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Background: Gastric adenocarcinoma of foveolar type (GA-FV) is a raspberry-shaped gastric cancer (RSGC) and garners much attention as H. pylori (Hp)-uninfected gastric cancer. However, the classification and clinicopathological and endoscopic features of RSGCs in Hp-uninfected patients are poorly defined. We designed a new histopathological classification of RSGC and compared them via endoscopic and clinicopathological characteristics. Summary: From 996 patients with early gastric cancers resected by endoscopy in our hospital, we studied 24 RSGC lesions from 21 (2.4%) Hp-uninfected patients. RSGCs were classified into 3 histological types as follows: GA-FV (n = 19), gastric adenocarcinoma of fundic gland type (GA-FG, n = 2), and gastric adenocarcinoma of fundic gland mucosa type (GA-FGM, n = 3). Most of the lesions were found at the greater curvature of the upper or middle third of the stomach. GA-FV lesions were homogeneously reddish and frequently accompanied with a whitish area around the tumor and an irregular microvascular (MV) pattern; these features were confirmed histopathologically by the presence of homogeneous neoplastic foveolar epithelium with foveolar hyperplasia around the tumors. GA-FG lesions might be heterogeneously reddish with a submucosal tumor shape and regular MV pattern; these were confirmed by the presence of covered or mixed nonneoplastic epithelium on deeper regions of tumors. GA-FGM lesions might be homogeneously reddish and occasionally had a submucosal tumor shape and irregular MV pattern; these were confirmed by the presence of homogeneous neoplastic foveolar epithelium on deeper regions of the tumors. Key Messages: RSGCs in Hp-uninfected patients are classified into 3 histopathological types. For accurate diagnosis of RSGCs, it may be necessary to fully understand endoscopic features of these lesions based on these histological characteristics and to take a precise biopsy.

Gastric adenocarcinoma of foveolar type (GA-FV) is a raspberry-shaped gastric cancer (RSGC) and garners much attention as H. pylori (Hp)-uninfected gastric cancer. However, the classification and clinicopathological and endoscopic features of RSGCs in Hp-uninfected patients are poorly defined. We designed a new histopathological classification of RSGC and compared them via endoscopic and clinicopathological characteristics.From 996 patients with early gastric cancers resected by endoscopy in our hospital, we studied 24 RSGC lesions from 21 (2.4%) Hp-uninfected patients. RSGCs were classified into 3 histological types as follows: GA-FV (n = 19), gastric adenocarcinoma of fundic gland type (GA-FG, n = 2), and gastric adenocarcinoma of fundic gland mucosa type (GA-FGM, n = 3). Most of the lesions were found at the greater curvature of the upper or middle third of the stomach. GA-FV lesions were homogeneously reddish and frequently accompanied with a whitish area around the tumor and an irregular microvascular (MV) pattern; these features were confirmed histopathologically by the presence of homogeneous neoplastic foveolar epithelium with foveolar hyperplasia around the tumors. GA-FG lesions might be heterogeneously reddish with a submucosal tumor shape and regular MV pattern; these were confirmed by the presence of covered or mixed nonneoplastic epithelium on deeper regions of tumors. GA-FGM lesions might be homogeneously reddish and occasionally had a submucosal tumor shape and irregular MV pattern; these were confirmed by the presence of homogeneous neoplastic foveolar epithelium on deeper regions of the tumors. Key Messages: RSGCs in Hp-uninfected patients are classified into 3 histopathological types. For accurate diagnosis of RSGCs, it may be necessary to fully understand endoscopic features of these lesions based on these histological characteristics and to take a precise biopsy.

Background/Aims: Early gastric cancer after Helicobacter pylori (Hp) eradication is difficult to demarcate. We used the vessel plus surface classification system (VSCS) to determine whether magnifying endoscopy with narrow-band imaging (ME-NBI) could demarcate differentiated-type early gastric cancers after Hp eradication, and to identify causes of an unclear demarcation line (DL). Methods: Among 100 lesions of differentiated-type early gastric cancer resected endoscopically, 34 lesions in the Hp-eradicated group and 66 in the Hp-infected group were retrospectively compared. Clinicopathological factors and ME-NBI findings, including the presence or absence of the DL, were examined. Histopathologically, histological gastritis, the surface structure at the tumor border, well-differentiated adenocarcinoma with low-grade atypia (tub1-low), and non-neoplastic epithelium (NE) coverage rate on the tumor surface and at the tumor border were evaluated. Results: DL (–) cases were more frequent in the Hp-eradicated group (11.8%, 4/34) than in the Hp-infected group (1.5%, 1/66; p < 0.05). The Hp-eradicated group had a higher NE coverage rate than the Hp-infected group (p < 0.05). All DL (–) cases had tub1-low or NE at the tumor border. Conclusion: ME-NBI with VSCS can identify the DL in most patients (88.2%) with differentiated-type early gastric cancer after Hp eradication.

