Screening for undiagnosed pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI) in a cohort of diabetic patients using faecal elastase testing and PEI scoring system

INTRODUCTION

Type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) are often accompanied by mild forms of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI). The prevalence rates of PEI in diabetic patients are unclear and variable depending on the testing modality and the studies published. The clinical consequences of PEI in diabetics are also not well defined.

AIM

We aimed to determine the prevalence of PEI in a diabetic cohort using the faecal elastase-1 (FE-1) assay as a screening test and to validate a patient-reported symptom-based scoring system, the (PEI-S) for diagnosing PEI within this patient population.

METHODS

Two hundred and three diabetic patients attending diabetic and gastroenterology outpatients of a university hospital without previously known PEI were recruited for the study. Demographic parameters, PEI score (PEI-S), and glycated hemoglobin (HBA1c) were documented in standardized data sheets, and a stool sample was obtained. A FE-1 value < 200 μg/g and or a PEIS of > 0.6 was used as the screening cut-off for PEI.

RESULTS

One hundred sixty-six patients returned faecal samples. The prevalence of PEI, as measured by low FE-1, was 12%. Smoking was associated with an increased risk of developing PEI in this diabetic population. No other independent risk factors were identified. The PEI-S system did not differentiate between people with diabetes having a normal and low FE1.

CONCLUSION

12% of this mixed, real-life cohort of type 1 and 2 DM patients had undiagnosed PEI, as defined by an FE-1 score of less than 200 μg/g. While this may appear low, given the rising prevalence of type 2 DM worldwide, there is likely an unrecognized burden of PEI, which has long-term health consequences for those affected. The PEI-S, a symptom-scoring system for patients with PEI, did not perform well in this patient group.

Elevated cord levels of ustekinumab following its use in the treatment of Crohn's disease in pregnancy

Ustekinumab (USK) was used in the treatment of two pregnant patients with Crohn's disease. It was given in the third trimester and restarted postnatally for both women. One woman remained on USK and in remission throughout pregnancy. The second woman, took a treatment break, flared, and then had remission induced with reintroduction of USK. Both women delivered healthy term infants. The interval from last dose to birth was 11 and 8 weeks respectively. Interestingly, USK levels in cord blood was observed in higher concentrations than in the maternal serum taken in third trimester. While no adverse effect in infants has been observed, clinicians should remain aware of fetal transfer when using USK in pregnancy. An evaluation of risk and benefit may favour continuing USK in pregnancy in patients with refractory disease.

Oral infliximab nanomedicines for targeted treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Anti-TNF biological therapies such as infliximab (INF) have revolutionised the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). However, serious adverse effects due to systemic administration can significantly impact patient quality of life, limiting their success. Oral nanomedicines propose an innovative solution to provide local delivery to inflamed gastrointestinal tissues, thereby limiting systemic exposure and enhancing therapeutic efficacy. This study aimed to examine the potential of INF nanomedicines for IBD treatment with a focus on nanoparticle (NP) size to modulate the targeting of INF to the epithelial barrier.

METHODS

Healthy and inflamed in vitro models of the intestinal epithelial barrier were established to examine the cell interaction of PLGA-PEGNPs of varying particle sizes and polydispersities. INF-loaded NPs were prepared by electrostatic interaction of INF with NPs and examined for their therapeutic efficacy in the inflamed epithelial cell barrier model.

RESULTS

NP interaction was significantly enhanced in the inflamed cell barrier model, with increased transport observed for 130 - 300 nm NPs and accumulation of larger NPs (∼600 nm) at the barrier. Delivery of INF directly to the inflamed barrier by ∼600 nm NPs accelerated recovery of barrier integrity and reduced inflammatory cytokine secretion and cytotoxicity in comparison to treatment with INF alone.

CONCLUSIONS

Results from this study show that NP particle size can be used to differentially target and treat the inflamed intestinal barrier. Oral INF nanomedicines of modulated size present a novel strategy for the local, targeted treatment of IBD.

