Department of Gastroenterology, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center, Komagome Hospital, Japan.
Published: November 2023
AI Article Synopsis
Article Abstract
A 59-year-old woman presented with a chief complaint of melena. She had no abdominal findings, such as tenderness or tapping pain. Laboratory tests revealed a white blood cell count of 5,300 cells/μL and C-reactive protein level of 0.07 mg/dL. Inflammation and anemia (hemoglobin 12.4 g/dL) were denied. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) revealed multiple duodenal diverticula and air surrounding a descending duodenal diverticulum. Based on these findings, duodenal diverticular perforation (DDP) was suspected. Oral food intake was stopped, and nasogastric tube feeding and conservative treatment with cefmetazole, lansoprazole, and ulinastatin were begun. On day 8 of hospitalization, follow-up CT revealed the disappearance of the air surrounding the duodenum, and the patient was discharged on day 19 after the resumption of oral feeding.
A 65-year-old man with a history of chronic renal failure and ischemic heart disease who was receiving aspirin therapy was admitted for recurrent melena. Initial evaluation revealed severe anemia. Other than a diverticulum in the third part of the duodenum, the findings of upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopies and computed tomography were unremarkable.
Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are rare neoplasms affecting the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, primarily in middle-aged and elderly individuals. Originating from interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC), they can develop anywhere in the GI tract, with varying symptoms. Diagnosis involves imaging and tissue acquisition, with surgical excision and tyrosine kinase inhibitors as treatment options.
This study investigates the causal relationship between mood swings and gastrointestinal (GI) diseases, emphasizing the lack of previous research on this connection despite known links between mental disorders and GI issues.
Using Mendelian randomization (MR) methods, researchers analyzed genetic data to assess how mood swings might increase the risk of various GI diseases, finding significant associations for several conditions.
The findings suggest that mood swings may be a potential risk factor for developing GI diseases, indicating that managing mood swings could aid in treating these gastrointestinal issues.
In patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), careful use of antiplatelet medications is vital to prevent blood clots but poses a risk for severe bleeding complications, especially gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB).
This study analyzed data from the JCD-KiCS-PCI registry, focusing on 8,864 CAD patients, categorizing them based on the occurrence of GIB within two years post-PCI.
Results indicated that the rates of dual and triple antiplatelet therapy varied significantly among patients with GIB compared to those without, highlighting the importance of monitoring bleeding risks associated with long-term antiplatelet use.
- The study aimed to evaluate how effective contrast-enhanced CT scans are in diagnosing small bowel bleeding by analyzing patient data over nearly a decade, categorizing cases into diverticulum and non-diverticulum groups based on the cause of bleeding.
- Among 165 patients, nearly half showed active bleeding, with Crohn's disease being the most common source; significant differences were noted in diagnostic methods, with surgery mainly used for diverticulum cases and endoscopy for non-diverticulum cases.
- The results highlighted that CT scans were particularly useful for detecting diverticular bleeding, showing higher rates of contrast material leakage in these patients compared to others.
