Submucosal Injection Using Epinephrine-Added Saline in Cold Snare Polypectomy for Colorectal Polyps Shortens Time Required for Resection: A Randomized Controlled Study.

AIMS: Immediate bleeding after cold snare polypectomy (CSP) for colorectal polyps might interfere with confirmation of residuals and prolong the time required for resection. We investigated whether submucosal epinephrine-added saline injection reduces the time required for the CSP procedure. METHODS: We conducted a single-center, prospective, randomized controlled trial (clinical trial registration number: UMIN000046770). Patients with colorectal polyps ≤ 10 mm were randomly allocated to either CSP with epinephrine-added submucosal injection (CEMR group) or conventional CSP (CSP group). The primary outcome was the time required for resection defined as the time from the initiation of resection (the first insertion of the snare in the CSP group or the injection needle in the CEMR group) to the end of resection (confirming complete resection endoscopically after recognizing the cessation of immediate bleeding) in each lesion, and the secondary outcome was the time to spontaneous cessation of immediate bleeding after resection defined as the time from ensnaring the lesion to confirming the spontaneous cessation of immediate bleeding. RESULTS: A total of 126 patients were randomly assigned. Finally, 261 lesions in 118 patients (CEMR group, n = 59; CSP group, n = 59) were analyzed. The time required for resection calculated using the least-square mean was significantly shorter in the CEMR group (106.3 s, 95% CI 97.5 to 115.4 s) than in the CSP group (130.9 s, 95% CI 121.2 to 140.7 s) (P < 0.001). The time to spontaneous cessation of immediate bleeding was also significantly shorter in the CEMR group (20.4 s, 95% CI 14.3 to 26.5 s) than in the CSP group (74.2 s, 95% CI 67.6 to 80.7 s) (P < 0.001). Neither group had cases requiring hemostasis, perforation, or delayed bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: CEMR shortened the time for resection by shortening the time to cessation of immediate bleeding compared with conventional CSP in colorectal polyps ≤ 10 mm.

Small intestinal bleeding and stricture caused by Meckel's diverticulum.

A 44-year-old man presented to our hospital with lower gastrointestinal bleeding. We performed balloon-assisted enteroscopy, which revealed diverticulum and stricture at the ileum. The patient underwent segmental small bowel resection and diagnosed with Meckel's diverticulum. We should keep in mind the possibility of intestinal stricture due to Meckel's diverticulum.

Risk Factors Indicating Difficulty During Gastric Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection for Inexperienced Endoscopists: A Retrospective Study.

AIM: Factors that may make endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) difficult for operators have been evaluated according to results based on the performance of experienced endoscopists. This study aimed to verify the predictors of difficult gastric ESD for ESD beginners. METHODS: From January 2015 to December 2021, 466 superficial gastric neoplasms were treated with ESD at Showa University Hospital. Excluding 103 lesions that performed ESD by experts who experienced more than 80 ESDs, a total of 363 lesions were included. The lesions were divided into two groups according to the ESD performance experience of the operator: ESD beginner (EB; ESD experience≤30 cases) and ESD intermediate (EI; ESD experience 31-80 cases) groups. Relationships between difficult ESD (having at least one of the following: procedure time>60 min, incomplete resection, change of operator, and occurrence of severe complications) and clinicopathological findings of the lesion were analyzed. RESULTS: The complete resection rates and the difficult ESD rates in the EB and EI groups were 99.3%, 94.8%, and 61.2%, 50.7%, respectively. In the EB group, univariate analysis showed that difficult ESD rate was significantly higher in the non-lower third lesions, the lesser curvature lesions, and cancerous lesions. In the EI group, univariate analysis showed that difficult ESD rate was significantly higher in lesion with ≥20 mm size, lesser curvature lesions, lesions with ulcers, and submucosal cancers. Multivariate analysis showed that the lesser curvature location and cancerous histology in the EB group and ≥20 mm lesion size, the lesser curvature location and submucosal invasion in the EI group were independent predictors of difficult ESD. CONCLUSIONS: The lesser curvature location is recognized as independent ESD difficulty factor for both beginners and intermediates. Cases with lesions located in the lesser curvature should not be selected for gastric ESD training by beginners.

Linagliptin Has Wide-Ranging Anti-Inflammatory Points of Action in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells.

BACKGROUND: Because of the potential anti-inflammatory effects, linagliptin, a therapeutic dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor, is used as an effective drug for diabetic patients for whom inflammation is a prognosis-related factor. We investigated the anti-inflammatory mechanism of linagliptin using seven markers. METHODS: We pretreated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), with linagliptin and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The cytosolic fractions were evaluated for protein kinase A (PKA), protein kinase B (PKB), protein kinase C (PKC), ratio of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD), activator protein 1 (AP-1), and adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP). RESULTS: Linagliptin increased the PKA and PKC activities and the cAMP levels in LPS-treated cells. However, it inhibited LPS-induced PKB phosphorylation, ratio of ROS and Cu/Zn SOD, and LPS-stimulated AP-1 nuclear translocation. CONCLUSION: We reaffirmed the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of linagliptin. These effects might be related to the three protein kinases. Our findings suggest that linagliptin has a wide range of anti-inflammatory effects.