Publications

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Endoscopic-related injuries (ERIs) for gastroenterologists are common and can impact longevity of an endoscopic career. This study examines sex differences in the prevalence of ERIs and ergonomic training during gastroenterology fellowship.

METHODS: A 56-item anonymous survey was sent to 709 general and advanced endoscopy gastroenterology fellows at 73 U.S. training programs between May and June 2022. Demographic information was collected along with questions related to endoscopic environment, ergonomic instruction, technique, equipment availability, and ergonomic knowledge. Responses of female and male gastroenterology fellows were compared using χ2 and Fisher exact tests.

RESULTS: Of the 236 respondents (response rate, 33.9%), 113 (44.5%) were women and 123 (52.1%) were men. Female fellows reported on average smaller hand sizes and shorter heights. More female fellows reported endoscopic equipment was not ergonomically optimized for their use. Additionally, more female fellows voiced preference for same-gender teachers and access to dial extenders and well-fitting lead aprons. High rates of postendoscopy pain were reported by both sexes, with significantly more women experiencing neck and shoulder pain. Trainees of both sexes demonstrated poor ergonomic awareness with an average score of 68% on a 5-point knowledge-based assessment.

CONCLUSIONS: Physical differences exist between male and female trainees, and current endoscopic equipment may not be optimized for smaller hand sizes. This study highlights the urgent need for formal ergonomic training for trainees and trainers with consideration of stature and hand size to enhance safety, comfort, and equity in the training and practice of endoscopy.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between subcutaneous infliximab [SC-IFX] concentrations and favourable therapeutic outcomes in patients with Crohn's disease [CD] and ulcerative colitis [UC] remains elusive.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included consecutive adult patients with inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] treated with SC-IFX at a maintenance dose of 120 mg/2 weeks. Investigated therapeutic outcomes included sustained clinical remission; composite clinical and biomarker remission [clinical remission and C-reactive protein <5 mg/L]; biochemical remission [faecal calprotectin <250 µg/g]; and deep remission [clinical, biological, and biochemical remission].

RESULTS: Of 91 patients identified, 71 qualified for inclusion in the study [70% with CD; 27% with concomitant immunomodulators]. At the time of drug concentration measurement [median 13.5 months after switch], 55 [77%] patients had sustained clinical remission; n = 44 [62%] composite clinical and biomarker remission; n = 40 [56%] biochemical remission; and n = 31 [43%] deep remission. The mean SC-IFX concentrations were significantly higher in patients with sustained clinical remission [p = 0.014]; composite clinical and biomarker remission [p = 0.003]; biochemical remission [p < 0.001]; and deep remission [p < 0.001] compared to patients without having these outcomes. In multivariate analysis, SC-IFX concentration was the only factor independently associated with sustained clinical remission (odds ratio [OR]: 4.7, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.1-12.2, p = 0.005); clinical and biomarker remission [OR: 9.21, 95% CI: 6.09-18.7, p = 0.006]; biochemical remission [OR: 37, 95% CI: 14-39.3, p < 0.001]; and deep remission [OR: 29, 95% CI: 15.7-37.4, p < 0.001]. The optimal SC-IFX concentration cut-off associated with deep remission based on ROC analysis was 20 µg/mL [sensitivity: 0.91, specificity: 0.80, accuracy: 0.85]. Combination with an immunomodulator failed to improve SC-IFX pharmacokinetics.

CONCLUSION: Higher SC-IFX concentrations are associated with higher rates of favourable therapeutic outcomes in IBD patients. Serum SC-IFX concentrations >20 µg/mL were significantly associated with deep remission.

BACKGROUND: Rectal bleeding is the most common presenting symptom of colorectal cancer, and guidelines recommend timely follow-up, usually with colonoscopy to ensure timely diagnoses of colorectal cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Identify loop closure rates and vulnerable process points for patients with rectal bleeding.

DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study, using medical record review of patients aged ≥ 40 with index diagnosis of rectal bleeding at 2 primary practices-an urban academic practice and affiliated community health center, between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2020. Patients were classified as having completed recommended follow-up workup ("closed loop") vs. not ("open loop"). Open loop patient cases were categorized into six types of process failures.

PARTICIPANTS: A total of 837 patients had coded diagnoses of rectal bleeding within study window. Sixty-seven were excluded based on prior colectomy, clinical presentation more consistent with upper GI bleed, no rectal bleeding documented on chart review, or expired during the follow-up period, leaving 770 patients included.

