Osteoporosis and bone fractures in alcoholic liver disease:A meta-analysis

AIM: To evaluate the association between alcoholic liver disease(ALD) and bone fractures or osteoporosis. METHODS: Non-randomized studies were identified from databases(Pub Med, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library). The search was conducted using Boolean operators and keywords, which included "alcoholic liver diseases", "osteoporosis", or "bone fractures". The prevalence of any fractures or osteoporosis, and bone mineral density(BMD) were extracted and analyzed using risk ratios and standardized mean difference(SMD). A random effects model was applied. RESULTS: In total, 15 studies were identified and analyzed. Overall, ALD demonstrated a RR of 1.944(95%CI: 1.354-2.791) for the development of bone fractures. However, ALD showed a RR of 0.849(95%CI: 0.523-1.380) for the development of osteoporosis. BMD was not significantly different between the ALD and control groups, although there was a trend toward lower BMD in patients with ALD(SMD in femur-BMD:-0.172, 95%CI:-0.453-0.110; SMD in spine-BMD:-0.169, 95%CI:-0.476-0.138). Sensitivity analyses showed consistent results. CONCLUSION: Current publications indicate significant associations between bone fractures and ALD, independent of BMD or the presence of osteoporosis.

Long-term follow up of endoscopic resection for type 3 gastric NET

AIM:To clarify the short and long-term results and to prove the usefulness of endoscopic resection in type 3gastric neuroendocrine tumors(NETs).METHODS:Of the 119 type 3 gastric NETs diagnosed from January 1996 to September 2011,50 patients treated with endoscopic resection were enrolled in this study.For endoscopic resection,endoscopic mucosal resection(EMR)or endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD)was used.Therapeutic efficacy,complications,and follow-up results were evaluated retrospectively.RESULTS:EMR was performed in 41 cases and ESD in 9 cases.Pathologically complete resection was performed in 40 cases(80.0%)and incomplete resection specimens were observed in 10 cases(7 vs 3 patients in the EMR vs ESD group,P=0.249).Upon analysis of the incomplete resection group,lateral or vertical margin invasion was found in six cases(14.6%)in the EMR group and in one case in the ESD group(11.1%).Lymphovascular invasions were observed in two cases(22.2%)in the ESD group and in one case(2.4%)in the EMR group(P=0.080).During the follow-up period(43.73;13-60 mo),there was no evidence of tumor recurrence in either the pathologically complete resection group or the incomplete resection group.No recurrence was reported during follow-up.In addition,no mortality was reported in either the complete resection group or the incomplete resection group for the duration of the follow-up period.CONCLUSION:Less than 2 cm sized confined submucosal layer type 3 gastric NET with no evidence of lymphovascular invasion,endoscopic treatment could be considered at initial treatment.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric cancer with undifferentiated-type histology:A meta-analysis

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of endoscopicsubmucosal dissection(ESD) for early gastric cancer(EGC) with undifferentiated-type histology.METHODS: A systematic literature review was conducted using the core databases. Complete resection,curative resection, en bloc resection, recurrence and adverse event rate were extracted and analyzed. A random effect model was applied. The methodological quality of the enrolled studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Publication bias was evaluated using a funnel plot, the trim and fill method, Egger's test,and a rank correlation test.RESULTS: Fourteen retrospective studies between2009 and 2014 were identified(972 EGC lesions with undifferentiated-type histology). The total en bloc and complete resection rates were estimated as92.1%(95%CI: 87.4%-95.2%) and 77.5%(95%CI:69.3%-84%), respectively. The total curative resection rate was 61.4%(95%CI: 44.5%-75.9%). The overall recurrence rate was 7.6%(95%CI: 3.4%-16%).Limited to histologically diagnosed expanded-criteria lesions, the en bloc and complete resection rates were91.2% and 85.6%, respectively. The curative resection rate was 79.8%.CONCLUSION: In this analysis, ESD is a technically feasible treatment modality for EGC with undifferentiatedtype histology. Long-term studies are needed to confirm these therapeutic outcomes.

