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Elevation of early-stage gastrointestinal cancer using submucosal injection materials (SIMs) and postoperative wound care with adhesive materials are crucial for preventing complications arising from endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). Several types of SIMs have been developed; however, they often provide insufficient tissue elevation and fail to adequately adhere to the defect following the removal of early-stage gastrointestinal cancer. In this study, we present the development of injectable Cat-PBA-ApGltn hydrogels, which are based on catechol group-modified Alaska pollock gelatin (Cat-ApGltn) and phenylboronic acid-modified Alaska pollock gelatin (PBA-ApGltn), serving as multifunctional SIMs. A Cat-ApGltn/PBA-ApGltn mixed solution formed a hydrogel within 3 seconds. The resulting Cat-PBA-ApGltn hydrogels were easily injected manually through a 23 G needle due to their shear-thinning properties. Additionally, 10 w/v% Cat-PBA-ApGltn hydrogels demonstrated a 2.3-fold increase in mucosal elevation (7.2 ± 0.4 mm) compared with a commercially available SIM (3.1 ± 0.7 mm). The 10 w/v% Cat-PBA-ApGltn hydrogel, when adhered to porcine gastric submucosa, exhibited a burst strength 7 times greater than the average human intragastric pressure. Furthermore, the Cat-PBA-ApGltn hydrogels demonstrated biodegradability without inducing severe inflammation upon implantation in rat subcutaneous tissue. These Cat-PBA-ApGltn hydrogels hold promise as multifunctional SIMs, boasting injectability, excellent elevation, adhesion capabilities, and biodegradability., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background and Study Aims: Endoscopic submucosal excavation (ESE) and endoscopic full-thickness resection (EFTR) are common endoscopic minimally invasive methods for treatment of gastric submucosal tumors (SMTs). However, it is sometimes difficult to expose the tumor optimally. This study aimed to explore the safety and effectiveness of tumor traction using orthodontic rubber band (ORB) combined with clips to assist ESE and EFTR of gastric SMTs., Patients and Methods: The data of patients with gastric SMTs who underwent ESE or EFR at the Endoscopy Center of the 900th Hospital of PLA from January 2021 to May 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes, including operation time and postoperative adverse events, were compared between patients receiving ORB-ESE/EFTR and conventional ESE/EFTR., Results: A total of 52 patients were enrolled: 16 patients who underwent ORB-ESE /EFTR and 36 patients who underwent conventional ESE/EFTR. Median procedure time was significantly shorter in the ORB-ESE/EFTR group than in the conventional ESE/EFTR group (32 [IQR, 23.8, 38.0] minutes vs. 39.0 [IQR, 34.6-67.3] minutes, P = 0.002). Baseline characteristics, en bloc resection rate, incidence of postoperative adverse events, and postoperative pathology results were comparable between the two groups (P > 0.05)., Conclusion: Use of ORB with clips-assisted traction during ESE/EFTR of gastric SMT can shorten the surgical time. Further large prospective studies are needed to confirm the findings of this study., (Copyright © 2024 Pan-Arab Association of Gastroenterology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Endoscopic submucosal dissection has revolutionized the treatment of early gastric cancer. However, cases that do not meet the curability criteria have a higher risk of lymph node metastasis and salvage surgery is still considered the next treatment approach to increase the chance of cure. Nevertheless, not all high-risk resections entail the same level of risk, emphasizing the utmost importance of individualized stratification for further treatment. In this review, we aim to examine the current evidence concerning the management following a high-risk non-curative resection, highlighting the existing approaches, while also presenting upcoming strategies that attempt to improve patient outcomes, minimize adverse events, and provide a tailored management., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors of the manuscript intitled “Management of high risk T1 gastric adenocarcinoma following endoscopic resection” have no conflict of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Endoscopic treatment, particularly endoscopic submucosal dissection, has become the primary treatment for early gastric cancer. A comprehensive optical assessment, including white light endoscopy, image-enhanced endoscopy, and magnification, are the cornerstones for clinical staging and determining the resectability of lesions. This paper discusses factors that influence the indication for endoscopic resection and the likelihood of achieving a curative resection. Our review stresses the critical need for interpreting the histopathological report in accordance with clinical guidelines and the imperative of tailoring decisions based on the patients' and lesions' characteristics and preferences. Moreover, we offer guidance on managing complex scenarios, such as those involving non-curative resection. Finally, we identify future research avenues, including the role of artificial intelligence in estimating the depth of invasion and the urgent need to refine predictive scores for lymph node metastasis and metachronous lesions., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest Enrique Rodríguez de Santiago declares: Olympus (educational activities and advisory), Apollo Endosurgery (educational activities), Norgine (congresses fee and education activities), Adacyte Therapeuthics (advisory activities) and Casen Recordati (congresses fee). Pedro G. Delgado-Guillena declares: Sonoscape (educational activities and advisory), ST Endoscopy (educational activities and congresses fee) and Casen Recordati (congresses fee). The remaining authors declare that there is no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Competing Interests: Conflict of interest Authors declare no conflict of interests for this article.

