Trans-jugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent shunting benefits and limits

Trans-jugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent shunting(TIPSS)has been in use for many years with great results and many evolutions.The procedure essentially involves the insertion of a metal covert stent to create an Hepato-Hepatic portosystemic shunt.Over time,TIPSS has become the subject of many studies aimed at examining its clinical utility and evaluating the results of using TIPSS to manage complications related to portal hypertension.From the outset,this procedure has been met with hope and enthusiasm and give the chance to consider another possibility to treat the complications of portal hypertension without the use of surgery.Considering that TIPSS is an attractive alternative to shunt surgery because it does not require the use of general anesthesia or laparotomy,in fact this method is applicable to many patients with severe liver disease not suitable for it.TIPSS has been studied for the management of variceal bleeding,ascites,hepatic hydrothorax,hepatorenal syndrome,and other types of cirrhosis.However,some drawbacks of the TIPSS,such as shunt stenosis and hepatic encephalopathy,have also been reported in the literature.On the basis of the available evidence and the new epidemiological findings regarding liver disease,the following question may be posed:What is the place of TIPSS in current clinical practice?

Colon capsule endoscopy: Advantages, limitations and expectations. Which novelties?

Since the first reports almost ten years ago, wireless capsule endoscopy has gained new f ields of application. Colon capsule endoscopy represents a new diagnostic technology for colonic exploration. Clinical trials have shown that colon capsule endoscopy is feasible, accurate and safe in patients suffering from colonic diseases and might be a valid alternative to conventional colonoscopy in selected cases such as patients refusing conventional colonoscopy or with contraindications to colonoscopy or when colonoscopy is incomplete. Despite the enthusiasm surrounding this new technique, few clinical and randomized controlled trials are to be found in the current literature, leading to heterogeneous or controversial results. Upcoming studies are needed to prove the substantial utility of colon capsule endoscopy for colon cancer screening, especially in a low prevalence of disease population, and for other indications such as inflammatory bowel disease. Possible perspectives are critically analysed and reported in this paper.

Bowel function and inflammation: Is motility the other side of the coin?

Digestion and intestinal absorption allow the body to sustain itself and are the emblematic functions of the bowel.On the flip side,functions also arise from its role as an interface with the environment.Indeed,the gut houses microorganisms,collectively known as the gut microbiota,which interact with the host,and is the site of complex immune activities.Its role in human pathology is complex and scientific evidence is progressively elucidating the functions of the gut,especially regarding the pathogenesis of chronic intestinal diseases and inflammatory conditions affecting various organs and systems.This editorial aims to highlight and relate the factors involved in the pathogenesis of intestinal and systemic inflammation.

Kyoto classification of gastritis,virtual chromoendoscopy and artificial intelligence:Where are we going?What do we need?

Chronic gastritis(CG)is a widespread and frequent disease,mainly caused by Helicobacter pylori infection,which is associated with an increased risk of gastric cancer.Virtual chromoendoscopy improves the endoscopic diagnostic efficacy,which is essential to establish the most appropriate therapy and to enable cancer prevention.Artificial intelligence provides algorithms for the diagnosis of gastritis and,in particular,early gastric cancer,but it is not yet used in practice.Thus,technological innovation,through image resolution and processing,optimizes the diagnosis and management of CG and gastric cancer.The endoscopic Kyoto classification of gastritis improves the diagnosis and management of this disease,but through the analysis of the most recent literature,new algorithms can be proposed.

Artificial intelligence in detection of small bowel lesions and their bleeding risk:A new step forward

The present letter to the editor is related to the study with the title“Automatic detection of small bowel(SB)lesions with different bleeding risk based on deep learning models”.Capsule endoscopy(CE)is the main tool to assess SB diseases but it is a time-consuming procedure with a significant error rate.The development of artificial intelligence(AI)in CE could simplify physicians’tasks.The novel deep learning model by Zhang et al seems to be able to identify various SB lesions and their bleeding risk,and it could pave the way to next perspective studies to better enhance the diagnostic support of AI in the detection of different types of SB lesions in clinical practice.