Attempts to enhance the eradication rate of helicobacter pylori infection

Increasing rates of antimicrobial resistance to clarithromycin and metronidazole present challenges in maintaining optimal eradication rates.Knowledge of local antibiotic resistance and consumption pattern is important in selecting a reliable regimen.In addition,adverse effect profiles of therapeutic regimens are important and must be addressed to enhance compliance rates.Various methods of enhancing the eradication rates of Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)have been investigated,including changing combinations or durations of established drugs,adding adjuvant drugs,or development of new molecules or agents.Bismuth-containing quadruple,sequential,concomitant,and levofloxacin-based triple therapies are replacing the long-standing standard of the triple regimen.Despite the encouraging results of these regimens,individualized approaches like treatment after antibiotics resistance test or CYP2C19genotyping would be the mainstream of future therapy.Because scientific,economic,and technical problems make these advance therapies unfit for widespread use,future development for H.pylori therapy should be directed to overcome individualized antibiotic resistance.Although various novel regimens and additive agents have indicated favorable outcomes,more studies or validations are needed to become a mainstream H.pylori therapy.

Clinical characteristics of peptic ulcer perforation in Korea

AIM To elucidate the epidemiological characteristics and associated risk factors of perforated peptic ulcer(PPU).METHODS We retrospectively reviewed medical records of patients who were diagnosed with benign PPU from 2010 through 2015 at 6 Hallym university-affiliated hospitals.RESULTS A total of 396 patients were identified with postoperative complication rate of 9.1% and mortality rate of 0.8%. Among 174(43.9%) patients who were examined for Helicobacter pylori(H. pylori) infection, 78(44.8%) patients were positive for H. pylori infection, 21(12.1%) were on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDs) therapy, and 80(46%) patients were neither infected of H. pylori nor treated by any kinds of NSAIDs. Multivariate analysis indicated that older age(OR = 1.09, 95%CI: 1.04-1.16) and comorbidity(OR = 4.11, 95%CI: 1.03-16.48) were risk factors for NSAID-associated PPU compared with non-H. pylori, non-NSAID associated PPU and older age(OR = 1.04, 95%CI: 1.02-1.07) and alcohol consumption(OR = 2.08, 95%CI: 1.05-4.13) were risk factors for non-H. pylori, non-NSAID associated PPU compared with solely H. pylori positive PPU.CONCLUSION Elderly patients with comorbidities are associated with NSAIDs-associated PPU. Non-H. pylori, non-NSAID peptic ulcer is important etiology of PPU and alcohol consumption is associated risk factor.

Characteristics of nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage in patients with chronic kidney disease

AIM:To evaluate the clinical characteristics of nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage(NGIH)in patients with chronic kidney disease(CKD).METHODS:From 2003 to 2010,a total of 72 CKD patients(male n=52,72.2%;female n=20,27.8%)who had undergone endoscopic treatments for NGIH were retrospectively identified.Clinical findings,endoscopic features,prognosis,rebleeding risk factors,and mortality-related factors were evaluated.The characteristics of the patients and rebleeding-related data were recorded for the following variables:gender,age,alcohol use and smoking history,past hemorrhage history,endoscopic findings(the cause,location,and size of the hemorrhage and the hemorrhagic state),therapeutic options for endoscopy,endoscopist experience,clinical outcomes,and mortality.RESULTS:The average size of the hemorrhagic site was 13.7±10.2 mm,and the most common hemorrhagic site in the stomach was the antrum(n=21,43.8%).The most frequent method of hemostasis was combination therapy(n=32,44.4%).The incidence of rebleeding was 37.5%(n=27),and 16.7%(n=12)of patients expired due to hemorrhage.In a multivariate analysis of the risk factors for rebleeding,alcoholism(OR=11.19,P=0.02),the experience of endoscopists(OR=0.56,P=0.03),and combination endoscopic therapy(OR=0.06,P=0.01)compared with monotherapy were significantly related to rebleeding after endoscopic therapy.In a risk analysis of mortality after endoscopic therapy,only rebleeding was related to mortality(OR=7.1,P=0.02).CONCLUSION:Intensive combined endoscopic treatments by experienced endoscopists are necessary for the treatment of NGIH in patients with CKD,especially when a patient is an alcoholic.