Background and Study Aim: Gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a curative treatment for gastric neoplasm. A scheduled second-look endoscopy could be performed to prevent delayed post-ESD bleeding. However, no studies on the efficacy of second-look endoscopy for the prevention of early delayed post-ESD bleeding have been conducted. So, the aim of this study was to be the first to investigate the efficacy of immediate second-look endoscopy for the prevention of post-ESD bleeding., Patients and Methods: The 266 gastric ESD cases were included. Immediate second-look endoscopy was defined as repeated upper endoscopy soon after complete hemostasis of the ESD site and specimen fixation. Early and late delayed bleeding were classified as before or after 24 h after the ESD, respectively., Results: The 262 ESD cases were enrolled and divided into three groups: the immediate second-look (n = 79), scheduled second-look (n = 86), and no second-look (n = 97). Post-ESD bleeding occurred in 19 cases (7.3%). Of these, 13 (68.4%) were early delayed post-ESD bleeding. The immediate second-look endoscopy had a lower incidence of early delayed post-ESD bleeding compared to the groups without immediate second-look endoscopy, (3.8% vs. 0.8%, p = 0.009). In a multivariate analysis, immediate second-look endoscopy significantly reduced early delayed post-ESD bleeding (OR 0.39, p = 0.022). The resected specimen area ≥ 1,000 mm 2 was an independent risk factor for early delayed post-ESD bleeding (OR 8.98, p = 0.010). However, the frequency of delayed post-ESD bleeding did not differ between the three groups., Conclusion: Immediate second-look endoscopy after gastric ESD may prevent early delayed post-ESD bleeding under certain circumstances., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interests The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Pan-Arab Association of Gastroenterology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: During endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for gastric lesions with fibrosis, appropriate traction could provide clear submucosal dissection visualization to improve safety and efficiency of procedures. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of magnetic ring-assisted ESD (MRA-ESD) for gastric fibrotic lesions., Method: In the eight healthy beagles, 2-3 mL of 50% glucose solution was injected into submucosal layer of the stomach to induce gastric fibrotic lesions. A week after submucosal injection, two endoscopists at different levels performed MRA-ESD or standard ESD (S-ESD) for gastric simulated lesions, respectively. The magnetic traction system consisted of external handheld magnet and internal magnetic ring. The feasibility and procedure outcomes of the magnetic traction system were mainly evaluated., Results: Forty-eight gastric simulated lesions with ulceration were confirmed to have submucosal fibrosis formation by preoperative endoscopic ultrasonography. The magnetic traction system could be easily established, only took 1.57 min, and allowed excellent submucosal visualization. The total procedure time was significantly shorter in the MRA-ESD group than in the S-ESD group for both endoscopists (mean: 46.83 vs. 25.09 min, p < 0.001), and this difference was accentuated in non-skilled endoscopist. There was significant difference between two groups in bleeding and perforation rates. Histological analysis showed the depth of resected specimens was a little deeper around the fibrotic portion in the S-ESD group (p < 0.001)., Conclusion: The magnetic ring-assisted ESD technique may be an effective and safe treatment for gastric fibrotic lesions and may shorten the endoscopic learning curve for non-skilled endoscopists., (Copyright © 2023 Asian Surgical Association and Taiwan Robotic Surgery Association. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is known to be involved in gastric carcinogenesis. EBV-associated early gastric carcinoma (EBVEGC) has a lower incidence of lymph node involvement and could be an expanded indication for endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) treatment., Aim: To clarify the prevalence and clinicopathological features of EBVEGC., Methods: This study reviewed 618 lesions in 519 patients treated with ESD between 2014 and 2016. Tissue microarray sections were subjected to in situ hybridization staining for EBV-encoded small RNA transcripts (EBER). Lesions positive for EBER were compared with control lesions and were retrospectively analyzed., Results: 12 (1.9%) of the 618 lesions were EBVEGC. EBVEGCs were more frequently located near the atrophic border than control lesions in the middle or upper stomach and were reddish. EBVEGC invasion was deeper and more often histologically undifferentiated. On narrow-band imaging magnifying endoscopy, the EBVEGC group significantly more often showed an endoscopic lace pattern, defined as an absent or obscure microsurface pattern and a microvascular pattern of a tiny, dense, and irregular subepithelial capillary network. The rate of curative resection was significantly lower in the EBVEGC group., Conclusions: Only 1.9% of the ESD specimens were EBV-positive. Endoscopic features could raise clinical suspicion of EBV infection., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Background: Exposed endoscopic full-thickness resection (Eo-EFTR) is emerging as a promising minimally invasive alternative to surgery for the treatment of deep gastric submucosal tumors (G-SMTs). However, literature concerning this subject is heterogeneous and data mostly come from relatively small retrospective studies., Aims: We aimed to perform a pooled analysis of published data with regard to gastric Eo-EFTR, providing a pooled estimate of technical and clinical outcomes., Methods: The protocol was registered in PROSPERO. MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched for studies published from 1998 to 2020. The primary outcomes were complete resection and surgical conversion rates. The secondary outcomes were overall and selected major adverse events rates. The Forest plots on primary and secondary endpoints were produced based on fixed and random effect models., Results: Nineteen studies including 952 Eo-EFTR-treated G-SMTs were included. The pooled estimate of the complete resection rate and surgical conversion rates was 99.3% and 0.09%, respectively. The pooled estimate of overall major adverse events, delayed bleeding, delayed perforation and peritonitis, abdominal abscess and/or abdominal infection was 0.29%, 0.14%, 0.14%, and 0.12%, respectively., Conclusion: Gastric Eo-EFTR has a high rate of complete resection with a low surgical conversion rate. It appears to be relatively safe and might represent a non-inferior minimally invasive alternative to surgery in selected cases., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None to declare for any author., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Background: With growing incidence of early gastric cancer (EGC), endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is widely performed as a standard treatment for mucosal cancer. Due to the increasing application of ESD, the number of non-curative resection after ESD is also growing, leading to escalating number of patients who require additional gastrectomy with lymph node dissection after non-curative ESD. However, effects of ESD prior to surgery on technical difficulties during operation for EGC remain unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effect of non-curative ESD on short-term surgical outcomes in patients who underwent additional surgical treatment using propensity score matching method., Methods: To evaluate the effect of ESD on short-term surgical outcomes in patients who underwent additional surgical treatment after a non-curative ESD procedure, patients were divided into two groups: (1) those who underwent additional gastrectomy after non-curative resection of ESD [ESD + Surgery (ES) Group], and (2) those who underwent gastrectomy as the initial treatment [Surgery Only (SO) Group]. To minimize differences in baseline demographic features that could potentially be associated with short-term outcomes, propensity-scored matching analysis was performed., Results: After propensity-scored matching (1:1 matching), 140 patients altogether were selected and analyzed in this study. Complications were experienced by 18 (25.7%) patients in the ES group and 13 (18.6%) patients in the SO group, showing no significant (p < 0.416) difference between the two groups., Conclusions: Additional surgery after non-curative ESD can be safely applied, even within one month after ESD in terms of short-term complications., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All contributing authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Taiwan LLC.)

