Role of second look endoscopy in endoscopic submucosal dissection and peptic ulcer bleeding:Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND Second-look endoscopy(SLE)to prevent recurrent bleeding in patients with peptic ulcer disease(PUD)and those undergoing endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD)is routinely being performed.Conflicting evidence exists regarding efficacy,risk,benefit,and cost-effectiveness.AIM To identify the role and effectiveness of SLE in ESD and PUD,associated rebleeding and PUD-related outcomes like mortality,hospital length of stay,need for endoscopic or surgical intervention and blood transfusions.METHODS A systematic review of literature databases PubMed,Cochrane,and Embase was conducted from inception to January 5,2023.Randomized controlled trials that compared patients with SLE to those who did not have SLE or evaluated the role of prophylactic hemostasis during SLE compared to other conservative interventions were included.The study was conducted per PRISMA guidelines,and the protocol was registered in PROSPERO(ID CRD42023427555:).RevMan was used to perform meta-analysis,and Mantel-Haenszel Odds ratio(OR)were generated using random effect models.RESULTS A total of twelve studies with 2687 patients were included in our systematic review and meta-analysis,of which 1074 patients underwent SLE after ESD and 1613 patients underwent SLE after PUD-related bleeding.In ESD,the rates of rebleeding were 7%in the SLE group compared to 4.4%in the non-SLE group with OR 1.65,95%confidence intervals(CI)of 0.96 to 2.85;P=0.07,whereas it was 11%in the SLE group compared to 13%in the non-SLE group with OR 0.895%CI:0.50 to 1.29;P=0.36.The mean difference in the blood transfusion rates in the SLE and no SLE group in PUD was OR 0.01,95%CI:-0.22 to 0.25;P=0.91.In SLE vs non-SLE groups with PUD,the OR for Endoscopic intervention was 0.29,95%CI:0.08 to 1.00;P=0.05 while it was OR 2.03,95%CI:0.95 to 4.33;P=0.07,for surgical intervention.The mean difference in the hospital length of stay was-3.57 d between the SLE and no SLE groups in PUD with 95%CI:-7.84 to 0.69;P=0.10,denoting an average of approximately 3 fewer days of hospital stay among patients with PUD who underwent SLE.For mortality between SLE and non-SLE groups in PUD,the OR was 0.88,95%CI:0.45 to 1.72;P=0.70.CONCLUSION SLE does not confer any benefit in preventing ESD and PUD-associated rebleeding.SLE also does not provide any significant improvement in mortality,need for interventions,or blood transfusions in PUD patients.SLE decreases the hospital length of stay on average by 3.5 d in PUD patients.

Revolutionizing gastric cancer treatment:The potential of immunotherapy

Gastric cancer,a prevalent malignancy worldwide,ranks sixth in terms of frequency and third in fatality,causing over a million new cases and 769000 annual deaths.Predominant in Eastern Europe and Eastern Asia,risk factors include family medical history,dietary habits,tobacco use,Helicobacter pylori,and Epstein-Barr virus infections.Unfortunately,gastric cancer is often diagnosed at an advanced stage,leading to a grim prognosis,with a 5-year overall survival rate below 5%.Surgical intervention,particularly with D2 Lymphadenectomy,is the mainstay for early-stage cases but offers limited success.For advanced cases,the National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommends chemotherapy,radiation,and targeted therapy.Emerging immunotherapy presents promise,especially for unresectable or metastatic cases,with strategies like immune checkpoint inhibitors,tumor vaccines,adoptive immunotherapy,and nonspecific immunomodulators.In this Editorial,with regards to the article“Advances and key focus areas in gastric cancer immunotherapy:A comprehensive scientometric and clinical trial review”,we address the advances in the field of immunotherapy in gastric cancer and its future prospects.