Background/Aims: Acotiamide, a prokinetic drug, is used to treat functional dyspepsia (FD), especially postprandial distress syndrome (PDS). However, a treatment for FD patients with PDS and/or epigastric pain syndrome (EPS) has not been established. We investigated the efficacy of famotidine in combination with acotiamide for FD. Methods: Fifty blindly randomized FD patients received placebo with acotiamide, or famotidine with acotiamide, for 4 weeks. Treatment efficacy was assessed by overall treatment effects (OTE), total, PDS and EPS symptom scores, and impairment of quality of life (QOL). Results: After OTE assessment, patients who felt affected by treatment comprised 40.9 and 57.9% of famotidine and placebo groups, respectively, after 4 weeks' treatment, with no significant difference between groups. A significant decrease was seen in total, PDS, and EPS symptom scores, and in QOL impairment, after 4 weeks' treatment compared with pretreatment scores for famotidine and placebo groups, but was not observed between groups. The proportion of patients showing a ≥50% decrease in EPS symptom scores was greater in the famotidine than that in the placebo group for every observation point, with the greatest difference observed after 2 weeks' treatment. Conclusion: The effectiveness of famotidine and acotiamide combination therapy in FD was similar to the effectiveness of acotiamide therapy alone.

Introduction: The Asia-Pacific consensus on the management of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and the GERD treatment guidelines of 2015 drawn up by the Japanese Society of Gastroenterology were proposed, and GERD management in Asian regions was assumed to be performed based on these consensuses. In this environment, the current status of GERD management in clinical practice among Asian regions is less well-known. Objective: This questionnaire-based consensus survey was performed to clarify the current status of management of GERD in clinical practice in Asian regions. Methods: A questionnaire related to management of GERD was distributed to members of the International Gastroenterology Consensus Symposium Study Group. We analyzed the questionnaire responses and compared the results among groups. Results: The frequencies of erosive GERD (ERD), non-ERD, uninvestigated GERD, and Barrett’s esophagus varied significantly among Asian countries. The most important factor in diagnosing GERD was the presence of symptoms in all countries. A proton pump inhibitor was the most commonly prescribed drug to treat GERD in all countries. Endoscopic surveillance for GERD was performed regularly. Conclusion: This questionnaire survey revealed the current status of management of GERD in clinical practice in various Asian countries.

Background/Aims: To compare white light imaging (WLI) with linked color imaging (LCI) and blue LASER imaging (BLI) in endoscopic findings of Helicobacter pylori presently infected, previously infected, and uninfected gastric mucosae for visibility and inter-rater reliability. Methods: WLI, LCI and BLI bright mode (BLI-bright) were used to obtain 1,092 endoscopic images from 261 patients according to the Kyoto Classification of Gastritis. Images were evaluated retrospectively by 10 experts and 10 trainee endoscopists and included diffuse redness, spotty redness, map-like redness, patchy redness, red streaks, intestinal metaplasia, and an atrophic border (52 cases for each finding, respectively). Physicians assessed visibility as follows: 5 (improved), 4 (somewhat improved), 3 (equivalent), 2 (somewhat decreased), and 1 (decreased). Visibility was assessed from totaled scores. The inter-rater reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient) was also evaluated. Results: Compared with WLI, all endoscopists reported improved visibility with LCI: 55.8% for diffuse redness; LCI: 38.5% for spotty redness; LCI: 57.7% for map-like redness; LCI: 40.4% for patchy redness; LCI: 53.8% for red streaks; LCI: 42.3% and BLI-bright: 80.8% for intestinal metaplasia; LCI: 46.2% for an atrophic border. For all endoscopists, the inter-rater reliabilities of LCI compared to WLI were 0.73–0.87. Conclusion: The visibility of each endoscopic finding was improved by LCI while that of intestinal metaplasia was improved by BLI-bright.

