Successful closing of duodenal ulcer after endoscopic submucosal dissection with over‐the‐scope clip to prevent delayed perforation

Closure of post‐endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) duodenal artificial ulcer is not common in the clinical setting. We consider that post‐ESD ulcer closure by an over‐the‐scope‐clip (OTSC) method is one of the most effective ways to prevent delayed perforation. We report here two cases of mucosal duodenal cancer in a 65‐year‐old woman and in a 78‐year‐old man. Pathological examinations of the resected specimens revealed well‐differentiated adenocarcinomas. In these two clinical cases, we successfully carried out complete closures of post‐ESD duodenal ulcer using OTSC without any complications.     

Over‐the‐scope clip system: A review of 1517 cases over 9 years

Rescue therapy for gastrointestinal (GI) refractory bleeding, perforation, and fistula has traditionally required surgical interventions owing to the limited performance of conventional endoscopic instruments and techniques. An innovative clipping system, the over‐the‐scope clip (OTSC), may play an important role in rescue therapy. This innovative device is proposed as the final option in endoscopic treatment. The device presents several advantages including having a powerful sewing force for closure of GI defects using a simple mechanism and also having an innovative feature, whereby a large defect and fistula can be sealed using accessory forceps. Consequently, it is able to provide outstanding clinical effects for rescue therapy. This review clarifies the current status and limitations of OTSC according to different indications of GI refractory disease, including refractory bleeding, perforation, fistula, and anastomotic dehiscence. An extensive literature search identified studies reported 10 or more cases in which the OTSC system was applied. A total of 1517 cases described in 30 articles between 2010 and 2018 were retrieved. The clinical success rates and complications were calculated overall and for each indication. The average clinical success rate was 78% (n = 1517) overall, 85% for bleeding (n = 559), 85% (n = 351) for perforation, 52% (n = 388) for fistula, 66% (n = 97) for anastomotic dehiscence, and 95% (n = 122) for other conditions, respectively. The overall and severe OTSC‐associated complications were 1.7% (n = 23) and 0.59% (n = 9), respectively. This review concludes that the OTSC system may serve as a safe and productive device for GI refractory diseases, albeit with limited success for fistula.     

Association of the CagA status of Helicobacter pylori and serum levels of interleukin (IL)‐17 and IL‐23 in duodenal ulcer patients

OBJECTIVE: It has been reported that the cytotoxin‐associated gene A (cagA+) H. pylori strains induce severe gastric mucosal inflammation. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of the virulence factor CagA with IL‐17 and IL‐23 serum levels in duodenal ulcer (DU) patients and H. pylori‐infected asymptomatic (AS) carriers. METHODS: In total, 45 H. pylori‐infected DU patients were enrolled to study: 23 tested positive for the anti‐CagA antibody (anti‐CagA+) and 22 tested negative for the anti‐CagA antibody (anti‐CagA‐), 30 were AS carriers (15 were anti‐CagA+ and 15 were anti‐CagA‐) and 15 were healthy uninfected participants (as a control group). The IL‐17 and IL‐23 serum levels of participants were measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay method. RESULTS: The mean IL‐17 levels in DU patients were significantly higher than those in AS and control groups (P < 0.001 and P < 0.0001 respectively). In the DU group, the mean IL‐17 levels in participants testing positive for anti‐CagA (10.84 ± 5.79 pg/mL) were significantly higher than those observed in participants testing negative for anti‐CagA (7.65 ± 4.74 pg/mL; P < 0.05). The mean IL‐23 levels in the DU and AS groups were significantly higher than in the control group (P < 0.02 and P < 0.03 respectively) but were not significantly different in participants testing positive and negative for anti‐CagA. CONCLUSION: These results showed higher IL‐17 and IL‐23 serum levels in H. pylori‐infected participants than in the control group. In the DU group the expression of IL‐17 was influenced by the CagA factor.     

Multipurpose use of the over-the-scope-clip system(“Bear claw”) in the gastrointestinal tract:Swiss experience in a tertiary center

AIM:To evaluate the outcome of over-the-scope-clip system(OTSC)for endoscopic treatment of various indications in daily clinical practice in Switzerland.METHODS:This prospective,consecutive case series was conducted at a tertiary care hospital from September 2010 to January 2014.Indications for OTSC application were fistulae,anastomotic leakage,perforation,unroofed submucosal lesion for biopsy,refractory bleeding,and stent fixation in the gastrointestinal(GI)tract.Primary technical success was defined as the adequate deployment of the OTSC on the target lesion.Clinical success was defined as resolution of the problem;for instance,no requirement for surgery or further endoscopic intervention.In cases of recurrence,retreatment of a lesion with a second intervention was possible.Complications were classified into those related to sedation,endoscopy,or deployment of the clip.RESULTS:A total of 28 OTSC system applications werecarried out in 21 patients[median age 64 years(range42-85),33%females].The main indications were fistulae(52%),mostly after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube removal,and anastomotic leakage after GI surgery(29%).Further indications were unroofed submucosal lesions after biopsy,upper gastrointestinal bleeding,or esophageal stent fixation.The OTSC treatments were applied either in the upper(48%)or lower(52%)GI tract.The mean lesion size was 8 mm(range:2-20 mm).Primary technical success and clinical success rates were 85%and 67%,respectively.In53%of cases,the suction method was used without accessories(e.g.,twin grasper or tissue anchor).No endoscopy-related or OTSC-related complications were observed.CONCLUSION:OTSC is a useful tool for endoscopic closure of various GI lesions,including fistulae and leakages.Future randomized prospective multicenter trials are warranted.     