Diagnostic accuracy of blood-based biomarkers for pancreatic cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has a 5-year survival rate below 5%. CA19-9 is the most commonly used blood-based biomarker for PDAC in current clinical practice, despite having been shown repeatedly to be inaccurate and have poor diagnostic performance. This review aims to assess the reported diagnostic accuracy of all blood-based biomarkers investigated to date in PDAC, by directly comparing individual biomarkers and multi-biomarker panels, both containing CA19-9 and not (novel). A systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA standards in July 2020. Individualised search strategies for three academic databases identified 5,885 studies between the years 1973-2020. After two rounds of screening, 250 studies were included. Data were extracted and assessed for bias. A multivariate three-level meta-analysis with subgroup moderators was run in R using AUC values as effect size. Based on this model, the pooled AUC value for all multi-biomarker panels (AUC=0.898, 95% CI:0.88-0.91) was significantly higher than all single biomarkers (AUC=0.803, 95% CI:0.78-0.83)(p&lt;0.0001). The pooled AUC value for CA19-9 alone was significantly lower compared to the multi-biomarker panels containing CA19-9 (p&lt;0.0001). For the novel biomarkers, the pooled AUC for single biomarkers was also significantly lower compared to multi-biomarker panels (p&lt;0.0001). Novel biomarkers that have been repeatedly examined across the literature, such as TIMP-1, CEA and CA125, are highlighted as promising. These results suggest that CA19-9 may be best used as an addition to a panel of biomarkers rather than alone, and that multi-biomarker panels generate the most robust results in blood-based PDAC diagnosis.

Abstract 3381: Establishment of a novel multi-omic biomarker panel in cyst fluid and blood for stratifying patient risk of pancreatic cancer

Introduction: Pancreatic cancer was responsible for almost 500,000 deaths globally in 2020 according to GLOBOCAN. Pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) are fluid-filled protrusions either on or inside the pancreas and can either be benign or pre-malignant. Current clinical guidelines to risk stratify PCL patients are imperfect. Multi-omic profiling of pancreatic cyst fluid (PCF) could aid in the identification of a novel biomarker panel to improve PCL risk stratification.

Methods: PCF was collected from 40 patients by EUS-FNA, with matched serum collected prior to EUS. Patients were stratified using the 2018 European evidence-based guidelines into low-risk (n=15), high risk (n=15) and no-risk or pseudocyst (n=10). PCF was sonicated and subsequently processed using an SP3 paramagnetic bead protocol prior to LC-MS. MS-generated LFQ intensity data were analyzed in Perseus (v1.6.13.0) and STRING (v11.5). HTG microRNA whole transcriptome sequencing was run on whole PCF. MiRNA sequencing data were analyzed using HTG EdgeSeq Reveal (v3.1.0). Spearman correlations were generated using R packages ‘Hmisc’ (v4.5-0) and ‘corrplot’ (v0.90).

Results: MS-analysis of PCF revealed 8 proteins to be significantly upregulated in high-risk compared to low-risk (p&lt;0.05, FDR=0.05, s0=0.1). All 8 proteins had significantly positive correlations with patient risk and expression of the other seven. LCN-2, REG1A, LGALS3, PIGR and S100A8 have been shown to be elevated in the blood of pancreatic cancer patients. PRSS8 is known to be elevated in the serum of ovarian cancer patients, while MUC6 and TCN1 have not been shown to be differentially expressed in the circulation of cancer patients. STRING analysis revealed 11.8% and 6.8% of the proteins identified to be involved in the innate and adaptive immune responses, respectively. Significant positive correlations were found between 11 immune-associated proteins and patient risk classification (p&lt;0.05). Whole transcriptome sequencing revealed 3 miRNA (miR-216a-5p, miR-216b-5p and HK_SKORA66) to be significantly upregulated in high-risk PCF compared to low-risk, and 5 miRNA (miR-197-5p, miR-6741-5p, miR-3180-3p, miR-3180 and miR-6782-5p) to be significantly upregulated in matched high-risk serum compared to low-risk (adj-p&lt;0.05, FDR=0.05, s0=0.1). Unsupervised hierarchical clustering of patients using the 8 differentially expressed proteins and 3 miRNA from the PCF gave a clustering accuracy of 95.8%, with just 1/24 patients being misclassified.

Conclusion: We have identified a putative multi-omic biomarker panel for PCL patient risk stratification. Practically, further refinement of this panel through the inclusion of additional biological compartments is required. These data will be validated in a larger patient cohort, with the aim of generating a less invasive blood-based panel that will aid in the improvement of risk stratification.

