Median Nerve Neuropathy Caused by Persistent Median Artery Thrombosis.

Persistent median artery thrombosis mimicking carpal tunnel syndrome is rare. Here, we report the pathological, ultrasonography, and intraoperative findings of a case of persistent median artery thrombosis mimicking carpal tunnel syndrome. A 34-year-old man reported to our clinic with a complaint of numbness in his left thumb, index finger, and middle finger, which are innervated by the left median nerve. He also reported that he felt pain in his left wrist and distal forearm while working. Although findings of the usual provocative tests and nerve conduction studies were normal, ultrasonography revealed arterial thrombosis at the carpal tunnel level, whereas magnetic imaging showed persistent median artery thrombosis in the carpal tunnel. Three months after surgical resection of the thrombosed section of the artery, the patient fully recovered with no residual pain or limitations in the use of the affected arm. His patient-reported outcomes improved as well. It is important to investigate the existence of persistent median artery thrombosis if a patient presents with atypical symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. Ultrasonography is useful for the diagnosis of persistent median artery thrombosis. Surgical resection of a thrombosed persistent median artery in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome yields good results.

Hematogenous Gastric Metastasis of Pancreatic Cancer.

While the gastric involvement of pancreatic cancer is occasionally observed as the result of direct invasion, hematogenous gastric metastasis is rare. A 72-year-old Japanese male presented with general fatigue, pollakiuria, and thirst. Computed tomography revealed a 4.6-cm solid mass in the pancreatic tail and a 4.2-cm multilocular cystic mass in the pancreatic head with multiple liver and lymphatic metastasis. Notably, two solid masses were detected in the gastric wall of the upper body and the antrum; both were separated from the primary pancreatic cancer and seemed to be located in the submucosal layer. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed a submucosal tumor with a normal mucosa in the posterior wall of the upper body of the stomach, suggesting the gastric hematogenous metastasis of pancreatic cancer. The suspected diagnosis was unresectable pancreatic cancer with multiple metastases that was concomitant with the intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the pancreas.

A Case of Esophageal Submucosal Abscess Originating from a Peritonsillar Abscess.

We report the case a 54-year-old male patient who was admitted to our hospital with a sore throat and evidence of a high inflammatory reaction. Computed tomography revealed a peritonsillar abscess extending from the inferior right tonsil to the cervical esophagus, and thickening of the esophageal wall. The pharyngeal abscess was drained through an intraluminal incision in the mesopharynx. Culture of the abscess fluid showed growth of Streptococcus constellatus, one of the organisms of the Streptococcus milleri group. We diagnosed the patient as having phlegmonous esophagitis secondary to peritonsillar abscess. The inflammation was judged to have extended to the submucosal space of the esophagus from the pharyngeal mucosal space. Since the inflammation was contained within the esophageal wall and did not progress to mediastinitis, critical symptoms did not appear and the patient improved through conservative management with antibiotics

Infliximab extends the duration until the first surgery in patients with Crohn's disease.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: While biological drugs are useful for relieving the disease activity and preventing abdominal surgery in patients with Crohn's disease (CD), it is unclear whether the use of biological drugs in CD patients with no history of abdominal surgery is appropriate. We evaluated the effects of infliximab and other factors on extending the duration until the first surgery in CD patients on a long-term basis. METHODS: The clinical records of 104 CD patients were retrospectively investigated. The cumulative nonoperation rate until the first surgery was examined with regard to demographic factors and treatments. RESULTS: The 50% nonoperative interval in the 104 CD patients was 107 months. The results of a univariate analysis revealed that a female gender, the colitis type of CD, and the administration of corticosteroids, immunomodulators, or infliximab were factors estimated to improve the cumulative nonoperative rate. A multivariate analysis showed that the colitis type and administration of infliximab were independent factors associated with a prolonged interval until the first surgery in the CD patients with no history of abdominal surgery. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that infliximab treatment extends the duration until the first surgery in CD patients with no history of abdominal surgery. The early use of infliximab before a patient undergoes abdominal surgery is therefore appropriate.

Back-to-back comparison of auto-fluorescence imaging (AFI) versus high resolution white light colonoscopy for adenoma detection.

