Objective:To investigate the current status of endoscopic treatment for gastroesophageal varices in portal hypertension in China, and to provide supporting data and reference for the development of endoscopic treatment.Methods:In this study, initiated by the Liver Health Consortium in China (CHESS), a questionnaire was designed and distributed online to investigate the basic condition of endoscopic treatment for gastroesophageal varices in portal hypertension in 2022 in China. Questions included annual number and indication of endoscopic procedures, adherence to guideline for preventing esophagogastric variceal bleeding (EGVB), management and timing of emergent EGVB, management of gastric and isolated varices, and improvement of endoscopic treatment. Proportions of hospitals concerning therapeutic choices to all participant hospitals were calculated. Guideline adherence between secondary and tertiary hospitals were compared by using Chi-square test.Results:A total of 836 hospitals from 31 provinces (anotomous regions and municipalities) participated in the survey. According to the survey, the control of acute EGVB (49.3%, 412/836) and the prevention of recurrent bleeding (38.3%, 320/836) were major indications of endoscopic treatment. For primary [non-selective β-blocker (NSBB) or endoscopic therapies] and secondary prophylaxis (NSBB and endoscopic therapies) of EGVB, adherence to domestic guideline was 72.5% (606/836) and 39.2% (328/836), respectively. There were significant differences in the adherence between secondary and tertiary hospitals in primary prophylaxis of EGVB [71.0% (495/697) VS 79.9% (111/139), χ2=4.11, P=0.033] and secondary prophylaxis of EGVB [41.6% (290/697) VS 27.3% (38/139), χ2=9.31, P=0.002]. A total of 78.2% (654/836) hospitals preferred endoscopic therapies treating acute EGVB, and endoscopic therapy was more likely to be the first choice for treating acute EGVB in tertiary hospitals (82.6%, 576/697) than secondary hospitals [56.1% (78/139), χ2=46.33, P<0.001]. The optimal timing was usually within 12 hours (48.5%, 317/654) and 12-24 hours (36.9%, 241/654) after the bleeding. Regarding the management of gastroesophageal varices type 2 and isolated gastric varices type 1, most hospitals used cyanoacrylate injection in combination with sclerotherapy [48.2% (403/836) and 29.9% (250/836), respectively], but substantial proportions of hospitals preferred clip-assisted therapies [12.4% (104/836) and 26.4% (221/836), respectively]. Improving the skills of endoscopic doctors (84.2%, 704/836), and enhancing the precision of pre-procedure evaluation and quality of multidisciplinary team (78.9%, 660/836) were considered urgent needs in the development of endoscopic treatment. Conclusion:A variety of endoscopic treatments for gastroesophageal varices in portal hypertension are implemented nationwide. Participant hospitals are active to perform emergent endoscopy for acute EGVB, but are inadequate in following recommendations regarding primary and secondary prophylaxis of EGVB. Moreover, the selection of endoscopic procedures for gastric varices differs greatly among hospitals.

Objective To investigate the imaging features and pathogenesis of lethal iatrogenic hemobilia(LIH)and the value of transarterial intervention in the treatment of LIH.Methods A total of 269 patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding who were admitted to The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from August 2009 to July 2023 were enrolled,among whom 24 had a confirmed diagnosis of LIH and received treatment,and a retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of these 24 patients,including the iatrogenic causes,angiographic findings,and arterial interventions of LIH.Among the 24 patients,23 received transarterial embolization(TAE)with gelatin sponge particles and coils,and 1 received a covered stent for isolation.The main criteria for assessing treatment outcome included the technical success rate of surgery,procedure-related complications,and long-term clinical follow-up.Results Among the 24 patients with LIH,12 had LIH caused by interventional procedures,and 12 had LIH caused by hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery.The main clinical manifestations included a significant reduction in blood pressure or a persistent reduction in hemoglobin in 13 patients and upper gastrointestinal bleeding in 18 patients.Among the 24 patients,2 developed symptoms during surgery,4 developed symptoms within 24 hours,and 18 developed symptoms after 24 hours.Angiography showed a positive bleeding rate of 100%(24/24),and imaging findings included pseudoaneurysms in 15 patients,hepatic artery truncation in 3 patients,extravasation of contrast medium in 5 patients,and hepatic arteriobiliary fistula in 3 patients.Among the 24 patients,23 received TAE and 1 received stent implantation.Successful hemostasis was achieved for 23 patients,with a technical success rate of 95.8%(23/24).Four patients developed hepatic necrosis and abscess after TAE,and there was no rebleeding or recurrence after hemostatic treatment.Conclusion Various iatrogenic injuries may result in LIH with diverse clinical and imaging findings,and integrated diagnostic imaging combined with transarterial intervention is the best effective life-saving measure for LIH.

