Inflammatory pseudotumour of the liver

A case of inflammatory pseudotumour of the liver is presented. The clinical, radiological and pathological findings are described and a brief discussion of this rare but important condition is presented.     

Integrating OASIS data collection into a comprehensive assessment

OASIS should not be used as a survey tool; rather, it should be integrated into a comprehensive assessment. It is almost never appropriate to simply read OASIS questions verbatim to patients and expect them to name the letter of the response. This article provides strategies for collecting OASIS data as part of a routine patient comprehensive assessment.     

Biliary sphincterotomy: Less benign than once thought?

Twenty-five years ago, Classen and Kawai, working independently, reported the first use of endoscopic sphincterotomy. Since that time, thousands of patients have undergone this procedure. The immediate risks of sphincterotomy, including pancreatitis, bleeding, perforation, and infection, are well documented. However, the long-term complications of ablating the sphincter of Oddi are poorly understood. It is becoming clear that exposing the biliary tree to duodenal contents is far from benign. Recently reported long-term complications of sphincterotomy include stone formation, cholecystitis, sphincterotomy site stenosis (with recurring cholangitis), and, possibly, an increased risk of cholangiocarcinoma. Balloon dilation of the duodenal papilla (balloon sphincterplasty) has been shown to carry unacceptable risk of serious and even fatal pancreatitis. Medical dilation of the papilla is rarely helpful. Consequently, endoscopists must reevaluate their use of endoscopic sphincterotomy in light of long-term complications in the data.     

蛇胆汁中牛磺胆酸含量测定方法的比较研究

目的：比较分析了３种测定蛇胆汁中主要成分牛磺胆酸含量的方法,制定科学合理统一的质量标准。方法：用薄层层析－磷钼酸比色法、薄层扫描法及高效液相色谱法对蛇胆汁中主要成分牛磺胆酸进行测定,并将结果进行比较分析。结果：薄层层析－磷钼酸比色法、薄层扫描法及高效液相色谱法的含量测定结果有一定差异,平均回收率分别为９７．４８％,９８．５１％和１００．３４％,ＲＳＤ分别为４．６％,４．３％和１．５％。结论：高效液     

Effect of practical timing of dosage on theophylline blood levels in asthmatic children treated with choline theophyllinate.

Two dosage schedules, 8 mg/kg per dose daily and 10 mg/kg per dose tds of choline theophyllinate were evaluated in asthmatic children. The times of the doses were considered the most practical for use outside hospital. Theophylline levels were measured 2 hours after each dose and were satisfactory in both schedules. The levels before the first dose of the day were, however, unsatisfactory. We emphasis the desirability of measuring blood levels in any patient receiving a theophylline compound.     

Non-ionic surfactant vesicles, niosomes, as a delivery system for the anti-leishmanial drug, sodium stibogluconate

Liver and serum concentrations of antimony in the mouse have been determined after administration of sodium stibogluconate in the free, liposomal and niosomal form. High liver and low serum values were attained by the use of both vesicular formulations. Niosomal sodium stibogluconate was shown to be more active than free drug against experimental murine visceral leishmaniasis, an effect apparently dependent on maintaining high drug levels in the infected reticuloendothelial system.     

Lymphangiomas in children: MR imaging

Seventeen lymphangiomas in 15 patients were imaged with magnetic resonance (MR) to define the nature, extent, and anatomic relationships of these lesions. The MR and pathologic findings were then compared to determine the histologic basis for the signal-intensity characteristics of these lesions. The signal intensity of 13 lesions was similar to or slightly less than that of muscle on T1-weighted images and greater than that of fat on T2-weighted images. This appearance correlated with the presence of ectatic lymphatic channels containing clear fluid on histologic section. Four lymphangiomas had high signal intensity, approximately equal to that of fat, on T1-weighted images, reflecting the presence of clotted blood or small cystic spaces with a higher ratio of fat to fluid. Sixteen of 17 lesions had visible septations on MR images. The authors' experience suggests that most lymphangiomas have a characteristic appearance on MR images. The information obtained with MR imaging can help in providing a preoperative diagnosis, in planning surgical resection, and in defining recurrence.     

Lack of association between ACE and bradykinin B2 receptor gene polymorphisms and ACE inhibitor-induced coughing in hypertensive Koreans

Background & Objective:  Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are used widely in therapy for hypertension, congestive heart failure and myocardial infarction. However, coughing, one of their major adverse effects limits their use. It is documented that Asians are more liable to coughing than Europeans. The aim of this study was to investigate genetic polymorphism involved in ACE inhibitor-induced coughing.
Methods:  We monitored hypertensive subjects ( n  = 110) treated with ACE inhibitors, and tested for any associations between ACE inhibitor-induced coughing and polymorphisms in the genes for ACE and the bradykinin B2 receptor, which are suspected to be related to coughing.
Results & Discussion:  We found no significant differences between the groups with coughing and without coughing in the frequency of ACE I/D (Insertion/Deletion) polymorphisms. One single nucleotide polymorphism was discovered in the promoter (−58T/C) and, one in intron-exon junction upsteam of exon 2 (−59C/A), of the bradykinin B2 receptor gene. However, no significant correlation was found between those genotypes or allele distributions and ACE inhibitor-induced coughing.
Conclusion:  We found no significant links between polymorphisms of the ACE gene or bradykinin B2 receptor gene with ACE inhibitor-induced coughing in hypertensive Koreans. But, the topic remains controversial and requires more study.