Background and Aims: To explore the novel treatment of small gastric submucosal tumors (SMTs) originating from the muscularis propria layer (SMT-MPs), we utilized endoscopic band ligation (EBL) with a precut of the covering mucosa., Methods: From Jan. 2012 to Dec. 2019, 111 patients with 124 gastric SMT-MPs were treated by precutting EBL. The clinical characteristics, operation duration, postoperative adverse events, and follow-up profiles were retrospectively collected., Results: A total of 124 tumors from 111 patients were successfully treated by precutting EBL. No adverse events, including perforation and major bleeding, were observed. Furthermore, 93 patients (83.8%) underwent endoscopic surveillance postoperatively, and during the follow-up period, no local recurrence was detected., Conclusions: Precutting EBL appears to be a safe and simple method for removing gastric SMT-MPs < 16 mm (mainly indicated for potentially malignant GISTs), but further studies with longer follow-up are needed to assess the radicality of this intervention., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None, (Copyright © 2021 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Despite the risk of lymph node metastasis (LNM), the indications of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has expanded to undifferentiated type (UD-type) early gastric cancer (EGC). There is debate as to whether the endoscopic resection can be used. This study was conducted to evaluate risk factors for LNM in undifferentiated early gastric cancer, implications for the indication of the ESD so as to providing evidence for proper clinical management for UD-type EGC., Method: We retrospectively analyzed 203 patients with UD-type EGC who underwent gastrectomy for primary gastric adenocarcinoma between 2012 and 2017. We evaluated the relationship between the clinicopathological factors and the presence of LNM using univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses., Results: A total of 203 UD-type EGC patients were enrolled, and LNM was positive in 40 cases (19.7%). Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified three independent risk factors for LNM, the tumor size (≥2.0 cm, P < 0.001), depth of invasion (P < 0.001), and lymphatic vessel involvement (LVI, P < 0.001). LNM was observed in 5.9% patients without the three predictive factors in UD-type EGC, whereas 7.7% and 37.7% of patients with one and two risk factors had LNM, respectively. In contrast, the LNM rate was up to be 66.7% in patients with three factors. Of 41 patients satisfying the expanded indication of ESD, 3 patients (7.3%) showed LNM. LNM was not found in any of 12 patients with small intramucosal lesions (<1.0 cm) without LVI., Conclusions: LNM-related risk factors were tumor larger than 2.0 cm, submucosal invasion, and the presence of LVI in UD-type EGC. ESD alone may be sufficient treatment for the intramucosal UD-type EGC that is smaller than 1.0 cm in size. When endoscopically resected specimens show unexpectedly larger tumor size, unexpected submucosal and LVI than that determined at pre-ESD endoscopic diagnosis, an additional gastrectomy with lymphadenectomy should be considered., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All authors declare no conflicts of interest related to this article., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Taiwan LLC.)

Background and Aims: Most of the evidence supporting endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) comes from Asia. European data are primarily reported by specialized referral centers and thus may not be representative of common European ESD practice. The aim of this study is to understand the current state of ESD practice across Italian endoscopy centers., Methods: All Italian endoscopists who were known to perform ESD were invited to complete a structured questionnaire including: operator features and competencies, ESD training details and clinical outcomes over a 2-year period., Results: Twenty-nine operators from 23 centers (69% response rate) completed the questionnaire: 18 (62%) were <50 years old; 7 (24%) were female; 16 (70%) were located in Northern Italy. Overall ESD volume was <40 cases in 9 (31%) operators, 40-80 in 8 (27.5%), 80-150 in 4 (13.8%) and >150 in 8 (27.5%). Colorectal ESD was predominant for operators with an experience >80 cases. En-bloc resection rates ranged from 77.2 to 97.2% depending on the anatomic location with an R0 resection rate range of 75.3-93.6%. ESD perforation rates in the colon and rectum were significantly lower when experience was >150 compared to 80-150 cases (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.006 for colon and rectum, respectively)., Conclusion: ESD in Italy is performed by a significant number of operators. Overall, Italian endoscopists performing ESD have achieved a good competence level. However, there is much variability in training protocols, initial supervision of procedures, practice settings, case mix and procedural volume/year that are likely responsible for some of the suboptimal resectional outcomes and increased perforation risk, mainly in the colon. Standardized training programs, practice parameters and auditing of outcomes are required., (Copyright © 2019 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a useful tool for the treatment of early gastric neoplasms, however post-ESD bleeding and perforation restrict its widespread application. In this study, we developed the chitosan/β-glycerophosphate/collagen (CS/GP/Col) thermo-sensitive systems to satisfy the requirements for the endoscopic treatment for ESD-induced ulcer. The results indicated that the addition of collagen to CS/GP system did not lead to remarkable changes on the physicochemical properties of the systems, which can transform from solution to hydrogels under physiological temperature within 90s, technically makes it suitable to be applied through catheter to gastric ulcer during ESD operation. Besides, hydrogels with high collagen concentration showed better biocompatibility, effectively protected L929, GES-1, HVSMC and CCD-18Co cells from acidic condition, induced more growth factors such as EGF, VEGF and FGF in those cells, and promoted coagulation. These results indicated that the CS/GP/Col thermo-sensitive hydrogel might be a promising biomaterial for the endoscopic treatment of ESD-induced ulcer, and further research can be carried out., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Backgrounds/aim: We aimed to evaluate the feasibility of endoscopic treatment for gastric epithelial neoplasm in the remnant stomach after distal gastrectomy and compared the clinical outcomes by tumor location and endoscopic treatment modality., Methods: We reviewed the data of patients who underwent endoscopic treatment for gastric epithelial neoplasms in the remnant stomach after distal gastrectomy between January 1996 and August 2013. The treatments included endoscopic resection or argon plasma coagulation., Results: Herein, 107 patients (median age, 65.1 years; 92 men) encompassing 117 cases of gastric neoplasms in the remnant stomach after distal gastrectomy were endoscopically treated. Forty of these lesions were located at anastomotic sites; they were treated with endoscopic resection