High total Joule heat increases the risk of post-endoscopic submucosal dissection electrocoagulation syndrome after colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection

BACKGROUND We hypothesized that thermal damage accumulation during endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD)causes the pathogenesis of post-ESD electrocoagulation syndrome(PECS).AIM To determine the association between Joule heat and the onset of PECS.METHODS We performed a retrospective cohort study in patients who underwent colorectal ESD from May 2013 to March 2021 in Japan.We developed a novel device that measures swift coagulation time with a sensor adjacent to the electrosurgical coagulation unit foot switch,which enabled us to calculate total Joule heat.PECS was defined as localized abdominal pain(visual analogue scale≥30 mm during hospitalization or increased by≥20 mm from the baseline)and fever(temperature≥37.5 degrees or white blood cell count≥10000μ/L).Patients exposed to more or less than the median Joule heat value were assigned to the high and low Joule heat groups,respectively.Statistical analyses included Mann-Whitney U and chisquare tests and logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC)analyses.RESULTS We evaluated 151 patients.The PECS incidence was 10.6%(16/151 cases),and all patients were followed conservatively and discharged without severe complications.In multivariate analysis,high Joule heat was an independent PECS risk factor.The area under the ROC curve showing the correlation between PECS and total Joule heat was high[0.788(95%confidence interval:0.666-0.909)].CONCLUSION Joule heat accumulation in the gastrointestinal wall is involved in the onset of PECS.ESD-related thermal damage to the peeled mucosal surface is probably a major component of the mechanism underlying PECS.

Multikinase inhibitor-associated hand-foot skin reaction as a predictor of outcomes in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with sorafenib

AIM To investigate the relationship between the onsets of multikinase inhibitor(MKI)-associated hand-foot skin reaction(HFSR) and prognosis under intervention by pharmacists after the introduction of sorafenib.METHODS We conducted a retrospective study involving 40 patients treated with sorafenib. Intervention by pharmacists began at the time of treatment introduction and continued until the appearance of symptomatic exacerbation or non-permissible adverse reactions. We examined the relationship between MKI-associated HFSR and overall survival(OS) after the initiation of treatment.RESULTS The median OS was 10.9 mo in the MKI-associated HFSR group and 3.4 mo in the no HFSR group, showing a significant difference in multivariate analysis. A multivariate analysis of the time to treatment failure indicated that the intervention by pharmacists and MKI-associated HFSR were significant factors. The median cumulative dose and the mean medication possession ratio were significantly higher in the intervention group than in the non-intervention group. A borderline significant difference was observed in terms of OS in this group.CONCLUSION Intervention by pharmacists increased drug adherence. Under increased adherence, MKI-associated HFSR was an advantageous surrogate marker. Intervention by healthcare providers needs to be performed for adequate sorafenib treatment.

Early colonoscopy and urgent contrast enhanced computed tomography for colonic diverticular bleeding reduces risk of rebleeding

BACKGROUND Colonoscopy within 24 h of hospital admission for colonic diverticular bleeding(CDB)is recommended.However,little is known about rates of rebleeding within 30 d.We posited that a group of patients who underwent contrast-enhanced computed tomography(CT)within 4 h of the last hematochezia and colonoscopy within 24 h would experience fewer incidences of rebleeding.AIM To evaluate the outcomes of early colonoscopy for CDB among different groups of patients.METHODS Data from 182 patients with CDB who underwent contrast-enhanced CT and colonoscopy between January 2011 and December 2018 at the study site were retrospectively reviewed.Patients were divided into groups based on the timing of the CT imaging,within or at 4 h were defined as urgent CTs(n=100)and those performed after 4 h were defined as elective CTs(n=82).Main outcomes included rebleeding within 30 d and the identification of stigmata of recent hemorrhage(SRH)(i.e.,active bleeding,non-bleeding visible vessels,or adherent clots).RESULTS In total,182 patients(126 men and 56 women)with median ages of 68.6(range,37-92)and 73.7(range,48-93)years,respectively,underwent CT imaging and colonoscopy within 24 h of the last hematochezia.Patients for whom CT was performed within 4 h of the last hematochezia were included in the urgent CT group(n=100)and patients for whom CT was performed after 4 h were included in the elective CT group(n=82).SRH were identified in 35.0%(35/100)of the urgent CT cases and 7.3%(6/82)of the elective CT cases(P<0.01).Among all patients with extravasation-positive images on CT,SRH was identified in 31 out of 47 patients(66.0%)in the urgent CT group and 4 out of 20 patients(20.0%)in the elective CT group(P<0.01).Furthermore,rates of rebleeding within 30 d were significantly improved in the urgent CT and extravasation-positive cases(P<0.05).Results from the evaluation of early colonoscopy did not show a difference in the ability to detect SRH identification or rebleeding rates.Only cases by urgent CT reduced risk of rebleeding due to the evidence of active bleeding on the image.CONCLUSION To improve rates of rebleeding,colonoscopy is recommended within 24 h in patients with extravasation-positive CT images within 4 h of the last hematochezia.Otherwise,elective colonoscopy can be performed.

Synthesis and sintering of samarium rich SmS_x and its electrical property

Non-stoichiometric samarium monosulfide（SmS_x, 0.55≤x≤1.2） was synthesized from Sm_2S_3 and SmH_3 at 1273 K for 3 h under vacuum. The influence of reaction ratio of Sm_2S_3 to SmH_3 on the fabrication of SmS_x was investigated. The fabrication of SmS required the molar ratio of Sm_2S_3 to SmH_3 above 1. Lattice parameter of synthetic SmS_x increased firstly and then decreased to saturate following with the addition of SmH_3 content. SmS_x compact was sintered at 1373 K by spark plasma sintering. Density of synthetic SmS_x was about 99% of theory density. Seebeck coefficient of n-type semiconductor Sm Sx decreased as temperature rose. The absolute value was distributed between 170–280 μV/K. The electrical resistivity of SmS_x（0.86≤x≤1.07） decreased with temperature increasing and showed similar temperature dependence. The surplus Sm which randomly distributed in the SmS_x（0.55≤x≤0.75） matrix led to a remarked reduction of electrical resistivity. The optimized power factor for SmS_（0.6） and Sm S_（0.75） could reach 1500 μW/（K^2·m） at 600 K.