In patients with dysplastic Barrett's esophagus, radiofrequency ablation was associated with a high rate of complete eradication of both dysplasia and intestinal metaplasia and a reduced risk of disease progression. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00282672.)

Gold nanocages of <40 nm in dimension have been synthesized using the galvanic replacement reaction between Ag nanocubes and HAuCl4 in an aqueous solution. By controlling the molar ratio between Ag and HAuCl4, the gold nanocages could be tuned to display surface plasmon resonance peaks around 800 nm, a wavelength commonly used in optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging. OCT measurements on phantom samples indicate that these gold nanocages have a moderate scattering cross-section of approximately 8.10 x 10(-16) m2 but a very large absorption cross-section of approximately 7.26 x 10(-15) m2, suggesting their potential use as a new class of contrast agents for optical imaging. When bioconjugated with antibodies, the gold nanocages have also been demonstrated for specific targeting of breast cancer cells.

Background & Aims Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) can eradicate dysplasia and intestinal metaplasia in patients with dysplastic Barrett’s esophagus (BE), and reduce rates of esophageal adenocarcinoma. We assessed long-term rates of eradication, durability of neosquamous epithelium, disease progression, and safety of RFA in patients with dysplastic BE. Methods We performed a randomized trial of 127 subjects with dysplastic BE; after cross-over subjects were included 119 received RFA. Subjects were followed for a mean time of 3.05 years; the study was extended to 5 years for patients with eradication of intestinal metaplasia at 2 years. Outcomes included eradication of dysplasia or intestinal metaplasia after 2 and 3 years, durability of response, disease progression, and adverse events. Results After 2 years, 101/106 patients had complete eradication of all dysplasia (95%) and 99/106 had eradication of intestinal metaplasia (93%). After 2 years, among subjects with initial low-grade dysplasia, all dysplasia was eradicated in 51/52 (98%) and intestinal metaplasia was eradicated in 51/52 (98%); among subjects with initial high-grade dysplasia, all dysplasia was eradicated in 50/54 (93%) and intestinal metaplasia was eradicated in 48/54 (89%). After 3 years, dysplasia was eradicated in 55/56 of subjects (98%) and intestinal metaplasia was eradicated in 51/56 (91%). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that dysplasia remained eradicated in >85% of patients and intestinal metaplasia in >75%, without maintenance RFA. Serious adverse events occurred in 4/119 subjects (3.4%); the rate of stricture was 7.6%. The rate of esophageal adenocarcinoma was 1/181 pt-yrs (0.55%/pt-yr); there was no cancer-related morbidity or mortality. The annual rate of any neoplastic progression was 1/73 pt-yrs (1.37%/pt-yr). Conclusion In subjects with dysplastic BE, RFA therapy has an acceptable safety profile, is durable, and is associated with a low rate of disease progression, for up to 3 years.

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Thorough screening of patients with a family history of pancreatic cancer is feasible. Clinical data combined with imaging studies (endoscopic ultrasonography and ERCP) can be used to identify high-risk patients who have dysplasia. The role of molecular genetic testing is uncertain at this time.

In patients with acute colonic pseudo-obstruction who have not had a response to conservative therapy, treatment with neostigmine rapidly decompresses the colon.

Biliary complications are important causes of early and late postoperative morbidity and mortality after liver transplantation and are seen in 10-20 % of the patients. The common biliary complications include bile leaks, stones or debris, and anastomotic strictures. Less common complications are hilar strictures, intrahepatic strictures, and papillary stenosis/dysfunction. The complications are similar in living-donor and cadaveric liver transplantations, except for a higher incidence of bile leaks among living-donor transplant recipients. The clinical presentation of post-liver transplant bile duct complications is often subtle, and noninvasive imaging studies may sometimes fail to detect mild but clinically significant stenoses or small leaks. Early recognition and prompt treatment of biliary complications following liver transplantation reduces the morbidity and improves long-term graft and patient survival. In this report, we discuss the role of endoscopy in the diagnosis, treatment options, and the outcome for patients with biliary complications following liver transplantation.

Ursodiol use appears to be associated with a lower frequency of colonic dysplasia in patients with ulcerative colitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis. A randomized trial investigating the chemoprotective effect of ursodiol in patients with ulcerative colitis may be warranted.