Randomized comparative study of omeprazole and famotidine in reflux esophagitis

BACKGROUND: Although proton pump inhibitors (PPI) and H2-receptor antagonists (H2-RA) are routinely used in the treatment of reflux esophagitis (RE), no consensus has been reached yet as to whether the first-choice drug should be PPI or H2-RA. In this study, the effects of omeprazole (OMP) and famotidine (FAM) on RE have been examined in a randomized comparative study. METHODS: Protocols of OMP 20 mg once daily or FAM 20 mg twice daily for 8 weeks were allocated to 56 cases with RE at random, using an envelope randomization method. Their efficacy in achieving healing was examined endoscopically and a relief from subjective symptoms was compared. RESULTS: Patient's background such as sex, age, recurrence, hiatal hernia, smoking and drinking habits, and complications, and the severity of esophagitis at the time of enrolment were not significantly different between the two groups. Healing in the OMP group and the FAM group was observed in 72 and 32% (P = 0.025) of patients at week 4 and 95 and 53% (P = 0.003) of patients at week 8, respectively. Subjective symptoms were relieved more frequently in the OMP group (at week 2, 67% compared with 29%, P = 0.005; at week 4, 95% compared with 55%, P = 0.009), but this superiority was not significant at week 8 (94% compared with 65%, P = 0.085). No serious adverse events occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Omeprazole provided quicker healing and a greater relief from subjective symptoms than did FAM in the treatment of RE, and was considered more suitable as a first-choice drug.     

Versatility of scanning laser Doppler imaging to detect cutaneous perforators

Several perforator-based flaps have been developed recently and, although preoperative evaluation of perforator vessels is important, the conventional method using the Doppler flowmeter is still being used. The authors tried to identify perforator vessels in the abdominal region using scanning laser Doppler imaging and then compared the results with those obtained using an ultrasonic Doppler flowmeter in 10 healthy volunteers. The scanning laser Doppler detected several perforator vessels (range, 2-5 vessels; mean, 3.1 vessels) within a 7.5 x 7.5-cm area in the abdominal region. These results suggest that scanning laser Doppler imaging is a useful tool in the identification of perforator vessels.     

Superimposition of post-streptococcal acute glomerulonephritis on the course of IgA nephropathy: predominance of Th1 type immune response

A 23-year-old man was admitted with macrohematuria and systemic edema appearing after an acute upper respiratory tract infection. He had been diagnosed 6 years earlier with IgA nephropathy (IgA-N). On admission, hypertension, nephrotic syndrome and hypocomplementemia were evident together with a high titer of anti-streptokinase (ASK). Renal biopsy showed severe glomerular mesangial proliferation, segmental endocapillary proliferation and crescent formation. Immunofluorescence microscopy (IF) showed strong deposition of C3 and reduced deposition of IgA. Electron microscopy showed a so-called "hump" on the epithelial side of the glomerular basement membrane.These features were consistent with post-streptococcal acute glomerulonephritis (PSAGN) superimposed on IgA-N. Following 2 weeks of observation, blood pressure, C3 level and ASK titer returned to normal ranges, although nephrotic syndrome was still evident, which necessitated oral prednisolone (30 mg/day) therapy. Another biopsy taken 2 months later demonstrated regression of endocapillary proliferation and IF showed decreased deposition of C3. Immunohistochemical staining of the specimen taken on admission revealed the presence of numerous T cells and macrophages in the interstitium. Macrophages were also seen in the glomerular tuft. Many interstitial infiltrating cells were positive for interferon-gamma, but their number diminished after treatment. Our findings suggest that PSAGN complicating pre-existing IgA-N activates cellular immunity and augments renal tissue injury.     

A ruptured distal aneurysm, thought to be a mycotic aneurysm, associated with acute subdural hematoma: case report and review of the literature

A case is described of a ruptured intracranial mycotic aneurysm in the distal middle cerebral artery associated with an acute subdural hematoma. A 55-year-old woman, with a history of tuberculous meningitis at the age of 7, presented left hemiparesis. She was in a state of semi-coma. Computed tomography scan showed a right acute subdural hematoma. Magnetic resonance angiography revealed no cerebral aneurysm. Emergency external decompression was performed and a distal central artery aneurysm was found and was resected during the operation. Numerous areas of hemosiderin pigmentation were recognized around the aneurysm and in the subarachnoid space. Microscopic examination of the aneurysmal sections showed neither elastic lamina nor membranous structures and no infiltration of any inflammatory cells. We think this aneurysm is a pseudoaneurysm. The incidence of ruptured mycotic aneurysms presenting with acute subdural hematoma is extremely low. There have been only four previously reported cases as far as I can ascertain. This case and a review of the literature are discussed.     

A case of secondary hyperparathyroidism with an ectopic intrathyroid gland successfully diagnosed and controlled by percutaneous ethanol injection therapy (PEIT)

Secondary hyperparathyroidism (II HPT) is a major complication in chronic dialysis patients, and percutaneous ethanol injection therapy (PEIT) has become a useful alternative treatment for II HPT. However, the existence of ectopic parathyroid glands is a major problem when conducting PEIT. Ectopic parathyroid gland accepts 10-35% of II HPT, and the missing glands cannot be detected consistently by any imaging techniques, including scintigraphy. Intrathyroid parathyroid gland is as rare as about 1% and recurrence of missing glands after parathyroidectomy (PTx) has been reported in some cases. We report here a 52-year-old female in whom an ectopic parathyroid gland was defected successfully and intact-PTH controlled by tentative PEIT. At the first examination, a left parathyroid adenoma and a right thyroid goiter were pointed out by ultrasonography, CT and scintigraphy. PEIT was applied twice to the left parathyroid adenoma, but intact-PTH was not decreased. Ultrasonography, CT, 201Tl-99mTc subtraction scintigraphy and fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) were performed again to search for the existence of ectopic glands. The results suggested that the right intrathyroid tumor was an ectopic parathyroid gland. Consequently, tentative PEIT was applied to the right intrathyroid tumor, and successful control of intact-PTH and serum Ca was eventually achieved. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of secondary hyperparathyroidism with an ectopic intrathyroid gland that was successfully controlled by PEIT. In this case, it was suggested that tentative PEIT of intrathyroid tumor was a useful method for detecting an ectopic parathyroid gland.