Background and aim The ability to differentiate between mucosal (M) or microinvasive submucosal (SM1: depth of less than 500 lm) and invasive submucosal (SM2: depth of 500 lm or more) cancer is paramount when choosing the method of treatment for early gastric cancer (EGC). The ''non-extension sign'' relates to a localized increase in thickness and rigidity due to massive submucosal invasion by a cancer. The present study sought to assess the ability of conventional endoscopy (CE) to correctly identify SM2 cancer using only the non-extension sign. Methods This is a retrospective study based on a prospectively collected database. EGCs had been diagnosed according to invasion depth as M-SM1 or SM2. In terms of the endoscopic diagnostic criterion, lesions positive for the non-extension sign were classified as SM2 cancers, while those negative for the non-extension sign were classified as M-SM1 cancers. Histopathological findings were used as the gold standard. Results We examined a total of 863 lesions from 704 patients, comprising 104 true-positive, 733 true-negative, 9 false-positive, and 17 false-negative lesions. This yielded a sensitivity of 92.0 % (95 % confidence interval (CI), 87.0-97.0 %), a specificity of 97.7 % (95 % CI, 96.7-98.8 %), a positive predictive value of 85.9 % (95 % CI, 79.7-92.1 %), a negative predictive value of 98.8 % (95 % CI, 98.0-99.6 %), and a diagnostic accuracy of 96.9 % (95 % CI, 95.8-98.1 %). Conclusion The non-extension sign may be useful for accurately determining the suitability of minimally invasive endoscopic treatment. Nevertheless, considering the limitations of retrospective analysis, a further prospective study is warranted to confirm the diagnostic reliability of the non-extension sign.

Intestinal metaplasia (IM) of the stomach is associated with an increased risk of differentiated gastric cancer. While it is important to diagnose IM endoscopically, it can be difficult to observe by white-light endoscopy. In magnifying endoscopy with narrow-band imaging (M-NBI) of the stomach, a light-blue crest (LBC) is widely known to be a useful marker in the endoscopic diagnosis of IM. However, IM that exhibits only white opaque substance (WOS) without an LBC can also occur. The aim of this study was to elucidate whether the presence of WOS on M-NBI of the stomach could serve as a marker of IM in the same way that an LBC does. The subjects were 40 consecutive patients who underwent M-NBI between July and December 2014. The primary endpoint in this study was to evaluatethe diagnostic performance of M-NBI for histologically observed IM in WOS- and LBC-positive mucosa. The sensitivity and specificity of WOS for histologically diagnosed IM were 50.0 % (95 % confidence interval [CI] 40.0 % - 50.0 %) and 100.0 % (95 %CI 85.0 % - 100.0 %), respectively. Meanwhile, the sensitivity and specificity of LBC were 62.5 % (95 %CI 51.1 % - 65.9 %) and 93.8 % (95 %CI 76.7 % - 98.9 %), respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of WOS and/or LBC (WOS positive and LBC positive, WOS positive and LBC negative, or WOS negative and LBC positive) for histologically diagnosed IM were 87.5 % (95 %CI 76.9 % - 90.9 %) and 93.8 % (95 %CI 77.9 % - 98.9 %), respectively. LBC and WOS are both useful markers for endoscopic diagnosis of IM. Combining both markers improves the sensitivity.Clinical trial number: UMINCTR000014453.

