Stents in the biliary tree.

Biliary stenting has become established as a valuable method of palliation in malignant biliary strictures. The development of percutaneous and endoscopic techniques is described and illustrative cases are shown. The role of percutaneous vs endoscopic procedures is examined.     

Cancer of the oesophagus.

Oesophageal cancer is the fourth most common tumour in developing countries, comprising mainly squamous cell tumours, although the incidence of adenocarcinoma has increased enormously over the last decades. Surgical resection has long been acknowledged as the mainstay of treatment, and developments in surgical technique are reviewed. The roles of radiotherapy and chemotherapy in the management of oesophageal cancer remain unclear, especially as the majority of studies to date have been uncontrolled trials. We present an analysis of 601 patients who underwent resection for carcinoma of the oesophagus between 1970 and 1994 in the Department of Clinical Surgery, St James''s Hospital, Dublin. The analysis shows clearly that, while peri-operative mortality continues to improve, conventional surgery offers little prospect of cure in the majority of cases. We have therefore embarked upon a prospective controlled trial of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery versus surgery alone in patients with adenocarcinoma or squamous cell tumours of the oesophagus. Preliminary results indicate that multi-modality treatment may have a valuable role to play in the treatment of carcinoma of the oesophagus.     

Adenocarcinoma in a Barrett oesophagus.

A case of adenocarcinoma developing at the squamocolumnar epithelial junction of a Barrett oesophagus is reported. This rare tumour was remarkable because of the youth of the patient and because of the signet-cell cytological pattern of the neoplasm. It is postulated that both the columnar epithelial lining of the lower part of the oesophagus and the malignant change are a consequence of long-standing oesophageal reflux.     

Bleomycin in verrucous squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus.

A case of verrucous squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus treated with bleomycin is reported. Bleomycin brought prompt reduction of the tumour and relief of symptoms. There have been no previous reports on experience with anti-cancer agents for verrucous carcinoma of the oesophagus. Administration of bleomycin might be an effective treatment for verrucous carcinoma of the oesophagus.     

紫杉醇药物洗脱支架与金属裸支架对急性心肌梗死疗效的比较

1 文献来源 Stone GW, Lansky A J, Pocock S J, et al. Paclitaxel-eluting stents versus bare-metal stents in acute myocardial infarction [J]. N Engl J Med, 2009,360（19） ： 1946-1959.     

瑞典药物洗脱支架与金属裸支架的长期疗效对比

前瞻性随机临床试验已经发现．药物洗脱支架的使用与金属裸支架相比没有增加支架内血栓的形成。在包括大约4500名患者的前瞻性试验的基础上．美国食品药品监督管理局批准了药物洗脱支架在先前不能处理的一些冠脉病变的患者中的使用。在这些试验中．药物洗脱支架与金属裸支架相比表现为安全、心血管事件无显著增加。但是，药物洗脱支架的应用已经迅速扩展到所有的患者中，     

Carcinoma of the oesophagus associated with membrano-proliferative glomerulonephritis.

Nephrotic syndrome has been observed in association with different types of neoplasia. This appears to be the first report of the occurrence of the nephrotic syndrome due to membrano proliferative glomerulonephritis in association with carcinoma of the oesophagus. Although proteinuria was present before excision of the tumour, the nephrotic phase occurred subsequently. Eventually it disappeared leaving the patient with a clear urine and biochemical and histological improvement of the renal lesion (including immunofluorescent and electronmicroscopy studies). Possible mechanisms responsible for the nephrotic syndrome in this case are discussed.     

Carcinosarcoma of the oesophagus

Oesophageal cancer is the third most common gastrointestinal cancer, especially in the Asian population. Only 1.3 percent of oesophageal cancers cases present as carcinosarcomas. A 43-year-old male who is a chronic smoker presented with progressive dysphagia and weight loss. On barium swallow, a large polypoidal mass was found filling the oesophageal lumen. Gross and microscopical findings along with immunohistochemistry helped in establishing its diagnosis as oesophageal carcinosarcoma. This unusual and controversial malignant tumour is biphasic in nature, composed of both carcinomatous and sarcomatous elements. This case showed a rarer feature that the epithelial element was of the adenocarcinomatous type instead of the expected squamous cell carcinomatous component.     

钴合金裸支架与雷帕霉素药物涂层支架在冠心病患者应用中的对比研究

目的比较冠状动脉内钴合金裸支架与雷帕霉素药物支架特点、临床应用的安全性和有效性,探讨钴合金裸支架治疗单支冠状动脉病变冠心病患者的安全性和临床疗效。方法分析经选择性冠状动脉造影(CAG)证实为单支病变血管直径狭窄>70%的冠心病患者204例,81例冠状动脉内置入钴合金裸支架;123例冠状动脉内置入雷帕霉素药物涂层支架,观察术后疗效、12个月内主要不良心脏事件(MACE)发生率及再狭窄率。结果两组手术成功率均为100%。两组患者置入支架的成功率、住院期间急性及亚急性血栓形成率及12个月随访MACE发生率、再狭窄率等差异无统计学意义。结论钴合金裸支架可以安全有效的应用于单支冠状动脉病变的治疗。     

Barrett's oesophagus

Barrett''s oesophagus represents the replacement of stratified squamous epithelium by metaplastic columnar epithelium for 3 cm of the distal oesophagus. Gastro-oesophageal reflux, which affects 40% of the adult population, is the principal aetiological factor. This results in predominantly acid but also bile reflux (due to duodenogastrooesophageal reflux) through the lower oesophageal sphincter, transient relaxation of which accounts for the main mechanism of reflux. Conventional Barrett''s oesophagus is reported in 11-13% of patients with symptomatic reflux and short segment Barrett''s oesophagus (< 3.0 cm) in 18%. Approximately 50% of these patients have recognised complications on presentation, eg, carcinoma (15%). The disparity between clinical symptoms and endoscopic severity is due to reduced oesophageal mucosal sensitivity as a consequence of prolonged mucosal acid exposure. These rather alarming figures combined with the knowledge that Barrett''s oesophagus is a pre-malignant condition (the diagnosis is associated with a 25-130-fold increase of malignancy) may account for the substantial increase in junctional gastrooesophageal malignancies. Symptomatic Barrett''s oesophagus should be managed with full-dose proton pump inhibitors, eg, lansoprazole. Anti-reflux surgery should be reserved for the medically fit patient with recurrent symptomatic relapse in the histological absence of premalignant change. There is no evidence suggesting that surgery can be used as a prophylactic measure against malignancy. Encouraging short-term results have been obtained with photodynamic therapy in the management of high-grade dysplasia. However, columnar epithelium has been found underlying the regenerated squamous epithelium, suggesting that life-long surveillance is warranted.