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M. Udd [1] A. Kokkola [1] M. Leivonen [2] S. Nordling [3] H. Rautelin [3] C. Haglund [1] [7/18] Time Course of H. pylori Infection and Proliferation Activity after Partial [...]

Background and Study Aims: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiographic pancreatography (ERCP) is the most accurate technique for surveillance of patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). Our aim was to evaluate risk factors for complications of ERCP in patients with PSC. Patients and Methods: In 2007 - 2009 we performed 441 ERCPs in patients with PSC. The primary tools for ERCP were a guide wire and papillotomy knife to gain access into the biliary duct. If the primary cannulation failed, and the wire went only into the pancreatic duct, pancreatic sphincterotomy was performed. If necessary, a further oblique cut with a needle knife was done in order to expose the biliary duct. Results: Primary cannulation was successful in 389 patients (88.2 %). Of these, 147 (37.8 %) had had biliary sphincterotomy performed previously. In the group with failed primary cannulation, access into the biliary duct was achieved after pancreatic sphincterotomy in 52 patients. In 11 of these, a further cut with a needle knife was performed. Post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) was diagnosed in 31 patients (7.0 %). Factors predicting PEP were female sex (odds ratio [OR] 2.6, P = 0.015) and a guide wire in the pancreatic duct (OR 8.2, P < 0.01). Previous biliary sphincterotomy was a protective factor (OR 0.28, P = 0.02). The risk of PEP increased with the number of times the wire accidentally passed into the pancreatic duct (P < 0.001). Cholangitis developed in 6 patients (1.4 %). Conclusions: In patients with PSC the incidence of ERCP complications remained relatively low. The complication risk increased with the complexity of cannulation. In a patient with PSC in whom follow-up ERCP is planned, biliary sphincterotomy should be considered, as it may protect against PEP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and study aims: Self-administration of a propofol and opioid mixture by patients (patient- controlled sedation, PCS) could offer a practical alternative for individual sedation during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). However, what would be the most suitable sedative mixture for PCS is unknown. The aim of this study was to compare remifentanil and alfentanil in the PCS during ERCP. Patients and methods: Eighty-one patients undergoing elective ERCP received PCS with propofol and opioid in three different regimens. The concentrations of opioids in the sedative mixture were 0.02mg/mL in the remifentanil group (R) and 0.04mg/mL and 0.08mg/mL in the alfentanil 1 (A1) and alfentanil 2 (A2) groups, respectively. The infusion pump was adjusted to deliver a 1mL single dose with zero lockout time. We considered PCS as successful if no procedure interruption due to sedation-related complications occurred or if additional propofol was not needed. The consumption of propofol was registered, and sedation levels and vital signs were monitored. Endoscopist and patient satisfaction with sedation were assessed using structured questionnaires. Results: The consumption (SD) of propofol was 177 (105)mg in group R, 197 (88) mg in group A1 and 162 (70)mg in group A2.PCSwas successful in 74/81 (91 %) of sedations, without differences between the groups in terms of propofol consumption, sedation success rate, sedation levels, vital signs, postprocedural pain, and endoscopist and patient satisfaction. Respiratory depression and nausea were observed more frequently with remifentanil than with alfentanil (P<0.05). Conclusions: PCS is an acceptable method of sedation for ERCP. The combination of propofol and alfentanil should be recommended because a remifentanil- propofol mixture depresses spontaneous respiration more and produces nausea more frequently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It has been suggested that profound acid inhibition along with endoscopic therapy might prevent rebleeding and reduce mortality in patients with peptic ulcer bleeding. The aim of the study was to test the possible equivalence of a high dose and the regular dose of omeprazole in peptic ulcer bleeding. Methods: