Direct insertion of an ultra‐slim upper endoscope for cholangioscopy in patients undergoing choledochoduodenostomy

Direct peroral cholangioscopy (POC) using an ultra‐slim upper endoscope is one modality of POC for intraductal endoscopic evaluation and treatment of the bile duct. Choledochoduodenostomy (CDS) is one modality of biliary bypass surgery that provides a new route to the bile duct. We carried out direct POC using an ultra‐slim upper endoscope without the use of accessories in 10 patients (four sump syndromes, three bile duct strictures and three intrahepatic duct stones) previously undergoing surgical CDS. Direct POC was successful in all patients. The use of an intraductal balloon catheter was required in one patient for advancement of the endoscope into the bile duct. Distal bile ducts with sump syndromes were cleared using baskets and water irrigation under direct POC. Cholangiocarcinoma was diagnosed in one patient with hilar bile duct stricture after cholangioscopic evaluation and a targeting forceps biopsy under direct POC. Intrahepatic duct stones were successfully extracted after intraductal fragmentation under direct POC. Oozing bleeding occurred during intraductal lithotripsy but stopped spontaneously. Direct POC using an ultra‐slim upper endoscope without the assistance of accessories can easily be carried out in patients undergoing CDS.     

可弯曲胸腔镜和硬质胸腔镜诊断不明原因胸腔积液的对比临床研究

目的对比可弯曲胸腔镜和硬质胸腔镜在不明原因胸腔积液诊断中的准确性和安全性。方法采用前瞻性随机对照研究,连续筛选四川大学华西医院2012年3月至2014年3月期间不明原因胸腔积液住院患者,患者年龄18~75岁。经知情同意后,患者随机进入可弯曲胸腔镜组或硬质胸腔镜组进行检查。结果可弯曲胸腔镜组入组49例患者,硬质胸腔镜组入组48例患者。两组共有44例患者通过胸腔镜检查确诊为恶性疾病,48例确诊为良性疾病。两组诊断不明原因胸腔积液总体准确性分别为93.9%和95.8%,可弯曲胸腔镜组诊断肿瘤的敏感性为96.0%,硬质胸腔镜组诊断肿瘤的敏感性为95.2%,两组诊断肿瘤的特异性均为100.0%,两组之间差异无统计学意义。两种胸腔镜技术并发症多数轻微,患者均耐受良好。结论对于不明原因胸腔积液,可弯曲胸腔镜诊断的准确性与硬质胸腔镜相当。尽管可弯曲胸腔镜取材组织小,但是通过多点多次取材,所获得的组织标本能满足病理科医生进行包括免疫组织化学检测在内的疾病诊断。     

Hypocholesterolaemic mechanism of bitter melon aqueous extracts via inhibition of pancreatic cholesterol esterase and reduction of cholesterol micellar solubility

This study investigated the hypocholesterolaemic effects of bitter melon aqueous extracts (BMAE) in vitro, the inhibitory effects of BMAE on pancreatic cholesterol esterase (CEase) and incorporation of cholesterol into micelles were investigated. BMAE decreased the in vitro micellar solubility of cholesterol in a dose-dependent manner. The conformation of CEase was investigated by means of circular dichroism (CD) and fluorescence. The result revealed the decrease of α-helix contents, increase of β-sheet and exposure of aromatic amino acid residuals. The incorporation of cholesterol into micelles was inhibited by BMAE. A complex was observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), which indicated interaction between cholesterol and BMAE. The result revealed that BMAE can play a role in decreased intestinal cholesterol absorption via inhibition of CEase, and of micelle formation.