Background Clinical demand for total colonoscopy (TCS) is increasing. Improvement of the cecal intubation rate and shortening of the examination time would expand the capacity for TCS. Objective To ...assess the efficacy of a transparent hood attached to the tip of a colonoscope for cecal intubation in TCS. Design Prospective, randomized, controlled study. Setting Single tertiary-referral center. Interventions TCS. Main Outcome Measurements Cecal intubation time and rate, complications, patient discomfort, and detection rate of colonic polyps. Methods Patients who were to undergo screening and/or surveillance TCS for colorectal cancer were invited to participate in the study. Cecal intubation time and rate, complications, patient discomfort, and detection rate of colonic polyps were evaluated. Results A total of 592 patients enrolled in this study were randomly allocated to the hood group and no-hood group. The mean (SD) cecal intubation time in the hood group and the no-hood group was 10.2 ± 12.5 minutes and 13.4 ± 15.8 minutes, respectively ( P = .0241). The effect of its use was more prominent in the expert endoscopists group compared with those with moderate experience. The cecal intubation rate and the detection rate of small polyps in the 2 groups were similar. The grade of patient discomfort was significantly lower in the hood group. No complications were encountered with the use of the hood. Conclusions Use of a transparent hood on the tip of a colonoscope shortened the time required for cecal intubation and decreased patient discomfort; such use was more effective among experts in shortening the examination time.
Background
We investigated the presence of occult pancreaticobiliary reflux in patients with a morphologically normal pancreaticobiliary ductal arrangement by measuring biliary amylase levels and ...compared histopathological findings of the gallbladder between groups with high and low biliary amylase levels.
Methods
In 178 patients with a normal pancreaticobiliary ductal arrangement who had undergone endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), we sampled bile from the bile duct and measured amylase levels. Then we compared clinical features and histological findings of the gallbladder between high (HALG) and low amylase level groups (LALG).
Results
A high biliary amylase level was observed in 25.8% (46/178) of the patients. The prevalence of a high biliary amylase level was high in patients with gallbladder carcinoma (40%) and in those with choledocholithiasis (28.4%). The level of amylase in bile was high in patients with gallbladder carcinoma, adenomyomatosis of the gallbladder, and chronic cholecystitis. A strong correlation between the levels of amylase and lipase in bile and the dominance of amylase of pancreatic origin in bile were confirmed by isozyme analysis. Thickening of the gallbladder mucosa was a significant manifestation in HALG. Histological examination of the gallbladder mucosa showed that incidences of metaplastic change and atypical epithelium and Ki67-LI in were higher in HALG than in LALG.
Conclusions
Occult pancreaticobiliary reflux is observed in a considerable number of ERCP candidates. Those who show an extremely high biliary amylase level, at least, may be at high risk for biliary malignancies.
The aim of this study was to evaluate histopathologically the frequency, direction, and length of intraductal spread (IS) along the main pancreatic duct from the main tumor of small pancreatic ...cancer.
Resected specimens from 20 cases of pTS1 (histologically 2 cm or less in diameter) pancreatic cancer (September 1983 to December 2005) were examined histopathologically. As controls, 40 resected specimens from cases of pTS2 (more than 2 cm and less than 4 cm in diameter) or larger sized pancreatic cancer (pTS2<or=) were examined in the same manner. The specimens were evaluated histopathologically as to (1) the prevalence of IS, (2) the direction and length of IS, and (3) the positive rates of transpapillary cytology of pure pancreatic juice (TPC) and biopsy of the main pancreatic duct (TPB), performed preoperatively.
IS was observed in 45% of pTS1 and 13% of pTS2<or= cases. In 88% of cases of pTS1, IS was observed in the direction of the ampullary side. In 40% of cases of pTS2<or=, IS toward the ampullary side was seen. The mean length of IS in pTS1 and pTS2<or= cases was 11.8 mm and 7.2 mm, respectively. Positive rates of TPC and TPB in pTS1 cases were 70% and 75%, respectively, and in pTS2<or= cases, 50% and 44%, respectively.
The frequency of IS was high in pTS1 cases, which suggests there is potential for improvement in establishing the histocytological diagnosis of small pancreatic cancer via the transpapillary approach with the development of adequate tools.
Aim: We evaluated the diagnostic efficacy of transpapillary intraductal ultrasonography before biliary drainage (IDUS‐BD) and transpapillary biopsy (TPB) for the assessment of the longitudinal ...extent of bile duct cancer.
Methods: Between November 1999 and January 2005, we performed IDUS‐BD and TPB preoperatively in 27 patients with carcinoma of the extrahepatic bile duct. Following IDUS‐BD, TPB was performed under fluoroscopic guidance immediately after endoscopic sphincterotomy. The diagnostic efficacy of IDUS‐BD and TPB for the longitudinal extent of the cancer and the complications which accompanied the procedure were evaluated.
