Recurrent gastric carcinoma causing pseudoachalasia: case report

We report the case of a patient with a gastric remnant relapse of an antral carcinoma resected 5 years before and presenting with the clinical feature of a secondary achalasia (pseudoachalasia). In spite of the patient's 4-month history of dysphagia and weight loss that suggested a malignant lesion, barium swallow, repeated endoscopic biopsies and computed tomography (CT) scan of the upper abdomen did not reveal any abnormalities to indicate a recurrence. However, in the following months, because of worsening symptoms, a further CT scan was performed and revealed thickening of the cardia and gastric wall. The patient underwent an exploratory laparotomy that showed an unresectable lesion involving the gastric fundus, the diaphragm and penetrating into the mediastinum, and therefore a palliative jejunostomy was performed.     

Complementary use of computerized tomography and technetium scanning in the diagnosis of accessory spleen

Summary A patient with a previous splenectomy presented with acute gastrointestinal bleeding. He was found to have a benign gastric ulcer, esophagogastric varices, and a mass indenting the gastric fundus. Abdominal computerized tomography and technetium liver-spleen scanning established the diagnosis of an accessory spleen as cause for the mass effect. This diagnostic approach obviated the need for arteriography and exploratory laparotomy.     

Heterotopic gastric mucosa of the gallbladder

A case of heterotopic gastric mucosa in the fundus of the gallbladder is reported. A 23-year-old man, who had been healthy and asymptomatic, visited our hospital because of abnormal findings in a liver enzyme test given during a routine health screening. Ultrasonography demonstrated a highly echogenic polypoid mass in the fundus of the gallbladder. The gallbladder mass was confirmed by both computed tomography and intravenous cholangiogram. After a 10-month follow up, laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed. Intraoperative touch smear cytology of this lesion revealed class II cells. The surgical specimen revealed a 15×10×5 mm polypoid lesion in the fundus, with no gallstones in the gallbladder. Histologically, the polypoid lesion consisted of both fundic type and pyloric type gastric glands located in the mucosa of the gallbladder. In the literature, 42 cases of heterotopic gastric mucosa of the gallbladder have been reported, only 3 of which, including this present case, were found incidentally, with no apparent symptoms.     

Presentation of gastric cancer as a soft tissue tumor

Soft tissue metastasis of gastric cancer is extremely rare. We report an 82 year old male, who was being evaluated for benign prostate hyperplasia and incidentally a soft tissue mass in the right buttock was discovered. Differential diagnosis included neurofibroma vs. soft tissue sarcoma. Patient underwent surgical resection and pathologic analysis reported adenocarcinoma with ring cell differentiation. Postoperative work-up included a CT scan of abdomen and pelvis and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. An ulcer in the gastric antrum was discovered and biopsied. Pathology reported the same tumor as the soft tissue mass. PET scan demonstrated extensive metastatic disease. We reviewed the literature looking for other cases of soft tissue metastasis of gastric cancer.     

Extraction of circulating endogenous gastrin by the gastric fundus

The effect of circulatory transit of the gastric fundus on serum levels of endogenous gastrin measured directly by radioimmunoassay has been studied in 14 dogs. Gastrin was measured in samples obtained simultaneously from the arterial inflow and venous outflow of the gastric fundus. During basal conditions, transit of the gastric fundus resulted in no change in gastrin concentration. During periods of stimulated gastrin release from the antrum, nine of the 14 dogs demonstrated a significant gastric acid secretory response. In these dogs there was a significant arteriovenous difference (approximately 30%) in circulating gastrin values. In the remaining five dogs, which did not demonstrate a significant gastric acid secretory response, there was no arteriovenous difference in circulating gastrin values. It is concluded that the gastric fundus is an important site for the inactivation of stimulated levels of circulating gastrin.     

