A case of phlegmonous gastritis after acute pharyngitis.

We report a case of phlegmonous gastritis that followed an episode of acute pharyngitis. A 21-year-old man visited our emergency room because of intense epigastric pain. Fourteen days before the visit, he had symptoms of a sore throat and high fever.

Clinical features of chronic hepatitis B patients with low hepatitis B surface antigen levels and determinants of hepatitis B surface antigen seroclearance.

Background And Aim: A low hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) level is reported to be predictive of future HBsAg seroclearance. A hospital-based cohort study was conducted to clarify the clinical features of patients with low HBsAg levels and to demonstrate the usefulness of low HBsAg levels for predicting HBsAg seroclearance.

Methods: A total of 1459 patients with chronic hepatitis B were included in the study.

Prospective multicenter study of the esophageal triamcinolone acetonide-filling method in patients with subcircumferential esophageal endoscopic submucosal dissection.

Background And Aim: The esophageal triamcinolone acetonide (TA)-filling method is a novel local approach for stenosis prevention after extensive esophageal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). We evaluated this method after subcircumferential ESD.

Methods: We enrolled 20 patients with esophageal cancer requiring subcircumferential ESD in a prospective multicenter study.

New class of artificial enzyme composed of Mn-porphyrin, imidazole, and cucurbit[10]uril toward use as a therapeutic antioxidant.

In this study, we investigated a new class of artificial enzymes composed of Mn-porphyrin, imidazole, and cucurbit[10]uril (CB[10]) toward therapeutic antioxidants. Structural characterization by means of NMR indicated that the inclusion mode of metalloporphyrin in CB[10] was sensitive to the chemical structure of metalloporphyrin and that the structure of the artificial enzyme had a similarly to that of native heme catalase. Kinetic analysis for catalytic antioxidative activities demonstrated that the artificial enzyme exhibited highly efficient activity for HO disproportionation (catalase activity) in water.

Esophageal triamcinolone acetonide-filling method: a novel procedure to prevent stenosis after extensive esophageal endoscopic submucosal dissection (with videos).

Background And Aims: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for extensive esophageal carcinomas may cause severe stenosis requiring endoscopic balloon dilations (EBDs). A standard prevention method has not been established. We propose the esophageal triamcinolone acetonide (TA)-filling method as a novel local steroid administration procedure.

[A case of ruptured duodenal varices successfully treated by combination therapy with endoscopic clipping and balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration].

An 80-year-old woman with a history of chronic hepatitis B was referred to our hospital because of upper gastrointestinal bleeding of unknown origin. Dynamic computed tomography revealed liver cirrhosis and hepatofugal collateral vessels around the duodenum. Emergency esophagogastroduodenoscopy showed duodenal varices with an erosive spot, highly suggestive of a variceal rupture site.

Diagnostic accuracy of magnification endoscopy with acetic acid enhancement and narrow-band imaging in gastric mucosal neoplasms.

Background And Study Aims: Magnification endoscopy with narrow-band imaging (NBIME) and NBIME with acetic acid enhancement (A-NBIME) visualize the capillary and microstructure patterns of the gastric mucosal surface, respectively. This study aimed to compare the diagnostic accuracy and interobserver agreement for white-light endoscopy (WLE), NBIME, and A-NBIME in the different histologic types of gastric mucosal neoplasm.

Patients And Methods: Consecutive gastric neoplasms (n = 220; 49 adenomas, 144 differentiated adenocarcinomas, and 27 undifferentiated adenocarcinomas) were photographed with WLE, NBIME, and A-NBIME.

Randomized trial of peginterferon alpha-2b plus low and escalating dose of ribavirin in patients with chronic hepatitis C with high viral load genotype 1.