Citation Format: Laura E. Kane, Gregory S. Mellotte, Rebecca G. Lyons, Eimear Mylod, Simone Marcone, Paul F. Ridway, Finbar MacCarthy, Kevin C. Conlon, Joanne Lysaght, Barbara M. Ryan, Stephen G. Maher. Establishment of a novel multi-omic biomarker panel in cyst fluid and blood for stratifying patient risk of pancreatic cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 3381.

Abstract PO-008: Diagnostic accuracy of blood-based multi-omic biomarkers for pancreatic adenocarcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most lethal form of pancreatic cancer, being responsible for ~90% of all pancreatic cancers and having a 5-year survival rate of ~8.5%. The current clinical gold-standard for diagnosis of PDAC is the blood-based biomarker CA19-9. However, many studies have highlighted the limitations of CA19-9, specifically its relatively low sensitivity and specificity, and its inaccuracy in patients with certain underlying conditions. As such, there is an unmet need for robust diagnostic biomarkers for PDAC. Here, the diagnostic accuracy of all blood-based biomarkers examined in PDAC, reporting specifically on CA19-9, multi-marker panels containing CA19-9, novel single markers, and novel multi-marker panels for the diagnosis of PDAC. Methods: A systematic review of blood-based biomarkers for the diagnosis of PDAC was conducted in accordance with PRISMA standards. Individual search strategies using medical subject headings (MeSH) and ‘text words’ were developed for three academic databases: Medline, EMBASE and Web of Science. The 5,885 studies identified were subjected to two rounds of screening by two independent reviewers, with 250 studies being included in the meta-analysis. Data were extracted and assessed for bias using the QUADAS-2 Risk of Bias tool. Data were separated into two subgroups: those including CA19-9, and those without CA19-9 (novel). Patient cohorts examined were classified as “PDAC vs healthy”, “PDAC vs benign” and “PDAC vs mixed”. A multivariate three-level meta-analysis with subgroup moderators was run in R (v1.3.959) on all CA19-9 containing biomarker studies and subsequently on all novel biomarker studies, using reported AUC values as effect size. Results: Based on the three-level meta-analytic model, the pooled AUC value for CA19-9 alone (AUC=0.8473, 95% CI: 0.82-0.87) was significantly lower compared to the multi-marker panels containing CA19-9 (AUC=0.91, 95% CI:0.90-0.93) (p&lt;0.0001). The estimated between-study variance in the model was I2Level 3= 63.55%, and the within-study variance was I2Level 2=36.45%. For the novel markers, the pooled AUC for single markers (AUC=0.79, 95% CI:0.75-0.83) was also significantly lower compared to novel multi-marker panels (AUC=0.87, 95% CI:0.85-0.89) (p&lt;0.0001). Marker robustness was also influenced by the patient cohort examined, with CA19-9 markers performing best in all cohorts compared to novel markers; PDAC vs healthy (AUC=0.91, 95% CI:0.88-0.94), PDAC vs benign (AUC=0.85, 95% CI:0.84-0.87), and PDAC vs mixed (AUC=0.87, 95% CI:0.82-0.91) (p&lt;0.0001). Conclusion: Overall, multi-marker panels show higher pooled AUC values than single markers, for both CA19-9 and novel datasets. Multi-marker panels containing CA19-9 demonstrate the most promising pooled AUC value, with CA19-9 alone performing inferiorly to novel multi-marker panels. These results indicate that CA19-9 may be best used as an addition to a panel of markers rather than alone, and that multi-marker panels ultimately generate the most robust results in a diagnostic capacity.

Citation Format: Laura E. Kane, Gregory S. Mellotte, Eimear Mylod, Rebecca O'Brien, Fiona O'Connell, Khanh Nguyen, Croí E. Buckley, Jennifer Arlow, David Mockler, Aidan D. Meade, Barbara M. Ryan, Stephen G. Maher. Diagnostic accuracy of blood-based multi-omic biomarkers for pancreatic adenocarcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Special Conference on Pancreatic Cancer; 2021 Sep 29-30. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(22 Suppl):Abstract nr PO-008.

