Objective Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is diagnosed by the presence of dysphagia and intraepithelial eosinophilic infiltration of ! 15 per high-power field (HPF). EoE should be distinguished from proton pump inhibitor-responsive esophageal eosinophilic infiltration (PPI-R EEI) in patients that are responsive to PPI treatment. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of EoE and PPI-R EEI in Japanese patients in a multicenter study. Methods Ten hospitals participated in this study. Esophageal biopsy was performed when the patients had typical EoE symptoms or when endoscopic findings revealed a typical EoE appearance. EEI was defined as the intraepithelial eosinophilic infiltration of ! 15 per HPF. Patients with EEI received rabeprazole for 8 weeks to distinguish EoE from PPI-R EEI. Results A total of 13,634 subjects that underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy because of further examination or as a routine checkup were enrolled. Seventy-one (0.5%) patients suspected with EoE were examined by biopsy. A histological examination of 7 (9.9%) cases revealed EEI. Two of these 7 patients showed no symptoms and the other 5 were treated with PPI. Two (0.01%) patients were diagnosed with EoE and 3 (0.02%) with PPI-R EEI. Conclusion EoE and PPI-R EEI were rare in Japanese patients that underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.

Hemorrhage from jejunal varices formed at the site of Roux-en-Y choledochojejunostomy is rather rare, and no guidelines have so far been established for its treatment. This report presents the cases of 2 patients with jejunal varices formed at the site of choledochojejunostomy that were treated using different methods. An obstruction of the extrahepatic portal vein resulted in massive gastrointestinal bleeding in both cases CASE 1: A 59-year-old male developed jejunal varices at the site of choledochojejunostomy. Multidetector computed tomography showed that the source of bleeding was located in the small intestine near portojejunal varices. The jejunal vein supplying the afferent loop was embolized using interventional radiology. There was no evidence of liver dysfunction or rebleeding after the embolization CASE 2: A 79-year-old female developed jejunal varices at the site of choledochojejunostomy. Abdominal angiography could not detect the source of bleeding, and hence, a mesocaval shunt operation was performed.

Abbreviations: Cas9, CRISPR-associated protein 9; COX-2, cyclooxygenase 2; CRISPR, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat; HBSS, Hanks' balanced salt solution;ICAM-1, intercellular adhesion molecule-1; IFN-γ, interferon-γ; IL-1β, interleukin-1β; KO, knockout; MSC, mesenchymal stem cell; NK, natural killer; NKT, natural killer T; PE, phycoerythrin; PGE2, prostaglandin E2; TGF-β, transforming growth factor-β; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor-α; TRAIL, tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand; VCAM-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor.The activation of natural killer (NK) cells in the liver inhibits engraftment of intraportally transplanted islets. We attempted to modulate the activity of NK cells by cotransplanting mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with islets in mice. We first investigated the ability of MSCs to secrete prostaglandin E2 , a predominant inhibitor of NK cell function, in various combinations of inflammatory cytokines. Notably, we found that prostaglandin E2 production was partially delayed in MSCs activated by inflammatory cytokines in vitro, whereas liver NK cells were activated early after islet transplant in vivo. Accordingly, preactivated MSCs, but not naive MSCs, substantially suppressed the expression of activation markers in liver NK cells after cotransplant with islets. Similarly, cotransplant with preactivated MSCs, but not naive MSCs, markedly improved the survival of islet grafts. These results highlight MSC cotransplant as an effective and clinically feasible method for enhancing engraftment efficiency.

HighlightsLarrey’s diaphragmatic hernia is relatively uncommon.It is difficult to suture the hernial orifice laparoscopically.Extra-abdominal suturing technique using Endo Close® may be useful in terms of secure suture and easy tying.

Plummer-Vinson (Paterson-Brown-Kelly) syndrome is uncommon nowadays. Although iron repletion improves its symptoms, endoscopic dilatation of associated esophageal webs is sometimes required. The case is described of a 69-year-old woman with Plummer-Vinson syndrome who was successfully treated by endoscopic bougienage. The patient had a longstanding history of anemia and slowly progressive dysphagia of solid food. Laboratory data on admission showed iron deficiency anemia (red blood cell count 402 x 10(4)/microL, hemoglobin 6.8 g/dL, serum iron 8 microg/dL, and serum ferritin 2.4 ng/mL). Radiographic esophagography revealed two circumferential webs at the level of the cervical esophagus. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed a severe upper esophageal stricture caused by a smooth mucosal diaphragm. The patient was prescribed 40 mg of intravenous iron supplements daily for 30 days; her anemia improved but the dysphagia did not. Endoscopic bougienage was performed with the use of Celestin dilators of serially increasing diameters. The webs were easily disrupted without complications. The patient's dysphagia resolved shortly after the treatment and did not recur. This experience indicates that endoscopic bougienage is safe, effective, and relatively easy to perform in patients with severe esophageal stenosis.