Squamous cell carcinoma of the ascending colon: two cases.

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the colon without known primary source is a rare finding that needs aggressive management. We report two cases of SCC of the colon without any clear extra-colonic source despite extensive workup. In our experience, the clinical course and prognosis are largely dependent on the presence of metastatic disease at diagnosis.

Short-term, daily intake of yogurt containing Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis Bf-6 (LMG 24384) does not affect colonic transit time in women.

The present study investigated the effect of Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis Bf-6 (LMG 24 384) (Bf-6)-supplemented yogurt on colonic transit time (CTT). A triple-blinded, randomised, placebo-controlled, two-period cross-over trial was conducted with sixty-eight women with a self-reported history of straining during bowel movements or hard or lumpy stools in the past 2 years.

De novo malignancies following liver transplantation: a case-control study with long-term follow-up.

Background: Long-term survival data on de novo malignancy are limited following orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) when compared with controls without malignancies.

Methods: Over a 12 yr period at our institution, 50 of 1043 patients (4.8%) who underwent OLT were identified to have 53 de novo malignancies.

Drug-induced liver disease.

Purpose Of Review: To summarize the pertinent case reports, case series and clinical studies that described clinical, histological, epidemiological and mechanistic features of drug-induced liver disease in 2005.

Recent Findings: Acetaminophen, highly active antiretroviral therapy and drugs for tuberculosis retained their preeminent position as the most commonly reported agents causing drug-induced liver disease, with acetaminophen continuing to be the leading cause of acute liver failure in the USA. While the frequency of drug-induced liver disease remains low, a large case-series of acute drug-induced liver disease from Spain and Sweden supported the observation that acute hepatocellular jaundice from a drug is associated with death or the need for transplant in at least 10% (known as Hy's Law).