Abstract PO-009: Multi-omic profiling of patient pancreatic cyst fluid for the identification of a novel biomarker panel of patient cancer risk

Background: Pancreatic cancer was responsible for almost 500,000 deaths globally in 2020 according to GLOBOCAN 2020. Pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) are fluid-filled protrusions either on or inside the pancreas. PCLs can either be benign or pre-malignant, however, current guidelines based on clinical features are limited in their ability to accurately stratify patients based on cancer risk. Multi-omic profiling of the pancreatic cyst fluid (PCF) could aid in the identification of a novel biomarker panel of patient cancer risk. Methods: PCF was collected from 40 patients by EUS-FNA. Patients were stratified using the 2018 European evidence-based guidelines into low-risk (n=15), high risk (n=15) and no-risk/pseudocyst (n=10). PCF was sonicated and subsequently processed using a single-pot solid-phase-enhanced sample preparation (SP3) protocol with Sera-Mag SpeedBead carboxylate-modified beads prior to LC-MS. Samples were run on a Thermo Scientific Q Exactive mass spectrometer coupled to a Dionex Ultimate 3000 (RSLCnano) chromatography system. MS-generated proteomic data were analysed in Perseus (v1.6.13). HTG microRNA whole transcriptome sequencing was run on whole PCF. Transcriptomic data were analysed using HTG EdgeSeq Reveal (v3.1). Results: MS-analysis revealed 1,266 proteins present across all PCF samples. Proteins were filtered based on potential contaminants and valid values. Only proteins expressed in a minimum of six PCF samples were included in the analysis. After data clean-up, 465 proteins were examined for differential expression. A total of eight proteins were upregulated in high-risk PCF compared to low-risk (p&lt;0.05, FDR=0.05, s0=0.1). Among them, seven have been shown to be upregulated in pancreatic cancer. Conversely, one protein which is reported to be downregulated in pancreatic cancer, was significantly upregulated in the high-risk patient cohort. A total of 2,096 miRNAs were identified across all PCF samples. MiRNAs were filtered based on fold-change &gt; ±2 between the groups, with 202 miRNAs meeting this criteria. Forty-six miRNAs were significantly upregulated in high-risk PCF compared to low-risk PCF (adj-p&lt;0.05, FDR=0.05, s0=0.1). Five of these miRNAs are known to be upregulated in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) tissues. Furthermore, three of the miRNAs are upregulated in the circulation of PDAC patients. Importantly, seven miRNAs identified as being upregulated in high-risk PCF have been shown to be downregulated in PDAC tissues. Differentially expressed proteins and miRNAs are currently being utilised to create an integrated, multi-omic predictive algorithm for patient risk. Conclusion: Multi-omic profiling of pancreatic cyst fluid provides an abundance of potential biomarkers that could be utilised for the stratification of patients into high-and low-risk groups for malignancy. Integration of multi-omic data has the potential to provide more robust biomarker panels of patient risk. Validation of biomarkers in independent patient cohorts will be key to the development of novel clinical biomarkers.

Citation Format: Laura E. Kane, Gregory S. Mellotte, Simone Marcone, Barbara M. Ryan, Stephen G. Maher. Multi-omic profiling of patient pancreatic cyst fluid for the identification of a novel biomarker panel of patient cancer risk [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Special Conference on Pancreatic Cancer; 2021 Sep 29-30. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(22 Suppl):Abstract nr PO-009.

Multi-Omic Biomarkers as Potential Tools for the Characterisation of Pancreatic Cystic Lesions and Cancer: Innovative Patient Data Integration

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is regarded as one of the most lethal malignant diseases in the world, with GLOBOCAN 2020 estimates indicating that PC was responsible for almost half a million deaths worldwide in 2020. Pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) are fluid-filled structures found within or on the surface of the pancreas, which can either be pre-malignant or have no malignant potential. While some PCLs are found in symptomatic patients, nowadays many PCLs are found incidentally in patients undergoing cross-sectional imaging for other reasons-so called 'incidentalomas'. Current methods of characterising PCLs are imperfect and vary hugely between institutions and countries. As such, there is a profound need for improved diagnostic algorithms. This could facilitate more accurate risk stratification of those PCLs that have malignant potential and reduce unnecessary surveillance. As PC continues to have such a poor prognosis, earlier recognition and risk stratification of PCLs may lead to better treatment protocols. This review will focus on the importance of biomarkers in the context of PCLs and PCand outline how current 'omics'-related work could contribute to the identification of a novel integrated biomarker profile for the risk stratification of patients with PCLs and PC.

The challenge of primary gastric melanoma: a systematic review

AIM

Primary gastric melanoma is a rare clinical presentation. The purpose of this review was to compare the 1-year survival in patients who underwent surgery with patients who did not receive treatment.

