New Frontiers in Gut Nutrient Sensor Research: Monosodium l-Glutamate Added to a High-Energy,High-Protein Liquid Diet Promotes Gastric Emptying: a Possible Therapy for Patients With Functional Dyspepsia

Functional dyspepsia is a clinical syndrome that features abdominal symptoms centered in the upper abdomen without an organic basis. Three possible mechanisms of gastric dysfunction could be related to functional dyspepsia: 1) delayed gastric emptying, 2) impaired gastric accommodation to food intake, and 3) hypersensitivity to gastric distention. Delayed gastric emptying has been suggested to lead to prolonged antral distension that causes dyspeptic symptoms. Delayed gastric emptying is therefore a focal point of debate about anorexia caused by dyspepsia, and prokinetic agents are often administered in Japan for its treatment. Recently, we found that addition of monosodium l-glutamate (MSG) to a high-energy liquid diet rich in casein promoted gastric emptying in healthy men. Therefore, another potential method to improve delayed gastric emptying could be enhancement of chemosensors that activate the autonomic nervous system innervating the gastrointestinal tract. In conclusion, enrichment with glutamate promoted gastric emptying after intake of a high-protein meal, suggesting that free glutamate is important for protein digestion and that MSG may be helpful for management of delayed gastric emptying in patients with functional dyspepsia.     

A clinical study on 34 cases of urothelial cancer of upper urinary tract

Thirty-four cases of tumor of the renal pelvis or ureter or both have been treated in our department during the past decade. The primary tumor was in the renal pelvis in 11 cases, in the ureter in 21 cases and in the ureter and renal pelvis in 2 cases, a co-existent tumor in the bladder was found in 4 cases. Seventeen patients had a tumor on the right side and 17 on the left side. The most frequent symptom was gross hematuria (70.6%) and flank pain was the presenting symptom in 7 cases (20.6%). On the intravenous pyelography, a filling defect in the renal pelvis or ureter (41.2%) and nonvisualization (53.0%) were frequent findings. Twenty-nine cases had undergone total nephroureterectomy with resection of a bladder cuff, 3 had simple nephrectomy and 2 had open biopsy alone. Postoperative radiation therapy was done in 1 case, chemotherapy in 10 cases, and 6 cases of them were treated by CAP therapy (cis-dichlorodiamine platinum, doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide). Actual and relative 5-year survival rates were 53.8% and 63.5%, and no significant difference was found in survival rate between the patients with renal pelvic tumors and those with ureteral tumors.     

Metastatic lung choriocarcinoma resected nine years after hydatidiform mole.

A 38-year-old woman with metastatic choriocarcinoma of the lung had been treated for a hydatidiform mole nine years previously. During the interval she had conceived and given birth to a child. Following lobectomy she has been metastasis-free for five years.     

A case of systemic lupus erythematosus--its clinical and MRI resemblance to multiple sclerosis

We documented a case of systemic lupus erythematosus with clinical features of multiple sclerosis who developed transverse myelopathy. Magnetic resonance imaging showed the presence of an abnormal high signal intensity in the gray matter of a swollen spinal cord corresponding to the patient's neurological deficits. After two previous episodes of exacerbation and remission consistent with the clinical diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, right hemiparesis and hemisensory disturbances ensued, then lupus nephritis was confirmed by a renal biopsy.     

Management of pregnant women complicated with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura(ITP) is occasionally manifested during pregnancy by routine prenatal screening for blood cell counts. Since ITP can potentially cause serious hemorrhage both in mother and fetus, the accurate assessments as well as appropriate clinical managements are necessary for successful delivery. Several guidelines were introduced to manage the maternal thrombocytopenia by ITP in pregnancy and in labor. However, there still remain several controversies regarding the indication of measurement of fetal platelet counts by fetal blood sampling, especially by percutaneous umbilical blood sampling, to decide mode of delivery. The current obstetrical managements and their potential limitation are discussed in this review.