BACKGROUND: Some patients under close colonoscopic surveillance still develop colorectal cancer, thus suggesting the overlook of colorectal adenoma by endoscopists. AFI detects colorectal adenoma as a clear magenta, therefore the efficacy of AFI is expected to improve the detection ability of colorectal adenoma. The aim of this study is to determine the efficacy of AFI in detecting colorectal adenoma. METHODS: This study enrolled 88 patients who underwent colonoscopy at Asahikawa Medical University and Kushiro Medical Association Hospital. A randomly selected colonoscopist first observed the sigmoid colon and rectum with conventional high resolution endosopy (HRE). Then the colonoscopist changed the mode to AFI and handed to the scope to another colonoscopist who knew no information about the HRE. Then the second colonoscopist observed the sigmoid colon and rectum. Each colonoscopist separately recorded the findings. The detection rate, miss rate and procedural time were assessed in prospective manner. RESULTS: The detection rate of flat and depressed adenoma, but not elevated adenoma, by AFI is significantly higher than that by HRE. In less-experienced endoscopists, AFI dramatically increased the detection rate (30.3%) and reduced miss rate (0%) of colorectal adenoma in comparison to those of HRE (7.7%, 50.0%), but not for experienced endoscopists. The procedural time of HRE was significantly shorter than that of AFI. CONCLUSIONS: AFI increased the detection rate and reduced the miss rate of flat and depressed adenomas. These advantages of AFI were limited to less-experienced endoscopists because experienced endoscopists exhibited a substantially high detection rate for colorectal adenoma with HRE.

Competence and sporulation factor derived from Bacillus subtilis improves epithelial cell injury in intestinal inflammation via immunomodulation and cytoprotection.

INTRODUCTION: Probiotics are defined as live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host. These probiotic effects are considered to be displayed through the mediation of effective molecules derived from these bacteria because live bacteria as well as their conditioned media exhibit beneficial effects in many cases. However, many of the probiotic-derived molecules which mediate such benefits have so far been poorly characterized. We previously found that competence and sporulation factor (CSF) activates the Akt and p38 MAPK pathways and protects epithelial cells from oxidant stress in the mammalian intestine. The purpose of this study is to determine the CSF effect on reducing intestinal inflammation. METHODS AND RESULTS: A protein array demonstrated that CSF induced the anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-10, and decreased the release of pro-inflammatory mediators, IL-4, IL-6 and CXCL-1, induced by TNF-α in Caco2/bbe cells. CSF also induced the cytoprotective protein Hsp 27 in Caco2/bbe cells. The histological score of intestinal inflammation in 2% dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-treated mice with the administration of 10 nM CSF was significantly lower than that of control mice. CSF also improved the survival rate of mice treated with a lethal concentration of DSS. CONCLUSION: Therefore, CSF is a potentially effective treatment for intestinal inflammation.

Autofluorescence imaging and the quantitative intensity of fluorescence for evaluating the dysplastic grade of colonic neoplasms.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Autofluorescence imaging (AFI) is a novel technology which can capture fluorescence emitted from intestinal tissues. While AFI is useful for detecting colorectal neoplasms, it is unclear whether AFI can facilitate the diagnosis by differentiating the extent of dysplasia of colorectal neoplasms. This study investigated the efficacy of AFI in discriminating high-grade from low-grade adenoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-seven patients who underwent colonoscopy with AFI were enrolled in this study. The AFI images obtained from 158 lesions in these patients were visually classified into four categories, namely, green (G), green with magenta spots (GM), magenta with green spots (MG), and magenta (M), according to their color intensities, immediately after the examination. The AFI images of the lesions were quantified using an image-analytical software program (F index). Either the F index or the visual assessment was prospectively compared with the dysplastic grade. RESULTS: The F index of the high-grade adenomas was significantly lower than that of the low-grade adenomas, hyperplasia, and normal mucosa (p < 0.05). The incidence of the lesions classified into the M classification for high-grade adenomas (55.6%) was significantly higher than that of either low-grade adenomas (20.8%) or hyperplasia (0%). No correlation was observed between the F index or the visual classification and the tumor shape. The F index was not influenced by the size of the lesion, while the size was significantly associated with the visual classification of AFI. CONCLUSIONS: AFI, particularly the F index, is considered to be a useful procedure for estimating the dysplastic grade of colonic adenomas.

A new antimesenteric functional end-to-end handsewn anastomosis: surgical prevention of anastomotic recurrence in Crohn's disease.

