Objective To analyze the risk factors of metastasis and biological characteristics of patients with gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (GEP-NET).Methods One hundred and forty patients with neuroendocrine (NET) confirmed pathologically were collected between Jan.1993 and Mav 2009,and were divided into relative benign tumors or malignant tumors according to WHO prognostic criteria about GEP-NET.The clinicopathological parameters that related with metastasis of NETs were analyzed by univariate and Logistics regression methods,and the biological behavior characteristics was assessed further.Results GEP-NET showed a maximum incidence at age of 45-54 years for man and of 35-44 years for women.The onset of NET varied in age according to location of primary tumors(P<0.01).The onset age of patients with pancreas NET was lowest(42.92 years).The location that demonstrated the greatest incidence of GEP-NET was pancreas.The univariate analysis showed that gender,age,differentiation,location of primary tumors and maximum diameter of NETs were significantly associated with metastasis of GEP-NET(all P values<0.01).Logistic regression analysis revealed that the site,diameter and differentiation of tumor were the most important predictors for metastasis.The mean age of patients with malignant NET (54.78 years)was older than that of patients with relative benign NET (44.12 years,P<0.01).Conclusions The NET are more commonly found in pancrease.The location of primary tumor,diameter and differentiation of NET are important predictors for tumor metastasis.Poorly differetiated NET are common in patients with gastrointestinal NET or elderly NET patients.

Objective To explore the expression and clinical significance of chromogranin A (CgA) and synaptophysin (Syn) in gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NET).MethodsThe data of sixty-six GEP-NET patients treated in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University were collected between Jan.2003 and May 2009.The expression of CgA and Syn in the tissue of GEP-NET was detected by immunohistochemistry, and its association with clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of GEP-NET were analyzed.Results In these 66 patients,the positive rate of Syn (87.9％,58/66) was higher than that of CgA (71.3％,47/66,x2 =5.63,P=0.02).CgA and Syn were simultaneously expressed in 64.6％ patients (42/66).In the tissues of GEP-NET,the expression of CgA was related with lymph node metastasis and TNM stages,not related with patients' gender,age,tumor location,function,degree of differentiation,tumor size,infiltration and distant metastasis. Syn was not related with all the above clinicopathological parameters.Three-year survival rate in CgA negative group (47％) was significantly lower than that in positive group (78％,x2 =0.00,P=0.01).ConclusionsSyn was more sensitive than CgA in the diagnosis of GEP-NET.CgA in some extent indicates the prognosis of GEP-NET.

ObjectiveTo analyze Rome Ⅱ and Rome Ⅲ criteria in clinical characteristics of functional dyspepsia (FD) diagnosis and the differences in subtypes of FD,and to assess the psychosocial status of FD patients.Methods From June 2008 to December 2008,1600 random outpatients who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in department of gastroenterology fulfilled the inquiry questionnaire.The subtype was diagnosed according to Rome Ⅲ and the Rome Ⅱ criteria and the results were analyzed.ResultsA total of 215 patients (13.44％) were in accordance with Rome Ⅱ criteria and 249 patients (15.56 ％) were in accordance with Rome Ⅲ criteria,there was no difference in FD detection rate between these two criteria (x2=2.176,P＞0.05).About 71.16％(153/215) of the FD patients diagnosed according to Rome Ⅱ criteria were also in accordance with Rome Ⅲ criteria,and 23.26％ (50/215) who had bothersome postprandial fullness,early satiation,epigastic pain or epigastric burning did not meet Rome Ⅲ criteria.About 61.45 ％ (153/249) of the FD patients diagnosed according to Rome Ⅲ criteria were also in accordance with Rome Ⅱ criteria,and the courses of disease of 28.92％(72/249) patients didn't met Rome Ⅱ criteria.According to RomeⅡ,51 (23.72％) patients were ulcer-like type,103 (47.91％)patients were dysmotility-like type,and 61 (28.37％) patients were non-idiotype.According to Rome Ⅲ criteria,76.31％ (190/249) patients were consistent with postprandial distress syndrome (PDS),52.61％ (131/249) patients were consistent with epigastric pain syndrome (EPS),and 28.92％ (72/249) patients met both PDS and EPS.The percentage of the FD patients with anxiety and depression was 16.83％ and 47.52％respectively.Of the FD patients in accordance with Rome Ⅲ criteria who were with both anxiety and depression,the total symptom scores of bothersome postprandial fullness,early satiation,epigastic pain or epigastic burning were the highest (x2 =49.637,P＜0.05).ConclusionsRome Ⅲ criteria is easier to understand and more practical.FD patients always have psychosocial disorders,which may worsen the clinical symptoms.

