Barrett’s esophagus: Review of natural history and comparative efficacy of endoscopic and surgical therapies

Barrett's esophagus (BE) is the precursor to esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Progression to cancer typically occurs in a stepwise fashion through worsening dysplasia and ultimately, invasive neoplasia. Established EAC with deep involvement of the esophageal wall and/or metastatic disease is invariably associated with poor long-term survival rates. This guides the rationale of surveillance of Barrett’s in an attempt to treat lesions at an earlier, and potentially curative stage. The last two decades have seen a paradigm shift in management of Barrett’s with rapid expansion in the role of endoscopic eradication therapy (EET) for management of dysplastic and early neoplastic BE, and there have been substantial changes to international consensus guidelines for management of early BE based on evolving evidence. This review aims to assist the physician in the therapeutic decision-making process with patients by comprehensive review and summary of literature surrounding natural history of Barrett’s by histological stage, and the effectiveness of interventions in attenuating the risk posed by its natural history. Key findings were as follows. Non-dysplastic Barrett’s is associated with extremely low risk of progression, and interventions cannot be justified. The annual risk of cancer progression in low grade dysplasia is between 1%-3%; EET can be offered though evidence for its benefit remains confined to highly select settings. High-grade dysplasia progresses to cancer in 5%-10% per year; EET is similarly effective to and less morbid than surgery and should be routinely performed for this indication. Risk of nodal metastases in intramucosal cancer is 2%-4%, which is comparable to operative mortality rate, so EET is usually preferred. Submucosal cancer is associated with nodal metastases in 14%-41% hence surgery remains standard of care, except for select situations.     

Direct insertion of an ultra‐slim upper endoscope for cholangioscopy in patients undergoing choledochoduodenostomy

Direct peroral cholangioscopy (POC) using an ultra‐slim upper endoscope is one modality of POC for intraductal endoscopic evaluation and treatment of the bile duct. Choledochoduodenostomy (CDS) is one modality of biliary bypass surgery that provides a new route to the bile duct. We carried out direct POC using an ultra‐slim upper endoscope without the use of accessories in 10 patients (four sump syndromes, three bile duct strictures and three intrahepatic duct stones) previously undergoing surgical CDS. Direct POC was successful in all patients. The use of an intraductal balloon catheter was required in one patient for advancement of the endoscope into the bile duct. Distal bile ducts with sump syndromes were cleared using baskets and water irrigation under direct POC. Cholangiocarcinoma was diagnosed in one patient with hilar bile duct stricture after cholangioscopic evaluation and a targeting forceps biopsy under direct POC. Intrahepatic duct stones were successfully extracted after intraductal fragmentation under direct POC. Oozing bleeding occurred during intraductal lithotripsy but stopped spontaneously. Direct POC using an ultra‐slim upper endoscope without the assistance of accessories can easily be carried out in patients undergoing CDS.     

Epidemiologic Characteristics of Work-related Eye Injuries and Risk Factors Associated with Severe Eye Injuries: A Registry-based Multicentre Study

ABSTRACT

Purpose

Work-related eye injuries have been reported with a variety of epidemiologic and clinical characteristics. We aimed to identify epidemiologic characteristics of work-related eye injuries and risk factors associated with severe injury in a large metropolitan city.     

新生血管特异性结合肽GX1二聚体抑制胃癌新生血管生成的实验研究

目的:探讨新生血管特异性结合肽GX1二聚体对胃癌新生血管生成的影响。方法:化学合成GX1二聚体、GX1单体、对照肽二聚体，CCK-8实验、管状结构形成实验、迁移实验研究GX1二聚体对胃癌血管内皮细胞（co-HUVEC）增殖、微管形成、迁移能力的影响，流式细胞学技术分析其对细胞周期分布和凋亡的影响。结果:CCK-8结果显示，GX1二聚体与对照肽二聚体及PBS对照组相比，100~200 μmol/L可抑制co-HUVEC增殖，具有统计学差异（P<0.05），并呈剂量依赖性，GX1二聚体较单体抑制作用增强，并有统计学差异（P<0.05）。管状结构形成实验、细胞损伤迁移实验结果显示，与对照肽二聚体及对照组PBS 相比，GX1二聚体及GX1单体，均可抑制胃癌内皮细胞管状结构的形成及迁移，且二聚体抑制作用强于单体；对照肽二聚体仅有轻微的抑制胃癌内皮细胞管状结构的形成及迁移。流式细胞术分析显示，与对照肽二聚体及PBS对照组相比，GX1二聚体及GX1单体均可诱导细胞凋亡（P<0.05），且GX1二聚体的诱导作用强于GX1单体（P<0.05），而对细胞周期分布则无明显影响。结论:GX1二聚体和GX1单体均可抑制胃癌新生血管内皮细胞增殖、微管形成、迁移能力及诱导凋亡，且GX1二聚体较GX1单体作用增强。GX1二聚体有望代替单体成为胃癌新生血管靶向治疗小肽类药物。     

Successful Treatment of Severe Psoriasis in an Adolescent with Ustekinumab

Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory, immune‐mediated disease. Approximately 30% of patients have disease onset before age 18 years. Psoriasis in children and adolescents may be difficult to control, with subsequent poor quality of life and psychosocial consequences. We describe the case of a 12‐year‐old boy with severe, refractory, chronic plaque psoriasis for 6 years. Various therapeutic regimens including different topical corticosteroids, topical vitamin D analogs, phototherapy, photochemotherapy, systemic therapy with methotrexate, cyclosporin, and combination therapies showed only partial or transient responses with frequent relapses. Because anti‐interleukin‐12/23 agents have been successfully used in adults with psoriasis, ustekinumab was initiated and our patient showed a rapid, excellent, sustained response. No recurrence or flares have been observed after 33 months of follow‐up. This case illustrates that ustekinumab may be an effective and safe therapeutic option in adolescents with psoriasis.     

The use of cadaver models to diagnose rib fractures: A pilot study

Background

In the emergency department, rib fractures are a common finding in patients who sustain chest trauma. Rib fractures may be a sign of significant, underlying pathology, especially in the elderly patients where rib fractures are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. To date, no studies have evaluated the ability of ultrasound to detect rib fractures using cadaver models and subsequently use this model as a teaching tool.