BACKGROUND: Recurrence of Crohn's disease usually occurs at anastomotic sites. OBJECTIVE: A new anastomosis technique (Kono-S anastomosis) designed to minimize anastomotic restenosis was compared with conventional anastomoses. DESIGN AND SETTINGS: The Kono-S anastomosis technique was first used for Crohn's disease in 2003 at the Asahikawa Medical University Hospital. The resection is accomplished by transecting the bowel with a linear cutter so that the mesentery side is located in the center of the stump. Both stumps are sutured to create a supporting column to maintain the diameter and dimension of the anastomosis. Longitudinal enterotomies are made at the antimesenteric sides of the 2 segments of intestine. The side-to-side antimesenteric anastomosis is then performed in transverse fashion. The medical records and follow-up details of all patients undergoing this procedure were reviewed. PATIENTS: : From 2003 to 2009, 69 patients with Crohn's disease who underwent Kono-S anastomosis (group S) were compared with 73 historical patients with Crohn's disease who underwent conventional anastomosis (group C) from 1993 to 2003. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A Kaplan-Meier analysis of the follow-up data on surgical recurrence at the anastomosis was performed. The endoscopic recurrence score at the anastomosis was calculated. RESULTS: The median endoscopic recurrence score in group S was significantly lower than that in group C (2.6 vs 3.4; P = .008). The Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a lesser probability of anastomotic surgical recurrence in the S group at 5 years (0% vs 15%; P = .0013). The absence of postoperative infliximab did not affect the restenosis rate in group S. LIMITATIONS: This study was limited by its historical retrospective nature. CONCLUSION: The Kono-S anastomosis appears to be effective in preventing anastomotic surgical recurrence in Crohn's disease.

Endosopic autofluorescence imaging is useful for the differential diagnosis of intestinal lymphomas resembling lymphoid hyperplasia.

BACKGROUND: A method for the differential diagnosis of intestinal lymphomas resembling lymphoid hyperplasia (LH) by endoscopy remains to be clearly established. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the usefulness of autofluorescence imaging (AFI) in diagnosing intestinal lymphoma. SETTING: Single-center study. DESIGN: Prospective study. PATIENTS: One hundred forty-three samples obtained from the intestinal tissues of 21 patients with malignant lymphoma were included in the study. INTERVENTIONS: The terminal ileum and entire colon were observed using conventional endoscopy equipped with AFI. The AFI images were taken by 3 endoscopists and then were evaluated by 3 predominant color intensities; green, magenta, and blended. To quantify the strength of fluorescence captured by AFI, the area of the obtained biopsy specimens on images was manually traced, the signal density of either magenta or green was measured, and then the ratio of the reverse gamma value of green divided by that of magenta was defined as the Fluorescence index (F index). MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: The ability to use AFI to distinguish intestinal lymphoma from normal or LH. RESULTS: The cell density is inversely proportional to the F index. The F index of lymphoma was significantly lower than that of normal mucosa or LH. The visual classification of AFI showed the overall accuracy in diagnosing lymphoma was 91.5%, and was well correlated with the F index. LIMITATIONS: Single-center study. CONCLUSIONS: AFI-embossed lymphoma lesions seemed as magenta and could be discriminated from LH or normal mucosa with a high overall accuracy through perception of the cell density of the lesion. Therefore, AFI is considered to be an effective procedure for determining the accurate stage and appropriate therapy in intestinal lymphoma.

Atypical tumour-like involvement of the colon in Henoch-Schonlein purpura successfully treated with the administration of factor XIII.

Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) is a type of systemic vasculitis of the small vessels, which frequently involves the skin, kidney and gastrointestinal tract. While the typical intestinal features of HSP include diffuse mucosal redness, small ring-like petechiae and haemorrhagic erosions, tumour-like lesions are rarely observed. The current study presents a rare case of HSP with an intestinal tumour-like lesion in the caecum. The intestinal lesion caused fresh melaena, and was completely resolved with the administration of factor XIII as described in previously reported cases. It is important to immediately undergo proper treatment for improving tumour-like lesions which may cause severe complications, such as excessive haemorrhage and stricture.

Atypical tumour-like involvement of the colon in secondary systemic amyloidosis which vanished after 1 month of observation.