Objective To analyze the differences in symptoms spectrum,lifestyle,diet and psychological features among different age groups with reflux esophagitis.Methods From June 2011 to October 2013,332 outpatients with reflux esophagitis (RE) were collected and divided into youth group (18 to 40 years),middle-aged group (41 to 64 years) and aged group (≥65 years).Symptoms and risk factors of patients were investigated.The severity of the symptoms was evaluated with reflux diagnostic questionnaire (RDQ).The anxiety and depression of patients were assessed with self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and self-rating depression scale (SDS).The distribution of symptoms spectrum,the severity of symptoms,lifestyle,diet and psychological features of three groups were compared.Mann-Whitney U tests or Chi-square test were used for comparison between two groups.Pearson test was performed for correlation analysis.Results There were 96 cases,192 cases and 44 cases in youth,middle-aged and aged group,respectively.Compared with youth group and middle-aged group,the incidence of chronic cough and asthma (extra-esophageal symptoms) was higher in aged group (1.0％ (1/96),13.5％ (26/192),20.5 ％ (9/44);and 3.1％ (3/96),9.4 ％ (18/192),15.9 ％ (7/44)),and the differences were statistically significant (x2 =15.10 and 6.91,both P＜0.05).The scores of extra-esophageal symptoms in youth group,middle-aged group and aged group were 7.0(2.0,14.0),9.5(4.2,17.0) and 12.0(7.0,19.7),respectively,and the difference was statistically significant (F=3.93,P =0.02).Comparison with aged group,the incidences of youth group and middle-aged group were higher in irregular meals (4.5 ％ (2/44),28.1％(27/96),14.6％ (28/192)),overeating (29.5％(13/44),50.0％(48/96),34.9％(67/192)),dinner time after 19 o'clock (2.2％(1/44),27.1％(26/96),20.3％(39/192)),lying down in 30-minute post-meal (40.9％(18/44),63.5％(61/96),49.5％(95/192)),high fat diet (52.3％(23/44),84.4％ (81/96),69.3％(133/192)),spicy food (13.6％(6/44),43.8％(42/96),30.7％(59/192)),and the differences were statistically significant (x2 =13.93,7.90,11.71,10.36,16.22 and 12.99,all P＜ 0.05).Compared with the youth group and middle-aged group,the incidence of aged group was higher in exercise times ＜two times/week (15.6 ％ (15/96),40.1％ (77/192),50.0％ (22/44)),preference of tea (36.5％(35/96),36.5％(70/192),59.1％ (26/44)) and poor sleep quality (13.5％ (13/96),19.3％ (37/192),31.8％(14/44)),and the differences were statistically significant (x2 =22.52,8.18 and 6.47,all P＜ 0.05).The median SAS scores of youth group,middle-aged group and aged group were 30.0 (27.5,33.7),32.5 (28.7,37.5) and 30.0(27.5,36.2),respectively;and the median SDS scores were 32.5(27.5,39.7),36.2(30.3,45.0),37.5(35.0,45.0),respectively;and the differences in SAS and SDS scores among three groups were statistically significant (F=6.37,6.75,both P＜0.01).The SAS and SDS scores were not correlated with extra-esophageal symptoms in youth group.The SAS score was positively correlated with extra-esophageal symptoms in middle-aged group (r =0.19,P =0.009).The SAS and RDQ scores were positively correlated with extra-esophageal symptoms in aged group(r=0.26 and 0.23;P=0.005 and 0.003).Conclusions The incidence of extra-esophageal symptoms in middle-age group and aged group is high,the symptoms are severe and with anxiety and depression possibility.While unhealthy lifestyle and diet habits are more common in young patients.According to different age groups,risk factors should be adjusted.