We performed a prospective randomized double-blind study involving 142 patients with acute peptic ulcer bleeding (Forrest classification I-II: spurting or oozing bleeding, non-bleeding visible vessel, clot and black base). One-hundred-and-two (71.8%) patients received endoscopic treatment (adrenaline injection and/or heater probe) in pre-entry. Patients were randomly assigned to receive the regular dose of omeprazole intravenously (20 mg once a day for 3 days, i.e. 60 mg/72 h) or a high dose of omeprazole (80 mg bolus + 8 mg/h for 3 days, i.e. 652 mg/72 h). Rebleeding, surgery and death were the outcome measures. Results: Six (8.2%) of the 73 patients receiving the regular dose of omeprazole and 8 (11.6%) of the 69 patients receiving the high dose of omeprazole rebled (P = 0.002 for equivalence, equivalence limit 0.15). Three (4.1%) of the former patients and 5 (7.2%) of the latter group underwent surgery. Four (5.5%) patients in the regular-dose and 2 (2.9%) in the high-dose group died within 30 days. Conclusion: Under the defined tolerance limits, the regular dose of omeprazole is as successful as a high dose in preventing peptic ulcer rebleeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Levodopa-carbidopa intestinal gel (LCIG) is an established treatment option in advanced Parkinson's disease (PD). LCIG treatment is usually initiated with a nasojejunal tube (NJT) test phase before percutaneous endoscopic transgastric jejunostomy (PEG-J) tube installation. However, some centers have used direct initiation with PEG-J. Data comparing these approaches are scarce. The objective of this study was to analyze the risks and benefits of direct PEG-J initiation after a positive levodopa challenge test (LCT) for selected patients compared to initiation with a temporary NJT test phase., Methods: Thirty-three consecutive advanced PD patients commenced LCIG-treatment between February 2016 and December 2019 at Helsinki University Hospital. Of them, 11 (33%) selected patients had direct initiation without an NJT test phase. Treatment discontinuations and adverse events during the first 6 months of treatment were evaluated retrospectively. The duration of hospital stay related to the initiation of the treatment was compared between the groups., Results: Between the direct initiation and NJT test phase groups, there were no significant differences in treatment discontinuations (0 vs. 1, respectively); the number of inner tube or PEG-J tube replacements (1 vs. 3); or infection complications (1 vs. 3) during the first 6 months of treatment. Direct initiation significantly reduced the hospital stay related to treatment initiation (mean 7 vs. 9 days, p = 0.001)., Conclusion: For selected patients, the direct initiation of LCIG after a positive LCT, without a temporary NJT test phase, appears safe and does not lead to additional treatment discontinuations or complications., (© 2024 The Author(s). Brain and Behavior published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Objectives: The benefits of topical pharyngeal anesthesia for gastroscopy remain under debate. Articaine, a local anesthetic with fast onset and offset of action as well as low systemic toxicity, could be a promising choice for topical anesthesia. The objective of this study was to assess whether topical pharyngeal anesthesia with articaine is beneficial in sedated gastroscopy., Materials and Methods: This randomized double-blinded cross-over study included nine volunteers who underwent two gastroscopies under conscious sedation. One was performed with topical pharyngeal anesthesia with articaine and the other with placebo. Hemodynamic parameters including autonomic nervous system state were recorded prior to and during the endoscopic procedure. The endoscopist and the volunteer assessed the endoscopy after the examination., Results: Topical pharyngeal anesthesia with articaine resulted in less discomfort during esophageal intubation and higher patient satisfaction with the procedure. Topical pharyngeal anesthesia with articaine did not increase satisfaction or facilitate the procedure as rated by the endoscopist. There were no clinically relevant differences in hemodynamic parameters., Conclusion: The use of articaine for topical pharyngeal anesthesia results in less intubation-related discomfort and better satisfaction.

