Colorectal tumorigenesis generally progresses from adenoma to adenocarcinoma, accompanied by dynamic changes in the tumor microenvironment (TME). A randomized controlled trial has confirmed the efficacy and safety of Shen-Bai-Jie-Du decoction (SBJDD) in preventing colorectal tumorigenesis. However, the mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we employed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to investigate the dynamic evolution of the TME and validated cell infiltration with multiplex immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. Bulk RNA sequencing was utilized to assess the underlying mechanisms. Our results constructed the mutually verifiable single-cell transcriptomic atlases in Apc ^Min/+ mice and clinical patients. There was a marked accumulation of CCL22⁺ dendritic cells (DCs) and an enhanced immunosuppressive action, which SBJDD and berberine reversed. Combined treatment with cholesterol and lipopolysaccharide induced characteristic gene expression of CCL22⁺ DCs, which may represent "exhausted DCs". Intraperitoneal injection of these DCs after SBJDD treatment eliminated its therapeutic effects. TMEM131 derived CCL22⁺ DCs generation by TNF signaling pathway and may be a potential target of berberine in retarding colorectal tumorigenesis. These findings emphasize the role of exhausted DCs and the regulatory mechanisms of SBJDD and berberine in colorectal cancer (CRC), suggesting that the multi-component properties of SBJDD may help restore TME homeostasis and offer novel cancer therapy.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for circular superficial esophageal cancer.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 74 consecutive cases of circular superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma treated with ESD at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital from January 2015 to December 2019. The success rate of ESD, curative resection rate, incidence of complications, and additional treatment were mainly observed.Results:One case was transferred to surgery, and the remaining 73 cases successfully completed ESD treatment. The success rate of ESD was 98.6%. Postoperative pathology of ESD revealed that 39 cases achieved curative resection, with a curative resection rate of 53.4% (39/73). Intraoperative muscle layer injury occurred in 15 cases (20.5%), and intraoperative perforation occurred in 1 case (1.4%). Two cases (2.7%) experienced delayed bleeding, and one case (1.4%) experienced delayed perforation. Eleven cases were lost to follow-up, and the remaining 62 cases received follow-up for 36.4±19.0 months. Among the follow-up cases, 12 underwent additional surgery and 5 cases additional chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Among the 57 patients with follow-up data who did not underwent surgery, 49 developed esophageal stenosis after ESD, with an incidence rate of 86.0%.Conclusion:ESD for circular superficial esophageal cancer is generally safe, but it is prone to muscle layer injury during the operation, with a low curative resection rate, a high incidence of postoperative esophageal stenosis, and a high proportion of additional surgical procedures.

Objective:To investigate the clinical value of AB classification combined with Arima classification for predicting the invasion depth of superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (SESCC).Methods:From July 2017 to December 2022, 76 cases of SESCC receiving endoscopic submucosal dissection and intra-epithelial papillary capillary loops (IPCL) AB classification as type B2 in Ningbo Medical Center Lihuili Hospital and Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine were included in the study. IPCL was reclassified according to Arima classification. The depth of infiltration determined by pathology was the gold standard. The sensitivity, the specificity, the positive predictive value and the negative predictive value of B2-Arima combined classification in predicting the invasion depth of SESCC were analyzed.Results:In the 76 cases of type B2 IPCL lesions, 31 cases (40.79%) were T1a-MM/T1b-SM1 SESCC. The sensitivity, the specificity, the positive predictive value, the negative predictive value and the diagnostic accuracy of type B2 IPCL to predict T1a-MM/T1b-SM1 SESCC were 70.45% (31/44), 79.64% (176/221), 40.79% (31/76), 93.12% (176/189), and 78.11% (207/265), respectively. After Arima classification, the above corresponding indicators of type B2-4ML and type B2-AVA-4M IPCL in predicting T1a-MM/T1b-SM1 SESCC were 61.36% (27/44), 88.24% (195/221), 50.94% (27/53), 91.98% (195/212), 83.77% (222/265) and 38.64% (17/44), 94.57% (209/221), 58.62% (17/29), 88.56% (209/236), 85.28% (226/265), respectively.Conclusion:B2 IPCL combined with Arima classification can improve the diagnostic accuracy of T1a-MM/T1b-SM1 ESSCC.

