Carcinoma of the papilla of vater: Are endoscopic appearance and endoscopic biopsy discordant?

Carcinoma of the papilla of Vater is classified as periampullary cancer representing 5% of all gastrointestinal tract malignancies. Early and accurate diagnosis is important for those patients with a tumor of the papilla, as the prognosis is more favorable than in other periampullary neoplasms. Endoscopically obtained biopsies from suspicious papillae can detect an early tumor, although even for skilled pathologists it is often difficult to differentiate carcinomas from noninvasive lesions on the basis of forceps biopsies. The purpose of this study was to assess the preoperative diagnostic accuracy of duodenoscopy appearance and biopsy in all cases with suspicion of tumor. Thirty patients with suspicion of carcinoma of the papilla of Vater and with final diagnosis established by pancreatoduodenectomy were included in this retrospective study. In each case, a comparison was made between endoscopic biopsy and duodenoscopic appearance. Duodenoscopic appearance sensitivity and accuracy for malignancy were 86% and 83%, respectively, whereas endoscopic biopsy sensitivity and accuracy were 65% and 67%, respectively. Although preoperative diagnosis of carcinoma of the papilla of Vater is useful for making therapeutic decisions, the diagnostic value of the endoscopic appearance was superior to endoscopic biopsy in this series. Presented at the 2003 American Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association Congress, Miami, Florida, February 27-March 3, 2003. Supported by FADA-CAPES/PROP 200J (M.L.D.).     

Ethics and Society: Filiation in assisted reproduction: potential conflicts and legal implications

Filiation, or a person's parentage, is one of the major componentsof someone's identity, often with important implications forthat person's welfare in social and personal terms. Fertilityspecialists are enjoined to consider the welfare of the child,and this is a legal requirement in assisted reproduction techniquesin the UK. This paper is in three parts, discussing some ofthe potential problems regarding filiation of the prospectivechild born of assisted reproduction techniques, in relationto the use of gametes and embryos. The first two parts concentrateon the status of children born as a result of treatment givenposthumously, and on filiation problems associated with donationof gametes or embryos, and surrogacy. The third part comparesBritish and French legislation with special regard to the welfareof the child, as well as underlining the common trends and principlesenunciated in both legislations. This is particularly appropriateat a time when the European Society for Human Reproduction andEmbryology is about to issue ethical guidelines in assistedreproduction, and when both the Council of Europe and the EuropeanCommission have commissioned studies on the implications ofthe assisted techniques, including those concerning status ofthe potential children.     

骨髓腔静脉造影在特发性股骨头坏死诊断中的应用

本文介绍17例（34髋）特发性股骨头坏死、4例（4髋）正常人骨髓腔静脉造影所见。发现25髋有异常改变,并经病理证实。作者认为:①骨干返流;②2支或2支以上静脉不显影;③多条静脉明显变细;④干骺端瘀积是股骨头坏死的造影表现,前二者是可靠的诊断依据。造影结果提示髓腔静脉造影是一种安全而敏感的诊断技术。     

Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) modulates the mutagenic effects produced by an alkylating agent in vivo

Recent reports suggest that ascorbic acid (vitamin C) inhibits tumorigenesis as well as exerts a protective effect against mutagenesis in vitro; however, there is no information on its ability to affect gene mutations induced in vivo. In this study, we have investigated the antimutagenic effects of ascorbic acid on the frequency of 6-thioguanine-resistant (6-TGr) T-lymphocytes produced in Fischer 344 rats dosed with the direct-acting alkylating agent, N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU). The freqeuncy of 6-TG^r T-lymphocytes from the spleen measured five weeks after ENU treatment indicated that ENU produced a substantial mutagenic response. Pretreatment and/or post-treatment of rats with ascorbic acid administered in the drinking water appeared to inhibit the response, but the inhibition was statistically significant only when data from the various dosing schedules were pooled. In addition, there was no clear dose-dependency to the inhibitory effect of ascorbic acid. To further evaluate the time effects of the vitamin supplement on ENU mutagenicity, rats were exposed to the mutagen together with ascorbic acid, which was given continuously for the entire duration of the experiment. At specific times after ENU treatment, the frequency of 6-TG^r T-cells was determined in lymphocytes isolated from the spleen and the thymus. Time-dependent increases in the frequency of 6-TG^r T-cells were observed with ENU treatment; ascorbic acid significantly reduced the ENU-mediated mutagenic responses, most dramatically in the spleen at weeks 6 and 8 (P < 0.0001), and to a lesser extent in the thymus (P < 0.01 at week 6 and P < 0.006 at week 8). Our data suggest that ascorbic acid intake affects the in vivo mutagenicity of ENU, a direct-acting mutagen/carcinogen, and that the reported inhibitory effects of the antioxidant on carcinogenesis may be partially mediated by its effects on mutagenesis. Although it is difficult to extrapolate from rodent studies to humans, the results presented suggest an explanation for epidemiological data that link vitamin C ingestion with decreased cancer risk. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

