The impact of COVID-19 on Japanese patients with eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders during the vaccination era.

Background: Eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders (EGIDs) are chronic allergic diseases categorized as eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and non-EoE EGIDs. Few studies regarding the association between EGIDs and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been reported. Although most Japanese individuals received the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccine, the incidence of COVID-19 remained high in 2022. This study examines the incidence of COVID-19 in patients with EGIDs during the vaccination era. Methods: Patients with EGIDs who visited our department between October and December 2022 were enrolled in the study. The incidence and severity of COVID-19 prior to October 1, 2022 were determined. Patients who reported having COVID-19 also reported their hospitalization history, intensive care unit admissions, and EGID flares. The number of SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations received and treatment for EGIDs were obtained from the patients' medical records. Results: Of 111 patients with EGIDs (65 with EoE and 46 with non-EoE EGIDs) included in this study, 31 (28%) patients reported having COVID-19, including 14 (22%) with EoE and 17 (37%) with non-EoE EGIDs. Fifty-nine (84%) patients received two or more vaccinations, and 11 (16%) patients received no vaccinations. COVID-19 was mild in all but one patient who had moderate symptoms. COVID-19 was not associated with EGID flares. EGID treatments and an unvaccinated status were not associated with an increased risk of COVID-19. Conclusion: COVID-19 was mild in patients with EGIDs and not associated with EGIDs flares during the vaccination era. There was a relatively high incidence of COVID-19 among patients with non-EoE EGIDs.

Risk factors for adverse events associated with endoscopic submucosal dissection for superficial pharyngeal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Superficial pharyngeal cancer can be treated with curative intent while preserving function using minimally invasive peroral endoscopic resection techniques such as endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). However, severe adverse events occasionally occur, such as laryngeal edema requiring temporary tracheotomy and fistula formation. Therefore, we investigated the risk factors for adverse events associated with ESD for superficial pharyngeal cancer. METHODS: This retrospective observational study was conducted at a single institution, and 63 patients who underwent ESD were enrolled. The primary outcome was the risk factors for adverse events associated with ESD. The secondary outcomes were adverse events associated with ESD and their frequency. RESULTS: The overall adverse event rate was 15.9% (10/63). The incidence of laryngeal edema requiring prophylactic temporary tracheotomy was 11.1%, while laryngeal edema requiring emergency temporary tracheotomy, postoperative bleeding, aspiration pneumonia, fistula, abscess, and stricture formation occurred in 1.6% of patients, respectively. Logistic regression analyses showed that a history of radiotherapy for head and neck cancer was a risk factor for adverse events (odds ratio [OR], 16.67; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.04-91.34; p = 0.001). After adjusting the model for differences in the baseline risk factors using the inverse probability of treatment weighting method, the adverse events were found to increase in association with a history of radiotherapy for head and neck cancer (OR, 39.66; 95% CI,5.85-268.72; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: History of radiotherapy for head and neck cancer is an independent risk factor for adverse events associated with ESD for superficial pharyngeal cancer. Among adverse events, laryngeal edema requiring prophylactic temporary tracheotomy was particularly high.

[Current real-world treatments for Japanese patients with eosinophilic esophagitis].

A total of 306 patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) were analyzed at our department. Proton pump inhibitors or potassium-competitive acid blockers were used as the first-line treatment in 286 (93.5%) patients. Fifty-five (18.0%) patients received topical steroid swallowing therapy. During 17.7-month mean follow-up, 46.4% of the patients were followed-up with no medications, 37.3% of the patients received maintenance or on-demand therapy using acid-suppressive drugs, and 9.8% of the patients received maintenance therapy with steroid swallowing. The majority of patients with EoE were treated using a therapeutic strategy similar to that used for gastroesophageal reflux disease. However, some patients were refractory to the treatment. Current real-world treatment strategies for Japanese patients with EoE are clarified.

Angle of covered self-expandable metallic stents after placement is a risk factor for recurrent biliary obstruction.

