An Application of Endoscopic Color Doppler Ultrasonography (ECDUS) in the Diagnosis of Hemodynamics of Gastric Varices,and the Therapeutic Effect of Endoscopic Therapy

Abstract: We studied 14 patients using endoscopic color Doppler ultrasonography (ECDUS) to evaluate the hemodynamics of gastric varices, and evaluated the endoscopic therapeutic effects on gastric varices in 8 patients. Three patients had F₃ type gastric varices and eleven had F₂. The ECDUS was performed with a PENTAX FG-32UA (7.5MHz, convex type) and a HITACHI EUB 565 was used as a display machine. The intramural blood flow in the gastric varices and inflows from the extra-gastric wall were clearly observed with the ECDUS in all 14 patients. The extramural blood flow (gastro or spleno-renal shunts) was detected in 9 of 14 patients. The velocity of the intramural flow in tumorous type varices (F₃) was higher than in the nodular or flat elevated type (Fa). Next, we evaluated the therapeutic effects on gastric varices of the ECDUS. The successful disappearance of intramural blood flow was observed in 6 of 8 patients who had this endoscopic therapy. In two of the 8 patients, there was not enough therapeutic effect on the intramural blood flow. The extramural blood flow, however, did not change before or after endoscopic therapy with the ECDUS. Therefore, we concluded that ECDUS is a very useful modality for the diagnosis of hemodynamics and to evaluate the therapeutic effects on gastric varices.     

Combined therapy after superselective arterial cisplatin infusion to treat maxillary squamous cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVE: We sought to assess the efficacy of combined therapy after superselective arterial cisplatin infusion (SACI) therapy to treat the maxillary squamous cell carcinoma. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a retrospective chart review of 50 patients. After completion of two courses of SACI, 25 of the patients were successively treated by concurrent SACI and radiotherapy (AR), while the other 25 patients were treated by surgery with postoperative radiotherapy (ASR). RESULTS: Patients with surgery (ASR) had an 88% local control rate with 75% disease-free survival rate at 60 months by Kaplan-Meier analysis, compared with 62% disease-free survival rate for patients with AR treatment. A particularly good outcome was obtained in T4 cases of the ASR group (n=8) whose 5-year survival rate was 87% and local control rate was 100%. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Combined SACI therapy is very effective for the treatment of maxillary squamous cell carcinomas and contributes to the improving prognoses of patients and organ preservation rates.     

The effects of the extent of spinal block on the BIS score and regional cerebral oxygen saturation in elderly patients: A prospective,randomized, and double-blinded study

Backgrounds Patients may become sedated with␣spinal anesthesia; however, the effect of the extent of␣spinal block on the Bispectral index (BIS), a processed electroencephalographic variable, has not been fully investigated. We evaluated the influence of the extent of spinal block on BIS values and on regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO₂) in elderly patients. Methods A prospective, randomized, double-blinded study was performed in 55 ASA II patients undergoing urological surgery. The patients were randomly allocated into one of two groups to receive 2.7 ml of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine or 1.5 ml, and then divided into two groups according to level of spinal blockade: high spinal group (Th6 and above) or low spinal group (Th12 and below). Systolic blood pressure (SBP), heart rate (HR), cardiac output (CO), stroke volume (SV), BIS values, and rSO₂ were measured for 30 min. CO and SV were evaluated using impedance cardiograph methods. Results The level of spinal blockade was Th4.7 ± 1.0 in high spinal group (n = 20) and L2.5 ± 2.2 in low spinal group (n = 20). High spinal anesthesia produced a significant decrease in SBP (p < 0.01) and SV (p < 0.01), but had no effect on CO. High spinal anesthesia significantly decreased BIS values (p < 0.01) without affecting rSO₂. There was relationship between level of spinal blockade and BIS values (r = 0.566). In contrast, no changes in above parameters were found in low spinal group. Conclusions This study provides evidence that the extent of spinal block may have significant influence on BIS values without affecting rSO₂ in elderly patients. A part of the present study was presented at the Annual Meeting of the Japan Society of Anesthesiologists, June 02–04, 2005 at Kobe, Japan. Nishikawa K,Hagiwara R, Nakamura K, Ishizeki J, Kubo K, Saito S, Goto F. The effects of the extent of spinal block on the BIS score and regional cerebral oxygen saturation in elderly patients: A prospective, randomized, and double-blinded study.     

Evaluation of Helicobacter pylori stool antigen test before and after eradication therapy

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The Helicobacter pylori stool antigen (HpSA) test is useful for initial diagnosis of H. pylori infection, but there is disagreement regarding its diagnostic accuracy after eradication therapy. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the HpSA test before and after eradication therapy. METHODS: One hundred and thirty-six patients underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with biopsies for the diagnosis of H. pylori infection using culture, histology and the rapid urease test. Fifty-four H. pylori-positive patients were treated with 1-week triple therapy. Six to 10 weeks after the end of therapy, the patients underwent re-endoscopy and received the same biopsy-based methods. In addition, the 13C-urea breath test was performed. The HpSA test was performed before and 6-10 weeks after the end of therapy. In 23 patients, the HpSA test was also performed at the end of therapy. RESULTS: Before therapy, the sensitivity and specificity of the HpSA test was 98.3% (95% confidence interval (CI): 95.9-100%) and 95.0% (95% CI: 75.1-99.9%), respectively. At the end of therapy, the HpSA tests were all negative both for eradication and non-eradication patients. The sensitivity and specificity of the HpSA test after eradication therapy were 90% (95% CI: 55.5-99.7%) and 97.7% (95% CI: 93.3-100%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The HpSA test is a useful method for the diagnosis of H. pylori infection before and after eradication therapy.     