It has been reported that elderly patients with chronic hepatitis C infection cannot tolerate standard combination therapy. In this randomized, controlled trial, the efficacy and safety of peginterferon alpha-2b plus a low and escalating dose of ribavirin in chronic hepatitis C patients with high viral load genotype 1 were investigated. Sixty-two patients were randomized into combination therapy with standard ribavirin dosing (group 1) or low and escalating ribavirin dosing (group 2).

Roles of alcohol consumption in fatty liver: a longitudinal study.

Background & Aims: Roles of alcohol consumption in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease are still controversial, although several cross-sectional studies have suggested the beneficial effect of light to moderate drinking on fatty liver. We analyzed the longitudinal relationship between drinking pattern and fatty liver.

Methods: We included 5297 Japanese individuals (3773 men and 1524 women) who underwent a baseline study in 2003 and follow-up at least once from 2004 to 2006.

Magnification endoscopy with acetic acid enhancement and a narrow-band imaging system for pit pattern diagnosis of colorectal neoplasms.

Background And Goals: Pit pattern (PP) analysis of colorectal neoplasms using magnification chromoendoscopy with crystal violet (CV-MCE) is useful for predicting histologic features, but it is time consuming. Capillary pattern analysis by magnification endoscopy with narrow-band imaging (NBIME) is a useful and simpler procedure, but its diagnostic accuracy may be inferior to CV-MCE. NBIME with acetic acid enhancement (A-NBIME) is effective for rapid visualization of gastric mucosal microstructures.

[A case of primary adenocarcinoma of small intestine responding to XELOX chemotherapy and leading to a partial metabolic response].

We report a case of adenocarcinoma of the small intestine responding to XELOX chemotherapy, leading to a partial metabolic response(PMR). The patient was a 58-year-old male with multiple peritoneal dissemination of adenocarcinoma of the small intestine. Chemotherapy with XELOX(L-OHP 130 mg/m² on day 1 , and capecitabine 1,000 mg/m2 on days 1-14)was performed.

[A case of alcoholic hepatitis diagnosed by a liver biopsy and successfully treated by corticosteroid therapy].

A 50-year-old man with a history of alcohol intake exceeding 80 g/day was admitted because of severe liver dysfunction and high fever. A rapid increase of transaminase with remittent high fever was observed several days after admission. Abdominal CT scan demonstrated a 22×20 mm mass in segment 8, highly suggestive of hepatocellular carcinoma.

[A case of resected rectal cancer with hepatic node and multiple liver metastases effectively treated by preoperative modified FOLFOX6 and sLV5FU2 chemotherapy].

A 55-year-old male had complained of melena.Colonoscopy revealed a type 2 tumor at the rectum.CT demonstrated hepatic lymph nodes and multiple liver metastases(stage IV).

Application of radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of metastatic liver cancers.

Background/aims: The aim of this study is to elucidate the effectiveness of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for the treatment of metastatic liver cancers.

Methodology: From 74 patients with metastatic liver cancers treated by RFA, 40 patients including 23 colon cancer who had received curative resection of the primary tumor were analyzed.

Results: Recurrence of the tumor was observed in 29 (72.

Mortality rate of patients with asymptomatic primary biliary cirrhosis diagnosed at age 55 years or older is similar to that of the general population.

Purpose: Recent routine testing for liver function and anti-mitochondrial antibodies has increased the number of newly diagnosed patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). This study investigated the prognosis of asymptomatic PBC patients, focusing on age difference, to clarify its effect on the prognosis of PBC patients.

Methods: The study was a systematic cohort analysis of 308 consecutive patients diagnosed with asymptomatic PBC.

Treatment of over 20 mm gastric cancer by endoscopic submucosal dissection using an insulation-tipped diathermic knife.

Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of endoscopic submucosal dissection using an insulation-tipped diathermic knife (IT-ESD) for the treatment of patients with over 20 mm early gastric cancer (EGC).

