Sequential H. pylori eradication and radiation therapy with reduced dose compared to standard dose for gastric MALT lymphoma stages IE & II1E: a prospective randomized trial

BACKGROUND

In Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) positive stage I gastric low-grade MALT lymphoma, eradication is the accepted first-line therapy. The role of eradication therapy in lymphoma > stage IE is still unclear. However, about 20% of patients show persistent lymphoma following successful eradication or primary H. pylori-negative lymphoma. A prospective study for salvage radiation therapy with standard 36 Gy in comparison to a reduced dose of 25.2 Gy is still missing.

METHODS

A prospective, multicentre study investigated the efficacy of eradication in H. pylori-positive gastric low-grade MALT lymphoma stages IE and II1E (HELYX I). Refractory lymphoma or H. pylori-negative patients were treated in a prospective, randomised, multicentre, phase II study to receive either 25.2 Gy or 36 Gy radiotherapy (HELYX II).

RESULTS

102 patients (3 drop outs) were included in HELYX I: 75/99 (75.8%) showed complete remission after a median of 2.8 months. 18 (18.2%) had partial remission (PR) and 6 (6.0%) no change (NC). 29 patients (7 drop outs) were randomized in HELYX II (7 primarily H. pylori-negative, 15 patients from HELYX I with refractory disease after eradication). All patients achieved stable CR irrespective of radiation dose. Both presence of the t(11,18) translocation (OR 9.0, p = 0.01) and monoclonality of the tumour cells (OR 6.3, p = 0.006) were predictors for persistant lymphoma after eradication therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Most H. pylori-positive low grade gastric MALT lymphoma stage IE and II1E respond with stable CR after eradication therapy. In patients with refractory disease or H. pylori negative low grade gastric MALT lymphoma a dosage-reduced radiation therapy with 25.2 Gy is an effective standard dose in stage IE and II1E.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00154440.

Self-bias modulates saccadic control

We present novel data on the role of attention in eliciting enhanced processing of stimuli associated with self. Participants were required to make pro- or anti-saccades according to whether learned shape–label pairings matched or mismatched. When stimuli matched participants were required to make an anti-saccade, and when the stimuli mismatched a pro-saccade was required. We found that anti-saccades were difficult to make to stimuli associated with self when compared to stimuli associated with a friend and a stranger. In contrast, anti-saccades to friend-stimuli were easier to make than anti-saccades to stranger-stimuli. In addition, a correct anti-saccade to a self-associated stimulus disrupted subsequent pro-saccade trials, relative to when the preceding anti-saccade was made to other stimuli. The data indicate that self-associated stimuli provide a strong cue for explicit shifts of attention to them, and that correct anti-saccades to such stimuli demand high levels of inhibition (which carries over to subsequent pro-saccade trials). The self exerts an automatic draw on attention.

Early-stage adenocarcinoma of the esophagus with mid to deep submucosal invasion (pT1b sm2-3): the frequency of lymph-node metastasis depends on macroscopic and histological risk patterns

The rate of lymph-node (LN) metastasis in early adenocarcinoma (EAC) of the esophagus with mid to deep submucosal invasion (pT1b sm2/3) has not yet been precisely defined. The aim of the this study was to evaluate the rate of LN metastasis in pT1b sm2/3 EAC depending on macroscopic and histological risk patterns to find out whether there may also be options for endoscopic therapy as in cancers limited to the mucosa and the upper third of the submucosa. A total of 1.718 pt with suspicion of EAC were referred for endoscopic treatment (ET) to the Dept. of Internal Medicine II at HSK Wiesbaden 1996-2010. In 230/1.718 pt, the suspicion (endoscopic ultrasound, EUS) or definitive diagnosis of pT1b EAC (ER/surgery) was made. Of these, 38 pt had sm2 lesions, and 69 sm3. Rate of LN metastasis was analyzed depending on risk patterns: histologically low-risk (hisLR): G1-2, L0, V0; histologically high-risk (hisHR): ≥1 criterion not fulfilled; macroscopically low-risk (macLR): gross tumor type I-II, tumor size ≤2 cm; macroscopically high-risk (macHR): ≥1 criterion not fulfilled; combined low-risk (combLR): hisLR+macLR; combined high-risk (combHR): at least 1 risk factor. LN rate was only evaluated in pt who had proven maximum invasion depth of sm2/sm3, and who in case of ET had a follow-up (FU) by EUS of at least 24 months. 23/38 pt with pT1b sm2 lesions and 39/69 pt with sm3 lesions fulfilled our inclusion criteria. In the pT1b sm2 group, rate of LN metastasis in the hisLR, hisHR, combLR, and combHR groups were 8.3% (1/12), 36.3% (4/11), 0% (0/5), and 27.8% (5/18). In the pT1b sm3 group, rate of LN metastasis in the hisLR, hisHR, combLR and combHR groups were 28.6% (2/7), 37.5% (12/32), 25% (1/4), and 37.1% (13/35). 30-day mortality of surgery was 1.7% (1/58 pt). In EAC with pT1b sm2/3 invasion, the frequency of LN metastasis depends on macroscopic and histological risk patterns. Surgery remains the standard treatment, because the rate of LN metastasis appears to be higher than the mortality risk of surgery. Whether a highly selected group of pT1b sm2 patients with a favourable risk pattern may be candidates for endoscopic therapy cannot be decided until the results of larger case volumes are available.

Length of Barrett's oesophagus and cancer risk: implications from a large sample of patients with early oesophageal adenocarcinoma

OBJECTIVE

Although it is well understood that the risk of oesophageal adenocarcinoma increases with Barrett length, transition risks for cancer associated with different Barrett lengths are unknown. We aimed to estimate annual cancer transition rates for patients with long-segment (≥3 cm), short-segment (≥1 to <3 cm) and ultra-short-segment (<1 cm) Barrett's oesophagus.

DESIGN

We used three data sources to estimate the annual cancer transition rates for each Barrett length category: (1) the distribution of long, short and ultra-short Barrett's oesophagus among a large German cohort with newly diagnosed T1 oesophageal adenocarcinoma; (2) population-based German incidence of oesophageal adenocarcinoma; and (3) published estimates of the population prevalence of Barrett's oesophagus for each Barrett length category.

RESULTS

Among 1017 patients with newly diagnosed T1 oesophageal adenocarcinoma, 573 (56%) had long-segment, 240 (24%) short-segment and 204 (20%) ultra-short-segment Barrett's oesophagus. The base-case estimates for the prevalence of Barrett's oesophagus among the general population were 1.5%, 5% and 14%, respectively. The annual cancer transition rates for patients with long, short and ultra-short Barrett's oesophagus were 0.22%, 0.03% and 0.01%, respectively. To detect one cancer, 450 patients with long-segment Barrett's oesophagus would need to undergo annual surveillance endoscopy; in short segment and ultra-short segment, the corresponding numbers of patients would be 3440 and 12,364. Similar results were obtained when applying US incidence data.

CONCLUSIONS

The large number of patients, who need to undergo endoscopic surveillance to detect one cancer, raises questions about the value of surveillance endoscopy in patients with short segment or ultra-short segment of Barrett's oesophagus.