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that covered self-expandable metallic stents (CSEMS) with a low axial forces after placement can cause early recurrent biliary obstruction (RBO) due to precipitating sludge formation. AIM: To ascertain whether the angle of CSEMS after placement is a risk factor for RBO in unresectable distal malignant biliary obstruction (MBO). METHODS: Between January 2010 and March 2019, 261 consecutive patients underwent self-expandable metallic stent insertion by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography at our facility, and 87 patients were included in this study. We evaluated the risk factors for RBO, including the angle of CSEMS after placement as the primary outcome. We measured the obtuse angle of CSEMS after placement on an abdominal radiograph using the SYNAPSE PACS system. We also evaluated technical and functional success, adverse events, time to RBO (TRBO), non-RBO rate, survival time, cause of RBO, and reintervention procedure as secondary outcomes. RESULTS: We divided the patients into two cohorts based on the presence or absence of RBO. The angle of CSEMS after placement (per 1° and per 10°) was evaluated using the multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis, which was an independent risk factor for RBO in unresectable distal MBO [hazard ratio, 0.97 and 0.71; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.94-0.99 and 0.54-0.92; P = 0.01 and 0.01, respectively]. For early diagnosis of RBO, the cut-off value of the angle of CSEMS after placement using the receiver operating characteristic curve was 130° [sensitivity, 50.0%; specificity 85.5%; area under the curve 0.70 (95%CI: 0.57-0.84)]. TRBO in the < 130° angle group was significantly shorter than that in the ≥ 130° angle group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the angle of the CSEMS after placement for unresectable distal MBO is a risk factor for RBO. These novel results provide pertinent information for future stent management.

Clinical Implication of Preoperative C-Reactive Protein/Albumin Ratio in Malignant Transformation of Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm: A Propensity Score Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Inflammation-based scoring has been reported to be useful for predicting the recurrence and prognosis of various carcinomas. This study retrospectively investigated the relationship between inflammation-based score and intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs). METHODS: Between January 2013 and October 2018, we enrolled 417 consecutive patients with pancreatic tumors who received surgical resections at our hospital. The main outcome was the association between the preoperative inflammation-based score and their accuracy in predicting malignant transformation of IPMN. RESULTS: Seventy six patients were eligible. Pathological findings indicated that 35 patients had low-grade dysplasia, 18 had high-grade dysplasia, and 23 had invasive carcinomas. As the C-reactive protein albumin ratio (CAR) was higher, malignant transformation of IPMNs also increased (p = 0.007). In comparing CARhigh and CARlow using cutoff value, the results using a propensity score analysis showed that the CARhigh group predicted malignant transformation of IPMNs (odds ratio, 4.18; 95% confidence interval, 1.37-12.8; p = 0.01). In the CARhigh group, disease-free survival (DFS) was significantly shorter (p = 0.04). In the worrisome features, the AUC for the accuracy of malignant transformation with CARhigh was 0.84 when combining with the MPD findings. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative CAR could be a predictive marker of malignant transformation of IPMNs.

Lustrous White Erosions Surrounded by an Erythematous Mucosa: A Novel Endoscopic Finding of Gastric Lesions in Patients with Wilson Disease.

Wilson disease is an inherited copper metabolism disorder. We herein report a novel endoscopic finding in three men with Wilson disease. These patients underwent upper endoscopy due to gastrointestinal symptoms or during follow-up. In each case, endoscopy revealed lustrous white erosions surrounded by an erythematous mucosa in the greater curvature of the gastric body. A biopsy of the lesions showed orcein-positive tissue, indicating copper deposition, in the interstitial stroma and fundic glands of the mucosa. All patients had been receiving treatment with zinc acetate. These endoscopic findings might have been related to the cytotoxicity of the accumulated copper and zinc acetate.

