Usefulness of gastroesophageal reflux scintigraphy using the knee-chest position for the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) scintigraphy using the knee-chest (KC) position for the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). METHODS: The study subjects were 37 patients with GERD and 8 healthy volunteers (control group). Endoscopically observed esophageal mucosal breaks were evaluated with the Los Angeles classification. For GER scintigraphy, the subjects ingested liquid yogurt labeled with 99mTc-diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (99mTc-DTPA) and water. Imaging was performed in the supine and KC position, and GER was graded as 1-4 according to the extent of GER assessed by scintigraphy. RESULTS: GER scintigraphy revealed no reflux in the control group (specificity: 100%). In the supine position, gastroesophageal reflux was observed in 49% of the patients with GERD, compared to 76% in the KC position. 21 of 23 (91%) patients with erosive esophagitis were shown to have GER with scintigraphy. GER scintigraphy revealed severe reflux (grade 3 or 4) (83%, 10/12) in the patients who had severe mucosal breaks (LA grade C or D). GER scintigraphy detected grade 1 or 2 reflux in 7 of the 14 patients who were endoscopically negative. There was a correlation between the endoscopically determined severity of mucosa and the reflux grade which was determined with GER scintigraphy. CONCLUSION: GER scintigraphy can detect gastroesophageal reflux with a high sensitivity in the KC position and might be a useful method in the screening and assessment of the severity of this disease. This method would be useful for the diagnosis of GERD in endoscopically negative patients.     

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for protection against delayed neuronal death induced by transient ischemia

OBJECT: Data in the present study demonstrate that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) induces ischemic tolerance against delayed neuronal death (DND) of hippocampal neurons following an otherwise lethal ischemic insult. METHODS: Various regimens of rTMS were delivered to adult gerbils at various times prior to an episode of ischemia induced by transient (5-minute) bilateral common carotid artery (CCA) occlusion. The extent of DND in the CA1 region of the hippocampus was assessed quantitatively 7 days after the transient ischemic episode. When rTMS was delivered 2 to 5 days prior to bilateral CCA occlusion, DND was substantially attenuated; delivery of rTMS 12 to 24 hours prior to occlusion induced partial tolerance. In the group of animals that had received stimulation 2 days prior to occlusion, neuron density in the CA1 sector was significantly higher (three gerbils, 210.33, 86.01% of normal) than in the group that experienced ischemia only (three gerbils, 10.66, 4.36% of normal). A similar degree of neuron sparing occurred when stimulation was delivered 3, 4, or 5 days prior to occlusion. Note that rTMS was effective when it was delivered at frequencies of 25 and 50 Hz. Stimulation at 25 Hz for 128 seconds (3200 pulses) was more effective than stimulation at 50 Hz for 64 seconds (3200 pulses) or 128 seconds (6400 pulses), however. CONCLUSIONS: Noninvasive rTMS represents an important tool for exploring the mechanisms of ischemic tolerance and preventing ischemic neuronal damage.     

Application of laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy for normal anatomy after hiatal hernia repair: A case report

We describe a case of pancreatic tumor associated with a giant type IV hiatal hernia that had prolapsed into the posterior mediastinum. Hiatal hernia repair should be performed first because it enables laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy to be performed in the normal anatomical position.     

Ability of bivariate cytokeratin and deoxyribonucleic acid flow cytometry to determine the biologic aggressiveness of resectable non-small cell lung cancer

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to clarify the significance of bivariate cytokeratin and DNA flow cytometry for analysis of the biologic aggressiveness of resectable non-small cell lung cancer. METHODS: In 92 patients who underwent curative operations, the DNA ploidy status and S-phase fractions of the cancer cell populations inside the tumors were analyzed by a cytokeratin gating technique with paraffin-embedded specimens and were correlated with the surgical results. RESULTS: Ninety tumors yielded assessable DNA histograms. DNA diploidy was detected in 25 tumors with a mean S-phase fraction of 14.3% +/- 4.7%, and DNA aneuploidy was detected in 65 tumors with a mean S-phase fraction of 15.1% +/- 7.1%. The 5-year overall and recurrence-free survivals were 73.3% and 70.3%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that only TNM staging was a prognostic factor after surgery. There was a negative correlation between the logarithms of S-phase fraction and the disease-free interval for 22 patients with proven recurrence (P =.006). The tumors with high S-phase fractions recurred more rapidly than did those with low S-phase fractions. CONCLUSION: In a bivariate analysis of cytokeratin and DNA flow cytometry in resectable non-small cell lung cancer, the S-phase fraction appeared to be correlated with the disease-free interval. However, DNA ploidy and S-phase fraction were not predictive of either recurrence or survival after operation. Thus DNA flow cytometry may be of limited use for the analysis of the biologic aggressiveness of lung cancer.     

