Genotyping Giardia intestinalis by Using DNA Extracted from Long-Term Preserved Human Specimens Stained with Chlorazol Black E.

Giardia intestinalis is a parasitic protozoan that causes diarrhea and abdominal pain in humans. Studies of the Giardia genotypes are thought to be important for understanding their infection routes and prevalence. However, few have reported pathogen genotyping in human giardiasis cases in Japan.

Basal metabolic rate and body composition of elite Japanese male athletes.

The estimated energy requirement is important for adequate nutritional management in athletes. The energy requirement can be estimated from the basal metabolic rate (BMR). However, there is little data regarding the BMR of Japanese athletes.

Specific increase in serum autotaxin activity in patients with pancreatic cancer.

Objectives: To evaluate the potential clinical significance of serum autotaxin (ATX) level in patients with cancers of the digestive system.

Design And Methods: Serum ATX activity was measured as the lysophospholipase D activity in patients with cancer of the esophagus (n=8), stomach (n=18), colorectum (n=21), biliary tract (n=19), or pancreas (n=103) and in patients with benign pancreatic diseases (n=73).

Results: Among patients with various cancers of digestive system, increased serum ATX activity was predominantly observed among pancreatic cancer patients.

[Molecular identification of human Diphyllobothrium nihonkaiense using mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene sequence].

Identification of Diphyllobothrium species has been carried out based on their morphology, especially sexual organs. In addition to these criteria, PCR-based identification methods have been developed recently. A 20 year-old Japanese living in Kochi Prefecture passed tapeworm.

Long-term outcomes after endoscopic sphincterotomy versus endoscopic papillary balloon dilation for bile duct stones.

Objective: Endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) is a well-established standard method for treating common bile duct stones. However, biliary sphincter function is impaired after the treatment, and this may influence the long-term outcomes. In this study, we aimed to compare the long-term outcomes after ES with those after endoscopic papillary balloon dilation (EPBD) because the latter procedure is expected to preserve biliary sphincter function better than ES.

Effects of acute hypoxia at moderate altitude on stroke volume and cardiac output during exercise.

It has been unclear how acute hypoxia at moderate altitude affects stroke volume (SV), an index of cardiac function, during exercise. The present study was conducted to reveal whether acute normobaric hypoxia might alter SV during exercise.Nine healthy male subjects performed maximal exercise testing under normobaric normoxic, and normobaric hypoxic conditions (O(2): 14.

Low dose effects of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) on gene transcription and DNA methylation in the hypothalamus of young male rats: implication of hormesis-like effects.

To verify the relationship between oxidative stress and DNA methylation in the young brain, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) was administered by gavage to male young rats at doses of 0, 0.006, 0.06, 0.

Preservation of papillary relaxation after endoscopic papillary balloon dilation.

Background/aims: Endoscopic papillary balloon dilation has been accepted as a less hazardous alternative to endoscopic sphincterotomy for removal of bile duct stones in patients with impaired hemostasis. Several manometric studies have suggested that endoscopic papillary balloon dilation can be expected to preserve papillary function. However, the aspect of the preservation of postprandial relaxation has not been addressed.

Efficacy and safety of low-pressured and short-time dilation in endoscopic papillary balloon dilation for bile duct stone removal.

Background And Aim: Endoscopic papillary balloon dilation (EPBD) has been advocated as an alternative therapy to endoscopic sphincterotomy for bile duct stones. However, studies have shown that EPBD may increase the risk for pancreatitis. Pancreatitis after EPBD is believed to be related to papillary damage after balloon dilation.

Outcomes after clearance of pancreatic stones with or without pancreatic stenting.

Background: Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) and endoscopic lithotripsy are useful for the fragmentation and extraction of pancreatic stones. However, pancreatic stones often recur, for which an adequate strategy is needed. Treatment for stricture of the main pancreatic duct (MPD) with a pancreatic stent after clearance of pancreatic stones may reduce the recurrence of pancreatic symptoms and stones.

Endoscopic papillary balloon dilation for bile duct stone: immediate and long-term outcomes in 1000 patients.

Background & Aims: The long-term outcomes of endoscopic papillary balloon dilation (EPBD) for bile duct stone removal are not well known.

Methods: A total of 1000 patients with bile duct stones were treated with EPBD. After assessing immediate outcomes, patients were followed up for late biliary complications.

Efficacy of peppermint oil as an antispasmodic during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

Background: During endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), hyoscine-N-butylbromide (Buscopan) or glucagon is used to inhibit duodenal motility. However, they may cause adverse effects. Peppermint oil has an antispasmodic effect and is used as a less hazardous antispasmodic during colonoscopy and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.

Cholecystitis after metallic stent placement in patients with malignant distal biliary obstruction.

Background & Aims: Cholecystitis after metallic stent (MS) placement is an issue requiring attention. From our experience, cholecystitis seemed to occur mainly in patients with tumor involvement to the cystic duct orifice. The aim of the present study was to identify risk factors for cholecystitis in patients treated with covered or uncovered MS.

