Resection of hepatocellular carcinoma with tumor thrombus of the portal vein after neoadjuvant regional chemotherapy

We report a successfully managed case of far‐advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by intraarterial infusion therapy. A 55‐year‐old man was admitted to our hospital with abdominal pain and subileus. Abdominal ultrasonography, computed tomography, and angiography revealed HCC with obstruction of the main portal vein due to tumor thrombus. Serum levels of α‐fetoprotein (AFP) and protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist‐II (PIVKA‐II) were elevated. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was tried with a course of low‐dose cisplatin (CDDP) +5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU) intrahepatic arterial infusion through the indwelling catheter via the subcutaneous reservoir port. After 7 weeks of administration (total dose CDDP 370 mg/5‐FU 18.5 mg), the main tumor size was effectively reduced. Serum levels of AFP and PIVKA‐II decreased markedly. Adverse effects were tolerated. Following the chemoinfusion therapy, posterior segmentectomy and thrombectomy were performed. Reconstruction of the portal vein was not necessary because we removed the tumor thrombus without resecting the portal vein. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient has been doing well more than 2 years after surgery, with no evidence of recurrence or metastasis. Preoperative low–dose CDDP +5‐FU intrahepatic arterial infusion therapy in combination with hepatic resection may be an effective treatment for advanced HCC with portal vein tumor thrombus.     

Small heart with low cardiac output for orthostatic intolerance in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome

Background:

The etiology of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is unknown. Orthostatic intolerance (OI) is common in CFS patients. Recently, small heart with low cardiac output has been postulated to be related to the genesis of both CFS and OI.

Hypothesis:

Small heart is associated with OI in patients with CFS.

Methods:

Study CFS patients were divided into groups of 26 (57%) CFSOI(+) and 20 (43%) CFSOI(?) according to the presence or absence of OI. In addition, 11 OI patients and 27 age‐ and sex‐matched control subjects were studied. Left ventricular (LV) dimensions and function were determined echocardiographically.

Results:

The mean values of cardiothoracic ratio, systemic systolic and diastolic pressures, LV end‐diastolic dimension, LV end‐systolic dimension, stroke volume index, cardiac index, and LV mass index were all significantly smaller in CFSOI(+) patients than in CFSOI(?) patients and healthy controls, and also in OI patients than in controls. A smaller LV end‐diastolic dimension (<40 mm) was significantly (P<0.05) more prevalently noted in CFSOI(+) (54%) and OI (45%) than in CFSOI(?) (5%) and controls (4%). A lower cardiac index (<2 L/min/mm²) was more prevalent in CFSOI(+) (65%) than in CFSOI(?) (5%, P<0.01), OI (27%), and controls (11%, P<0.01).

Conclusions:

A small size of LV with low cardiac output was noted in OI, and its degree was more pronounced in CFSOI(+). A small heart appears to be related to the genesis of OI and CFS via both cerebral and systemic hypoperfusion. CFSOI(+) seems to constitute a well‐defined and predominant subgroup of CFS. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. The authors have no funding, financial relationships, or conflicts of interest to disclose.

     

Respiratory syncytial virus enhances the expression of CD11b molecules and the generation of superoxide anion by human eosinophils primed with platelet-activating factor

BACKGROUND: Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in infancy and early childhood causes acute bronchiolitis and exacerbates bronchial asthma. Eosinophil infiltration may contribute to airway obstruction in RSV infection. OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that RSV affects eosinophil function. METHODS: Eosinophil activation was evaluated by chemiluminescent detection of superoxide anion (O(2)(-)) generation. Expression of CD11b on eosinophils was determined by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Although RSV did not induce O(2)(-) generation by resting eosinophils, RSV enhanced O(2)(-) generation of eosinophils primed with platelet-activating factor (PAF). Enhancement was significantly inhibited by either continuous agitation to prevent eosinophil adhesion to test tube surfaces or by pretreating cells with anti-CD18 antibody, suggesting that the stimulatory effects of RSV on eosinophils depend on cell adhesion via beta(2)-integrins. In fact, RSV enhanced PAF-induced CD11b expression by eosinophils. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that RSV enhances eosinophil CD11b expression and O(2)(-) generation induced by PAF. Thus, RSV infection may exacerbate airway inflammation by enhancing mediator release from eosinophils.     

Exercise-induced angina provoked by aspirin administration in patients with variant angina

The effects of aspirin (4.0 g/day) given orally to eight patients with variant angina were observed. An exercise stress test performed in the morning was positive in two of seven patients during placebo administration, whereas a test performed in the afternoon at the same exercise work load resulted in negative findings. During aspirin administration, the afternoon exercise test repeatedly provoked anginal attacks associated with electrocardiographic changes (S-T segment elevation in five and S-T depression in two). Rate-pressure product at the end of the exercise test during aspirin administration was significantly lower than that during placebo administration (p <0.01). During aspirin administration, the frequency of angina increased markedly, and the attacks occurred not only during the night or early morning but also in the daytime in six of the eight patients. Our observations suggest that aspirin, in this large dose, reduces the capacity for exercise and provokes exercise-induced coronary arterial spasm in patients with variant angina.     