Pathologically successful conversion hepatectomy for advanced giant hepatocellular carcinoma after multidisciplinary therapy:A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is one of the leading causes of death due to its complexity,heterogeneity,rapid metastasis and easy recurrence after surgical resection.We demonstrated that combination therapy with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE),hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy(HAIC),Epclusa,Lenvatinib and Sintilimab is useful for patients with advanced HCC.CASE SUMMARY A 69-year-old man who was infected with hepatitis C virus(HCV)30 years previously was admitted to the hospital with abdominal pain.Enhanced computed tomography(CT)revealed a low-density mass in the right lobe of the liver,with a volume of 12.9 cm×9.4 cm×15 cm,and the mass exhibited a“fast-in/fast-out”pattern,with extensive filling defect areas in the right branch of the portal vein and an alpha-fetoprotein level as high as 657 ng/mL.Therefore,he was judged to have advanced HCC.During treatment,the patient received three months of Epclusa,three TACE treatments,two HAIC treatments,three courses of sintilimab,and twenty-one months of lenvatinib.In the third month of treatment,the patient developed severe side effects and had to stop immunotherapy,and the Lenvatinib dose had to be halved.Postoperative pathological diagnosis indicated a complete response.The patient recovered well after the operation,and no tumor recurrence was found.CONCLUSION Multidisciplinary conversion therapy for advanced enormous HCC caused by HCV infection has a significant effect.Individualized drug adjustments should be made during any treatment according to the patient's tolerance to treatment.

Capsule endoscopy and panendoscopy:A journey to the future of gastrointestinal endoscopy

In 2000,the small bowel capsule revolutionized the management of patients with small bowel disorders.Currently,the technological development achieved by the new models of double-headed endoscopic capsules,as miniaturized devices to evaluate the small bowel and colon[pan-intestinal capsule endoscopy(PCE)],makes this non-invasive procedure a disruptive concept for the management of patients with digestive disorders.This technology is expected to identify which patients will require conventional invasive endoscopic procedures(colonoscopy or balloon-assisted enteroscopy),based on the lesions detected by the capsule,i.e.,those with an indication for biopsies or endoscopic treatment.The use of PCE in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases,namely Crohn’s disease,as well as in patients with iron deficiency anaemia and/or overt gastrointestinal(GI)bleeding,after a non-diagnostic upper endoscopy(esophagogastroduodenoscopy),enables an effective,safe and comfortable way to identify patients with relevant lesions,who should undergo subsequent invasive endoscopic procedures.The recent development of magnetically controlled capsule endoscopy to evaluate the upper GI tract,is a further step towards the possibility of an entirely non-invasive assessment of all the segments of the digestive tract,from mouth-to-anus,meeting the expectations of the early developers of capsule endoscopy.

Endoscopic features and treatments of gastric cystica profunda

BACKGROUND Gastric cystica profunda(GCP)represents a rare condition characterized by cystic dilation of gastric glands within the mucosal and/or submucosal layers.GCP is often linked to,or may progress into,early gastric cancer(EGC).AIM To provide a comprehensive evaluation of the endoscopic features of GCP while assessing the efficacy of endoscopic treatment,thereby offering guidance for diagnosis and treatment.METHODS This retrospective study involved 104 patients with GCP who underwent endoscopic resection.Alongside demographic and clinical data,regular patient followups were conducted to assess local recurrence.RESULTS Among the 104 patients diagnosed with GCP who underwent endoscopic resection,12.5%had a history of previous gastric procedures.The primary site predominantly affected was the cardia(38.5%,n=40).GCP commonly exhibited intraluminal growth(99%),regular presentation(74.0%),and ulcerative mucosa(61.5%).The leading endoscopic feature was the mucosal lesion type(59.6%,n=62).The average maximum diameter was 20.9±15.3 mm,with mucosal involvement in 60.6%(n=63).Procedures lasted 73.9±57.5 min,achieving complete resection in 91.3%(n=95).Recurrence(4.8%)was managed via either surgical intervention(n=1)or through endoscopic resection(n=4).Final pathology confirmed that 59.6%of GCP cases were associated with EGC.Univariate analysis indicated that elderly males were more susceptible to GCP associated with EGC.Conversely,multivariate analysis identified lesion morphology and endoscopic features as significant risk factors.Survival analysis demonstrated no statistically significant difference in recurrence between GCP with and without EGC(P=0.72).CONCLUSION The findings suggested that endoscopic resection might serve as an effective and minimally invasive treatment for GCP with or without EGC.

