained of epigastralgia. Abdominal CT revealed a markedly dilated duodenum, and a diagnosis of acute afferent loop obstruction was made. Emergency endoscopy revealed edematous stenosis of the Y-anastomotic site. A nasal endoscope could not pass the stricture, but an endoscopic nasobiliary drainage (ENBD) catheter was successfully inserted into the duodenum. Epigastralgia decreased after drainage. Stenosis of the Y-anastomotic site was still observed 18 days after onset; therefore, we inserted 1 endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage (ERBD) tube, in addition to the ENBD catheter. Twenty-five days after onset, slight improvement of the stenosis was observed. By inserting 2 more ERBD tubes, the ENBD catheter could be removed. On day 28, abdominal CT revealed reduced dilatation of the duodenum. On day 29, oral intake was initiated, and the patient was discharged from the hospital on POD 66. During the early post-operative phase, the use of nasal endoscope drainage is an effective, minimally invasive, and safe procedure for decompression of the duodenum in afferent loop obstruction.

Successful closing of duodenal ulcer after endoscopic submucosal dissection with over-the-scope clip to prevent delayed perforation.

Closure of post-endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) duodenal artificial ulcer is not common in the clinical setting. We consider that post-ESD ulcer closure by an over-the-scope-clip (OTSC) method is one of the most effective ways to prevent delayed perforation. We report here two cases of mucosal duodenal cancer in a 65-year-old woman and in a 78-year-old man. Pathological examinations of the resected specimens revealed well-differentiated adenocarcinomas. In these two clinical cases, we successfully carried out complete closures of post-ESD duodenal ulcer using OTSC without any complications.

How many cytological examinations should be performed for the diagnosis of malignant biliary stricture via an endoscopic nasobiliary drainage tube?

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The sensitivity of bile cytology is recognized as being low. Repeating cytological sampling is likely to improve the sensitivity. The aim of this study is to determine the optimal number of repeated cytological sampling of bile obtained via an endoscopic nasobiliary drainage (ENBD) tube for the diagnosis of malignant biliary stricture. METHODS: Ninety-eight patients with malignant biliary stricture who underwent ENBD were enrolled. Diagnoses included bile duct carcinoma (n = 53), pancreatic carcinoma (n = 28), carcinoma of the major papilla (n = 8), gallbladder carcinoma (n = 6), and hepatocellular carcinoma (n = 3). Bile was aspirated via an ENBD tube once a day and immediately evaluated cytologically. RESULTS: The median number of cytological samplings via an ENBD tube was 2.8 times (range, 1-10). In 40 of 98 patients with malignant biliary stricture, cytology was positive at the first cytological sampling (sensitivity 40.8%). Cytology was cumulatively positive in 71 of 98 patients (sensitivity 72.4%) from which repeated samples were taken. In 71 patients with positive cytology, correlation of the positive rate and the number of cytological samplings performed was investigated. In 68 of 71 (95.8%) patients with positive cytology, positive results were obtained by or at the sixth examination. CONCLUSIONS: Bile cytology via an ENBD tube is an easy method, and has been shown to have relatively high sensitivity. The optimal number of repeated cytological samplings using bile obtained via an ENBD tube for the diagnosis of malignant biliary stricture was concluded to be six.

Utility of pancreatic duct brushing for diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of pancreatic duct brushing for diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma. METHODS: Brush cytology was attempted in 58 patients suspected of having pancreatic malignancy because of stricture of the main pancreatic duct, confirmed by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Thirty-eight patients were finally diagnosed by an operation or the clinical course as having pancreatic carcinoma, and the remaining 20 patients as having chronic pancreatitis. The usefulness of brush cytology for diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma was estimated. We interpreted failures of pancreatic duct brushing to be false negatives when the lesion was malignant. RESULTS: In 48 of 58 patients (82.8%), brushing was successfully performed and satisfactory specimens were obtained. Brush cytology was positive in 25 of 38 patients with pancreatic carcinoma (sensitivity 65.8%) and negative in all patients without malignancy (specificity 100%). Overall accuracy was 76.4%. During 2001-2005, the number of back-and-forth motions of the brush was increased to more than 30 times. The sensitivity significantly improved from 43.8% in 1997-2000 to 81.8% in 2001-2005 (P < 0.05). The increased success rate of brushing by improvement of skill in manipulating the guidewire and increased number of cells smeared on glass slides by increased back-and-forth motion of the brush may account for this improvement over time. Moreover, the sensitivity in 2001-2005 was 85.7% if failures of brushing with pancreatic carcinoma are excluded. No major complications occurred, except for two patients with a moderate grade of acute pancreatitis. CONCLUSIONS: Although further studies with a large number of patients are needed, our results suggest that with recent improvements of the brushing technique, pancreatic duct brushing is a useful and safe method for the differential diagnosis of malignancy from benign diseases of the pancreas.

