Successful endoscopic submucosal dissection of a giant polyp in a 21-month-old female.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is now recognized as the preferred treatment modality for gastrointestinal epithelial lesions. A 21-month-old female was admitted with a giant hyperplastic polyp causing a gastric outlet obstruction. Successful ESD was performed with caution.

Neurotoxic effects of berberine on long-term L-DOPA administration in 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rat model of Parkinson's disease.

The effects of berberine on long-term administration of L-DOPA in 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-lesioned rat model of Parkinson's disease (PD) were investigated. Rat models of PD were prepared by 6-OHDA lesions in the ipsilateral sides, and then were treated with berberine (5 and 15 mg/kg) and/or L-DOPA (10 mg/kg) once daily for 21 days. Treatments with either concentration of berberine (5 and 15 mg/kg) in 6-OHDA-lesioned groups decreased the numbers of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-immunopositive neurons in the substantia nigra and the levels of dopamine, norepinephrine, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and homovanillic acid (HVA) in the striatum as compared to 6-OHDA-lesioned groups.

Mesenteric suture granuloma caused by retained fragments of suture material in a girl who had a laparotomy 12 years previously.

The authors report a case of a mesenteric suture granuloma in a 12 year-old-girl who had a small bowel resection for a complicated intussusception at the age of 5 months. At later exploration a whitish round tumor located on the anti-mesenteric side of the intestine was found. Several small intestinal loops also abutted on the tumor.

Restoration of electric footshock-induced immunosuppression in mice by Gynostemma pentaphyllum components.

The immunomodulatory effects of the ethanol extract of Gynostemma pentaphyllum (GP-EX) were examined in electric footshock (EFS)-stressed mice. The mice were orally administered various doses of GP-EX for 7 days before exposure to EFS (duration: 3 min, interval: 10 s, intensity: 2 mA) once a day from day 8 for 14 days with continuous daily feeding of GP-EX. Oral administration of GP-EX to mice prevented EFS stress-induced immunosuppression as determined by the lymphoid organ (thymus and spleen) weight and cellularity.

Late complications and current status of long-term survivals over 10 years after Kasai portoenterostomy.

Purpose: Whereas the Kasai portoenterostomy (KPE) is an accepted first line of surgery for bile drainage in infants with biliary atresia, its long-term effectiveness is not clear because its etiology and pathogenesis remains unknown. This study was aimed to investigate the late complications occurring in long-term survivors and the current status of living patients who survived over 10 years after KPE.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of the medical records of 32 patients who underwent KPE from 1990 to 2000 was done.

Primary segmental volvulus of the ileum mimicking meconium plug syndrome.

Primary segmental volvulus (PSV) of the ileum in neonate occurs rarely but shows an aggressive clinical course. Thus, early diagnosis is important to prevent necrosis and perforation of the intestine. We report a case of PSV of the ileum in a 2-day-old female neonate whose clinical features and radiologic findings appeared to be meconium plug syndrome.

Haddad syndrome with PHOX2B gene mutation in a Korean infant.

Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome with Hirschsprung's disease, also known as Haddad syndrome, is an extremely rare disorder with variable symptoms. Recent studies described that congenital central hypoventilation syndrome had deep relation to the mutation of the PHOX2B gene in its diagnosis and phenotype. We report a newborn male infant with clinical manifestations of recurrent hypoventilation with hypercapnea and bowel obstruction.

Diffuse microscopic angiodysplasia and nodular lymphoid hyperplasia in an infant with obscure massive lower gastrointestinal bleeding: a diagnostic challenge.

The authors report a rare case of diffuse microscopic angiodysplasia and nodular lymphoid hyperplasia involving the distal ileum and total colon in a 13-month-old girl who had recurrent episodes of massive lower gastrointestinal bleeding of obscure origin. Colonoscopy showed multiple nodular hyperplasia and mucosal erosions, and all other diagnostic studies were negative. At laparotomy, intraoperative transluminal endoscopic transillumination was of benefit in identifying the bleeding foci but could not detect every angiodysplastic lesion.

Intestinal chondrolipoma: uncommon cause of bowel obstruction.

A case of intestinal obstruction caused by jejunal chondrolipoma in an 11-year-old boy is presented. To the best of our knowledge, this seems to be the first report of chondrolipoma arising from the small bowel in English language literatures.

Resolution of refractory chylous ascites after Kasai portoenterostomy using octreotide.

Chylous ascites is a rare disorder with variables causes. Herein, the authors report a case of refractory chylous ascites after Kasai operation for biliary atresia, which was treated successfully with subcutaneous octreotide, a synthetic somatostatin analogue. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first report in the English-language literature of post-Kasai chylous ascites being successfully treated with subcutaneous octreotide in parallel with the continuation of enteral feeding.

Objective criteria of triangular cord sign in biliary atresia on US scans.

Purpose: To develop objective criteria for the ultrasonographic (US) appearance of the triangular cord (TC) sign for the diagnosis of biliary atresia.

Materials And Methods: US was performed in 86 infants with jaundice. Biliary atresia (n = 20) was confirmed with hepatoportoenterostomy.

An unusual urachal sinus with external opening in the midline suprapubic area.

Urachal sinuses usually manifest as umbilical discharge, but the authors experienced a case of unusual urachal sinus with external opening in the midline suprapubic area. The distal end of the sinus tract was found to extend directly to the median umbilical ligament. The histology shows a sinus tract lined with a modified transitional epithelium with surrounding inflammatory infiltrates.

Anal canal duplication in infants.

Background/purpose: Anal canal duplication (ACD) is the most distal and the least frequent digestive duplication. A review of the English-language literature found 15 cases reported in the pediatric age group.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed for our experience from 1999 to 2001 with 6 patients who presented with a midline postanal opening.

Congenital gastric teratoma with gastric perforation mimicking meconium peritonitis.

A case of congenital immature gastric teratoma along with spontaneous gastric perforation in a 1-day-old boy is presented. The clinical features are similar to those of meconium peritonitis. Coincidentally, the child had an arachnoid cyst at 25 months of age.