in 29 cases (72.5%) and argon plasma coagulation in 11 cases (27.5%). For 77 lesions located on the non-anastomotic site, endoscopic resection was performed in 68 cases (88.4%) and argon plasma coagulation was performed in nine cases (11.7%; p = 0.031). The mean endoscopic resection duration was significantly longer in the anastomotic site group than in the non-anastomotic site group (43.6 vs. 26.3 min, p = 0.018). Recurrence was observed in five (12.8%) patients in the former and in one (1.3%) in the latter (p = 0.015); all the patients were successfully retreated with endoscopic resection or APC., Conclusions: Endoscopic treatment for gastric epithelial neoplasm in a remnant stomach after distal gastrectomy is effective and safe. However, closely monitoring for recurrence should be conducted, particularly when the tumor is located at the anastomotic site., (Copyright © 2018 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Subepithelial tumors (SETs) originating from the muscularis propria layer are unlikely to be resected completely and safely. We developed the Forcep Strip Method (FSM) for the resection of SETs in the stomach., Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of the FSM., Methods: Endoscopic SET resection using electrical forceps was performed in 11 consecutive patients with clinical indications for lesion removal. Following injection around the tumor, the adjacent mucosa or submucosa was grasped with the hot forceps and pulled away to form a "tent". The tumor was dissected from the muscularis propria layer and carefully removed using coagulating forceps., Results: The FSM was successful in 10 of the 11 patients in the series; one patient required surgery due to respiratory depression during the procedure. The complete resection rate was 100% and no major complications including bleeding and perforation occurred. Mean procedure time was 39.3 ± 14.7 min, mean hospitalization time was 5.0 ± 1.2 days, and mean tumor size was 17.1 ± 4.7 mm., Conclusion: FSM was found to be an easy, safe, and effective procedure for the treatment of gastric SETs originating from the muscularis propria layer., (Copyright © 2017 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Submucosal injection is generally required for both endoscopic-mucosal resection (EMR) and submucosal dissection (ESD). SIC-8000 (Eleview™) is a new FDA 510(k) cleared and CE marked liquid composition for submucosal injection, containing a biocompatible polymer as a cushioning agent., Aims: The aim of this randomized study was to compare Eleview with saline solution when performing upper- and lower-GI EMR/ESD in a porcine model., Methods: EMR/ESD procedures were performed in a total of 10 white domestic pigs comparing Eleview vs. NaCl 0.9% containing methylene blue at 0.001% (control solution) as submucosal solution to be injected. Animals were randomized between EMR (22 procedures) and ESD (22 procedures) and between upper- (8 animals) and lower-(2 animals) GI procedures. All procedures were performed aiming for a resection size of 1 cm × 1 cm for EMR and 2 cm × 2 cm for ESD. Volume of injected fluid, number of injections, time of resection, technical success, en-bloc resection, and adverse events were collected. Endoscopic surveillance was conducted each week for 4 weeks after the EMR/ESD, including biopsies on the margins of resection sites at week-1 of follow-up. After four weeks, pigs were sacrificed and necropsy performed., Results: Overall, 22 EMR and 22 ESD were performed in 10 live pigs. The average total volume needed for EMR and ESD was statistically significantly lower with Eleview as compared with control solution for both of the techniques (EMR: 5.6 ± 3.4 ml vs. 11.5 ± 6.7 ml; p = 0.02; ESD: 19.0 ± 10.0 ml vs. 36.3 ± 16.9 ml; p = 0.02). The rate of adverse events was statistically significantly lower in the Eleview than in the control group (2/26, 7.7% vs. 6/18, 33.3%; p = 0.03), but most of them were minor. No difference between Eleview and control solution was found in the rate of technical success (EMR: 11/13, 84.6% vs. 7/9, 77.8%; p = 0.7; ESD: 13/13, 100% vs. 9/9, 100%; p = 1), en-bloc resection (EMR: 6/13, 46.2% vs. NaCl: 5/9, 55.6%; p = 0.06; ESD: 12/13, 92.3% vs. 8/9, 88.9%; p = 0.8), and time of resection (EMR: 9.1 ± 7.75 min vs. 9.4 ± 9.6 min; p = NS; ESD: 38.4 ± 17.2 min vs. 40.2 ± 19.1 min; p = NS). At endoscopic follow up and necropsy, no difference in the process of healing of post-endoscopic ulcer and in the histological inflammation at the site of resection was shown between the two groups., Conclusions: The new submucosal injection composition Eleview appeared to be an effective alternative to saline solution for submucosal injection for EMR/ESD, resulting in a substantial reduction of the volume administered to achieve an adequate lifting. No signs of adverse local or distant tissue reaction to Eleview were found at long-term follow up., (Copyright © 2017 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Mitchell-Riley syndrome, an autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in the RFX6 gene, is defined as a combination of neonatal diabetes mellitus and serious congenital gastrointestinal defects. We describe Mitchell-Riley syndrome in two sisters with two novel compound heterozygous variants in the RFX6 gene: c.1154G > A, p.(Arg385Gln), and c.1316&#95;1319delTCTA, p.(Ile439Thrfs*13). Both sisters present milder forms of the syndrome, likely due to possible residual activity of the p.Arg385Gln variant, which is localized in a dimerization domain of the RFX6 transcription factor. We propose that the prognosis is dependent on patient RFX6 genotype and possible residual activity of RFX6 transcription factor. Both sisters had atypical later onset of diabetes, at 2 years and 10 months and 2 years and 7 months, respectively. This supports the need of extending the definition of diabetes in Mitchell-Riley syndrome from neonatal to childhood onset and regular glyceamia check in patients with gastrointestinal tract malformations typical for Mitchell-Riley syndrome. The clinical course in both sisters improved significantly after surgical removal of parts of the small intestine with heterotopic gastric mucosa. We suggest that gastric mucosa heterotopy is an important actionable part of Mitchell-Riley syndrome and could have been responsible for the malabsorption, failure to thrive and severe anemia present in previously reported patients with Mitchell-Riley syndrome., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Background: There exists great controversy regarding the use of esophagogastric anastomotic techniques in the treatment of esophageal cancer. The aim of this study was to compare two types of cervical esophagogastric anastomoses with respect to the reduction of postoperative anastomotic leaks, stenosis, and gastroesophageal reflux., Methods: From June 2010 to September 2013, 339 patients who underwent two different cervical esophagogastric anastomotic procedures after thoracolaparoscopic esophagectomy for esophageal cancer were identified., Results: A total of 166 patients with esophageal cancer were treated using an embedded three-layer anastomosis (embedded group), and 173 were treated using a conventional two-layer anastomosis (conventional