Effects of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Clostridioides difficile-associated Colitis: A Retrospective Study.

Objectives: Clostridioides difficile (CD) is an anaerobic spore-forming Gram-positive rod that is a major cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) is a well-established treatment for Clostridium perfringens, but there are no reports that have examined the efficacy of HBO against CD, which is also an anaerobic bacterium. Methods: In this study, we retrospectively examined whether HBO therapy affects the prognosis following CD infections (CDI). This study included 92 inpatients diagnosed with CDI at our hospital between January 2013 and December 2022. Of these, 16 patients received HBO therapy. The indications for HBO therapy were stroke in five patients, ileus in four patients, cancer in two patients, acute peripheral circulatory disturbance in two patients, and others in three patients. The mean observation period was 5.4 years. Results: In the univariate analysis, there was no significant difference in severity, mortality, hospitalization, or overall survival between patients who did and did not receive HBO therapy. However, the HBO group had a significantly lower recurrence rate (0% vs. 22.4%, p=0.0363) and a shorter symptomatic period (6.2 vs. 13.6 days, p=0.0217). Conclusions: HBO may have beneficial effect on CDI by shortening the symptomatic period and preventing recurrence.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection of squamous cell carcinoma in the upper stomach 5 years after chemoradiotherapy for adenocarcinoma.

Primary squamous cell carcinoma is rarely observed, with a reported incidence of 0.04-0.07 % of all gastric cancers. An 81-year-old male underwent chemoradiotherapy for type 1 gastric cancer of the posterior wall of the cardiac region in 2005. The tumor disappeared after 1 year of therapy, following which an area of white epithelium, approximately 30 mm in diameter and continuous with the esophageal mucosa, became visible. Biopsy of the white epithelium indicated normal squamous epithelium. An elevated lesion was subsequently detected in the area of white epithelium on upper gastrointestinal endoscopy during a follow-up examination 5 years after therapy. As a biopsy of the same site indicated squamous cell carcinoma, we performed endoscopic submucosal dissection. Histopathological examination indicated high-grade fibrosis due to radiotherapy and showed a moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma invading the scarred portion. We describe a case where the developmental process of a squamous cell carcinoma was observed using endoscopy, including narrow band imaging with magnification. This carcinoma likely originated from squamous metaplasia that developed after chemoradiotherapy was administered for a gastric cancer.

[A case of IgG4-related sclerosing disorders involving the mesentery and the pancreas].

A 78-year-old man presented with upper abdominal pain. He underwent an abdominal computed tomography scan which revealed irregularly shaped mass lesions in the mesentery and in the pancreatic head and body. The mass lesions were suspected to be pancreatic cancer with peritoneal dissemination and a surgical biopsy was performed. Histologic studies revealed lymphoplasmacytic sclerosing pancreatitis with significant infiltration of IgG4-positive plasma cells. His serum IgG4 level was 223 mg/dl. Findings from histologic and serum studies were compatible with IgG4-related sclerosing disorders. The mass lesions responded to steroid therapy and disappeared. The difficulty in making a definitive diagnosis is discussed.

A case of postirradiation angiosarcoma of the greater omentum with hemorrhage.

Angiosarcoma, one of the least common sarcomas, occurs most commonly in the skin and soft tissues, and postirradiation angiosarcoma of the greater omentum is extremely rare. Only one reported case of postirradiation angiosarcoma involved the greater omentum. We describe the case of 74-year-old female with a history of cervical cancer treated with abdominal irradiation 5 years before. On admission, she had nausea, vomiting anorexia, and fatigue. She underwent an abdominal computed tomography scan that revealed an irregularly shaped tumor bounded by transverse colon. The patient died on the 34th hospital day. Autopsy revealed that the tumor was composed of anastomosing irregular vascular channels of variable calibers, involving the adipose tissue of the omentum. Histological studies suggested angiosarcoma. The definitive diagnosis was postirradiation angiosarcoma of the greater omentum, which is an extremely rare condition with an overall dismal prognosis.

Successful treatment of cervical spinal epidural abscess by combined hyperbaric oxygenation.

A 49-year-old man underwent hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy for the treatment of primary spinal epidural abscess. Although the epidural abscess was initially treated with antibiotic (cefozopran) for 5 days, he subsequently developed motor weakness, paresthesia and urinary retention. MRI demonstrated spinal cord compression at the C1-C4 level. HBO therapy was added to the antibiotic regimen, and three days later we found clinical evidence of a response to treatment. Neurological symptoms were relieved 13 days after HBO therapy. This case suggests that HBO therapy is an effective therapeutic adjunct for the treatment of spinal epidural abscess.