Development of gastric cancer and its prevention

Gastric cancer is a heterogeneous disorder; genetic factors, H. pylori infection and various environmental factors contribute to its development. Advanced atrophic corpus-predominant gastritis provides the histological base for its genesis. Low socio-economic status and poor hygienic conditions, smoking habits, heavy alcohol consumption, high salt and low intake of vegetables and fruits are important external factors for the occurrence of gastric cancer. For its prevention, the eradication of H. pylori infection at an early age is mandatory for subjects at high risk or those living in areas with high prevalence of gastric cancer. Given that an increased serum level of Pepsinogen II is a good biomarker for the presence of gastritis, it seems reasonable to screen all infected subjects at risk of gastric cancer with increased serum pepsinogen II at an early age (at around 30 years) to eradicate H. pylori. An endoscopy should be performed for subjects at an older age (40 years and older), when increased serum pepsinogen II level is associated with decreased serum pepsinogen I and pepsinogen I to II ratio.

Verrucous Oesophageal Carcinoma: Single Case Report and Case Series Including 15 Patients - Issues for Consideration of Therapeutic Strategies

Background

Verrucous carcinomas (VC) of the oesophagus are a rarity. Due to their histological resemblance to squamous cell carcinoma, the diagnostic and treatment standards applicable to the latter have so far also been applied to VC as a disease entity. Quite limited data are available including two case series of 5 or 11 patients. The present study reports on a single case treated by local endoscopic therapy and a series of 15 patients, 9 of whom received local endoscopic therapy.

Methods

The data for patients diagnosed with VC of the oesophagus who had been treated from January 1999 to May 2011 were analysed retrospectively.

Results

15 patients with the diagnosis of oesophageal VC were included. The male-female ratio was 3:1. 9 of 11 pT1-VC patients presented with the cardinal symptom dysphagia or odynophagia. For the majority of the patients, the growth pattern is one of extensive superficial expansion showing a median length of 9 cm (range: 2-22 cm). Surprisingly, none of the VC patients showed lymph node or distant metastasis. 9 of 15 VC patients received local endoscopic therapy; 4 were treated with curative intent and 5 were treated palliatively. 3 patients underwent oesophageal resection, and definitive chemoradiotherapy was administered in a further 3 patients. One severe complication, consisting of a postoperative anastomotic insufficiency with a fatal outcome, occurred in this group of patients.

Conclusion

This is the largest published study describing patients diagnosed with VC of the oesophagus so far. The option of local endoscopic therapy and its results in 9 patients are reported for the first time. The superficial growth pattern of the tumour and the frequent absence of lymph node or distant metastasis suggest that endoscopic resection can be carried out as a diagnostic and/or therapeutic approach. Due to the rarity of this entity, the case numbers are unfortunately so limited that evidence-based recommendations are unlikely to become available even in the future.

The frequency of lymph node metastasis in early-stage adenocarcinoma of the esophagus with incipient submucosal invasion (pT1b sm1) depending on histological risk patterns

BACKGROUND

A prerequisite for endoscopic treatment (ET) of not only mucosal, but also submucosal early adenocarcinoma of the esophagus (EAC) would be a rate of lymph node (LN) metastasis below the mortality rate of esophagectomy (2-5%). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the rate of LN metastasis in patients with pT1b sm1 EAC.

METHODS

1996-2010, 1,718 patients with suspicion of EAC were referred to the Department of Internal Medicine II at HSK Wiesbaden. In 123/1718 patients, the suspicion (endoscopic ultrasound, EUS) or definitive diagnosis of sm1 EAC (ER/surgery) was made. Rate of LN metastasis was analyzed separately for low-risk (LR; G1-2, L0, V0) and high-risk lesions (HR; G3, L1, V1; ≥ 1 risk factor). LN metastasis was only evaluated in patients who had a proven maximum invasion depth of sm1 (ER and/or surgery), and who in case of ET had a follow-up (FU) by EUS of at least 24 months.

RESULTS

Of the 72/123 patients included into the study, 49 patients had LR (68%) and 23 HR lesions (32%). In endoscopically treated LR patients (37/49), mean EUS-FU was 60 ± 30 mo (range 25-146); in HR patients undergoing ET (6/23), it was 63 ± 17 mo (46-86; p = 0.4). Mean number of resected LN was 27 ± 16 (12-62) in operated LR patients and 27 ± 10 (12-47) in HR-patients. The rate of LN metastasis was 2% in the LR (1 patient) and 9% in the HR group (2 patients; p = 0.24). Mortality of esophagectomy was 3%.

CONCLUSIONS

The rate of LN metastasis in pT1b sm1 early adenocarcinoma with histological LR pattern was lower than the mortality rate of esophagectomy. ER may therefore be used alternatively to surgery in this group of patients.

Long-term efficacy and safety of endoscopic resection for patients with mucosal adenocarcinoma of the esophagus

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Barrett's esophagus-associated high-grade dysplasia is commonly treated by endoscopy. However, most guidelines offer no recommendations for endoscopic treatment of mucosal adenocarcinoma of the esophagus (mAC). We investigated the efficacy and safety of endoscopic resection in a large series of patients with mAC.

METHODS

We collected data from 1000 consecutive patients (mean age, 69.1 ± 10.7 years; 861 men) with mAC (481 with short-segment and 519 with long-segment Barrett's esophagus) who presented at a tertiary care center from October 1996 to September 2010. Patients with low-grade and high-grade dysplasia and submucosal or more advanced cancer were excluded. All patients underwent endoscopic resection of mACs. Patients found to have submucosal cancer at their first endoscopy examination were excluded from the analysis.

RESULTS

After a mean follow-up period of 56.6 ± 33.4 months, 963 patients (96.3%) had achieved a complete response; surgery was necessary in 12 patients (3.7%) after endoscopic therapy failed. Metachronous lesions or recurrence of cancer developed during the follow-up period in 140 patients (14.5%) but endoscopic re-treatment was successful in 115, resulting in a long-term complete remission rate of 93.8%; 111 died of concomitant disease and 2 of Barrett's esophagus-associated cancer. The calculated 10-year survival rate of patients who underwent endoscopic resection of mACs was 75%. Major complications developed in 15 patients (1.5%) but could be managed conservatively.

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic therapy is highly effective and safe for patients with mAC, with excellent long-term results. In an almost 5-year follow-up of 1000 patients treated with endoscopic resection, there was no mortality and less than 2% had major complications. Endoscopic therapy should become the standard of care for patients with mAC.

Efficacy, safety, and long-term results of endoscopic treatment for early stage adenocarcinoma of the esophagus with low-risk sm1 invasion

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Patients with early-stage mucosal (T1a) esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) are increasingly treated by endoscopic resection. EACs limited to the upper third of the submucosa (pT1b sm1) could also be treated by endoscopy. We assessed the efficacy, safety, and long-term effects of endoscopic therapy for these patients.

METHODS

We analyzed data from 66 patients with sm1 low-risk lesions (macroscopically polypoid or flat, with a histologic pattern of sm1 invasion, good-to-moderate differentiation [G1/2], and no invasion into lymph vessels or veins) treated by endoscopic therapy at the HSK Hospital Wiesbaden from 1996 through 2010. The efficacy of endoscopic therapy was assessed on the basis of rates of complete endoluminal remission (CER), metachronous neoplasia, lymph node events, and long-term remission (LTR). Safety was assessed on the basis of rate of complications.