group). The rates of anastomotic leak (2.4% [4 of 166] versus 7.5% [13 of 173], p = 0.031) and benign anastomotic stricture (4.8% [8 of 166] versus 12.7% [22 of 173], p = 0.010) were significantly lower in the embedded group compared with the conventional group. The mean reflux scores were significantly higher among the patients in the conventional group compared with the patients in the embedded group at 1 month (25.2 versus 19.0, p = 0.001), 3 months (27.8 versus 21.4, p = 0.001), and 6 months (23.4 versus 17.8, p < 0.001) of follow-up. The mean scores for dysphagia were significantly lower among the patients in the embedded group compared with the patients in the conventional group at both 3 months (22.7 versus 29.8, p = 0.012) and 6 months (16.0 versus 21.3, p = 0.008) of follow-up., Conclusions: The new embedded three-layer esophagogastric anastomosis offers several advantages and reduces the incidence of postoperative complications such as anastomotic leak, stricture, and gastroesophageal reflux., (Copyright © 2016 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Moderate to deep sedation has been recommended during endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). However, it is often accompanied by adverse events such as respiratory depression or aspiration pneumonia. This study investigated the respiratory complications and ESD outcomes of two sedation protocols: moderate sedation with analgesic supplementation (MSAS) and analgesia targeted light sedation (ATLS)., Methods: The clinical data of 293 patients who underwent ESD between May and December 2012 were reviewed. During the first 4 months, 155 patients were managed by moderate sedation [Modified Observer Assessment of Alertness/Sedation (MOAA/S) at 2-3] with the MSAS protocol. During the latter period, 138 patients were managed using the ATLS protocol (MOAA/S at 4-5). For both protocols, propofol and remifentanil were infused for sedation and pain control, respectively., Results: The ATLS protocol required less propofol [22.9 (sd 17.3) vs 88.1 (44.0) µg kg(-1) min(-1), P<0.001] and more remifentanil [6.8 (sd 3.1) vs 4.9 (3.0) µg kg(-1) hr(-1), P<0.001] than the MSAS protocol. The desaturation events during the procedure occurred significantly less often (2.2 vs 12.9%, P=0.001) and recovery was significantly faster [19.7 (sd 4.8) vs 27.9 (16.0) min, P<0.001] with the ATLS protocol than with the MSAS protocol. The incidence of aspiration pneumonia with the ATLS protocol was 1.4% compared with 5.2% with the MSAS protocol (P=0.109). There were no differences in outcomes and complications of ESD., Conclusion: The ATLS protocol reduced the incidence of desaturation events without affecting ESD performance compared with the MSAS protocol. There was also a trend towards a low incidence of aspiration pneumonia with the ATLS protocol., (© The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Journal of Anaesthesia. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background: Although endoscopic submucosal dissection has become widely used for the management of selected cases of early gastric cancer, the effects of endoscopic submucosal dissection for esophagogastric junction cancer have not been fully evaluated., Methods: Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were searched using the primary keywords "endoscopic submucosal dissection," "ESD," "endoscopic resection," "esophagogastric junction," "gastroesophageal junction," and "Barrett." Six short-term clinical outcomes and three long-term oncologic outcomes were extracted., Results: A total of six studies provided data on 359 early stage esophagogastric junction cancers treated with endoscopic submucosal dissection. The pooled estimate of en bloc resection and complete resection was 98.6% (95% confidence interval 95.9-99.6%) and 87.0% (95% confidence interval 79.7-92.0%), respectively. The pooled estimate of stenosis was 6.9% (95% confidence interval 3.2-14.0%). In 269 lesions with curative resection, there was no local recurrence or distant metastasis. In contrast, three local recurrences and two distant metastases occurred in 90 lesions with non-curative resection., Conclusions: Endoscopic submucosal dissection for early stage esophagogastric junction cancer is a feasible treatment option with high en bloc resection, complete resection rates and an acceptable range of complications. When curative resections are achieved, good oncologic outcomes are likely in the management of early stage esophagogastric junction cancer by endoscopic submucosal dissection., (Copyright © 2014 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Endoscopic submucosal dissection is applied in selected cases of signet ring cell early gastric cancer. However, factors related to curability of signet ring cell early gastric cancer with this method have not been fully evaluated. Our aim was to evaluate factors related to incomplete resection in signet ring cell early gastric cancer with endoscopic submucosal dissection., Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on a total of 126 consecutive patients with signet ring cell early gastric cancer who had undergone endoscopic submucosal dissection at the Severance Hospital in Korea, between March 2007 and March 2012. The clinical outcomes were reviewed and factors related to incomplete resection were analysed., Results: Multivariate analysis showed that large tumour size was the only significant factor related to incomplete resection (P=0.006; hazard ratio, 1.040; 95% confidence interval, 1.101-1.084). In addition, large tumour size was the only significant factor related to endoscopic size underestimation (P<0.001; hazard ratio, 1.391; 95% confidence interval, 1.221-1.586). The rate of endoscopic size underestimation was significantly higher in tumours with a size ≥20mm (P<0.001)., Conclusions: To improve the curability of signet ring cell early gastric cancer with endoscopic submucosal dissection, larger tumours (especially tumour with a size ≥20mm) should be resected with a larger margin., (Copyright © 2014 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Gastric atypical epithelium on endoscopic biopsy is borderline lesions between benign and malignant. Definitive management of this lesion remains debatable., Aims: We aimed to analyze the final histological diagnosis for atypical epithelium on endoscopic biopsy and to examine the discrepancy rate between the final histological diagnosis and the initial endoscopic assessment., Methods: This retrospective study finally enrolled 24 cases proven atypical epithelium on initial histology of an endoscopic biopsy. Of 24 cases, endoscopic submucosal dissection (n = 22), operation (n = 1) and follow-up biopsy without endoscopic submucosal dissection (n = 1) were performed., Results: Of the 24 cases, early gastric cancer (n = 15, 62%) and adenoma (n = 7, 30%) lesions were finally diagnosed in 22 cases. Age, sex, endoscopic results and number of biopsy did not significantly influence the result of final outcome. Between the initial endoscopic assessment and the final histological diagnosis, 12 cases (50%) showed a concordant diagnosis, but eight (33%) and four cases (17%) showed upgraded and downgraded diagnoses, respectively., Conclusions: Of atypical