Objective To investigate the correlation of clinicopathological parameters and prognosis with serum and pancreatic cancer tissue klotho. Methods Immunohistochemistry EnVision two step method was used to assess klotho protein expression of a tissue microarray ( TMA) of 79 pairs of pancreatic tissue and normal surrounding tissue. The serum klotho levels in 39 pancreatic cancer patients and 39 healthy controls who had matched clinical data were measured by ELISA. The relationships between the expression of klotho and the clinicopathological features and survival were analyzed. Results Klotho expression positivity in pancreatic cancer tissue was significantly higher than that in adjacent normal tissues (59. 5％ vs 96. 3％);serum level of klotho was markedly higher in pancreatic cancer patients than that in control group [(670. 30 ± 82. 24)pg/ml vs (310.35 ± 34.65) pg/ml], and both the difference was statistically significant (P<0.001). Klotho expression was negatively associated with tumor clinical stage and lymph node metastasis (P<0. 05), and the expression of klotho did not correlate with patients' gender, age, tumor size, location, local invasion depth and the like. The median survival time in pancreatic cancer patients with positive klotho expression were longer than that in in pancreatic cancer patients with negative klotho expression [(48. 31 ± 6. 94) months vs (19. 50 ±6. 78)months], and the difference was statistically significant (P<0. 01). ROC analysis on serum klotho gave a cutoff value of 376. 51 pg/ml to diagnosis pancreatic cancer with a sensitivity of 84. 6％ and specificity of 87. 2％. Conclusions Klotho level in serum and tissue of pancreatic cancer patients was closely correlated with clinicopathological parameters and prognosis, which may be a potential biomarker for pancreatic cancer.

[Summary] Benign esophageal strictures can arise from various causes and mainly induce dysphagia .Commonly , the majority of benign esophageal strictures can achieve long-term relief through about three dilation sessions .However, some refractory benign esophageal strictures require other treatments , such as endoscopic stent placement and intralesional drug injection , but these treatments just attain short-time satisfactory results with a disappointingly low rate of long-term improvement.Recently, biodegradable stents and drug-eluting stents are developing and have obtained the positive effects .In this paper , we performed a review about the treatment of benign esophageal strictures .

Objective To study the safety and feasibility of endobiliary intraductal radiofrequency ablation (RFA) to reopen occluded self-expandable metal stents in patients with malignant biliary obstruction.Methods 11 patients with malignant biliary obstruction and blocked metal stents were prospectively studied.During ERCP, after biliary cannulation, the blocked metal stents underwent RFA using a bipolar radiofrequency probe which was introduced into the stenotic bile duct via a guide wire.This was followed by a balloon to repeatedly remove debris and then endoscopic nasobiliary drainage.The patients were closely observed and followed up.Results RFA was successfully carried out in all the patients and patencies were achieved when compared with pre-RFA.The median post-RFA luminal diameter of the strictures showed significant improvement: 6 (4 ～ 10) mm versus 2 (0 ～ 5) mm, and the mean post-RFA total bilirubin level decreased sharply : (39.4 ± 8.7) μ mol/L versus (130.1 ± 38.2) μmol/L.Following this intervention, 3 patients developed fever, which were controlled with conservative therapy.There was no mortality, haemorrhage, bile duct perforation or bile leak.Of the 11 patients, 3 were dead and 6 were alive at a median follow-up of 187 (75 ～ 304) days.The median stent patency was 135 (75 ～ 203) days and the median survival was 278 (75 ～ 304) days.Four patients had their stents patent at the time of the last follow-up or death.Seven patients had their stents blocked on 113, 124, 154, 203, 96, 135 and 112 days post-procedure.Condusions Endobiliary intraductal RFA is technically feasible and safe to reopen occluded metal stents in malignant biliary obstruction.This efficacy needs to be confirmed by future randomized studies.

Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of an endoscopic dilation in association with the intramuscular injection of either mitomycin C for benign esophageal strictures. Methods A total of 89 patients with benign esophageal strictures were retrospectively divided into 3 groups, including 30 cases of dilation combined with mitomycin C injection (mitomycin C group) , 29 of dilation combined with dexamethasone injection (dexamethasone group) and 30 of dilation with saline injection (dilation group). The successful rate, complications and the clinical effect in the 3 groups were compared. Results The 89 patients all successfully received the procedure, with the endoscopic and clinical release. No massive hemorrhage occurred. In mitomycin C group, 1 case with major complication (perforation) and 7 minor complication occurred;9 and 7 cases with minor complication occurred in dexamethasone group and dilation group, respectively. There were no significant difference of the complications in the 3 groups (P<0. 05). The mean dysphagia-free period was 5. 25±1. 18 months in the mitomycin C group, 4. 46±1. 53 months in the dexamethasone group, and 3. 03±1. 62 months in the dilation group (P<0. 05). Conclusion Endo-scopic dilation with or without the intramuscular injection of either mitomycin C or dexamethasone are safe and effective. Dilation combined with drug injection may prolong the esophageal dysphagia-free period. Furthermore, mitomycin C injection may have the dominant effect.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy of endoscopic purse-string suture (EPSS) with metallic clips and endoloop for the gastric wall defect after postoperative perforation.