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics of functional esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction (EGJOO) and to improve the knowledge of functional EGJOO.Methods:From January 2015 to December 2019, at the Gastrointestinal Motility Center of The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, 91 patients who underwent high resolution esophageal manometry (HREM) and met the EGJOO criteria of Chicago Classification for esophageal motility disorders, 3rd edition and excluded organic diseases by examination such as gastroscopy or upper gastrointestinal radiography were collected. The clinical manifestations, treatment methods, effect and clinical outcome of patients with functional EGJOO, the HREM parameters of patients with different clinical manifestations as well as symptoms and HREM parameters of patients with different treatments were analyzed. Least significant difference test or Tamhanes T2 test, Mann-Whitney U or Wilcoxon test, chi-square test or Fisher exact test were used for statistical analysis. Results:The most common symptom of 91 functional EGJOO patients was dysphagia (34/91, 37.4%). The lower esophageal sphincter pressure (LESP) and the intrabolus pressure during relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter (IBP LESR) of patients with dysphagia were both higher than those of patients without dysphagia (30.95 mmHg (26.27 mmHg, 39.37 mmHg) (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) vs. 27.35 mmHg (24.60 mmHg, 34.87 mmHg); (8.25±4.64) mmHg vs. (5.69±4.65) mmHg), and the differences were statistically significant ( Z=2.076, t=2.539; P=0.038, 0.013). Thirty patients (33.0%) had no special treatment, 52 patients (57.1%) were treated with medication, and nine patients (10.0%) underwent peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM). The incidence of dysphagia before treatment and maximum intrabolus pressure of patients who underwent POEM were both higher than those of patients without special treatment and medication treatment (8/9 vs 43.3%, 13/30 and 25.0%, 13/52; 21.80 mmHg (15.45 mmHg, 28.95 mmHg) vs. 12.20 mmHg (10.00 mmHg, 18.10 mmHg) and 13.70 mmHg (11.07 mmHg, 17.82 mmHg)), and the differences were statistically significant (Fisher exact test, Fisher exact test; Z=2.814, 2.390; P=0.023, P<0.01, P=0.005, 0.017). The incidences of delayed esophageal emptying or esophageal dilation of patients who underwent POEM, without special treatment and with medication treatment was 6/9, 5/14 and 3/18, respectively, and the differences were statistically significant among three groups (Fisher exact test, P=0.039). Among them, the incidence of delayed esophageal emptying or esophageal dilation of patients received POEM before treatment was higher than that of patients with medication treatment (Fisher exact test, P=0.026). The symptoms of 24.2% (22/91) was spontaneously relieved, and two patients (2.2%) developed type Ⅱ achalasia during follow-up. Conclusions:The main manifestation of patients with functional EGJOO is dysphagia. Patients with significantly increased LESP and IBP LESP are more likely to have dysphagia. Patients with obvious signs of esophageal gastric junction obstruction are more inclined to choose POEM treatment. Some patients with functional EGJOO can relieve themselves, and a few patients can develop achalasia.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Little data exists about esophageal body dysmotility and reflux patterns in refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease (RGERD) patients off therapy. We aimed to evaluate effects of esophageal body dysmotility on reflux parameters in RGERD patients by combining impedance-pH monitoring and high-resolution manometry (HRM). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the impedance-pH data and HRM metrics in patients with refractory gastroesophageal reflux symptoms. Impedance-pH monitoring and manometric data were compared between 2 groups: ineffective esophageal motility (IEM) and normal motility. RESULTS: Forty-eight patients (30 males, mean age 54.5 years) were included (16 erosive esophagitis, 24 non-erosive reflux disease, and 8 functional heartburn), amongst which 24 subjects showed IEM, and others had normal motility. Number of patients who had a large break in the IEM group was significantly higher than that of normal motility patients. IEM group had more patients with weakly acid reflux and long term acid reflux than the normal group (P = 0.008, P = 0.004, respectively). There was no statistical difference in baseine impedance levels from z4 to z6 between the 2 groups (2911 ± 1160 Ω vs 3604 ± 1232 Ω, 2766 ± 1254 Ω vs 3752 ± 1439 Ω, 2349 ± 1131 Ω vs 3038 ± 1254 Ω, all P > 0.05). Acid exposure time, numbers of long term acid reflux and weakly acid reflux showed strong negative correlation with esophageal body motility and/or lower esophageal sphincter function. CONCLUSIONS: IEM was associated more with acid exposure, abnormal weakly acid reflux, and long term acid reflux in RGERD patients. These data suggested the role of esophageal body dysmotility in the pathophysiological mechanisms of RGERD patients.