RESULTS

Remissions were assessed in 61 of the 66 patients; 53 of the 61 achieved CER (87%). Of patients with small focal neoplasias ≤2 cm, 97% achieved CER (for those with tumors ≥2 cm, 77%; P = .026). Metachronous neoplasias were observed in 10 of 53 patients (19%; 9 of the 10 underwent repeat endoscopic resection). One patient developed a lymph node metastasis (1.9%). Fifty-one patients achieved LTR (84%); 90% of those with focal lesions ≤2 cm achieved LTR after a mean follow-up period of 47 ± 29.1 months (range, 8-120 months). No tumor-associated deaths were observed, and the estimated 5-year survival rate was 84%. The rate of major complications from endoscopic resection was 1.5%, and no patients died.

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic therapy appears to be a good alternative to esophagectomy for patients with pT1b sm1 EAC, on the basis of macroscopic and histologic analyses. The risk of developing lymph node metastases after endoscopic resection for sm1 EAC is lower than the risk of surgery.

Precancerous conditions after H. pylori eradication: a randomized double blind study in first degree relatives of gastric cancer patients

BACKGROUND

Regression of precancerous lesions after H. pylori eradication remains controversial. This study evaluates the change and topography in first degree relatives (FDR) of gastric cancer (GC) patients following H. pylori eradication.

METHODS

Participants underwent endoscopy with antrum and corpus histological examinations. Subjects with pangastritis were randomly allocated to placebo or eradication therapy and followed over 4½ years. 

RESULTS

Among 989 evaluated FDR, we excluded 468 patients as follows: 108 had macroscopic lesions, 243 had no evidence of any H. pylori infection, and 117 were excluded for other reasons. The remaining subjects (n = 521) were allocated to therapy (group A, n = 261) or placebo (group B, n = 260) groups. Interim analysis of 403 subjects (201 placebo, 202 therapy) showed regression of atrophy (60 out of 97 in the antrum and 37 out of 104 in the corpus) in H.pylori-eradicated versus regression of atrophy (57 out of 184 in the antrum and 23 out of 173 in the corpus) in non-H.pylori-eradicated cases over 2½ years (P < 0.0001). No regression of intestinal metaplasia (IM) occurred in the antrum and corpus of treated subjects over 4½ years. However, progression of IM occurred in the antrum in 17 out of 90 patients in the non-H. pylori-eradicated versus 4 out of 68 H. pylori-eradicated subjects after 4½ years (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Eradication of H. pylori is associated with regression of gastric atrophy but not IM, even in its early stages. Gastric atrophy and IM in the antrum have shown more rapid progression in cases not treated for H. pylori infection (over 4½ years follow-up) compared to H. pylori-eradicated cases.

The Churg-Strauss syndrome: diagnosed for the first time in a gastrectomy specimen

The Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS), first described in 1951 and characterised by eosinophilic inflammation and necrotising vasculitis in patients with asthma can in principle affect any organ. We report on a 47-year-old male patient, in whom the diagnosis of CSS was finally established for the first time on the basis of the histological work-up of a gastrectomy specimen. Endoscopic inspection had revealed a rigid gastric wall and a large irregularly shaped ulcer in the prepyloric antrum. Despite the fact that no carcinoma was demonstrable in the biopsy material, a gastrectomy was nevertheless performed since the endoscopic appearance was strongly suspicious for a carcinoma. The gastrectomy specimen revealed massive eosinophilic gastritis in combination with granulomas and necrotising vasculitis--localised mainly in the muscularis propria. In view of the subsequent information that the patient also suffered from asthma, the diagnosis of CSS (previously unrecognised) was established--for the first time--in the gastrectomy specimen.

Progression of specialized intestinal metaplasia at the cardia to macroscopically evident Barrett's esophagus: an entity of concern in the ProGERD study

OBJECTIVES AND AIMS

Histological Barrett's esophagus, defined as specialized intestinal metaplasia (SIM+) at the cardia without endoscopic suspicion of columnar epithelium, is found frequently in biopsies at the gastro-esophageal junction although its clinical relevance is unknown. The authors aim was to evaluate prospectively the progression of SIM+ to macroscopically evident Barrett's esophagus (BE/SIM+), and to identify risk factors for this progression.

METHODS

Data were obtained from a sub-group of patients (no visible BE at presentation, but SIM+) included in the ProGERD study, a prospective evaluation of the clinical course of GERD under routine clinical care. They had esomeprazole 20-40 mg/day for 2-8 weeks. Symptom assessment was performed annually, and endoscopy with biopsy was planned at baseline, after healing treatment and after 2 and/or 5 years.

RESULTS

128 of 171 (74.8%) patients with unequivocal SIM at the z-line after healing were biopsied again after 2 and/or 5 years. At follow-up, 33 (25.8%) of these patients showed progression to BE/SIM+. Factors significantly associated with progression were smoking, a long history of GERD and severe esophagitis at baseline. Patients who had progressed to BE/SIM+ already at 2 years showed consistent findings at 5 years.

CONCLUSION

More than 20% of GERD patients with SIM+ in this study were found to have BE/SIM+ within 2-5 years. This finding supports the hypothesis that SIM+ at the cardia could be the missing link explaining increased cancer risk in GERD patients without overt BE and merits further investigation in a prospective study.

Second cancers and residual disease in patients treated for gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma by Helicobacter pylori eradication and followed for 10 years

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Cure of Helicobacter pylori infection induces remission in most patients with gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma (GML) that is associated with these bacteria. We determined the long-term outcomes of these patients in a prospective multicenter trial and investigated whether they developed second cancers or had histologic residual disease.

METHODS

We followed 120 patients with stage EI1 GML for a median of 122 months after H pylori eradication (range, 1-171 months). Remission was determined by histology analysis and development of second cancers was documented.

RESULTS

Of the patients, 80% (96 of 120) achieved complete remission from GML, and 80% of those (77 of 96) remained disease free. Estimated mean survival time in the Kaplan-Meier analysis was 147 months (95% confidence interval: 138-156 months). Of the patients that achieved complete remission, 17% (16 of 96) had histologic residual disease after a median of 32 months (range, 3-68 months). Disease did not progress in any of these patients, and all but 1 achieved a second complete remission (median duration, 46 months). Standardized morbidity ratios revealed a significantly higher incidence of gastric cancer (8.567; 95% confidence interval, 3.566-20.582) or non-Hodgkin lymphoma (18.621; 95% confidence interval: 8.365-41.448) in the 96 patients that achieved a complete remission, compared with the general German population.

CONCLUSIONS

Cure of H pylori infection leads to continuous complete remission in most patients with H pylori-associated GML. Patients are at risk for development of secondary cancers (ie, gastric cancer and non-Hodgkin lymphoma).

Barrett's Adenocarcinomas are frequently underdiagnosed as "high grade intraepithelial neoplasia"

BACKGROUND

Relevant guidelines require that a primary histological diagnosis of high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (HGIEN) in Barrett's oesophagus, be submitted to a second opinion by an expert gastroenterological pathologist. To date, however, no pertinent study of the outcome of such second-opinion diagnoses has been published.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between 2001 and 2005, histological slides from 275 patients with the primary diagnosis HGIEN underwent a second-opinion review. The resulting diagnoses were checked by follow-up in 207 of these patients (75.3 %).