Trends in the eradication rates of Helicobacter pylori infection for eleven years

AIM:To evaluate the trends in the eradication rate of Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori) over the past 11 years in a single center.METHODS:This retrospective study covered the period from January 2000 to December 2010.We evaluated 5746 patients diagnosed with gastric ulcers(GU),duodenal ulcers(DU),GU + DU,or nonpeptic ulcers associated with an H.pylori infection.We treated them annually with the 2 wk standard first-line triple regimen,proton pump inhibitor(PPI) + amoxicilin + clarithromycin(PAC;PPI,clarithromycin 500 mg,and amoxicillin 1 g,all twice a day).The follow-up test was performed at least 4 wk after the completion of the 2 wk standard H.pylori eradication using the PAC regimen.We also assessed the eradication rates of 1 wk second-line therapy with a quadruple standard regimen(PPI b.i.d.,tripotassium dicitrate bismuthate 300 mg q.i.d.,metronidazole 500 mg t.i.d.,and tetracycline 500 mg q.i.d.) after the failure of the first-line therapy.Statistical analysis was performed with 95%CI for the differences in the annual eradication rates.RESULTS:A total of 5746 patients [2333 males(58.8%),1636 females(41.2%);mean age of males vs females 51.31 ± 13.1 years vs 52.76 ± 13.6 years,P < 0.05,total mean age 51.9 ± 13.3 years(mean ± SD)] were investigated.Among these patients,1674 patients were excluded:35 patients refused treatment;18 patients ceased H.pylori eradication due to side effects;1211 patients had inappropriate indications for H.pylori eradication,having undergone stomach cancer operation or chemotherapy;and 410 patients did not undergo the follow-up.We also excluded 103 patients who wanted to stop eradication treatment after only 1 wk due to poor compliance or the side effects mentioned above.Finally,we evaluated the annual eradication success rates in a total of 3969 patients who received 2 wk first-line PAC therapy.The endoscopic and clinical findings in patients who received the 2 wk PAC were as follows:gastric ulcer in 855(21.5%);duodenal ulcer in 878(22.1%);gastric and duodenal ulcer in 124(3.1%),erosive,atrophic gastritis and functional dyspepsia in 2055(51.8%);and other findings(e.g.,MALToma,patients who wanted to receive the therapy even though they had no abnormal endoscopic finding) in 57(0.5%).The overall eradication rate of the 2 wk standard firstline triple regimen was 86.5%.The annual eradication rates from 2000 to 2010 were 86.7%,85.4%,86.5%,83.3%,89.9%,90.5%,88.4%,84.5%,89.1%,85.8%,and 88.3%,sequentially(P = 0.06).No definite evidence of a significant change in the eradication rate was seen during the past eleven years.The eradication rates of second-line therapy were 88.9%,82.4%,85%,83.9%,77.3%,85.7%,84.4%,87.3%,83.3%,88.9%,and 84%(P = 0.77).The overall eradication rate of 1 wk quadruple second-line therapy was 84.7%.There was no significant difference in the eradication rate according to the H.pylori associated diseases.CONCLUSION:This study showed that there was no trend change in the H.pylori eradication rate over the most recent 11 years in our institution.

Transarterial chemoembolization in Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer Stage 0/A hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM: To evaluate the clinical characteristics of patients with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage 0 and A hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after transarterial chemoembolization (TACE).