Electric Impedance ; Esophageal Motility Disorders ; Esophageal Sphincter, Lower ; Esophagitis ; Gastroesophageal Reflux* ; Humans ; Male ; Manometry ; Retrospective Studies

Background/Aims: Esophageal mean nocturnal baseline impedance (MNBI) levels and post-reflux swallow-induced peristaltic wave (PSPW) index could increase the diagnostic value of 24-hour multichannel intraluminal impedance and pH monitoring in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease. This study aims to compare the MNBI and PSPW index in patients with no evidence of erosive reflux disease. Methods: Impedance-pH monitoring tracings from 70 patients, 50 with non-erosive reflux disease (NERD) and 20 with functional heartburn (FH), were reviewed. According to proton pump inhibitors (PPI) treatment response, NERD patients were divided into NERD/PPI responders and NERD/PPI nonresponders. MNBI, PSPW index, and intercellular spaces were measured and compared among each group. Results: MNBI values and PSPW index were lower in NERD patients than in FH (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). MNBI positively correlated with PSPW index (r = 0.525, P < 0.001). NERD/PPI responders had lower MNBI values and PSPW index compared to NERD/PPI nonresponders (both P < 0.01). MNBI and PSPW index distinguished NERD from FH patients with an area under the curve of 0.914 and 0.677, respectively. Wider intercellular space could be identified in patients with NERD (P < 0.01). Conclusion MNBI and PSPW index may differentiate NERD from FH patients and relate to PPI treatment efficacy in patients with NERD.

Background/Aims: Esophageal mean nocturnal baseline impedance (MNBI) levels and post-reflux swallow-induced peristaltic wave (PSPW) index could increase the diagnostic value of 24-hour multichannel intraluminal impedance and pH monitoring in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease. This study aims to compare the MNBI and PSPW index in patients with no evidence of erosive reflux disease. Methods: Impedance-pH monitoring tracings from 70 patients, 50 with non-erosive reflux disease (NERD) and 20 with functional heartburn (FH), were reviewed. According to proton pump inhibitors (PPI) treatment response, NERD patients were divided into NERD/PPI responders and NERD/PPI nonresponders. MNBI, PSPW index, and intercellular spaces were measured and compared among each group. Results: MNBI values and PSPW index were lower in NERD patients than in FH (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). MNBI positively correlated with PSPW index (r = 0.525, P < 0.001). NERD/PPI responders had lower MNBI values and PSPW index compared to NERD/PPI nonresponders (both P < 0.01). MNBI and PSPW index distinguished NERD from FH patients with an area under the curve of 0.914 and 0.677, respectively. Wider intercellular space could be identified in patients with NERD (P < 0.01). Conclusion MNBI and PSPW index may differentiate NERD from FH patients and relate to PPI treatment efficacy in patients with NERD.