epithelium cases, the rate of malignant and premalignant lesions was 92% and it was difficult to distinguish between malignant and benign lesions using the initial endoscopic findings. Therefore, endoscopic submucosal dissection can be considered in patients with atypical epithelium on endoscopic biopsy., (Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Background and Aims: The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the feasibility of submucosal tunnelling endoscopic resection of esophageal tumours originating from the muscularis propria layer., Methods: Fifteen patients with esophageal submucosal tumours originating from the muscularis propria layer underwent submucosal tunnelling endoscopic resection between August 2011 and February 2012. The key steps were: (1) creating a submucosal tunnel from 5 cm above the tumour between the submucosal and muscular layers with a hook knife or hybrid knife; (2) dissecting the tumour by the technique of endoscopic submucosal dissection; (3) closing the mucosal incision site with clips after the tumour was removed., Results: Submucosal tunnelling endoscopic resection was successfully performed in all cases. The en bloc resection rate was 100%. The average tumour diameter was 1.8 cm (range 1.0-3.0 cm). During the procedure, perforation occurred in 3 patients, who recovered after conservative treatment. No residual tumour or tumour recurrence was detected during the follow-up period (mean: 3.5 months, range: 1-9 months). Pathological diagnoses of these tumours were leiomyomas (12/15) and gastrointestinal stromal tumours (3/15)., Conclusions: Submucosal tunnelling endoscopic resection is a feasible method for the treatment of small esophageal submucosal tumours originating from the muscularis propria layer., (Copyright © 2012 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Endoscopic submucosal dissection is a technique developed in Japan for en bloc resection with a lower rate of recurrence. It is considered technically difficult and performed only in specialized centers. This study sought to report the initial experience from the Gastrocentro--Campinas State University for the treatment of gastric and colorectal lesions by endoscopic submucosal dissection., Materials and Methods: The guidelines of the Japanese Association of Gastric Cancer were used as evaluative criteria. For colorectal lesions, the recommended standards proposed by Uraoka et al. and Saito et al. were employed. The practicability of the method, the development of complications and histological analysis of the specimens were evaluated., Results: Sixteen patients underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection from June 2010 to April 2011; nine patients were treated for gastric lesions, and seven were treated for colorectal lesions. The average diameter of the gastric lesions was 28.6 mm, and the duration of resection was 103 min without complications. All lesions presented lesion-free margins. Of the seven colorectal tumors, four were located in the rectum and three were located in the colon. The average size was 26 mm, and the average procedure time was 163 min. Two complications occurred during the rectal resection procedures: perforation, which was treated with an endoscopic clip, and controlled bleeding. One of the lesions presented a compromised lateral margin without relapse after 90 days. Depth margins were all free of lesions., Conclusion: Endoscopic submucosal dissection at our institution achieved high success rates, with few complications in preliminary procedures. The procedure also made appropriate lesion staging possible.

Objective: There are no clinical reports on the risk of carcinoids in the gastric segment following gastrocystoplasty. The aim of the present study was to examine whether gastric carcinoids could develop in a rat model of gastrocystoplasty., Materials and Methods: Rats were subjected to gastrocystoplasty in which 10% of the oxyntic part of the stomach was removed (i.e. 10% fundectomy), gastrocystoplasty with 90% fundectomy (known to induce hypergastrinemia), sham operation, or no operation, and were followed up for 6 months. Tissue specimens of bladder and stomach were analyzed by means of pathology and immunohistochemistry., Results: Atrophy of gastric glands in the augmented bladders was found after gastrocystoplasty with either 10% or 90% fundectomy. Gastrocystoplasty with 90% fundectomy resulted in hyperplasia of the oxyntic mucosa, enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cell hyperplasia and ECLoma in the remnant stomach, and atrophy of the oxyntic mucosa and ECLoma in the gastric segment of the bladder., Conclusions: ECLoma could develop in the gastric segment of the bladder after gastrocystoplasty, particularly in the setting of hypergastrinemia. The tumorigenesis of ECLoma seems to follow the same pathological pathway regardless of whether the oxyntic mucosa is located in the stomach or the bladder., (Copyright © 2011 Journal of Pediatric Urology Company. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In the last decade, imaging mass spectrometry has seen incredible technological advances in its applications to biological samples. One computational method of data mining in this field is the spatial segmentation of a sample, which produces a segmentation map highlighting chemically similar regions. An important issue for any imaging mass spectrometry technology is its relatively low spatial or lateral resolution (i.e. a large size of pixel) as compared with microscopy. Thus, the spatial resolution of a segmentation map is also relatively low, that complicates its visual examination and interpretation when compared with microscopy data, as well as reduces the accuracy of any automated comparison. We address this issue by proposing an approach to improve the spatial resolution of a segmentation map. Given a segmentation map, our method magnifies it up to some factor, producing a super-resolution segmentation map. The super-resolution map can be overlaid and compared with a high-res microscopy image. The proposed method is based on recent advances in image processing and smoothes the "pixilated" region boundaries while preserving fine details. Moreover, it neither eliminates nor splits any region. We evaluated the proposed super-resolution segmentation approach on three MALDI-imaging datasets of human tissue sections and demonstrated the superiority of the super-segmentation maps over standard segmentation maps., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: It is difficult to perform complete resection of prepyloric tumours, especially those involving pyloric channel due to incomplete visualisation and insufficient resection margin with forward view., Aim: To investigate outcomes of endoscopic submucosal dissection for pyloric tumours, we assess effectiveness of retroflexion view technique in comparison with forward view technique., Methods: We investigated 47 prepyloric tumours treated by endoscopic submucosal dissection and compared results of forward view technique with those of retroflexion view technique., Results: Of the 47 prepyloric tumours, 23 lesions had pyloric channel involvement (group 1) and 24 lesions did not (group 2). The en bloc resection, curative