Usefulness of single and repetitive percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder aspiration for the treatment of acute cholecystitis.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and usefulness of single and repetitive percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder aspiration (PTGBA) for the treatment of acute cholecystitis. METHODS: PTGBA was performed in patients with acute cholecystitis who showed no improvement after treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics. PTGBA was carried out at bedside. When the bile was too thick to be aspirated through a 21-gauge needle, an 18-gauge needle was used. Aspiration of the gallbladder contents and injection of antibiotics into the gallbladder were performed without the placement of a drainage catheter. When improvement was not observed after the first attempt, PTGBA was repeated. RESULTS: Single PTGBA achieved improvement in 32 of 45 patients. In 11 of the remaining 13 patients, the second PTGBA was effective. In the remaining two patients, repetitive PTGBA was not carried out because of advanced cancer. In two of 45 patients, 18-gauge needles were necessary for PTGBA because of the high viscosity of the bile. PTGBA was carried out in three patients with blockage of the cystic duct by a stent, and it was effective in all three. Two patients whose conditions improved with a single PTGBA experienced a recurrence at 4 and 31 months, respectively, after PTGBA. No other severe complications related to PTGBA were observed in any patients. CONCLUSIONS: For the treatment of acute cholecystitis that does not react to conservative therapies, PTGBA is a safe, simple, and effective treatment modality that can be performed at bedside without any severe complications.

Pre-cutting using a noseless papillotome with independent lumens for contrast material and guidewire.

BACKGROUND: The technical success of therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) depends on selective cannulation into the bile duct. We have developed a new type of precut papillotome for selective cannulation. METHODS: The newly developed precut papillotome has been equipped not only with a lumen for contrast materials but also with an independent lumen for the guidewire. The operation of the guidewire and the injection of contrast material can be carried out simultaneously. The precut papillotome has a 20-mm-long knife and no leading tip. Half the proximal side of the knife is coated for insulation. RESULTS: Selective biliary cannulation failed in 26 of 293 patients (8.9%) in whom therapeutic ERCP was attempted. We applied the precut papillotome to these 26 patients and selective cannulation was successful in 24 of 26 patients (success rate: 92.3%). No major complications occurred, although mild bleeding, which did not require endoscopic hemostasis or blood transfusion, was observed only in one patient. CONCLUSIONS: Although further studies with a large number of patients are needed to evaluate the efficacy of the papillotome, this papillotome may contribute to increase the safety and the success rate of precutting.

Estimation of the stent placement above the intact sphincter of Oddi against malignant bile duct obstruction.

BACKGROUND: In endoscopic biliary stenting against malignant biliary obstruction, stent blockage remains as an important problem. Stent blockage occurs as a result of bacterial adherence to the inner wall of the stent. We evaluated the stent placement above the intact sphincter of Oddi to retain the function of the sphincter of Oddi as a bacteriological barrier. METHODS: Sixteen patients with malignant biliary obstruction were assessed as the patients with the stent above the intact sphincter of Oddi. Sixteen patients with malignant biliary obstruction were assessed as the patients with the conventional stent placement across the sphincter of Oddi. Tannenbaum 10-Fr. stents were used in both the groups. RESULTS: The median patency periods of the stent were 255 days (25th to 75th percentiles, 212-454 days; range, 39-454 days) for the group of the stents placed above the sphincter of Oddi and 82 days (25th to 75th percentiles, 48-131 days; range, 22-196 days) for the group of the stents placed across the sphincter of Oddi, respectively, with significant difference (P = 0.0001). The occlusion rates of stents placed above and across the sphincter of Oddi were 37.5% and 93.8%, respectively, with significant difference (P = 0.0008). The dislocation rates of the stent were 0% and 6.3%, respectively (not significant). CONCLUSIONS: Placement of the stent above the intact sphincter of Oddi was associated with longer stent patency and lower occlusion rate.

Enhanced expression of p46 Shc in the nucleus and p52 Shc in the cytoplasm of human gastric cancer.

