A successful case of varix of the left gastroepiploic vein preoperatively diagnosed by 3D-CT angiography and resected by laparoscopy: A case report

Introduction:Gastric varices can be present in up to 20% of patients with portal hypertension. However, a varix of the left gastroepiploic vein (LGV) is extremely rare. Surgery is required if bleeding occurs; thus, precise diagnosis is crucial. We present a successful case of preoperative diagnosis intraabdominal varix of the LGV using three-dimensional-computed tomography angiography (3D-CTA) followed by laparoscopic resection. This is the first report of a case with variant LGV. Our study demonstrates the efficacies of 3D-CTA and laparoscopic surgery for the diagnosis and safe resection of the intraabdominal varix, respectively.Patient concerns:A 74-year-old woman was referred to our department with a tumor in the abdominal cavity. On physical examination, no lumps were palpable in the upper abdomen.Diagnosis:The enhanced CT was revealed that the tumor was not enhanced in the early phase, but in the equilibrium phase. Moreover, 3D-CTA clearly revealed that the tumor was being supplied by the LGV. Thus, it was diagnosed as a variant of the LGV.Interventions:Surgical resection was performed laparoscopically as per the guidance of preoperative 3D-CTA findings. During surgery, a dark tumor was found along the gastroepiploic vessels, supplied by the LGV. The tumor was resected safely based on the preoperative information.Outcomes:Histopathological examination of the tumor showed accumulation of various vessels, but no malignant cells. Therefore, we made a final diagnosis of the tumor as an LGV varix. For follow-up, an annual CT examination was performed and after 3 years postoperation, no recurrence was observed.Conclusions:In the present case, we have achieved a successful preoperative diagnosis using 3D-CTA, and resection was safely accomplished using laparoscopy guided by preoperative anatomical information. This is the first report of an LGV variant. Appropriate management is crucial because bleeding is a catastrophic event. Therefore, imaging procedures such as 3D-CTA for diagnosis, followed by safe resection by laparoscopic surgery, are effective tools for the treatment of epiploic vein varices.     

Humic acid induces the endothelial nitric oxide synthase phosphorylation at Ser1177 and Thr495 Via Hsp90α and Hsp90β upregulation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells

Humic acid (HA) has been implicated as a contributory factor for blackfoot disease, which is an endemic peripheral vascular disease. We investigated the effect of HA on the regulation of endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase (eNOS) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) to evaluate the involvement of eNOS and related factors in peripheral vascular impairment with HA exposure. Treatment of HUVECs with HA induced upregulation of eNOS. This result coincides with those of previous studies. Furthermore this is the first study to report that HA induces upregulation of heat shock protein (Hsp)90α, Hsp90β, eNOS phosphorylation at Ser1177, and eNOS phosphorylation at Thr495, as compared to that in the control. In contrast, treatment with BAPTA, an intracellular Ca²⁺ chelator, inhibited upregulation of these proteins induced by HA. This study demonstrates that HA treatment leads to increases in both Hsp90α and Hsp90β proteins and indicates that Hsp90α leads to eNOS phosphorylation at Ser1177 and that Hsp90β leads to eNOS phosphorylation at Thr495, respectively. Upregulation of eNOS, Hsp90α, and Hsp90β in HUVECs is regulated by intracellular Ca²⁺ accumulation induced by HA. These results suggest that upregulation of eNOS phosphorylation at Ser1177 and eNOS phosphorylation at Thr495 produce NO and superoxide anions, respectively, resulting in generation of peroxynitrite, which causes impairment of vascular endothelial cells. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 30: 223–231, 2015.     

Results of a survey of community-acquired-pneumonia and evaluation of old and new Japanese Respiratory Society guidelines]

We evaluated the usefulness of domestic and foreign guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with community-acquired-pneumonia at 23 institutions in 6 prefectures of the Tohoku Area, from December 2003 to November 2004. Based on the old and new Japanese Respiratory Society (JRS) guidelines, we evaluated severity, clinical efficacy and detection of atypical pneumonia. As for severity, the old guidelines led to the diagnosis of an excessive number of 'severe' cases. On the other hand, patients were appropriately diagnosed as having mild, moderate, severe, or very severe disease based on the new JRS guidelines (2005). The severity classification often correlated with the Pneumonia Severity Index (PSI) of the IDSA guidelines. The efficacy rate for patients who were prescribed the recommended drug according to the old JRS guidelines was 85.7% and for those who did not use the recommended drug it was 68.7% (p < 0.001).     