Results: The overall success rate of sampling and the diagnostic accuracy of bile duct cancer by TPB were 85.3% (192/225) and 85% (23/27), respectively. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the assessment of the longitudinal extent of cancer on the hepatic and duodenal sides by IDUS‐BD were 82%, 70%, 78% and 85%, 43%, 70%, respectively. Those by a combination of IDUS‐BD and TPB were 88%, 80%, 85% and 77%, 86%, 80%, respectively. Overestimation of the longitudinal extent of BD cancer by IDUS‐BD was mainly due to inflammation and obscure images, especially resulting from collapse of the bile duct on the duodenal side of the tumor, and was corrected by TPB in four of five patients. No serious complications occurred following the combination of IDUS‐BD and TPB.
Conclusions: TPB is useful for preoperative histological diagnosis of bile duct cancer. The combination of IDUS‐BD and TPB is practical for evaluation of its longitudinal extent; basically, IDUS‐BD is sufficient on the hepatic side of the tumor, but concomitant TPB is recommended on the duodenal side.
Electron spin resonance using spin-trapping is a useful technique for detecting direct reactive oxygen species, such as superoxide (O2.-). However, the widely used spin trap ...2,2-dimethyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrrole N-oxide (DMPO) has several fundamental limitations in terms of half-life and stability. Recently, the new spin trap 2-diphenylphosphinoyl-2-methyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrrole N-oxide (DPhPMPO) was developed by us. We evaluated the biological applicability of DPhPMPO to analyze O2.- in both cell-free and cellular systems. DPhPMPO had a larger rate constant for O2.- and formed more stable spin adducts for O2.- than DMPO in the xanthine/xanthine oxidase (X/XO) system. In the phorbol myristate acetate-activated neutrophil system, the detection potential of DPhPMPO for O2.- was significantly higher than that of DMPO (k(DMPO)=13.95M(-1)s(-1), k(DPhPMPO)=42.4M(-1)s(-1)). These results indicated that DPhPMPO is a potentially good candidate for trapping O2.- in a biological system.
Background It is often difficult to insert a long intestinal tube in the small bowel of patients with bowel obstruction, and it often results in long procedure time and severe patient distress. ...Objective To assess the usefulness of the ropeway method by using a guidewire placed with the assistance of transnasal ultrathin endoscopy in long-tube insertion for patients with bowel obstruction. Design Prospective, randomized, controlled, single-center study. Patients and Interventions Thirty-four consecutive patients with bowel obstruction requiring decompression participated in the study and were randomized to the insertion of a long tube with the ropeway method (ILTR) group (ie, insertion along an endoscopically placed guidewire that was passed through only the distal 4 cm of the tube) or insertion by a conventional method group (C group). Main Outcome Measurements The time required for the procedure (main), success rate, x-ray exposure time, and intensity of patient distress measured with a visual analog scale of 1 to 5 (better to worse). Results The mean (± standard deviation) duration of the procedure in the successful cases in the ILTR group and the C group was 16.1 ± 5.6 minutes and 26.4 ± 13.8 minutes, respectively ( P = .010). The success rate was 100% in the ILTR group and 88% in the C group ( P = .48). The mean (± standard deviation) x-ray exposure time and intensity of patient distress were, respectively, 16.4 ± 8.7 minutes and 33.2 ± 12.3 minutes ( P < .001) and 2.6 ± 0.7 and 3.7 ± 1.2 ( P = .016). Limitations Single-center study and small sample size to evaluate overall safety. Conclusions Long-tube insertion for bowel obstruction with the ropeway method facilitated by transnasal ultrathin endoscopy was superior to conventional fluoroscopic placement with regard to overall procedure success, time required, and patient comfort.
We histologically evaluated the epithelia of the gallbladder (GB) and bile duct (BD) in patients with anomalous arrangement of the pancreaticobiliary ductal system (AAPB), with regard to the shape of ...the common BD (CBD).
The GB and BD were studied histologically using surgical materials from 44 patients with AAPB: 27 with a dilated CBD (D-type) and 17 with a nondilated CBD (N-type).
GB cancer and BD cancer were found in 11.1% and 3.7% of D-type and 17.6% and 0% of N-type respectively. Hyperplastic epithelium and atypical epithelium of the GB were frequently seen in both D-type (46%, 46%) and N-type (82%, 70%), while such epithelia of the BD were only seen in D-type (10%, 35%). The Ki67 labeling index of the nonneoplastic epithelium of the GB was high in both D-type (13.0%) and N-type (9.7%), though that of the BD was high in D-type (12.5%) but low in N-type (1.8%). The prevalences of pyloric gland metaplasia, intestinal metaplasia, and p53 protein overexpression of the nonneoplastic epithelium did not show any significant differences between D-type and N-type.