Shc protein is known to be related to cell proliferation and carcinogenesis. However, the involvement of Shc in gastric cancer remains unknown. In the present study, we examined the expression and localization of Shc in human gastric cancer and the adjacent normal mucosa by Western blotting and immunohistochemical analyses. Furthermore, the expression of Shc in a gastric cancer cell line, MKN 28, was also studied. p66 Shc was not detected at all in gastric cancer or the adjacent normal mucosa. In contrast, immunohistochemical and Western blot analyses revealed that p52 Shc was detected in the cytoplasmic fractions obtained from gastric normal mucosa and cancer, while p46 Shc expression was observed in the nuclear fractions from gastric normal mucosa and cancer. Furthermore, not only p52 Shc expression in the cytoplasm but also p46 Shc expression in the nucleus was much higher in gastric cancer than in the adjacent normal mucosa. Subsequent in vitro experiments with MKN 28 gastric cancer cells also revealed that p52 Shc was expressed solely in the cytoplasm and p46 Shc was solely in the nucleus. These results suggest that the enhancement of p46 Shc and p52 Shc expression may be related to the occurrence of gastric cancer. Furthermore, unlike p52 Shc, p46 Shc was shown to be expressed solely in the nucleus, suggesting that p46 Shc expressed in the nucleus may play an important role in gastric carcinogenesis.

Combination of assay of human telomerase reverse transcriptase mRNA and cytology using bile obtained by endoscopic transpapillary catheterization into the gallbladder for diagnosis of gallbladder carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: It is difficult to make accurate diagnoses of polypoid lesions in the gallbladder. To increase the diagnostic accuracy, we have developed an endoscopic technique to obtain gallbladder bile, termed endoscopic transpapillary catheterization into the gallbladder (ETCG). We evaluated the usefulness of a molecular biological approach to the diagnosis of gallbladder carcinoma, in which gallbladder bile obtained by the ETCG technique is used. METHODS: Twenty patients undergoing an operation because of suspicion of gallbladder carcinoma were enrolled. Twelve patients were confirmed to have gallbladder carcinoma, and four were found to have chronic cholecystitis. Two patients with polypoid lesion were diagnosed as having an inflammatory polyp and a hyperplastic polyp, respectively. The remaining two patients with polypoid lesions were diagnosed as having a cholesterol polyp. Gallbladder bile collected by the ETCG technique was evaluated cytologically and also analyzed for telomerase activity and mRNA for human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), the catalytic subunit of telomerase. In 14 patients, hTERT mRNA in resected specimens (fixed in 10% formalin and embedded in paraffin) was also examined. RESULTS: Cytology of gallbladder bile was positive in eight of 11 examined patients (72.7%) with gallbladder carcinoma. hTERT mRNA was detectable in gallbladder bile as well as in resected neoplastic tissues in four of 12 patients (33.3%) with carcinoma. Conversely, telomerase activity was negative in all eight examined patients with carcinoma. Overall, either cytology or hTERT mRNA of gallbladder bile was positive in 10 of 12 patients (83.3%) with gallbladder carcinoma. Cytology, hTERT mRNA, and telomerase activity were negative in eight patients with benign disease. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of cytology and hTERT mRNA analysis of gallbladder bile might be helpful for the preoperative diagnosis of gallbladder carcinoma.

Concomitant colitis associated with primary sclerosing cholangitis.

Between 1985 and 2001, seven Japanese patients (four males and three females) were diagnosed as having primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) in our hospital. All seven patients received total colonoscopy with distal ileoscopy. All four male patients were diagnosed as having colitis by colonoscopy, while none of the three female patients had colitis. The four patients with colitis did not have any symptoms attributable to colitis, such as diarrhea or hematochezia. In three of the four patients, unclassified colitis was the most suitable diagnosis, because there were no typical findings of ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease. The remaining patient was diagnosed as having eosinophilic colitis. By colonoscopic visualization, the right-sided colon, including the terminal ileum, was mainly involved, but the lesions were not severe. The main findings were redness, erosion, stenosis, and insufficiency of haustral formation. Histologically, these lesions were nonspecific inflammatory changes in the three patients with unclassified colitis. In the patient with eosinophilic colitis, remarkable infiltration of eosinophils was observed. Thus, unclassified colitis appeared to be the main complication in these patients with PSC. Males predominated in regard to concomitant colitis, and they had no symptoms of the colitis. Colonoscopic examination revealed that the lesions were not severe. The main lesions were found in the right-sided colon, with nonspecific inflammatory changes. These results suggest that colonoscopic surveillance of patients with PSC should be performed even if they do not have any colitis symptoms.