Superior mesenteric arterial embolism: treatment by trans-catheter thrombo-aspiration.

A 57-year-old woman with hypertension, mixed mitral valve disease, and atrial fibrillation was admitted to our hospital because of abdominal pain continuing for several hours. On the following day, colonoscopy was performed, and diffuse yellow-white pseudomembranous changes were seen in the right hemicolon, but there were no abnormal findings in the left hemicolon; 24 h after onset, a diagnosis of superior mesenteric arterial embolism was made on the computed tomography (CT) scan findings. Abdominal angiography was performed and showed complete occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA). Then conservative treatment, using per-catheteric thrombus aspiration, was done, followed by intraarterial injection of tissue type plasminogen activator. After the thrombo-aspiration, the filling deficit of the main artery had disappeared, and the branches on the right side were clearly delineated. After the treatment, the symptoms such as abdominal pain and diarrhea improved accordingly. She was discharged from the hospital 27 days later. Our case suggests that trans-catheter thrombo-aspiration is a possible alternative to open embolectomy for some cases of SMA embolism more than 10 h post-onset.

Effects of interleukin-8 and Helicobacter pylori on histamine release from isolated canine gastric mucosal mast cells.

BACKGROUND: In recent studies, the involvement of mast cells in the pathogenesis of Helicobacter pylori infection was suggested. In the present study, using isolated canine gastric mucosal mast cells, we undertook to elucidate the effects of interleukin-8 (IL-8) and H. pylori on histamine release from these cells. METHODS: Enriched canine gastric mucosal mast cells (50% target cells) were incubated in Hanks medium with IL-8, or water extract or sonicate of H. pylori for 15 min at 37 degrees C. The content of histamine in the supernatants and the cell pellets after centrifugation was assayed with a histamine radioimmunoassay (RIA) kit. RESULTS: IL-8 (50 ng/ml) and concanavalin A (20 microg/ml) significantly increased histamine release from enriched gastric mucosal mast cells. Dose-dependent stimulation of histamine release by IL-8 (5-50 ng/ml) was also seen. Water extract and sonicate of H. pylori (10(8) bacteria) increased histamine release from mast cells. A concentration-dependent stimulation of histamine release by water extract or sonicate was also seen. The maximal response of histamine release was seen at the highest concentration of the water extract or sonicate. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated that IL-8 and H. pylori had stimulatory effects on histamine release from canine gastric mucosal mast cells. The results imply that IL-8 and soluble factors of H. pylori may accelerate inflammation of the gastric mucosa via histamine release from mast cells.