METHODSClinical data of 25 patients with gastric tumors(1 of gastric adenocarcinoma, 24 of gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumor, GIST) undergoing EPSS in Jiangsu Province People's Hospital and The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2013 to May 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. During the procedure, EPSS was performed in 8 cases with perforation after endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD), and in 17 cases with active perforation after endoscopic full-thickness resection.

RESULTSTwenty-five patients underwent EPSS successfully. The procedure time was 35.0-75.0(49.8±10.1) min. No severe operational and postoperative complications occurred. Tumor resection margin were all negative. Time to withdraw gastrointestinal decompression drainage tube was 1-3(1.3±0.8) d. Postoperative hospital stay was 2-10(4.8±2.1) d and total cost was 10-31(19±0.5) thousand Yuan. One month after the procedure, all the patients received follow-up with no complaint of discomfort, and endoscopy confirmed that all the lesions healed.

CONCLUSIONEPSS with metallic clips and endoloop is effective and safe to close the gastric wall defect after full-thickness resection.

Adenocarcinoma ; Digestive System Surgical Procedures ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; Gastroscopy ; Humans ; Postoperative Complications ; Postoperative Period ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Sutures

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of endoscopic purse-string suture (EPSS) with metallic clips and endoloop for the gastric wall defect after postoperative perforation. Methods Clinical data of 25 patients with gastric tumors(1 of gastric adenocarcinoma, 24 of gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumor, GIST) undergoing EPSS in Jiangsu Province People′s Hospital and The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2013 to May 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. During the procedure, EPSS was performed in 8 cases with perforation after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), and in 17 cases with active perforation after endoscopic full-thickness resection. Results Twenty-five patients underwent EPSS successfully. The procedure time was 35.0-75.0 (49.8± 10.1) min. No severe operational and postoperative complications occurred. Tumor resection margin were all negative. Time to withdraw gastrointestinal decompression drainage tube was 1-3 (1.3 ±0.8) d. Postoperative hospital stay was 2-10(4.8±2.1) d and total cost was 10-31(19±0.5) thousand Yuan. One month after the procedure, all the patients received follow-up with no complaint of discomfort, and endoscopy confirmed that all the lesions healed. Conclusion EPSS with metallic clips and endoloop is effective and safe to close the gastric wall defect after full-thickness resection.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of endoscopic purse-string suture (EPSS) with metallic clips and endoloop for the gastric wall defect after postoperative perforation. Methods Clinical data of 25 patients with gastric tumors(1 of gastric adenocarcinoma, 24 of gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumor, GIST) undergoing EPSS in Jiangsu Province People′s Hospital and The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2013 to May 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. During the procedure, EPSS was performed in 8 cases with perforation after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), and in 17 cases with active perforation after endoscopic full-thickness resection. Results Twenty-five patients underwent EPSS successfully. The procedure time was 35.0-75.0 (49.8± 10.1) min. No severe operational and postoperative complications occurred. Tumor resection margin were all negative. Time to withdraw gastrointestinal decompression drainage tube was 1-3 (1.3 ±0.8) d. Postoperative hospital stay was 2-10(4.8±2.1) d and total cost was 10-31(19±0.5) thousand Yuan. One month after the procedure, all the patients received follow-up with no complaint of discomfort, and endoscopy confirmed that all the lesions healed. Conclusion EPSS with metallic clips and endoloop is effective and safe to close the gastric wall defect after full-thickness resection.

The morbidity and mortality of tumors of digestive system is much higher in recent years .Realizing diagnosis of early phase tumors can improve the surgical resection rate and prolong survival time of patients .Compared with traditional diagnosis methods, multiphoton microscopy has got an obvious improvement in the penetration depth .Furthermore, phototoxicity and photo-bleaching has been largely reduced .Combining with the second harmonic microscopy , the change of collagen fibers can be observed in the organization.MPM can achieve early diagnosis of cancer at the cellular level .Therefore, multiphoton microscopy , with the imaging characteristics of unique high resolution , real-time, nondestructive , deeply spectral resolution , is of great potential in the diagnosis of early stage tumors of digestive system .Based on the latest research results , this review summarizes the latest progress of multiphoton microscopy diagnosing early phase of gastrointestinal tumor .