MAIN MEASURES: Primary outcomes were percentages of patient cases classified as "open loops" and distribution of these cases into six categories of process failure that were identified.

KEY RESULTS: 22.3% of patients (N = 172) failed to undergo timely recommended workup for rectal bleeding. Largest failure categories were patients for whom no procedure was ordered (N = 62, 36%), followed by patients with procedures ordered but never scheduled (N = 44, 26%) or scheduled but subsequently cancelled or not kept (N = 31, 18%). While open loops increased after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, this difference was not significant within our study period.

CONCLUSIONS: Significant numbers of patients presenting to primary care with rectal bleeding fail to undergo recommended workup. The majority either have no procedure ordered, or procedure ordered but never scheduled or cancelled and not kept, suggesting these are important failure modes to target in future interventions. Ensuring reliable ordering and processes for timely scheduling and completion of procedures represent critical areas for improving the diagnostic process for patients with rectal bleeding in primary care.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Clinical guidelines should ideally be formulated from data representative of the population they are applicable to; however, historically, studies have disproportionally enrolled non-Hispanic White (NHW) patients, leading to potential inequities in care for minority groups. Our study aims to evaluate the extent to which racial minorities were represented in the United States Colorectal Cancer Surveillance Guidelines.

METHODS: We reviewed US guidelines between 1997 and 2020 and all identified studies cited by recommendations for surveillance after a baseline colonoscopy with no polyps, adenomas, sessile serrated polyps, and hyperplastic polyps. We analyzed the proportion of studies reporting race, and among these studies, we calculated the racial distribution of patients and compared the proportion of Non-NHW patients between each subtype.

RESULTS: For all guidelines, we reviewed 75 studies encompassing 9,309,955 patients. Race was reported in 24% of studies and 14% of total patients. Non-NHW comprised 43% of patients in studies for normal colonoscopies, compared with 9% for adenomas, 22% for sessile serrated polyps, and 15% for hyperplastic polyps. For the 2020 guidelines, we reviewed 33 studies encompassing 5,930,722 patients. Race was reported in 15% of studies and 21% of total patients. Non-NHW comprised 43% of patients in studies for normal colonoscopies, compared with 9% for tubular adenomas. Race was not cited for any other 2020 guideline.

CONCLUSION: Racial minorities are significantly underrepresented in US Colorectal Cancer Surveillance Guidelines, which may contribute to disparities in care. Future studies should prioritize enrolling a diverse patient population to provide data that accurately reflects their population.

GOALS: The aim was to assess patient adherence to multitarget stool DNA testing as well as factors associated with adherence.

BACKGROUND: In the United States, disparities in colorectal cancer screening exist along racial and socioeconomic lines. While some studies suggest that stool-based screening tests may help reduce the screening gap, the data for multitarget stool DNA testing is unclear.

STUDY: We conducted a single-center retrospective cohort study on multitarget stool DNA testing ordered between April 2020 and July 2021. We calculated the proportion of patients who completed testing and used multivariate logistic regression to identify covariates associated with test adherence.

RESULTS: Among 797 patients ordered for multitarget stool DNA testing, 481 patients (60.4%) completed testing. Adherence rates by patient subgroups ranged from 35.8% to 78.1%. Higher test adherence was found in Asian patients (odds ratio 2.65, 95% CI 1.36-5.18) and those who previously completed colorectal cancer screening (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.01-2.09), while Black patients (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.39-0.87), patients with resident primary care physicians (OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.21-0.56), and patients contacted through an outreach program (OR 0.47, 95% CI 0.25-0.87) had lower adherence.

CONCLUSIONS: A significant proportion of patients ordered for multitarget stool DNA testing did not complete testing. Differences in adherence rates among patient subgroups may be reflective of underlying disparities in health care access.

