Double-balloon enteroscopy for retrieving retained small-bowel video capsule endoscopes: a systematic review

Abstract

Background and aim: Capsule retention is the most common adverse event associated with video capsule endoscopy. The use of double-balloon enteroscopy-assisted capsule endoscope retrieval has been increasingly reported in recent years. However, evidence is limited regarding its success rate, associated factors, and subsequent clinical outcomes.

Methods: A systematic review of relevant studies published before January 2019 was performed. Successful retrieval rate and associated factors, rate of endoscopic balloon dilation, and outcomes after double-balloon enteroscopy were summarized and pooled.

Results: Within 154 associated original articles, 12 including 150 cases of capsule retrieval by double-balloon enteroscopy were included. The estimated pooled successful retrieval rate was 86.5% (95% confidence interval, 75.6–95.1%). Anterograde approach and capsules retained in the jejunum or trapped by malignant strictures were associated with a higher successful retrieval rate than the retrograde approach (62/83 [74.7%] vs. 10/38 [26.3%], p?<?.001) and capsules retained in the ileum (41/41 [100.0%] vs. 43/58 [74.1%], p?<?.001) or trapped by benign strictures (21/21 [100.0%] vs. 65/83 [78.3%], p?=?.043). Endoscopic balloon dilation was performed in 38.8% (95% confidence interval, 22.3–56.3%) of patients with benign strictures. Two perforations (1.3%) were reported as severe adverse events after double-balloon enteroscopy. A significantly lower surgery rate was found among cases with successful video capsule removal compared with unsuccessful cases (7.2% vs. 38.5%, p?=?.002).

Conclusions: Double-balloon enteroscopy is feasible and safe for removing retained video capsule endoscopes, and its use could decrease the need for surgery in patients with benign strictures and facilitate subsequent surgery in patients with malignant strictures.     

Argon blocks the expression of locomotor sensitization to amphetamine through antagonism at the vesicular monoamine transporter-2 and mu-opioid receptor in the nucleus accumbens

We investigated the effects of the noble gas argon on the expression of locomotor sensitization to amphetamine and amphetamine-induced changes in dopamine release and mu-opioid neurotransmission in the nucleus accumbens. We found (1) argon blocked the increase in carrier-mediated dopamine release induced by amphetamine in brain slices, but, in contrast, potentiated the decrease in KCl-evoked dopamine release induced by amphetamine, thereby suggesting that argon inhibited the vesicular monoamine transporter-2; (2) argon blocked the expression of locomotor and mu-opioid neurotransmission sensitization induced by repeated amphetamine administration in a short-term model of sensitization in rats; (3) argon decreased the maximal number of binding sites and increased the dissociation constant of mu-receptors in membrane preparations, thereby indicating that argon is a mu-receptor antagonist; (4) argon blocked the expression of locomotor sensitization and context-dependent locomotor activity induced by repeated administration of amphetamine in a long-term model of sensitization. Taken together, these data indicate that argon could be of potential interest for treating drug addiction and dependence.     

从形气神谈溃疡性结肠炎的中西医认识

溃疡性结肠炎(Ulcerative colitis,UC)是一种病情反复、迁延难愈的炎症肠病,已被世界卫生组织列为现代难治病之一[1]。本病病因及发病机制尚不明确,西药治疗效果欠佳。近年来中医药的介入,临床取得显著疗效。西医学认为疾病是机体在一定致病因素的作用下自稳调节紊乱,经过机体内损伤和抗损伤反应的相互斗争,表现出的一系列功能。     

Per‐oral transgastric abdominal surgery

Laparoscopic surgery has several advantages over traditional surgery because it has been shown to be less invasive. The next logical step in the evolution of minimally invasive surgery may be to eliminate all abdominal incisions. The natural orifices provide a port of entry via the gastrointestinal tract to the peritoneal cavity. This approach would require the creation of a perforation, which is considered to be a major complication of endoscopy with significant morbidity and mortality. However, there are several recent studies that have described the technical feasibility and safety of a per‐oral transgastric approach to the peritoneal cavity using conventional endoscopes. Theoretically, this approach could reduce postoperative abdominal wall pain, wound infection, hernia formation, and adhesions. This article aims to summarize the current status of transgastric surgery, currently referred to as natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES), and to address some of its future challenges.     