RESULTS

The second-opinion diagnosis no IEN (n = 27) was confirmed in 85.2 % of the cases, 7.4 % had LGIEN, 3.7 % had HGIEN or a well-differentiated Barrett's adenocarcinoma (BCA) (1 patient, each). In the single patient with the second-opinion diagnosis LGIEN, endoscopic resection revealed a well-differentiated BCA, Follow-up examinations confirmed the second-opinion diagnosis BCA in 5 out of 12 patients, in 1 patient no IEN was found, and 6 patients had a BCA. The second-opinion diagnosis BCA was confirmed by follow-up-examinations in 145 patients (86.8 %), in 12 patients (7.2 %) follow-up revealed HGIEN and in 10 no neoplasia.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study show that the demand for a second opinion from an expert gastroenterological pathologist is justified, and also that BCA is frequently underdiagnosed as HGIEN.

Cancer prevention in ulcerative colitis: long-term outcome following fluorescence-guided colonoscopy

BACKGROUND

Patients with long-standing ulcerative colitis require repeated endoscopies for early detection of neoplasias, which, however, are frequently missed by standard colonoscopy. Fluorescence-guided colonoscopy is known to improve the detection rate but the long-term effects of fluorescence-guided colonoscopy are unknown.

METHODS

Colitis patients with negative findings at index fluorescence-guided colonoscopy entered a prospective long-term study with conventional colonoscopies at 2-year intervals. Risk and time to progression were evaluated. The positive predictive value was assessed in patients with neoplasias at index fluorescence-guided colonoscopy who underwent immediate total colectomy.

RESULTS

Thirty-one patients with negative fluorescence-guided colonoscopy were surveyed for a mean of 7.8 ± 0.9 years. Neoplasia was observed in only two of them (6%) after 7 and 8 years of follow-up, respectively. Neoplasia at index fluorescence-guided colonoscopy was observed in 10 patients. In all of them, multiple flat low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia was diagnosed. At immediate colectomy performed in eight of them, the diagnosis of flat low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia was confirmed, corresponding to a positive predictive value of 100%. However, synchronous more advanced neoplasia was detected in three of the eight patients (38%). All patients, those with and those without neoplasia, were alive at the end of the study.

CONCLUSIONS

Fluorescence-guided colonoscopy misses, in contrast to standard colonoscopy, few, if any, patients with neoplasia. Most neoplasia-negative patients remain negative during prolonged follow-up. However, when low-grade dysplasia is diagnosed by fluorescence-guided colonoscopy, colectomy is recommended because more than a third of the patients harbor synchronous, more advanced neoplasia.

Evolution of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease over 5 years under routine medical care--the ProGERD study

BACKGROUND

The evolution of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) under current management options remains uncertain.

AIM

To examine whether, depending on the initial presentation, non-erosive (NERD) and erosive reflux disease (ERD) without Barrett's oesophagus will progress to more severe disease under current routine care following the resolution of the initial condition.

METHODS

Patients with the primary symptom of heartburn were included at baseline, and stratified into non-erosive (NERD) and erosive reflux disease (ERD), LA grades A-D (Los Angeles classification). After a 2- to 8-week course with esomeprazole therapy to achieve endoscopic healing in ERD and symptom relief in NERD, patients were treated routinely at the discretion of their physician. We report oesophagitis status and the presence of endoscopic and confirmed Barrett's oesophagus after 5 years.

RESULTS

A total of 6215 patients were enrolled in the study of whom 2721 patients completed the 5-year follow-up. Progression, regression and stability of GERD severity were followed from baseline to 5 years. Only a few patients with NERD and mild/moderate ERD progressed to severe forms of ERD and even Barrett's oesophagus. Most patients remained stable or showed improvement in their oesophagitis; 5.9% of the NERD patients, 12.1% of LA grade A/B patients and 19.7% of LA grade C/D patients in whom no Barrett's oesophagus was recorded at baseline progressed to endoscopic or confirmed Barrett's oesophagus at 5 years.

CONCLUSION

Most GERD patients remain stable or improve over a 5-year observation period under current routine clinical care.

Randomized trial on 14 versus 7 days of esomeprazole, moxifloxacin, and amoxicillin for second-line or rescue treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection

BACKGROUND

Triple therapy with a proton pump inhibitor, moxifloxacin, and amoxicillin has been proven effective in first-line treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection.

AIM

To explore 1, the value of triple therapy with esomeprazole, moxifloxacin, and amoxicillin in second-line or rescue treatment of Caucasian patients and 2, the impact of treatment duration on eradication success.

METHODS

H. pylori-infected patients with at least one previous treatment failure were randomized to oral esomeprazole 20 mg b.i.d., moxifloxacin 400 mg o.d., and amoxicillin 1000 mg b.i.d. for either 7 (EMA-7) or 14 days (EMA-14). Eradication was confirmed by 13C urea breath test. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed in all patients at baseline and in patients who failed treatment.

RESULTS

Eighty patients were randomized, and 60% had ≥ 2 previous treatment failures. Pretreatment resistance against clarithromycin and metronidazole was found in 70.5 and 61.5% of cases, respectively. The intention-to-treat eradication rate was significantly higher after EMA-14 compared with EMA-7 (95.0 vs 78.9%, p = .036). No independent risk factor for treatment failure could be identified. There were no serious adverse events. Five of the EMA-14 patients (12.5%) compared with none of the EMA-7 patients discontinued prematurely because of adverse events (p = .031). Post-treatment resistance against moxifloxacin was found in one of seven patients with isolated organisms (14.3%).

CONCLUSION

Second-line/rescue H. pylori eradication therapy with esomeprazole, moxifloxacin, and amoxicillin is very effective and well tolerated. Fourteen days of treatment significantly increase the eradication rate but also the rate of adverse events.

Allelic variation of the matrix metalloproteinase-9 gene is associated with collagenous colitis

BACKGROUND

Collagenous colitis is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease of unknown origin characterized by a thickened subepithelial collagen layer. Differential expression of matrix-metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of collagenous colitis. The aim was to assess genetic polymorphisms of MMP-1, -7, and -9 in a case-control setting for susceptibility to collagenous colitis.

METHODS

Seventy-five patients with symptomatic collagenous colitis and 334 healthy blood donors were genotyped for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in MMP-1-1607, MMP-7-153, MMP-7-181, and MMP-9 exon 6 using TaqMan technology. Susceptibility to collagenous colitis was tested by comparison of the carrier status of the rare allele.

RESULTS

The carrier frequency of the allele GG of the coding SNP MMP-9 in exon 6 was 24% in patients with collagenous colitis and 14.3% in healthy blood donors (P = 0.039). The carriage of the allele GG significantly increased the risk for collagenous colitis with an odds ratio of 1.9 (95% confidence interval: 1.0-3.5). None of the other SNPs of MMP-1, MMP-7-153, and MMP-7-181 were associated with collagenous colitis.

CONCLUSIONS

Allelic variation in the MMP-9 gene may be part of a complex genetic risk profile for collagenous colitis. Further studies are needed to confirm this observation and to explore the functional role of this gene polymorphism in collagenous colitis.