Synthesis and Properties of Poly(Isothianaphthene Methine)s with Chiral Alkyl Chain

We synthesized poly(isothianaphthene methine)s with chiral alkyl chains in the substituent. Resultant polymers are soluble in THF and CHCl₃. Structure of the polymers was characterized with FT-IR, FT-Raman, and UV-Vis-NIR optical absorption spectroscopy. They showed low-bandgap both in solution and in a form of film. Optical activity of the polymers was confirmed with optical rotatory dispersion. Doping effects on the polymer were also examined with UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy and ESR measurement.     

Irsogladine maleate suppresses indomethacin-induced elevation of proinflammatory cytokines and gastric injury in rats

AIM： To investigate the mucosal protective effect and the mechanisms of action of the anti-ulcer drug irsogladine maleate in gastric injury induced by indomethacin in rats. METHODS： Gastric mucosal injury was induced in male Hos：Donryu rats by oral administration of indomethacin at a dose of 48 mg/kg. One hour before indomethacin treatment, animals were orally pretreated with irsogladine maleate at doses of 1 mg/kg, 3 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg. Four hours after indomethacin administration, the animals were sacrificed and their stomachs were rapidly removed and processed for the evaluation of gastric mucosal damage and the determination of the concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）, interleukin-1β （IL-1β）, IL-8 and myeloperoxidase （MPO） in mucosal tissues. RESULTS： Linear hemorrhagic mucosal lesions were observed primarily in the glandular stomach 4 h alter oral administration of indomethacin. Pretreatment with irsogladine maleate markedly reduced the number and severity of these lesions in a dose-dependent manner. The mucosal concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines （TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-8） and MPO, which indicates the degree of mucosal infiltration by neutrophils, increased concomitantly with the occurrence of gastric injury in the indomethacintreated rats. Pretreatment with irsogladine maleate significantly decreased the levels of these inflammatory factors in gastric tissue elicited by indomethacin.CONCLUSION： The mucosal protective effects afforded by irsogladine maleate on gastric injury induced by indomethacin are mediated by inhibition of mucosal proinflammatory cytokine production and neutrophil infiltration, leading to suppression of mucosal inflammation and subsequent tissue destruction.     

Comparison of pharmacokinetics of saquinavir soft-gel capsule (SQV-SGC) combined with ritonavir (RTV), SQV hard-gel capsule with RTV,and SQV-SGC alone

Saquinavir (SQV) is a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) specific protease inhibitor. When combined with ritonavir (RTV), plasma concentration of SQV is increased. In this study, we examined pharmacokinetics of SQV soft-gel capsule (SQV-SGC) 400 mg twice daily (BID) combined with RTV in HIV-1-infected patients (n = 4) and compared with those of SQV hard-gel capsule (SQV-HGC) 400 mg BID combined with RTV (n = 12). Pharmacokinetics of SQV-SGC 1,200 mg single dose in healthy subjects (n = 10) were also studied. Peak SQV concentration in plasma (Cmax) and area under the plasma concentration-time curve from 0 to 8 hour (AUC0-8 h) of SQV-SGC 400 mg BID combined with RTV group were higher than those of SQV-HGC 400 mg BID combined with RTV group; increase of 14.7% and 25.5%, respectively. Cmax and AUC0-8 h of SQV-SGC were higher than SQV-SGC 1,200 mg single dose group; increase of 3.9 fold and 8.5 fold, respectively. These results indicated that SQV-SGC combined with RTV therapy is the most potent antiviral effect among SQV-SGC with RTV, SQV-HGC with RTV, and SQV-SGC alone.     

Primary rhabdomyosarcoma of the ethmoid sinus with orbital extension and metastasis to the pancreatic body

This case report highlights the need for clinicians to monitor patients with rhabdomyosarcoma for pancreatic metastasis to ensure that proper treatment is quickly provided, thereby improving outcomes.     

The induction of ornithine decarboxylase caused by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate in isolated epidermal cells is inhibited by lipoxygenase inhibitors but not by cyclooxygenase inhibitors

The effects of lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase inhibitors on ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) induction by a potent tumor promoter, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) were examined in vitro in isolated mouse epidermal cells. Lipoxygenase inhibitors such as quercetin, nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), 3,4,2',4'-tetrahydroxychalcone, 3-amino-1-(3-trifluoromethylphenyl)-2-pyrazoline (BW755C) inhibited the TPA-caused ODC induction. Indomethacin, a selective cyclooxygenase inhibitor, failed to inhibit it. These results suggest that the lipoxygenase inhibitors inhibit TPA-caused epidermal ODC induction in mouse skin at least in part by acting directly on epidermal cells while cyclooxygenase inhibitor inhibits it indirectly by acting on cells other than epidermal cells, e.g. cells which are involved in the prostaglandin-dependent inflammatory process.