PRaG 3.0 therapy for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma:A case report

BACKGROUND Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma(PDAC)is a highly fatal disease with limited effective treatment especially after first-line chemotherapy.The human epidermal growth factor receptor 2(HER-2)immunohistochemistry(IHC)positive is associated with more aggressive clinical behavior and shorter overall survival in PDAC.CASE SUMMARY We present a case of multiple metastatic PDAC with IHC mismatch repair proficient but HER-2 IHC weakly positive at diagnosis that didn’t have tumor regression after first-line nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine and PD-1 inhibitor treatment.A novel combination therapy PRaG 3.0 of RC48(HER2-antibody-drug conjugate),radio-therapy,PD-1 inhibitor,granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and interleukin-2 was then applied as second-line therapy and the patient had confirmed good partial response with progress-free-survival of 6.5 months and overall survival of 14.2 month.She had not developed any grade 2 or above treatment-related adverse events at any point.Percentage of peripheral CD8^(+) Temra and CD4^(+) Temra were increased during first two activation cycles of PRaG 3.0 treatment containing radiotherapy but deceased to the baseline during the maintenance cycles containing no radiotherapy.CONCLUSION PRaG 3.0 might be a novel strategy for HER2-positive metastatic PDAC patients who failed from previous first-line approach and even PD-1 immunotherapy but needs more data in prospective trials.

Immunotherapy for esophageal cancer:Where are we now and where can we go

Immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy has dramatically improved patient prognosis,and thereby transformed the treatment in various cancer types including esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC)in the past decade.Monoclonal antibodies that selectively inhibit programmed cell death-1(PD-1)activity has now become standard of care in the treatment of ESCC in metastatic settings,and has a high expectation to provide clinical benefit during perioperative period.Further,anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte–associated protein 4(CTLA-4)monoclonal antibody has also been approved in the treatment of recurrent/metastatic ESCC in combination with anti-PD-1 antibody.Well understanding of the existing evidence of immune-based treatments for ESCC,as well as recent clinical trials on various combinations with chemotherapy for different clinical settings including neoadjuvant,adjuvant,and metastatic diseases,may provide future prospects of ESCC treatment for better patient outcomes.

Present and future of new systemic therapies for early and intermediate stages of hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is a high mortality neoplasm which usually appears on a cirrhotic liver.The therapeutic arsenal and subsequent prognostic outlook are intrinsically linked to the HCC stage at diagnosis.Notwithstanding the current deployment of treatments with curative intent(liver resection/local ablation and liver transplantation)in early and intermediate stages,a high rate of HCC recurrence persists,underscoring a pivotal clinical challenge.Emergent systemic therapies(ST),particularly immunotherapy,have demonstrate promising outcomes in terms of increase overall survival,but they are currently bound to the advanced stage of HCC.This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the literature,encompassing studies up to March 10,2024,evaluating the impact of novel ST in the early and intermediate HCC stages,specially focusing on the findings of neoadjuvant and adjuvant regimens,aimed at increasing significantly overall survival and recurrence-free survival after a treatment with curative intent.We also investigate the potential role of ST in enhancing the downstaging rate for the intermediate-stage HCC initially deemed ineligible for treatment with curative intent.Finally,we critically discuss about the current relevance of the results of these studies and the encouraging future implications of ST in the treatment schedules of early and intermediate HCC stages.

Back to the drawing board:Overview of the next generation of combination therapy for inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)is entering a potentially new era of combined therapeutics.Triantafillidis et al provide an insightful review of the current state of combination therapy,with a focus on the use of a combined biologic and immunomodulator,as well as emerging data on the future potential of dual-biologic therapy(DBT).While current evidence for DBT is limited,encouraging safety profiles and ongoing trials suggest a brighter future for this approach.The importance of controlled trials should be stressed in establishing new treatment paradigms.Ongoing prospective randomized trials of DBT and perhaps future combinations of biologics and small molecule therapies will hopefully guide the next generation of IBD care.

Adjuvant therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma:Dilemmas at the start of a new era

Approximately 50%-70%of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma experience recurrence within five years after curative hepatic resection or ablation.As a result,many patients receive adjuvant therapy after curative resection or ablation in order to prolong recurrence-free survival.The therapy recommended by national guidelines can differ,and guidelines do not specify when to initiate adjuvant therapy or how long to continue it.These and other unanswered questions around adjuvant therapies make it difficult to optimize them and determine which may be more appropriate for a given type of patient.These questions need to be addressed by clinicians and researchers.

