Efficacy of upadacitinib in the achievement of clinical and endoscopic remission in hospitalized patients with ulcerative colitis.

Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors have been developed and are clinically available for management of active UC patients although most studies have been conducted for the outpatients and few studies have demonstrated its efficacy in endoscopic and histological remission of hospitalized patients with UC. The aim of the present study was to investigate the efficacy of upadacitinib, which is a novel selective JAK1 inhibitor, in the treatment of ulcerative colitis. We present the cases of three hospitalized patients with ulcerative colitis who achieved clinical remission after significant and rapid improvement with upadacitinib. While upadacitinib was used as the second-line treatment for patients with insufficient treatment effects for corticosteroids or ustekinumab, a patient received it just after admission because they were steroid dependent and previously used advanced therapy before hospitalization. All patients demonstrated rapid clinical responses within 7 days and the partial Mayo scores were 0 at week 8. All patients achieved confirmed endoscopic and histological remissions. We conclude that upadacitinib is a potential treatment option for hospitalized patients with an inadequate response to other biologics and JAK inhibitors.

Evaluation of a new method, "non-injection resection using bipolar soft coagulation mode (NIRBS)", for colonic adenomatous lesions.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Endoscopic resection of all colorectal adenomatous lesions with a low complication rate, simplicity, and negative residuals is challenging. Hence, we developed a new method called "non-injection resection using bipolar soft coagulation mode (NIRBS)" method, adapted for colorectal lesions. In addition, we evaluated the effectiveness of this method. METHODS: We performed NIRBS throughout a 12-month period for all colorectal lesions which snare resection was acceptable without cancerous lesions infiltrating deeper than the submucosal layer. RESULTS: A total of 746 resected lesions were included in the study, with a 4.5 mm mean size (range, 1-35 mm). The major pathological breakdowns were as follows: 64.3% (480/746) were adenomas, and 5.0% (37/746) were intraepithelial adenocarcinomas (Tis lesions). No residuals were observed in any of the 37 Tis lesions (mean size, 15.3 mm). Adverse events included bleeding (0.4%) but no perforation. CONCLUSIONS: NIRBS allowed the resection of multiple lesions with simplicity because of the non-injection and without perforating due to the minimal burn effect of the bipolar snare set in the soft coagulation mode. Therefore, NIRBS can be used to resect adenomatous lesions easily, including Tis lesions, from small to large lesions without leaving residuals.

Gastric hamartomatous inverted polyp: Report of three cases with a review of the endoscopic and clinicopathological features.

Objectives: A gastric hamartomatous inverted polyp (GHIP) is a rare submucosal tumor characterized histopathologically by a submucosal inverted proliferation of cystically dilated hyperplastic gastric glands. Only 42 GHIPs have been reported in English literature. Few GHIPs have been reported to accompany adenocarcinomas. We reported on three patients with a GHIP and reviewed the clinicopathological and endoscopic features of GHIPs. Methods: This study included two men and one woman with a GHIP. The endoscopic, histopathological, and immunohistochemical features of the endoscopically resected specimens were analyzed. A gene mutation analysis was also performed. Results: All the tumors were located in the body of the stomach, with a median size of 20 mm. Two tumors were sessile, and the remaining tumor had a pedunculated appearance. The overlying mucosa mainly appeared normal but was reddish in one tumor. The histopathological examination of the tumors revealed a well-circumscribed and lobular submucosal proliferation of cystically dilated hyperplastic glands. The immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the MUC5AC-positive foveolar epithelium was located in the center, and MUC6-positive pseudo-pyloric or pepsinogen-I and H+/K+ ATPase-positive fundic-type glands were located at the periphery of two tumors. No carcinomatous components were noted in any of the tumors. Moreover, no significant mutations in oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes were noted. Conclusions: Our review revealed that approximately three fourths of GHIP cases showed an submucosal tumor-like feature, whereas endoscopic features, including the endoscopic ultrasonography findings, were not characteristic. Because an endoscopic diagnosis of a GHIP may be difficult, complete endoscopic resection may be required for a pathological diagnosis.

[A case of poorly differentiated pancreatic adenocarcinoma with spontaneous regression wherein retrospective rim enhancement findings were important for diagnosis].

A 66-year-old man with epigastric pain was admitted to our hospital for further evaluation of a pancreatic mass, as indicated on transabdominal ultrasonography performed by his family doctor. Using various imaging modalities, the 22-mm tumor was diagnosed as a cystic tumor with hemorrhagic necrosis. The tumor diameter reduced to 11mm over the course of 1 month. However, the tumor margin was irregular than that at the initial diagnosis, and circumferential rim enhancement was observed in equilibrium phase computed tomography images. Therefore, we diagnosed the patient with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma with a necrotic component. Distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy was performed, and the subsequent histological diagnosis was poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. This case had an interesting course as described by the diagnostic images.

Large Balloon Anchor Technique for Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography Required for Esophagogastroduodenal Deformities.

Objective It is difficult to insert a side-viewing duodenoscope during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in patients with esophagogastroduodenal deformities. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of using a large balloon anchor technique for cases in which inserting side-viewing duodenoscopes is difficult. Methods We retrospectively examined patients with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography who required the large balloon anchor technique between April 2016 and October 2020. Patients with deformed superior duodenal angles, esophagogastric junctions and pyloric rings and those having a shortened lesser curve were included. Results The balloon as an anchor was safely used to insert the duodenoscopes in 17 patients, and this procedure was performed 21 times. The procedure was successful 20 out of 21 times (95.2%), including 12 cases with duodenal deformities, 5 with shortening of the lesser curve, 2 after duodenal stent placement and 1 with a deformity of the esophagogastric junction. In the remaining patient, the first ERCP was successful, but the second was unsuccessful with duodenal deformities. There were no complications throughout the course of the study. Conclusion The large balloon anchor technique is a safe and useful technique for patients when inserting side-viewing duodenoscopes is difficult for various reasons.

Obstructive pancreatitis secondary to a pancreatic metastasis from lung cancer treated with nasopancreatic drainage.

A 44- and a 66-year-old woman underwent nasopancreatic drainage (NPD) to treat obstructive pancreatitis secondary to a pancreatic metastasis from lung cancer. Both patients were diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer and underwent chemotherapy for 17 and 15 months, respectively. Abdominal ultrasonography and computed tomography revealed a solid pancreatic tail tumor measuring 2.5 cm and 1.3 cm in diameter, respectively. Additionally, we observed dilatation of the upstream main pancreatic duct (MPD) and edematous parenchyma with peripancreatic inflammatory changes limited to the pancreatic tail. Both patients were diagnosed with moderately severe acute pancreatitis and received fluid resuscitation, an opioid analgesic, antibiotics, and a protease inhibitor. However, owing to unrelenting pain, we performed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for pancreatic duct drainage in both patients. ERCP showed a stricture in the MPD in the pancreatic tail with upstream dilatation. A 5-Fr NPD tube was inserted to drain the dilated MPD, and cloudy pancreatic juice was drained. NPD tube placement led to pain relief in both patients. Pancreatic juice cultures grew Enterococcus faecium and Enterobacter cloacae, respectively. The NPD tube was later cut in both cases using a pair of scissor forceps.