Mandibular Metastasis as the First Manifestation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Case Report.

Metastatic malignancies of the oral cavity are rare lesions, accounting for only 1-4% of all oral malignancies, and can occur in the jaw bones, the oral soft tissues, or even both. Although hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common primary hepatic tumor, no more than 1% of the cases show oral involvement. When metastatic tumor involves the oral cavity, the most frequent site is the posterior angle of the mandible. Histologically, hence, immunohistochemical markers are used for diagnosis. Glypican-3 and HepPar1 are the markers that can be used to confirm the microscopic diagnosis of HCC. Very rarely, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) metastasizes to the oral cavity, and such cases have a poor prognosis due to delay in diagnosis. We present a 74-year-old male with a metastasis of HCC in the left mandibular body as the first manifestation. Histologic examination confirmed metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma in the oral mucosa with immunohistochemical (IHC) markers. A review of pertinent literature was performed. Given the rarity of the disease, treatment principles are based mainly on retrospective series and case reports. We report an exceptionally unusual presentation with few cases (<70) reported in the literature, thus representing a diagnostic challenge.

High-resolution mapping reveals that microniches in the gastric glands control Helicobacter pylori colonization of the stomach.

Lifelong infection of the gastric mucosa by Helicobacter pylori can lead to peptic ulcers and gastric cancer. However, how the bacteria maintain chronic colonization in the face of constant mucus and epithelial cell turnover in the stomach is unclear. Here, we present a new model of how H. pylori establish and persist in stomach, which involves the colonization of a specialized microenvironment, or microniche, deep in the gastric glands. Using quantitative three-dimensional (3D) confocal microscopy and passive CLARITY technique (PACT), which renders tissues optically transparent, we analyzed intact stomachs from mice infected with a mixture of isogenic, fluorescent H. pylori strains with unprecedented spatial resolution. We discovered that a small number of bacterial founders initially establish colonies deep in the gastric glands and then expand to colonize adjacent glands, forming clonal population islands that persist over time. Gland-associated populations do not intermix with free-swimming bacteria in the surface mucus, and they compete for space and prevent newcomers from establishing in the stomach. Furthermore, bacterial mutants deficient in gland colonization are outcompeted by wild-type (WT) bacteria. Finally, we found that host factors such as the age at infection and T-cell responses control bacterial density within the glands. Collectively, our results demonstrate that microniches in the gastric glands house a persistent H. pylori reservoir, which we propose replenishes the more transient bacterial populations in the superficial mucosa.

Calcificación de aorta abdominal de pacientes en hemodiálisis en una unidad renal / Calcification of the abdominal aorta in patients on hemodialysis in a renal unit

Objetivo: describir la prevalencia de calcificaciones de aorta abdominal y factores de riesgo relacionados de pacientes en hemodiálisis en una unidad renal de la ciudad de Cali. Introducción: las calcificaciones vasculares son prevalentes en pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica (ERC). Los pacientes en hemodiálisis presentan mayor riesgo de mortalidad cardiovascular y factores como la edad, enfermedades asociadas y algunas alteraciones metabólicas incrementan el riesgo de calcificaciones vasculares. Material y métodos: se incluyeron 47 pacientes en hemodiálisis mayores de 18 años y con más de tres meses en hemodiálisis. La radiografía lumbar lateral fue usada para evaluar las calcificaciones de los segmentos L1 a L4 utilizando un puntaje para su cuantificación y un único observador entrenado. Se realizaron mediciones de calcio, fósforo, PTH, colesterol, triglicéridos en sangre y tensión arterial. Fue utilizado análisis de regresión para determinar asociaciones entre las calcificaciones de aorta abdominal y las características de los pacientes. Resultados: se encontró que la edad promedio fue de 60,8 años (rango 25-84), el 57.4% fueron mujeres, el tiempo promedio en hemodiálisis 44.6 meses (rango 3-156). El 63.8% de los pacientes presentaron calcificaciones en algún segmento de la aorta abdominal. Se encontró que a mayor edad (P = 0.0006) y menor tensión arterial diastólica (TAD) (P = 0.036), el riesgo de prevalencia de calcificación es mayor. Conclusiones: la calcificación de aorta abdominal es prevalente en los pacientes con ERC en hemodiálisis. Factores como la edad y la disminución de la TAD se encontraron asociadas al grupo de calcificaciones. La radiografía lumbar lateral es una herramienta ampliamente disponible y menos costosa que puede ser tenida en cuenta en el tratamiento y evaluación de riesgo cardiovascular en los pacientes en hemodiálisis y como predictor de complicaciones. (Acta Med Colom 2012; 37: 14-20).

Objective: to describe the prevalence of abdominal aortic calcifications and risk factors in patients on hemodialysis in the renal unit Imbanaco Medical Center in the city of Cali. Background: vascular calcification is prevalent in patients with chronic kidney disease. Hemodialysis (HD) patients are at increased risk of cardiovascular mortality and factors such as age, associated diseases and some metabolic abnormalities increase the risk of vascular calcification. Material and methods: we included 47 hemodialysis patients over 18 years and more than three months in dialysis. The lateral lumbar radiography was used to assess the calcification of the segments L1 to L4 using a score for quantification and a single trained observer. Regression analysis was used to determine associations between AAC and patient characteristics. Results: median age of patients was 60.8 years (range 25-84), 57.4% were female, median duration of HD 44.6 months (range 3-156). We found that in 63.8% of patients had calcifications in any segment of the abdominal aorta. We found that older age (P = 0.0006) and lower diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (P = 0.036) the risk is greater prevalence of calcification. Conclusions: abdominal aortic calcification is prevalent in patients with CKD on hemodialysis. Factors such as age and decreased DBP were associated with the group of calcifications.The lateral lumbar radiograph is a tool widely available and less expensive than can be taken into account in the assessment of cardiovascular risk in hemodialysis patients and as a predictor of complications. (Acta Med Colom 2012; 37: 14-20).