Background: Interrupting chemotherapy may explain the reduced overall survival (OS) in patients with pancreatic cancer (PC) with cholangitis. Endoscopic biliary decompression (BD) with metallic stents results in fewer chemotherapy interruptions and a lower cholangitis rate compared with plastic stents. We aimed to determine the impact of cholangitis, neoadjuvant treatment (NAT) interruptions and biliary stent choice on PC patients' survival., Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 162 patients with cancer of the head of the pancreas undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy after NAT and BD documenting progression-free survival (PFS) and OS. Data on BD, cholangitis, stent type, surgical radicality, and chemotherapy were collected. Survival was estimated based on the Kaplan-Meier method by using the log-rank test and multivariate Cox regression analysis., Results: Median OS and PFS for patients with cholangitis (n = 33, 20%) were 26 and 8 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 20-32 and 5-10 months), respectively, compared with 36 and 17 months (95% CI 31-41 and 12-21 months; p < 0.001 for OS; p = 0.002 for PFS) for patients without cholangitis. Among patients without NAT interruptions median OS and PFS were 35 and 17 months (95% CI 31-40 and 12-21 months), falling to 26 and 7 months (95% CI 18-30 and 5-10 months) among those who experienced an NAT interruption caused by biliary stent failure (n = 26, 16%) (p = 0.039 for OS; p < 0.001 for PFS). We found no difference in OS or PFS between stent types., Conclusions: Cholangitis and NAT interruptions reduce OS and PFS among PC patients., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background and Aims: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) procedures can result in significant patient radiation exposure. This retrospective multicenter study aimed to assess the influence of procedural complexity and other clinical factors on radiation exposure in ERCP., Methods: Data on kerma-area product (KAP), air-kerma at the reference point (K a,r ), fluoroscopy time, and the number of exposures, and relevant patient, procedure, and operator factors were collected from 2641 ERCP procedures performed at four university hospitals. The influence of procedural complexity, assessed using the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) and HOUSE complexity grading scales, on radiation exposure quantities was analyzed within each center. The procedures were categorized into two groups based on ERCP indications: primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and other ERCPs., Results: Both the ASGE and HOUSE complexity grading scales had a significant impact on radiation exposure quantities. Remarkably, there was up to a 50-fold difference in dose quantities observed across the participating centers. For non-PSC ERCP procedures, the median KAP ranged from 0.9 to 64.4 Gy·cm 2 among the centers. The individual endoscopist also had a substantial influence on radiation dose., Conclusions: Procedural complexity grading in ERCP significantly affects radiation exposure. Higher procedural complexity is typically associated with increased patient radiation dose. The ASGE complexity grading scale demonstrated greater sensitivity to changes in radiation exposure compared to the HOUSE grading scale. Additionally, significant variations in dose indices, fluoroscopy times, and number of exposures were observed across the participating centers.

Background: Levodopa-entacapone-carbidopa intestinal gel (LECIG) is a novel device assisted treatment option for advanced Parkinson's disease (PD). It has been available in Finland since 2020. There is paucity of scientific studies considering LECIG treatment in clinical practice., Objectives: Objectives of this study were to evaluate the changes in medication, adverse events and early discontinuations of LECIG treatment in real life clinical practice., Methods: The records of 30 consecutive patients, who received LECIG between years 2020 and 2022 in Helsinki University Hospital, were retrospectively analyzed. Data considering changes in medication, discontinuations, and adverse events during the first six months of LECIG treatment was collected., Results: Mean levodopa equivalent daily dose (LEDD) rose significantly between baseline before LECIG and six months with treatment (1230 mg vs. 1570 mg, P = 0.001). Three patients were discarded during nasojejunal tube test phase and seven discontinued the treatment during six-month follow-up. Most common reasons for discontinuation were difficulty in finding suitable infusion rate and neuropsychiatric problems. Safety issues encountered were similar to those reported with levodopa-carbidopa intestinal gel (LCIG) treatment. One case of rhabdomyolysis due to severe dyskinesia during LECIG treatment was observed. Patients were satisfied with the small size of the pump system., Conclusions: LEDD seems to increase during the first months of LECIG treatment. When compared to studies on LCIG, safety profile of LECIG appears similar, but early discontinuation rate is higher than expected. However, long-term studies are lacking. Only clear advantage to LCIG appears to be the smaller LECIG pump size., (© 2023 The Authors. Movement Disorders Clinical Practice published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.)

