Current Status of Colorectal Cancer and Its Public Health Burden in Thailand

Colorectal cancer (CRC) accounts for approximately 10.3% of new cancer cases in Thailand and is currently the 3rd most prevalent cancer found among the Thai population. Starting in 2017, the Thai government announced the national CRC screening program as a response to this important issue. Among the 70 million people currently residing in Thailand, 14 million require screening, while there are approximately a total of 1,000 endoscopists available to perform colonoscopy. Due to the limited resources and shortage of endoscopists in Thailand, applying a population-based one-step colonoscopy program as a primary screening method is not feasible. To reduce colonoscopy workload, with the help of others, including village health volunteers, institution-based health personnel, reimbursement coders, pathologists, and patients due for CRC screening, a two-step approach of one-time fecal immunochemical test (FIT), which prioritizes and filters out subjects for colonoscopy, is chosen. Moreover, additional adjustments to the optimal FIT cutoff value and the modified Asia-Pacific Colorectal Screening risk score, including body weight, were proposed to stratify the priority of colonoscopy schedule. This article aims to give an overview of the past and current policy developmental strategies and the current status of the Thailand CRC screening program

Bimodal Chromoendoscopy with Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy for the Detection of Early Esophageal Squamous Cell Neoplasms

Background/Aims This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of dual-focus narrow-band imaging (dNBI) and Lugol’schromoendoscopy (LCE) combined with probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy (pCLE) to screen for esophageal squamous cell neoplasms (ESCNs) in patients with a history of head and neck cancer. Methods From March to August 2016, dNBI was performed. Next, LCE was performed, followed by pCLE and biopsy. Histology has historically been the gold standard to diagnose ESCN. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy of dNBI and LCE adjunct with pCLE were determined. Results Twenty-four patients were included. Ten ESCNs were found in 8 patients (33%). Forty percent of high-graded intraepithelial neoplasias and all low-grade intraepithelial neoplasias were overlooked by dNBI. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy of dNBI vs. LCE combined with pCLE were 50% vs. 80%, 62% vs. 67%, 36% vs. 44%, 75% vs. 91%, and 83% vs. 70%, respectively. Conclusions The use of dNBI to detect ESCN was suboptimal. LCE with pCLE following dNBI had additional value for detecting esophageal dysplasia not detected by dNBI. The use of pCLE to detect dNBI-missed lesions yielded a high NPV, while pCLE-guided biopsy could reduce the number of unnecessary biopsies

Real-time semantic segmentation of gastric intestinal metaplasia using a deep learning approach

Background/Aims Previous artificial intelligence (AI) models attempting to segment gastric intestinal metaplasia (GIM) areas have failed to be deployed in real-time endoscopy due to their slow inference speeds. Here, we propose a new GIM segmentation AI model with inference speeds faster than 25 frames per second that maintains a high level of accuracy. Methods Investigators from Chulalongkorn University obtained 802 histological-proven GIM images for AI model training. Four strategies were proposed to improve the model accuracy. First, transfer learning was employed to the public colon datasets. Second, an image preprocessing technique contrast-limited adaptive histogram equalization was employed to produce clearer GIM areas. Third, data augmentation was applied for a more robust model. Lastly, the bilateral segmentation network model was applied to segment GIM areas in real time. The results were analyzed using different validity values. Results From the internal test, our AI model achieved an inference speed of 31.53 frames per second. GIM detection showed sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive, negative predictive, accuracy, and mean intersection over union in GIM segmentation values of 93%, 80%, 82%, 92%, 87%, and 57%, respectively. Conclusions The bilateral segmentation network combined with transfer learning, contrast-limited adaptive histogram equalization, and data augmentation can provide high sensitivity and good accuracy for GIM detection and segmentation

Impact of multi-targeted antiretroviral treatment on gut T cell depletion and HIV reservoir seeding during acute HIV infection.

