Good response chemotherapy for late-recurring gastric cancer in the gluteals, with peritoneal and retroperitoneal dissemination.

A 64-year-old woman presented with advanced gastric cancer (signet ring cell carcinoma) and underwent total gastrectomy in 1996. Postoperative recovery was good, and she was monitored regularly on an outpatient basis. Abdominal computed tomography in 1999 revealed a soft tissue shadow ventral to the origin of the celiac artery.

Endoscopic examination for duodenal ulcer bleeding during transcatheter arterial embolization: analysis of two cases.

Endoscopy is usually effective in treating duodenal ulcer bleeding, but depending on the lesion site and overall patient condition, hemostasis may be difficult to achieve with endoscopy alone. We described two patients with duodenal ulcer bleeding in whom endoscopic hemostasis was difficult. Immediately after transcatheter arterial embolization, endoscopic examination was used to confirm hemostasis and completing of the angiographic procedures.

Study of energy metabolism of skeletal muscles in alcoholic liver disease--expired gas analysis during exercise.

Background: The effects of chronic alcohol intake on skeletal muscle are clinically observed as muscle cramps with decrease in the amount of muscle. It was clarified by expired gas analysis that acute alcohol load affects disturbed energy metabolism of skeletal muscle. We studied abnormal energy metabolism of skeletal muscles in alcoholic liver diseases using expired gas analysis.

[Analysis of medical care costs for gastroenterological inpatients with alcohol-related disease].

Current estimates suggest that approximately 2.3-2.5 million people in Japan are alcoholics.

Platelet activation in patients with alcoholic liver disease.

Objective: To elucidate the mechanisms of thrombocytopenia in alcoholic liver diseases, we investigated activation status of platelets in patients with alcoholic fatty liver (Al-FL), alcoholic liver cirrhosis (Al-LC) or hepatitis-C liver cirrhosis C (C-LC).

Methods: Platelet activation was evaluated by flow cytometry using monoclonal antibodies against P-selectin (CD62P) and the fibrinogen receptor (PAC-1), both specific for platelet activation, and anti-CD61 antibody for the presence of microparticles (PMP) in seven patients with Al-FL, thirteen patients with Al-LC and, as a non-alcoholic liver disease control, nine patients with C-LC. As a normal control, seventeen healthy subjects without liver dysfunction were also evaluated.

Platelet activation in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Objective: To elucidate the mechanisms of thrombocytopenia in chronic hepatitis C (CHC), we investigated platelet activation in patients with chronic viral liver diseases.

Methods: Platelet activation was evaluated with flow cytometry in twenty-five patients with chronic viral hepatitis and 11 patients with liver cirrhosis of viral etiology. Liver biopsies were carried out in all patients.