Endoscopic polidocanol foam sclerobanding for the treatment of grade Ⅱ-Ⅲ internal hemorrhoids:A prospective,multi-center,randomized study

BACKGROUND Endoscopic rubber band ligation(ERBL)is a nonsurgical technique for the treatment of symptomatic internal hemorrhoids but is limited by recurrence and post-procedural pain.AIM To evaluate satisfaction,long-term recurrence,and post-procedural pain in managing internal hemorrhoids using a combination of polidocanol foam sclerotherapy and ERBL.METHODS This was a prospective,multicenter,randomized study.A total of 195 consecutive patients diagnosed with grade II-III internal hemorrhoids were enrolled from four tertiary hospitals and randomly divided into a cap-assisted endoscopic polidocanol foam sclerobanding(EFSB)or an ERBL group.All patients were followed-up for 12 months.Symptom-based severity and post-procedural pain were assessed using a hemorrhoid severity score(HSS)and a visual analog scale(VAS).Continuous variables were reported as medians and interquartile range.RESULTS One hundred and ninety-five patients were enrolled,with 98 in the EFSB group.HSS was lower in the EFSB group than in the ERBL group at 8 weeks[4.0(3.0-5.0)vs 5.0(4.0-6.0),P=0.003]and 12-month[2.0(1.0-3.0)vs 3.0(2.0-3.0),P<0.001]of follow-up.The prolapse recurrence rate was lower in the EFSB group at 12 months(11.2%vs 21.6%,P=0.038).Multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that EFSB treatment[B=-0.915,95%confidence interval(CI):−1.301 to−0.530,P=0.001]and rubber band number(B=0.843,95%CI:0.595-1.092,P<0.001)were negatively and independently associated with the VAS score 24 hours post-procedure.The median VAS was lower in the EFSB group than in the ERBL[2.0(1.0-3.0)vs 3.0(2.0-4.0),P<0.001].CONCLUSION Cap-assisted EFSB provided long-term satisfaction and effective relief from the recurrence of prolapse and pain 24 hours post-procedure.

A Stable Open-Shell Conjugated Diradical Polymer with Ultra-High Photothermal Conversion Efficiency for NIR-Ⅱ Photo-Immunotherapy of Metastatic Tumor

Massive efforts have been concentrated on the advance of eminent near-infrared(NIR) photothermal materials(PTMs) in the NIR-Ⅱ window(1000–1700 nm), especially organic PTMs because of their intrinsic biological safety compared with inorganic PTMs. However, so far, only a few NIR-Ⅱresponsive organic PTMs was explored, and their photothermal conversion efficiencies(PCEs) still remain relatively low. Herein, donor–acceptor conjugated diradical polymers with open-shell characteristics are explored for synergistically photothermal immunotherapy of metastatic tumors in the NIR-Ⅱ window. By employing side-chain regulation, the conjugated diradical polymer TTB-2 with obvious NIR-Ⅱ absorption was developed, and its nanoparticles realize a record-breaking PCE of 87.7% upon NIR-Ⅱ light illustration. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrate that TTB-2 nanoparticles show good tumor photoablation with navigation of photoacoustic imaging in the NIR-Ⅱ window, without any side-effect. Moreover, by combining with PD-1 antibody,the pulmonary metastasis of breast cancer is high-effectively prevented by the efficient photo-immunity effect. Thus, this study explores superior PTMs for cancer metastasis theranostics in the NIR-Ⅱ window, offering a new horizon in developing radical-characteristic NIR-Ⅱ photothermal materials.