Amyloidosis occurs as a result of the extracellular deposition of protein fibrils in organs and tissues, thus causing mild to severe pathophysiological changes. The gastrointestinal tract is a common site of amyloid deposition. While intestinal amyloidosis frequently results in polypoid lesions, ulcerations, nodules and petechial mucosal haemorrhage, tumour-like lesions are rarely developed and infrequently diagnosed before the resection because of the difficulty in differentiating them from colon cancer. The authors herein reported a case of intestinal amyloid A amyloidosis with a complication of a tumour-like lesion endoscopically resembling a malignant lesion, which was completely diminished after 1 month of observation with bowel rest. Such conservative treatment is a feasible option to cure intestinal tumour-like lesions in patients with intestinal amyloidosis when no neoplastic change is histologically detected, possibly decreasing the need for surgery of the fragile mucosa.

Immunoprecipitation of nucleosomal DNA is a novel procedure to improve the sensitivity of serum screening for the p16 hypermethylation associated with colon cancer.

BACKGROUND: We developed a novel method of methylation-specific PCR (MSP) using immunoprecipitation with anti-histone antibody (IP-MSP) to efficiently detect serum methylated DNA tightly bound to de-acetylated histones. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The detection limit of IP-MSP for p16 methylation was determined with a standard made by cell line (SKCO-1) lysate. p16 methylation of tumor and/or serum of 51 colorectal cancers and 10 adenoma patients, and 10 healthy volunteers was detected with conventional MSP or IP-MSP. RESULTS: IP-MSP detected p16 methylation from 0.5pg/mul of the cell lysate. The sensitivity of IP-MSP for detecting serum p16 methylation in 27 patients with tumors characterized by p16 methylation was significantly higher than that with conventional method (81% versus 59%), particularly in Stage II patients (91% versus 45%). IP-MSP detected no p16 hypermethylation in sera of adenoma patients and volunteers. CONCLUSIONS: IP-MSP is thus considered to be a promising procedure to detect serum methylated DNA in colorectal cancer patients.

Collagenous colitis appeared after 6-year administration of lansoprazole.

Collagenous colitis (CC) is one of the causes of undefined watery diarrhea, which is histologically accompanied by thickening of the subepithelial collagen layer. CC associated with lansoprazole normally occurs within several weeks after initial administration, but no case presenting after long-term administration of lansoprazole has yet been reported. A 77-year-old male with 6-year history of administration of lansoprazole complained of watery diarrhea and weight loss. Colonoscopy revealed disappearance of vascular networks and red spots in the sigmoid colon. Biopsy specimen showed erosion and collagen bands thickened, so the patient was diagnosed as CC. After lansoprazole discontinuation, the watery diarrhea disappeared and histological abnormalities improved.

Capsule endoscopy is a feasible procedure for identifying a Diphyllobothrium nihonkaiense infection and determining the indications for vermifuge treatment.

Diphyllobothrium is a member of Cestoda family, which is the largest parasite of humans. The diagnosis of diphyllobothriasis is based on the detection of eggs in the stool. Because the remainder of the scolex causes a relapse in diphyllobothriasis, the scolex must be completely discharged to cure the parasite infection. However, the scolex or forefront of the Diphyllobothrium is difficult to detect with gastroduodenoscopy and colonoscopy, because most Diphyllobothrium attach to the jejunal wall. In the present case, capsule endoscopy detected proglottids as well as forefront of the parasite at jejunum. Based on the results of capsule endoscopy, the patient underwent additional vermifuge (anthelminthic) treatment to cure the diphyllobothriasis and discharged a worm measuring 3 m in length with a scolex. Capsule endoscopy is a practical option to determine whether additional vermifuge treatment is required through the detection of the proglottids as well as a scolex or forefront of the parasite.

A case of small cell carcinoma of the oesophagus treated with endoscopic mucosal resection who remained in clinical remission for 18 months: its endoscopic features with specific light spectra.

Small cell carcinoma of the oesophagus (SCCE) is an infrequent tumour associated with a poor prognosis. We herein propose the first case of SCCE treated by endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and its endoscopic images with narrow band imaging (NBI) and autofluorescence imaging (AFI). A 63-year-old man complained of a loss of appetite. An upper endoscopic examination revealed a 7 mm nodule located 33 cm from the incisors. A weakly stained area was shown by iodine staining. NBI detected brownish amorphous dots with irregular vessels on the surface of the nodule and AFI distinctly embossed the lesion magenta. A biopsy specimen obtained from the lesions revealed typical SCCE. The patient underwent EMR to remove the SCCE and thereafter remained in a state of clinical remission for 18 months. In summary, NBI and AFI may be useful for detecting and differentially diagnosing SCCE from the squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus. EMR is therefore considered to be a potentially useful therapeutic option for removing SCCE instead of performing an oesophagotomy.

