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In this study, we report on the relationship between positive humour and burnout among 379 secondary school teachers in Hong Kong, and explore whether the relationship varies according to gender. The moderating effects of both affiliative and self-enhancing humour on each burnout component were then examined. High affiliative and self-enhancing humour were found to be associated with lower emotional exhaustion and depersonalisation but higher personal accomplishment. Further, the results indicated that low levels of affiliative and self-enhancing humour were related to more depersonalisation among females than among males. The results also partially supported the stress-moderating hypothesis, as affiliative humour was found to buffer the stress–depersonalisation relationship in this sample. These findings suggest that schools can design continuing education programmes based on the use of positive humour in helping teachers to cope with burnout. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: Nonagenarians will purportedly account for 10% of the United States population by 2050. However, no studies have assessed the outcomes of nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (NVUGIB) in this age group. Methods: The National Inpatient Sample database between 2016 and 2020 was used to compare the clinical outcomes of NVUGIB in nonagenarians and octogenarians and evaluate predictors of mortality and the use of esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). Results: Nonagenarians had higher in-hospital mortality than that of octogenarians (4% vs. 3%, p<0.001). EGD utilization (30% vs. 48%, p<0.001) and blood transfusion (27% vs. 40%, p<0.001) was significantly lower in nonagenarians. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that nonagenarians with NVUGIB had higher odds of mortality (odds ratio [OR], 1.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3-1.7) and lower odds of EGD utilization (OR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.83-0.89) than those of octogenarians. Conclusions: Nonagenarians admitted with NVUGIB have a higher mortality risk than that of octogenarians. EGD is used significantly in managing NVUGIB among nonagenarians; however, its utilization is comparatively lower than in octogenarians. More studies are needed to assess predictors of poor outcomes and the indications of EGD in this growing population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: The pancreatic pseudocyst (PP) is a type of fluid collection that typically develops as a delayed complication of acute pancreatitis. Drainage is indicated for symptomatic patients and/or associated complications, such as infection and bleeding. Drainage modalities include percutaneous, endoscopic, laparoscopic, and open drainage. This study aimed to assess trends in the utilization of different drainage modalities for treating PP from 2016 to 2020. The trends in mortality, mean length of hospital stay, and mean hospitalization costs were also assessed. Methods: The National Inpatient Sample database was used to obtain data. The variables were generated using International Classification of Diseases-10 diagnostic and procedural codes. Results: Endoscopic drainage was the most commonly used drainage modality in 2018-2020, with an increasing trend over time (385 procedures in 2018 to 515 in 2020; p=0.003). This is associated with a decrease in the use of other drainage modalities. A decrease in the hospitalization cost for PP requiring drainage was also noted (29,318 United States dollar [USD] in 2016 to 18,087 USD in 2020, p<0.001). Conclusions: Endoscopic drainage is becoming the most commonly used modality for the treatment of PP in hospitals located in the US. This new trend is associated with decreasing hospitalization costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cryosurgery for prostate cancer is the ablation of the cancer by inducing a lethal freezing temperature (−40°C) to kill the cancer cells. This is now one of the optional curative treatments for localized prostate cancer patients. Methods: A third generation cryotherapy machine was used. An ultrathin 17 Fr cryoneedle was used to puncture the prostate gland transperineally under real-time transrectal ultrasound guidance. Cryogen gas, using argon, was used for active freezing and helium gas was used for active thawing. Thermoprobes were used to ensure the lethal temperature was reached. A urethral warmer device was necessary to reduce urethral damage. Foley catheterization was necessary for 2–3 days postoperatively. Results: Postoperative prostate specific antigen (PSA) level was monitored 3 monthly. Biochemical success (PSA < 0.4) can be achieved in most cases. Conclusion: This new cryoablation of prostate cancer can provide a minimally invasive option for localized prostate cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract of the article "Endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration biopsy versus mediastinoscopy in the staging of non-small cell lung cancer: A cost effective analysis," by Sammy Ho and colleagues is presented.