PATIENTS & METHODS

A systematic search of databases for case reports and case series of primary gastric melanoma was conducted.

RESULTS

The mean survival of patients was 22 months. One-year survival was 56.5% with surgery, rising to 66% with adjuvant therapy. Mean survival of the surgical group was 21.05 months (±20.2) versus 4.5 months (±3.61) in the nonsurgical group.

CONCLUSION

Primary gastric melanoma has a poor prognosis but early surgical intervention can have a significant impact on patient outcome. We reviewed the biology and clinical diagnosis of gastrointestinal melanoma and the current management options available.

Adherence to European Polypectomy Guidelines: Retrospective Experience from a Tertiary Irish Hospital

Background and Study Aim

The European guidelines for colorectal cancer screening state that snare resection should remove any polyps ≥5 mm. This study aimed to investigate if these new guidelines are adhered to in clinical practice.

Patients and Methods

This study consists of patients who underwent colonoscopies in Tallaght Hospital, Dublin (AMNCH), between 2012 and 2015. The size of the polyp, the method of removal, and the subspecialty and grade of the endoscopists were all recorded.

Results

6,000 colonoscopies were reviewed and 687 (12.5%) of these patients were found to have polyps. In 655 (95%) colonoscopies, the caecum was positively identified. In all, 371 (54%) of the polyps detected were < 5 mm; resection via forceps was carried out in n405 cases (59%). Overall, 16% (n = 45) of the polyps > 5 mm underwent resection with forceps, showing that the new European guidelines are not being tightly adhered to.

Conclusions

This study found an 84% compliance with polypectomy resection guidelines which is an improvement on previous studies. However, endoscopist grade significantly affected compliance and may reflect overall competency, highlighting the need for specific training in snare polypectomy techniques.

Extracranial and Intracranial Vasculopathy With "Moyamoya Phenomenon" in Association With Alagille Syndrome

Background: Alagille syndrome (AGS) is an autosomal-dominant, multisystem disorder caused by mutations in the JAG1 gene.

Case Description: A 34-year-old man was referred to our service 10 years ago with focal seizures with impaired awareness and transient slurred speech. He had a 5-year history of intermittent left monocular low-flow retinopathy. He has a family history of AGS. General examination revealed mild hypertension, aortic regurgitation, and livedo reticularis. Neurological examination was normal.

Investigations: He had mild hyperlipidaemia and persistently-positive lupus anticoagulant consistent with primary anti-phospholipid syndrome. Color Doppler ultrasound revealed low velocity flow in a narrowed extracranial left internal carotid artery (ICA). MR and CT angiography revealed a diffusely narrowed extracranial and intracranial left ICA. Formal cerebral angiography confirmed severe left ICA narrowing consistent with a left ICA “vasculopathy” and moyamoya phenomenon. Transthoracic echocardiogram revealed a bicuspid aortic valve and aortic incompetence. Molecular genetic analysis identified a missense mutation (A211P) in exon 4 of the JAG1 gene, consistent with AGS.

Discussion: AGS should be considered in young adults with TIAs/stroke and unexplained extracranial or intracranial vascular abnormalities, and/or moyamoya phenomenon, even in the absence of other typical phenotypic features. Gene panels should include JAG1 gene testing in similar patients.

The future of nanomedicine in optimising the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease

There have been major advancements in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) over the past three decades. However despite significant progress, the best available treatments continue to demonstrate variable efficacy in patients and are associated with adverse effects. Therefore there remains an unmet clinical need for ongoing therapeutic advances for IBD. In recent years nanomedicines have emerged as promising diagnostic and therapeutic tools. Nanoparticles in particular show promise to facilitate targeted oral drug delivery in IBD. Here we discuss the pitfalls of current therapies and explore the potential for nanoparticles to improve the treatment of IBD. This review examines the range of conventional and novel therapies which have benefited from nanoparticle-mediated delivery and highlights the proven therapeutic efficacy of this approach in preclinical models. These strategies under development represent a novel and innovative treatment for IBD.

The prevalence of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth in non-surgical patients with chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI)

BACKGROUND

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is a condition characterised by symptoms similar to pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI) in chronic pancreatitis patients. SIBO is thought to complicate chronic pancreatitis in up to 92% of cases; however, studies are heterogeneous and protocols non-standardised. SIBO may be determined by measuring lung air-expiration of either hydrogen or methane which are by-products of small bowel bacterial fermentation of intraluminal substrates such as carbohydrates. We evaluated the prevalence of SIBO among a defined cohort of non-surgical chronic pancreatitics with mild to severe PEI compared with matched healthy controls.

