Mucosa-associated microbiota dysbiosis in colitis associated cancer

Gut microbiota dysbiosis has been associated with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). In colorectal cancer, the gut microbiota has also been recognized as potentially involved in aggravating or favoring the tumor development. However, very little is known on the structure and role of the microbiota in colitis associated cancer (CAC), an important complication of IBD in human. Here we analyzed the bacterial and fungal composition of the mucosa associated microbiota of patients suffering CAC, sporadic cancer (SC) and of healthy subjects (HS) by barcode sequences analysis on the following cohort: 7 CAC patients, 10 SC patients and 10 HS using 16S (MiSeq) and ITS2 (pyrosequencing) sequencing, for bacteria and fungi respectively. Mucosa-associated bacterial microbiota in CAC was significantly different from the ones in SC or in HS, while the fungal showed no differences. Comparison between mucosa-associated microbiota on the tumor site or in normal mucosa near the tumor showed very similar patterns. The global mucosa-associated bacterial microbiota in cancer patients was characterized by a restriction in biodiversity but no change for the fungal community. Compared to SC, CAC was characterized by an increase of Enterobacteriacae family and Sphingomonas genus and a decrease of Fusobacterium and Ruminococcus genus. Our study confirms the alteration of the mucosa-associated bacterial microbiota in IBD and SC. Although the cohort is limited in number, this is the first evidence of the existence of an altered bacterial microbiota in CAC clearly different from the one in SC patients.     

表现似哮喘的气管肿瘤

目的 了解气管肿瘤与支气管哮喘的鉴别。方法 对8例误诊为哮喘的气管肿瘤患的临床表现和相关检查进行分析。结果 8例患误诊时间平均10个月。与支气管哮喘的不同点有：（1）呼吸困难以吸气时为明显，哮鸣音多不典型，以上肺部和喉部为最响。（2）病人痰多，喉部痰多，喉部多闻及明显痰鸣音。（3）咳喘随着病程的延长而逐渐加重。结论 及早对可疑病人行纤支镜检查。     

Serum Uric Acid Is Associated With Coronary Artery Calcification

Uric acid (UA) is associated with atherosclerosis, and coronary artery calcium (CAC) is a marker of atherosclerosis. The authors studied the association between UA and CAC. A total of 663 asymptomatic patients (564 men; mean age, 55±7 years) were evaluated for the presence of CAC. The study population was divided into three tertiles according to their UA levels, and the prevalence of CAC was compared between the tertiles. CAC was detected in 349 (53%) patients. Levels of UA were significantly higher in those with CAC than in those without CAC (5.6+1.2 vs 5.3+1.3; P=.003). The odds ratio for the presence of CAC in the highest vs lowest UA tertile was 1.72 (95% confidence interval, 1.17–2.51). The highest UA tertile remained associated with the presence of CAC after adjustment for known cardiovascular risk factors. The results show that high serum UA levels are associated with the presence of CAC.     

Surgical treatment of tracheal stenosis.

During the last 3 1/2 years 8 patients underwent segmental resection of the trachea and one patient underwent resection of the carina at the Department of Surgery, University Hospital, K?ln. Follow-up investigation in 6 month intervals showed good results in 6 patients. The complicated course of 1 of our patients with tumor infiltration of the trachea is discussed. In this case a large esophagotracheal fistula was covered with a vascularized esophageal segment. Suggestions for surgical indications in segmental resection of benign esophageal stenosis are outlined.     

Tracheal tumor resection and reconstruction surgery

Ninety-six tracheal tumor patients were treated surgically. Tracheal resection was performed in 79 patients with 11 primary tracheal tumors (nine with adenoid cystic carcinoma), and 68 secondary tumors involving the trachea (62 with thyroid carcinoma). Resection of the trachea plus carina was performed in 16 patients with 10 primary pulmonary carcinomas, 4 adenoid cystic carcinomas and 2 varied tumors. Tracheal incision and tumor enucleation was carried out in one patient with adenoid cystic carcinoma. With patients presenting no bloody sputum, initial diagnosis was thought to be bronchial asthma. In many cases, therefore, suffocation almost occurred before surgical treatment. Eleven of 13 patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma were alive without recurrence at last follow-up, this ranged from 2 to 9 years. Two patients died with recurrence 5 and 6 years, respectively, after operation. Postoperative radiotherapy appeared to be effective in obviating local recurrence in patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma of the trachea. In patients with thyroid carcinoma invading the trachea, of the 29 patients eligible for 5-year follow-up, 19 were still alive, and of the 10 patients eligible for 10-year follow up, seven were still alive. However, in patients with thyroid carcinoma remaining after tracheal resection, 10-year survival was rare.     