Methods: A total of 112 patients with over 10 mm EGC were treated with IT-ESD at Sumitomo Besshi Hospital and Shikoku Cancer Center in the 5 year period from January 2002 to December 2006, including 40 patients with over 20 mm EGC. We compared patient backgrounds, the one-piece resection rate, complete resection (CR) rate, operation time, bleeding rate, perforation rate between patients with over 20 mm EGC [over 20 mm group (21-40 mm)] and the remaining patients (under 20 mm group).

Inflammatory fibroid polyp occurring in the transverse colon diagnosed by endoscopic biopsy.

A case of an inflammatory fibroid polyp occurring in the transverse colon and diagnosed by endoscopic biopsy is reported. The patient was an 82-year-old man who visited our hospital for further evaluation of occult blood in stool. The Colonoscopy revealed a small, red, and peduncular polyp, about 6 mm in diameter, in the transverse colon.

Gastric inflammatory fibroid polyp treated with Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy.

Gastric inflammatory fibroid polyps (IFPs) are rare benign lesions that occur in the distal stomach. We describe a 56-year-old woman with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)-positive gastric IFP treated with eradication.

[A case of early extrahepatic bile duct cancer showing diffuse growth].

A 74-year-old woman visited our hospital for a health checkup, and liver dysfunction and cholangiectasis were detected. Further examinations revealed a protruding lesion spreading diffusely from the upper to the lower extra-hepatic bile duct. On a diagnosis of extra-hepatic bile duct cancer, the patient underwent pancreato-duodenectomy with preservation of the pyloric ring.

Intrahepatic mRNA levels of type I interferon receptor and interferon-stimulated genes in genotype 1b chronic hepatitis C. Association between IFNAR1 mRNA level and sustained response to interferon therapy.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the association between pretreatment intrahepatic mRNA levels of interferon receptor and interferon-stimulated genes and response to interferon therapy for genotype 1b chronic hepatitis C.

Methods: Forty-four patients with genotype 1b chronic hepatitis C who underwent liver biopsy and then received interferon therapy participated in this study. Pretreatment intrahepatic mRNA levels of interferon receptor genes (IFNAR1, IFNAR2b, and IFNAR2c) and interferon-stimulated genes (OAS1 and PKR) were quantified by competitive polymerase chain reaction.

Long-term monitoring of platelet count, as a non-invasive marker of hepatic fibrosis progression and/or regression in patients with chronic hepatitis C after interferon therapy.

Background: Platelet count has been shown to correlate with the hepatic fibrosis stage in chronic hepatitis C (CHC). The aim of the present study was to assess hepatic fibrosis progression or regression of CHC patients by long-term monitoring of the platelet count.

Methods: A total of 429 interferon (IFN)-treated CHC patients were studied.

Anti-viral actions and viral dynamics in the early phase of three different regimens of interferon treatment for chronic hepatitis C: differences between the twice-daily administration of interferon-beta treatment and the combination therapy with interferon-alpha plus ribavirin.

To improve the efficacy of interferon (IFN) treatment for chronic hepatitis C, we have proposed the twice-daily administration of IFN-beta as a promising induction therapy. In this study, we demonstrated differences between the clearance of circulating HCV-RNA and the induction of anti-viral actions during the first 2 weeks of treatment. Nine patients with a high viral load and genotype 1b were randomly assigned to 3 groups: group A received 3MU of IFN-beta twice a day at intervals of 5 and 19 h; group B received 3MU of IFN-beta twice a day at intervals of 10 and 14 h; group C received 6MU of IFN-alpha once a day with ribavirin.

Hepatitis B virus gene in liver tissue promotes hepatocellular carcinoma development in chronic hepatitis C patients.

The hepatitis B virus (HBV) gene has been detected in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissue negative for the hepatitis B surface antigen and positive for the hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody, but the precise role of the HBV gene in hepatocarcinogenesis has yet to be clarified. We studied the HBV gene in liver tissue several years before the emergence of HCC. Eleven patients diagnosed with HCV-positive chronic liver disease and who developed HCC were assigned to group A.