Primary follicular lymphoma of the duodenum is a distinct mucosal/submucosal variant of follicular lymphoma: a retrospective study of 63 cases

PURPOSE

Small series with limited follow-up have suggested primary follicular lymphoma of the duodenum (FL-D) to be an indolent disease. We report our experience on a large series of patients followed for a median time period of longer than 6 years.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study comprised 63 patients with primary FL-D defined as stage I disease. Endoscopy and detailed pathologic work-up was performed at diagnosis and at restaging to monitor the behavior of the neoplastic process.

RESULTS

Histologically, all 63 patients had FL, low grade (1 to 2). Duodenal endosonography demonstrated lesions confined to mucosa/submucosa in 19 of 20 patients. At an overall median follow-up of 77 months (range, 12 to 177 months), only two untreated patients had developed nodal disease, the remaining 61 patients never experienced extrasmall intestinal disease and large cell transformation did not occur at all. Among 24 patients followed by watch and wait strategy, seven showed spontaneous complete regression and 17 had stable disease; radiotherapy resulted in complete regression in all 19 patients; anti-CD20 antibody monotherapy achieved complete regression in four patients and stable disease in one patient. Various chemotherapy protocols in eight patients caused complete regression in all of them, but local relapses occurred in three. No patients required surgery or died of disease.

CONCLUSION

These findings characterize primary FL-D as a remarkably indolent FL variant, which, even left untreated, does not develop tumorous growth, very rarely disseminates (two of 63 patients) and does not transform to high grade disease. A watch and wait approach appears to be the most sensible strategy.

Correlation of serum pepsinogens and gastrin-17 with atrophic gastritis in gastroesophageal reflux patients: a matched-pairs study

BACKGROUND AND AIM

An algorithm (GastroPanel) for the non-invasive diagnosis of atrophic gastritis has been previously proposed, based on serum pepsinogen-I, gastrin-17, and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) antibodies. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether serum markers correlate with and predict gastric atrophy in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) patients.

METHODS

The baseline data of the prospective ProGERD study, a study on the long-term course of GERD (n=6215 patients), served to select patients with atrophic gastritis diagnosed in biopsies from gastric antrum and corpus, and control cases without atrophy. A total of 208 pairs were matched for age, sex, GERD status (erosive vs non-erosive), presence of Barrett's esophagus, and histological H. pylori status were retrieved. Serum pepsinogen-I, gastrin-17, and H. pylori antibodies were determined using specific enzyme immunoassays.

RESULTS

A significant negative correlation was found between the degree of corpus atrophy and the level of serum pepsinogen-I. A previously-reported negative correlation between the degree of antral atrophy and serum gastrin-17 could not be confirmed. The low sensitivity (0.32) and specificity (0.70) of the GastroPanel algorithm were mainly due to over diagnosis and under diagnosis of advanced atrophy in the antrum.

CONCLUSION

The diagnostic validity of the GastroPanel algorithm to diagnose gastric atrophy non-invasively is not sufficient for general use in GERD patients.

Clinical trial: a novel high-dose 1 g mesalamine suppository (Salofalk) once daily is as efficacious as a 500-mg suppository thrice daily in active ulcerative proctitis

BACKGROUND

Mesalamine suppositories are first-line therapy in active ulcerative proctitis; the standard regime still recommends multiple doses per day. The primary objective of this study was to show the noninferiority of once-daily administration of a novel 1 g mesalamine suppository versus thrice-daily administration of the 0.5 g mesalamine suppository.

METHODS

This was a single-blind (investigator-blinded), randomized, multicenter, comparative, Phase III clinical trial. Patients with mild to moderately active ulcerative proctitis inserted either one mesalamine 1 g suppository at bedtime or one mesalamine 0.5 g suppository thrice daily over a 6-week period. The primary endpoint was rate of remission (Disease Activity Index below 4).

RESULTS

In all, 354 patients were evaluable for safety and per-protocol analysis. The new regimen demonstrated noninferiority: The percentage of patients with remission was 87.9% for the once-daily 1 g mesalamine suppository and 90.7% for the thrice-daily 0.5 g mesalamine suppository. Each regimen resulted in prompt cessation of clinical symptoms (e.g., median time to ≤3 stools per day (all without blood): 5 days in the 1 g mesalamine once-daily and 7 days in the 0.5 g mesalamine thrice-daily group). Patients preferred applying suppositories once a day.

CONCLUSIONS

In active ulcerative proctitis the once-daily administration of a 1 g mesalamine suppository is as effective and safe, yet considerably more convenient, than the standard thrice-daily administration of a 0.5 g mesalamine suppository.

Twelve-month endoscopic and histological analysis following proton-pump inhibitor-based triple therapy in Helicobacter pylori-positive patients with gastric ulcers

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate endoscopic and histological findings after Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy in gastric ulcer (GU) patients after 12 months' follow-up.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A total of 401 GU patients were randomized to receive either twice-daily (b.i.d.) esomeprazole 20 mg+amoxicillin 1000 mg+clarithromycin 500 mg (EAC) for 1 week followed by placebo for 3 weeks, EAC followed by once-daily (o.d.) esomeprazole 20 mg for 3 weeks or esomeprazole 20 mg b.i.d. plus placebo antibiotics for 1 week followed by esomeprazole 20 mg o.d. for 3 weeks. Endoscopy with biopsy was performed at baseline, after treatment and at 6 and 12 months' follow-up (healed patients).

RESULTS

Endoscopic abnormalities, particularly in the stomach, were common at baseline and remained similar during follow-up, regardless of ulcer status and treatment. Helicobacter gastritis was present (antrum or corpus) in approximately 20% of patients following eradication therapy (versus approximately 80% with esomeprazole alone); these effects were sustained during follow-up. Similar trends were observed for other histological variables (granulocyte and lymphoplasmocytic cell infiltration, replacement of gastric surface cells by regenerative epithelium, and mucous depletion). No changes in atrophy or intestinal metaplasia were observed. Eighteen gastric cancer cases were detected: 11 at baseline endoscopy, and seven during treatment and follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic abnormalities are common in GU patients and persist after proton-pump inhibitor-based triple therapy for H. pylori eradication, which is associated with large, sustained improvements in histological variables. Follow-up endoscopy and histology may be necessary, even in patients with apparently non-malignant GU, to improve the detection rate of gastric malignancy in populations with a high prevalence of gastric cancer.

[Diagnosis of early neoplasia in Barrett's mucosa based on changes in surface structure. Comparative stereo-microscopic and histological investigations in 600 endoscopically resected specimens]

BACKGROUND

In view of the rapidly increasing incidence of Barrett's carcinoma, a desirable aim would be to detect intraepithelial neoplasia and mucosal carcinoma via the endoscope. Where something new is growing, it should give rise to visible changes in surface structure, in particular, in the case of the early Barrett's neoplasia. The present study was carried out to investigate this hypothesis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 600 formalin-fixed endoscopically resected specimens (317 patients) from Barrett's oesophagus were prospectively investigated by stereomicroscopy (magnification up to x 90). The surface structure was classified into regular (finely granulated or ridged gyriform) and irregular (coarsely granulated, polypoid elevated or depressed), and compared with the results of the histological evaluation.