METHODS

Thirty-five patients and 31 age-, gender- and smoking status-matched healthy controls were evaluated for SIBO by means of a fasting glucose hydrogen breath test (GHBT). The relationship between SIBO and clinical symptoms in chronic pancreatitis was evaluated.

RESULTS

SIBO was present in 15% of chronic pancreatitis patients, while no healthy controls tested positive (P = 0.029). SIBO was more prevalent in those taking pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) (P = 0.016), with proton pump inhibitor use (PPI) (P = 0.022) and in those with alcohol aetiology (P = 0.023). Patients with concurrent diabetes were more often SIBO-positive and this was statistically significant (P = 0.009). There were no statistically significant differences in reported symptoms between patients with and without SIBO, with the exception of 'weight loss', with patients reporting weight loss more likely to have SIBO (P = 0.047).

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of SIBO in this study was almost 15% and consistent with other studies of SIBO in non-surgical chronic pancreatitis patients. These data support the testing of patients with clinically-relevant PEI unresolved by adequate doses of PERT, particularly in those patients with concurrent diabetes. SIBO can be easily diagnosed therefore allowing more specific and more targeted symptom treatment.

Clinical Outcome of Patients with Raised Intraepithelial Lymphocytes with Normal Villous Architecture on Duodenal Biopsy

INTRODUCTION

The finding of a raised intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) count with normal villous architecture is of sufficient clinical importance to be reported in routine duodenal biopsies.

AIM

To study the clinical and demographic data of patients with isolated increased IELs on duodenal biopsy.

METHODS

A single-tertiary-centre retrospective study was carried out with a review of medical records of patients with increased IELs. Patients from 2012 to 2014, >18 years with at least one biopsy from the second part of the duodenum with increased IELs; defined as >25 IELs/100 enterocytes, with preserved villous architecture were identified from our histopathology database with exclusion of patients with coeliac disease (CD).Clinical and demographic data were recorded following a chart review. CD was diagnosed by the attending physician based on the Physician Global Assessment. Data was compared between groups using a Student t test and ORs were calculated as appropriate. Statistical significance was set a priori at p < 0.05.

RESULTS

Over 24 months, 6,244 patients were found to have duodenal biopsies and 114 (1.8%) had isolated increased IELs. Of the patients with increased IELs, the mean age was 50 years and 34 (30%) were male. Follow-up was available in 75 (65%) of these and CD was subsequently diagnosed in 32% (n = 24). CD was associated with the female gender (22 out of 24 vs. 39 out of 51, OR 7.5, older age 55 vs. 41 years, p < 0.04), and higher IEL count with an IEL of >40 in 11 out of 24 (46%) with CD vs. 12 out of 51 (24%) without CD, p = 0.0006.

CONCLUSION

It is a non-specific but important finding, as it can have clinical implications.

A Case of Primary Gastric Melanoma Exhibiting a Rare BRAF V600R Mutation

Introduction

Malignant melanoma of the gastrointestinal tract is usually a metastasis from a cutaneous source. Primary gastric melanoma is an extremely rare clinical entity, with few reported cases worldwide. It is often advanced at time of diagnosis and is associated with a dismal outcome.

Background

A 76 year old gentleman presenteded with a one month history of fatigue and exertional dyspnoea. Laboratory investigations indicated an anaemia, with a haemoglobin level of 11.0g/dl. Subsequent gastroscopy visualised a large, atypical, crater-like ulcerated lesion distal to the cardia in the proximal stomach.

Provisional histology was suggestive of a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma but subsequent cyto-morphology and immunophenotyping were consistent with melanoma, with positive S100 protein, HMB45 and Melan A. Further molecular genetic testing revealed a V600R mutation in the BRAF gene, which is the first primary gastric melanoma with this mutation to be reported in the literature. Given the rarity of the findings, an extensive secondary work-up was undertaken, which concluded the diagnosis primary gastric melanoma.

Discussion

Primary gastric melanoma is a rare disease that can present similarly to other upper gastrointesinal lesions, with weight loss, abdominal pain, malena, and anaemia. Given its rarity, the pathogenesis is poorly understood. Lesions are often endoscopically atypical. Important points to note would include the absence of a primary lesion, as supported by a full skin examination and PET-CT findings, which can help to delineate the limitation to the stomach, thus helping to inform subsequent management.