Objective:To establish a scoring system for preoperative prediction of the malignant potential of gastric stromal tumors based on gastroscopic and endoscopic ultrasound features, along with validation.Methods:A total of 286 patients who were treated in Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2023 and diagnosed as having gastric stromal tumors by postoperative pathology were enrolled in the modeling group. According to National Institutes of Health classification system, 227 very-low/low-risk patients were classified into the low malignant potential (LMP) group, and the 59 intermediate/high-risk patients into the high malignant potential (HMP) group. LASSO regression analysis was performed to identify predictive factors for HMP gastric stromal tumors, and a nomogram prediction model was developed. Internal validation using the Bootstrap method was performed on the modeling group, and external validation was performed on data from 85 patients who were treated and diagnosed as having gastric stromal tumors by postoperative pathology in Taizhou People's Hospital from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2023. The receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves, calibration curves, and decision curve analyses were employed in both the modeling and external validation groups.Results:Tumor size (coef=0.755), tumor shape (coef=0.015), tumor location (coef=0.008), growth pattern (coef=-0.026), cystic change (coef=0.685), and surface unceration change (coef=-0.545) were the independent predictive factors for HMP gastric stromal tumors. The nomogram-based prediction model constructed using these factors achieved an area under the ROC curve of 0.959 (95% CI: 0.898-0.903) in the modeling group and 0.959 (95% CI: 0.857-1.000) in the external validation group. The model demonstrated good accuracy (0.917) and a Kappa value of 0.737 in internal validation. Calibration curve and decision curve analyses indicated strong calibration and high net benefit in both the modeling and the external validation groups. Conclusion:Tumor size, tumor shape, tumor location, growth pattern, cystic change, and surface ulceration change are independent predictive factors for HMP gastric stromal tumors. The nomogram model developed based on these factors offers effective and convenient visualization for clinicians to predict the malignant potential of gastric stromal tumors preoperatively.

A retrospective analysis was conducted on data of 13 patients with rectal or anal canal lesions involving the dentate line who underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) at the Digestive Endoscopy Center of Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine from January 2022 to July 2023. The efficacy and safety of ESD were evaluated. ESD was performed on 14 lesions in 13 patients. The lesions had a length of 1.4 to 12.5 cm and 5.4 cm in average, which were removed entirely in a single session, with an R0 resection rate of 92.31% (12/13). The ESD procedure duration ranged from 35 to 225 minutes, with an average of 88.3 minutes. Anal canal stenosis occurred in 1 case after ESD, which was improved after treatment with anal dilatation. No delayed bleeding, perforation, or other complications occurred. Pathological examination after ESD revealed 6 tubulovillous adenoma, 2 tubular adenoma, 3 tubular adenocarcinoma, and 2 squamous epithelial intraepithelial neoplasia (both 2 lesions were combined with human papillomavirus infection). In one case of tubular adenocarcinoma, the local resection margin showed focal tubulovillous adenoma, while the other cases were negative on lateral margins around and basal margins. The median follow-up period was 7.0 months (range 2 to 13 months), with no local residue, recurrence or metastasis observed. ESD is safe and effective for early rectal or anal canal lesions involving the dentate line, and is worthy of clinical promotion and application.

Objective:To study the short-term (≤3 months) efficacy and safety of esophageal triamcinolone acetonide filling combined with short-course oral methylprednisolone for the prevention of esophageal stenosis after large-area endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) (≥3/4 circumference).Methods:A total of 14 patients with 15 early esophageal lesions who received ESD after evaluation from June 2021 to September 2022 in Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine were enrolled. All received regular esophageal triamcinolone acetonide filling combined with oral methylprednisolone for 7 weeks until the lesions completely recovered by regenerated squamous epithelium (>95%). Patients with esophageal stricture were treated with additional endoscopic dilatation. The stenosis rate, the interval between the first endoscopic dilation and the completion of ESD, the number of esophageal triamcinolone acetonide filling, the healing time after ESD, and the speed and method of squamous epithelium regeneration were observed. The secondary observations were adverse events such as bleeding and perforation after ESD and adverse events related to steroid hormone.Results:No adverse events occurred after ESD in 14 patients. Only 1 patient developed esophageal stenosis, the incidence of stenosis was 7.1% (1/14). The interval between the first dilation and ESD was 39 days. Thirteen patients achieved squamous epithelium regeneration without stenosis or adverse events related to steroid hormone. The median number of esophageal triamcinolone acetonide filling was 6.5 times (4.0-14.0 times), the median healing time was 40 days (32-94 days), and the median healing speed was 0.61 cm2/d (0.30-1.55 cm2/d).Conclusion:Esophageal triamcinolone acetonide filling combined with short-course oral methylprednisolone for the prevention of esophageal stenosis after large-area ESD is effective and safe in the short-term follow-up.