Hematological malignancy and pregnancy: a single‐institution experience of 21 cases

The incidence of hematological malignancies during pregnancy is low, and treatment in this setting is problematic. This study observed 21 pregnancies in 18 patients with hematological malignancies. Patients’ ages were between 19 and 43 (median 25) years. Two pregnancies ended with spontaneous abortion, one pregnancy ended with in utero death, three therapeutic abortions were carried out, and 15 infants were born alive but three of them died later. The median birth weight was 2.47 kg. Twelve babies survived to a median age of 36 (range 4–117) months. Eight babies were exposed to chemotherapy during the in utero period. One baby was exposed to chemotherapy during all the trimesters and was born prematurely and later died because of intracranial bleeding. Four babies were exposed to chemotherapy during the first trimester, one of them had low birth weight and floating thumb malformation, two of them had only low birth weight, and one was born healthy, but died at 3 months of age as a result of severe gastroenteritis. Two babies were exposed to chemotherapy during the second and third trimesters; one of them had low birth weight, and the other pregnancy ended in in utero death. One infant was exposed to chemotherapy during the third trimester and was born at term, but died because of pulmonary hemorrhage. We concluded that chemotherapy during all trimesters of pregnancy carries a significant risk for an unfavorable outcome.     

Littoral‐cell angioma as a rare cause of splenomegaly

We report the case of a littoral‐cell angioma of the spleen, a recently described benign vascular tumour, whose imaging and pathological characteristics have been discussed only by a few authors. The diagnosis was made after elective splenectomy. The CT images, scintigraphy and histological specimens are presented, and differential diagnoses discussed.     

Multi-day radon signals with a radioactive decay limb -- occurrence and geophysical significance.

Multi-day signals, generally with duration of 2-10 days, are a prominent temporal variation type of radon (Rn) in geogas in the unsaturated zone. Rare multi-day Rn signals have been found which are characterized by: (a) a declining limb lasting up to 10 days which conforms to the radioactive decay of Rn, (b) recurs at the same location and (c) is recorded in diverse situations-volcanic and seismogenic. It suggested that a Rn blob is injected at a lower level on a steady upward flow of geogas whereby the rise and final fall of the signal are attributed to the edges of the blob while the central Rn-decay segment records the passing of the decaying blob itself. Rn-decay signals are a small subset of multi-day Rn signals which are considered as highly irregular and unusable for the understanding of geophysical processes. In difference, it is concluded that multi-day Rn signals are probably proxies of subtle geodynamic processes at upper crustal levels and are therefore significant for studying such processes.     

History of Articulators: Henry L. "Harry" Page and the Transograph

The intention of this article is to introduce the reader to the Transograph from a historical perspective. The technical data presented are intended to help the reader understand the design of this unique instrument and how it was programmed, but will not provide the reader a thorough understanding of this philosophy. The article seeks neither to defend nor criticize the principles of Transographics.     

10对联体双胎分离术后的远期结果

背景／目的：从1978-2000年，有10对联体双胞胎成功接受了手术分离，结果14人存活。其中6对是因为他们的联体同胞死亡或濒临死亡而接受紧急分离手术。剩余的4对，每对至少一个同胞接受至少一次的急诊手术后，才接受联体分离手术。方法：对这一独特的队列进行包含6个项目的问卷调查。问题的设计是开放式的，为父母／家庭提供有关信息的最大机会。对每个家庭就相同的问题也进行了当面的问卷调查。医师询问了与身体健康和疾病相关的一些问题。而社会工作询问了与发育、教育、社会心理和家庭功能相关的问题。结果：前面提及的14人存活的双胞胎中，4人大学毕业，1人于1981年完成中学学业，剩余9人正在上学。14人在最初的手术后，还需要接受再次手术，尤其是需要矫正泌尿系统、畸形、神经外科和小儿外科的问题。结论：通过超声检查对联体双胎进行宫内诊断，可以使医师和胎儿父母在孕早期决定在终止妊娠时是进行双胎分离还是保全其中一个。这些病例报道通过描述14例手术存活的长期体格检查和心理学检查结果，为医师和父母在关键时刻做出决定提供了另外有助的依据。     

Denervation pattern of three mimic muscles in Bell's palsy.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the presence and grade of denervation in three mimic muscles in facial nerve palsy. METHODS: The frontalis, orbicularis oculi (OO), and mentalis muscles were explored in 54 patients with Bell's palsy, after 30 days from the beginning of symptoms. Concentric needle electromyography, including fibrillation detection, was performed in the three muscles on the affected side. Compound muscle action potentials (CMAP) were recorded on both sides and a CMAP ratio was calculated from each muscle. The House-Brackman scale was used to assess the initial clinical evaluation and the follow-up until recovery. RESULTS: Fibrillation was recorded in 32 patients on the 30th day after the onset and was present in 100% of mentalis and in 90% of frontalis, but in only 34% of OO, a statistically significant difference. The grade of fibrillation in OO was also statistically lower from those in the other two muscles. The 32 patients were grouped according to the presence (A) or not (B) of fibrillation in OO. In group A, CMAP ratios (affected/normal side) did not differ significantly among the three muscles. However, in group B they were significantly greater in OO and frontalis than in mentalis. In between-group comparison, group B muscles had significantly higher CMAP ratios, lower degree of fibrillation, and better functional recovery. CONCLUSION: In facial palsy, the presence and grade of fibrillation in OO are lower than in frontalis and mentalis muscles and prognosis is more favorable for the non-fibrillating OO group of patients.