An abstract of the article "The Utility of Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) in Evaluating CT Findings of Fullness or Enlargement of the Pancreas: A Large Single Center Experience," by Sammy Ho, Robert Bonasera, Bonnie Pollack, Sreekala Satheesh, and James Grendell is presented.

An abstract of the article "The Utility of Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) in Evaluating Patients with Achalasia," by Sammy Ho, Frank Gress, Bonnie Pollack, James Grendell and Kavita Kongara is presented.

Peripheral T cell lymphoma (PTCL) is a rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma characterized by the origin of mature T-cells. PTCL demonstrates atypical clinical features and involves both nodal and extra-nodal sites. The diagnosis and treatment of PTCL can prove to be challenging, as it is often detected at advanced stages and is resistant to conventional chemotherapy treatments. The present report describes a 55-year-old male patient who presented with acute pancreatitis, and imaging suggested a soft tissue mass in the pancreatic head indicating pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Further investigation through ultrasound-guided biopsy led to the diagnosis of pancreatic PTCL not otherwise specified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly impacted the practice of endoscopy, but characteristics of COVID patients undergoing endoscopy have not been adequately described. Aims: To compare findings, clinical outcomes, and patient characteristics of endoscopies performed during the pandemic in patients with and without COVID-19. Methods: This was a retrospective multicenter study of adult endoscopies at six academic hospitals in New York between March 16 and April 30, 2020. Patient and procedure characteristics including age, sex, indication, findings, interventions, and outcomes were compared in patients testing positive, negative, or untested for COVID-19. Results: Six hundred and five endoscopies were performed on 545 patients during the study period. There were 84 (13.9%), 255 (42.2%), and 266 (44.0%) procedures on COVID-positive, negative, and untested patients, respectively. COVID patients were more likely to undergo endoscopy for gastrointestinal bleeding or gastrostomy tube placement, and COVID patients with gastrointestinal bleeding more often required hemostatic interventions on multivariable logistic regression. COVID patients had increased length of stay, intensive care unit admission, and intubation rate. Twenty-seven of 521 patients (5.2%) with no or negative COVID testing prior to endoscopy later tested positive, a median of 13.5 days post-procedure. Conclusions: Endoscopies in COVID patients were more likely to require interventions, due either to more severe illness or a higher threshold to perform endoscopy. A significant number of patients endoscoped without testing were subsequently found to be COVID-positive. Gastroenterologists in areas affected by the pandemic must adapt to changing patterns of endoscopy practice and ensure pre-endoscopy COVID testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Current diagnostic modalities for indeterminate biliary strictures offer low accuracy. Probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy (pCLE) permits microscopic assessment of mucosal structures by obtaining real-time highresolution images of the mucosal layers of the gastrointestinal tract. Previously, an interobserver study demonstrated poor to fair agreement even among experienced confocal endomicroscopy operators. Our objective was to assess interobserver agreement and diagnostic accuracy upon completion of a pCLE training session. Methods: Forty de-identified pCLE video clips of indeterminate biliary strictures were sent to five endoscopists at four tertiary care centers for scoring. Observers subsequently attended a teaching session by an expert pCLE user that included 20 training clips and rescored the same pCLE video clips, which were randomized and renumbered. Results: Pre-training interobserver agreement for all observers was 'fair' (: 0.31, P-value: <0.0001) and diagnostic accuracy was 72% (55-80%). Post-training interobserver agreement for all observers was 'substantial' (: 0.74, P-value: <0.0001) and diagnostic accuracy was 89% (80-95%). Using a paired t-test, we observed an increase of 17% (95% CI 7.6-26.4) in post-training diagnostic accuracy (t = 5.01, df = 4, P-value 0.007). Conclusions: Interobserver agreement and diagnostic accuracy improved after observers underwent training by an expert pCLE user with a specific sequence set. Users should participate in such training programs to maximize diagnostic accuracy of pCLE evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]