[Primary effusion lymphoma-like lymphoma transformed to diffuse large B-cell lymphoma].

A rare kind of malignant lymphoma, called primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) is associated with human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), and characterized by lymphomatous effusion in the bodily cavities. Although the initial clinical presentation of primary effusion lymphoma-like lymphoma (PEL-LL) is similar to that of PEL, PEL-LL is HHV-8 negative and has a favorable prognosis. A PEL-LL diagnosis was made after an 88-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with a pleural effusion.

[MIC2 (CD99) as a diagnostic marker for TdT-negative B lymphoblastic lymphoma].

Lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL) is a rare hematologic malignancy that originates from immature lymphocytes and usually expresses terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT). Here, we report a case of TdT-negative B-LBL. A 71-year-old male patient presented to a hospital with shortness of breath.

Acquired Amegakaryocytic Thrombocytopenia Associated With Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia.

Acquired amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia (AATP) is a thrombocytopenic disorder characterized by a decrease in megakaryocytes in the bone marrow. AATP is effectively treated with immunosuppressive therapy. We report a case of a 68-years-old male referred to us due to purpuric lesions on the extremities and was noted to be thrombocytopenic.

Hemodialysis Associated with Severe and Unpredictable Hypoglycemia.

We herein report the case of a 68-year-old man receiving hemodialysis who developed severe hypoglycemia. He became unconscious and exhibited a blood glucose level below 10 mg/dL. We ruled out the possibility of other causes; however, severe hypoglycemia was observed even after starting glucose injections.

Prevalence and outcomes of acute hepatitis B in Okayama, Japan, 2006-2010.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is one of the major viruses causing acute hepatitis. Recently, the incidence of acute hepatitis with genotype A has been increasing in Japan. The aim of this study was to investigate acute hepatitis B (AHB) in Okayama prefecture, with special attention to HBV genotype A.

[Effectiveness of Team-Based Learning (TBL) as a new teaching approach for pharmaceutical care education].

The concept of Team-Based Learning (TBL) was developed in the late 1970s by Larry Michaelsen, who wanted students to enjoy the benefits of small group learning within large classes in the business school environment. In contrast to problem-based learning (PBL), which is student centered, TBL is typically instructor centered. Recently, TBL is being used as a teaching method in over 60 health science professional schools in the US and other countries.

Effect of taurine on acinar cell apoptosis and pancreatic fibrosis in dibutyltin dichloride-induced chronic pancreatitis.

The relationship between pancreatic fibrosis and apoptosis of pancreatic acinar cells has not been fully elucidated. We reported that taurine had an anti-fibrotic effect in a dibutyltin dichloride (DBTC)-chronic pancreatitis model. However, the effect of taurine on apoptosis of pancreatic acinar cells is still unclear.

New large bowel segmentation on plain abdominal radiography in comparison with the conventional method.

Plain abdominal radiography is a very basic examination and plays an important role in primary care. The objectives of this study were to clarify colon distributions on plain abdominal radiographs. Forty-three healthy volunteers underwent gastric fluoroscopy, and 2 hours later, plain abdominal radiography in the supine position.

Weber-Christian disease developing into mediastinitis and pleuritis with massive pleural effusion.

A 53-year-old man visited our hospital complaining of high fever. Chest computed tomography showed left pleural effusion and mediastinitis. He developed painful red subcutaneous nodules in his bilateral lower extremities.

Successful treatment of sepsis caused by Staphylococcus lugdunensis in an adult with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome.

A 27-year-old woman visited our hospital because of high fever. She had been diagnosed as 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.

Long-term Taenia saginata infection successfully treated with meglumine/diatrizoate sodium.

A 46-year-old Japanese man visited our hospital for chronic abdominal pain, persistent diarrhea and discharge of proglottids for 7 years. He had been living in Lao People's Democratic Republic. Ileography using meglumine/diatrizoate sodium (Gastrografin) revealed a long tapeworm.

Radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with decompensated cirrhosis.

Background: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is used to treat early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but is sometimes avoided in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis because of the possible side effect of deterioration of liver function.

Aims: In this study, we report the safety and effects of RFA for treating HCC patients with Child-Pugh B/C liver cirrhosis.

Methods: Sixty-six consecutive HCC patients with Child-Pugh B/C cirrhosis, who were treated by RFA, were enrolled in this study.

[Fibrosis markers in heavy alcohol drinkers].

Alcoholic intake has increased in society in recent years. gamma-GTP is used as a marker of liver damage by alcohol intake, but there is no reliable marker of pancreatic fibrosis. We used animal experiments and clinical data to identify a new reliable marker of early-stage pancreatic fibrosis.