电子支气管镜下高频电刀治疗良恶性气道肿瘤

目的 观察支气管镜下高频电刀治疗良恶性肿瘤的临床疗效及安全性。方法 对20例支气管良恶性肿瘤致气道阻塞行支气管镜下高频电刀烧灼切割术。结果 1例主支气管软骨瘤、4例炎性肉芽肿及14例支气管肺癌患者经电灼后将阻塞气道完全打通，1例气管肿瘤患者经电灼后将气道打通1／2，并安装气管支架。结论 支气管镜下高频电刀治疗良恶性气道肿瘤疗效显著，良性肿瘤避免了开胸手术，达到临床根治；恶性肿瘤疗效直接，可延长生存时间。     

螺旋CT检测冠状动脉钙化的临床应用

目的：研究螺旋CT检测冠状动脉钙化(CAC)在冠心病诊断中的应用价值。方法：27例既往确诊为冠心病或经心电图负荷试验和／或冠状动脉造影临床确诊的冠心病患(冠心病组)和35例非冠心病患(对照组)分别进行螺旋CT检查。结果：受检随着年龄的增长钙化率逐渐增高，冠心病组冠状动脉钙化率比对照组明显增高，但随年龄的增长冠心病组钙化的特异性降低(降至11．12％)。钙化血管以累及一支血管最常见，多为左前降支(LAD)，三支血管钙化主要见于60岁以上。结论：螺旋CT检测冠状动脉钙化对早期诊断冠心病和预测冠心病事件有与病理相符的临床价值。     

Oncocytic glomus tumor of the trachea

An oncocytic variant of glomus tumor of the trachea occurred in a 47-year-old woman. She experienced intermittent cough and hemoptysis for about three years. Bronchoscopy and chest CT scan showed a small reddish polypoid tumor on the lower end of the trachea. Bronchoscopic biopsy was carefully done and was diagnosed as oncocytoma. A wedge resection of the tumor was done. Tumor cells were characterized by strongly eosinophilic granular cytoplasm on light microscopy and by numerous closely packed round or ovoid mitochondria with prominent tubular cristae on electron microscopy. They were arranged in a sheet around small vessels, as a result of which the biopsy diagnosis of oncocytoma was changed to oncocytic glomus tumor. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an oncocytic glomus tumor arising from the trachea.     

原发性气管、隆突肿瘤外科治疗48例临床分析

目的总结原发性气管、隆突肿瘤外科治疗经验。方法回顾分析我科2001-2010年手术治疗48例气管、隆突肿瘤的临床资料,气管环形切除＋对端吻合35例,气管＋隆突切除重建12例,气管楔形切除1例;5例术中辅助体外循环。结果无围手术期死亡,临床治愈41例（85.4%）;术后随访7个月-7年,死亡5例（10.4%）,生存至今43例（89.6%）,其中生存5年及以上者9例（18.8%）;5例术中辅助体外循环28~46 min,平均36 min,麻醉满意。结论气管、隆突肿瘤外科手术疗效确切,合理选择手术方式,适当应用体外循环技术可提高手术安全性。     

Endobronchial electrosurgery

Endobronchial electrosurgery (EBES) with the aid of a fiberoptic bronchoscope and a diathermic snare has been performed in 14 patients with tracheal and bronchial tumors (eight with benign, one with carcinoid, and five with malignant tumors). Total eradication has been achieved in the nine patients with benign and carcinoid tumors. In some patients, EBES was supplemented with surgical removal with the biopsy forceps or laser coagulation. Electroexcision of the endobronchial portion of the tumor helped to clear the respiratory airways in three of the five patients with malignant tumors. Emergent EBES was performed in two patients with acute respiratory failure and massive hemorrhage caused by adenocystic and thyroid cancer of the trachea.     