The outcomes and safety of patients undergoing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography combining a single-use cholangioscope and a single-use duodenoscope:A multicenter retrospective international study

Background: Duodenoscope-related multidrug-resistant organism(MDRO) infections raise concerns. Disposable duodenoscopes have been recently introduced in the market and approved by regulatory agencies with the aim to reduce the risk of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP) associated infections. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of procedures performed with single-use duodenoscopes in patients with clinical indications to single-operator cholangiopancreatoscopy. Methods: This is a multicenter international, retrospective study combining all patients who underwent complex biliopancreatic interventions using the combination of a single-use duodenoscope and a single-use cholangioscope. The primary outcome was technical success defined as ERCP completion for the intended clinical indication. Secondary outcomes were procedural duration, rate of cross-over to reusable duodenoscope, operator-reported satisfaction score(1 to 10) on performance rating of the single-use duodenoscope, and adverse event(AE) rate. Results: A total of 66 patients(26, 39.4% female) were included in the study. ERCP was categorized according to ASGE ERCP grading system as 47(71.2%) grade 3 and 19(28.8%) grade 4. The technical success rate was 98.5%(65/66). Procedural duration was 64(interquartile range 15-189) min, cross-over rate to reusable duodenoscope was 1/66(1.5%). The satisfaction score of the single-use duodenoscope classified by the operators was 8.6 ± 1.3 points. Four patients(6.1%) experienced AEs not directly related to the single-use duodenoscope, namely 2 post-ERCP pancreatitis(PEP), 1 cholangitis and 1 bleeding.Conclusions: Single-use duodenoscope is effective, reliable and safe even in technically challenging procedures with a non-inferiority to reusable duodenoscope, making these devices a viable alternative to standard reusable equipment.

Challenges and advancing strategies of endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric cancer:The puzzle of eCura C1

In this editorial,we explore the challenges of managing noncurative resections in early gastric cancer after endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD),starting from the consideration recently made by Zhu et al.Specifically,we evaluate the management of eCura C1 lesions,where decisions regarding further interventions are pivotal yet contentious.Collaboration among endoscopists,surgeons,and pathologists is underscored to refine risk assessment and personalize therapeutic management.Recent advancements in ESD techniques and interdisciplinary collaboration offer opportunities for outcome optimization in managing eCura C1 lesions.Moreover,despite needing further clinical validation,molecular biomarkers have emerged as promising tools for enhancing prognostication.This manuscript highlights the ongoing research attempts to define treatment paradigms effectively and evaluates the potential of emerging options,ultimately aiming to improve patient care and outcomes in this complex clinical scenario.

Gastric low-grade mucosal-associated lymphoid tissue-lymphoma: Helicobacter pylori and beyond

The stomach is the most frequently involved site for extranodal lymphomas,accounting for nearly two-thirds of all gastrointestinal cases.It is widely accepted that gastric B-cell,low-grade mucosal-associated lymphoid tissue(MALT)-lymphoma is caused by Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)infection.MALT-lymphomas may engender different clinical and endoscopic patterns.Often,diagnosis is confirmed in patients with only vague dyspeptic symptoms and without macroscopic lesions on gastric mucosa.H.pylori eradication leads to lymphoma remission in a large number of patients when treatment occurs at an early stage(Ⅰ-Ⅱ1).Neoplasia confined to the submucosa,localized in the antral region of the stomach,and without API2-MALT1 translocation,shows a high probability of remission following H.pylori eradication.When both bacterial infection and lymphoma recur,further eradication therapy is generally effective.Radiotherapy,chemotherapy and,in selected cases,surgery are the available therapeutic options with a high success rate for those patients who fail to achieve remission,while data on immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies (rituximab)are still scarce.The 5-year survival rate is higher than 90%,but careful,long-term follow-up is required in these patients since lymphoma recurrence has been reported in some cases.

Follow-up of intestinal metaplasia in the stomach: When, how and why

Gastric cancer remains the second most frequent cause of cancer-related mortality in the world. Screening programs in some Asian countries are impractical in the majority of other countries worldwide. Therefore, follow-up of precancerous lesions is advisable for secondary gastric cancer prevention. Intestinal metaplasia (IM) is recognized as a precancerous lesion for gastric cancer, increasing the risk by 6-fold. IM is highly prevalent in the general population, being detected in nearly 1 of every 4 patients undergoing upper endoscopy. The IM prevalence rate is significantly higher in patients with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, in first-degree relatives of gastric cancer patients, in smokers and it increases with patient age. IM is the "breaking point" in the gastric carcinogenesis cascade and does not appear to regress following H. pylori eradication, although the cure of infection may slow its progression. Gastric cancer risk is higher in patients with incomplete-type IM, in those with both antral and gastric body involvement, and the risk significantly increases with IM extension over 20% of the gastric mucosa. Scheduled endoscopic control could be cost-effective in IM patients, depending on the yearly incidence of gastric cancer in IM patients, the stage of gastric cancer at diagnosis discovered at surveillance, and the cost of endoscopy. As a pragmatic behavior, yearly endoscopic control would appear justified in all IM patients with at least one of these conditions: (1) IM extension > 20%; (2) the presence of incomplete type IM; (3) first-degree relative of gastric cancer patients; and (4) smokers. In the remaining IM patients, a less intensive (2-3 years) could be proposed.

