Endoscopic band ligation for postpolypectomy gastric bleeding

We report a case of a patient in whom endoscopic band ligation was achieved for postpolypectomy gastric bleeding. A 76‐year‐old man visited our hospital because of anemia. Endoscopy revealed a gastric polyp, approximately 12 mm in diameter, on the lesser curvature in the distal gastric body. The polyp was considered to be the source of chronic anemia and was therefore removed by using standard careful snare‐cautery polypectomy technique. Four days later, follow‐up endoscopy was performed to evaluate the postpolypectomy site, and an active bleeding postpolypectomy ulcer was identified. Initial attempts to achieve hemostasis with ethanol injection were unsuccessful. Immediate hemostasis was obtained with a subsequent endoscopic band ligation device. There has been no recurrent bleeding. Endoscopic band ligation might be a good treatment modality for the treatment of a postpolypectomy gastric bleeding lesion.     

Free flap monitoring with continuous tissue oxygen tension measurement

Intraoperative and postoperative free flap monitoring by means of oxygen tension measurement was carried out in 11 patients. We used an invasive flexible microcatheter that allowed for measurement of oxygen tension in all types of free flaps. Two cases of the measured flaps were buried free flaps which do not allow monitoring by clinical assessment. All flaps monitored in this study survived. One case of displacement of the microcatheter occurred. In one patient, the tissue pO₂ monitor successfully detected early vascular thrombosis with subsequent reoperation and salvage of the free flap.     

Collagenous colitis: Clinical and histological spectrum in ten patients

Collagenous colitis is characterized by the presence of a thick subepithelial collagen band in the colonic mucosa. The condition was diagnosed on rectal biopsy in 10 patients (one male, nine females) who presented with watery diarrhoea. Although rectal mucosal erythema was present in three and ulceration in two, the mucosa was of normal endoscopic appearance in five of the patients. There was marked variability in the thickness of the submucosal collagen band, both between and within individuals. Empirical drug therapy included sulphasalazine, glucocorticoids and antidiarrhoeals. All patients reported symptomatic improvement.     

Improved haemorheology associated with a reduction in plasma fibrinogen and LDL in patients being treated by heparin-induced extracorporeal LDL precipitation (HELP)

Heparin-induced Extracorporeal LDL-Precipitation (HELP) is an effective procedure for the elimination of both plasma LDL and fibrinogen. In 10 adult patients with severe type II hyperlipoproteinemia, a single HELP treatment of 3 1 plasma led to an acute decrease in the average plasma viscosity (PV) from 1.30 to 1.1 mPas. At the same time, an even more marked decrease in the mean erythrocyte aggregation rate from a pathological value of 7.9% to a value of 3.7% (normal range less than 5%) was observed. Long-term studies on five patients demonstrated a lasting improvement in these two haemorheological variables. The acute rheological changes were also accompanied by an improvement in polarographically determined muscle oxygen tension. Mean oxygen tension values measured in both the m.biceps brachii and the m.tibialis anterior in five patients before and after a single HELP treatment increased from 30 +/- 4 to 37 +/- 7 mmHg and from 27 +/- 2 to 31 +/- 3 mmHg respectively. These results may provide an explanation for the rapid improvement in patients' clinical symptoms such as angina pectoris and in stress electrocardiogram which have been observed during HELP therapy.     

保留冠状动脉的猪心螺旋形心室肌带的解剖

Objective Based on the Helical Ventricular Myocardial Band (HVMB) theory proposed by Torrent-Guasp,the ventricular myocardial hand extends from the root of the pulmonary artery to the root of the aorta with two helical coils.This new theory is considered as a revolutionary concept for further understanding the global, three-dimensional and functional architecture of the ven- tricular myocardium. No repot had described techniques for disecting HVMB while keepin～ the integrity of the coronmy artery sys- tern. We explored techniques for dissecting HVMB in swine.Methads 33 fresh swine hearts were randomly divided intoll groups, 3 bearts in each. 160% barium sulfate (type I)suspmmion was injected into the coronary artery system. The coronary arteries were li- gated. The strial tissue was removed following puuing the hearts in boiling water then cooling for several hours. The superficial coro- nary vessels and fat tissue around the atrio-ventricular taxi inter-ventricular sulcus we～'e preserved. Some branches of the left anterior descending artery, distal segment, of posterior descending branch, and middle and distal segment of obtuse marginal branches were mu- tilated appropriately. HVMB dissection was completed with fingers in accordnce with Torrent Guasp' s technique. Results A contin- ued bundle of muscle, originated at the root of pulmonary artery and ended at the root of aorta, was unwrapped along the major dire- tion of the cardiac muscle fiber in all of the 33 hearts with spating of the coronary artery. The swine hearts' ventricular myocandium was cumosed of two loops, with basal loop firm the root of the pulmonart artery to the anterior papillary muscle and apical from the beginning of the anterior papillary muscle to the root tithe aorta. Each loop consisted of two segments: the right segment-coincid- ing with the right ventricular free wall and the left segment-coinciding with the basal d the left ventricular free wall. Posterior papillary muscle, which belongs to the descendant segment, denmrcated the border between the descendent and the ascendant of the HVMB's apical loop. Conclusion Although controversies about the theory of the HVMB remain, we have dissected the HVMB in the swine hearts' ventricular myocardium successfully with sparing of the coronary artery systems. This dissection procedure provides technical information for the studies of associated diseases based on the theory of HVMB.     