Coronary Artery Calcium Score Predicts Long-Term Cardiovascular Outcomes in Asymptomatic Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Aims: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is no longer regarded as a coronary risk equivalent, and heterogeneity of cardiovascular risk exists, suggesting that further risk stratification should be mandatory. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and clinical predictors of coronary artery calcium (CAC) score, and evaluate the CAC score as a predictor of cardiovascular outcome in a large asymptomatic T2DM cohort. Methods: A total of 2,162 T2DM patients were recruited from a Diabetes Shared Care Network and the CAC score was measured. Cardiovascular outcomes were obtained for 1,928 patients after a follow-up of 8.4 years. Multiple regression analysis and Cox proportional hazard regression were applied to identify clinical predictors of CAC and calculate the incidence and hazard ratios (HRs) for all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events by CAC category. Results: Of the recruited patients, 96.8% had one or more risk factors. The distribution of CAC scores was as follows: CAC=0 in 24.2% of the patients, 0 ＜CAC ≤ 100 in 41.5%, 100 ＜CAC ≤ 400 in 20.3%, CAC ＞400 in 14.7%. The multivariable predictor of increased CAC included age (years) (odds ratio, 1.07; 95% confidence interval, 1.06–1.08), male sex (1.82; 1.54–2.17), duration (years) of T2DM (1.07; 1.05–1.09), and multiple risk factors (1.94; 1.28–2.95). Increasing severity of CAC was associated with higher all-cause or cardiac mortality and higher incident cardiovascular events. The HRs for cardiac death or major cardiac events in CAC ＞400 vs CAC=0 were 8.67 and 10.52, respectively ( p ＜0.001) Conclusion: CAC scoring provides better prognostication of cardiovascular outcome than traditional risk factors in asymptomatic T2DM patients, and may allow identifying a high-risk subset for enhancing primary prevention.     

Risk stratification in uncomplicated type 2 diabetes: prospective evaluation of the combined use of coronary artery calcium imaging and selective myocardial perfusion scintigraphy.

AIMS: To determine the prevalence and clinical predictors of subclinical atherosclerosis and myocardial ischaemia in uncomplicated type 2 diabetes and assess their relationship to short-term outcome. METHODS AND RESULTS: Established risk factors and coronary artery calcium (CAC) scores were prospectively measured in 510 asymptomatic type 2 diabetic subjects (mean age 53+/-8 years, 61% males) without prior cardiovascular disease. Myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS) was performed in all subjects with CAC > 100 Agatston units (AU) (n=127), and a random sample of the remaining patients with CAC < or = 100 AU (n=53). Significant CAC (> 10 AU) was found in 46.3%. Twenty events occurred (two coronary deaths, nine non-fatal myocardial infarctions, three acute coronary syndromes, three non-haemorrhagic strokes, and three late revascularisations) during a median follow-up of 2.2 years (25th-75th percentile = 1.9-2.5 years). The age, systolic blood pressure, the duration of diabetes, United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study risk score, CAC score, and extent of myocardial perfusion abnormality were significant predictors of time to cardiovascular events in a univariable Cox proportional hazard model. No cardiac events or perfusion abnormalities occurred in subjects with CAC < or = 10 AU up until 2 years of follow-up. CAC and MPS findings were synergistic for the prediction of short-term cardiovascular events. CONCLUSION: Subclinical atherosclerosis, measured by CAC imaging, is superior to the established cardiovascular risk factors for predicting silent myocardial ischaemia and short-term outcome. Further studies evaluating the impact of CAC imaging on clinical outcomes and its cost effectiveness are warranted.     