胃镜活检联合超声内镜对胃底隆起性病变的诊断价值

目的研究胃底隆起性病变的性质,为临床治疗方式的选择提供依据。方法常规胃镜检查发现胃底隆起性病变的病例同时行活检及超声内镜检查,将接受超声内镜检查者的诊断结果与活检组织病理检查结果进行对比,指导临床治疗。结果137例胃底隆起性病变中,7例为胃癌,76例为胃溃疡,27例为胃炎,10例为胃息肉,4例为平滑肌瘤,3例为脂肪瘤,10例为胃壁外脏器压迫。结论胃镜活检联合超声内镜检查对胃底隆起性病变性质的鉴别有重要意义,为临床治疗方式提供有力依据。     

超声内镜诊断胃底隆起性病变

目的 评价内镜超声检查（EUS）对胃底隆起性病变的诊断价值。方法 对59例内镜诊断为胃底隆起性病变者进行EUS检查。结果 59例患者中33例为胃外压迫（其中29例为脾压胃；2例为肾压胃；1例为肝左叶压胃；1例为升主动脉瘤压胃）；15例为平滑肌瘤；9例为孤立性胃底静脉曲张；2例为炎性息肉。EUS能根据病灶起源，组织内部结构是否均匀，病灶的回声水平等作出较为准确的判断。结论 EUS对胃底隆起性病变有较大的鉴别诊断价值。     

Hydrogen sulfide-induced enhancement of gastric fundus smooth muscle tone is mediated by voltagedependent potassium and calcium channels in mice

AIM:To investigate the effect of hydrogen sulfide(H2S)on smooth muscle motility in the gastric fundus.METHODS:The expression of cystathionineβ-synthase(CBS)and cystathionineγ-lyase(CSE)in cultured smooth muscle cells from the gastric fundus was examined by the immunocytochemistry technique.The tension of the gastric fundus smooth muscle was recorded by an isometric force transducer under the condition of isometric contraction with each end of the smooth muscle strip tied with a silk thread.Intracellular recording was used to identify whether hydrogen sulfide affects the resting membrane potential of the gastric fundus in vitro.Cells were freshly separated from the gastric fundus of mice using a variety of enzyme digestion methods and whole-cell patch-clamp technique was used to find the effects of hydrogen sulfide on voltage-dependent potassium channel and calcium channel.Calcium imaging with fura-3AM loading was used to investigate the mechanism by which hydrogen sulfide regulates gastric fundus motility in cultured smooth muscle cells.RESULTS:We found that both CBS and CSE were expressed in the cul tured smooth muscle cel ls from the gastric fundus and that H2S increased the smooth muscle tension of the gastric fundus in mice at low concentrations.In addition,nicardipine and aminooxyacetic acid(AOAA),a CBS inhibitor,reduced the tension,whereas Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester,a nonspecific nitric oxide synthase,increased the tension.The AOAA-induced relaxation was significantly recovered by H2S,and the Na HS-induced increase in tonic contraction was blocked by 5 mmol/L4-aminopyridine and 1μmol/L nicardipine.Na HS significantly depolarized the membrane potential and inhibited the voltage-dependent potassium currents.Moreover,Na HS increased L-type Ca2+currents and caused an elevation in intracellular calcium([Ca2+]i).CONCLUSION:These findings suggest that H2S may be an excitatory modulator in the gastric fundus in mice.The excitatory effect is mediated by voltagedependent potassium and L-type calcium channels.     

Ménétrier’s病致顽固性低蛋白血症1例

Ménétrier’s病(Ménétrier’sdisease,MD)是一种罕见的肥厚性胃炎,以胃黏膜皱襞粗大、肥厚致大量蛋白质丢失,黏液分泌增加,胃酸分泌减少及低蛋白血症为特征.本文报道MD致顽固性低蛋白血症1例.患者,女,55岁,以"食欲减退,颜面及双下肢水肿半年"入院.其血清总蛋白39.8g/L,白蛋白23.8g/L.CT示胃黏膜皱襞弥漫性、不均匀增厚.胃镜示胃底和胃体黏膜皱襞肥厚、粗大,胃内见大量黏液潴留病理示胃小凹显著变长,呈螺旋状改变,固有层内腺体增生,部分腺体呈囊性扩张,可见黏液积聚.本病例提示,对于无任何胃病症状而出现无法解释的顽固性低蛋白血症患者,及时采取CT和内镜检查有助于早期诊断.     