Objective:To evaluate the value of non-injection mucosal resection for Paris type 0-Ⅰ colon polyps with a long diameter less than 2 cm.Methods:At the Department of Gastroenterology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, patients with type 0-Ⅰcolonic polyps of a long diameter less than 2 cm who underwent non-submucosal injection resection from January 2019 to December 2019 were enrolled as the non-injection group, and those who received endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) in the same period were enrolled as the control (EMR group). The differences in complete resection rate, operation time, complication incidence and 1-year follow-up polyp detection rate between the two groups were compared.Results:A total of 373 patients were treated with non-injection mucosal resection and 743 patients with conventional EMR. There was no significant difference in gender [68.6% (256/373) VS 64.6% (480/743) for male, χ2=1.796], age (56.2±11.8 years VS 57.4±11.2 years, t=-1.984), number of polyps (1.5±0.9 VS 1.4±0.8, t=1.776), polyp distribution [48.0% (269/561) VS 34.6% (362/1 045) in right colon, χ2=3.364], lesion diameter less than 1 cm [80.0% (449/561) VS 76.9% (804/1 045), χ2=2.043] between the two groups ( P>0.05). The operation time in the non-injection group was 2.82±1.70 min, which was shorter than that in the EMR group (4.94±2.54 min) with significant difference ( t=-16.489, P<0.001). The number of metal clips used in the non-injection group was 0.90±0.68, which was less than that in the EMR group (1.30±0.73, t=-8.971, P<0.001). The en bloc resection rates of lesions in non-injection group and EMR group were both 100.0%. The complete resection rate of non-injection group was 97.3% (546/561), which was not significantly different from that of EMR group [98.1% (1 025/1 045), χ2=0.749, P=0.387]. There was no significant difference in the incidences of delayed bleeding in the two groups [0.0% (0/373) VS 0.8% (6/743), P=0.187]. No intraoperative or delayed perforation in either group occurred. There was no significant difference in the incidence of electrocoagulation syndrome between the two groups [0.8% (3/373) VS 0.7% (5/743), P=0.534]. A total of 63 patients in the non-injection group underwent colonoscopy review within the set period, and the polyp detection rate was 41.2% (26/63). A total of 178 patients in the EMR group also underwent colonoscopy review, and the polyp detection rate was 53.9% (96/178). There was no significant difference in the polyp detection rate between the two groups ( χ2=2.985, P>0.05). Conclusion:Non-submucosal injection resection is safe and effective for Paris type 0-Ⅰ colon polyps with a long diameter less than 2 cm, which can significantly shorten the operation time and is worth of clinical promotion.

Objective:To analyze the clinicopathological features of histological mixed-type early gastric cancer and to compare the endoscopic pathological features of dominant proportions.Methods:Clinical data of 43 patients with histological mixed-type early gastric cancer who underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) at the Department of Gastroenterology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School from January 2015 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The endoscopic characteristics, coincidence rate of preoperative diagnosis and postoperative pathology of the patients were analyzed. The endoscopic pathological findings of differentiation dominant group and undifferentiation dominant group were compared.Results:Histological mixed-type early gastric cancer was more common in patients over 60 years old (55.81%, 24/43) , male (65.12%, 28/43), and Helicobacter pylori ( HP) infection (69.77%, 30/43). Most lesions were found in atrophic background (79.07%, 34/43), and lower part of stomach (65.12%, 28/43). Redness or mixed redness was the main color (76.74%, 33/43), and 0-Ⅱc was the main type in lesion morphology (58.14%, 25/43). Characteristics of both differentiated and undifferentiated carcinoma could be observed under magnifying endoscopy. Only 16.28% (7/43) of the patients were diagnosed as having histological mixed-type carcinoma by biopsy. Postoperative pathology showed that there were 33 cases in differentiation dominant group and 10 cases in undifferentiation dominant group. There were 15 (34.88%) patients with deep submucosal infiltration, and 3 (6.98%) patients with positive lymphatic vessels. Differentiation dominant group had clearer demarcation line under endoscopy [78.79% (26/33) VS 4/10, χ2=7.753, P=0.012]. There was no significant difference between the two groups in gender, HP infection, background mucosa, lesion location, endoscopic morphology, lesion long diameter, color, or microscopic and microvascular manifestations under magnifying endoscopy ( P>0.05). Tub2+por was the most common pathological type in differentiation dominant group (78.79%, 26/33), and sig+tub2 was the dominant combination in undifferentiation dominant group (6/10). Endoscopic diagnosis of differentiated primary carcinoma was highly sensitive (93.94%, 31/33), and highly specific for undifferentiated primary carcinoma (94.28%, 33/35). Conclusion:Histological mixed-type early gastric cancer can be diagnosed qualitatively by endoscopy. It is difficult to accurately judge the differentiation advantage and the invasion depth before the operation, which is prone to postoperative pathological upgrading. Therefore, the indications should be strictly considered for ESD treatment for mixed-type early gastric cancer.

