Prevalence,etiology, and prognostic significance of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage in diabetic ketoacidosis

We reviewed the discharge records of all diabetic ketoacidosis hospitalizations over 30 months for the presence of clinically significant upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Of 284 hospitalizations in 193 patients, hemorrhage occurred in 26 hospitalizations (9%) in 25 patients (13%). None required invasive therapy to achieve hemostasis, and there were no bleeding recurrences and no deaths due to bleeding. Endoscopy in eight revealed esophagitis in all (five had erosions or ulcerations), one Mallory-Weiss tear, five with gastritis (mild in four), four with duodenitis (one erosive), one duodenal ulcer, and no gastric ulcers. Hemorrhage patients had a longer diabetes duration (14.85 vs 9.16 years,P<0.02), and more nephropathy (40% vs 11%,P<0.001), retinopathy (28% vs 12%,P<0.03) and gastroparesis (36% vs 10%,P<0.002) than those without hemorrhage. Ulcer medication (42% vs 23%,P<0.03) or anticoagulant (12% vs 1%,P<0.005) but not nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug usage (12% vs 12%) was higher in the hemorrhage group. Admission glucose (P<0.02), BUN (P<0.04), and creatinine (P<0.02) levels were higher in hemorrhage patients, but arterial pH, serum ketones, hemoglobin, platelet count, and coagulation values were not. Hemorrhage patients required more blood transfusions (27% vs 10%,P<0.003) and intensive care unit admissions (69% vs 43%,P<0.009). Total (15% vs 3%,P<0.003) and intensive care unit mortality (22% vs 6%,P<0.026) were higher in the hemorrhage group. We conclude that upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage complicates 9% of diabetic ketoacidosis hospitalizations. Blood transfusion may be required, but the bleeding is self-limited and not severe. The most common lesion is erosive esophagitis. Hemorrhage correlates with glucose level, admission to the intensive care unit, duration of diabetes, the presence of diabetic complications, and portends a high non-bleeding-related mortality.     

Squamous cell carcinoma and Zenker diverticulum

Squamous cell carcinoma in a Zenker diverticulum is a very rare condition. We report a case of a patient with a Zenker carcinoma, who was primarily functionally inoperable and therefore received neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy before cardiac bypass surgery. After a complicated course with cardiogenic shock and myocardial infarction, a re-evaluation of functional risk analysis and the tumor situation revealed operability. Subsequently, partial hypopharyngectomy and partial cervical esophageal resection with lymphadenectomy was performed. Reconstruction of the gastrointestinal continuity was made by interposition of a free small bowel graft and microvascular anastomosis. The postoperative course showed a small anastomotic leakage of the hypopharyngeal-small bowel anastomosis, which was successfully treated conservatively.     

Correlation of gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms characteristics with long-segment Barrett''s esophagus

Thus far, there has been a paucity of studies that have assessed the value of the different gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptom characteristics in identifying patients with long-segment Barrett's esophagus versus those with short-segment Barrett's esophagus. To determine if any of the symptom characteristics of GERD correlates with long-segment Barrett's esophagus versus short-segment Barrett's esophagus. Patients seen in our Barrett's clinic were prospectively approached and recruited into the study. All patients underwent an endoscopy, validated GERD symptoms questionnaire and a personal interview. Of the 88 Barrett's esophagus patients enrolled into the study, 47 had short-segment Barrett's esophagus and 41 long-segment Barrett's esophagus. Patients with short-segment Barrett's esophagus reported significantly more daily heartburn symptoms (84.1%) than patients with long-segment Barrett's esophagus (63.2%, P = 0.02). There was a significant difference in reports of severe to very severe dysphagia in patients with long-segment Barrett's esophagus versus those with short-segment Barrett's esophagus (76.9%vs. 38.1%, P = 0.02). Longer duration in years of chest pain was the only symptom characteristic of gastroesophageal reflux disease associated with longer lengths of Barrett's mucosa. Reports of severe or very severe dysphagia were more common in long-segment Barrett's esophagus patients. Only longer duration of chest pain was correlated with longer lengths of Barrett's esophagus.     