Influence of sumatriptan on gastric fundus tone and on the perception of gastric distension in man

BACKGROUND: In animals, activation of 5-HT(1) like receptors causes a relaxation of the gastric fundus through the activation of intrinsic inhibitory neurones. AIMS: To investigate the effect of sumatriptan, an agonist at enteric neuronal 5-HT(1) receptors, on fasting fundus tone and sensitivity to gastric distension in man. METHODS: A gastric barostat was used to study the effect of placebo and sumatriptan, 6 mg subcutaneously, on basal fundic tone in healthy subjects. In addition, stepwise isobaric and isovolumetric gastric distensions were performed and perception was measured before and after the administration of placebo and sumatriptan. RESULTS: Placebo had no significant effects on gastric tone and on perception. Sumatriptan induced an immediate relaxation of the gastric fundus, reflected by an intragastric volume increase of 209 (39) ml (p<0.0005). After sumatriptan, intragastric pressures at the thresholds for perception or discomfort were not significantly altered. However, the intragastric volumes and the corresponding calculated wall tensions at perception and discomfort thresholds were significantly increased. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of the 5-HT(1) receptor agonist sumatriptan induces a relaxation of the gastric fundus in man, allowing larger intragastric volumes before thresholds for perception or discomfort are reached. The effects of sumatriptan on the gastric fundus may have therapeutic potential in the treatment of patients with functional dyspepsia.     

Solitary pedunculated polypoid gastric gland heterotopia

A solitary pedunculated gastric polyp in the gastric fundus was removed from an asymptomatic 36-year-old woman with normal gastric acid secretion and a normal serum gastrin level. This lesion exhibited distinctive histological features including prominent proliferation of pseudopyloric glands, fundic glands, foveolar epithelium and a fibromuscular stroma. Moreover, its surface was entirely covered by a layer of normal gastric epithelium. Biopsies of the background mucosa taken from the gastric fundus revealed only mild superficial gastritis. A gastric gland heterotopia was diagnosed because of its unique morphology.     

Evaluation of contrast-enhanced helical hydro-CT in staging gastric cancer

AIM:To discuss the helical computed tomography (CT) characteristics of gastric cancer and evaluate the diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced helical hydro-CT (HHCT) in staging gastric cancer. METHODS:A total of 50 patients with gastric cancer were included in this study. The CT findings in them were retrospectively analyzed and correlated with pathologic findings at surgery. All patients were preoperatively imaged by plain and contrast-enhanced helical CT after orally ingesting 1 000-1 500 mL water. Peristalsis was minimized by intravenous administration of spasmolytics. RESULTS:The foci of gastric cancer became more prominent in all the 50 patients and showed strong enhancement in contrast-enhanced HHCT. The tumor was located at the gastric cardia in 14 cases, at the gastric fundus in 3 cases, at the gastric body in 8 cases, at the gastric antrum in 4 cases, at the gastric fundus and the body in 8 cases, at the gastric body and antrum in 11 cases, and at three segments of the stomach in 2 cases. The CT features of gastric cancer were focal or diffuse mural thickening, soft tissue mass, cancerous ulcer, stenosis of stomach, infiltration to adjacent tissues, lymph node and distant metastases. Strong contrast enhancement of the gastric wall was closely related to gastric cancer. The accuracy rate of contrast-enhanced HHCT in staging gastric cancer was 86% (43/50). The detection rate of lymph node metastases by CT was 60% (12/20). CONCLUSION:Contrast-enhanced HHCT is a reliable method to diagnose and stage gastric cancer.     

Effects of intramural administration of Botulinum Toxin A on gastric emptying and eating capacity in obese patients