Background and study aims  Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) procedures may result in remarkable radiation doses to patients and staff. The aim of this prospective study was to determine occupational exposures in gastrointestinal endoscopy procedures, with a special emphasis on eye lens dose in ERCP. Methods  Altogether 604 fluoroscopy-guided procedures, of which 560 were ERCPs belonging to four American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy procedural complexity levels, were performed using two fluoroscopy systems. Personal deep-dose equivalent H p (10), shallow-dose equivalent H p (0.07), and eye lens dose equivalent H p (3) of eight interventionists and H p (3) for two nurse dosimeters were measured. Thereafter, conversion coefficients from kerma-area product (KAP) for H p (10), H p (0.07), and H p (3) were determined and dose equivalents per procedure to an operator and assisting staff were estimated. Further, mean conversion factors from H p (10) and H p (0.07) to H p (3) were calculated. Results  The median KAP in ERCP was 1.0 Gy·cm 2 , with mobile c-arm yielding higher doses than a floor-mounted device ( P  < 0.001). The median H p (3) per ERCP was estimated to be 0.6 µSv (max. 12.5 µSv) and 0.4 µSv (max. 12.2 µSv) for operators and assisting staff, respectively. The median H p (10) and H p (0.07) per procedure ranged from 0.6 to 1.8 µSv. ERCP procedural complexity level ( P  ≤ 0.002) and interventionist ( P  < 0.001) affected dose equivalents. Conclusions  Occupational dose limits are unlikely to be exceeded in gastrointestinal endoscopy practice when following radiation-hygienic working methods and focusing on dose optimization. The eye lens dose equivalent H p (3) may be estimated with sufficient agreement from the H p (10) and H p (0.07)., Competing Interests: Competing interests The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).)

Background: Predicting Post-Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) pancreatitis (PEP) risk can be determinant in reducing its incidence and managing patients appropriately, however studies conducted thus far have identified single-risk factors with standard statistical approaches and limited accuracy., Aim: To build and evaluate performances of machine learning (ML) models to predict PEP probability and identify relevant features., Methods: A proof-of-concept study was performed on ML application on an international, multicenter, prospective cohort of ERCP patients. Data were split in training and test set, models used were gradient boosting (GB) and logistic regression (LR). A 10-split random cross-validation (CV) was applied on the training set to optimize parameters to obtain the best mean Area Under Curve (AUC). The model was re-trained on the whole training set with the best parameters and applied on test set. Shapley-Additive-exPlanation (SHAP) approach was applied to break down the model and clarify features impact., Results: One thousand one hundred and fifty patients were included, 6.1% developed PEP. GB model outperformed LR with AUC in CV of 0.7 vs 0.585 (p-value=0.012). GB AUC in test was 0.671. Most relevant features for PEP prediction were: bilirubin, age, body mass index, procedure time, previous sphincterotomy, alcohol units/day, cannulation attempts, gender, gallstones, use of Ringer's solution and periprocedural NSAIDs., Conclusion: In PEP prediction, GB significantly outperformed LR model and identified new clinical features relevant for the risk, most being pre-procedural., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest All authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Although sporadic non-ampullary duodenal adenomas (SNADA) are rare, with the risk of progression to cancer, they deserve therapy. Endoscopic therapy of SNADA is effective, but with the increased risk of complications, endotherapy should be performed in high-volume units. The results of endotherapy of SNADA in our unit are presented., Patients and Methods: A total of 97 patients with SNADA had endoscopic resection in 2005-2021 and control endoscopies between 3 and 24 months. Snare polypectomy, endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), endoscopic band ligation (EBL) and endoloop were used (en bloc 37% and piecemeal 63%). In cases of residual/recurrent adenomas, endotherapy was repeated., Results: The median size of the adenoma was 12 (5-60) mm and most polyps were sessile (25%) or flat (65%). Primary endotherapy eradicated adenomas in 57 (59%) cases. Residual and recurrence rates were 24% ( n  = 23) and 17% ( n  = 16) with successful endotherapy in 16 (70%) and 13 (81%) patients. Endotherapy was successful in 86 (89%) patients after a median (range) follow-up of 23 (1-166) months. Four out of 11 patients with failed endotherapy had surgery; seven patients were not fit for surgery. There were no disease-specific deaths or carcinoma. Eleven patients (11%) suffered from complications: perforation requiring surgery ( n  = 1), sepsis ( n  = 1), postprocedure bleeding ( n  = 7), cardiac arrest ( n  = 1) and coronary infarct ( n  = 1). The thirty-day mortality was zero. Colonoscopy was performed on 67 (69%) patients with neoplastic lesions in 33% patients during follow-up., Conclusions: Endotherapy of SNADA is effective and safe. Repeat endotherapy in residual and recurrent adenomas is successful. Careful patient selection is mandatory. Abbreviations: ASA: American Society of Anesthesiologist classification; BMI: body mass index; CT: computed tomography; EBL: endoscopic band ligation; EMR: endoscopic mucosal resection; ESD: endoscopic submucosal dissection; ET: endotherapy; FAP: familial adenomatous polyposis; F: female; LST: laterally spreading tumours; M: male; SD: standard deviation; SNADA: sporadic nonampullary duodenal adenoma.