Objective:To investigate the clinical, endoscopic and pathological features, and treatment and prognosis of gastric adenocarcinoma of fundic gland type of chief cell predominant type (GA-FG-CCP).Methods:Data of 40 GA-FG-CCP patients with 41 lesions diagnosed by histopathology at Ningbo Medical Center Lihuili Hospital and Shanghai East Hospital from January 2018 to May 2023 were collected. Their clinical and endoscopic features, pathological features, immunohistochemical results, endoscopic treatment, and prognosis were analyzed.Results:Among the 40 GA-FG-CCP patients, there were 15 males and 25 females, and the mean age was 60.03 years. Most of them had no obvious clinical symptoms or family history of tumor. Except one case, others had no helicobacter pylori infection. The endoscopic features of white light observation were: ① the main location was the upper part of the gastric body (63.41%, 26/41); ② faded or whitish mucosal surface (56.10%, 23/41); ③ dilated vessels with branch architecture (78.05%, 32/41); ④ no background mucosal atrophy (100.00%, 41/41). The features of magnifying endoscopy with narrow band imaging (ME-NBI) were: ① no obvious demarcation line (85.37%, 35/41); ② enlargement of the crypt opening (87.80%, 36/41); ③ widening of the intervening part (92.68%, 38/41); ④ lack of irregular microvascular pattern (95.12%, 39/41). All patients were confirmed gastric adenocarcinoma of the fundic gland by biopsy. The glands showed a low degree of dysplasia, similar to the differentiation of chief cell predominant pattern, also with scattered parietal cells, forming irregular and anastomosing cords. In the 40 patients, 20 did not receive endoscopic therapy. Twelve out of 21 lesions in 20 cases treated with endoscopic resection infiltrated into the submucosa (20-520 μm), 9 cases were intramucosal carcinoma. There was no lymphatic or venous infiltration, and horizontal and vertical margins were negative. Immunohistochemical staining results showed that the tumor was postive for pepsinogen-Ⅰ and MUC 6, with scattered postive for H +-K +-ATPase, but negative for MUC5AC, MUC2 and CD10, and the Ki-67 labeling index was low. No patients had recurrence or metastasis during mean follow-up of 15.85 months. Conclusion:GA-FG-CCP is rare and very well differentiated. Its clinical symptoms are not obvious, but there is endoscopic characteristics. The detection rate of GA-FG-CCP can be improved by white light and ME-NBI, and the diagnosis can be confirmed by pathology and immunohistochemical staining.

Objective:To establish new scar-endoscopic submucosal dissection (scar-ESD) classification based on the relationship between scars and lesion location under endoscopy, and to explore the clinical efficacy of ESD.Methods:Clinical data of 132 patients who underwent ESD with scars from January 2015 to August 2022 at the Digestive Endoscopy Center of Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine. According to the scar-ESD classification, the lesions without surgical anastomosis at the same location were classified as type A: A0, A1, A2, and A3; and those with surgical anastomosis were classified as type B: B0, B1, and B2. The ESD operation time, specimen size, intraoperative assistant methods, intraoperative perforation, en-bloc resection rate, specimen damage rate, and postoperative complications were recorded for each subtype.Results:The age of the 132 patients was 64.22±9.51, with a male-to-female ratio of 3∶1. Forty-nine lesions (37.12%) were located in the esophagus, 40 cases (30.30%) in the stomach, and 43 cases (32.58%) in the colon. The operation time was 49.66±32.96 minutes. The operation time for A0 subtype was 30.38±12.85 minutes, which was significantly shorter than that of the A2 (52.10±36.55 minutes, t=2.15, P<0.05). The operation time for B0 subtype was 45.03±24.35 minutes, which was significantly shorter than that of the B2 (90.71±44.95 minutes, t=3.95, P<0.05). Intraoperative assistance was used in 38 cases (28.79%). Intraoperative perforation occurred in 5 cases (3.79%), including 4 cases of A2 and 1 case of A3, and the highest incidence occurred in the colon [9.30% (4/43)]. The en-bloc resection rate was 97.73% (129/132), the R0 resection rate was 88.64% (117/132), and the curative resection rate was 84.09% (111/132). The specimen damage occurred in 23 cases (17.42%), with the highest incidence in the stomach [32.50% (13/40)]. There were significant differences between A2 and A0 subtypes ( t=2.31, P<0.05) in this variable, and between B2 subtype and A0, A1, A2, A3, and B0 subtypes ( P<0.05). Conclusion:The scar-ESD classification is beneficial for describing and predicting difficulty of ESD. ESD is still the preferred treatment for early digestive lesions with scars, and the efficacy is satisfactory. But it requires experienced physicians to perform the operation.