Lectin staining of neoplastic and normal background colorectal mucosa in nonpolyposis and polyposis patients

A lectin histochemistry approach was adopted for comparative assessment of a colon cancer risk. Binding of Ulex europaeus agglutinin-I (UEA-I), peanut agglutinin (PNA), Griffonia simplicifolia agglutinin-II (GSA-II), and Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA) was investigated in tumor and background tissue from a total of 34 adenoma and 44 cancer patients and compared with reaction patterns in control and familial adenomatous pplyposis (FAP) patients. Adenoma patients with UEA-I positive rectal mucosa were found to have a 33.3 percent familial history of large bowel cancer, which was significantly higher (P <0.05) than the respective 4.0 percent figure for patients with negative rectal mucosa. In the cancer patients, an even stronger correlation was noted, with a 63.2 percent UEA-I positive family history association being recorded, as opposed to 4.0 percent in the negative rectal mucosa patients (P <0.01). Thus, the results suggest that, apparently, normal rectal background mucosa of individuals genetically at high risk for colon and rectal cancer demonstrates a specific lectin binding ability similar to that of FAP patients and that the simple method using UEA-I staining of rectal biopsy specimens can be of practical use in identification of high-risk colorectal cancer.     

Steroid pulse therapy in patients with encephalopathy associated with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is a tick-borne infectious disease caused by the SFTS virus (SFTSV). Clinical symptoms of SFTS often involve encephalopathy and other central neurological symptoms, particularly in seriously ill patients; however, pathogenesis of encephalopathy by SFTSV is largely unknown. Herein, we present case reports of three patients with SFTS, complicated by encephalopathy, admitted to Tokushima University hospital: one patient was a 63-year-old man, while the other two were 83- and 86-year-old women. All of them developed disturbance of consciousness around the 7th day post onset of fever. After methylprednisolone pulse therapy of 500 mg/day, all of them recovered without any neurological sequelae. SFTSV genome was not detected in the cerebrospinal fluid of 2 out of the 3 patients that were available for examination. In these patients, disturbance of consciousness seemed to be an indirect effect of the cytokine storm triggered by SFTSV infection. We propose that short-term glucocorticoid therapy might be beneficial in the treatment of encephalopathy during early phase of SFTSV infection.     

Impact of mucosal barrier injury laboratory-confirmed bloodstream infection (MBI-LCBI) on central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) in department of hematology at single university hospital in Japan

Background

Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) are among the most serious complications especially in blood cancer patients. In January 2013, Centers for Disease and Prevention (CDC) introduced a new surveillance definition of mucosal barrier injury-associated laboratory-confirmed bloodstream infection (MBI-LCBI). This study was to determine the impact of MBI-LCBI on CLABSIs and compare the clinical characteristics of MBI versus non-MBI-LCBI cases.

The association between erythromycin monotherapy for Mycobacterium avium complex lung disease and cross-resistance to clarithromycin: A retrospective case-series study

Long-term, low-dose erythromycin monotherapy, based on the anti-inflammatory effects of macrolides, has been reported to have the potential to suppress the exacerbation of Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) lung disease with less toxicity. It remains unclear whether erythromycin monotherapy induces cross-resistance to clarithromycin, a key drug for MAC. To clarify this point, we conducted a retrospective, single-center, case-series study on patients with MAC lung disease who underwent erythromycin monotherapy for at least 6 months. Drug susceptibility tests, before and after erythromycin treatment initiation, were analyzed. Thirty-three patients were included in our study. All 33 patients showed susceptibility to clarithromycin for MAC both before and after erythromycin monotherapy. There was no significant difference in clarithromycin minimum inhibitory concentrations between before and after erythromycin treatment (median difference = 0 μg/ml; P = .313, Wilcoxon's signed-rank test). We conclude that erythromycin monotherapy for MAC lung disease may not induce cross-resistance to clarithromycin.     

The Amount of Residual Incretin Regulates the Pancreatic β-cell Function and Glucose Homeostasis

The gastrointestinal tract is considered an important endocrine organ for controlling glucose homeostasis via the production of incretins. A 21-year-old man emergently underwent total colectomy due to severe ulcerative colitis, and overt diabetes became evident. Weekly administration of a glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 receptor agonist (RA) dramatically improved his glucose control. Levels of GLP-1 or gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) were low at the baseline in the duodenum and serum of the patient. After 11 months of GLP-1RA treatment, his HbA1c worsened again, and intensive insulin therapy was necessary to control his glucose levels. Our report may explain the significance of residual incretin for maintaining the pancreatic β-cell function.     

Liver-related events after direct-acting antiviral therapy in patients with hepatitis C virus-associated cirrhosis

Journal of Gastroenterology - Direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy enables a high rate of sustained virologic response (SVR) in patients with hepatitis C virus associated cirrhosis. However, the...     

Acute Myeloid Leukemia Developing with Acute Pancreatitis Mimicking Autoimmune Pancreatitis

A 33-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for fever and abdominal pain. A blood analysis revealed pancytopenia and increased serum pancreatic enzymes with disseminated intravascular coagulation. A detailed examination revealed acute pancreatitis, with diffuse swelling of the pancreas and diffuse beaded dilatation of the main pancreatic duct, which mimicked autoimmune pancreatitis complicated by acute myeloid leukemia. Systemic cytotoxic chemotherapy led to the remission of leukemia and pancreatitis. We hypothesized that the etiology of acute pancreatitis was invasion of leukemia cells. Acute pancreatitis is rare as a symptom of leukemia; however, we should consider the possibility of leukemia during the differential diagnosis of acute pancreatitis.