Oral administration of taurine improves experimental pancreatic fibrosis.

Background And Aim: The mechanism of pancreatic fibrosis is unclear. Taurine is used in the clinical treatment of a wide variety of diseases, but its effect on improving pancreatic fibrosis is unknown. We examined whether a diet with added taurine improves pancreatic fibrosis induced by dibutyltin dichloride (DBTC) in an experimental chronic pancreatitis rat model.

Successful treatment of a patient with gastric and duodenal metastases from large cell carcinoma of the lung with carboplatin and gemcitabine.

A 62-year-old man with large cell carcinoma of the lung underwent a right upper lobectomy and four months later demonstrated a relapse in the stomach and duodenum. He received systemic chemotherapy consisting of carboplatin and gemcitabine. After the first cycle of chemotherapy, the duodenal lesion disappeared, however, the gastric lesion demonstrated no response.

Heparanase regulates esophageal keratinocyte differentiation through nuclear translocation and heparan sulfate cleavage.

Heparanase is an endo-beta-glucuronidase that specifically cleaves heparan sulfate (HS) chains. Heparanase is involved in the process of metastasis and angiogenesis through the degradation of HS chains of the extracellular matrix and cell surface. Recently, we demonstrated that heparanase was localized in the cell nucleus of normal esophageal epithelium and esophageal cancer, and that its expression was correlated with cell differentiation.

Xanthine oxidase-derived free radicals directly activate rat pancreatic stellate cells.

Background And Aim: Free radicals are reported to be associated with fibrosis in the pancreas. It is generally accepted that pancreatic stellate cells (PSC) play an important role in pancreatic fibrosis. However, the exact role of free radicals in activation of PSC has not been fully elucidated.

Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis after alpha-glucosidase inhibitor treatment in a patient with interstitial pneumonitis.

A 56-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital for treatment of non-specific interstitial pneumonitis (NSIP). The patient started prednisone treatment, but one month later treatment with voglibose, an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor (alpha-GI), was started because of prednisone-induced diabetes mellitus. One week later, a massive volume of free air below the diaphragm was detected by a chest X-ray examination.

Gastrobiliary motility is not coordinated in patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia of normal gastric emptying time: simultaneous sonographic study.

Background: Disorders of the motor function of the upper gastrointestinal tract have been implicated in the pathogenesis of non-ulcer dyspepsia. Approximately 50% of patients with abdominal symptoms (without ulcer) have normal gastric emptying. Apart from gastric emptying, other mechanisms are very important in the etiology of non-ulcer dyspepsia.

Camostat, an oral trypsin inhibitor, reduces pancreatic fibrosis induced by repeated administration of a superoxide dismutase inhibitor in rats.

Background And Aim: An oral trypsin inhibitor, camostat (CM), has a beneficial effect on chronic pancreatitis, but its mechanism is not yet fully understood. Recently, pancreatic stellate cells (PSC) have been reported to play an essential role in pancreatic fibrosis. An experimental model of pancreatic fibrosis induced by a superoxide dismutase (SOD) inhibitor (diethyldithiocarbamate [DDC]) was developed in rats.

[Metabolic disorders of patients with acute pancreatitis: carbohydrate, lipid and protein metabolic disorders].

Acute pancreatitis has been reported in several studies to increase the catabolism and proteolysis of skeletal muscle in comparison with normal controls. Decreased levels of total plasma proteins and rapid turnover proteins and a marked decrease of the ratio of branched-chain to aromatic amino acid further characterize the hypercatabolic state. Significant decreases in plasma essential amino acids, with marked reductions of almost all amino acids in the liver and increased uptake of endogenous amino acids by the skeletal muscle mass, have been reported clinically and experimentally.

Analysis of HCV genotypes from blood donors shows three new HCV type 6 subgroups exist in Myanmar.

The prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes in Myanmar in comparison with the rest of Southeast Asia is not well known. Serum samples were obtained from 201 HCV antibody-positive volunteer blood donors in and around the Myanmar city of Yangon. Of these, the antibody titers of 101 samples were checked by serial dilution using HCV antibody PA test II and Terasaki microplate as a low-cost method.

Pancreatic enzyme supplement improves dysmotility in chronic pancreatitis patients.

Background And Aims: Impaired gallbladder contraction and rapid gastric emptying in patients with chronic pancreatitis may be the result of depleted pancreatic exocrine function. The authors tested whether oral pancreatic enzymes can improve the dysmotility or not.

Methods: Study subjects consisted of 15 patients with chronic pancreatitis and 18 healthy controls.