ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The use of high-resolution manometry (HRM) in achalasia patients has revealed abnormal findings concerning upper esophageal sphincter (UES) function. The introduction of the UES contractile integral (UES-CI), as with the distal contractile integral (DCI), may complement the interpretation of the manometric study of achalasia subtypes, defined by the Chicago Classification v3.0. METHODS: Patients were classified into achalasia subtypes based on HRM. UES length (cm), UES resting pressure (mmHg), and UES residual pressure (mmHg) were recorded. UES-CI (mmHg·sec·cm) was calculated in a manner similar to that used for the DCI measurement at rest (landmark CI), corrected for respiration, and its relation to achalasia subtypes was evaluated. RESULTS: Twenty-four achalasia patients with mean age 55.29 years were included. Of these, 16.6% (n=4) were diagnosed with achalasia type I, 58.3% (n=14) with type II, and 25% (n=6) with type III. The landmark UES-CI, mean UES-CI, UES-CI corrected for respiration, and UES resting pressure were found to be significantly higher among patients with achalasia type II compared to the other types (1768.9 vs. 677.1, P=0.03; 1827.1 vs. 3555.1, P=0.036; 174.2 vs. 72.8, P=0.027; and 108.1 vs. 55.8, P=0.009, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: We introduce the CI index as a tool for the manometric evaluation of the UES in achalasia. UES resting pressure, landmark UES-CI and mean UES-CI were significantly higher in achalasia patients with panesophageal pressurization compared to types I and III. This finding may reflect a protective reaction against the risk of aspiration in this group, but further studying and clinical correlation is required.
Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/therapy , Liver Cirrhosis/complications , Liver Neoplasms/therapy , beta-Thalassemia/complications , Adult , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/diagnosis , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/etiology , Catheter Ablation , Chemoembolization, Therapeutic , Combined Modality Therapy , Fatal Outcome , Female , Hepatectomy , Hepatitis B, Chronic/complications , Hepatitis C, Chronic/complications , Homozygote , Humans , Liver Cirrhosis/virology , Liver Neoplasms/diagnosis , Liver Neoplasms/etiology , Male , Middle Aged , beta-Thalassemia/geneticsABSTRACT
Primary gastric lymphoma is a rare cancer of the stomach with an indeterminate prognosis. Recently, a series of molecular prognostic markers has been introduced to better describe this clinical entity. This review describes the clinical importance of several oncogenes, apoptotic genes and chromosomal mutations in the initiation and progress of primary non-Hodgkin gastric lymphoma and their effect on patient survival. We also outline the prognostic clinical importance of certain cellular adhesion molecules, such as ICAM and PECAM-1, in patients with gastric lymphoma, and we analyze the correlation of these molecules with apoptosis, angiogenesis, tumour growth and metastatic potential. We also focus on the host-immune response and the impact of Helicobacter pylori infection on gastric lymphoma development and progression. Finally, we explore the therapeutic methods currently available for gastric lymphoma, comparing the traditional invasive approach with more recent conservative options, and we stress the importance of the application of novel molecular markers in clinical practice.
Subject(s)
Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic , Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin/genetics , Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin/mortality , Stomach Neoplasms/genetics , Stomach Neoplasms/mortality , Antigens, CD/genetics , Antigens, CD/metabolism , Cell Adhesion Molecules/genetics , Cell Adhesion Molecules/metabolism , Disease-Free Survival , Female , Genes, p16 , Genes, p53 , Humans , Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin/therapy , Male , Molecular Biology , Neoplasm Invasiveness/pathology , Neoplasm Staging , Prognosis , Risk Assessment , Sensitivity and Specificity , Stomach Neoplasms/therapy , Survival Rate , Tumor Suppressor Proteins/genetics , Tumor Suppressor Proteins/metabolism , Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1/genetics , Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1/metabolismABSTRACT
Splenic arterial demarcation has been observed during laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). The present study aims to detect its actual incidence during LSG and clarify its clinical significance. This is a prospective observational study of 287 consecutive patients that underwent LSG by the same surgical team over 3 years. In all patients, the gastric fundus was mobilized using a standard technique. Before withdrawal of the pneumoperitoneum, the spleen was exposed and carefully inspected for evidence of arterial demarcation. Patients with a clear demarcation were followed with Doppler ultrasound. Computed tomography scan with oral contrast was performed to rule out septic complications. Median preoperative body mass index was 46 kg/m(2) (range 35.1-78). Median operative time was 58 min (range 42-185), median hospital stay was 3 days (range 3-45), and overall morbidity rate was 8.6%. Intraoperative demarcation of the upper splenic pole was evident in 12 patients (4.1%). Eleven patients had uneventful postoperative course. One patient raised temperature of 38.5°C at the 7th postoperative day and was readmitted for further treatment. Once afebrile, the patient was discharged on the 10th postoperative day and continued on prophylactic low molecular weight heparin (tinzaparin, 7,500 U sc.) for 20 days. Splenic discoloration following LSG is an uncommon complication with minimal clinical significance, which could be related to hematoma, venous congestion, or ischemia. The possibility of a late splenic abscess cannot be ruled out. No risk factors can be identified preoperatively.