resection and complete resection rates for all endoscopic submucosal dissection cases were 80.9, 85.1 and 70.2%, respectively. The en bloc resection, curative resection and complete resection rates were significantly lower in group 1 than group 2. Of the tumours involving pyloric channel except 3 cases which were extended to duodenum, 12 lesions were resected with retroflexion and 8 lesions with forward. Curative resection rate was higher in retroflexion group than forward group (91.7% vs. 37.5%; p=0.018). None of the patients experienced perforation or pyloric stenosis., Conclusions: Endoscopic submucosal dissection using retroflexion manoeuvre is a more effective method for the curative resection of gastric tumours involving pyloric channel., (Copyright © 2011 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Incidental findings of high-grade dysplasia or gastric cancer at random biopsies with endoscopic diagnosis of chronic gastritis constitute a serious problem to clinical management of patients and sometimes requires blind gastrectomy., Aim: To evaluate diagnostic value of second-look endoscopy, called "rescue endoscopy", in order to identify focal lesions containing neoplastic changes., Methods: Over a three-year period, 20 patients underwent rescue endoscopy using advanced endoscopy and mapping technique. All mucosal irregularities were identified and the locations of these areas were mapped onto a schematic diagram of gastric anatomy. Each area was biopsied and samples included in individually marked specimen containers, to evaluate the correlation between macroscopic and microscopic diagnosis., Results: Rescue endoscopy identified a total of 68 focal lesions, 18 of which were focal areas of high-grade dysplasia (13 patients) or gastric cancer (5 patients). Two patients had no dysplastic change identified by our targeted biopsies. A second pathologist's opinion confirmed absence of dysplasia on random and targeted biopsies. All patients underwent a median follow-up of 15.2 months (2.6-43.5), and no residual or metachronous lesions were identified., Conclusions: In our experience, rescue endoscopy is highly effective in localizing undetermined areas of high-grade dysplasia or carcinoma., (Copyright © 2011 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Vertical gastric plication is a novel surgical approach for reducing the stomach capacity. Anterior surface plication and greater curvature plication are variations of vertical gastric plication that reduce the gastric capacity through infolding of the anterior surface or greater curvature of the stomach, respectively. These approaches have been tested, with positive results in a small number of preclinical and clinical trials. A key step toward greater investigation of vertical gastric plication as a viable bariatric procedure would be confirmation that the apposed serosal tissues can be securely and durably bonded. We compared the short-term durability of gastric plications and serosal bonds using a variety of fastening devices and techniques in a university hospital and private company setting., Methods: A total of 30 anterior surface plication and 8 greater curvature plication procedures were performed using an open or a laparoscopic surgical technique in 38 hound dogs. The fastening devices used were T-tags, buttressed T-tags, 2 types of suture, and 4 types of staple-based fasteners. The density of the fastening devices was varied among the dogs. With 3 exceptions (2 in keeping with the study design and 1 due to complications), the dogs were followed up for 8 weeks. Histologic examinations and tensile testing were performed postmortem., Results: All fastening devices created durable plication folds, except for 1 technique. The only technique that did not produce durable serosa-to-serosa adhesions was a staple/suture combination. Intentional abrasion of the apposed sites had no demonstrable effect on the bonds between the tissues in any group. Increasing the fastener density and number of rows increased the adhesions within the folds., Conclusion: Our findings have confirmed the short-term durability and development of dense fibrous appositions of the serosal folds for fastening approaches that create fixed serosal apposition. Additional studies are needed to identify the optimal fastening modality for anterior surface plication, greater curvature plication, and, ultimately, clinical applications of this procedure., (Copyright © 2011 American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Bladder augmentation with segments of small bowel (ileocystoplasty), large intestine (colocystoplasty) or stomach (gastrocystoplasty) has been used to treat patients with small or noncompliant bladders by increasing the capacity or compliance. Carcinomas following gastrocystoplasty have been observed in the segments of stomach; however, to our knowledge, carcinoma arising in the residual native bladder has not been reported. We report the first case of adenocarcinoma arising in the residual native bladder in association with intestinal metaplasia and dysplasia of bladder mucosa 17 years following gastrocystoplasty. Intestinal metaplasia secondary to recurrent urinary infection, chronic inflammation, and some form of irritation may potentiate the development of native bladder adenocarcinoma. Patients with gastrocystoplasty are at an increased risk for carcinoma in stomach segments and require close long-term follow up; however, the risk of carcinoma in native bladder is still unclear., (Copyright © 2010 Journal of Pediatric Urology Company. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Endoscopic submucosal dissection is a new Japanese technique characterized by en-bloc resection of the entire lesion irrespective of size, with lower local recurrence when compared to endoscopic mucosal resection., Objective: To evaluate the feasibility, early results and complications of the endoscopic submucosal dissection technique for treating early gastric and esophageal cancer at the Endoscopic Unit of Clinics Hospital and Cancer Institute of the São Paulo University., Materials and Methods: Twenty patients underwent endoscopic resection using the endoscopic submucosal dissection technique for early gastric or esophageal cancer. The patients were evaluated prospectively as to the executability of the technique, the short-term results of the procedure and complications., Results: Sixteen gastric adenocarcinoma lesions and six esophageal squamous carcinoma lesions were resected. In the stomach, the mean diameter of the lesions was 16.2 mm (0.6-3.5 mm). Eight lesions were type IIa + IIc, four were type IIa and four IIc, with thirteen being well differentiated and three undifferentiated. Regarding the degree of invasion, five were M2, seven were M3, two were Sm1 and one was Sm2. The mean duration of the procedures was 85 min (20-160 min). In the esophagus, all of the lesions were type IIb, with a mean diameter of 17.8 mm (6-30 mm). Regarding the degree of invasion, three were M1, one was M2, one was M3 and one was Sm1. All had free lateral and deep margins. The mean time of the procedure was 78 min (20-150 min), Conclusion: The endoscopic submucosal dissection technique was feasible in our service with a high success rate.