BACKGROUND: Intraparietal gastric administration of Botulinum Toxin A has been studied in open trials to induce satiety and increase weight loss of obese patients with contradictory results. In previous studies only the antrum was the target for Botulinum Toxin A, whereas the fundus, which exerts important activity on gastric accommodation, was excluded. In this study we report the effects of injection into both gastric regions on solid gastric capacity and emptying of the stomach. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study we extended our previous investigations to include 30 obese patients who received Botulinum Toxin A (120 U into the antrum and 80 U into the fundus) or saline by intraparietal endoscopic injection. The two groups were homogeneous for age, gender, body weight and body mass index. Body weight and body mass index, solid gastric emptying (T(1/2) and T(lag) at the octanoic acid breath test) and maximal gastric capacity for solids (kcal) were determined before injection and 2 months later. The results were expressed as mean values (S.E.M.). t-Test or Wilcoxon test was used for statistical analysis, p<0.05 being considered significant. RESULTS: Both treatments induced a significant reduction of body weight and body mass index but Botulinum Toxin A exerted a significantly greater effect (body weight -11.8+/-0.9 kg vs. -5.5+/-1.1 kg, p<0.0002; body mass index -4.1+/-0.2 vs. -2.2+/-0.4, p<0.001). The maximal gastric capacity for solids was also reduced by both Botulinum Toxin A and placebo, the former being significantly more effective (679+/-114 kcal vs. 237+/-94 kcal, p<0.008). Botulinum Toxin A also significantly increased T(1/2) from 83.4+/-3.9 to 101.6+/-9.9 min, p<0.03) but T(lag) was unchanged. Placebo had no effect on either of these parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrated that Botulinum Toxin A makes weight loss easier in obese patients. It acts by increasing the solid gastric emptying time and reducing the solid eating capacity of the stomach.     

Quantitative measurement of gastric mucosal microcirculation using a combined laser Doppler flowmeter and spectrophotometer

SUMMARY. Anastomotic leakage after esophagectomy and esophagogastrostomy depends on the vascularization of the gastric conduit. So far, no adequate methods are available to monitor postoperatively mucosal microcirculation of the gastric conduit. The aim of this experimental study was to assess a recently developed microprobe with a microlight‐guide spectrophotometer (O2C, Fa. LEA Medizintechnik, Gießen, Germany) to quantitatively measure gastric mucosal blood flow (MBF) and mucosal oxygen saturation (MOS) of different gastric areas. Eighteen patients without gastric pathology were included in this study. During conventional gastroscopy the microprobe was introduced via the working channel of a standard endoscope and positioned in well‐defined areas of the antrum and fundus. The tip of the microprobe consisted of a combined laser Doppler and tissue spectrometer measuring continuously the MBF (perfusion units, PU) and MOS (SO₂, in %). The mean MOS of the antrum was significantly higher compared with the fundus (antrum: 82% ± 7.9 standard deviation [SD], fundus: 72% ± 10.4; P = 0.0002). The mean MBF was not significantly different between antrum and fundus (antrum: 201 PU ± 40 SD, fundus: 223 PU ± 29 SD). This study demonstrates the feasibility of the gastric O2C microprobe to measure parameters of gastric microcirculation from the endoluminal side.     

Proximal stomach and antrum in stomach emptying.

In a series of measurements of liquid-phase gastric emptying using a radionuclide marker on 35 subjects, five were identified in whom the proximal stomach and antrum were clearly distinguishable. Three of these subjects were normal controls and two suffered from systemic sclerosis. In the three normal subjects, analysis of the movement of the liquid showed the expected movement from fundus to antrum and thence through the pylorus. In the two patients with systemic sclerosis, there was, in contrast, evidence of mass retropulsion of the contents of the antrum into the fundus. In such cases, the measurement of stomach emptying based on the assumption of a single-compartment system in likely to be misleading.     

Ectopic spleen mimicking an intrinsic fundal lesion of the stomach

Summary This report describes the case of an elderly man with severe pulmonary disease, who had radiographic evidence of a mass involving the fundus of the stomach, which was thought to be a neoplasm that was growing slowly. Abdominal exploratory operation was obviated when a combination of newer technics for study of the upper gastrointestinal tract revealed that the defect was was produced by the impingement of the patient's spleen, which was normal except for its ectopic position. Selective abdominal angiography revealed that the blood supply to the mass was provided by the splenic artery and vein. Scintillation scanning demonstrated that injured red blood cells were sequestered in the mass, a normal function of the spleen. A flexible fiberoptic gastroscope permitted visualization of the mucosa in the fundic and cardioesophageal regions of the stomach and demonstrated that there was no neoplasm of the gastric mucosa in the region of the defect demonstrated in the fundus of the stomach.     