Efficacy and safety of the covered Wallstent in patients with distal malignant biliary obstruction.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and the safety of the covered Wallstent, a commercially available silicone-covered, self-expandable metallic stent (covered Wallstent), for the treatment of distal malignant biliary obstruction.

Methods: Sixty-nine consecutive patients with unresectable distal malignant biliary obstruction who underwent covered Wallstent placement between October 2001 and October 2003 were studied at 4 affiliated hospitals.

Results: Mean stent patency and mean survival were 139.

Identifying genes with differential expression in gemcitabine-resistant pancreatic cancer cells using comprehensive transcriptome analysis.

Pancreatic cancer is often unresectable at diagnosis, and chemotherapy using gemcitabine is now the standard treatment for advanced pancreatic cancer. However, acquired resistance to gemcitabine resulting in therapeutic failure is often encountered. Therefore, we sought to identify genes that determine gemcitabine resistance by evaluating the relationship between gene expression profiles and gemcitabine sensitivity to provide molecular targets for overcoming gemcitabine resistance.

Pancreas duct abnormalities in patients with ulcerative colitis: a magnetic resonance pancreatography study.

Background: The presumed etiology and prevalence of pancreatic abnormalities in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) have been controversial. We conducted a controlled (cross-sectional) study of patients with UC compared with non-UC controls to determine the prevalence of pancreatic duct abnormalities in patients with UC and to determine if these are specific to UC using magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography.

Methods: Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography was performed on 79 unselected patients with UC and 45 non-UC controls, without a history of pancreatitis attack, between February 2000 and May 2003.

Detection of common bile duct stones: comparison between endoscopic ultrasonography, magnetic resonance cholangiography, and helical-computed-tomographic cholangiography.

Objectives: New modalities, namely, endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS), magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP), and helical computed-tomographic cholangiography (HCT-C), have been introduced recently for the detection of common bile duct (CBD) stones and shown improved detectability compared to conventional ultrasound or computed tomography. We conducted this study to compare the diagnostic ability of EUS, MRCP, and HCT-C in patients with suspected choledocholithiasis.

Methods: Twenty-eight patients clinically suspected of having CBD stones were enrolled, excluding those with cholangitis or a definite history of choledocholithiasis.

Ulinastatin for pancreatitis after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography: a randomized, controlled trial.

Background & Aims: Pancreatitis remains the major complication of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), and hyperenzymemia after ERCP is common. Because ulinastatin, a protease inhibitor, has proved effective in the treatment of acute pancreatitis, the aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of ulinastatin for the prevention of post-ERCP pancreatitis and hyperenzymemia.

Methods: In a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, patients undergoing a first ERCP were randomized to receive ulinastatin (150,000 U) or placebo by intravenous infusion for 10 minutes starting immediately before ERCP.

Graft-versus-tumor effect against advanced pancreatic cancer after allogeneic reduced-intensity stem cell transplantation.

Background: The prognosis of advanced pancreatic cancer is extremely poor and therefore a novel treatment strategy is desired. The authors thus started a prospective study of allogeneic reduced-intensity hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (RIST) for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of this approach for such patients.

Methods: Only patients with pathologically proven pancreatic cancer that was locally advanced or metastatic and not amenable to curative resection were included.

Risk factors for pancreatitis in patients with common bile duct stones managed by endoscopic papillary balloon dilation.

Objectives: Endoscopic papillary balloon dilation has been accepted as a possible alternative to endoscopic sphincterotomy, especially in patients with impaired hemostasis. However, pancreatitis associated with endoscopic papillary balloon dilation has remained a controversial, serious issue. The aim of the study was to investigate the risk factors for postendoscopic papillary balloon dilation pancreatitis in a single-center study.

Pancreatic mass lesions associated with raised concentration of IgG4.

Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is a recognized benign disease characterized by irregular narrowing of the pancreatic duct, swelling of parenchyma, lymphoplasmacytic infiltration and fibrosis, and a favorable response to corticosteroid treatment. In this condition, the whole pancreas is diffusely affected. Recently, however, a few cases with locally affected lesions were reported, with some of them showing features similar to cancer.

Early removal of bile duct stones in patients with acute biliary pancreatitis by endoscopic papillary balloon dilatation.

Background/aims: Endoscopic papillary balloon dilatation has been accepted as a novel alternative to endoscopic sphincterotomy for the management of bile duct stones. Hence, little or no attempt was made to retrieve stones in cases with acute biliary pancreatitis by endoscopic papillary balloon dilatation.

Methodology: The present study was conducted in ten patients with acute biliary pancreatitis associated with cholestasis or biliary infection.

Involvement of the biliary system in autoimmune pancreatitis: a follow-up study.

Background & Aims: The aim of this study was to define the bile duct changes associated with autoimmune pancreatitis.

Methods: Eight patients with autoimmune pancreatitis were followed for a mean of 4 years. The clinical features of these patients, including extrapancreatic bile duct changes, were examined by using biochemical parameters and several imaging modalities.