Nitric oxide mediates inhibitory nerve effects in human esophagus and lower esophageal sphincter

The effect of inhibition of nitric oxide synthase on nonadrenergic, noncholinergic nerve-mediated responses in circular smooth muscle of the human esophageal body and lower esophageal sphincter (LES) was examinedin vitro. Tissues were obtained from 10 patients (eight esophageal resection for cancer, two transplant donors). Muscle strips from the LES developed significant spontaneous tension (11.6 ± 2.1 mN/mm²,N=6) and relaxed in response to electrical stimulation. The nitric oxide synthase inhibitor,N -nitro-l-arginine (NNA), at 10^–5 M, inhibited the relaxation, but had no significant effect on the spontaneous tension (13.0 ± 2.6 mN/mm²,P=0.07). Esophageal body strips developed little spontaneous tension, demonstrated an off contraction following the cessation of the electrical stimulus, and when contracted with 10^–5 M carbachol, relaxed during electrical stimulation. NNA (10^–5 M) inhibited the off contraction and the relaxation seen after carbachol and unmasked a prominent intrastimulus contraction. This intrastimulus contraction was enhanced by eserine and inhibited by atropine and tetrodotoxin. NNA showed similar potency in the esophageal body and LES and its effects were reversed byl-arginine, but notd-arginine. The results indicate that nitric oxide is an important mediator for nonadrenergic, noncholinergic nerve effects in the human esophagus and lower esophageal sphincter.This research was supported in part by an ICI Pharma/Medical Research Council of Canada Research Fellowship grant awarded to H.G. Preiksaitis and a Medical Research Council Program Grant PG8.     

Velocity of peristaltic propagation in distal esophageal segments

Recent studies of the peristaltic pressure wave have suggested the presence of two sequential but overlapping contraction segments in the distal esophageal body. In this report, propagation velocity of esophageal peristalsis was determined in these segments in normal subjects (N=35) and in patients with high-amplitude peristalsis (nutcracker esophagus,N=25) to see if intersegment differences were present in the normal or abnormal setting. Velocity measurements were made from conventional manometric tracings in two 4-cm regions representing the distal smooth-muscle segments. A novel method of velocity measurement was employed that used regression lines established from contraction onset times. In normal subjects, propagation velocity decreased significantly from the proximal to distal segment (4.9±0.5 cm/sec, vs 3.2±0.2 cm/sec,P<0.01). Velocity also decreased across segments in nutcracker-esophagus patients (5.3±0.6 cm/sec, vs 3.6±0.7 cm/sec,P=0.06), but the difference reached statistical significance only when the subset with highest amplitudes (180 mm Hg) was analyzed separately. Greater variance in velocity in the distal smooth-muscle segment of nutcracker-esophagus patients (P<0.01) was, in part, responsible for this statistical observation. We conclude that normal propagation velocity decreases across regions corresponding to the smooth-muscle contraction segments defined by recent studies of peristalsis, supporting the assumption that they represent separate neuromuscular units. The mechanisms responsible for contraction wave abnormalities in the nutcracker esophagus have a minimal effect on propagation velocity, an effect that is restricted to the distal smooth-muscle segment of the esophageal body.Supported in part by a grant from the United States Public Health Service (AM07130).     

PCNA immunostaining combined with AgNOR staining in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma to identify patients with a poor prognosis

Immunostaining of the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) provides important information about cell kinetics and is easily performed on routinely obtained formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded materials. We report herein the results of a retrospective study on PCNA staining in esophageal cancer undertaken to determine its significance. As this study indicated that immunoreactivity was preserved in specimens fixed within 24 h, only 31 specimens from surgical patients were available for this investigation. The mean PCNA index of the patients without invasion to the adventitia (35.7±17.9) was significantly lower than that of those with invasion to the adventitia or neighboring structures (49.7±14.5), while the PCNA index did not correlate with other clinicopathologic parameters such as histologic type, lymph node metastases, or prognosis. However, when an analysis of PCNA staining was combined with an analysis of argyrophilic nucleolar organizer region (AgNOR) staining, a correlation with prognosis was found. In fact, seven patients with a high PCNA index (44) and AgNOR count (6) had a significantly poorer prognosis than the remaining 22 (P=0.0014), and six of these seven patients died within 2 years. These results indicate that this combined evaluation may be useful for the identification of patients with a poor prognosis among those undergoing surgery for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.     

Early one-stage orthotopic jejunal pedicle-graft interposition in long-gap esophageal atresia

Since 1988, four children with long-gap esophageal atresia have undergone one-stage orthotopic jejunal pedicle-graft interposition at the age of 2 to 3 months. Obtaining enough jejunal length was no problem and major early complications did not occur. In one patient stenosis of the distal anastomosis was problematic and required corrective surgery. None of the patients demonstrated jejunitis as a result of gastroesophageal reflux. With follow-up periods of 12, 27, 46, and 60 months, all patients are doing well. It is concluded that the jejunum is a better esophageal substitute than is generally appreciated.     