LEARNING POINTS

The potential role of gut microbiota in pancreatic disease: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Several studies have suggested a link between microbiota imbalance and some gastrointestinal, inflammatory and neoplastic diseases. However, the role in pancreatic diseases remain unclear. To evaluate the available evidence for pancreatic diseases, we undertook a systematic review.

METHODS

OVID Medline (1946-2017), EMBASE (1980-2017) and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL Issue 3, 2017) were searched for studies on microbiota in pancreatic disease. We also searched the reference lists of retrieved papers, and conference proceedings. We excluded animal studies, reviews, and case reports.

RESULTS

A total of 2833 articles were retrieved. After screening and applying the exclusion criteria, 10 studies were included. Three studies showed lower levels of Bifidobacterium or Lactobacillus and higher levels of Enterobacteriaceae in chronic pancreatitis. Two of these studies were uncontrolled, and the third (controlled) study which compared patients with endocrine and exocrine insufficiency, reported that Bacteroidetes levels were lower in those patients without diabetes, while Bifidobacteria levels were higher in those without exocrine insufficiency. Only one study investigated acute pancreatitis, showing higher levels of Enterococcus and lower levels of Bifidobacterium versus healthy participants. There was an overall association between pancreatic cancer and lower levels of Neisseria elongate, Streptococcus mitis and higher levels of Porphyromonas gingivalis and Granulicatella adiacens.

CONCLUSIONS

Current evidence suggests a possible link between microbiota imbalance and pancreatic cancer. Regarding acute and chronic pancreatitis, data are scarce, dysbiosis appears to be present in both conditions. However, further investigation is required to confirm these findings and to explore therapeutic possibilities.

Post-ERCP Emphysematous Cholecystitis in a Young Woman: A Rare and Potentially Fatal Complication

A 45-year-old woman with suspected Functional Biliary Sphincter Disorder (FBSD) developed Clostridium perfringens related emphysematous cholecystitis after ERCP. A low index of suspicion for emphysematous cholecystitis in this young, otherwise healthy woman led to a significant delay in making the correct diagnosis, and air in the gallbladder was wrongly attributed to a possible gallbladder perforation. ERCP is associated with significant risks, particularly in patients with FBSD, where diagnostic uncertainty renders the balance of risk versus benefit even more critical. Post-ERCP emphysematous cholecystitis secondary to Clostridium perfringens is a rare but potentially fatal complication.

Review article: the effects of antitumour necrosis factor-α on bone metabolism in inflammatory bowel disease

BACKGROUND

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at increased risk of osteoporosis. A number of studies have emerged in recent years indicating that tumour necrosis factor (TNF) blockade appears to have a beneficial effect on bone mineral density (BMD) in IBD patients.

AIMS

To provide a review of the available data regarding the effect of the currently licensed anti-TNF-α therapies on bone metabolism and BMD in IBD patients.

METHODS

A Medline search was performed using the search terms 'infliximab', 'bone metabolism', 'IBD', 'BMD', 'bone markers', 'adalimumab', 'bone disease', 'Crohn's disease' and 'ulcerative colitis'.

RESULTS

Infliximab has a beneficial effect on bone turnover markers in Crohn's disease (CD) patients in the short term. The longest study to date comprising 24 CD patients showed an overall improvement in two bone formation markers - b-alkaline phosphatase (P = 0.022) and osteocalcin (P = 0.008) at 4 months post-treatment. Moreover, the largest study to date comprising 71 CD patients showed significant improvement in sCTx, a bone resorption marker (P = 0.04) at week-8 post-treatment. There is little data looking at the effect of anti-TNF-α therapy on bone metabolism in ulcerative colitis. Moreover, the long-term effects of anti-TNF-α therapy on bone structure and fracture risk in IBD patients are currently not known. The effect of cessation of anti-TNF-α therapy on bone metabolism is also unknown.

CONCLUSION

Properly controlled long-term trials are needed to fully evaluate the impact of TNF blockade on bone mineral density.

The role of capsule endoscopy in small bowel Crohn's disease

Video capsule endoscopy is an invaluable tool for examining the small bowel. It is non-invasive and generally well tolerated, however its role in the assessment of the severity and extent of small bowel Crohn's disease has not, to date, been adequately evaluated.