Background: Submucosal injection of normal saline (NS) is commonly used during endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) but is quickly absorbed. Sodium hyaluronate (SH) produces longer lasting mucosal elevation but is expensive., Aims: To evaluate the performance of novel solutions for submucosal injection in comparison with NS and SH., Methods: One ml of the following solutions was injected in the submucosa of fresh specimens of porcine stomachs: NaCl 0.9%, SH 0.4%, human albumin 25%, two artificial tears solutions, namely, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) 0.3%/dextran 70.1% and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) 1.4%, hydroxyethyl starch (HES) 6% and polyethylene glycol (PEG) 50%. The time until the disappearance of the mucosal elevation was recorded in a blind manner., Results: The median duration of mucosal elevation was significantly longer with HPMC/dextran, PVA, HES, PEG and SH (29, 26, 38, 31.5, and 41.5min, respectively) compared with NS (12min) (p<0.05 for each comparison). There were no significant time differences between SH and HPMC/dextran, HES and PEG (p>0.05)., Conclusions: Novel viscous or hypertonic solutions for submucosal injection, perform better than normal saline and equally well as sodium hyaluronate in porcine stomachs in vitro., (2009 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Chronic mesenteric ischemia classically presents as "intestinal angina" with generalized postprandial abdominal pain lasting up to 3 hours. Over time, these episodes can become much more intense and ultimately lead to sitophobia with significant weight loss. Symptoms are not specific and often mistakenly attributed to other gastrointestinal etiologies such as peptic ulcer disease. Gastric ulcerations as a direct result of mesenteric ischemia have been reported but are relatively rare because of the rich collateral blood supply to the stomach. Therefore, a diagnosis of ischemic gastropathy is seldom entertained in patients presenting with abdominal pain and gastric ulcers.

The results of transplantation of human donor islets into the portal vein (PV) in patients with diabetes are encouraging. However, there are complications, for example, hemorrhage, thrombosis and an immediate loss of islets through the 'instant blood-mediated inflammatory reaction' (IBMIR). The gastric submucosal space (GSMS) offers potential advantages. Islets were isolated from adult pigs. Recipient pigs were made diabetic by streptozotocin. Donor islets were injected into the GSMS through a laparotomy (Group 1A, n = 4) or endoscopically (Group 1B, n = 8) or into the PV through a laparotomy (Group 2, n = 3). The pigs were followed for a maximum of 28 days. Monitoring of C-peptide in Group 1 indicated that there was minimal immediate loss of islets whereas in Group 2 there was considerable loss from IBMIR. In Group 1, there were significant reductions in mean blood glucose and mean exogenous insulin requirement between pretransplantation and 20 days posttransplantation. In Group 2, there was no significant reduction in either parameter. Insulin-positive cells were seen in the GSMS in Group 1, but not in the liver in Group 2. Endoscopic gastric submucosal transplantation of islets (ENDO-STI) offers a minimally invasive and quick approach to islet transplantation, avoids IBMIR and warrants further exploration.

Background: Endoscopic submucosal dissection is a novel technique that is expected to be a curative treatment for early gastric cancers. Anti-coagulants and anti-platelet agents are widely used, especially in elderly patients, to prevent thromboembolic disease. However, the feasibility of endoscopic submucosal dissection for such patients has not been investigated., Aims: To determine the feasibility of endoscopic submucosal dissection for patients using anti-coagulant and anti-platelet agents via retrospective investigation of clinical outcomes., Methods: Of 408 patients with 444 early gastric cancers consecutively treated by endoscopic submucosal dissection from January 2000 to December 2007 in our hospital, 47 patients with 56 early gastric cancers were receiving anti-coagulants or anti-platelet agents. All patients were classified into groups for high and low risk of thromboembolism. In 44 low-risk patients, these agents were stopped for 1 week before and after treatment. Only three high-risk patients underwent intravenous heparin replacement during the cessation period., Results: Comparison with other patients showed no significant differences in complete en-bloc resection (96.4%) or perforation (1.8%). Postoperative bleeding requiring endoscopic treatment occurred for six early gastric cancers (10.7%) in the anti-coagulant and anti-platelet group; this frequency was slightly higher than that observed for other patients (5.2%). The healing of endoscopic submucosal dissection ulcers was not delayed by anti-coagulant and anti-platelet treatment (91% in the scarring stage) when checked at the 8th week after endoscopic submucosal dissection., Conclusion: The clinical outcomes of endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric cancers in patients receiving anti-coagulants or anti-platelet agents indicated that endoscopic submucosal dissection for low-risk patients could be a reliable technique with equivalent efficacy and risk in comparison with that for other early gastric cancer patients.

Background: To achieve en bloc resection for large lesions, endoscopic mucosal resection after circumferential precutting and endoscopic submucosal dissection techniques have been developed., Aim: To compare endoscopic submucosal dissection with endoscopic mucosal resection after circumferential precutting in terms of the clinical efficacy and safety., Patients and Methods: 346 consecutive patients underwent their first endoscopic mucosal resection after circumferential precutting (103 patients) or endoscopic submucosal dissection (243 patients) for early gastric cancer and their clinical outcomes were compared., Results: For early gastric cancer >or=20mm endoscopic submucosal dissection group demonstrated significantly higher en bloc resection and en bloc plus R0 resection rate compared with endoscopic mucosal resection after circumferential precutting group. For early gastric cancer with size of 10-19 mm, endoscopic submucosal dissection group also showed significantly higher en bloc resection rate. For early gastric cancer <20mm, however, en bloc plus R0 resection rate for endoscopic mucosal resection after circumferential precutting group was comparable to that for endoscopic submucosal dissection group. In case of R0 resection of intramucosal differentiated cancer, neither group showed local recurrence during the median 29 and 17 months of follow-up. Two groups did not show significant difference in the bleeding or perforation rates., Conclusion: For early gastric cancer <20mm endoscopic mucosal resection after circumferential precutting may be considered as an alternative choice to endoscopic submucosal dissection. However, for early gastric cancer >or=20mm endoscopic submucosal dissection should be considered as the first choice for treating early gastric cancer.