Bleeding from foveolar hyperplasia developing on a gastrointestinal stromal tumor of the stomach

A 52‐year‐old Japanese woman who presented with gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding underwent a proximal gastrectomy for a gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) with a foveolar hyperplasia at the apex of the tumor, 4.5 cm in size, located in the upper body of the stomach. Although GIST are often asymptomatic and are found only incidentally, clinical symptoms such as bleeding, abdominal pain, or obstruction, occasionally lead to a premorbid diagnosis. When submucosal tumors present GI bleeding, the source of the bleeding usually is an ulceration of the mucosa over the tumor. However, in the present study, it was thought that the bleeding originated from the region of foveolar hyperplasia.     

经直肠超声对前列腺癌诊断的价值

目的：本文观察前列腺癌部位声像图特点并与病理对照，以便帮助对前列腺癌诊断及穿刺点的正确选择，提高前列腺穿刺活检阳性率。方法：总结64例经病理证实为前列腺癌的112个部位的经直肠超声声像图，观察有无异常回声肿块和异常血流区域。结果：112个前列腺癌部位其经直肠超声(TRUS)检查发现异常的有90个，占80．4％；TRUS检查未发现可疑之处的为22个，占19．6％。结论：TRUS可作为诊断前列腺癌和前列腺穿刺活检穿刺点选择的重要方法。     

Endorectal surface coil MR imaging of prostatic carcinoma with the inversion-recovery sequence

The value of inversion-recovery (IR) sequences in the diagnosis and staging of prostatic carcinoma with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging was studied. Twenty-six patients with carcinoma of the prostate were imaged at 1.5 T with an endorectal surface coil and with a variety of IR sequences and a set of spin-echo (SE) sequences for comparison. Ex vivo prostate specimens were imaged again at the same field strength. The two images were correlated with histologic sections. Cancer was identified with MR imaging in 96% of patients. Of the tumors more than 4 mm in diameter, 87% were identified on T2-weighted SE images, whereas only 26% were identified on IR images. However, IR images may be more useful in local staging of carcinoma. Gross capsular infiltration was present in only two patients; however, it was detectable (and excluded in five other patients) by means of IR images. It was not detectable on SE images. The high quality of images obtained with the endorectal coil was confirmed. The authors conclude that addition of the IR sequence to MR imaging with the endorectal coil may improve the usefulness of this examination.     

The thymus in seronegative myasthenia gravis patients

Summary In 5–10% of all patients with typical generalised myasthenia gravis (MG), serum antibody to the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) is undetectable. To determine whether these represent a distinct subgroup, we have compared the thymuses of 14 seronegatives, 70 seropositives and 12 non-myasthenic controls. By quantitative immunohistology on coded sections, the 7 seronegative samples were clearly distinguishable from the controls by the pronounced lymph node-type T-cell areas in the medulla. While these closely resembled those in the seropositive cases, germinal centres were significantly sparser, and total in vitro IgG production was disproportionately low (per B cell) in the 12 cases tested. Furthermore, specific anti-AChR production was never detected in any of these cultures. The data support the view that the medullary T-cell areas are the most consistent abnormalitiy in the MG thymus (though it may not be primary), and they strongly imply that seronegative and seropositive MG are distinct entities.     

Clinical and histopathological findings of ''psoriatic neurodermatitis'' and of typical lichen simplex chronicus

BACKGROUND: We have seen several patients with itchy lichenified plaques located bilaterally on the elbows and/or knees and have named this condition 'psoriatic neurodermatitis' (PN). OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare clinical and histopathological characteristics of these patients to those of patients with typical lichen simplex chronicus (LSC). METHODS: Nineteen patients with PN and 34 patients with typical LSC were included. Besides clinical dermatological evaluation, the prick test was carried out on 49 patients; the Phadiatop test on 40 patients; the patch test with European standard series on 47 patients; histopathological evaluation on 39 patients; and clinical psychiatric examination on 38 patients. RESULTS: Almost exclusively, PN was seen in females and was located on the extremities. It caused more plaques than typical LSC did. In PN, the plaques were smaller, sharper, more keratotic and less excoriated, and had fewer lichenoid papules around them. Itching was usually more severe in the evening, while resting and in a hot environment in typical LSC, but not in PN. In plaques of PN, microabscesses in the horny layer, hypogranulosis, regular acanthosis and thinning of the suprapapillary plates were more frequent, and hyperpigmentation in the basal layer was less. In patients with PN, depressive disorder was found more frequently; and generalized anxiety disorder or psychosomatic characteristics, less. There were no significant differences in the results of prick, Phadiatop and patch tests between patients with PN and those with typical LSC. CONCLUSION: In our opinion, it is most likely that the so-called PN is itchy psoriasis superimposed by LSC.     