Optimized sequential therapy vs 10- and 14-d concomitant therapy for eradicating Helicobacter pylori: A randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND A cure for Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)remains a problem of global concern.The prevalence of antimicrobial resistance is widely rising and becoming a challenging issue worldwide.Optimizing sequential therapy seems to be one of the most attractive strategies in terms of efficacy,tolerability and cost.The most common sequential therapy consists of a dual therapy[proton-pump inhibitors(PPIs)and amoxicillin]for the first period(5 to 7 d),followed by a triple therapy for the second period(PPI,clarithromycin and metronidazole).PPIs play a key role in maintaining a gastric pH at a level that allows an optimal efficacy of antibiotics,hence the idea of using new generation molecules.This open-label prospective study randomized 328 patients with confirmed H.pylori infection into three groups(1:1:1):The first group received quadruple therapy consisting of twice-daily(bid)omeprazole 20 mg,amoxicillin 1 g,clarith-romycin 500 mg and metronidazole 500 mg for 10 d(QT-10),the second group received a 14 d quadruple therapy following the same regimen(QT-14),and the third group received an optimized sequential therapy consisting of bid rabe-prazole 20 mg plus amoxicillin 1 g for 7 d,followed by bid rabeprazole 20 mg,clarithromycin 500 mg and metronidazole 500 mg for the next 7 d(OST-14).AEs were recorded throughout the study,and the H.pylori eradication rate was determined 4 to 6 wk after the end of treatment,using the 13C urea breath test.RESULTS In the intention-to-treat and per-protocol analysis,the eradication rate was higher in the OST-14 group compared to the QT-10 group:(93.5%,85.5%P=0.04)and(96.2%,89.5%P=0.03)respectively.However,there was no statist-ically significant difference in eradication rates between the OST-14 and QT-14 groups:(93.5%,91.8%P=0.34)and(96.2%,94.4%P=0.35),respectively.The overall incidence of AEs was significantly lower in the OST-14 group(P=0.01).Furthermore,OST-14 was the most cost-effective among the three groups.CONCLUSION The optimized 14-d sequential therapy is a safe and effective alternative.Its eradication rate is comparable to that of the 14-d concomitant therapy while causing fewer AEs and allowing a gain in terms of cost.

Clinical characteristics of acute non-varicose upper gastrointestinal bleeding and the effect of endoscopic hemostasis

BACKGROUND Acute non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding(ANVUGIB)constitutes a prevalent emergency within Gastroenterology,encompassing 80%-90%of all gastrointestinal hemorrhage incidents.This condition is distinguished by its abrupt onset,swift progression,and notably elevated mortality rate.AIM To gather clinical data from patients with ANVUGIB at our hospital in order to elucidate the clinical characteristics specific to our institution and analyze the therapeutic effectiveness of endoscopic hemostasis.METHODS We retrospectively retrieved the records of 532 patients diagnosed with ANVUGIB by endoscopy at our hospital between March 2021 and March 2023,utilizing our medical record system.Data pertaining to general patient information,etiological factors,disease outcomes,and other relevant variables were meticulously collected and analyzed.RESULTS Among the 532 patients diagnosed with ANVUGIB,the male-to-female ratio was 2.91:1,with a higher prevalence among males.Notably,43.6%of patients presented with black stool as their primary complaint,while 27.4%had hematemesis as their initial symptom.Upon admission,17%of patients exhibited both hematemesis and black stool,while most ANVUGIB patients primarily complained of overt gastrointestinal bleeding.Urgent routine blood examinations at admission revealed that 75.8%of patients had anemia,with 63.4%experiencing moderate to severe anemia,and 1.5%having extremely severe anemia(hemoglobin<30 g/L).With regard to etiology,53.2%of patients experienced bleeding without a definitive trigger,24.2%had a history of using gastric mucosa-irritating medications,24.2%developed bleeding after alcohol consumption,2.8%attributed it to improper diet,1.7%to emotional excitement,and 2.3%to fatigue preceding the bleeding episode.Drug-induced ANVUGIB was more prevalent in the elderly than middle-aged and young individuals,while bleeding due to alcohol consumption showed the opposite trend.Additionally,diet-related bleeding was more common among the young age group compared to the middle-aged group.Gastrointestinal endoscopy identified peptic ulcers as the most frequent cause of ANVUGIB(73.3%),followed by gastrointestinal malignancies(10.9%),acute gastric mucous lesions(9.8%),and androgenic upper gastrointestinal bleeding(1.5%)among inpatients with ANVUGIB.Of the 532 patients with gastrointestinal bleeding,68 underwent endoscopic hemostasis,resulting in an endoscopic treatment rate of 12.8%,with a high immediate hemostasis success rate of 94.1%.