Differential diagnosis in inflammatory bowel disease colitis:State of the art and future perspectives

Distinction between Crohn's disease of the colonrectum and ulcerative colitis or inflammatory bowel disease(IBD) type unclassified can be of pivotal importance for a tailored clinical management,as each entity often involves specific therapeutic strategies and prognosis.Nonetheless,no gold standard is available and the uncertainty of diagnosis may frequently lead to misclassification or repeated examinations.Hence,we have performed a literature search to address the problem of differential diagnosis in IBD colitis,revised current and emerging diagnostic tools and refined disease classification strategies.Nowadays,the differential diagnosis is an untangled issue,and the proper diagnosis cannot be reached in up to 10% of patients presenting with IBD colitis.This topic is receiving emerging attention,as medical therapies,surgical approaches and leading prognostic outcomes require more and more disease-specific strategies in IBD patients.The optimization of standard diagnostic approaches based on clinical features,biomarkers,radiology,endoscopy and histopathology appears to provide only marginal benefits.Conversely,emerging diagnostic techniques in the field of gastrointestinal endoscopy,molecular pathology,genetics,epigenetics,metabolomics and proteomics have already shown promising results.Novel advanced endoscopic imaging techniques and biomarkers can shed new light for the differential diagnosis of IBD,better reflecting diverse disease behaviors based on specific pathogenic pathways.

Implications of small-bowel transit time in the detection rate of capsule endoscopy: A multivariable multicenter study of patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding

AIMTo define the role of small-bowel transit time in the detection rate of significant small-bowel lesions.METHODSSmall-bowel capsule endoscopy records, prospectively collected from 30 participating centers in the Lombardy Registry from October 2011 to December 2013, were included in the study if the clinical indication was obscure gastrointestinal bleeding and the capsule reached the cecum. Based on capsule findings, we created two groups: P2 (significant findings) and P0-1 (normal/negligible findings). Groups were compared for age, gender, small-bowel transit time, type of instrument, modality of capsule performance (outpatients vs inpatients), bowel cleanliness, and center volume.RESULTSWe retrieved and scrutinized 1,433 out of 2,295 capsule endoscopy records (62.4%) fulfilling the inclusion criteria. Patients were 67 ± 15 years old, and 815 (57%) were males. In comparison with patients in the P0-1 group, those in the P2 group (n = 776, 54%) were older (P < 0.0001), had a longer small-bowel transit time (P = 0.0015), and were more frequently examined in low-volume centers (P < 0.001). Age and small-bowel transit time were correlated (P < 0.001), with age as the sole independent predictor on multivariable analysis. Findings of the P2 group were artero-venous malformations (54.5%), inflammatory (23.6%) and protruding (10.4%) lesions, and luminal blood (11.5%).CONCLUSIONIn this selected, prospectively collected cohort of small-bowel capsule endoscopy performed for obscure gastrointestinal bleeding, a longer small-bowel transit time was associated with a higher detection rate of significant lesions, along with age and a low center volume, with age serving as an independent predictor.

Negative capsule endoscopy in patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding reliable: Recurrence of bleeding on long-term follow-up

AIM: To assess the rate of recurrent bleeding of the small bowel in patients with obscure bleeding already undergone capsule endoscopy (CE) with negative results. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records related to 696 consecutive CE performed from December 2002 to January 2011, focusing our attention on patients with recurrence of obscure bleeding and negative CE. Evaluating the patient follow-up, we analyzed the recurrence rate of obscure bleeding in patient with a negative CE. Actuarial rates of rebleeding during follow-up were calculated, and factors associated with rebleeding were assessed through an univariate and multivariate analysis. A P value of less than 0.05 was regarded as statistically significant. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV) of negative CE were calculated. RESULTS: Two hundred and seven out of 696 (29.7%) CE studies resulted negative in patient with obscure/overt gastrointestinal bleeding. Overall, 489 CE (70.2%) were positive studies. The median follow-up was 24 mo (range 12-36 mo). During follow-up, recurrence of obscure bleeding was observed only in 34 out of 207 negative CE patients (16.4%); 26 out of 34 with obscure overt bleeding and 8 out of 34 with obscure occult bleeding. The younger age (< 65 years) and the onset of bleeding such as melena are independent risk factors of rebleeding after a negative CE (OR = 2.6703, 95%CI: 1.1651-6.1202, P = 0.0203; OR 4.7718, 95%CI: 1.9739-11.5350, P = 0.0005). The rebleeding rate (CE+ vs CE-) was 16.4% vs 45.1% (χ 2 test, P = 0.00001). The sensitivity, specificity, and PPV and NPV were 93.8%, 100%, 100%, 80.1%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding and negative CE had a significantly lower rebleeding rate, and further invasive investigations can be deferred.

