Epidemiologic Clues to Inflammatory Bowel Disease

In this article, the recent literature exploring the epidemiology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is reviewed. Epidemiologic studies present data on disease burden, but may also provide clues to disease etiology. The emergence of IBD in developing nations warrants a systematic search for environmental changes in those countries to explain the evolution of IBD. The hygiene hypothesis suggests that an alteration in the microbial environment experienced by the host facilitates the evolution of chronic immune-mediated diseases. One complex database study suggested that areas with high species richness of human intestinal helminthes are areas with genetic changes in interleukin gene loci. In other words, over the years, the microbial ecology has affected human genetics, which in turn would have an impact on immune responses. Other factors affect the gut microbiome, and several studies have explored the increase in incidence of IBD in relation to such factors as exogenous infections, use of antibiotics, and diet.     

Clues to DVT pathogenesis

In this issue of Blood, Brill and colleagues demonstrate that von Willebrand factor (VWF) release and subsequent platelet adhesion to endothelial cells are required for thrombus formation in a mouse model of deep venous thrombosis (DVT).     

Domestic Violence: Clues to Victimization

[McCoy M: Domestic violence: Clues to victimization. Ann Emerg Med June 1996;27:764-765.]     

Clues to predict incidental gallbladder cancer

Background: Consequences of incidental gallbladder cancer(iGBC) following cholecystectomy may include repeat operation(depending on T stage) and worse survival(if bile spillage occurred), both avoidable if iGBC were suspected preoperatively.Methods: A retrospective single-institution review was done. Ultrasound images for cases and controls were blindly reviewed by a radiologist. Chi-square and Student's t tests, as well as logistic regression and Kaplan–Meier analyses were used. A P ≤ 0.01 was considered significant.Results: Among 5796 cholecystectomies performed 2000–2013, 26(0.45%) were iGBC cases. These patients were older(75.61 versus 52.27 years), had more laparoscopic-to-open conversions(23.1% versus3.9%), underwent more imaging tests, had larger common bile duct diameter(7.13 versus 5.04 mm) and higher alkaline phosphatase. Ultrasound imaging showed that gallbladder wall thickening(GBWT) without pericholecystic fluid(PCCF), but not focal-versus-diffuse GBWT, was associated significantly with iGBC(73.9% versus 47.4%). On multivariable logistic regression analysis, GBWT without PCCF, and age were the strongest predictors of iGBC. The consequences iGBC depended significantly on intraoperative bile spillage, with nearly all such patients developing carcinomatosis and significantly worse survival.Conclusions: Besides age, GBWT, dilated common bile duct, and elevated alkaline phosphatase, number of preoperative imaging modalities and the presence of GBWT without PCCF are useful predictors of iGBC.Bile spillage causes poor survival in patients with iGBC.     

Life-threatening ventricular tachycardia due to liquorice-induced hypokalaemia

We report on a patient with hypokalaemia and severe ventricular tachycardia of torsades de pointes type which turned out to be caused by an apparent mineralocorticoid excess syndrome associated with liquorice consumption. The patient, a 44-year-old woman, attended the hospital because of irregular heart rhythm and she displayed repeated episodes of life-threatening torsades de pointes ventricular tachycardia. The initial serum potassium was low: 2.3 mmol L-1. The patient was treated with potassium and magnesium infusions, and the dysrhythmias eventually ceased. Endocrinological investigations showed no indication of Cushing's syndrome or hyperaldosteronism. After some time it became clear that the patient had ingested moderately large amounts of liquorice every day for 4 months. After the patient stopped this habit the hypokalaemia and dysrhythmias did not recur and after more than 1 year there are no signs of cardiac illness.     