Opportunities and challenges of CD47-targeted therapy in cancer immunotherapy

Cancer immunotherapy has emerged as a promising strategy for the treatment of cancer,with the tumor microenvironment(TME)playing a pivotal role in modulating the immune response.CD47,a cell surface protein,has been identified as a crucial regulator of the TME and a potential therapeutic target for cancer therapy.However,the precise functions and implications of CD47 in the TME during immunotherapy for cancer patients remain incompletely understood.This comprehensive review aims to provide an overview of CD47’s multifaced role in TME regulation and immune evasion,elucidating its impact on various types of immunotherapy outcomes,including checkpoint inhibitors and CAR T-cell therapy.Notably,CD47-targeted therapies offer a promising avenue for improving cancer treatment outcomes,especially when combined with other immunotherapeutic approaches.The review also discusses current and potential CD47-targeted therapies being explored for cancer treatment and delves into the associated challenges and opportunities inherent in targeting CD47.Despite the demonstrated effectiveness of CD47-targeted therapies,there are potential problems,including unintended effects on healthy cells,hematological toxicities,and the development if resistance.Consequently,further research efforts are warranted to fully understand the underlying mechanisms of resistance and to optimize CD47-targeted therapies through innovative combination approaches,ultimately improving cancer treatment outcomes.Overall,this comprehensive review highlights the significance of CD47 as a promising target for cancer immunotherapy and provides valuable insight into the challenges and opportunities in developing effective CD47-targeted therapies for cancer treatment.

Vonoprazan-amoxicillin dual regimen with Saccharomyces boulardii as a rescue therapy for Helicobacter pylori:Current perspectives and implications

Yu et al’s study in the World Journal of Gastroenterology(2023)introduced a novel regimen of Vonoprazan-amoxicillin dual therapy combined with Saccharomyces boulardii(S.boulardii)for the rescue therapy against Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori),a pathogen responsible for peptic ulcers and gastric cancer.Vonoprazan is a potassium-competitive acid blocker renowned for its rapid and long-lasting acid suppression,which is minimally affected by mealtime.Compared to proton pump inhibitors,which bind irreversibly to cysteine residues in the H+/K+-ATPase pump,Vonoprazan competes with the K+ions,prevents the ions from binding to the pump and blocks acid secretion.Concerns with increasing antibiotic resistance,effects on the gut microbiota,patient compliance,and side effects have led to the advent of a dual regimen for H.pylori.Previous studies suggested that S.boulardii plays a role in stabilizing the gut barrier which improves H.pylori eradication rate.With an acceptable safety profile,the dual-adjunct regimen was effective regardless of prior treatment failure and antibiotic resistance profile,thereby strengthening the applicability in clinical settings.Nonetheless,S.boulardii comes in various formulations and dosages,warranting further exploration into the optimal dosage for supplementation in rescue therapy.Additionally,larger,randomized,double-blinded controlled trials are warranted to confirm these promising results.

Early antiplatelet therapy used for acute ischemic stroke and intracranial hemorrhage

In this editorial we comment on the article published by Zhang et al in the recent issue of World Journal of Clinical Cases.We evaluate their claims on the benefit of use of Aspirin in the early management of patients with ischemic stroke.We also comment on their contention of using aspirin in the early management of patients with intracranial hemorrhage,a practice not seen in modern medicine.Large clinical trials such as the International Stroke Trial and the Chinese Acute Stroke Trial have shown the benefit of Aspirin use within 48 h of patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke.The findings were corroborated in the open-label trial performed by Zhang et al in a smaller sample group of 25 patients where they showed improvement in functional scores at 90 days without an increase in adverse events.As such,this intervention is also recommended by the American Heart Association stroke guidelines from 2021.With regard to Intracranial hemorrhage,traditional practice has been to discontinue or avoid antiplatelet therapy in these patient groups.However,no studies have been done to evaluate this management strategy that is more borne out of the mechanism behind Aspirin’s effect on the coagulation pathway.Zhang et al evaluate the benefits of Aspirin on patients with low-volume intracranial hemorrhage,i.e.,less than 30 mL on computed tomo-graphy imaging,and show no increase in mortality.The caveat of this finding is that all outcomes were pooled into one group for results,and the number of patients was low.While more studies with larger patient groups are required,the data from Zhang et al suggests that patients with small-volume intracranial hemorrhages may benefit from Aspirin administration in the acute phase of management.