Th17-cells play a key role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). Dysregulation of Th17-cells in AIH is linked to defective response to aryl-hydrocarbon-receptor (AhR) activation. AhR modulates adaptive immunity and is regulated by aryl-hydrocarbon-receptor-repressor (AHRR), which inhibits AhR transcriptional activity. In this study, we investigated whether defective Th17-cell response to AhR derives from aberrant AHRR regulation in AIH. Th17-cells, obtained from the peripheral blood of AIH patients (n = 30) and healthy controls (n = 30) were exposed to AhR endogenous ligands, and their response assessed in the absence or presence of AHRR silencing. Therapeutic effects of AHRR blockade were tested in a model of Concanavalin-A (Con-A)-induced liver injury in humanized mice. AHRR was markedly upregulated in AIH Th17-cells, following exposure to l-kynurenine, an AhR endogenous ligand. In patients, silencing of AHRR boosted Th17-cell response to l-kynurenine, as reflected by increased levels of CYP1A1, the main gene controlled by AhR; and decreased IL17A expression. Blockade of AHRR limited the differentiation of naïve CD4-cells into Th17 lymphocytes; and modulated Th17-cell metabolic profile by increasing the levels of uridine via ATP depletion or pyrimidine salvage. Treatment with 2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro-d-arabinonucleic acid (FANA) oligonucleotides to silence human AHRR in vivo, reduced ALT levels, attenuated lymphocyte infiltration on histology, and heightened frequencies of regulatory immune subsets in NOD/scid/gamma mice, reconstituted with human CD4 cells, and exposed to Con-A. In conclusion, blockade of AHRR in AIH restores Th17-cell response to AHR, and limits Th17-cell differentiation through generation of uridine. In vivo, silencing of AHRR attenuates liver damage in NOD/scid/gamma mice. Blockade of AHRR might therefore represent a novel therapeutic strategy to modulate effector Th17-cell immunity and restore homeostasis in AIH.

In recent years, legislation targeting the sexual and gender minority (SGM) community has been passed at an increasingly alarming rate, affecting access to safe and effective gender-affirming care and forcing many SGM patients, including those with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), to withhold their identities and health concerns. Additionally, SGM patients with IBD may have unique health considerations that have not yet been well-studied OBJECTIVE: This article aims to explore the intersection of IBD and sexual health in patients who identify as SGM and to identify limitations for gastroenterologists in caring for SGM patients. The article also aims to provide suggestions for improvement in SGM-competent care within gastroenterology METHODS: A thorough literature review was conducted regarding sexual health and the SGM community with IBD. This included a review of surgical considerations in SGM patients, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and prevention, and sexual dysfunction RESULTS: Overall, little is known about the impact of IBD on patients who identify as sexual and gender minorities. Surgery, medications, and STIs continue to be a concern in the SGM community with IBD and these areas represent opportunities to improve SGM-competent IBD care. Additionally, implementation of an SGM-focused curriculum is urgently needed in medical education to improve provider knowledge and care for this unique group of patients CONCLUSIONS: Patients with IBD who identify as SGM experience challenges that are not well described in prior literature. More research is needed and is actively being pursued to guide provider awareness and improve sexual health for this patient population.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Chronic gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are a common reason for seeking medical care. We aim to determine the rates of ambulatory care use and to characterize demographics, work-up, and treatment (pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic) for patients with chronic upper GI symptoms and conditions in the United States.

METHODS: Estimates of annual visits for the most common upper GI symptoms and diagnoses including gastroesophageal reflux disease, dyspepsia, nausea and vomiting, and gastroparesis were recorded from the 2007-2015 National Ambulatory Medical Care Surveys. Only chronic conditions, defined as >3 months, were included. We calculated the weighted proportion of ambulatory visits associated with pharmacologic, nonpharmacologic treatment (eg, diet, complementary and alternative medicine), or both.

RESULTS: A total of 116,184,475 weighted ambulatory visits were identified between the years of 2007 and 2015 for adults (average of 12,909,386 annual visits) with chronic upper GI symptoms and diagnoses. Gastroesophageal reflux disease was the most common reason for an ambulatory visit (n = 11,200,193), followed by dyspepsia (n = 1,232,598), nausea and vomiting (n = 714,834), and gastroparesis (n = 140,312). Pharmacologic treatment was more common than nonpharmacologic treatment (44.7% vs 28.5%). A total of 37.6% of patients were not receiving treatment at the time of the visit. These treatment patterns did not significantly change over the time of our study. Upper endoscopies were the most ordered test, representing 7.5% of all investigated upper GI symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS: Chronic upper GI symptoms and diagnoses account for a high number of annual health care visits, both in primary care and specialty care. Although there are several treatments, many of these patients are not on any treatments.