Acute Liver Injury and Bilateral Pulmonary Artery Thrombosis due to Hypereosinophilic Syndrome: A Case Report.

A 46-year-old Japanese man was referred to our hospital because of a marked increase in his eosinophil count (22,870/µL) and elevated liver enzyme levels. Computed tomography (CT) showed thrombi measuring approximately 8 cm in both femoral veins. A liver biopsy revealed eosinophilic infiltration, hepatocyte necrosis, fibrosis, and multiple thrombi. We suspected acute liver injury and deep vein thrombosis associated with hypereosinophilic syndrome and initiated steroids and heparin treatment. Four days after starting treatment, the patient experienced sudden chest pain and cardiopulmonary arrest. CT revealed bilateral pulmonary artery thrombosis, and despite administration of a tissue plasminogen activator, the patient died.

Brain activity following esophageal acid infusion using positron emission tomography.

AIM: To investigate symptoms and brain activity following esophageal acid infusion. METHODS: Fifteen healthy volunteers were recruited for the study. Hydrochloric acid (pH 1 and 2) and distilled water (pH 7) were randomly and repeatedly infused into the esophagus. The brain activity was evaluated by positron emission tomography. The severity of heartburn elicited by the infusion was rated on an auditory analog scale of 0-10. RESULTS: The severity of heartburn following each infusion showed a step-wise increase with increasing acidity of the perfusate. The heartburn scores were significantly higher in the second pH 1 infusion compared with the first infusion. Acid and distilled water infusion induced activation of various brain areas such as the anterior insula, temporal gyrus, and anterior/posterior cingulate cortex. At pH 1 or 2, in particular, activation was observed in some emotion-related brain areas such as the more anterior part of the anterior cingulate cortex, parahippocampal gyrus, or the temporal pole. Strong activation of the orbitofrontal cortex was found by subtraction analysis of the two second pH 1 infusions, with a significant increase of heartburn symptoms. CONCLUSION: Emotion-related brain areas were activated by esophageal acid stimulation. The orbitofrontal area might be involved in symptom processing, with esophageal sensitization induced by repeated acid stimulation.

Tongue-like Barrett's esophagus is associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease.

AIM: To test this hypothesis of barrett esophagus (BE) classified into two types and to further determine if there was any correlation between the shape of endoscopically suspected esophageal metaplasia (ESEM), prevalence of reflux esophagitis (RE) and heartburn. METHODS: A total of 6504 Japanese who underwent endoscopy for their annual stomach check-up were enrolled in this study. BE was detected without histological confirmation that is ESEM. We originally classified cases of ESEM into 3 types based on its shape: Tongue-like (T type), Dome-like (D type) and Wave-like (W type) ESEM. The respective subjects were prospectively asked to complete questionnaires concerning the symptoms of heartburn, dysphagia, and abdominal pain for a one-month period. RESULTS: ESEM was observed in 10.3% of 6504 subjects (ESEM < 1 cm, 9.4%; 1 cm < or = ESEM < 3 cm, 1.7%; ESEM > or = 3 cm, 0.5%). The frequency of ESEM was significantly higher in males compared with female subjects. Statistical analysis showed that the prevalence of heartburn and RE were significantly higher in the T type ESEM than in the W type ESEM (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The T type ESEM was strongly asso-ciated with reflux symptoms and RE whereas the W type ESEM was not associated with GERD.

Stronger inhibition of gastric acid secretion by lafutidine, a novel H2 receptor antagonist, than by the proton pump inhibitor lansoprazole.

AIM: To compare the antisecretory activity and plasma drug concentrations of a single oral dose of 10 mg lafutidine, a novel H2 receptor antagonist, with those of the proton pump inhibitor lansoprazole (LPZ) 30 mg. METHODS: Ten volunteers without H pylori infection participated in this crossover study comparing lafutidine 10 mg with LPZ 30 mg. Intragastric pH was monitored for 6 h in all participants, and blood samples were collected from four randomly selected individuals after single-dose administration of each drug. RESULTS: The median intragastric pH was significantly higher in individuals who received lafutidine 10 mg than in those who received LPZ 30 mg 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 h after administration. Maximal plasma drug concentration was reached more promptly with lafutidine 10 mg than with LPZ 30 mg. CONCLUSION: In H pylori-negative individuals, gastric acid secretion is more markedly inhibited by lafutidine than by LPZ.

Early effects of Lansoprazole orally disintegrating tablets on intragastric pH in CYP2C19 extensive metabolizers.

AIM: To compare rabeprazole (RPZ; 10 mg) with Lansoprazole orally disintegrating tablets (LPZ; 30 mg OD) in terms of antisecretory activity and blood drug concentration after a single dose. METHODS: Eight H pylori -negative cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C19 extensive metabolizers were assigned to receive a single oral dose of RPZ 10 mg or LPZ 30 mg OD. Twelve hour intragastric pH monitoring was performed on the day of treatment. Blood samples were also collected after the administration of each drug. RESULTS: LPZ 30 mg OD induced a significantly earlier rise in blood drug concentration than RPZ 10 mg; consequently, LPZ 30 mg OD induced a significantly earlier rise in median pH in the third and fourth hours of the study. CONCLUSION: In H pylori-negative CYP2C19 extensive metabolizers, LPZ 30 mg OD induced a significantly faster inhibition of gastric acid secretion than RPZ 10 mg.

Prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux symptoms in a large unselected general population in Japan.

AIM: To examine the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms in a large unselected general population in Japan. METHODS: In Japan, mature adults are offered regular check-ups for the prevention of gastric cancer. A notice was sent by mail to all inhabitants aged>40 years. A total of 160983 Japanese (60774 male, 100209 female; mean age 61.9 years) who underwent a stomach check up were enrolled in this study. In addition, from these 160983 subjects, we randomly selected a total of 82894 (34275 male, 48619 female; mean age 62.4 years) to evaluate the prevalence of abdominal pain. The respective subjects were prospectively asked to complete questionnaires concerning the symptoms of heartburn, dysphagia, and abdominal pain for a 1 mo period. RESULTS: The respective prevalences of the symptoms in males and females were: heartburn, 15.8% vs 20.7%; dysphagia, 5.4% vs 7.8%; and abdominal pain, 6.6% vs 9.6%. Among these symptoms, heartburn was significantly high compared with the other symptoms, and the prevalence of heartburn was significantly more frequent in females than in males in the 60-89-year age group. Dysphagia was also significantly more frequent in female patients. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of typical GERD symptoms (heartburn) was high, at about 20% of the Japan population, and the frequency was especially high in females in the 60-89 year age group.