A Potassium-Competitive Acid Blocker-Based Regimen as Second-Line Therapy Improves Helicobacter pylori Eradication.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Although a potassium-competitive acid blocker (PCAB)-based regimen improves the rate of successful Helicobacter pylori first-line eradication, the efficacy of a PCAB-based regimen as second-line therapy is unclear. The aim of this study is to compare the success of second-line eradication of H. pylori using PCAB and proton pump inhibitor (PPI)-based regimens. METHODS: From 2014 to 2017, 624 patients who underwent second-line H. pylori eradication were enrolled. A standard triple regimen for second-line H. pylori eradication includes metronidazole 250 mg, amoxicillin 750 mg, and PPI or PCAB twice daily for 7 days. The success of eradication was compared using intention-to-treat, per-protocol, and propensity-score matching analysis. RESULTS: All patients completed the 7-day course of therapy. Patients using a PCAB-based regimen had a higher rate of eradication than those using a PPI-based regimen in both intention-to-treat (90% [298/330] vs. 85% [250/294], p = 0.045) and per-protocol analyses (96% [298/309] vs. 91% [250/274], p = 0.008). Adverse events occurred in 4 patients. Propensity score matching analysis acquired 274 matched pairs. Patients using a PCAB-based regimen had a higher rate of eradication than those using a PPI-based regimen (96% [264/274] vs. 91% [250/274], p = 0.013). CONCLUSIONS: PCAB-based second-line H. pylori eradication is significantly better than PPI-based therapy.

Extended cold snare polypectomy for small colorectal polyps increases the R0 resection rate.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Despite widespread use of cold snare polypectomy (CSP), the R0 resection rate is not well documented. We perform extended CSP, resecting polyps with a > 1 mm circumferential margin. The aim of this study is to compare the R0 resection rate of extended CSP with conventional CSP and to assess safety. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From April 2014 to September 2016, 712 non-pedunculated colorectal polyps, < 10 mm in size, resected using CSP from 316 patients were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: We divided lesions into conventional CSP (n = 263) and extended CSP groups (n = 449). The baseline characteristics of these two groups were not significantly different in univariate or multivariate analyses. Sessile polyps comprised 94 % (668/712), and the remaining were flat-elevated polyps. Mean size of polyps (±standard deviation) was 4.2 ±â€Š1.5 mm. The most frequent pathology was low grade adenoma (97 %, 689/712). The R0 resection rate was significantly higher in the extended CSP group (439/449 [98 %]) than in the conventional CSP group (222/263 [84 %], P  < 0.001). There was no delayed bleeding or perforation in either group (conventional CSP group, 0/263, 95 % confidence interval: 0.0 - 1.4 % and extended CSP group, 0/449, 95 % confidence interval: 0.0 - 0.8 %). CONCLUSIONS: Extended CSP results in a higher R0 resection rate compared with conventional CSP. Extended CSP did not result in a higher rate of delayed bleeding or perforation. Extended CSP is a safe and promising procedure for endoscopic resection of non-pedunculated colorectal polyps < 10 mm in size.

Endoscopic Treatment of Boerhaave Syndrome Using Polyglycolic Acid Sheets and Fibrin Glue: A Report of Two Cases.

Boerhaave syndrome, the spontaneous perforation of the esophagus, is an emergency, life-threatening condition. Current endoscopic treatment options include clipping and stenting, but the use of polyglycolic acid (PGA) sheets for treating the condition has not been reported. In recent years, PGA sheets have been used after endoscopic submucosal dissection to prevent perforations and stricture formation in patients treated for early-stage carcinoma. We report the cases of two patients with Boerhaave syndrome who were successfully treated using PGA sheets. The present clinical outcomes suggest that the use of PGA sheets is feasible and safe for treating patients with Boerhaave syndrome, and that they may be another treatment option.