Investigation of melt agglomeration process with a hydrophobic binder in combination with sucrose stearate

The melt agglomeration process of lactose powder with hydrogenated cottonseed oil (HCO) as the hydrophobic meltable binder was investigated by studying the physicochemical properties of molten HCO modified by sucrose stearates S170, S770 and S1570. The size, size distribution, micromeritic and adhesion properties of agglomerates as well as surface tension, contact angle, viscosity and specific volume of molten HCO, with and without sucrose stearates, were examined. The viscosity, specific volume and surface tension of molten HCO were found to be modified to varying extents by sucrose stearates which are available in different HLB values and melt properties. The growth of melt agglomerates was promoted predominantly by an increase in viscosity, an increase in specific volume or a decrease in surface tension of the molten binding liquid. The agglomerate growth propensity was higher with an increase in inter-particulate binding strength, agglomerate surface wetness and extent of agglomerate consolidation which enhanced the liquid migration from agglomerate core to periphery leading to an increased surface plasticity for coalescence. The inclusion of high concentrations of completely meltable sucrose stearate S170 greatly induced the growth of agglomerates through increased specific volume and viscosity of the molten binding liquid. On the other hand, the inclusion of incompletely meltable sucrose stearates S770 and S1570 promoted the agglomeration mainly via the reduction in surface tension of the molten binding liquid with declining agglomerate growth propensity at high sucrose stearate concentrations. In addition to being an agglomeration modifier, sucrose stearate demonstrated anti-adherent property in melt agglomeration process. The properties of molten HCO and melt agglomerates were dependent on the type and concentration of sucrose stearate added.     

ENDOSCOPIC MICROVASCULAR ARCHITECTURE OF THE PORTAL HYPERTENSIVE GASTRIC MUCOSA ON NARROW BAND IMAGING

Background: We evaluated the endoscopic microvascular architecture of the gastric mucosa in portal hypertension patients using the prototype of narrow band imaging (NBI). Material and Methods: The study included 103 Helicobacter pylori‐negative patients with chronic liver disease (22 without portal hypertension (group 1), 81 with portal hypertension (group 2)). Results: (i) Abnormality of collecting venules, reddening mucosa, red spots, a mosaic‐like pattern, and gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE) were observed on the gastric mucosa, and an obscure change in collecting venules (73% vs 14%; P < 0.001), reddening mucosa (49% vs 5%; P < 0.001), red spots (36% vs 5%; P < 0.01) and a mosaic‐like pattern (40% vs 5%; P < 0.01) were more frequently observed in group 2 than in group 1. (ii) On magnifying endoscopy with NBI, the mucosa with an obscure change in collecting venules was demonstrated as dilation of the capillaries surrounding the gastric pits in various degrees, and reddening mucosa was observed as extended and swollen gastric pits and various degrees of dilated and convoluted capillaries surrounding the gastric pits. Red spots were demonstrated as extended and swollen gastric pits, dilated and convoluted capillaries surrounding the gastric pits, and intramucosal hemorrhage around these capillaries. GAVE was recognized as partial and marked dilatation of the capillaries surrounding the gastric pits. Conclusion: Abnormality of collecting venules, swelling of gastric pits, dilatation of capillaries surrounding the gastric pits, intramucosal hemorrhage around capillaries, and partial and marked dilatation of the capillaries were observed on the gastric mucosa in portal hypertension patients.     

Small Bowel Obstruction Secondary to Intragastric Erosion and Migration of A Gastric Band

We describe what we believe to be the first reported case of intragastric erosion and migration to the jejenum of a laparoscopically inserted gastric band, 3 months after the original bariatric surgery was performed. This had caused ulceration and necrosis of the small bowel as the tension in the port tubing had caused the bowel to become concertinaed over it and resulted in a cheese-wire effect through the jejunal convolutions. As bariatric surgery becomes more common, patients with complications of their procedure may present to the general surgeon as an emergency. We recommend early intervention in patients with gastric erosion.     

ENDOSCOPIC OBSERVATION OF MUCOSAL SPREAD LESION OF CHOLANGIOCARCINOMA USING PERORAL CHOLANGIOSCOPY WITH NARROW BAND IMAGING

A 69‐year‐old man was admitted to Toho University Omori Medical Center complaining of icterus. Abdominal computed tomography, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography were suspicious of cholangioma of inferior bile duct. Peroral cholangioscopy using narrow band imaging (NBI) was performed and it was possible to diagnose the mucosal spread lesions of cholangioma. Histological findings reflected the endoscopic findings. Mucosal spread lesions of cholangiocarcinoma were successfully diagnosed using the CHF‐B260 for NBI.     

CLINICAL EVALUATION OF PERORAL CHOLANGIOSCOPY FOR BILIARY DISEASE USING NARROW BAND IMAGING

Regarding peroral cholangioscopy (POCS) for biliary disease, due to the recent appearance of a video cholangioscope that can obtain high‐quality images, it is possible to observe subtle changes of the biliary mucosa. In addition to the conventional observation method using POCS, the biliary mucosa with also observed with narrow band imaging (NBI) in one case of chronic cholangitis and four cases of extra hepatic bile duct tumor (three surgical cases). In the conventional observation method, the vessels in the surface layer of the biliary mucosa could be observed more clearly using NBI. In one case in which a tumor was observed, the irregularity of the biliary mucosa became clear on NBI, and the vessels inside a papillary tumor could also be easily observed. In another case of bile duct tumor, the conventional observation method showed a region in the proximity of the tumor where the vessels could not be seen clearly, but they could be seen clearly on NBI. In all of the cases, the bile juice was seen as red on NBI, which disturbed the observation. With POCS using NBI, it was possible to observe the vessels and irregularities in the surface layer of the biliary mucosa more clearly than with conventional observation methods.