METHODS

All capsule endoscopies performed over a two year period in a tertiary referral centre in subjects with known or suspected Crohn's disease were reviewed.

RESULTS

Twenty-six capsule endoscopy studies in total were included. These were performed in 15 cases of known Crohn's disease, 5 cases of suspected Crohn's disease, 3 cases of endoscopically diagnosed non-specific terminal ileal inflammation and finally 3 post colectomy cases of indeterminant being considered for IPAA formation. Ten patients known to have small bowel Crohn's disease were prospectively recruited; of 3 with normal small bowel follow through or CT exams, one had an abnormal capsule endoscopy. The other 7 patients had small bowel follow through or abdominal CT scans consistent with small bowel Crohn's disease; additional mucosal abnormalities were detected by capsule endoscopy in 6 cases with capsule retention in the stomach in one. Of 5 with colonic Crohn's disease normal small bowel imaging corresponded with normal capsule endoscopy in all but one. A diagnosis of Crohn's disease was made in 2 out of 5 cases of suspected Crohn's disease on the basis of the capsule endoscopy findings. Three patients with non-specific acute terminal ileal inflammation at ileocolonoscopy were confirmed to have ongoing inflammation. The capsule was retained in four subjects beyond 24 h.

CONCLUSION

Capsule endoscopy more accurately determines the severity and extent of the Crohn's disease in the small bowel than traditional imaging modalities.

ADAM-17 predicts adverse outcome in patients with breast cancer

ADAM-17 is a matrix metalloproteinase-like enzyme involved in the release of several ligands that have been shown to promote both cancer formation and progression. These ligands include transforming growth factor-alpha, amphiregulin, heparin-binding epidermal growth factor, epiregulin and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. In this investigation, we measured the expression of total ADAM-17 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 153 invasive breast cancers. We also measured the precursor and active forms by western blotting in 140 invasive breast cancers. Expression of ADAM-17 was significantly increased in high-grade compared with low-grade tumors and was independent of tumor size, lymph node metastasis and estrogen receptor status. Patients with high expression of ADAM-17 had a significantly shorter overall survival compared with those with low expression. Significantly, the prognostic impact of ADAM-17 was independent of conventional prognostic factors for breast cancer. Our results are further evidence that ADAM-17 is involved in breast cancer progression and thus provides further impetus for exploiting ADAM-17 as new target for cancer treatment.

Survivin expression in breast cancer predicts clinical outcome and is associated with HER2, VEGF, urokinase plasminogen activator and PAI-1

BACKGROUND

Survivin, a novel inhibitor of apoptosis, is one of the most cancer-specific proteins identified to date. In this study we (a) evaluated the association between survivin and HER2, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and uPA/PAI-1 expression and (b) defined its effect on clinical outcome in a large breast cancer patient cohort.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Survivin expression was measured by ELISA in primary breast cancer tissue extracts from 420 patients with long-term clinical follow-up.

RESULTS

Survivin was detected in 378 (90%) of the 420 primary breast cancer cases. Increased survivin levels were significantly associated with high nuclear grade (P < 0.0001), negative hormone receptor status (P = 0.0028), HER2 overexpression (P = 0.0094), VEGF expression (P < 0.0001), high uPA (P = 0.0002) and PAI-1 levels (P = 0.0002). Using the 25th percentile (1.4 ng/mg) as a cut-off point, patients expressing elevated survivin had a significantly worse disease-free survival (DFS: P = 0.0007, RR 1.97) and overall survival (OS: P = 0.0009, RR 2.11) compared with patients expressing lower levels of survivin. In multivariate analysis, this prognostic value of survivin was independent of both traditional and novel clinicopathologic factors for both DFS (P = 0.0076, RR 1.72) and OS (P = 0.0155, RR 1.76).

CONCLUSIONS

The independent prognostic relevance of survivin, when combined with previous data from model systems implicating survivin in the inhibition of apoptosis, suggests that survivin may be a suitable target for future therapeutic strategies.

Cirrhosis related chylous ascites successfully treated with TIPS

We describe a patient with chylous ascites, who was extensively investigated for the cause. No malignant or lymphatic disease could be found, but a liver biopsy revealed liver cirrhosis. The chylous ascites was unsuccessfully treated with a sodium restriction diet, diuretics and a medium chain triglyceride diet. After the placement of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt the ascites disappeared.