Clinical evaluations of pituitary apoplexy in incidental nonfunctional pituitary adenomas

Pituitary apoplexy is an uncommon syndrome that often results in spontaneous hemorrhage or infarction of pituitary tumors or glands. We previously reported pituitary apoplexy occurred most frequently in nonfunctional pituitary adenomas among all types of pituitary incidentalomas. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the characteristics of pituitary apoplexy in patients with incidental nonfunctional pituitary adenomas. 65 patients with pituitary incidentaloma were enrolled. All patients underwent clinical/endocrinological/pathological investigations. As a result, 33 patients were diagnosed with nonfunctional pituitary adenomas. Of these, 12.1% of patients had pituitary apoplexy. There was no difference in tumor diameter, age, or sex between the apoplexy and the non-apoplexy groups. However, the liver enzymes aspartate transaminase and alanine aminotransferase were significantly higher, and plasma sodium and chloride levels were significantly lower in the apoplexy group than in the non-apoplexy group (each P < .05). In addition, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol was significantly higher in the apoplexy group than in the non-apoplexy group (P < .05). Besides, thyroid-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and prolactin deficiencies were significantly more frequent in the apoplexy group than in the non-apoplexy group (each P < .05), and growth hormone and adrenocorticotropic hormone deficiencies were more frequent in the apoplexy group than in the non-apoplexy group (P = .09 and.08, respectively). Furthermore, tumor diameter was not associated with pituitary apoplexy, whereas thyroid-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone deficiencies were significantly associated with the apoplexy group (each P < .05). Hence, the present study indicated that pituitary apoplexy could not be related to tumor diameter. Moreover, hormonal deficiencies, hepatic dysfunction, hyponatremia or hypochloremia, and dyslipidemia might be indicators of pituitary apoplexy. There could be the possibility the treatment for dyslipidemia prevents pituitary apoplexy.     

Case of recurrent fungal endophthalmitis with suspected Munchausen syndrome

PURPOSE: To report recurrent fungal endophthalmitis which developed after endogenous fungal endophthalmitis. The patient was suspected to be suffering from Munchausen syndrome. CASE: A 44-year-old woman contracted endogenous fungal endophthalmitis in her right eye in October 2000. After the endophthalmitis was healed by vitrectomy, corneal ulcer and endophthalmitis repeatedly occurred in the eye from an unknown cause. The patient finally lost the sight of her right eye. The corneal ulcer and endophthalmitis resulted from self-injury for which we found material evidence in the course of the treatment. Munchausen's syndrome was suspected but the patient persistently refused to see a psychiatrist. CONCLUSION: We must be prepared to provide mental and psychiatric care in addition to ophthalmological treatment for such a case.     

Prostate cancer development after transurethral resection of the prostate--histopathological studies of radical prostatectomy specimens

PURPOSE: We investigated prostate cancer (ca.) development after transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 1995 to 2003, 430 patients (pts.) received TURP at Toshiba Rinkan Hospital. Of them, 23 pts. (5.3%) had incidental carcinoma (Stage A), which developed into clinically significant ca. after 1 to 5 years in 5 (22% of Stage A, 1.2% of TURP). In 13 (3.2%) of 407 Non-Stage A pts. (who had no ca. initially), prostate ca. developed after 1 to 7 yrs. A total of 21 pts. (including 3 Stage A pts. diagnosed before 1994) underwent radical prostatectomy. Stage A pts. received regular needle biopsy of prostate (Pbx). Non-Stage A pts. were followed by yearly PSA measurement and digital rectal examination (DRE). Detailed histopathological studies were done on 21 radical prostatectomy specimens. RESULTS: Clinically significant ca. developed in 8 Stage A pts. (all A2) after 1 to 14 yrs. Long term (5 or 10 years) MAB therapy changed moderately-differentiated adenocarcinoma (AC) to poorly-differentiated AC in 2 pts. during follow-up. When ca. developed PSA increased in only 3 of them, DRE was positive just in 1 pt. Tumor invasion was observed mainly in transition zone (TZ), especially anterior to urethra. In spite of no capsular penetration, surgical margin was positive in 2 pts. PSA failure occurred in another 2 pts. Thirteen Non-Stage A pts. showed aggressive ca. (6 moderately-differentiated AC, 6 poorly-differentiated AC, and 1 ductal carcinoma which showed metastasis later), most of which invaded widely in peripheral zone (PZ). Pbx before TURP was done to reveal that there was no cancer in 11 pts. Capsular penetration was seen in 4 pts. Surgical margin was positive in 4 pts. PSA (8.6 +/- 4.0 ng/ml) decreased after TURP but was kept in high level (4.8 +/- 2.2 ng/ml) after 1 year and increased (8.7 +/- 4.5) when cancer was diagnosed in all 13 pts. DRE was positive in 38% of them. Interval between TURP and diagnosis was short in pts. who had cancer of high Gleason Score (GS) or large prostate. CONCLUSIONS: As significant cancer developed in 22% of Stage A pts. (1.2% of TURP) in long term follow-up, regular Pbx (to get TZ tissue) is mandatory regardless of PSA value or DRE. Aggressive cancer developed in 3.2% of Non-Stage A pts. (3.0% of TURP). Pts. with high PSA or abnormal DRE after TURP must receive needle biopsy actively. Considering that more than 4% of TURP pts. eventually require radical prostatectomy, relatively younger pts. who received TURP have to be carefully followed for a long period.     

Aspergillus thyroiditis in a living donor liver transplant recipient

Aspergillosis is increasingly recognized as an important nosocomial pathogen in immunocompromised patients. Infection is difficult to diagnose and typically has a fatal outcome. We describe a liver transplant patient with fulminant hepatic failure, who had persistent fever of undetected origin postoperatively and an increased (1–3)-beta-d glucan level. Gallium-67 citrate scanning showed abnormal uptake in the thyroid bilaterally. Fine needle biopsy of the thyroid revealed thyroidal invasion of Aspergillosis. Total thyroidectomy was performed and the C reactive protein level decreased to 1.01 mg/dl. The patient died of liver sepsis due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa. (1–3)-beta-d Glucan monitoring and systematic radionuclide images are useful modalities for early diagnosis of Aspergillosis.