Possibilities of interventional endoscopic ultrasound

Since endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) was developed in the 1990s, EUS has become widely accepted as an imaging tool. EUS is categorized into radial and linear in design. Radial endoscopes provide cross-sectional imaging of the mediastinum, gastrointestinal tract, liver, spleen, kidney, adrenal gland, and pancreas, which has highly accuracy in the T and N staging of esophageal, lung, gastric, rectal, and pancreatic cancer. Tumor staging is common indication of radial-EUS, and EUSstaging is predictive of surgical resectability. In contrast, linear array endoscope uses a side-viewing probe and has advantages in the ability to perform EUSguides fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA), which has been established for cytologic diagnosis. For example, EUS-FNA arrows accurate nodal staging of esophageal cancer before surgery, which provides more accurate assessment of nodes than radial-EUS imaging alone. EUS-FNA has been also commonly used for diagnose of pancreatic diseases because of the highly accuracy than US or computed tomography. EUS and EUS-FNA has been used not only for TNM staging and cytologic diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, but also for evaluation of chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic cystic lesions, and other pancreatic masses. More recently, EUS-FNA has developed into EUS-guided fine needle injection including EUS-guided celiac plexus neurolysis, celiac plexus block, and other "interventional EUS" procedures. In this review, we have summarized the new possibilities offered by "interventional EUS".     

Relation between strain dyssynchrony index determined by comprehensive assessment using speckle-tracking imaging and long-term outcome after cardiac resynchronization therapy for patients with heart failure

Strain dyssynchrony index (SDI), which was a marker of dyssynchrony and residual myocardial contractility, can predict left ventricular reverse remodeling short-term after cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). We investigated SDI-predicted long-term outcome after CRT in patients with heart failure (HF). We studied 74 patients with HF who underwent CRT. SDI was calculated as the average difference between peak and end-systolic strain from 6 segments for radial and circumferential SDIs and 18 segments for longitudinal SDI using 2-dimensional speckle-tracking strain. Based on our previous findings, the predefined cutoff for significant dyssynchrony and residual myocardial contractility was a radial SDI ≥6.5%, a circumferential SDI ≥3.2%, and a longitudinal SDI ≥3.6%. The predefined principal outcome variable was the combined end point of death or hospitalization owing to deteriorating HF. Long-term follow-up after CRT was tracked over 4 years. The primary end point of prespecified events occurred in 14 patients (19%). An association with a favorable long-term outcome after CRT was observed in patients with significant radial, circumferential, and longitudinal SDIs (p <0.001, <0.005, and 0.010 vs patients without significant SDIs, respectively). Furthermore, cardiovascular event-free rate after CRT in patients with positivity of 3 for the 3 SDIs was 100% better than that in patients with positivity of 1 (52%, p <0.005) or 0 (31%, p <0.001) for the 3 SDIs. In conclusion, SDIs can successfully predict long-term outcome after CRT in patients with HF. Moreover, the approach combining the 3 types of SDI leads to a more accurate prediction than the use of individual parameters. These findings may have clinical implications in patients with CRT.     

Anesthesia (15)

Use of computed tomography for maxillary nerve block in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia. (Dokkyo University School of Medicine, Mibu, Tochigi, Japan) Reg Anesth Pain Med 2000;25:417–419.
A report of a 90-year-old woman who had a 30-year history of episodic pain in her right maxillary region is presented. An attempt to block the nerve with classic technique was made, but eliciting paresthesia could not identify the nerve. In addition, bleeding was noted after repeated attempts. To minimize complications and confirm the correct position of the needle tip, the block was planned with a suprazygomatic approach using computed tomography (CT) guidance. The needle was inserted without paresthesia. The CT scan showed the needle tip was placed at the entrance of the pterygopalatine fossa and the distribution of contrast medium spread appropriately around the pterygopalatine fossa. After confirming the clinical effect and lack of complications of the block using the local anesthetic, 0.5 mL of 7% phenol was injected. The technique resulted in complete sensory loss in the area innervated by the maxillary nerve and did so without complications.
Comment by Andrew D. Rosenberg, MD.
This is an interesting article in which the authors describe their technique for treating trigeminal neuralgia. The authors were faced with a significant problem, which was to perform a maxillary nerve block in a patient with difficult anatomy. The approach and technique were clearly thought out with an excellent result. The axial cuts demonstrate needle position under CT scan and the appropriate spread of contrast material through the pterygopalatine fossa.     