A rare tracheal malignant tumor: mucoepidermoid carcinoma (a case report)

An 18-year-old male preferred to our clinic with hemoptysis, cough, dyspnea and stridor. A wide-based polypoid tumor that was localized at the right wall of the distal trachea was observed over 3 cm from the carina by flexible bronchoscope. Computerized tomography showed an intraluminal soft tissue density mass in the trachea. Though right thoracotomy, a tracheal resection that contains three rings of the trachea with malignant lesion was performed. Pathologic examination reported a tracheal mucoepidermoid carcinoma. The patient is alive without recurrence three years after surgery.     

外科诊治原发性气管腺样囊性癌11例

目的 探讨原发性气管腺样囊性癌的临床特征、诊断及治疗方法。方法 11例原发性气管腺样囊性癌患，年龄30～49岁。病灶位于气管上1／3段7例，其中2例侵及喉，1例侵及环状软骨；气管中、下段各2例。11例患均采取手术治疗，行气管袖状切除端端吻合术5例，其中环状软骨部分切除、气管环状软骨端端吻合1例；气管肿瘤局部刮除术4例；颈段气管及全喉切除气管造口术2例。结果 11例患无手术死亡，术后均痊愈出院，远期并发症有气管造口狭窄1例，复发1例。结论 对原发性气管腺样囊性癌患应力争早期诊断，积极手术治疗。     

急性与慢性冠状动脉综合征患者电子束CT冠状动脉钙化的比较

目的：比较急性与慢性冠状动脉综合征患电子束CT（EBCT）冠状动脉钙化（CAC）的不同模式。方法：264例患（包括67例SAP、94例UAP和103例AMI）行选择性冠状动脉造影以检测粥样硬化狭窄的程度，行EBCT检查以计算CAC积分，分析各组患CAC积分的差异及其与狭窄程度的关系。结果：（1）SAP组CAC检测阳性率为100％，显高于UAP组的87．23％和AMI组的86．41％（P＜0．05）。（2）SAP组严重钙化的病人和动脉比例显高于UAP组和AMI组（P＜0．05），钙化积分自然对数转换值（In[CS 1])的均数SAP组显高于UAP组和AMI组（P＜0．001）。（3）不同CAC程度在不同狭窄冠状动脉上的分布在SAP组与UAP组有明显差异。（4）AMI组梗死相关动脉多数无钙化或仅有轻度钙化，钙化积分显低于非梗死相关动脉。结论：应用电子束CT研究显示，急性与慢性冠状动脉综合征患存在不同的冠状动脉钙化模式，此点有助于理解这两类冠心病之间在临床和病理方面的差异。     

Nd-YAG laser treatment for central airway lesions]

YAG laser treatment was conducted in 55 patients with central airway lesions over the last 8 years. The malignant lesions comprised 1 primary tracheal cancer, 1 chondroma of the trachea, 34 primary lung cancer, and 10 metastatic lung tumor. The benign lesions comprised one each of hamartoma, lipoma, bronchial lithiasis, post-tracheotomy granuloma, and bronchial web, and 3 other cases. Nd-YAG laser treatment was performed in 55 patients with airway lesions, with a success rate of 73%. The success rates in the above patients were 70% for primary lung cancer, 60% for metastatic lung tumor, 100% for primary tracheal cancer and chondroma of trachea, and 89% for benign lesions. In 34 patients with primary lung cancer, palliative widening of the airway was planned with the exception of 2 patients with endoscopically early lung cancer for whom curative vaporization was intended, 6 months-survival rate was 59.3% in patients in whom various combined treatments were performed after the laser treatment. For all patients with hamartoma or lipoma in those with benign lesions, curative vaporization was performed. The severe complication of lethal massive hemoptysis occurred in 3 patients. We consider that Nd-YAG laser treatment is a powerful therapeutic means of performing lifesaving or emergency, curative, and supplemental treatment.     