The effect of Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench extract on experimental prostate hyperplasia

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea L. Moench) on the prostate gland of rats using an experimental model of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). The animals were administered 50 mg/kg of extract preparation for 4 and 8 weeks and the prostate mass and structural degenerative changes were evaluated in the course of the experiment. The administration of E. purpurea extract to rats with hyperplasia for 4 and 8 weeks gradually and significantly reduced the prostate mass and reversed the degenerative changes in the structure of the prostate gland. The present investigation suggests extract of purple coneflower prevents the development of BPH. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Prostate cancer: Prevalence and treatment in African men

Epidemiological data from the United States of America (USA) indicate that the incidence and mortality of prostate cancer is higher among Black African-American men (AAM) than among White (Caucasian) American men (CAM). Earlier studies suggesting that prostate cancer is relatively rare among indigenous Black men in Africa are probably flawed by underreporting because recent studies indicate that the incidence rates among Black men are similar to those of White men living in Africa. The higher incidence of prostate cancer among AAM has been ascribed to racial differences in genetic susceptibility, dietary factors, or androgen metabolism. However, it may also be due to registration artefacts because in Africa the reported incidence rates of prostate cancer in different countries correlate directly with the per capita gross national product, suggesting improved access to medical facilities is responsible for higher reported incidence rates.

The greater prostate cancer mortality among AAM may result from higher tumour grade and stage and higher serum PSA at presentation, but it has also been suggested that prostate cancer is biologically more aggressive in AAM than in CAM. However, recent studies indicate that tumour grade and stage and serum PSA at presentation are similar in the races, with no difference in survival after multivariate analysis controlling for pretreatment cancer severity. This suggests that the higher prostate cancer mortality among AAM results from socio-economic factors and limited access to healthcare. Black men living inside as well as outside of Africa still tend to present with locally advanced or metastatic prostate cancer due to lack of early detection programmes.     

垂体细胞增生的诊断和治疗

目的探讨垂体细胞增生的诊断与治疗。方法男性2例,女性42例,平均年龄28.7岁,平均病程2.4年。临床表现和内分泌检查符合闭经泌乳综合征13例,库欣综合征11例,巨人症1例,无内分泌功能紊乱19例。蝶鞍MRI正常3例,垂体上缘膨隆30例,蝶鞍内信号不均匀26例,垂体柄偏斜17例。44例均行经口鼻蝶窦显微外科垂体探查术。结果44例术后病理均为垂体前叶细胞增生,随访3个月至5年。闭经泌乳患者术后改善12例,复发1例。库欣综合征患者术后改善8例,稳定1例,复发2例。巨人症患者术后无改善。无内分泌功能紊乱症状患者术后改善14例。结论垂体细胞增生在术前很难明确诊断,手术疗效较垂体腺瘤差,易复发。     

经尿道前列腺电切术和汽化电切术并发症48例分析

目的 分析经尿道前列腺电切术（TURP）与经尿道前列腺汽化电切术（TVP）术中、术后常见并发症的原因、预防及治疗，提高手术安全性和有效性。方法 回顾性分析1999年5月-2006年6月我院TURP和TVP术48例并发症患者的临床资料。结果 平均手术时间75min，平均切除组织41g。术中、术后出血20例，电切综合征（TURS）5例，暂时性尿失禁11例，膀胱颈部挛缩5例，尿道狭窄8例，尿路感染7例，膀胱穿孔1例。结论 TURP和TVP是良性前列腺增生症安全有效的外科治疗方法，术前详细采集病史，术中正确操作。术后对病人正确指导及处理可有效减少手术并发症。