Evaluation of long-term survival in patients with severe comorbidities after endoscopic submucosal dissection for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is becoming widely popular as a less invasive treatment option for superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. However, data on long-term survival after esophageal ESD in patients with severe comorbidities are limited. This study aimed to evaluate long-term survival after ESD in such patients. METHODS: Altogether, 584 consecutive patients underwent esophageal ESD at our institution from May 2004 to September 2016. Based on the American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status (ASA-PS) classification system, patients were grouped according to severe (ASA-PS ≥ 3) or non-severe comorbidities (ASA-PS 1/2). The overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and risk factors for mortality were compared between the groups using a propensity score matching analysis. RESULTS: In a matched cohort of 69 pairs, the 5-year OS rate was poorer in ASA-PS 3 patients than in ASA-PS 1/2 patients (63.9% vs. 92.5%, P < 0.01), while the 5-year DSS rate was similar between the groups (100% vs. 100%). The mortality rate was significantly higher in ASA-PS 3 patients than in ASA-PS 1/2 patients (hazard ratio 3.47; 95% confidence interval 1.79-6.74; P < 0.01). Death due to exacerbation of comorbidities was significantly more frequent in ASA-PS 3 patients than in ASA-PS 1/2 patients (42.4% vs. 8.3%, P < 0.04). CONCLUSION: Because of the exacerbation of comorbidities, patients with severe comorbidities had poorer long-term outcomes after esophageal ESD than those with non-severe comorbidities. Further studies will be necessary to evaluate esophageal ESD in patients with severe comorbidities.

Influence of a biliary stent in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer treated with modified FOLFIRINOX.

Endoscopic biliary drainage is the recommended 1st-line treatment for malignant biliary obstruction. Although a high incidence of febrile neutropenia has been reported in patients treated with FOLFIRINOX and a biliary stent, it remains unknown whether the biliary stent contributes to patient survival. Thus, we aimed to elucidate the effects of biliary stents on the survival of patients with advanced pancreatic cancer treated with modified FOLFIRINOX (mFFX). We retrospectively reviewed medical charts of patients with advanced pancreatic cancer treated with mFFX between January 2014 and April 2020. We compared the overall survival (OS) of patients with and without biliary stent during mFFX treatment and examined the independent effect on mortality using propensity score matching. Overall, we included 89 patients (stent group, n = 24; non-stent group, n = 65). The proportion of patients with pancreatic head cancer was significantly higher in the stent group than in the non-stent group (P < .01). Stratification analysis in patients with pancreatic head cancer revealed that OS was significantly shorter in the stent group than in the non-stent group (P = .03). After propensity score matching, 19 pairs of patients in each group were analyzed. The stent group revealed a significantly shorter survival than the non-stent group (median OS, 10.3 vs 24.9 months; P < .01). The incidences of febrile neutropenia (P = .01) and biliary tract-related events that required biliary stenting or stent replacement (P < .01) were significantly higher in the stent group than in the non-stent group. Stent insertion was an independent risk factor for overall mortality. Biliary stents may reduce survival in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. The rate of febrile neutropenia was higher in the stent group than in the non-stent group. There is a need to assess the patient's condition with discretion and develop a treatment strategy with short prognosis in mind after stent insertion.

Comparison of the Diagnostic Efficiency of Radial- and Convex-Arrayed Echoendoscopes for Indirect Findings of Pancreatic Cancer: A Retrospective Comparative Study Using Propensity Score Method.

Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is useful for detecting early-stage pancreatic cancer. Because the detection of small lesions is difficult, it is important to detect indirect findings, namely caliber change, retention cysts, and dilatation of the branch duct, during the procedure. Although two types of EUS endoscopes are frequently used, there is no comparative study on their efficacy for detecting indirect findings. Therefore, we aimed to compare the diagnostic efficacy of these two types for indirect findings. We retrospectively analyzed 316 consecutive patients who had undergone EUS for pancreaticobiliary disease at a single center between January 2017 and December 2018. The main outcome was the detection rate of indirect findings and its comparison between the two echoendoscope types. This outcome was achieved using the inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) analysis. The detection rate of indirect findings was higher for the radial-arrayed endoscope than for the convex-arrayed echoendoscope (9.2% vs. 2.3% (p = 0.02)). The univariate analysis also revealed that the radial-arrayed echoendoscope was significantly superior to the convex-arrayed echoendoscope in terms of the detection of indirect findings (odds ratio, 5.94; 95% confidence interval, 1.68-21.10; p = 0.01) after IPTW. After adjustment for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT), radial-arrayed echoendoscope remained an independent factor for indirect finding detection (odds ratio, 6.04; 95% confidence interval, 1.74-21.00; p = 0.01). Finally, five patients who had indirect EUS findings were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Our results indicate that the radial-arrayed echoendoscope is useful for the detection of indirect findings.