Early gastric cancer after Helicobacter pylori (Hp) eradication is difficult to demarcate. We used the vessel plus surface classification system (VSCS) to determine whether magnifying endoscopy with narrow-band imaging (ME-NBI) could demarcate differentiated-type early gastric cancers after Hp eradication, and to identify causes of an unclear demarcation line (DL).Among 100 lesions of differentiated-type early gastric cancer resected endoscopically, 34 lesions in the Hp-eradicated group and 66 in the Hp-infected group were retrospectively compared. Clinicopathological factors and ME-NBI findings, including the presence or absence of the DL, were examined. Histopathologically, histological gastritis, the surface structure at the tumor border, well-differentiated adenocarcinoma with low-grade atypia (tub1-low), and non-neoplastic epithelium (NE) coverage rate on the tumor surface and at the tumor border were evaluated.DL (-) cases were more frequent in the Hp-eradicated group (11.8%, 4/34) than in the Hp-infected group (1.5%, 1/66; p0.05). The Hp-eradicated group had a higher NE coverage rate than the Hp-infected group (p0.05). All DL (-) cases had tub1-low or NE at the tumor border.ME-NBI with VSCS can identify the DL in most patients (88.2%) with differentiated-type early gastric cancer after Hp eradication.

Background/Aims: In Japan, a systematic eradication strategy for Helicobacter pylori has been constructed, and consists of a proton pump inhibitor/amoxicillin and clarithromycin (PPI/AC) therapy as the first-line regimen and proton pump inhibitor/amoxicillin and metronidazole (PPI/AM) therapy as the second-line regimen. The cumulative rate of H. pylori eradication has not been reported. Therefore, we investigated the annual and cumulative eradication rate to verify the efficacy of the ‘Japanese eradication strategy'. Methods: Patients who received first-line PPI/AC therapy and, if necessary, second-line PPI/AM therapy between 2000 and 2009 were retrospectively analyzed. The annual cumulative eradication rate was calculated. Data were subjected to intention-to-treat analysis. Results: PPI/AC was administered to 1973 patients (male n = 1,162, female n = 811; mean age: 55.8 years, range: 15-87), and 250 patients received PPI/AM. The eradication rate for the PPI/AC regimen was 65.3%, and it gradually but significantly decreased over 10 years (p < 0.05). For the PPI/AM regimen, the eradication rate was 84.0%, with no change in the annual eradication rate. The cumulative eradication rates were 76.0% in intention-to-treat analysis and 98.4% in per-protocol analysis, respectively, which provided a consistent annual eradication rate without decreases in effectiveness. Conclusion: Although the eradication rate for the first-line PPI/AC regimen decreased over time, the ‘Japanese eradication strategy' provided a sufficient eradication rate.

Background: Evidence indicates that eradication of Helicobacter pylori leads to the disappearance of hyperplastic polyps in the stomach. However, there are some exceptions. We have compared endoscopic and serologic findings of responder and non-responder cases with hyperplastic polyps to try to identify the cause(s), other than H. pylori infection, of the formation or growth of gastric hyperplastic polyps. Methods: We retrospectively studied 33 patients whose hyperplastic polyps disappeared after eradication of H. pylori and 10 patients whose hyperplastic polyps did not disappear after eradication. The patients were examined both endoscopically and serologically before, 1–3 months after and 12–15 months after the eradication. Results: The responder and non-responder groups were similar with respect to age, sex, coexisting diseases, and histologic findings. The number and maximum size of polyps tended to be larger before treatment in the non-responder group than in the responder group. The serum gastrin level was higher in the non-responder group than in the responder group before, 1–3 months after and 12–15 months after the eradication (p = 0.0096, p > 0.2, p = 0.0014). On histologic examination, similar reductions in the degree of inflammatory cell infiltration in the gastric mucosa of the antrum and body were seen in both the responder and non-responder groups. In the non-responders, the size and numbers of the polyps regressed in 5 of the 10 patients. The score of glandular atrophy in the antrum and the serum gastrin levels in the non-regressed cases was higher than those in the regressed cases at 1–3 and 12–15 months after eradication. Conclusion: Persistent high gastrin levels were found in the non-responder cases with gastric hyperplastic polyps.