Factors affecting the diagnostic accuracy of endoscopic ultrasonography‐guided fine‐needle aspiration (EUS‐FNA) for upper gastrointestinal submucosal or extraluminal solid mass lesions

Aim: A number of potential variables are associated with the diagnostic accuracy of endoscopic ultrasonography‐guided fine‐needle aspiration (EUS‐FNA). The aim of this study was to evaluate factors affecting the diagnostic accuracy of EUS‐FNA for upper gastrointestinal submucosal or extraluminal solid lesions. Methods: Patients with such lesions who underwent EUS‐FNA between January 2009 and December 2010 were studied retrospectively. Needles of 22, 25 and 19 gauge were used. The associations between the EUS‐FNA results and factors such as mass location, mass size, needle size, number of needle passes, combined histologic‐cytologic analysis and final diagnosis were analyzed. Results: A total of 170 EUS‐FNA procedures were performed in 158 patients with upper gastrointestinal submucosal or extraluminal solid lesions. The overall accuracy of EUS‐FNA was 86.5% (147/170). The diagnostic accuracy with three or more needle passes was higher than with less than 3.0 needle passes (90.0%, 108/120 vs 78.0%, 39/50; P < 0.05). Mass location, mass size, and final diagnosis were not associated with EUS‐FNA accuracy. Combined cytologic‐histologic analysis had significantly higher diagnostic accuracy than either cytologic or histologic analysis alone (P < 0.001). In a subgroup of 90 patients, both 22 and 25 gauge needles were used for EUS‐FNA. The overall diagnostic accuracy was similar for 25 gauge needles and 22 gauge needles (80.0% vs 78.9% P = 1.000) in this subgroup. Conclusion: Overall, 25 and 22 gauge needles have a similar diagnostic accuracy. Our results suggest that 3.0 or more needle passes and combined cytologic‐histologic analysis enhance the diagnostic accuracy of EUS‐FNA.     

Erythrocyte‐derived microvesicles may transfer phosphatidylserine to the surface of nucleated cells and falsely ‘mark’ them as apoptotic

Lysis of erythrocytes using hypotonic solutions is one approach to remove red blood cells (RBCs) from umbilical cord blood (UCB), bone marrow (BM), and peripheral blood (PB) before flow cytometric analysis or sorting of nucleated cells (NCs). Our team employed this separation step to prepare UCB‐, BM‐, or PB‐derived cells to sort very small embryonic‐like stem cells (VSELs). We noticed that depletion of RBCs from UCB by hypotonic lysis resulted in a significant increase in the number of NCs including VSELs that bind Annexin‐V (Ann‐V). Surprisingly, these cells were not apoptotic and displayed normal proliferative potential. To explain this discrepancy, we show that RBC‐derived microvesicles (RMV) released during erythrocyte lysis may transfer phosphatidylserine (PS) to the surface of NCs and ‘mark’ them falsely positive as apoptotic cells. This observation should be considered whenever Ann‐V binding viability assays are employed to evaluate the quality of NCs depleted from erythrocytes via hypotonic lysis.     

Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of acute non‐variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (2015, Nanchang,China)

Acute non‐variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (ANVUGIB) is one of the most common medical emergencies in China and worldwide. In 2009, we published the “Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of acute non‐variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding” for the patients in China; however, during the past years numerous studies on the diagnosis and treatment of ANVUGIB have been conducted, and the management of ANVUGIB needs to be updated. The guidelines were updated after the databases including PubMed, Embase and CNKI were searched to retrieve the clinical trials on the management of ANVUGIB. The clinical trials were evaluated for high‐quality evidence, and the advances in definitions, diagnosis, etiology, severity evaluation, treatment and prognosis of ANVUGIB were carefully reviewed, the recommendations were then proposed. After several rounds of discussions and revisions among the national experts of digestive endoscopy, gastroenterology, radiology and intensive care, the 2015 version of “Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of acute non‐variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding” was successfully developed by the Chinese Journal of Internal Medicine, National Medical Journal of China, Chinese Journal of Digestion and Chinese Journal of Digestive Endoscopy. It shall be noted that although much progress has been made, the clinical management of ANVUGIB still needs further improvement and refinement, and high‐quality randomized trials are required in the future.