食管癌术后一次性硬膜外注射和肌肉注射镇痛法的比较

目的：确定硬膜外一次性镇痛法对食管癌病人术后的镇痛效果和减少并发症的意义。方法：９３ 例病人随机分成实验组（ Ｔ 组,５１ 例） 和对照组（ Ｃ 组,４２ 例） , Ｔ 组于手术结束缝合皮肤切口时经硬膜外导管于 Ｔ６ － ７ 水平注射吗啡１ ｍｇ 加１ ％ 普鲁卡因１０ ｍｌ, Ｃ 组用阿片类药物肌肉注射镇痛。结果： Ｔ 组病人术后疼痛明显减轻,各种并发症显著下降。结论：硬膜外一次性镇痛效果确切,操作方便,副作用少,对降低术后心肺并发症很有意义,尤其对年龄大、心肺功能差的病人较适合。     

Finger bougie method compared with pyloroplasty in the gastric replacement of the esophagus

To elucidate the necessity of pyloroplasty for the gastric tube through the posterior mediastinum in esophageal surgery, gastric emptying and duodenogastric reflux (DGR) were evaluated in 16 cases undergoing an anterior pylorectomy (group P) and in 16 cases treated by the finger bougie method (group F). First, the obstruction and reflux symptoms were examined based on a patient questionnaire using a brief scoring system. The median value of the symptom score showed the patients in P to have more symptoms than those in F; however, the difference was not significant (8.0 vs 6.0). Secondly, the swallowed Tc O₄ ⁻ (85 MBq) was counted using a gamma camera at three sites on the sternal bone in the upright position based on a gastric transit scintigram. Both the descending time of the RI peak and the clearance rates were similar between the two groups. Thirdly, intragastric 24-h pH monitoring was carried out. Antimony pH sensors were anchored 5 and 15 cm below the esophagogastrostomy. We could not find any difference between the two groups in both the % time pH>4 and %time pH>7. These findings thus revealed no big difference between groups P and F. The finger bougie method to drain the vagotomized posterior mediastinal stomach was found to achieve results similar to conventional pyloroplasty, while it was also simpler and safer.     

Successful treatment of tracheomalacia associated with esophageal atresia without a tracheoesophageal fistula by aortopexy: Report of a case

Tracheomalacia (TM) is well known as a complication associated with esophageal atresia (EA) and tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF); however, the occurrence of TM requiring surgical treatment in a patient having EA without a tracheoesophageal fistula has never been reported. We describe herein a rare case of TM associated with EA without TEF. Respiratory distress was caused by compression of the trachea by a severely dilated upper esophageal pouch with weakness of the tracheal wall. Aortopexy was performed, and an excellent postoperative result was achieved.     

电化学疗法治疗中晚期食管癌和贲门癌42例

目的探讨应用电化学疗法治疗中晚期食管癌和贲门癌的临床疗效。方法电化学疗法治疗中晚期食管癌和贲门癌４２例,对其治疗前后的疗效进行比较。结果通过对比电化学治疗前后食管Ｘ线钡餐检查及进食改善情况显示,８８％的患者在接受电化学治疗后进食明显改善,８９％的患者食管狭窄扩大在０．５ｃｍ以上。结论电化学疗法治疗食管癌和贲门癌解除食管梗阻见效快,疗效显著,能恢复患者饮食,可为实施其他治疗创造条件,使其远期生存率提高。     

舌状浆肌瓣覆盖—食管胃粘膜吻合术治疗食管癌100例临床体会

作者用“舌状浆肌瓣覆盖——食管胃粘膜吻合术”治疗食管癌100例,随访1—10个月,无吻合口狭窄及返流性食管炎。本组无吻合口瘘及手术死亡。本组经验:保持舌状浆肌瓣的完整和保证吻合口良好血供是本手术成功的关键。     

Esophageal pressure and apnea hypopnea index in sleep-disordered breathing

Severity of negative esophageal pressure (Pes) and apnea hypopnea index (AHI) were investigated in six cases of upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS) and 11 cases of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). The severity of negative Pes was represented by the highest peak (Pes Max) and the number of increased episodes (more than 13.5 cmH2O) per h (NPesI13.5). There was no significant correlation between Pes indices and AHI. Pes Max and NPesI13.5 were not different among severe OSAS (AHI > 30), mild OSAS (AHI < 30) and UARS. Apnea hypopnea index failed to represent the severity of negative Pes, which is an important aspect of the pathophysiology of sleep-disordered breathing.