Effects of hormone replacement therapy on mood and sleep quality in menopausal women

BACKGROUND Hormone replacement therapy is an effective treatment strategy for the management of symptoms in naturally menopausal women.However,some patients report experiencing adverse effects.AIM To analyze the effects of hormone replacement therapy in menopausal female patients.METHODS A total of 152 menopausal female patients admitted to the Gynecology Department of the Ganzhou Maternal and Child Health Hospital between January 2021 and December 2023 were divided into the observation group(n=76,conventional treatment+hormone replacement therapy)and the control group(n=76,conventional treatment only)via random casting.The improvement observed in the following items were compared between the groups:Kupperman menopausal index(KMI),emotional state[The Positive and Negative Affect Scale(PANAS)],sleep quality[Self-Rating Scale of Sleep(SRSS)],treatment effectiveness,and treatment safety.RESULTS The modified KMI and SRSS scores of the observation group were lower than those of the control group after three rounds of treatment.The improvement in the PANAS score observed in the observation group was greater than that observed in the control group(P<0.05).The total treatment effectivity rate in the observation group was higher than that in the control group(86.84%vs 96.05%,χ2=4.121,P=0.042).The incidence rate of adverse reactions in the two groups was comparable(6.58%vs 9.21%,χ2=0.361,P=0.547).CONCLUSION Hormone replacement therapy effectively improved the clinical symptoms,actively channeled negative emotions,and improved the quality of sleep in menopausal patients,indicating its effectiveness and safety.

Applications of endoscopic vacuum therapy in the upper gastrointestinal tract

Endoscopic vacuum therapy(EVT)is an increasingly popular treatment option for wall defects in the upper gastrointestinal tract.After its initial description for the treatment of anastomotic leaks after esophageal and gastric surgery,it was also implemented for a wide range of defects,including acute perforations,duodenal lesions,and postbariatric complications.Apart from the initially proposed handmade sponge inserted using the“piggyback”technique,further devices were used,such as the commercially available EsoSponge and VAC-Stent as well as open-pore film drainage.The reported pressure settings and intervals between the subsequent endoscopic procedures vary greatly,but all available evidence highlights the efficacy of EVT,with high success rates and low morbidity and mortality,so that in many centers it is considered to be a first-line treatment,especially for anastomotic leaks.

Diabetes mellitus in patients with type 1 autoimmune pancreatitis at diagnosis and after corticosteroid therapy

Background:A high prevalence of diabetes mellitus(DM)coexisting with autoimmune pancreatitis(AIP)is observed.However,evidence on the circumstances under which corticosteroid therapy(CST)for AIP improves or worsens DM is scarce.This study aimed to demonstrate and identify predictors of DM control under the influence of CST.Methods:Patients diagnosed with type 1 AIP were enrolled from a prospectively maintained cohort and were classified into three groups according to the chronology in which AIP and DM were diagnosed:pre-existing DM(pDM),concurrent DM(cDM),and non-DM(nDM).The responses of DM to CST were assessed when corticosteroid was ceased or tapered to a maintenance dose and classified as‘improvement’and‘non-improvement’(including‘no change’and‘exacerbation’).Results:Among 101 patients with type 1 AIP,52(51.5%)patients were complicated with DM at the time of AIP diagnosis,with 36 patients in the cDM group and 16 patients in the pDM group.The incidences of diffuse pancreatic swelling(72.2%)and pancreatic body/tail involvement(91.7%)were significantly higher in the cDM group than in both the pDM and nDM groups.Of the 52 patients with DM,CST was administered in 48 cases.Multivariate logistic analysis identified that elevated serum gamma-glutamyl transferase(GGT)level at AIP diagnosis[odds ratio(OR)=0.032,95%confidence interval(CI):0.003-0.412,P=0.008]and pancreatic atrophy after CST(OR=0.027,95%CI:0.003-0.295,P=0.003)were negatively associated with DM control improvement.Conclusions:Patients with diffuse pancreatic swelling and pancreatic body/tail involvement in pancreatitis tended to be complicated with cDM at AIP diagnosis.CST exerted a beneficial effect on the clinical course of DM in nearly half of the AIP patients complicated with DM at diagnosis,particularly in those without elevated serum GGT levels at diagnosis and who did not experience pancreatic atrophy after CST.