Esophageal and gastric nitric oxide synthesizing innervation in primary achalasia

OBJECTIVE: We performed a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the nitrinergic neurons in the esophageal and gastric component of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and gastric fundus of patients with primary achalasia. METHODS: Four muscle strips were obtained from the esophagogastric junction (two from the esophageal and two from the gastric side of the LES), and two from the gastric fundus of six patients with endstage achalasia who underwent an esophagogastric myotomy plus hemifundoplication. Control specimens were obtained from eight patients who underwent surgery for cancer of the thoracic esophagus. Fixed sections were processed for NADPH-diaphorase histochemistry and the number (mean +/- SE) of nitrinergic neurons per section was visually quantified in each specimen. RESULTS: In the controls, nitric oxide fibers were distributed to the muscle layer and surrounding myenteric neurons of both the LES and the gastric fundus. By contrast, achalasic patients showed a marked decrease of nitric oxide nerves and labeled neurons in both esophageal and gastric components of the LES and the gastric fundus. Quantitative assessment in achalasic patients showed that the mean number of nitrinergic neurons was dramatically reduced in both the esophageal (0.2 +/- 0.1) and the gastric component (2 +/- 0.6) of the LES as compared to those in controls (15 +/- 5 and 12 +/- 4, respectively; p < 0.05); nitrinergic neurons in the gastric fundus (3 +/- 1) were significantly reduced in comparison to those of controls (10 +/- 2) (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that achalasia is a motor disorder with an intrinsic inhibitory denervation of the esophageal and gastric component of the LES and of the proximal stomach, thus providing further evidence for an extraesophageal extension of the disease.     

Gastric dysmotility after liquid bolus ingestion in systemic sclerosis: an ultrasonographic study

Gastric involvement appears quite commonly in systemic sclerosis (SSc). The aim of this study was to evaluate gastric wall motility using ultrasonography, a noninvasive method able to track both filling and emptying of fundus and antrum. The study was performed in 20 SSc patients and 20 healthy control subjects. Gastric filling and emptying were evaluated by transabdominal ultrasonography, measuring changes in fundus and antral areas over a 1-h period after ingestion of a liquid bolus (500 ml of mineral water). Areas of both gastric fundus and antrum at basal evaluation were found to be smaller in SSc patients than in healthy controls. Gastric filling was significantly reduced after ingestion of liquid bolus. Gastric emptying was delayed both in fundus and antrum. No significant differences of gastric wall motility have been observed in different subsets of SSc patients. Our findings show that gastric dysmotility is frequent and severe in SSc patients, contributing to the gastrointestinal disturbances which are very common in this disease.     

胃肠超声造影对胃底静脉曲张的诊断价值

食管胃静脉曲张是肝硬化门静脉高压的常见并发症。近年来,超声造影在胃肠疾病诊断中的应用日益受到关注。目的：探讨胃肠超声造影对胃底静脉曲张的诊断价值。方法：收集2009年3月-2011年9月于河北省玉田县医院接受胃镜和口服胃肠超声造影检查的肝硬化门静脉高压患者79例,回顾性分析胃肠超声造影的声像图特征,并以胃镜检查结果为“金标准”,评价其对胃底静脉曲张的诊断价值。结果：79例肝硬化门静脉高压患者中41例经胃镜检查证实胃底静脉曲张,其中33例胃肠超声造影显示特征性声像图表现,曲张静脉内径（12．6±8．9）mm,血液流速（13．9±2．7）cm／s。胃肠超声造影诊断胃底静脉曲张的敏感性、特异性、准确率分别为80．5％（33／41）、100％（38／38）、89．9％（71／79）。结论：胃肠超声造影在胃底静脉曲张的诊断中具有较高应用价值,有望成为肝硬化门静脉高压患者胃底静脉曲张的初步筛查手段推广使用。     

Response to acetylcholine and methacholine in the gastric fundus of aging rats

The response to the muscarinic agonists acetylcholine and methacholine was tested in the gastric fundus of rats of 2.5, 12 and 24 months. There was no non-specific age-related change in the reactivity of the rat gastric fundus, as the contractile response to potassium chloride was similar in the three age groups. There was a slightly decreased response to acetylcholine with increasing age, but the differences did not reach statistical significance. The sensitivity to methacholine did not differ between age groups. These data thus fail to demonstrate in the rat gastric fundus the changes in sensitivity to acetylcholine and methacholine, reported earlier for the rat jejunum.