It is suggested that the BD epithelium of N-type probably has a lower potential for developing malignancy than that of D-type, while the GB epithelia of both D-type and N-type have a high potential for developing malignancy. This might support the selection of simple cholecystectomy as the treatment of choice in AAPB patients of N-type, although further investigation of the BD epithelium is required in a larger number of such patients.
Aim: For patients with bowel obstruction, intestinal decompression by a long tube is recommended. We assessed the usefulness of a new technique for insertion of a long tube with a guidewire placed ...by transnasal ultrathin endoscopy.
Methods: Nineteen patients who had been diagnosed as suffering from bowel obstruction underwent long‐tube insertion with the ropeway technique using a guidewire placed by transnasal endoscopy. Thirty‐three patients who had undergone conventional insertion of a long tube were included as controls. The success rate of intubation of the small bowel and the time required for the procedure were compared between the subjects and controls.
Results: The success rate of intubation was 94.7% (18/19) in subjects and 84.8% (28/33) in controls (P = 0.53). The time required for insertion in the subjects and controls was 24.1 ± 8.1 min and 48.7 ± 25.3 min, respectively, with a statistically significant difference (P < 0.001). No complications relevant to the procedure were encountered in either of the groups.
Conclusion: Long‐tube insertion facilitated by transnasal endoscopy reduces the time required for insertion in comparison with the conventional technique without endoscopy. Endoscopy‐assisted long‐tube insertion with the ropeway method is a safe and useful procedure for decompression in patients with bowel obstruction.
A 75-year-old man underwent endoscopic hemostatic therapy for hemorrhagic gastric ulcer in September 2002. After healing of the gastric ulcer, he underwent Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy in ...February 2003. In August 2007, an irregular tumor was detected in the lower esophagus at annual checkup for gastric cancer screening using X-ray. Endoscopic examination showed that the lower margin of the tumor almost coincided with the esophagogastric junction and that a short segment of Barrett’s epithelium existed near the tumor. Biopsies of the tumor showed moderately to poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Mild reflux esophagitis and minor hiatal hernia was also observed, and the previously treated gastric ulcer was not recurrent. Absence of H. pylori was confirmed by serum antibody and urea breath test. Surgical resection of the lower esophagus and proximal stomach was performed. The tumor invaded into the muscularis propria of the esophageal wall but had no evidence of lymph node metastasis. Based on macroscopic and pathological findings, the tumor was recognized as esophageal adenocarcinoma. Previous endoscopic examination did not detect any apparent signs of tumor in the esophagogastric junction. As far as we know, this is the first report documenting a newly developed esophageal adenocarcinoma after the successful eradication of H. pylori.
Abstract
Background
Myeloid / Lymphoid or Mixed-lineage leukemia gene (MLL) is translocated to chromosome 11 long arm q23 region (11q23) and the MLL fusion gene expressed as a result of translocation ...reconstruction plays an important role in MLL-related leukemia development. It has also been reported that MLL and MLL protein play an important role in tumor development as a Menin-binding protein in Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type I (MEN1). More recently, normal MLL protein has been shown to have histone H3 lysine 4-methylation (H3K4-HMT) activity and to be an epigenetic transcriptional regulator. In addition, the function of MLL protein as a histone methylase has been reported in the gene region involved in metabolism regions. Here, we analyzed the involvement of MLL in glucose metabolism in the pancreas using MLL knockout mice.
Methods
Glucose metabolism in MLL knockout mice and the function of MLL in cultured cells were analyzed. Result: Since the homozygotes of MLL knockout mice are embryonic lethal, we analyzed them using Heterozygous mice. MLL heterozygous mice showed significantly weight loss compared to the wild type mice. MLL heterozygous mice showed no difference in food intake compared to wild type mice. IPGTT showed impaired glucose tolerance in MLL heterozygous mice. However, ITT showed no insulin resistance and decreased insulin secretion during glucose loading. In GSIS tests, Islets isolated from heterozygous mice pancreas have been observed to decrease insulin secretion in the response to glucose stimulation. In comprehensive gene analysis using Microarray analysis of mRNA extracted from mice islet, the gene expression changes related insulin secretion and apoptosis have been revealed in MLL heterozygous mice. Histological search showed no decrease in β-cell number, and immunohistological search showed no difference in insulin, glucagon, and TUNEL staining between heterozygous and wild type mice. And also, MLL knockdown was performed in a cultured cell line. Insulin secretion was decreased to glucose stimulation in MLL knockdown cell line same as in MLL knockout mice. In addition, RNA microarrays were performed to these cell lines, several same genes that have confirmed in MLL mouse islets were observed in MLL knockdown cell. In common to both MLL knockout mice and MLL knockdown cell line, the expression levels of GLUT1 and GLUT2 were decreased. In conclusion, MLL knockout mice showed decreased insulin secretion. It was suggested that MLL may be involved in insulin secretion through decreased expression of the GULT1 gene and GLUT2 genes in islets.
Presentation: No date and time listed
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