Outcome of stenting in biliary and pancreatic benign and malignant diseases:A comprehensive review

Endoscopic stenting has become a widely method for the management of various malignant and benign pancreatico-biliary disorders. Biliary and pancreatic stents are devices made of plastic or metal used primarily to establish patency of an obstructed bile or pancreatic duct and may also be used to treat biliary or pancreatic leaks,pancreatic fluid collections and to prevent post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis. In this review,relevant literature search and expert opinions have been used to evaluate the outcome of stenting in biliary and pancreatic benign and malignant diseases.

Furazolidone therapy for Helicobacter pylori:Is it effective and safe?

Some aspects related with the use of furazolidone as a rescue therapy for Helicobacter pylori （H pylorl） infection should be remarked, especially regarding its potential oncologic risk. The inclusion of furazolidone in a treatment regimen for H pylori infection is, at least, controversial, and it does not appear to be safe.

Single balloon enteroscopy: Technical aspects and clinical applications

The small bowel has long been considered a black box for endoscopists because of its long length and the presence of multiple complex loop. Most of the small bowel is inaccessible by traditional endoscopic means. In addition, radiographic studies have significant limitations with regard to diagnostic yield, and surgery is an invasive alternative. This limitation was overcome through the development of balloon enteroscopy that becomes established throughout the world for diagnostic and therapeutic examinations of the small bowel. The single-balloon enteroscope (SBE) system (Olympus, Tokyo, Japan) was introduced into the commercial market in 2007. Several study demonstrated its efficacy and safety. Early reports on the use of singleballoon enteroscopy have suggested a high diagnostic yield and similar therapeutic potential to that of the double-balloon endoscope. SBE is viable technique for in the management of small bowel disease. Technically, it is easy to perform, may be efficient, and in the literature data available, seems to provide high diagnostic and therapeutic yield.

Can endoscopic atrophy predict histological atrophy? Historical study in United Kingdom and Japan

AIM: To assess the diagnostic concordance between endoscopic and histological atrophy in the United Kingdom and Japan.METHODS: Using published data,a total of 252 patients,126 in the United Kingdom and 126 in Japan,aged 20 to 80 years,were evaluated. The extent of endoscopic atrophy was classified into five subgroups according to a modified Kimura-Takemoto classification system and was compared with histological findings of atrophy at five biopsy sites according to the updated Sydney system.RESULTS: The strength of agreement of the extent of atrophy between histology and visual endoscopic inspection showed good reproducibili ty,wi th a weighted kappa value of 0.76(P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that three factors were associated with decreased concordance: Japanese ethnicity [odds ratio(OR) 0.22,95% confidence interval(CI) 0.11-0.43],older age(OR = 0.32,95%CI: 0.16-0.66) and endoscopic atrophy(OR = 0.10,95%CI: 0.03-0.36). The strength of agreement between endoscopic and histological atrophy,assessed by cancer risk-oriented grading,was reproducible,with a kappa value of 0.81(95%CI: 0.75-0.87). Only nine patients(3.6%) were endoscopically underdiagnosed with antral predominant rather than extensive atrophy and were considered false negatives.CONCLUSION: Endoscopic grading can predict histological atrophy with few false negatives,indicating that precancerous conditions can be identified during screening endoscopy,particularly in patients in western countries.

Helicobacter pylori eradication and reflux disease onset:Did gastric acid get "crazy"?

