Murine Models of Helicobacter (pylori or felis)-associated Gastric Cancer.

Gastric adenocarcinoma is the fifth most common cancer and third most common cause of cancer-related death in the world. The majority of these cancers develop in genetically susceptible individuals who are chronically infected with the Gram-negative bacterium Helicobacter pylori. Often these individuals have also been exposed to certain environmental factors that increase susceptibility, such as dietary components. Murine models of Helicobacter-induced gastric cancer are valuable tools for investigating the mechanisms responsible for the stepwise pathological changes of chronic atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia, dysplasia and gastric adenocarcinoma. Helicobacter felis colonization greatly accelerates the development of gastric neoplasia in mice, and causes pathologies similar to those observed with Helicobacter pylori-associated gastric carcinogenesis in humans. These mouse models are therefore useful for investigating genetic and environmental factors that may be involved in the pathogenesis and treatment of gastric cancer. Detailed in these protocols are procedures for inducing Helicobacter-associated carcinogenesis in mice as well as the histological analysis and interpretation of gastric pathology in these animals.

Gemella endocarditis: consider the colon.

Gemella species, including Gemella morbillorum, are part of the normal flora of the human oropharynx, upper respiratory tract and gastrointestinal tract. Differentiation of Gemella from viridans streptococci in the laboratory may be difficult. Although uncommonly pathogenic, they have been implicated in a variety of human infections, most notably infective endocarditis. Dental instrumentation appears to be the usual source of infection. The case is reported of Gemella morbillorum native valve endocarditis, which was associated with an underlying colonic carcinoma. An association with colonic neoplasm has been described in three previous cases of endocarditis attributed to Gemella. It is well documented that Streptococcus bovis endocarditis may occur in the setting of colonic neoplasia. It is suggested that colonic investigation should be considered in patients with Gemella endocarditis, in whom no other source is apparent.

The role of Clostridium septicum in paraneoplastic sepsis.

CONTEXT: Clostridium septicum infections are rare but often associated with serious if not fatal outcomes. Clostridium septicum infection does not appear to be associated with a single specific defect in cellular or humoral immunity. It has been associated with multiple medical problems, including but not limited to leukemia, malignancy of the bowel, other solid tumors, cyclic neutropenia with enterocolitis, diabetes mellitus, and severe arteriosclerosis. Most cases of C septicum are associated with malignancy, and mortality approaches 100% if care is not rendered within 12 to 24 hours. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate outcomes of patients with C septicum bacteremia, whether treated medically or surgically or both, and to note associated conditions. DESIGN: Retrospective evaluation of patients found to have C septicum bacteremia in the past 6 years. SETTING: Two teaching hospitals, Brooke Army Medical Center (250 beds) and Wilford Hall Medical Center (292 beds), were the source of our patients. PATIENTS: All patients found to have C septicum bacteremia during hospitalization or postmortem examination were included in the study. There were no exclusion criteria. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Mortality associated with C septicum infection. RESULTS: In our case series, mortality was 33%, which is slightly lower than reported in prior studies (43%-70%). CONCLUSION: Presumptive identification based on Gram stain, awareness of C septicum infection as a paraneoplastic syndrome, and prompt, clear communication between laboratory personnel and clinicians are necessary for early diagnosis of C septicum infection. Early institution of antibiotic therapy improves prognosis.

Acanthosis nigricans maligna. Clinical and virological investigations.

2 cases of acanthosis nigricans associated with an adenocarcinoma (signet ring cell carcinoma) of the stomach and a metastasizing small-cell carcinoma of unknown origin are reported. In both cases the skin lesions preceded the diagnosis of the carcinoma by months and acanthosis nigricans maligna was suspected by onset and localization of the dermatosis. There was no evidence of a papillomavirus etiology of the warty skin lesions. Virus particles could not be demonstrated either in ultrathin sections or in buffer extracts. Virus-specific DNA was not detectable after CsCL-ethidium bromide gradient centrifugation and cellular DNA did not hybridize under stringent or relaxed conditions with 32P-labelled human papillomavirus 6 or human papillomavirus 8 DNA.

[The role of zoster oticus as a paraneoplastic syndrome (author's transl)]. / Zur Bedeutung des Zoster oticus als paraneoplastisches Syndrom.

The relation between malignant neoplasms and zoster oticus as a paraneoplastic syndrome is discussed based on a bibliographic review and catamnestic evaluations of own patients. 19 patients who had suffered from zoster oticus were included in a follow-up study covering a period up to 13 years after the affection. The symptoms of zoster oticus as described in the literature are reviewed and compared with the findings in our patients. Although there were no indications of neoplasms in our patients a general check-up is recommended in all cases of zoster oticus in accordance with the rules established in internal medicine and dermatology.