Background: Distinguishing intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) from other pancreatic cystic lesions is essential since IPMNs carry the risk of becoming malignant. Differentiating the main pancreatic duct involving IPMNs (MD-IPMNs) through conventional imaging is deficient. Single-operator peroral pancreatoscopy (SOPP) represents a promising method offering additional information on suspected lesions in the pancreatic main duct (MD). We aimed to determine the role of SOPP in the preoperative diagnostics of suspected MD-IPMNs and identify factors contributing to SOPP-related complications., Materials and Methods: In this primarily retrospective study, SOPPs were performed at three high-volume centers on suspected MD-IPMNs. Primary outcome was the clinical impact of SOPP to subsequent patient care. Additionally, we documented post-SOPP complications and analyzed several assumed patient- and procedure-related risk factors., Results: One hundred and one (101) SOPPs were performed. Subsequent clinical management was affected due to the findings in 86 (85%) cases. Surgery was planned for 29 (29%) patients. A condition other than IPMN explaining MD dilatation was found in 28 (28%) cases. In 35 (35%) cases, follow-up with MRI was continued. Post-SOPP pancreatitis occurred in 20 (20%) patients and one of them was fatal. A decrease in odds of post-SOPP pancreatitis was seen as the MD diameter increases (OR 0.714 for 1.0 mm increase in MD diameter, CI 95% 0.514-0.993, p = 0.045). Furthermore, a correlation between lower MD diameter values and higher severity post-SOPP pancreatitis was seen (T JT  = 599, SE = 116.6, z = - 2.31; p = 0.020). History of pancreatitis after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was a confirmed risk factor for post-SOPP pancreatitis. Conclusions between complications and other risk factors could not be drawn., Conclusion: SOPP aids clinical decision-making in suspected MD-IPMNs. Risk for post-SOPP pancreatitis is not negligible compared to non-invasive imaging methods. The risk for pancreatitis decreases as the diameter of the MD increases., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), one of the most lethal malignancies, is increasing in incidence. However, the stromal reaction pathophysiology and its role in PDAC development remain unknown. We, therefore, investigated the potential role of histological chronic pancreatitis findings and chronic inflammation on surgical PDAC specimens and disease-specific survival (DSS)., Methods: Between 2000 and 2016, we retrospectively enrolled 236 PDAC patients treated with curative-intent pancreatic surgery at Helsinki University Hospital. All pancreatic transection margin slides were re-reviewed and histological findings were evaluated applying international guidelines., Results: DSS among patients with no fibrosis, acinar atrophy or chronic inflammation identified on pathology slides was significantly better than DSS among patients with fibrosis, acinar atrophy and chronic inflammation [median survival: 41.8 months, 95% confidence interval (CI) 26.0-57.6 vs. 20.6 months, 95% CI 10.3-30.9; log-rank test p = 0.001]. Multivariate analysis revealed that Ca 19-9 > 37 kU/l [hazard ratio (HR) 1.48, 95% CI 1.02-2.16], lymph node metastases N1-2 (HR 1.71, 95% CI 1.16-2.52), tumor size > 30 mm (HR 1.47, 95% CI 1.04-2.08), the combined effect of fibrosis and acinar atrophy (HR 1.91, 95% CI 1.27-2.88) and the combined effect of fibrosis, acinar atrophy and chronic inflammation (HR 1.63, 95% CI 1.03-2.58) independently served as unfavorable prognostic factors for DSS. However, we observed no significant associations between tumor size (> 30 mm) and the degree of perilobular fibrosis (p = 0.655), intralobular fibrosis (p = 0.587), acinar atrophy (p = 0.584) or chronic inflammation (p = 0.453)., Conclusions: Our results indicate that the pancreatic stroma is associated with PDAC patients' DSS. Additionally, the more severe the fibrosis, acinar atrophy and chronic inflammation, the worse the impact on DSS, thereby warranting further studies investigating stroma-targeted