RESULTS

88.5 % of the Barrett's carcinomas, and 76 % and 68 %, respectively, of the cases of high-grade and low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia were associated with an irregular surface structure. However, coarsely granulated mucosal surfaces, reflecting regenerative changes, were also found in 26 % of the cases of Barrett's mucosa without intraepithelial neoplasia.

CONCLUSION

Despite formalin fixation, 68 - 88.5 % of the cases of early Barrett's neoplasia can be identified by stereo microscopy. This shows that high-resolution videoendoscopy or magnification endoscopy appears to be a highly suitable method for the targeted detection of early Barrett's neoplasia.

Early Barrett's carcinoma: the depth of infiltration of the tumour correlates with the degree of differentiation, the incidence of lymphatic vessel and venous invasion

The incidence of regional lymph node metastasis in early Barrett's carcinoma is determined by the depth of infiltration of the tumour. The present study investigated the possible relationship between the depth of infiltration of the tumour, its degree of differentiation and the incidence of lymphatic vessel and venous invasion in early Barrett's carcinoma. To this end, a total of 805 endoscopically resected specimens obtained from 472 patients with early Barrett's carcinomas were analysed. The results of this analysis revealed that increasing depth of tumour infiltration is associated with an increase in the incidence of poorly differentiated carcinomas--from 0.8% for lesions limited to the mucosa (m1) to 41.4% when the depth of infiltration extended to the lower third of the submucosa (sm3). A similar correlation was also found for the incidence of lymphatic vessel invasion (m1, 0.6%; sm3, 44.8%) and for venous invasion (m1, 0%; sm3, 13.8%). All of these observations proved to be statistically highly significant (p < 0.001). In conclusion, the results show that the degree of differentiation, as well as the incidence of lymphatic vessel and venous invasion, correlates with the depth of infiltration of the early carcinoma in Barrett's oesophagus.

The pattern of invasion of early carcinomas in Barrett's esophagus is dependent on the depth of infiltration

The differential diagnosis "high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia" or "well-differentiated Barrett's adenocarcinoma limited to the mucosa" is controversial. We investigated 277 endoscopically resected specimens of early Barrett's carcinoma. Depth of infiltration was classified as follows: m 1=carcinoma limited to Barrett's mucosa; m 2=carcinoma infiltrating the neo-muscularis mucosae; m 3=infiltration of the original lamina propria of the esophageal mucosa; m 4=infiltration of the original muscularis mucosae; sm 1, sm 2, and sm 3=infiltration into the upper third, middle third, and lower third of the submucosa. The pattern of invasion was classified and graded as follows: tubular (D 0)=only neoplastic tubuli showing cytologic criteria of malignancy - no tumor cell dissociation; dissociation grade 1 (D 1)=few dissociated tumor cells; D 2=moderate amount of dissociated tumor cells; D 3=pronounced tumor cell dissociation. 74-96% of m 1-m 4 Barrett's carcinomas limited to the mucosa have a D 0-pattern. Tubular invasion decreases only when the submucosa has been infiltrated (sm 1: 70.4%, sm 2: 30.0%, sm 3: 24.0%). Our study shows that the pattern of invasion in early cancer in Barrett's esophagus statistically significantly depends on depth of infiltration.

Misinterpretation of NSAID-induced Colopathy as Crohn's disease

Although NSAID-induced colonopathy characterised by erosions, ulcers, strictures and diaphragms has been known for quite some time, it is not infrequently misinterpreted endoscopically and histologically as Crohn's disease. This is exemplified by the present case history of a 39-year-old man with bloody diarrhoea and a stenosis in the transverse colon that was histologically interpreted as "consistent with Crohn's disease". Treatment with glucocorticoids, however, merely gave rise to adverse reactions. After surgical treatment of the stenosis, the episodes of bloody diarrhoea persisted, and endoscopy continued to reveal erosions and ulcers in the transverse colon. Changing treatment to azathioprine also failed to produce any positive response, merely causing side effects. Subsequent evaluation of the histological specimens by a consultant pathologist turned up the tentative diagnosis of NSAID-induced colonopathy. An analysis of the patient's medical history revealed that he was suffering from Bechterew's disease, for which he had long been taking diclofenac. This case history is a good example of the fact that NSAID-induced enterocolopathy is still too poorly recognised among internists, gastroenterologists and pathologists, and, on the basis of the discontinuous endoscopic and histological findings, is often misinterpreted as Crohn's disease.

Effects of Helicobacter pylori eradication on early stage gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Different remission rates of gastric low-grade, B-cell, mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma have been reported after Helicobacter pylori eradication. We assessed the long-term remission and relapse rates of early stage MALT lymphoma in patients treated only by H pylori eradication and identified factors that might predict outcome.

METHODS

This systematic review analyzed data from 32 studies, including 1408 patients.

RESULTS

The MALT lymphoma remission rate was 77.5% (95% confidence interval, 75.3-79.7), and was significantly higher in patients with stage I than stage II(1) lymphoma (78.4% vs 55.6%; P = .0003) and in Asian than in Western groups (84.1% vs 73.8%; P = .0001). Neoplasia confined to the submucosa regressed more frequently than that with deeper invasion (82.2% vs 54.5%; P = .0001); patients with lymphoma localized to the distal stomach experienced regression more frequently than those with lymphoma of the proximal stomach (91.8% vs 75.7%; P = .0037). The remission rate was higher among patients without the API2-MALT1 translocation than in those with this translocation (78% vs 22.2%; P = .0001). In an analysis of data from 994 patients, 7.2% experienced lymphoma relapse during 3253 patient-years of follow-up evaluation, with a yearly recurrence rate of 2.2%. Infection and lymphoma were cured by additional eradication therapy in all patients with H pylori recurrence (16.7%). Five (0.05%) of the patients initially cured of lymphoma developed high-grade lymphoma within 6 to 25 months of therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

H pylori eradication is effective in treating approximately 75% of patients with early stage gastric lymphoma. Long-term follow-up evaluation of these patients is needed to detect early lymphoma relapse or progression.

No parietal cell hypertrophy of the metaplastic corpus mucosa in the distal esophagus under PPI treatment

When biopsies obtained from short tongues of columnar epithelium in the distal esophagus show only corpus or cardia-corpus transitional mucosa, it remains uncertain whether we are dealing with columnar epithelium metaplasia or a sampling error. In 50 patients with gastro-esophageal reflux disease receiving proton pump inhibitor (PPI) with such tongues of columnar epithelium, we noted that under this treatment, PPI-typical hypertrophy of the parietal cells in the corpus can be found, but not in the corpus or cardia/corpus transitional mucosa in biopsy material obtained from tongues of columnar epithelium in the distal esophagus. These observations may by an indication that in short segments of columnar epithelium corpus, mucosa with no PPI-induced hyperplasia of the parietal cells may be interpreted as metaplastic mucosa.

Follow-up endoscopy in gastroenterology: when is it helpful?

BACKGROUND

The indications for follow-up endoscopy have not been established in all diseases that can be diagnosed by endoscopy.

METHODS

Selective review of the literature and a survey of national guidelines.