Clinical features of Japanese type 1 autoimmune hepatitis patients with zone III necrosis

Aim: In Caucasians in northern Europe and North America, type 1 autoimmune hepatitis is characterized by susceptibility to human leukocyte antigens DR3 and DR4, and patients with zone III necrosis more frequently have an acute onset of the disease and a lower frequency of cirrhosis than those without. In Japanese patients, however, type 1 autoimmune hepatitis is primarily associated with DR4, and there are almost no DR3-positive patients. Thus, the clinical features of Japanese patients with type 1 autoimmune hepatitis and zone III necrosis may be different from those reported previously for Caucasians. Methods: We investigated 160 consecutive patients with type 1 autoimmune hepatitis (20 males and 140 females; median age, 55 years; range, 16-79 years). Results: Forty-seven patients (29%) had zone III necrosis, and these patients had lower serum levels of albumin and higher serum levels of total bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferaseand alanine aminotransferase. Histologically, zone III necrosis was found more frequently in patients with acute hepatitis than in those with chronic hepatitis. However, there was no difference in the frequency of cirrhosis between patients with and without zone III necrosis. In addition, normalization of serum alanine aminotransferase levels within six months after the introduction of corticosteroid treatment was slightly more frequent in patients with zone III necrosis (95% vs. 88%). Conclusion: In Japanese patients, zone III necrosis may reflect not only acute autoimmune hepatitis, but also acute exacerbation of pre-existing chronic disease. Furthermore, patients with zone III necrosis may respond better to corticosteroid treatment than those without.     

Computational method for estimating progression saturation of analog series

In lead optimization, it is difficult to estimate when an analog series might be saturated and synthesis of additional compounds would be unlikely to yield further progress. Rather than terminating a series, one often continues to generate analogs hoping to reach the final optimization goal, even if obstacles that are faced ultimately prove to be unsurmountable. Clearly, methodologies to better understand series progression and saturation are highly desirable. However, only a few approaches are currently available to monitor series progression and aid in decision making. Herein, we introduce a new computational method to assess progression saturation of an analog series by relating the properties of existing compounds to those of synthetic candidates and comparing their distributions in chemical space. The neighborhoods of analogs are analyzed and the distance relationships between existing and candidate compounds quantified. An intuitive dual scoring scheme makes it possible to characterize analog series and their degree of progression saturation.

Chemical space view of an analog series. Shown are inactive (red) and active (blue) analogs together with virtual candidate compounds (green) available to expand the series. Chemical neighborhoods of analogs are depicted in gray.     

Effective exercise intervention period for improving body function or activity in patients with knee osteoarthritis undergoing total knee arthroplasty: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Various systematic reviews and/or meta-analyses examining the effects of pre- or postoperative exercise on body function or activity in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) have been published. However, the interventional period needed to at least improve outcomes is unknown.

Whole-pelvic volumetric-modulated arc therapy for high-risk prostate cancer: treatment planning and acute toxicity

The objectives of this study were to evaluate dosimetric quality and acute toxicity of volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) and daily image guidance in high-risk prostate cancer patients. A total of 100 consecutive high-risk prostate cancer patients treated with definitive VMAT with prophylactic whole-pelvic radiotherapy (WPRT) were enrolled. All patients were treated with a double-arc VMAT plan delivering 52 Gy to the prostate planning target volume (PTV), while simultaneously delivering 46.8 Gy to the pelvic nodal PTV in 26 fractions, followed by a single-arc VMAT plan delivering 26 Gy to the prostate PTV in 13 fractions. Image-guided RT was performed with daily cone-beam computed tomography. Dose–volume parameters for the PTV and the organs at risk (OARs), total number of monitor units (MUs) and treatment time were evaluated. Acute toxicity was assessed using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 4.0. All dosimetric parameters met the present plan acceptance criteria. Mean MU and treatment time were 471 and 146 s for double-arc VMAT, respectively, and were 520 and 76 s for single-arc VMAT, respectively. No Grade 3 or higher acute toxicity was reported. Acute Grade 2 proctitis, diarrhea, and genitourinary toxicity occurred in 12 patients (12%), 6 patients (6%) and 13 patients (13%), respectively. The present study demonstrated that VMAT for WPRT in prostate cancer results in favorable PTV coverage and OAR sparing with short treatment time and an acceptable rate of acute toxicity. These findings support the use of VMAT for delivering WPRT to high-risk prostate cancer patients.     

Comparison of Indicators for Achievement of Pain Control With a Personalized Pain Goal in a Comprehensive Cancer Center

Context

The achievement of a personalized pain goal (PPG) is advocated as an individualized pain relief indicator.