Animal Models of Barrett's Esophagus and Esophageal Adenocarcinoma–Past,Present, and Future

Esophageal adenocarcinoma is the fastest rising cancer in the United States. It develops from long‐standing gastroesophageal reflux disease which affects >20% of the general population. It carries a very poor prognosis with 5‐year survival <20%. The disease is known to sequentially progress from reflux esophagitis to a metaplastic precursor, Barrett''s esophagus and then onto dysplasia and esophageal adenocarcinoma. However, only few patients with reflux develop Barrett''s esophagus and only a minority of these turn malignant. The reason for this heterogeneity in clinical progression is unknown. To improve patient management, molecular changes which facilitate disease progression must be identified. Animal models can provide a comprehensive functional and anatomic platform for such a study. Rats and mice have been the most widely studied but disease homology with humans has been questioned. No animal model naturally simulates the inflammation to adenocarcinoma progression as in humans, with all models requiring surgical bypass or destruction of existing antireflux mechanisms. Valuable properties of individual models could be utilized to holistically evaluate disease progression. In this review paper, we critically examined the current animal models of Barrett''s esophagus, their differences and homologies with human disease and how they have shaped our current understanding of Barrett''s carcinogenesis.     

Recipient hypertonic saline infusion prevents cardiac allograft dysfunction

Objective

Hypertonic saline (HTS) has potent immune and vascular effects. We assessed recipient pretreatment with HTS on allograft function in a porcine model of heart transplantation and hypothesized that HTS infusion would limit endothelial and left ventricular (LV) dysfunction following transplantation.

Bipolar disorders: treatment options and patient satisfaction

Functional recovery, the goal of treatment, has long been overlooked in the assessment of effectiveness of pharmacological treatments. However, with the recent shift in paradigm, from syndromal–symptomatic recovery to functional recovery, there appears to be a new interest in the definition and evaluation of functional recovery. Since functional recovery lags symptomatic recovery, sometimes by months or years, the attainment of functional recovery will be determined by both efficacy and long-term compliance. Quetiapine, due to its efficacy in both mania and depression, and effect on cognition may lead to improved functioning in patients with bipolar disorder.     

Left ventricular mass regression following aortic valve replacement with mechanical valves

Objective The degree of Left Ventricular Mass Index (LVMI) regression following aortic valve replacement correlates with long-term survival. This study aims to assess the extent of LVMI regression at 3 months following aortic valve replacement (AVR) with different types and sizes of mechanical valves in rheumatic aortic valve disease. Methods The LVMI regression was studied in 34 consecutive patients, undergoing elective AVR for rheumatic aortic stenosis and/or regurgitation. They were grouped in A and B, matched in age, body surface area and pre-operative LVMI, receiving respectively a tilting disc and a bileaflet mechanical valve. The LVMI was calculated by M-mode echocardiography using the Devereux' formula pre-operatively and three months post-operatively. The trend of LVMI reduction was compared between the two groups and amongst the patients with stenotic, regurgitant and mixed aortic valve, pathologies; and receiving different sizes of valves. Results The mean preoperative LVMI was 199g±79.5 g/m². At three months post aortic valve replacement, the mean LVMI was 130g±49.0 g/m². There was a significant reduction of LVMI post-operatively (p=0.001) at three months follow-up. The extent of LVMI regression following surgery amongst the groups A and B did not vary significantly (p=0.92). The extent of LVMI regression did not vary significantly in patients with different aortic valve pathology nor with different sizes of the valves implanted. Conclusions There is a significant early LVMI regression following aortic valve replacement in rheumatic aortic valve disease. The type and the size of the mechanical prosthesis or the rheumatic pathology do not appear to influence this regression.     

Polyostotic fibrous dysplasia of the cervical spine: case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Multiple lytic lesions of the spine usually represent metastatic or infectious disease processes. PURPOSE: To describe an extremely rare presentation of an uncommon disease process. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: Case report/university hospital. METHODS: We describe the management of a patient who presented with a pathological fracture of C3 and multiple lytic lesions of the cervical spine. RESULTS: After reconstructive surgery, the final pathological diagnosis was fibrous dysplasia. CONCLUSION: Fibrous dysplasia is rarely seen in the cervical spine and may mimic other pathological processes. The surgical and medical management of spinal fibrous dysplasia is described.     

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy of a staghorn stone in thoracic ectopic kidney

Congenital thoracic ectopic kidney is a very rare developmental anomaly and the rarest form of all ectopic kidneys. It is usually asymptomatic and discovered incidentally on routine chest radiography. Herein we reported the first case of staghorn stone in a thoracic kidney managed successfully by percutaneous nephrolithotomy.