Introduction

PolyDeep is a computer-aided diagnosis system designed for both the detection and characterization (CADe/x) of colorectal lesions during colonoscopy. It has been evaluated in three clinical trials focused on polyp detection.

Aims & Methods

We aimed to compare the diagnostic accuracy of endoscopists and PolyDeep for the optical diagnosis of colorectal lesions (i.e. neoplasia and adenoma) during colonoscopy. We conducted a post-hoc analysis within the three PolyDeep Advance trials, including all lesions detected during AI-assisted colonoscopies with confirmed histology. Endoscopists used the NICE classification system for the optical diagnosis of neoplasia and adenoma, while PolyDeep classified lesions based on the probability of neoplasia (i.e., adenomas and serrated lesions) using a 60% probability threshold. We calculated diagnostic accuracy using 2×2 confusion matrices, which included sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV). We also calculated the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) to assess overall performance in the optical diagnosis of colorectal lesions. We compared sensitivity and specificity using the McNemar test and assessed the overall diagnostic performance for the optical diagnosis of neoplasia and adenoma using the chi-square homogeneity areas test.

Results

Among the 1240 participants eligible for analysis, we detected a total of 2915 lesions. We excluded 1304 lesions identified during non-AI-assisted colonoscopies and 60 lesions due to the lack of confirmed histology. Consequently, we included 1551 lesions in the final analysis, comprising 1,003 adenomas (64.7%), 424 serrated lesions (27.3%), and 124 lesions with other histology (8.0%). Endoscopists classified as NICE II 1,070 (69.0%) lesions and as NICE I 481 (31.0%) lesions. PolyDeep identified as neoplastic lesions 938 (60.4%), as non-neoplastic lesions 575 (37.1%), and as undefined 38 (2.5%). In the characterization of neoplastic lesions, the sensitivity of the endoscopists and PolyDeep was 81.4% and 68.7% (p < 0.0001), while the specificity was 64.2% and 56.4% (p < 0.05) respectively. The endoscopists achieved a PPV of 85.9% compared to 81.2% of PolyDeep, while the NPV was 56.3% and 39.7%. Regarding overall diagnostic performance, endoscopists reached an AUC of 0.72 (95% CI 0.70–0.75) versus 0.62 (95% CI 0.59–0.65) for PolyDeep (p < 0.0001). In the characterization of adenomatous lesions, endoscopists reached a sensitivity of 84.6% compared to 70.2% for PolyDeep (p < 0.0001), and a specificity of 59.7% in comparison to 53.2% (p < 0.05) respectively. The PPV was 79.3% for endoscopists and 73.6% for PolyDeep, while the NPV was 68.0% and 49.0%. For overall diagnostic accuracy in adenoma characterization, the AUC was 0.72 (95% CI 0.69–0.74) for endoscopists and 0.61 (95% CI 0.59–0.64) for PolyDeep (p < 0.0001).

Conclusion

The diagnostic performance of endoscopists was superior to that of PolyDeep in the optical characterization of colonic lesions.

Introduction

Gastrointestinal endoscopy advancements have improved diagnostics and treatment but also increased the risk of adverse events, potentially affecting the psychological well-being of practitioners. This study aims to assess the psychological state experienced by Portuguese gastroenterologists following endoscopic adverse events in endoscopic procedures.

Aims & Methods

A nationwide online survey was conducted between November 2024 and January 2025, with invitations sent to all registered Portuguese gastroenterologists (n=709). Psychological state was assessed using validated scales assessing psychological distress (DASS-21), professional quality of life (ProQOL-5), self-compassion (SCS-12), and shame feelings (OAS2). Results are presented as median (Mdn) and interquartile range (IQR).

Results

Seventy gastroenterologists participated in the study (Mdn age 41 years; experience 11 years; both IQR 11), with a 9.87% participation rate. Nearly all (n=69) had encountered adverse events, with most reporting 1–5 incidents. None sought psychological support after the adverse events, 6 faced legal repercussions, and 3 discontinued specific techniques. DASS-21 had a Mdn of 6.00 (IQR 12.00) for stress (mild if <10), 4.00 (IQR 8.00) for anxiety (mild if <6), and 4.00 (IQR 6.00) for depression (mild if <10). ProQOL-5’s total score Mdn was 41.00 (IQR 6.50) for compassion satisfaction, 25.5 (IQR 7.00) for burnout, and 24.00 (IQR 6.25) for traumatic stress, all within the moderate range (23–41). OAS2 shame score was 16.00 (IQR 7.30). Self-compassion showed a Mdn of 3.46 (IQR 1.00; moderate if 2.3–3.5). Gastroenterologists with legal repercussions had higher compassion satisfaction (52.50 vs. 33.33; p = 0.025). Those who discontinued procedures reported higher anxiety levels (56.17 vs. 31.88; p = 0.026), but no other significant differences were found.

