Acute hemorrhagic colitis induced by the neuraminidase inhibitor oseltamivir]

A 23-year-old woman had lower abdominal pain, diarrhea and bloody stool was admitted and given a diagnosis of influenza B. Her home doctor had started treatment by neuraminidase inhibitor (oseltamivir) the previous day. Colonoscopic examination revealed an area of hemorrhage and erosion in the left transverse colon. After halting oseltamivir treatment these symptoms disappeared and her colonoscopic findings improved. A drug-induced lymphocyte stimulation test was positive for oseltamivir. This case is the first reported case of acute hemorrhagic colitis induced by oseltamivir.     

Effects of simultaneous increases in dietary phosphorus and magnesium concentrations on nephrocalcinosis and kidney function in female rats.

The effects of simultaneous increases in dietary phosphorus (P) and magnesium (Mg) concentrations while maintaining a constant P:Mg ratio on nephrocalcinosis and kidney function in female rats was investigated. Female Wistar rats were fed a control diet (3.12 g P, 0.51 g Mg per kg diet) or a diet having either 3 times the control P and Mg concentrations (3-fold diet; 9.25 g P and 1.42 g Mg per kg diet) or 5 times the control concentrations (5-fold diet; 14.97 g P and 2.37 g Mg per kg diet) for 21 d. The three experimental diets all had same P:Mg molar ratios (control diet; 4.81, 3-fold diet; 5.11, 5-fold diet; 4.96). The 3-fold diet had no significant influence on kidney calcium (Ca), Mg or P concentrations. However, kidney Ca, Mg and P concentrations were significantly higher in rats fed the 5-fold diet than in rats fed the control or 3-fold diets. No significant differences in creatinine clearance were observed among the three groups. Urinary albumin and beta 2-microglobulin excretion were higher in rats fed the 5-fold diet than in rats fed the control or 3-fold diets, while the 3-fold diet had no significant influence on the urinary albumin and beta 2-microglobulin excretion. These results suggest that absolute concentrations of dietary P and Mg are important factors with regard to the development of nephrocalcinosis and diminished kidney function.     

Ectopic cervico-mediastinal thymoma confirmed by flow cytometric analysis of tumor-derived lymphocytes

Ectopic cervical or cervico-mediastinal thymomas are very rare and most of them are asymptomatic, except for the presence of a cervical mass. We present the case of a 71-year-old man with an ectopic cervico-mediastinal thymoma threatening superior vena cava syndrome. He had a slight headache and presented with venous dilatation on the chest wall. A computed tomographic scan and magnetic resonance, imaging of the chest demonstrated a mass extending from the right neck to the hilum, that indented the trachea and compressed and displaced the brachiocephalic veins anteriorly. Under a right hemicollar incision and median sternotomy, the mass was resected en bloc together with the thymus. The resected specimen was an encapsulated mass measuring 11×7×4 cm. The pathological diagnosis was type AB, non-invasive thymoma, confirmed by 3-color flow, cytometry of tumor-derived lymphocytes. Flow cytometry using biopsy material may contribute to the preoperative diagnosis of ectopic thymoma.     

LAPAROSCOPIC TREATMENT FOR PERFORATED APPENDICITIS WITH PELVIC ABSCESS

We performed laparoscopic appendectomy and drainage to treat panperitonitis due to perforated appendicitis that occurred in a 28‐year‐old woman. We believe this is an appropriate procedure to treat perforated appendicitis because it is safe and minimally invasive, and faster recovery can be expected than after conventional open appendectomy.     

Histological changes in the midbrain around the aqueduct in congenital hydrocephalic rat LEW/Jms

Primary aqueductal stenosis is one of the main causes of congenital hydrocephalus in humans and experimental models. The congenitally hydrocephalic rat strain LEW/Jms is one such model. In this report, we describe further detailed histological features of periaqueductal structure, including the posterior commissure, subcommissural organ (SCO), and ependyma, and discuss the changes in these structures in relation to the cause of hydrocephalus. Coronal sections of the aqueduct in normal rats showed that the usual ependyma was absent in the center of the base facing the dorsal side, which was replaced by tall columnar cells. On the other hand, in hydrocephalic rats the ependyma encircled the aqueductal cavity. In midline sagittal sections, normal and hydrocephalic rats showed the SCO, although the SCO in hydrocephalic rats was shorter than in normal rats. There was also a marked difference between normal and hydrocephalic rats in the dorsoventral dimension of the rostral midbrain. In hydrocephalus, this dimension was large in comparison with normal rats. The superior collicular commissure located caudal to the posterior commissure ran along the ventral side of the midbrain in rats with hydrocephalus, and there was a cell-depleted area just dorsal to the superior collicular commissure. The same findings were observed from the 17th day of gestation until the postnatal period. Although the role of the SCO has been widely discussed from the viewpoint of secretory function, the present study indicated that this organ might be involved in the formation of the shape of the aqueduct.     

Serum and Cerebrospinal Fluid Vitamin B12 Levels in Demented Patients with CH3—B12 Treatment—Preliminary Study—

Abstract: The vitamin B12 (VB12) parameter was studied in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 14 demented patients. Eleven of these patients were in a state of dementia of the degenerative type such as Alzheimer's disease, senile dementia and Pick's disease. The serum VB12 concentration in all the patients was within normal limits, I.e. 500–1,300 pg/ml. There was no significant difference between the CSF-VBl2 levels and the severity of dementia. The serum and CSF-VB12 levels of the demented patients did not show any significant elevation after the oral administration of CH3–Bl2, 2 mg per day. On the other hand, there was a marked elevation of both the serum and CSF-VB12 after an oral medication (2 mg per day) plus intramuscular administrations (500 μg per day). These results confirm that the intramuscular administration of CH3–B12 is an effective way to get a higher value of the serum and CSF-VB12 levels.