RESULTS

In confirmed erosive or non-erosive reflux disease, follow-up endoscopy is indicated only in the presence of complications or Barrett's esophagus. In the case of gastric ulcer or complicated duodenal ulcer, monitoring by endoscopy is mandatory. There is no consensus regarding the indication for follow-up biopsy in confirmed endemic sprue. In an acute episode of confirmed ulcerative colitis, endoscopy is indicated only if the treatment depends on the findings. In confirmed Crohn's disease, this procedure is indicated only in the presence of complications, if the findings are unclear, and before elective intestinal surgery. Those at risk of hereditary colorectal carcinoma without polyposis should undergo colonoscopy annually, starting 5 years before the youngest age of occurrence in their family or at the age of 25 years, whichever comes first.

CONCLUSIONS

With particular reference to further gastrointestinal diseases discussed in the main text, this review unfortunately shows that many of the indications for follow-up endoscopy remain to be ascertained. Controlled studies are needed to establish with sufficient certainty what really helps our patients.

[Neuroendocrine tumor of the esophagus - successful endoscopic treatment of a very rare entity]

HISTORY AND CLINICAL FINDINGS

A 77-year old women presented with dysphagia and loss of weight for two months INVESTIGATIONS, TREATMENT AND DIAGNOSIS: Endoscopy revealed a polypoid tumor was found in the upper third of the esophagus. It was resected endoscopically after a deeper infiltration of the esophageal wall and enlarged lymphadenopathy or distant metastasis had been ruled out. Histology showed a highly differentiated neuroendocrine tumor of the esophagus with beginning infiltration of the submucosa. It was completely resected.

COURSE

The follow-up of 48 months showed no local recurrence or distant metastasis. This case report is the second description of a successful endoscopic treatment of a neuroendocrine tumor of the esophagus.

CONCLUSION

EMR is a diagnostic and therapeutic tool in case of mucosal lesions of the gastrointestinal tract. Highly differentiated localized NET of the esophagus are very rare.

Clinical course of laryngo-respiratory symptoms in gastro-oesophageal reflux disease during routine care--a 5-year follow-up

BACKGROUND

Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can be associated with laryngo-respiratory symptoms (LRS) such as chronic cough, asthma or laryngeal symptoms.

AIM

To analyse the long-term clinical course of LRS in a large population with GERD and LRS.

METHODS

ProGERD is a prospective multicentre cohort study of 6215 adult out-patients with GERD. At baseline, the prevalence of LRS was assessed. Initial standardized treatment was esomeprazole for up to 8 weeks. After 5 years of follow-up, patients were interviewed for LRS and a multivariate analysis was performed with resolved vs. persistent symptoms for chronic cough, asthma and laryngeal symptoms.

RESULTS

In all, 2886 patients (46.4%) were available for analysis at baseline and at 5 years. The prevalence of chronic cough and laryngeal disorders had decreased while the prevalence of asthma had increased. Resolution of LRS was independent of clinical reflux characteristics or PPI medication.

CONCLUSIONS

In a large population with GERD, only few patients reported persistent LRS over 5 years. Resolution of LRS was independent of the stage of GERD and PPI treatment. Accordingly, data on the direction of causality between GERD and LRS are lacking and the strength of the association between the two must remain controversial.

Budesonide is effective in treating lymphocytic colitis: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Budesonide is effective in treating collagenous colitis, but no treatment is established for lymphocytic colitis. We performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the effects of budesonide in patients with lymphocytic colitis.

METHODS

Forty-two patients (median age, 61 years) with lymphocytic colitis and chronic diarrhea were randomly assigned to groups that were given oral doses of budesonide (9 mg/d) or placebo for 6 weeks. Nonresponders at week 6 were given open-label budesonide (9 mg/d) for 6 additional weeks. A complete colonoscopy and histologic and quality-of-life analyses were performed at baseline and at week 6. The primary end point was clinical remission at 6 weeks, with last observation carried forward (LOCF). All patients who left the study in clinical remission were followed for relapse.

RESULTS

At week 6, 86% of patients given budesonide were in clinical remission (with LOCF) compared with 48% of patients given placebo (P = .010). Furthermore, open-label budesonide therapy induced clinical remission in 7 of 8 patients given placebo. Histologic remission was observed in 73% of patients given budesonide compared with 31% given placebo (P = .030). Only 1 patient discontinued budesonide therapy prematurely. During a mean follow-up period of 14 months, 15 patients (44.1%) experienced a clinical relapse (after a mean of 2 months); 8 of the relapsing patients were retreated with and responded again to budesonide.

CONCLUSIONS

Budesonide effectively induces clinical remission in patients with lymphocytic colitis and significantly improves histology results after 6 weeks. Clinical relapses occur but can be treated again with budesonide.

Serum biomarkers provide an accurate method for diagnosis of atrophic gastritis in a general population: The Kalixanda study

OBJECTIVE

Serological biomarkers can be used for non-invasive diagnosis of gastritis and atrophic gastritis. The aim of this study was to compare the validity of serum levels of pepsinogen I (PGI) and II (PGII), gastrin-17 (G-17) and Helicobacter pylori antibodies (Hpab) with that of the gold standard histology for diagnosis of atrophic gastritis in a population sample from Northern Sweden.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In all, 1000 subjects underwent endoscopies with biopsies. Serum biomarkers were available in 976 subjects for independent diagnosis of gastric mucosal status using a predetermined diagnostic algorithm.

RESULTS

Overall agreement between histology and serological biomarkers in diagnosing corpus atrophy was 96% (CI 95%: 95-97%). Sensitivity and specificity of markers for atrophic gastritis were 71% (CI 68-74%) and 98% (CI 97-99%) respectively, corresponding to 69% (CI 95%: 66-72%) and 98% (95% CI 97-99%) positive and negative predictive values. The positive likelihood ratio was 35.5 (95% CI: 35.0-36.0%). In subgroups with normal stomachs, H. pylori non-atrophic gastritis and H. pylori-negative gastritis by histology, the prevalence of corpus atrophy diagnosed with the biomarkers was 0.8% and 4.9%, respectively. In total, 6.6% of subjects in the study population had corpus atrophy according to the serological biomarkers. CONCLUSIONS. Serological biomarkers show a high degree of accuracy as a non-invasive method to diagnose corpus atrophy, which is common in the general population.

Identification of novel cyclooxygenase-2-dependent genes in Helicobacter pylori infection in vivo

BACKGROUND

Helicobacter pylori is a crucial determining factor in the pathogenesis of benign and neoplastic gastric diseases. Cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) is the inducible key enzyme of arachidonic acid metabolism and is a central mediator in inflammation and cancer. Expression of the Cox-2 gene is up-regulated in the gastric mucosa during H. pylori infection but the pathobiological consequences of this enhanced Cox-2 expression are not yet characterized. The aim of this study was to identify novel genes down-stream of Cox-2 in an in vivo model, thereby identifying potential targets for the study of the role of Cox- 2 in H. pylori pathogenesis and the initiation of pre- cancerous changes.

RESULTS

Gene expression profiles in the gastric mucosa of mice treated with a specific Cox-2 inhibitor (NS398) or vehicle were analysed at different time points (6, 13 and 19 wk) after H. pylori infection. H. pylori infection affected the expression of 385 genes over the experimental period, including regulators of gastric physiology, proliferation, apoptosis and mucosal defence. Under conditions of Cox-2 inhibition, 160 target genes were regulated as a result of H. pylori infection. The Cox-2 dependent subset included those influencing gastric physiology (Gastrin, Galr1), epithelial barrier function (Tjp1, connexin45, Aqp5), inflammation (Icam1), apoptosis (Clu) and proliferation (Gdf3, Igf2). Treatment with NS398 alone caused differential expression of 140 genes, 97 of which were unique, indicating that these genes are regulated under conditions of basal Cox-2 expression.