Conclusion

This is the first published study assessing the psychological state of adverse events on gastroenterologists. While most reported mild to moderate distress, legal repercussions were associated with higher compassion satisfaction, and stopping procedures correlated with higher anxiety. Findings suggest a need for psychological support after endoscopic adverse events, and for research on their impact on gastroenterologists.

Introduction

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a well-recognized decompensation that significantly affects the clinical outcome of patients with liver cirrhosis. The aim of this study is to assess the factors associated with short-term mortality in this patient population.

Aims & Methods

We conducted a retrospective study (January 2022 to December 2024) on all cirrhotic patients with SBP, admitted in the Gastroenterology Department of “St. Spiridon” County Clinical Emergency Hospital Iasi, a tertiary referral center. The SBP cases were identified based on elevated ascitic fluid absolute PMN count > 250 cells/mm³, with or without positive ascitic fluid bacterial culture.

Results

Out of the 114 cirrhotic patients diagnosed with SBP for the first time, 39 (34,2%) were female and 75 (65,8%) were male, with a mean age of 57 years. Most patients had advanced liver disease according to the Child-Pugh classification: 98 patients (86%) were classified as Child C, and 16 patients (14%) as Child B. The mean MELD-Na score was 23.3 points. The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 17.5% (20 patients). According to the multivariable analysis, several factors were significantly associated with in-hospital mortality, such as: renal dysfunction (OR 8.4118 [95% CI 2.9190 to 24.2403]; P=0.0001), serum bilirubin higher than 3 mg/dl (OR 4.8571 [95% CI 1.7445 to 13.5216]; P=0.0025), serum sodium lower than 130 mmol/l (OR 4.3750 [95% CI 1.5973 to 11.9833]; P=0.0041), international normalized ration (INR) higher than 2 (OR 4.5222 [95% CI 1.6471 to 12.4161]; P=0.0034).

Conclusion

Renal dysfunction, elevated INR, hyperbilirubinemia, and hyponatremia appear to be significant factors associated with the worsening of prognosis in cirrhotic patients with SBP, influencing in-hospital mortality.

Introduction

Recent studies have revealed that liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) plays a critical role in tumorigenesis. Myotilin (MYOT), a key component of actin cross-linking protein complexes, is involved in regulating myofibril assembly and maintaining the structural integrity of Z-discs in muscle cells. Intriguingly, MYOT contains intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) and has been implicated in the migration of gastric cancer. However, whether MYOT undergoes LLPS and whether this process contributes to gastric cancer progression remains unexplored.

Aims & Methods

We aimed to investigate whether MYOT undergoes LLPS and its potential role in gastric cancer progression.
Differential gene expression analysis was performed on gastric cancer samples from our sequencing data and validated using public databases. The Disprot, Database of Protein Disorder was used to predict the IDRs of MYOT. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) and cellular immunofluorescence were explored to assess MYOT’s ability to undergo LLPS. Cell proliferation, apoptosis and migration assay were conducted to investigate the potential role of MYOT in gastric cancer. Actin polymerization assays were performed to evaluate the qualitative effects of purified MYOT on actin polymerization.

Results

Differential gene expression analysis revealed that MYOT was significantly downregulated in gastric cancer tissues compared to adjacent normal tissues, a finding further confirmed by RT-qPCR. In the prediction of protein structure, it can be found that MYOT contains extensive IDRs. FRAP analysis demonstrated rapid fluorescence recovery in GFP-MYOT droplets within minutes, suggesting dynamic LLPS behavior. Similarly, purified GFP-MYOT exhibited fusion behaviors, further supporting its capacity for LLPS in vitro. Overexpression of MYOT did not significantly affect gastric cancer cell proliferation or apoptosis, but reduced cell migration. Actin polymerization failed to occur both in the GFP-MYOT and GFP control samples.