Arterial stiffness index as a screening test for cardiovascular risk: a comparative study between coronary artery calcification determined by electron beam tomography and arterial stiffness index determined by a VitalVision device in asymptomatic subjects

BACKGROUND: Arterial stiffness has recently been proposed as a powerful independent predictor of cardiovascular disease. However, the influence of arterial stiffening on the interaction between the heart and large vessels and atherosclerosis is not well defined. The arterial stiffness index (ASI) has recently been determined with a new device (VitalVision) that calculates ASI in the upper arm using computerized oscillometry. Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is a useful surrogate marker of coronary artery disease detected non-invasively by electron beam tomography (EBT). We investigated the correlation between ASI and CAC in a group of patients. METHODS: CAC and ASI measurements were determined with EBT and a VitalVision device, respectively, on the same day in 97 asymptomatic patients. Patients with calcium scores above 0 were classified as CAC+ and those with calcium scores equal to 0 were classified as CAC-. The ASI index was divided into three groups - mild, moderate, and high - according to the H-value, provided by the VitalVision device. RESULTS: In patients below 51 years of age, no correlation between the ASI and CAC was found. In patients over 50 years of age, a moderate positive and significant correlation was found between the CAC score and ASI measurements (r=0.40, p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of a correlation between the CAC and ASI in patients over 50 shows that the ASI can be used to investigate atherosclerotic risk.     

Diagnosis and Nd-YAG laser treatment of unsuspected malignant tracheal obstruction

Thirteen adult patients underwent palliative Nd-YAG laser treatment for relief of severe dyspnea due to malignant endotracheal obstruction. Three of the 13 patients had underlying chronic airflow obstruction (CAO) due to diffuse obstructive pulmonary disease. Despite dyspnea, cough, wheezing, stridor and/or hemoptysis, the diagnosis was delayed because of a normal chest roentgenogram in eight patients and nondiagnostic pulmonary function studies (including maximal expiratory and inspiratory flow-volume loops) in all three patients with CAO and in four of ten patients without CAO. The location of the tumor was extrathoracic in two patients, including one with CAO; intrathoracic in seven patients, including two with CAO; and combined extra- and intrathoracic in four. Tracheal diameter increased from 3.5 +/- 1.0 mm before, and to 9.8 +/- 2.0 mm after single or multiple laser treatments. Increased patency of the trachea after laser surgery was associated with improvement in expiratory and/or inspiratory flow rates and with symptomatic relief in all patients which persisted for 14.1 +/- 8.7 months (range four to 48 months). These results indicate that severe symptomatic narrowing of the extra- and/or intrathoracic trachea to a diameter of 2 to 5 mm may not be detected by conventional chest radiography or even by sensitive physiologic tests, especially in patients with underlying CAO. The resultant delay in diagnosis defers possible relief of disabling symptoms with palliative therapy, including Nd-YAG laser photocoagulation.     

Use of coronary calcium scanning for predicting inducible myocardial ischemia: Influence of patients' clinical presentation.

BACKGROUND: The selection of patients for cardiac stress tests is generally based on assessment of chest pain symptoms, age, gender, and risk factors, but recent data suggest that coronary artery calcium (CAC) measurements can also be used to predict inducible myocardial ischemia. However, the potential influence of clinical factors on the relationship between CAC measurements and inducible ischemia has not yet been investigated. METHODS AND RESULTS: We prospectively performed CAC scanning in 648 patients undergoing exercise myocardial perfusion single photon emission computed tomography. The frequency of ischemia on myocardial perfusion single photon emission computed tomography was assessed according to CAC magnitude after dividing patients according to chest pain symptom class and Bayesian likelihood of angiographically significant coronary artery disease (ASCAD). Estimates of ASCAD likelihood and CAC scores were poorly correlated. The frequency of inducible myocardial ischemia was very low among patients with a low ASCAD likelihood if CAC scores were less than 400. By contrast, the threshold for increasing ischemia occurred at low CAC scores among patients with a high ASCAD likelihood. When characterized by chest pain classification, asymptomatic and nonanginal chest pain patients had a low frequency of ischemia if CAC scores were less than 400, whereas lower CAC scores did not exclude ischemia among typical angina or atypical angina patients. CONCLUSIONS: CAC scores predict myocardial ischemia, with a threshold score of greater than 400 among patients with a low likelihood of ASCAD and those who are asymptomatic or have nonanginal chest pain. These data appear to extend the pool of patients for whom CAC scanning may be useful in ascertaining the need for cardiac stress testing.