Background/Aims: It is known that post-reflux swallow-induced peristaltic wave (PSPW) index represents the chemical clearance of the esophagus. However, few studies have explored why some reflux episodes could induce PSPW while others in the same patient could not. The purpose of this study is to investigate the characteristics of reflux episodes which could elicit PSPW. Methods: In this study, 269 reflux episodes were detected, of which 90 with a PSPW and 179 without a PSPW. Comparisons were made between the characteristics of reflux episodes with a PSPW and without a PSPW. The characteristics were including nadir pH, pH drop, proximal extent (cm, sec), ascending velocity (cm/sec), volume clearance time, acid clearance time, percentage acidic (%), 15 to 60-minute acid burden (seconds), and 15- to 60-minute volume burden (seconds). The characteristics between the 2 groups were compared through performing Wilcoxon signed rank test. Results: Reflux episodes followed by a PSPW were significantly associated with a higher proximal extent than those without a PSPW. After the reflux episodes, higher volume clearance time and larger volume burden were more likely to trigger a PSPW. However, there were no significant differences between the 2 groups in nadir pH, pH drop, ascending velocity, acid clearance time, percentage acidic, or acid burden. Conclusions The role of acid seems to be less important in a reflux episode inducing a PSPW. Proximal reflux episodes are more likely to induce a PSPW. The depression of volume clearance may also be an important factor in eliciting a PSPW.

Objective:To evaluate the safety and efficacy of combination of submucosal tunneling endoscopic septum division (STESD) and peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) for the treatment of esophageal epiphrenic diverticulum with esophagogastric junction (EGJ) outflow tract disorder.Methods:From October 2017 to August 2021, 6 patients with esophageal epiphrenic diverticulum complicated with EGJ outflow tract disorder receiving combination of STESD and POEM in the Endoscopic Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University were enrolled. The clinical characteristics of the patients were retrospectively analyzed, which included the ratio of male to female, age, course of disease, length of diverticula, location, whether with multiple diverticula, type of EGJ outflow tract disorders, whether the endoscopic technique was successful (the completion of all steps under endoscopy, including tunnel establishment and diverticulum cristae, lower esophageal sphincter and cardia muscularis propria incision); operation time, changes in the severity of clinical symptoms before and after operation (including weight loss, dysphagia, retrosternal pain, and reflux assessed using the Eckardt score), intraoperative and postoperative complications, and follow-up, including whether achieved clinical success (complete or nearly complete improvement of dysphagia, vomiting after eating, retrosternal pain, regurgitation, weight loss, no need for repeat endoscopic intervention during follow-up) and adverse events. Descriptive methods were used for statistical analysis.Results:The male to female ratio of the 6 patients was 3 to 3, the median age was 69.2 years old, and the median disease course was 92.3 months. The median length of the diverticula was 47.5 mm. Diverticulum was located in the right wall of esophagus in 4 cases and in the left wall of esophagus in 2 cases, of which 1 patient was multiple diverticulum of esophagus. Achalasia was found in 5 cases, and EGJ outflow obstruction was found in 1 case. All the 6 patients successfully completed combination of STESD and POEM, and all achieved successful edoscopic technique. The operation time (range) was 55 min (40 to 70 min). Clinical symptom Eckardt score (range) before and after operation was 9.0 (7.0 to 11.0) and 1.3 (1.0 to 2.0), respectively. After operation the clinical symptom improved compared with that before operation. There were no delayed bleeding, perforation, infection, subcutaneous emphysema and other complications and severe adverse events. Six patients were all cured and discharged. Follow-up period was 1 to 50 months. The symptoms of dysphagia, vomiting after eating, retrosternal pain, regurgitation and weight loss were all significantly improved compared with those before operation. There were no severe adverse events and all achieved clinical success.Conclusions:Combination of STESD and POEM is safe and effective in the treatment of esophageal epiphrenic diverticulum with EGJ outflow tract disorder, and has good short-term and long-term effects.