Sign of wall motion abnormality observed in wall thickness change, excursion, and stroke volume obtained by M-mode: The parameter revealing wall motion abnormality in stress echocardiography (2)

To improve the evaluation of regional wall motion abnormalities (WMA) during stress echocardiography, the parameters of the wall thickness change, excursion and stroke volume, with time-dependent changes in two regional portions of the interventricular septum and the posterior wall evaluated with M-mode ultrasonography are proposed. Response to the dipyridamole stress test was studied in two normal subjects and eight subjects with coronary disease. Regional wall motion and stroke volume were measured, and the results were compared with results obtained with coronary angiography, 2-D echography, and radioisotope scintigraphy. In normal subjects, these parameters showed only monotonous change with the passage of time. In patients with coronary artery disease, however, discrepancy in wall thickness and excursion between the interventricular septum and the posterior wall appeared within 1 to 3 minutes after the start of the test. Thus, despite the limitation of the examined area imposed by use of M-mode, the motion of the interventricular septum and the posterior wall described the details of WMA and an ischemic state.     

Safety and efficacy of colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection by the trainee endoscopists

The colorectum is known to be the most difficult organ to perform endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), however, the training has not been sufficiently established. In our hospital, the essential condition to start colorectal ESD was to experience at least 30 gastric ESD and to have sufficient knowledge and techniques beforehand. Rectal ESD were initially performed under supervision of ESD experts. According to their technical acquisition, the ESD experts allocated lesions to the trainees from smaller lesions in the distal colon to larger lesions in the proximal colon. We retrospectively investigated the outcomes of 92 and 23 colorectal ESD performed by two trainee endoscopists (A/B) who gained experience on our training scheme. The rates of en bloc/complete resection for A and B were 92.4%/73.9% and 95.7%/65.2%, respectively. The rates of bleeding/perforation, which occurred only with A, were 1.1%/3.3%, respectively. Intraoperative perforation occurred in one case (4.3%) in the later period. In the later period, en bloc resection rate remained high in spite of the difficult lesions. Our training scheme enabled trainees to perform colorectal ESD effectively and safely from the initial period. Step-by-step accumulation of cases such as from the rectum to the colon may be desirable for the introduction of colorectal ESD.     

Primary anaplastic large cell lymphoma of the psoas muscle: a case report and literature review

Primary anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) of skeletal muscle is very rare. We report a case of ALCL arising from the left psoas muscle. A 14-year-old girl presented with a large left inguinal tumor. She complained of a 2-month history of left leg pain, which had been exacerbated upon leg extension, and she had become aware of a rapidly growing left inguinal tumor 3 weeks before admission. CT scan and MRI revealed a large tumor arising from the left major psoas muscle and protruding into the inguinal region. In view of the tumor's location and the patient's age, soft tissue tumors such as rhabdomyosarcoma and primitive neuroectodermal tumor were initially considered. However, histopathological examination yielded a diagnosis of anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive ALCL. The serum level of soluble interleukin-2 receptor was markedly elevated at 50,414 U/ml, and this also strongly suggested ALCL. Although rarely reported, ALCL is an important entity to consider in the differential diagnosis of skeletal muscle tumors in children and young adults.     

A novel 203 kD aberrant BCR-ABL product in a girl with Philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leultaemia

Summary We report a girl with Ph¹-positive ALL with the aberrant BCR-ABL product. In this case. bcr exon 3 jointed not to ordinal abl exon 2 but to exon 3 resulting in the production of a 20 3 kD BCR-ABL fusion protein with marked tyrosine kinase activity. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an aberrant BCR-ABL product in childhood. This case was characterized with younger age and low leucocyte count at the onset, but relapsed early like the typical Ph^l-positive ALL, suggesting the diversity in the clinicopathogenesis of Ph¹-positive ALL.     