AIM:To classify changes over time in causes of lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB) and to identify factors associated with changes in the incidence and characteristics of diverticular hemorrhage (DH). METHODS:A total of 1803 patients underwent colonoscopy for overt LGIB at our hospital from 1995 to 2013. Patients were divided into an early group (EG, 1995(EG, -2006 n = 828) and a late group (LG, 2007(LG, -2013 Author contributions: Kinjo K collected and analyzed the data, and drafted the manuscript; Matsui T designed and supervised the study; Washio M performed the statistical analysisl; Hisabe T, Ishihara H, Maki S, Chuman K, Koga A, Ohtsu K, Takatsu N, Hirai F and Yao K performed the colonoscopy and revised the manuscript for important intellectual content; all authors have read and approved the final version to be published.Institutional review board statement: This study was approved by the institutional review board of Fukuoka University Chikushi Hospital (R15-024) and was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.Informed consent statement: In this study, We do not necessarily need the individual agreement from a study subject. Because this study is retrospective study and based on the ethical guidelines for medical studies intended for people "taken from the human body undergoes No. 12 informed consent procedures was used samples not research". Information about the implementation of this research exposes to Fukuoka University Chikushi Hospital clinical research support Center home page. Conflict-of-interest statement:In connection with this manuscript, there is no Conflict of Interest to be disclosed with any companies.Data sharing statement: Technical appendix, statistical code, and dataset available from the corresponding author at matsui@ fukuoka-u.ac.jp. Participants gave informed consent was not obtained but the presented data are anonymized and risk of identification is low. Retrospective Studybetween patients with and without DH. RESULTS:Older patients (≥ 70 years old) and those with colonic DH were more frequent in LG than in EG (P < 0.01). Patients using ATDs as well as NSAIDs, male sex, obesity (body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m 2 ), smoking, alcohol drinking, and arteriosclerotic diseases were more frequent in patients with DH than in those without. CONCLUSION:Incidence of colonic DH seems to increase with aging of the population, and factors involved include use of ATDs and NSAIDs, male sex, obesity, smoking, alcohol drinking, and arteriosclerotic disease. These factors are of value in handling DH patients. Core tip: Colonic diverticular hemorrhage (DH) is the most frequent cause of lower gastrointestinal bleeding. A rapid increase in the incidence of colonic DH has been seen with the aging population. One reason is the widespread adoption of antithrombotic drugs (ATDs) since the early 2000s, based on guidelines to prevent ischemic heart disease and ischemic cerebrovascular disease. DH is more likely in patients who are older, are men, obesity, use nonsteroidal anti-inf...

Background/Aims:While the occurrence of multiple whitish flat elevated lesions (MWFL) was first reported in 2007, no studies on MWFL have been published to date. The present retrospective observational study aimed to clarify the endoscopic findings and clinicopathological features of MWFL. Methods:Subjects were consecutive patients who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy as part of routine screening between April 2014 and March 2015. The conventional white-light, non-magnifying and magnifying narrow-band images were reviewed. Clinical features were compared between patients with and without MWFL. Results:The conventional endoscopic findings of MWFL include multiple whitish, flat, and slightly elevated lesions of various sizes, mainly located in the gastric body and fundus. Narrow-band imaging enhanced the contrast of MWFL and background mucosa, and magnifying narrow-band imaging depicted a uniformly long, narrow, and elliptical marginal crypt epithelium with an unclear microvascular pattern. Histopathological findings revealed hyperplastic changes of the foveolar epithelium, and parietal cell protrusions and oxyntic gland dilatations were observed in the fundic glands, without any intestinal metaplasia. The rate of acid-reducing drug use was significantly higher in patients with MWFL than in those without (100% [13/13] vs. 53.7% [88/164], p<0.001). Conclusions:The present study indicated a relationship between the presence and endoscopic features of MWFL and history of acidreducing drug use.

Background/AimsColonic diverticular hemorrhage (DH) was a rare disease until the 1990s, and its incidence has increased rapidly since 2000 in Japan. In recent years, colonic DH has been the most frequent cause of lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB). Nearly all cases of DH are mild, with the bleeding often stopping spontaneously. Some cases, however, require surgery or arterial embolization. In this study, using a cohort at Fukuoka University Chikushi Hospital, we investigated factors associated with severe colonic DH.MethodsAmong patients with LGIB who underwent colonoscopy at our hospital between 1995 and 2013, DH was identified in 273 patients. Among them, 62 patients (22.7%) were defined as having severe colonic DH according to recurrence of bleeding in a short period, and/or the necessity of transfusion, arterial embolization, or surgery. We then evaluated risk factors for severe DH among DH patients in this retrospective cohort.ResultsAmong the 273 patients with DH, use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (odds ratio [OR], 2.801; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.164–6.742), Charlson Risk Index (CRI) ≥2 (OR, 3.336; 95% CI, 1.154–7.353), right-sided colonic DH (OR, 3.873; 95% CI, 1.554–9.653), and symptoms of cerebral hypoperfusion (such as light-headedness, dizziness, or syncope) (OR, 2.926; 95% CI, 1.310–6.535) showed an increased risk of severe DH even after controlling for other factors.ConclusionsSevere DH occurred in 23% of DH patients, and NSAID use, CRI ≥2, right-sided colonic DH, and symptoms of cerebral hypoperfusion are suggested to be predictors of severe DH.