Conclusion

Our findings demonstrate that MYOT suppresses gastric cancer cell migration and purified GFP-MYOT does not directly promote on actin polymerization, implicating its potential role as a tumor suppressor. Additionally, MYOT undergoes LLPS both in vitro and in vivo, as evidenced by FRAP. We propose that MYOT may exert its anti-tumor effects through LLPS-mediated mechanisms, offering a novel perspective on its function in gastric cancer progression.

Introduction

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SESCC) involving the entire circumference carries the extremely high risk of stricture and also raises concerns about curative resection. Therefore, the current Japanese guidelines weakly recommend ESD only for circumferential SESCCs diagnosed as cEP/LPM and sized ≤ 50 mm, while surgery or chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is recommended for circumferential SESCCs other than the above. ¹ However, in clinical practice, ESD is implemented on a case-by-case basis through the discussion in a multi-disciplinary cancer board at each institution because the outcomes of each treatment for circumferential SESCCs remain unclear.²

Aims & Methods

This multicenter prospective observational study aimed to reveal the outcomes of each treatment for circumferential SESCCs. Patients with cT1a-EP/LPM or cT1a-MM/T1b-SM1 N0M0 SESCCs involving the entire circumference were enrolled in this study. At this stage, short-term outcomes, such as the proportion of curative resection after ESD, complete response (CR) after CRT/radiotherapy (RT), and adverse events including esophageal stricture, were evaluated. Curative resection in ESD was defined as pT1a without lymphovascular invasion (LVI). Esophageal stricture was defined as inability to pass the ordinary-sized endoscope thorough the treated site, and refractory stricture was defined as stricture requiring ≥ 6 endoscopic balloon dilation procedures.

Results

A total of 126 patients with circumferential SESCCs were enrolled from 16 Japanese tertiary institutions between May 2021 and November 2024. ESD was performed for 90 (71.4%) patients including 6 undergoing stepwise ESD, surgery for 18 (14.3%), CRT for 16 (12.7%), and RT alone for 2 (1.6%). Median longitudinal length of tumor was 55 (range: 30–140) mm in the ESD group, 80 (50–150) mm in the surgery group, and 70 (30–100) mm in the CRT/RT group. Tumor depth was diagnosed as cEP/LPM in 65.4% (55/84) of the ESD group, 38.9% (7/18) of the surgery group, and 50.0% (9/18) of the CRT/RT group, and the others were diagnosed as cMM/SM1. As stricture prevention method after ESD, local injection or filling of triamcinolone (TA) alone was used in 9 patients (10.7%), and both local injection of TA and oral steroid of prednisolone were used in 75 (89.3%). Among the 63 patients who did not receive additional treatment after ESD, the proportion of stricture and refractory stricture were 46.0% (29/63) and 27.0% (17/63), respectively. Curative resection after ESD was achieved in 58 patients (69.0%), including 46 (83.6%) with cEP/LPM and 12 (41.4%) with cMM/SM1. Of 26 patients with non-curative resection after ESD, 20 (76.9%) received additional treatment of either surgery, CRT, or RT, while the remaining 6 opted for follow-up. Of 18 patients in the surgery group, 7 with cEP/LPM and 4 with cMM/SM1 were diagnosed as pT1aN0 without LVI, while the remaining 7 with cMM/SM1 were diagnosed as pT1b, 3 of whom had lymph node metastasis. Anastomotic stricture was observed in 11.1% (2/18) of patients treated with surgery. Of 18 patients in the CRT/RT group, CR was confirmed in all patients without forming stricture.

Conclusion

Considering the high curative resection rate, ESD could be indicated for circumferential SESCCs diagnosed as cEP/LPM. In contrast, the careful consideration may be required in indicating ESD for circumferential SESCCs diagnosed as cMM/SM1 due to its low curative resection rate. Long-term outcome needs to be confirmed for further treatment comparisons.

References

1. Ishihara R, Arima M, Iizuka T, et al. Endoscopic submucosal dissection/endoscopic mucosal resection guidelines for esophageal cancer. Dig Endosc. 2020; 32: 452–93.
2. Kadota T, Ishihara R, Hatta W, et al. Multi-institutional questionnaire on treatment strategies for superficial entire circumferential esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. DEN Open. 2023; 3: e206.

Introduction

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided hepaticogastrostomy (EUS-HGS) is an effective treatment for patients in whom transpapillary biliary drainage fails. However, EUS-HGS is associated with a high incidence of early procedure-relatedadverse events (PRAEs) due to bile leakage through a biliogastrointestinal fistula.