Life-threatening gastrointestinal hemorrhage due to juvenile polyposis

A 14-yr-old, previously healthy boy presented with massive lower GI hemorrhage. After the routine endoscopic and radiological evaluation, laparotomy and intraoperative colonoscopy revealed multiple polyps in the colon. A hemicolectomy was performed because of the severity of hemorrhage. A diagnosis of juvenile polyposis was made based upon histological findings and the family history. This is an extremely unusual presentation of juvenile polyposis and has been reported only once before. The clinical features, diagnosis, and therapeutic options for juvenile polyposis are discussed. Juvenile polyposis, although a rare condition in the pediatric population, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of life-threatening GI hemorrhage.     

Life-threatening babesiosis in a women from Wisconsin

A 63-year-old women from Wisconsin presented with severe hemolytic anemia and was found to have babesiosis by red blood cell morphologic appearance and serologic testing. Despite having an intact spleen, she developed adult respiratory distress syndrome, which required prolonged mechanical ventilation. An unusually high level of parasitemia was noted and resolved completely following treatment with quinine, clindamycin, and exchange transfusion. This case illustrates that the geographic distribution and clinical severity of babesiosis may be greater than previously recognized and that reduction in parasitemia may be achieved with exchange transfusion, quinine, and clindamycin.     

Hypocalcemia and steatorrhea—Clues to etiology

Two boys with idiopathic hypoparathyroidism had extensive studies of gastrointestinal function during hypocalcemia accompanied by steatorrhea. No evidence of generalized gastrointestinal moniliasis or abnormal mucosal structure or function was observed. Studies of pancreatic function and bile salt metabolism during hypocalcemia demonstrated deficient meal-stimulated intraluminal pancreatic enzyme concentrations in both subjects and reduced bile salt concentrations in one subject. However, following stimulation with exogenous octapeptide of cholecystokinin, intraluminal pancreatic enzyme and bile salt concentrations were normal in both. Cholic acid pool sizes were markedly increased in both subjects during hypocalcemia (9 and 12 times larger than during normocalcemia) and cholic acid turnover was reduced during hypocalcemia in one subject. Our findings suggest that during hypocalcemia, insufficient endogenous cholecystokinin is released by the duodenal mucosa during a meal stimulus to stimulate normal gallbladder contraction and pancreatic enzyme secretion.     

Electrocardiographic Clues to Identify Nonresponders to Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy

Background: The aim of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is to restore myocardial electromechanical synchrony. Achieving this in patients with chronic severe heart failure due to poor left ventricular (LV) systolic function and cardiac dyssynchrony on optimal medical therapy, is associated with improved clinical performance and outcomes. Up to one‐third of patients undergoing CRT do not benefit from implantation. Ensuring LV capture is essential and can be at times difficult to confirm. Methods: Described herein, are six patients who underwent biventricular pacemaker implantation but failed to experience an improvement in LV systolic function or functional capacity. Results: In each case, the 12‐lead electrocardiogram (ECG) was helpful in unmasking loss of LV capture in patients who were presumed to have biventricular pacing. Conclusions: Despite the technical wizardry behind CRT and patient system analyzers, the surface ECG should continue to be an invaluable tool for evaluating patients who have undergone CRT. Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2010;15(4):369‐377     

Life-threatening angioedema in a patient with systemic lupus

We report a case of a young Chinese female who presented with life-threatening angioedema during an admission for flare-up of lupus disease. We discuss her investigations and management and include a review of the literature.     

Life-threatening haemorrhage from a sternal metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma

Rupture of the tumour is a catastrophic complication of hepatocellular carcinoma. The prognosis in patients with a ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma is usually unfavourable. We describe a 46-year-old man who suffered from visible massive tumour haemorrhage due to a hepatitis B-related hepatocellular carcinoma that metastasized to the sternal bone. The prominent tumour mass was bulging over the anterior chest wall on the sternum of the patient, and bled spontaneously. This episode of life-threatening haemorrhage was stopped by surgical ligation of the bleeding site. Palliative radiotherapy shrank the tumour mass size and prevented further possible bleeding. This is likely to be the first reported case with a visible spontaneous tumour bleeding from a sternal metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma.