A Case of Funnel Liver Induced by Dimethylformamide

Abstract: The laparoscopic and histological findings of a patient suffering from dimethylformamide (DMF) intoxication are discussed. A 20-year-old man was admitted to our department for further evaluation of a liver injury. A laparoscopy revealed that the liver was markedly deformed by a combination of depressions and protuberances, and this finding was compatible with the funnel liver reported by H. Kalk. After an intravenous injection of high dose indocyanine green, broad whitish depressions appeared as a non-staining area and surrounding protuberances were stained a dark green color. A biopsy specimen taken from the site of the depression showed massive hepatic necrosis and a scar under the capsule. The histological diagnosis was a convalescent stage of toxic liver injury. The present report is apparently the first to consider the detailed laparoscopic findings of a liver injury induced by DMF.     

Small Unruptured Aneurysm Verification-prevention Effect against Growth of Cerebral Aneurysm Study Using Statin

Several basic experimental studies have demonstrated that statins have beneficial effects for intracranial aneurysm (IA). Clinical studies on unruptured IAs, however, remain limited to four retrospective studies that have reached different conclusions. This study was the first open-label, multicenter, randomized controlled trial to assess the preventive effects of atorvastatin. Patients with unruptured small saccular IAs were randomly assigned to statin and control groups. The primary endpoint was a composite of aneurysm growth of ≥0.5 mm, new bleb formation confirmed from magnetic resonance (MR) angiography, and rupture. Enrollment was prematurely terminated due to unexpectedly slow enrollment. Of 231 patients (275 target IAs), 110 patients (128 IAs) were randomly assigned to the statin group and 121 patients (147 IAs) to the control group. After excluding 22 dropout patients, 107 IAs in the 93 statin group patients and 140 IAs in the 116 control group patients were finally analyzed. No significant differences of basic characteristics were evident between groups, except for significantly higher systolic pressure in the statin group (P = 0.03). The primary endpoint occurred in 28 IAs (20.0%) in the control group and in 17 IAs (15.9%) in the statin group. No aneurysm rupture was confirmed in either group. Significant beneficial effects of statin for IAs were not demonstrated for the primary endpoint (log-rank P = 0.359). This randomized trial did not establish any preventive effects of atorvastatin for unruptured small IAs. Further studies of larger cohorts are required to clarify the efficacy of statins for patients with unruptured IAs.Clinical trial registration: UMIN000005135     

A Case of Choledochocele Associated with Carcinoma of the Pancreas

A-59-year old woman was admitted with lumbago and back pain. An abdominal ultrasonography and abdominal computed tomography demonstrated a tumor of the body of the pancreas and multiple space occupying lesions in the liver. Endoscopic retrograde chorangiopancreatography revealed a 11 mm cystic dilatation of the terminal portion of the common bile duct protruding into the duodenal lumen and an obstruction of the pancreatic duct in the body portion. Celiac artery angiography showed an irregularity in the wall of the splenic artery. In line with these findings, the patient was diagnosed as suffering from choledochocele associated with carcinoma of the pancreas. As she already had multiple metastatic liver tumors, her treatment was limited to amelioration of her symptoms. Increasing stenosis of the common bile duct, however, required endoscopic sphinctomy and endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage. Type 3 Choledochocele of Alonso-Lej's classification is very rare, and only a few cases have been reported in association with malignant bile duct tumors. We believe this case to be the first one in our country linked with carcinoma of the pancreas.     

Outcomes of infants whose mothers are positive for human herpesvirus-6 DNA within the genital tract in early gestation

It has been reported that HHV-6 (human herpesvirus-6) DNA has been identified within the female genital tract. However, the clinical significance of this finding has been unclear. The clinical outcome of the presence of HHV-6 DNA in the genital tract of pregnant women on their infants was evaluated in the present study. One hundred and ten pregnant women were enrolled. Vaginal swabs were collected between 4 and 8 weeks of gestation and the presence or absence of HHV-6 DNA was evaluated by nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR). The swabs were cultured to isolate the virus. The women were divided into two groups: HHV-6 DNA-positive, and negative. The outcome variables of the infants of these two groups were statistically estimated at birth and at 1 month of age. Saliva and blood cells were collected from the infants at birth and at 1 month of age and were also evaluated by nPCR. HHV-6 DNA was detected in the vaginal swabs of 28 pregnant women (25.5%), but was not detected in any other samples, including saliva and blood cells from their infants. Virus could not be isolated from any vaginal samples. Any outcome variables were not significantly different between the two groups. The presence of HHV-6 DNA within the genital tract of pregnant women did not affect the health of their infants. It is suggested that HHV-6 transmission to infants through the genital tract of their mothers during pregnancy does not occur, or only very rarely.     

Screening for growth hormone deficiency using urinary growth hormone measurement

The diagnostic approach in growth hormone deficiency (GHD) is complicated. Two or more provocative tests are essential for definitive diagnosis of GHD. However, such testing cannot be carried out routinely on all subjects with short stature because of the need for hospitalization and blood sampling. A simple screening method for GHD would be of great value. Human growth hormone (hGH) levels were measured in the early morning urine of 192 children aged 7–15 years with height 2.0 s.d. below the mean for their ages. Sixty-eight subjects were selected because they showed a urinary hGH level < 10 ng/g creatinine. They were further examined in terms of bone age and plasma insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) levels. In 30 subjects, the ratio of bone age: chronological age was < 0.8 and/or plasma IGF-I level was < 0.7 U/mL. Finally 24 of these subjects were examined with provocative tests and other endocrinological tests. Eleven subjects proved to have poor growth hormone secretion and one subject was diagnosed as having Turner syndrome. In conclusion, 11 patients with GHD were diagnosed from 192 children with short stature using urinary hGH measurement as the first screening method. These findings suggests that urinary hGH measurement could be a useful and simple method for detecting GHD.     

On the Brain Monoaminergic Systems Relating to Ejaculation III) Further Study by Using a Peripheral Decarboxylase Inhibitor

Über die monoaminergischen Systeme des Gehirns in Beziehung zur Ejakulation III. Weitere Untersuchung unter Vetwendung eines peripheren Decarboxylase-Inhibitors
In den vorausgegangenen Arbeiten war berichtet worden, daß die Ejakulation erleichtert wird durch das dopaminergische System des Gehirns, teilweise über den vorderen Hypothalamus und daß die Ejakulation durch das serotonergische System gehemmt wird. Auf dem Wege, diese Resultate praeziser zu klären wurden jetzt Untersuchungen durchgeführt, bei welchen Hunden ein peripherer Decarboxylase-Inhibitor (Ro 4–4602) in Kombination mit Tetrabenazin und L-dopa verabfolgt wurde. Es kann gezeigt werden, daß zusätzlich zu dem dopaminergischen System des Gehirns der Anstieg des Serotoninwertes im limbischen System und der Abfall des Serotininspiegels im Stammhirn die Ejakulation erleichtert.     

Alloimmune Neonatal Neutropenia in Monozygous Twins: High-dose Intravenous Gammaglobulin Therapy

ABSTRACT. An indirect immunofluorescence test using a flow cytometer (FACS420) was useful for detection of antineutrophil antibodies (anti-NA2 antibodies) in a case of monozygous twins with alloimmune neonatal neutropenia. When high-dose intravenous gammaglobulin (300 mg/kg for five consecutive days) was given to one twin, the increase in neutrophils was not obvious. Although neutropenia persisted for about three months, no infections were observed in either of the twins.     

Disseminated Epidermolytic Acanthoma

A 65-year-old Japanese male suffered from numerous brownish papules on his back for 6 months. Clinical appearance resembled seborrheic keratosis, but light microscopic examination revealed epidermolytic hyperkeratosis. Electron findings were the same as those of epidermolytic hyperkeratosis and systemic nevus verrucosus. It may be concluded that this type of skin disease is an acquired epidermolytic hyperkeratosis.