Treatment of 2019 cases with upper urinary tract calculi using a piezoelectric lithotriptor ESL-500A

PURPOSE: We evaluated the results of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) in a large number of cases with upper urinary tract calculi, and reported the strategy how to improve the efficacy and safety of ESWL. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Eight hundred fifteen patients with renal calculi and 1,204 patients with ureteral calculi were treated using a piezoelectric ultrasound-guided lithotriptor, Toshiba ESL-500A. Auxiliary measures were needed in 51 cases (2.5%) and 1,968 cases (97.5%) were treated by in situ procedures. ESWL was performed with the optimal positioning of the patient and under the continuous monitoring by ultrasound system. The visibility of stones was improved by removal of abdominal gas and administration of diuretic agent to dilate the ureter. Cases with urinary tract infection were medicated by antibiotics and the obstruction of the urinary tract was cleared away as soon as possible. RESULTS: Including the cases with residual fragments less than 4 mm, the success rates at one month after the treatment were 97.7% and 98.7% for the renal and ureteral calculi, respectively. The mean numbers of sessions were 1.49 for renal calculi and 1.16 for ureteral calculi. Multiple sessions were required in 24.2% of renal calculi and 12.0% of ureteral calculi. No serious complication has been observed except for three cases, which were sepsis after ESWL, anuria in a solitary kidney, and pyonephrosis caused by Steinstrasse with urinary infection, respectively. CONCLUSION: ESWL using ESL-500A is an efficient treatment of upper urinary tract calculi which has higher pulverization rate and fewer complications in the adequate procedure.     

Sarcomatoid carcinoma and carcinosarcoma of the urinary bladder

Two cases, sarcomatoid carcinoma and carcinosarcoma, of the urinary bladder are reported. A 68-year-old man with sarcomatoid carcinoma underwent total cystectomy and was alive and had had no recurrence after 21 months. A 78-year-old woman with carcinosarcoma underwent total cystectomy, but she died from increasing multiple lung metastases 4 months after surgery. The histopathological characteristics of both neoplasms are reported and discussed.     

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma of perirenal tissue: a case report

A 75-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with an extremely large retroperitoneal tumor that had been detected with ultrasound on a routine health check. She had no complaint except lumbar pain. Computed tomography revealed a heterogenous tumor located outside the right kidney which was enhanced gradually. Doppler ultrasound showed mild vascularity in the tumor. We performed tumorectomy and right nephrectomy because the tumor was adherent to the right kidney. The tumor was 16 x 11 x 7 cm in size and weighed 621 g. The histopathological diagnosis was malignant fibrous histiocytoma. The tumor was considered to have arisen from perirenal tissue.     

Solute-free versus electrolyte-free water clearance in the analysis of osmoregulation

Reduced bone mineral density (BMD) and an increased risk of vertebral fracture have been reported in calcium-stone-forming (CSF) patients presenting with idiopathic hypercalciuria. We investigated the association between BsmI vitamin D receptor (VDR) polymorphism and BMD in 68 hypercalciuric CSF patients (35 males and 33 premenopausal females, mean age +/- SD = 39 +/- 10 years). BMD was measured at lumbar spine (L2-L4) and femur neck sites using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. A 72-hour dietary record and a 24-hour urine sample were obtained from each patient to determine calcium intake and excretion. The allelic frequency found for the sample as a whole was 16% BB, 44% Bb and 40% bb. Mean BMD values did not significantly differ among BB, Bb and bb patients at L2-L4 (1.162 +/- 0.10, 1.133 +/- 0.11 and 1.194 +/- 0.19 g/cm2, mean +/- SD, respectively) or at neck sites (0.920 +/- 0.11, 0.931 +/- 0.15 and 0.982 +/- 0.15 g/cm2, respectively). Calcium intake and excretion were also not significantly different among the three genotypes. Patients were then divided into two groups, normal BMD, T-score > or =-1 (n = 34) and low BMD, T-score <-1 (n = 34), to further evaluate the allele influence on previous bone loss. Despite a trend for a higher mean BMD at spine or neck sites for patients with one or two b alleles when compared to BB patients, the difference did not reach statistical significance. The distribution of BB, Bb and bb genotypes in the low-bone-mass group (15, 47 and 38%, respectively) was similar to that in the normal-bone-mass group (18, 41 and 14%, respectively). These data suggest that BsmI VDR polymorphism does not play an important role in the bone loss seen in hypercalciuric CSF patients.     

Myelopathy due to scoliosis with vertebral hypertrophy in Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome

We describe a 37-year-old man complaining of right back pain and gait disturbance. He had a big soft tumor on his right back, hemihypertrophy of the right lower extremity, and right thoracic scoliosis. We diagnosed Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome based on the pathological findings of the soft tumor. Computed tomography (CT) scan revealed severe spinal stenosis due to a hypertrophic vertebral body and facet joint at T7. Treatment by decompression of hypertrophic bone led to complete neurological recovery. To our knowledge, no case has been reported of Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome with myelopathy which originated from thoracic scoliosis with a hypertrophic facet joint and vertebral body. We suggest that the cause of myelopathy in Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome originated not only from arteriovenous fistula, medullary angioma, and extradural hemangioma but also vertebral hypertrophy with scoliosis.