therapies., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Background: Both plastic stents and self-expandable metallic stents (SEMSes) are used for endoscopic biliary decompression (BD) among patients with pancreatic cancer (PAC). Cholangitis or stent occlusion often interrupts or ends chemotherapy. We investigated cholangitis, stent occlusion, and chemotherapy interruption rates for SEMSes and plastic stents among patients receiving chemotherapy for PAC., Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data for 293 PAC patients who received a biliary stent at Helsinki University Hospital during 2000-2017. Patients received chemotherapy as palliative treatment (PT: n = 187) or neoadjuvant treatment (NAT: n = 106). Among participants, 229 had a plastic stent (PT: n = 138, NAT: n = 91) and 64 had a SEMS (PT: n = 49, NAT: n = 15)., Results: Overall, 15.6% (n = 10) of patients with SEMSes (PT: 20.4%, n = 10, NAT: 0%) and 53.0% (n = 121) of patients with plastic stents (PT: 69.3%, n = 95, NAT: 28.5%, n = 26) experienced one or more stent complications (p < 0.001). Cholangitis developed in 6.3% (n = 8) of PT patients with SEMSes. No patients with SEMSes receiving NAT (n = 15) experienced cholangitis. However, 31.9% (PT: 42.8%, n = 59, p = 0.001; NAT: 15.4%, n = 14, p = 0.211) of patients with plastic stents developed cholangitis. Among all patients receiving NAT or PT, cholangitis interrupted chemotherapy 6 times (9.4%) in SEMS patients and 61 times (26.6%) in plastic stent patients (p = 0.004). Stent occlusion without cholangitis interrupted NAT or PT 2 times (2.1%) in SEMS patients and 31 times (13.5%) in plastic stent patients (p = 0.023)., Conclusions: SEMS is recommended for BD among patients with PAC receiving chemotherapy. Among both PT and NAT patients, patients with SEMS experience a lower stent failure rate, lower rate of cholangitis, and fewer chemotherapy interruptions than patients with plastic stents., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Background and Aims: Digital single-operator cholangioscopy (d-SOC) with cholangioscopic biopsy sampling has shown promise in the evaluation of indeterminate biliary strictures. Some studies have suggested higher sensitivity for visual impression compared with biopsy sampling, although assessors were not blinded to previous investigations. We aimed to investigate the diagnostic accuracy and interobserver agreement (IOA) of d-SOC in the visual appraisal of biliary strictures when blinded to additional information., Methods: A multicenter, international cohort study was performed. Cholangioscopic videos in patients with a known final diagnosis were systematically scored. Pseudonymized videos were reviewed by 19 experts in 2 steps: blinded for patient history and investigations and unblinded., Results: Forty-four high-quality videos were reviewed of 19 benign and 25 malignant strictures. The sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of malignancy was 74.2% and 46.9% (blinded) and 72.7% and 62.5% (unblinded). Cholangioscopic certainty of a malignant diagnosis led to overdiagnosis (sensitivity, 90.6%; specificity, 33%), especially if no additional information was provided. The IOA for the presence of malignancy was fair for both assessments (Fleiss' κ = .245 [blinded] and κ = .321 [unblended]). For individual visual features, the IOA ranged from slight to moderate for both assessments (κ = .059-.400 vs κ = .031-.452)., Conclusions: This study showed low sensitivity and specificity for blinded and unblinded d-SOC video appraisal of indeterminate biliary strictures, with considerable interobserver variation. Although reaching a consensus on the optical features of biliary strictures remains important, optimizing visually directed biopsy sampling may be the most important role of cholangioscopy in biliary stricture assessment., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Objectives: Levodopa-carbidopa-intestinal-gel (LCIG) infusion is an effective treatment for advanced PD with motor fluctuations. Polyneuropathy occurs as a complication in 10-15% of patients. We wanted to assess