Aims & Methods

This multicenter study retrospectively evaluated the clinical outcomes of EUS-HGS. This study included 222 patients (120 men, 102 women; median age, 73 years) who underwent initial EUS-HGS between November 2014 and August 2024. Technical and clinical success rates, PRAEs, and stent dysfunction rates were analyzed. PRAEs were defined as adverse events occurring within 2 weeks according to the assessment of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.

Results

Benign and malignant tumors were observed in 18 (8.1%) and 204 (91.9%) patients, respectively. The median procedure time for EUS-HGS was 41 min (range, 11–173 minutes). Plastic and metal stents were deployed in 51.4% and 48.6% of the patients, respectively. Technical and clinical success rates and PRAEs were 97.8%, 85.1%, and 22.1%, respectively. The PRAEs were classified into mild (16.7%), moderate (4.1%), or severe (1.4%). Recurrent biliary obstruction (RBO) occurred in 51 (23.1%) patients. The median time to RBO in the metal stent group was significantly longer than that in the plastic stent group (313 vs. 162 days, P=0.02). Multivariate analysis identified the use of any dilation device (P=0.01; odds ratio [OR]: 3.55; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.35–9.36) and concomitant antegrade stenting (P=0.03; OR: 2.62; 95% CI: 1.12–6.12) as risk factors for PRAEs.

Conclusion

EUS-HGS is feasible; however, careful follow-up is required for patients undergoing fistula dilation and concomitant antegrade stenting.

Introduction

Current colonoscopy quality indicators recommend a minimum withdrawal time (WT) of 6 minutes. However, this standard may reduce colonoscopy efficiency and does not account for endoscopists' experience or bowel preparation quality. This study aims to investigate whether the 6-minute WT remains necessary for experienced endoscopists with excellent bowel preparation (BBPS≥8) by comparing the impact of 5-minute versus 6-minute WT on adenoma detection rate (ADR) and adenoma miss rate (AMR).

Aims & Methods

This study based experienced endoscopists and excellent bowel preparation (Boston Bowel Preparation Scale score, BBPS≥8) is aimed to compare the effect of 5-minute WT versus 6-minute WT on adenoma detection rate (ADR) and adenoma miss rate (AMR).
This multicenter, randomized controlled trial involving 423 patients was conducted from June 2023 to March 2025 in 5 centers, including Wuxi People's Hospital, Jiangsu Province People's hospital, Xuzhou First People's Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Taizhou People's Hospital. Colonoscope was inserted and withdrew twice on each patient and all procedures for the same patient were done by the same endoscopist. Participants were randomly divided into the 5-minute WT group (the first WT-5-minute and the second WT-6-minute, n =214) and the 6-minute WT group (the first WT-6-minute and the second WT-6-minute, n=209), and a timer was used to adjust the withdrawal speed. The primary outcome was ADR and AMR.

Results

The baseline characteristics of the two groups were similar (Table 1) and colonoscopy characteristics of the patients in the two groups regarding quality of bowel preparation, cecal intubation rate, cecal intubation time, cecal intubation distance, number of abdominal compression, number of position change were comparable (Table 2). Overall ADR (39.7% vs 43.5%, P = 0.425), ADR in the first (36.0% vs 36.4%, P = 0.935) and second withdrawal (10.7% vs 13.9%; P = 0.327) were not significantly increased in the 6-minute WT group compared with the 5-minute WT group. Likewise, the overall advanced adenoma detection (AADR) (4.7% vs 5.3%, P = 0.780), AADR in the first (4.7% vs 5.3%, P = 0.780) and second withdrawal (0.5% vs 0.5%, P = 0.745) did not differ statistically. Further analysis showed that AMR (10.7% vs 13.9%, P = 0.372) was lower in the 5-minute WT group than in the 6-minute WT group, less adenomas were missed in the 5-minute WT group, although not statistically significant (Table 3).
Table 3. Lesion-level detection and miss rate in the two groups
PDR, polyp detection rate; ADR, adenoma detection rate; AADR, advanced adenoma detection rate; AMR, adenoma miss rate; AAMR, advanced adenoma miss rate; PMR, polyp miss rate.
Table 3. Lesion-level detection and miss rate in the two groups

Conclusion

Shortening WT from 6 to 5 minutes didn't reduce ADR based experienced endoscopists and excellent BBPS, a 5-minute WT benchmark was acceptable with experienced endoscopists and excellent bowel preparation quality of colonoscopy.