Synchronous solitary small intestinal metastasis from esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: report of a case

A 69-year-old male was referred to our hospital with squamous cell carcinoma of the lower thoracic esophagus and a chief complaint of vomiting. On positron emission tomography, fluorodeoxyglucose accumulation was detected in the primary tumor and paraesophageal lymph node. Thoracic esophagectomy and 3-field lymphadenectomy were performed following the administration of neoadjuvant chemotherapy composed of fluorouracil plus cisplatin. Intraoperatively, during the catheter jejunostomy procedure for enteral nutrition, a jejunal nodule measuring 1.5 cm in size at 35 cm distal from the Treitz ligament was detected. The nodule was completely resected using partial jejunotomy. A submucosal tumor-like elevated lesion was seen in the resected specimen. Histologically, squamous cell carcinoma invaded the muscularis propria. Lymphovascular permeation was observed. The patient’s postoperative course was uneventful, and he was discharged on postoperative day 25. After 4 months, CT showed recurrence of multiple liver metastases. Unfortunately, the patient died 6 months after the operation.     

Biloma following transcatheter oily chemoembolization.

Hepatic biloma (bile cyst) developed in a patient after transcatheter oily chemoembolization (TOCE) with Lipiodol for hepatocellular carcinoma. The patient was treated conservatively and underwent the next TOCE uneventfully. An inappropriately large dose of Lipiodol, anticancer agent, and Gelfoam can induce biloma; however, it is not reasonable to abstain from TOCE for hepatocellular carcinoma in fear of biloma.     

Radionuclide assessment of peripheral hemodynamics: a new technique for measurement of forearm blood volume and flow

A new peripheral hemodynamic measurement system using 99mTc-labeled red blood cells has been developed. This method was carried out on 22 normal subjects, 29 with coronary artery disease, and two with dilated cardiomyopathy. Peripheral hemodynamic indices obtained from this method included forearm blood volume (FBV), venous capacity (FVC), venous capacity index (VCI), blood flow (FBF), and vascular resistance (FVR), and were compared with the central hemodynamic parameters of left ventricular filling pressure (LVFP), cardiac output (CO), and total systemic vascular resistance (TSVR) obtained with an invasive technique. The normal values were FBV 8.54 +/- 2.04 ml/100 ml; FVC 4.54 +/- 1.23 ml/100 ml; VCI 65.5 +/- 3.8%; FBF 4.26 +/- 0.56 ml/100 ml/min; and FVR 20.9 +/- 4.4 mmHg/ml/100 ml/min. These values were in good agreement with the values reported using conventional plethysmography. The 16 patients with congestive heart failure (NYHA Class II or III) showed significantly lower FBV, FVC, and FBF values and significantly higher VCI and FVR values than the healthy subjects. Capacitance vessel parameters (FBV, FVC, and VCI) and LVFP, FBF and CO, and FVR and TSVR each showed significant correlation; reproducibility was also good. The advantages of this method are (a) the detector does not come in contact with the region being measured; (b) it is possible to ascertain the absolute quantity of blood in the tissue; (c) extravasation of the plasma component can be ignored; and (d) data processing is simple.     

Dietary modulation of the progression of nephropathy in aging rats: an evaluation of the importance of protein

Chronic nephropathy involving glomerular sclerosis markedly progresses in severity with age in male Fischer 344 rats fed ad libitum. Restricting food intake by 40% almost totally prevents progression of these lesions. Restricting food intake by 40% without restricting protein intake is also highly effective although somewhat less so than food restriction that includes protein restriction. These findings indicate that reducing the intake of protein is not the major reason for the retardation by food restriction of the age-associated progression of nephropathy in rats.