[A case report of ball valve syndrome caused by the gastrointestinal stromal tumor arising from the muscularis mucosae in gastric fornix].

An 83-year-old woman who was admitted to other hospital, was consulted us because of continuous tarry stool and abdominal fullness. On upper endoscopy, the submucosal tumor from greater curvature of gastric fornix invaginated into the duodenal bulbus, showing so-called "ball valve syndrome (BVS)". As the tumor incarcerted again on the following endoscoopy, she underwent laparoscopic partial gastrectomy. The submucosal tumor was diagnosed histologically as gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) arising from the muscularis mucosae. This is the first report that GIST arising from the muscularis mucosae in gastric fornix showed a BVS.

Transnasal ultrathin endoscopy for placement of a long intestinal tube in patients with intestinal obstruction.

BACKGROUND: The technical difficulties related to the insertion of a long intestinal tube into the jejunum under fluoroscopy present a considerable problem in patients with an intestinal obstruction. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the usefulness of endoscopic long intestinal-tube placement with the ultrathin esophagogastroduodenoscope (UT-EGD). DESIGN: A prospective randomized clinical trial was conducted. PATIENTS: Twenty-eight consecutive patients who presented with an intestinal obstruction were included in the study. INTERVENTION: The UT-EGD was inserted nasally into at least the second portion of the duodenum or beyond. After a guidewire was introduced through the working channel, with fluoroscopic guidance, the UT-EGD itself was carefully removed with the guidewire left in place. Next, a hydrophilic intestinal tube was advanced over the guidewire into the jejunum, and then the guidewire was removed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Primary end points are the total procedure time, the radiation exposure time, and the rate of complications, all compared with the conventional method. RESULTS: The mean (+/-SD) total procedure time was 18.7 +/- 8.4 minutes for the UT-EGD method and 39.5 +/- 15.0 minutes for the conventional method, with a significant time difference between the 2 methods (P < .0005). The mean (+/-SD) radiation exposure time was also shorter with the UT-EGD method (11.1 +/- 6.0 minutes) than with the conventional method (30.3 +/- 13.7 minutes) (P < .0005). There were no complications, except for mild nasal bleeding with each method. CONCLUSIONS: The UT-EGD method has definite advantages in the placement of a long intestinal tube for patients with an intestinal obstruction in comparison with the conventional method.

Denatured human alpha-defensin attenuates the bactericidal activity and the stability against enzymatic digestion.

alpha-Defensin is an antimicrobial peptide which plays an important role in innate immunity. Human defensin (HD)-5 is stored in the Paneth cells of the small intestine as a pro-form and is cleaved by trypsin, which is co-secreted from the Paneth cell granules. The mature HD-5 is protected from further digestion by the proteolysis enzyme. We generated both recombinant HD-5 and proHD-5, and the reduced form of each peptide in order to determine their physiological roles of the disulfide bonds. The reduced proHD-5 attenuated the bactericidal activity and the stability against the trypsin digestion. Human defensin was protected from the enzymatic degradation by disulfide bridges. We further purified the HD-5 with a disulfide variation in the small intestine of Crohn's disease patients. The HD-5 was sensitive to the trypsin treatment. These observations evidently predict that a defensin deficiency may be caused by a disulfide disorder in the disease.

Spontaneous remission of primary diffuse large B-cell gastric lymphoma.

Spontaneous and complete disappearance of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBL) of the stomach is extremely rare. Although regression of gastric DLBL after eradication of Helicobacter pylori has recently been reported, we present two consecutive cases of stage I DLBL of the stomach which disappeared after only nonspecific therapy, including histamine 2-receptor antagonist (H2RA); both cases were documented histologically and endoscopically. Both patients were positive for H. pylori, and later received H. pylori eradication therapy. The disease has not recurred after 11 and 6 months, respectively. Our cases suggest that the option of combination therapy with H2RA either with or followed by H. pylori eradication is appropriate for consideration as an initial approach in standard therapy for stage I diffuse large B-cell gastric lymphoma.