the frequency of polyneuropathy in Finnish advanced Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with continuous LCIG infusion, and the value of different clinical monitoring parameters during follow-up., Materials and Methods: Patient records of PD patients started on LCIG infusion at Helsinki University Hospital who received nerve conduction studies at baseline and 6 months after treatment initiation were reviewed for epidemiological information, mini mental state examination, baseline and 6 months' UPRDS-III, weight, body mass index, levodopa dose (LD), plasma homocysteine levels, folate, vitamin B6 and B12., Results: Out of 19 patients (n = 6 on B-vitamin substitution), two (10.5%) developed new-onset polyneuropathy after initiation of LCIG therapy (n = 0 with vitamin substitution). Neuropathy was associated with significant weight loss (BMI reduction > 1.5), but not with other monitoring parameters. Homocysteine rose significantly in patients not substituted with B-vitamin complex, but not in patients with B-vitamin substitution. Homocysteine changes correlated with LD changes in the absence of vitamin B substitution. After oral B-vitamin substitution, both patients' polyneuropathy remained electrophysiologically and clinically stable., Conclusions: Rates of polyneuropathy in Finnish PD patients with LCIG treatment are comparable to previous studies. Patients' weight should be included in regular follow up monitoring and can be used for patient self-monitoring. Vitamin B substitution appears to reduce coupling between levodopa dose and homocysteine and may be useful to prevent polyneuropathy related to LCIG., (© 2021 The Authors. Brain and Behavior published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background and aims  Indirect peroral cholangiopancreatoscopy (IPOC) is a relatively new diagnostic and therapeutic tool for biliopancreatic diseases. This international survey aimed to evaluate clinical practice patterns in IPOC among endoscopists in Europe. Methods  An online survey was developed comprising 66 questions on the use of IPOC. Questions were grouped into four domains. The survey was sent to 369 endoscopists who perform IPOC. Results  86 respondents (23.3 %) from 21 different countries across Europe completed the survey. The main indications for cholangioscopy were determination of biliary strictures (85 [98.8 %]) and removal of common bile duct or intrahepatic duct stones (79 [91.9 %]), accounting for an estimated use of 40 % (interquartile range [IQR] 25-50) and 40 % (IQR 30-60), respectively, of all cases undergoing cholangioscopy. Pancreatoscopy was mainly used for removal of pancreatic duct stones (68/76 [89.5 %]), accounting for an estimated use of 76.5 % (IQR 50-95) of all cases undergoing pancreatoscopy. Only 13/85 respondents (15.3 %) had an institutional standardized protocol for targeted cholangioscopy-guided biopsy sampling. IPOC with lithotripsy was used as first-line treatment in selected patients with bile duct stones or pancreatic stones by 24/79 (30.4 %) and 53/68 (77.9 %) respondents, respectively. Conclusions  This first European survey on the clinical practice of IPOC demonstrated wide variation in experience, indications, and techniques. These results emphasize the need for prospective studies and development of an international consensus guideline to standardize the practice and quality of IPOC., Competing Interests: Competing interests George Webster is a consultant and invited speaker for Boston Scientific, Cook Endoscopy, and Pentax Medical. Mark Ellrichmann has received consulting and lecture fees from Boston Scientific. Marco Bruno is a consultant for and has received grants for industry- and investigator-initiated studies from Boston Scientific, Cook Medical, and Pentax Medical; he has also received grants for investigator-initiated studies from Mylan, Interscope, and 3 M. Vincenzo Cennamo is a consultant for and has received speaker fees and travel grants from Olympus Italia, Olympus Europa, Euromedical, and Novità Medicali. The remaining authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).)