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD) is highly prevalent in the general population.In the last decade,a potential relationship between Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) eradication and GORD onset has been claimed.The main putative mechanism is the gastric acid hypersecretion that develops after bacterial cure in those patients with corpus-predominant gastritis.We performed a critical reappraisal of the intricate pathogenesis and clinical data available in this field.Oesophagitis onset after H.pylori eradication in duodenal ulcer patients has been ascribed to a gastric acid hypersecretion,which could develop following body gastritis healing.However,the absence of an acid hypersecretive status in these patients is documented by both pathophysiology and clinical studies.Indeed,duodenal ulcer recurrence is virtually abolished followingH.pylori eradication.In addition,intra-oesophageal pH recording studies failed to demonstrated increased acid reflux following bacterial eradication.Moreover,oesophageal manometric studies suggest that H.pylori eradication would reduce-rather than favor-acid reflux into the oesophagus.Finally,data of clinical studies would suggest that H.pylori eradication is not significantly associated with eitherreflux symptoms or erosive oesophagitis onset,some data suggesting also an advantage in curing the infection when oesophagitis is already present.Therefore,the legend of "crazy acid" remains-as all the others a fascinating,but imaginary tale.

Pancreatic cystic lesions:How endoscopic ultrasound morphology and endoscopic ultrasound fine needle aspiration help unlock the diagnostic puzzle

Cystic lesions of the pancreas are being diagnosed with increasing frequency,covering a vast spectrum from benign to malignant and invasive lesions.Numerous investigations can be done to discriminate between benign and non-evolutive lesions from those that require surgery.At the moment,there is no single test that will allow a correct diagnosis in all cases.Endoscopic ultrasound(EUS) morphology,cyst fluid analysis and cytohistology with EUS-guided fine needle aspiration can aid in this difficult diagnosis.

Helicobacter pylori and functional dyspepsia: An unsolved issue?

Patients with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection may complain of dyspeptic symptoms without presence of macroscopic lesions on gastroduodenal mucosa. Such a condition is usually recognized as functional dyspepsia, and different pathogenetic mechanisms are involved. The role of H. pylori in these patients is controversial. Several trials assessed the potential role of H. pylori eradication in improving dyspeptic symptoms, and data of some meta-analyses demonstrated that cure of infection is associated with a small (10%), but significant therapeutic gain as compared to placebo. The reason for which dyspeptic symptoms regress in some patients following bacterial eradication, but persist in others remains unclear. Regrettably, trials included in the meta-analyses are somewhat different for study design, definition of symptoms, assessment of symptoms changes, and some may be flawed by potential pitfalls. Consequently, the information could be not consistent. We critically reviewed the main available trials, attempting to address future research in this field

Helicobacter pylori eradication: Sequential therapy and Lactobacillus reuteri supplementation

AIM:To evaluate the role of sequential therapy and Lactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri ) supplementation, in the eradication treatment of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori ). METHODS:H. pylori infection was diagnosed in 90 adult dyspeptic patients. Patients were excluded if previously treated for H. pylori infection or if they were taking a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), H2-receptor antagonist or antibiotics. Patients were assigned to receive one of the following therapies:(1) 7-d triple therapy (PPI plus clarithromycin and amoxicillin or metronidazole) plus L. reuteri supplementation dur- ing antibiotic treatment; (2) 7-d triple therapy plus L. reuteri supplementation after antibiotic treatment; (3) sequential regimen (5-d PPI plus amoxicillin therapy followed by a 5-d PPI, clarithromycin and tinidazole) plus L. reuteri supplementation during antibiotic treatment; and (4) sequential regimen plus L. reuteri supplementation after antibiotic treatment. Successful eradication therapy was defined as a negative urea breath test at least 4 wk following treatment. RESULTS:Ninety adult dyspeptic patients were en- rolled, and 83 (30 male, 53 female; mean age 57 ± 13 years) completed the study. Nineteen patients were administered a 7-d triple treatment:11 with L. reuteri supplementation during and 8 after therapy. Sixty-four patients were administered a sequential regimen:32 with L. reuteri supplementation during and 32 after therapy. The eradication rate was significantly higher in the sequential group compared with the 7-d triple regimen (88% vs 63%, P = 0.01). No difference was found between two types of PPI. No difference in erad- ication rates was observed between patients submitted to L. reuteri supplementation during or after antibiotic treatment. Compliance with therapy was excellent in all patients. No difference in adverse effects was observed between the different antibiotic treatments and between patients submitted to L. reuteri supplementation during and after antibiotic treatment. There was a low incidence of adverse effects in all groups of patients with sequential therapy, probably due to the presence of the L. reuteri supplementation. CONCLUSION:The sequential treatment regimen achieved a significantly higher eradication rate of H. pylori compared with standard 7-d regimen. L. reuteri supplementation could reduce the frequency and the intensity of antibiotic-associated side-effects.