Increased mucosal inflammatory cytokines in children with Helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis

The concentrations of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-1-β in tissue homogenates of gastric mucosal biopsy specimens, and in gastric juice samples from Helicobacter pylori-positive and -negative children, were determined. The study population comprised 30 children with recurrent abdominal pain attending upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Of these patients 18 were infected with H. pylori. Cytokine concentrations in gastric biopsy homogenate supernatants and in gastric juice were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). TNF-α levels in gastric juice and in gastric biopsy homogenate supernatants in patients with H. pylori-positive gastritis were found to be significantly higher than those in children without H. pylori infection. IL-6 levels were also higher in H. pylori -infected subjects, but the difference in IL-6 concentrations measured in gastric juice and biopsy homogenate supernatants did not reach statistical significance. IL-1-β concentrations in both specimens showed no significant difference between the two groups of children. It was suggested that increased levels of inflammatory cytokines, especially TNF-α and IL-6 generated locally within the gastric mucosa might be implicated in the pathogenesis of H. pylori-associated gastritis in childhood.     

Nerve-sparing robotic radical hysterectomy: our technique

Robotic surgery is now becoming accepted for treatment of gynaecological malignancies. Nerve preservation during radical hysterectomy is increasingly being offered due to improved post-operative bladder and sexual function. We aimed to demonstrate the feasibility of performing a nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy robotically and to assess the oncological and functional outcomes associated with this surgery. Between August 2011 and January 2013, a total of 12 non-consecutive patients underwent robotic surgery for early stage cervical cancer at our institution. Patients comprising FIGO stage IA2 to IB1 were treated with nerve-sparing robotic radical hysterectomy using a C1 (Querleu–Morrow classification) type technique. The feasibility, operative time, blood loss, oncological outcome and post-operative bladder function were assessed. All the procedures were completed robotically without conversion to laparoscopy or laparotomy. The mean age of the patients was 56 years (range 44–76) and their mean body mass index was 22.6 kg/m² (range 18.1–26.4). The mean operative time was 156 min (range 120–250); the mean blood loss was 120 ml (50–250). The Foley catheter was removed on the third post-operative day, with full recovery of bladder function in all patients except one who required prolonged catheterisation for 3 weeks. Residual urine was 40 ml (range 30–80). Parametrial margins of 2.5–3 cm, distal vaginal margins of 2–2.5 cm and a mean nodal harvest of 24 (range 18–30) were achieved. The mean hospital stay was 3 days (range 2–6). The median follow-up is 12 months. There is no loco-regional recurrence. All the patients are sexually active. Robotic nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy is technically feasible to perform, and is oncologically safe for early stage cervical carcinoma.     

Robotic total pelvic exenteration

Introduction

Pelvic exenteration is now becoming widely acceptable as a curative procedure rather than a palliative one. Performing these surgeries by minimally invasive techniques helps to improve the quality of life and decrease the morbidity of these extensive procedures.

Aims and objectives

To demonstrate the feasibility of performing a total pelvic exenteration robotically, and to study the morbidity associated with such extensive surgery.

Materials and methods

A 35-year-old female with advanced cervical cancer presented with a vesicovaginal fistula and a rectovaginal fistula. In view of these, we performed a total robotic pelvic exenteration with colo-anal anastomosis and uretero-sigmoidostomy. The patient refused an ileal-loop conduit for urinary tract diversion due to social reasons associated with a stoma.

Results

The total operative time was 240 min and the console time was 120 min. The estimated blood loss was 300 ml and the intensive care unit stay was 2 days. Post-operatively, the patient had good faecal and urinary continence and good quality of life.     

Bilateral optic pathway glioma with intracranial calcification: magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopy findings

Optic nerve glioma is the most common primary neoplasm of the optic nerve in childhood. It can extend intracranially along the optic pathway (optic pathway glioma). The lesion tends to present with decreased visual acuity in the affected eye, but can cause additional symptoms when it is large. Local involvement within the orbit can be characterized using CT, but MRI is superior in showing the intracranial extent of the lesion. Intracranial calcification in optic pathway glioma is rare. We present a rare case of optic pathway glioma with calcification in the intracranial component. Also, we describe MR spectroscopy (MRS) findings in this case.     

Cytotoxic T-cell response to ectromelia virus-infected cells. Different H-2 requirements for triggering precursor T-cell induction or lysis by effector T cells defined by the BALB/c-H-2(db) mutation

The T(c)-cell response to ectromelia virus infection was studied in BALB/c-H-2(db) mice which carry a loss mutation in the H-2D region that results in the absence from cell surfaces of a molecule (D’) bearing certain public H-2 specificities. When infected, these mice showed a poor response of T(c) cells that recognize H-2D(d) plus virus-specific determinants on infected macrophage targets, but gave a normal response to H-2K d plus virus-specific antigens. However, their own infected macrophages do display wild-type antigenic patterns involving virus and H-2D(d) since they were killed as efficiently as wild-type (BALB/c,H- 2(d))-infected cells by T(c) cells specific only for H-2D(d) plus viral antigens. When tested in vitro, infected BALB/c-H-2(db) cells stimulated a poor T(c)-cell response to H-2D plus virus-specific antigens, but stimulated a normal response (in comparison with infected BALB/c macrophages) to H-2K(d) plus viral antigens. Uninfected BALB/c-H-2(db) cells stimulated a normal T(c)-cell response to minor H antigens or trinitrophenyl in association with H-2D(d), thus suggesting that the defective response to infection may reside in a failure of the relevant H-2D(d) antigens of mutant cells to physically associate with viral antigens. Close association of viral and H-2D-coded molecules was also suggested by ability of specific anti-H-2K or -H-2D to partially block T(c)-cell-mediated lysis of infected targets. These results were interpreted to mean that H-2Dd-dependent, virus- immune T(c) cells recognized an antigenic pattern consisting of virus- specific and H-2D(d) determinants with the latter borne on an H-2D molecule carrying serologically-defined H-2D(d) private specificities. A second H-2D(d)-coded molecule (D’) was not required for recognition and lysis by activated T(c) cells, but was apparently necessary for efficient stimulation of precursor T(c) cells, perhaps by promoting appropriate physical association of viral and H-2D(d) molecules.