Fcγ receptor 3B polymorphism is associated with hypersensitivity reactions to adalimumab in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Objectives: To examine the association between Fcγ receptor (FcγR) polymorphisms and the development of hypersensitivity reactions to adalimumab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Methods: Sixty-five patients receiving adalimumab were enrolled in the study. Genetic polymorphisms for FcγR3B were genotyped in FCGR3B NA1/2 alleles by real allelic discrimination assay. Clinical information and the occurrence of a hypersensitivity reaction to adalimumab were collected from the patients’ charts.

Results: A hypersensitivity reaction was observed in 12% of the patients. Clinical information obtained from patients with a reaction and those without were the same. The FCGR3B NA1/NA1, NA1/NA2, and NA2/NA2 alleles were found in 75%, 13%, and 13% of the patients with hypersensitivity reaction, respectively, and in 28%, 42%, and 30% of those without a hypersensitivity reaction, respectively (p?=?0.04). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified only the NA1/NA1 as an independent relevant factor for a hypersensitivity reaction to adalimumab (OR 7.7, p?=?0.01).

Conclusions: The FCGR3B NA1/NA1 genotype is associated with hypersensitivity reactions to adalimumab.     

Prevalence and screening of dyspnea interfering with daily life activities in ambulatory patients with advanced lung cancer

This study aimed to identify 1) the prevalence of “clinical dyspnea,” defined here as dyspnea interfering with any daily life activities, 2) the impact of dyspnea on daily life activities, and 3) the screening ability of the Cancer Dyspnea Scale (CDS) and the Dyspnea Numeric Scale (DNS). A total of 157 outpatients with advanced lung cancer completed the two scales (CDS and DNS) along with a questionnaire about interference with daily life activities (normal work, walking, sleep, mood, relation with other people, enjoyment of life, and general activities). Over half of this population (55%) experienced “clinical dyspnea.” Dyspnea interfered with not only physical domain (52%), such as walking and work, but also with psychological domain (23%), such as mood and enjoyment. Both scales were feasible for screening of clinical dyspnea. Applying a screening protocol may contribute to avoiding underestimation of clinical dyspnea and lead to appropriate interventions for it.     

Plasma B-type natriuretic peptide is useful for cardiovascular risk assessment in community-based diabetes subjects: comparison with albuminuria

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a strong risk factor for cardiovascular (CV) disease. Plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels are elevated in various types of cardiac diseases. Increased plasma BNP levels have been reported to be associated with CV risk in apparently healthy individuals. However, no studies have yet examined the specific value of plasma BNP for predicting CV incidence in unselected DM subjects in a community-based population.In a community-based DM cohort (n = 1,059, mean = 66 years), baseline BNP levels were determined, and CV events were followed and captured prospectively. The cohort was divided by plasma BNP quintiles. The Cox proportional hazard model was used to determine the relative hazard ratios (HR) among the quintiles. In addition, the effects of adding the plasma BNP or urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) to an established CV risk scoring model was examined by calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC).During the 5.7 year follow-up period, CV events were identified in 65 of the DM cohort. There was a significant association between plasma BNP levels and CV event rate (P < 0.001). HR was significantly increased in the highest quintile compared to the lowest (HR = 4.38; 95%CI 1.69 -11.84). The AUC generated from ROC analysis of the Framingham risk score for predicting general CV events was improved by adding BNP testing (from 0.66 to 0.74; P = 0.05), but not by adding UACR (from 0.66 to 0.67; P = 0.49).In a community sample of people with DM, plasma BNP levels above the 80 percentile are directly associated with CV risk, and measurement of plasma BNP alone or in conjunction with an established CV risk score is of value in predicting CV events in these subjects.