颈外动脉栓塞在耳鼻咽喉科的应用

在耳鼻咽喉科手术中应用颈外动脉栓塞法１０例，形成栓塞组，并把单纯颈外动脉结扎１０例作为对照组。结果表明：栓塞组较对照组术中出血量显著减少，有利于病灶彻底清除，因而有提高治愈率减少复发率的作用。掌握栓塞位置、栓塞剂用量和注射速度是防止并发症的关键。     

Localized wall thickening of the gallbladder mimicking a neoplasm

Clinical diagnosis of chronic cholecystitis is made based on diffuse hyperechoic thickening of the gallbladder wall as shown by ultrasonographic examination. We herein report three cases of chronic cholecystitis showing localized hypoechoic thickening of the gallbladder wall that mimicked gallbladder cancer by ultrasonography. Histologically, hypertrophy of the muscularis propria was a common characteristic finding in these three patients. A smooth surface of the inner hypoechoic layer of the thickened wall was considered to be a reliable finding in the differential diagnosis between this type of chronic cholecystitis and gallbladder cancer.     

质疑Frank—Starling心脏定律

心脏收缩释放的能量（作功）是心肌纤维长度（心室舒张末期容积，EDV）的函数，即Frank—Star一1ing（FS）心脏作功定律，被誉为心脏生理学中的“经典”理论。对此，笔者从各种不同角度进行了探讨：首先分析了Frank伸展离体心肌和Starling及其同事使用心肺制备做的实验与动物生理实际的差异，以及人们在实验中观测到的增加心肌前负荷引起收缩力增强的现象（FS现象），认为：①在正常生理条件下的动物体内，来自心脏以外的、如同心肺制备中那样人工控制心室充盈压力升高、引起EDV增加的那种血液的重力动力是不存在的。②另一方面，人为地增加前负荷，那是改变了心肌收缩时的外环境条件。③由此而激发出的FS现象，是心脏适应其外环境条件变化所作出的反应。④此种心肌收缩力增强的反应，需通过心肌细胞内部与收缩过程发生有关的心肌兴奋一收缩和化学一力学偶联等一系列生化机制（不恒定因素）方能得以实现。⑤根据他们实验中观测到的FS现象，在逻辑上不能得出前负荷这一心肌收缩时的外环境条件变化调控其作功的推论。换言之，所有的在实验中被激发出来的FS现象，都不足以成为支持FS心脏定律的证据。然后，引用国内外公认的计算心脏每搏射血作功（w）的生物物理学公式“w=P×（EDV—ESV）”，证明了w和EDV之间没有函数关系。根据心脏作功的医用物理学和生物数学的基本原理，笔者认为Frank—Starling心脏定律表达的不是心脏作功的规律。     

鱼腥草治疗上呼吸道感染的疗效观察

目的探讨鱼腥草治疗上呼吸道感染所致发热病人的疗效。方法将确诊的病例随机分为2组,治疗组和对照组各30例。治疗组给予鱼腥草、青霉素钠静滴,对照组用病毒唑、青霉素钠静滴。结果治疗组退热时间多在2d以内,对照组多在2d后。治疗组症状消失时间多在5d以内,对照组多在5d以后。差异有统计学意义。结论用鱼腥草和青霉素静滴可缩短发热时间,且症状消失快。     

MANAGEMENT TO PREVENT BLEEDING DURING ENDOSCOPIC SUBMUCOSAL DISSECTION USING THE FLUSH KNIFE FOR GASTRIC TUMORS

The gastric vasculature responsible for intraoperative bleeding in endosocpic submucosal dissection (ESD) is the ramified vascular network occupying the middle of the submucosal layer and large vessels penetrating the muscle layer. Appropriate management for these vessels must be addressed. The trimming of the ramified vascular network can be safely performed with coagulation mode following shallow mucosal cutting. A large penetrating vessel usually requires precoagulation prior to dissection. These procedures are effectively performed with the water jet short needle knife (Flush knife).