Different incidence of synchronous liver metastasis between proximal and distal colon cancer.

Purpose: The clinicopathological features of colon cancer differ between proximal and distal sites; however, the influence of tumor location on liver metastasis has not been fully examined. The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences in the features of liver metastasis between proximal and distal colon cancer.

Methods: The clinicopathological data from 931 colon cancer patients who were treated surgically were examined retrospectively using a multivariate analysis.

Predictive factors for platelet count after laparoscopic splenectomy in cirrhotic patients.

Purpose: The purpose of our study was to investigate predictive factors for platelet count at 1 month after splenectomy in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Methods: A total of 60 patients with liver cirrhosis who were treated with splenectomy from January 2005 to December 2006 were enrolled in the study (hepatitis C, n = 50; hepatitis B, n = 6; alcoholism, n = 2; others, n = 2). Various preoperative clinical characteristics, including spleen weight, were analyzed by simple and multiple linear regressions to study the relationship between platelet count before and after splenectomy.

[Subdural block which appeared 21 days after beginning continuous epidural block].

An epidural catheter was inserted at the T10-11 interspace for the treatment of acute herpetic pain in a 68-year-old woman. Loss of resistance method with saline was used for identifying the epidural space. After negative aspiration test for cerebrospinal fluid and blood, continuous epidural infusion of 0.

Novel germline mutation of the PTEN gene in a Japanese family with Cowden disease.

We report a novel germline mutation of the PTEN gene in a Japanese family with Cowden disease. A 46-year-old Japanese man and his mother were diagnosed as having Cowden disease. Their physical examinations revealed multiple facial trichilemmoma, oral mucosal papillomatosis, palmoplantar keratosis, and gastrointestinal polyposis.

Subjects older than 60 years with negative findings on sigmoidoscopy should still undergo colonoscopy.

Background/aims: The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of age on the prevalence of proximal clinically important lesions in subjects without any rectosigmoid neoplasm.

Methodology: The present study involved 497 patients (aged > or = 50 years old) who underwent a colonoscopy because of abdominal symptoms or positive fecal occult blood test. A proximal colon was defined as one proximal to a sigmoid colon.

Vitamin C inhibits corpus gastritis in Helicobacter pylori-infected patients during acid-suppressive therapy.

Background: Previous studies have shown that gastric acid suppression worsens corpus gastritis in Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)-positive patients. We evaluated the effect of acid-suppressive therapy and vitamin C on H.

Prognostic significance of microvessel density, vascular cuffing and vascular endothelial growth factor expression in ovarian carcinoma: a special review for clear cell adenocarcinoma.

Our purpose is to demonstrate the relationship between microvessel density (MVD), vascular cuffing (VC), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and clinicopathological parameters in ovarian cancer. Surgical specimens from 105 primary ovarian cancers were examined for vascularization and VEGF expression by immunohistochemical staining. The higher MVD group (MVD> or =70) and the positive VEGF group were associated with better progression-free survival only in early stages.

The interval between flexible sigmoidoscopy screening examinations can be expanded beyond five years.

Background/aims: As one of the methods for colorectal cancer screening, asymptomatic average-risk persons aged > or = 50 years are recommended to undergo flexible sigmoidoscopy screening every 5 years. We evaluate whether the interval between examinations can be extended beyond 5 years.

Methodology: A total of 192 asymptomatic average-risk subjects were studied, all of whom had undergone a initial negative examination on a flexible sigmoidoscopy screening at age > or = 50 years and a second examination at least 3 years later.

[Eosinophilic meningoencephalitis in a case of rheumatoid arthritis].

A 56-year-old man was admitted to our hospital due to gradually developing consciousness disturbance. He had an 11-year history of sero-negative rheumatoid arthritis (Stage III) maintained by daily administration of 10 mg of prednisolone and 300 mg of actarit. On admission, he showed meningeal irritation and a marked increase in eosinophils in his cerebrospinal fulid (CSF) (457/microliter), while eosinophils in his peripheral blood were not increased (0/microliter).

Effect of acid-suppressive therapy on Helicobacter pylori production of interleukin-8 in the gastric mucosa.

Background: Recent studies have shown that acid-suppressive therapy increases the severity of Helicobacter pylori- associated gastritis in the corpus.

Purpose: To evaluate interleukin (IL)-8 production in the gastric corpus mucosa before and during acid-suppressive therapy in H pylori-infected patients.

Patients And Methods: Ten patients with reflux esophagitis (five H pylori-positive and five H pylori-negative) were treated with omeprazole 20 mg.

Increased serum soluble IL-2 receptor levels following interferon therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Background/aims: To clarify whether the response of host cellular immunity to IFN therapy can be an indicator of efficacy, we monitored serum levels of soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL2R) before and after IFN therapy.

Methodology: Serum sIL2R levels before and after interferon therapy were monitored in 53 patients with chronic hepatitis C. Natural Interferon(IFN)-alpha, 9 MU/day (everyday for 2 weeks followed by 3 times/week for 22 weeks), was administered to all patients.

A new approach to Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis by target air-enema CT.

A 48-yr-old man was admitted to our hospital with abdominal discomfort and distension. A barium enema showed multiple radiolucent filling defects in the wall of the ascending colon. Colonic endoscopy revealed numerous round, polypoid masses covered with normal mucosa.

Evaluation of the sensitivity of an immunochemical fecal occult blood test for colorectal neoplasia.

Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate the sensitivity of OC-Hemodia, a immunochemical fecal occult blood test (IFOBT) based on the technique of latex agglutination for early stage colorectal cancer and clinically significant adenomas.

Methods: The study was conducted on 885 patients who underwent OC-Hemodia and a colonoscopy.

Results: Colorectal cancers were detected in 23 patients (10 Dukes' A, eight Dukes' B, and five Dukes' C or D).