BackgroundLimited knowledge exists on early HIV events that may inform preventive and therapeutic strategies. This study aims to characterize the earliest immunologic and virologic HIV events following infection and investigates the usage of a novel therapeutic strategy.Methods and findingsWe prospectively screened 24,430 subjects in Bangkok and identified 40 AHI individuals. Thirty Thais were enrolled (8 Fiebig I, 5 Fiebig II, 15 Fiebig III, 2 Fiebig IV) of whom 15 completed 24 weeks of megaHAART (tenofovir/emtricitabine/efavirenz/raltegravir/maraviroc). Sigmoid biopsies were completed in 24/30 at baseline and 13/15 at week 24. At baseline, the median age was 29 years and 83% were MSM. Most were symptomatic (87%), and were infected with R5-tropic (77%) CRF01_AE (70%). Median CD4 was 406 cells/mm(3). HIV RNA was 5.5 log(10) copies/ml. Median total blood HIV DNA was higher in Fiebig III (550 copy/10(6) PBMC) vs. Fiebig I (8 copy/10(6) PBMC) (p = 0.01) while the median %CD4+CCR5+ gut T cells was lower in Fiebig III (19%) vs. Fiebig I (59%) (p = 0.0008). After 24 weeks of megaHAART, HIV RNA levels of <50 copies were achieved in 14/15 in blood and 13/13 in gut. Total blood HIV DNA at week 0 predicted reservoir size at week 24 (p<0.001). Total HIV DNA declined significantly and was undetectable in 3 of 15 in blood and 3 of 7 in gut. Frequency of CD4+CCR5+ gut T cells increased from 41% at baseline to 64% at week 24 (p>0.050); subjects with less than 40% at baseline had a significant increase in CD4+CCR5+ T cells from baseline to week 24 (14% vs. 71%, p = 0.02).ConclusionsGut T cell depletion and HIV reservoir seeding increases with progression of AHI. MegaHAART was associated with immune restoration and reduced reservoir size. Our findings could inform research on strategies to achieve HIV drug-free remission

Current Status of GI Endoscopy in Thailand and Thai Association of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (TAGE)

Endoscopy practice in Thailand is being performed and serviced by both surgeons and gastroenterologists. The number of endoscopy performed by each specialty is very much comparable. Before 2000, the services were done independently. On 15th December 2005 the Thai Association of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (TAGE) has been found Since TAGE has been found there is a rapid progression in GI Endoscopy service, research, and teaching in Thailand and its neighbor. However, the workload for the current number of endoscopists is still overwhelm by day-to-day service. Thailand and TAGE require the support and collaboration from oversea to expand their need and to serve better for GI Endoscopy practice in Thailand

Role of Fully Covered Self-Expandable Metal Stent for Treatment of Benign Biliary Strictures and Bile Leaks

Endoscopic therapy by balloon dilation and placement of multiple large-bore plastic stents is the treatment of choice for benign biliary stricture. This approach is effective but it typically requires multiple endoscopic sessions given the short duration of stent patency. The endoscopic approach for treatment of bile leak involves the placement of a stent with or without biliary sphincterotomy. The self-expandable metal stent (SEMS) has traditionally been used for palliation of malignant biliary strictures given the long duration of stent patency owing to their larger stent diameter. Recently, SEMS has been used in a variety of benign biliary strictures and leaks, especially with the design of the covered self-expandable metal stent (CSEMS), which permits endoscopic-mediated stent removal. The use of CSEMS in benign biliary stricture could potentially result in a decrease in endoscopic sessions and it is technically easier when compared to placement of multiple plastic stents. However, complications such as cholecystitis due to blockage of cystic duct, stent migration, infection and pancreatitis have been reported. The potential subsegmental occlusion of contralateral intrahepatic ducts also limits the use of CSEMS in hilar stricture. Certain techniques and improvement of stent design may overcome these challenges in the future. Thus, CSEMS may be appropriate in only highly selected conditions, such as refractory benign biliary stricture, despite multiple plastic stent placement or difficult to treat bile duct stricture from chronic pancreatitis, and should not be used routinely. This review focuses on the use of fully covered self-expandable metal stent for benign biliary strictures and bile leaks