LONG‐TERM FOLLOW UP OF PATIENTS WITH SMALL GASTROINTESTINAL STROMAL TUMORS IN THE STOMACH USING ENDOSCOPIC ULTRASONOGRAPHY‐GUIDED FINE‐NEEDLE ASPIRATION BIOPSY

Background: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are one of the most common mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. GIST are defined by positive immunohistochemical staining for KIT or CD34 and thus are generally diagnosed after surgery. Because small GIST are rarely diagnosed before surgery, the clinical course of these small tumors is not clear. The aim of the present study was to follow changes in size and configuration of small GIST that were pathologically confirmed using endoscopic ultrasonography‐guided fine‐needle aspiration biopsy (EUS‐FNAB). Methods: Between July 1997 and December 2003, 16 tumors in 16 patients (10 men and 6 women) with an immunohistochemical diagnosis of GIST were regularly followed in our hospital. The median patient age when EUS‐FNAB was performed was 62 years (range 26–82 years) and the median follow‐up period was 4.9 years (range 0.5–9.6 years). Results: Fourteen tumors showed no remarkable changes in size and shape during follow up compared with the initial diagnosis. Two tumors enlarged: one tumor approximately doubled its diameter in 8 years and the other tumor increased from 1.8 cm at diagnosis to up to 10 cm after only 2 years. Doubling time of the latter tumor was calculated as 3.1 months. Conclusions: We conclude that EUS‐FNAB might be a good modality for final diagnosis of GIST without surgery, and that GIST without rapid growth on follow up can be endoscopically followed.     

Tl-201 myocardial images in a patient with dialated cardiomyopathy, who finally received heart transplantation

The patient responded to treatment at the first onset of heart failure but gradually became irresponsive to treatment, experiencing fatigue and malaise as the chief complaints and suffering from gradually progressive decrease in exercise capacity and body weight. Dose of DOA gradually increased to maintain well clinical state of the patient. Unusual for heart failure, he had bradycardia as the basal rhythm without showing a tendency for tachycardia. Cardiac catheterization revealed pulmonary hypertension and low cardiac output, however, left ventricular ejection fraction was 37%. There were no notable changes in ultrasonic cardiogram or CTR through the clinical course. Tl-201 myocardial images and pulmonary perfusion images showed gradual worsening corresponding to progressive worsening of clinical state. From these findings, the patient was determined as a candidate for heart transplantation.     

Effect of the free radical scavenger MCI-186 on spinal cord reperfusion after transient ischemia in the rabbit

Objective: Paraplegia remains a serious complication of aortic operations. The production of free radicals during reperfusion after transient ischemia is believed to induce secondary spinal neuronal injury, resulting in paraplegia. The aim of the present study was to clarify the protective effect and method of administration of antioxidants on the neurological and histological outcome in the animal model for reperfusion injury after transient spinal cord ischemia. Methods: New Zealand white rabbits underwent surgical exposure of the abdominal aorta that was clamped for 15 minutes to achieve spinal cord ischemia. Group A animals received two 10 mg/kg doses of 3-methyl-l-phenyl-2-pyrazolin-5-one (MCI-186) at the time of release of the aortic clamp and 30 minutes later. In group B, MCI-186, 5 mg/kg, was given three times, at the time of aorta clamp release, 30 minutes and 12 hours later. In group C (control group), one dose of vehicle was administered. Neurological status was assessed using modified Tarlov’s score until 168 hours after operation. Spinal cord sections were examined microscopically to determine the extent of ischemic neuronal damage. Results: Groups A and B animals had better neurological function than group C (p(0.001). In contrast, group C animals exhibited paraplegia or paraparesis with marked neuronal necrosis. The number of surviving neurons within examined sections of the spinal cord was significantly greater in group B than in group C (p(0.001). Conclusion: In a 15-minute ischemia-reperfusion model using rabbits, systemic repetitious administration of MCI-186, a free radical scavenger, was found to have a protective effect on the spinal cord neurons both neurologically and histologically. We postulate that the drug minimizes the delayed neuronal cell death for reperfusion injury after transient ischemia by reducing the free radical molecules. Moreover, it was thought that we could protect delayed neuronal cell death more effectively by administering MCI-18612 hours later.     

Pancreatic metastasis of malignant melanoma diagnosed by EUS-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA)]

Pancreatic metastasis of malignant melanoma is rarely diagnosed while the patient is alive. We report a case of metastatic melanoma of the pancreas in a 35-year-old woman presenting with a solid mass of the pancreas. Her past medical history included a radical hysterectomy 2 years previously for malignant melanoma of the vagina. Twelve months later, lung metastasis was also resected. EUS-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) identified that the pancreatic tumor was histologically and immunohistochemically identical to the surgical specimen of her lung neoplasm. Imaging studies including US, CT, and MRI have limited value to distinguish the tumors from primary ductal adenocarcinoma. EUS-FNA can provide tissue diagnosis from pancreatic masses, specifically when other modalities have failed.     

Chronic acid ingestion promotes renal stone formation in rats treated with vitamin D3

OBJECTIVE: Although hypercalciuria, a well-established adverse effect of vitamin D3, can be a risk factor of renal stone formation, the risk of nephrolithiasis has not been well defined. The consumption of a diet high in acid precursors is often cited as a risk factor for the development of calcium-based kidney stones. In the present study, we investigated the effect of chronic acid ingestion on kidney stone formation in rats treated with calcitriol (1-25[OH]2 D3). METHODS: Control rats (C-C), calcitriol-treated rats (C-V; three treatments of 0.5 microg of calcitriol per week) and acid-ingested (water containing 0.21 mol/L NH4Cl), calcitriol-treated (three treatments of 0.5 microg of calcitriol per week) rats (A-V) were fed in metabolic cages. After 1 month, urine, blood, kidney and bone samples were analyzed. RESULTS: The A-V rats exhibited elevated serum calcium concentrations, urinary calcium and phosphate excretion, urinary type I collagen cross-linked N-peptide (NTx)/creatinine values, mRNA expression of osteopontin in the kidney, and renal calcium contents as well as decreased bone mineral densities, compared with the C-C and C-V rats. Urinary citrate excretion was lower and NaDC-1 mRNA expression in the kidney was higher in the A-V rats than in the C-C and C-V rats. Calcium phosphate kidney stones were found in the A-V rats. CONCLUSIONS: The ingestion of NH4Cl, an acid precursor, promotes calcium phosphate kidney stone formation in calcitriol-treated rats. The chronic intake of a diet rich in acid precursors may be a risk factor for the development of kidney stones in subjects who are being treated with calcitriol.