Barrett's esophagus: Pathogenesis,epidemiology, functional abnormalities,malignant degeneration,and surgical management

Barrett's esophagus (i.e. columnar epithelial metaplasia in the distal esophagus) is an acquired condition that in most patients results from chronic gastroesophageal reflux. It is a disorder of the white male in the Western world with a prevalence of about 1/400 population. Due to the decreased sensitivity of the columnar epithelium to symptoms, Barrett's esophagus remains undiagnosed in the majority of patients. Gastroesophageal reflux disease in patients with Barrett's esophagus has a more severe character and is more frequently associated with complications as compared with reflux patients without columnar mucosa. This appears to be due to a combination of a mechanically defective lower esophageal sphincter, inefficient esophageal clearance function, and gastric acid hypersecretion. Excessive reflux of alkaline duodenal contents may be responsible for the development of complications (i.e., stricture, ulcer, and dysplasia). Therapy of benign Barrett's esophagus is directed towards treatment of the underlying reflux disease. Barrett's esophagus is associated with a 30- to 125-fold increased risk for adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. The reasons for the dramatic rise in the incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma, which occurred during the past years, are unknown. High grade dysplasia in a patient with columnar mucosa is an ominous sign for malignant degeneration. Whether an esophagectomy should be performed in patients with high grade dysplasia remains controversial. Complete resection of the tumor and its lymphatic drainage is the procedure of choice in all patients with a resectable carcinoma who are fit for surgery. In patients with tumors located in the distal esophagus, this can be achieved by a transhiatal en-bloc esophagectomy and proximal gastrectomy. Early adenocarcinoma can be cured by this approach. The value of multimodality therapy in patients with advanced tumors needs to be shown in randomized prospective trials.     

苦参碱对上消化系肿瘤临床药理作用的研究进展

苦参碱能防治大鼠胃癌前病变以及乙基硝基亚硝基胍诱发大鼠原发性胃癌,也能防治人胃癌MKN-45细胞、SGC-7901细胞、BG823细胞、人胰腺癌BxPC-3细胞移植瘤在裸鼠或大鼠体内生长。经体外实验发现,苦参碱能浓度相关地抑制人胃癌SGC-7901细胞、MGC803细胞、BGC823细胞、MKN-45细胞、NCI-N87细胞、AGS细胞、人胰腺癌BxPC-3细胞、CFPAC-1细胞、人胆管癌QBC939细胞、人胆囊癌GSC-SD细胞、人食管癌Eca109细胞、Escl细胞的增殖并诱导其凋亡。经体内外实验结果发现,苦参碱能增强化疗药抗人胃癌SGC-7901细胞作用。综述苦参碱对消化系肿瘤临床药理作用的研究文献,并对其研究进展做了分析。     

Carcinoma with Multidirectional Differentiation Arising in Barrett's Esophagus

Four cases of esophageal carcinoma arising in metaplastic Barrett's epithelium are presented in which multidirectional differentiation was demonstrated by light and/or electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry. All tumors and adjacent mucosa produced both neutral and acidic mucins, as well as one or more hormones indigenous to the gut, including gastrin, bombesin, substance P, somatostatin, and serotonin. Gastrin and somatostatin were the peptides most frequently identified in the tumors, while somatostatin and serotonin predominated in Barrett's epithelium. Ultrastructurally, neurosecretory-type granules, 80–250 nm in diameter, were present in 2 cases; squamous features also were present in one of these cases. One patient displayed hypertrophic osteoarthropathy, which disappeared after the tumor was resected.

These cases represent the majority of the Barrett-associated carcinomas in our material. Compared to the “pure” esophageal adenocarcinomas not included in this report, these tumors behaved more aggressively, with wider local involvement and nodal and systemic metastases at the time of presentation.

The incidence of multidifferentiation in esophageal carcinomas is not known nor is its possible significance, particularly with regard to tumors arising in metaplastic epithelium. This group may merit further study to detect true differences, if any, between these esophageal carcinomas and their apparently more common counterparts.     

Laparoscopic mediastinal approach for retrosternal gastric conduit cancer after esophagectomy

The prognosis of esophageal cancer has improved, but the incidence of gastric conduit cancer has increased. Gastric conduit cancer is difficult to treat because current treatment options are highly invasive; in particular, surgical procedures have high mortality and modality. Treatment through the retrosternal route usually requires sternotomy, which often causes lethal osteomyelitis. To prevent lethal complications and reduce invasiveness, we used the laparoscopic mediastinal approach. Here, we report a successful case using the laparoscopic mediastinal approach for the treatment of gastric conduit cancer through the retrosternal route. Despite a few concerns, this approach can be a treatment option for gastric conduit cancer through the retrosternal route.