CONCLUSION

This study has identified a panel of novel Cox-2 dependent genes influenced under both normal and the inflammatory conditions induced by H. pylori infection. These data provide important new links between Cox-2 and inflammatory processes, epithelial repair and integrity.

Helicobacter pylori cag-Pathogenicity island-dependent early immunological response triggers later precancerous gastric changes in Mongolian gerbils

Infection with Helicobacter pylori, carrying a functional cag type IV secretion system (cag-T4SS) to inject the Cytotoxin associated antigen (CagA) into gastric cells, is associated with an increased risk for severe gastric diseases in humans. Here we studied the pathomechanism of H. pylori and the role of the cag-pathogenicity island (cag-PAI) for the induction of gastric ulcer and precancerous conditions over time (2-64 weeks) using the Mongolian gerbil model. Animals were challenged with H. pylori B128 (WT), or an isogenic B128DeltacagY mutant-strain that produces CagA, but is unable to translocate it into gastric cells. H. pylori colonization density was quantified in antrum and corpus mucosa separately. Paraffin sections were graded for inflammation and histological changes verified by immunohistochemistry. Physiological and inflammatory markers were quantitated by RIA and RT-PCR, respectively. An early cag-T4SS-dependent inflammation of the corpus mucosa (4-8 weeks) occurred only in WT-infected animals, resulting in a severe active and chronic gastritis with a significant increase of proinflammatory cytokines, mucous gland metaplasia, and atrophy of the parietal cells. At late time points only WT-infected animals developed hypochlorhydria and hypergastrinemia in parallel to gastric ulcers, gastritis cystica profunda, and focal dysplasia. The early cag-PAI-dependent immunological response triggers later physiological and histopathological alterations towards gastric malignancies.

Comparison of histological parameters for the diagnosis of eosinophilic oesophagitis versus gastro-oesophageal reflux disease on oesophageal biopsy material

AIMS

Eosinophil infiltration of the oesophageal epithelium is the cardinal pathomorphological finding in eosinophilic oesophagitis (EO), but gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) is also associated with increased eosinophils. The aim was to compare histological parameters for the diagnosis of EO versus GORD on routinely taken biopsy specimens.

METHODS AND RESULTS

One hundred and five routine biopsy specimens with EO (n = 62), GORD (n = 24) and probable EO (n = 19) from 74 patients (52 men, 22 women; mean age 43.7 years) were analysed for numbers of eosinophils, mast cells, degranulation and qualitative changes of oesophageal epithelium using immunohistochemistry with monoclonal antibodies against eosinophil peroxidase and eosinophil major basic protein and mast cell tryptase. Eosinophil infiltration was significantly higher in EO than in GORD both on haematoxylin and eosin staining (54.8 versus 9.1; P < 0.05) and immunohistochemistry (77.5 versus 24.7; P < 0.05). Eosinophil degranulation was significantly more intense in EO than in GORD (1.16 versus 0.41; P < 0.05). Furthermore, eosinophilia-codependent secondary qualitative changes of squamous epithelium in EO were generally more extensive than those in GORD.

CONCLUSIONS

Histological differential diagnosis of EO and GORD should be based on eosinophil counts, secondary morphological changes of eosinophils and oesophageal squamous epithelium, especially in cases suspicious of EO.

Investigational treatment options in microscopic colitis

Collagenous and lymphocytic colitis are the two recognized major presentations of microscopic colitis. Both diseases present with chronic watery diarrhea and a chronic inflammatory infiltrate in the colonic mucosa without specific endoscopic abnormalities, and hence diagnosis is established by histology. Recent epidemiological studies suggest that microscopic colitis may affect as many patients as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. The cause of these diseases is unknown; however, several lines of evidence support the hypothesis of mucosal injury from an unknown agent in the fecal stream. Due to the lack of disease causality, therapeutic management of microscopic colitis is now directed primarily at symptoms' resolution or improvement. Based on current evidence, oral budesonide represents an effective treatment option for patients with microscopic colitis to achieve and maintain remission. Other anti-inflammatory drugs such as mesalazine or bismuth subsalicylate are now under evaluation. The optimal long-term management strategy of microscopic colitis, however, remains an unsolved issue.

Silencing of MGMT expression by promoter hypermethylation in the metaplasia-dysplasia-carcinoma sequence of Barrett's esophagus

To determine the relevance of MGMT in Barrett's carcinogenesis, we analyzed promotor hypermethylation and expression of MGMT in Barrett's adenocarcinomas and its paired precursor lesions from 133 patients using a methylation-specific PCR, real-time RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Hypermethylation was detected in 78.9% of esophageal adenocarcinomas, in 100% of Barrett's intraepithelial neoplasia, in 88.9% of Barrett's metaplasia, but only in 21.4% of normal esophageal mucosa samples (P<0.001) and correlated significantly with downregulation of MGMT transcripts (P=0.048) and protein expression (P=0.02). Decrease of protein expression was significantly correlated with progressed stage of disease, lymph node invasion and tumor size. We conclude, that aberrant promoter methylation of MGMT is a frequent and early event during tumorigenesis of Barrett's esophagus. High prevalence of MGMT hypermethylation may represent a candidate marker for improved diagnosis and targeted therapy in Barrett's adenocarcinoma.

Critical reappraisal of current surveillance strategies for Barrett's esophagus: analysis of a large German Barrett's database

Endoscopic surveillance is recommended for patients with Barrett's esophagus (BE). Based on a large database, gathered from predominantly community-based practices in Germany, we aimed to investigate the time-course of malignant progression and apply these findings to current clinical practice. Data of 1438 patients with BE from a large German BE database were analyzed. Patients with at least one follow-up endoscopy/biopsy were included. Detection of 'malignant Barrett' (either high-grade intra-epithelial neoplasia or invasive adenocarcinoma) was considered as study end-point. Of 1438 patients with BE, 57 patients had low-grade intra-epithelial neoplasia (LG-IN) on initial biopsy and 1381 exhibited non-neoplastic BE. 'Malignant Barrett' was detected in 28 cases (1.9%) during a median follow-up period of 24 months (1-255), accounting for an incidence of 0.95% per patient year of follow-up. The frequency of 'malignant Barrett' was significantly higher (P < 0.001, chi(2)-test) in the LG-IN group (n = 11, 19.3%) compared with the non-neoplastic BE group (n = 17, 1.2%). In the non-neoplastic BE group, 'malignant Barrett' was predominantly found during re-endoscopy within the first year of follow-up (12 of 17; 70.6%), in contrast to the LG-IN group, in which 'malignant Barrett' was observed predominantly after a time exceeding 12 months (8 of 11, 72.7%; P = 0.05, Fisher's exact test). Initial endoscopic evaluations seem to play the most crucial role in managing BE. After 1 year of follow-up, endoscopic surveillance should be focused on patients with LG-IN. In patients with repeatedly proven non-neoplastic BE, elongation of the follow-up intervals to the upper limit of current guidelines, that is, 5 years, might be justified.