Effects of large-balloon dilation on the major duodenal papilla and the lower bile duct: histological evaluation by using an ex vivo adult porcine model.

Background: Several articles have reported the usefulness of large-balloon dilation after endoscopic sphincterotomy in removing bile duct stones. Its histological effect on the duodenal papilla and the lower bile duct, however, is not well established.

Objective: To elucidate the histological consequence of large-balloon dilation.

Hypoplasia of the right hepatic lobe associated with portal hypertension and idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis.

A 22-year-old man was referred to our hospital because of thrombocytopenia. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed hypoplasia of the right hepatic lobe, the development of porto-systemic collateral vessels, splenomegaly and a periaortic soft-tissue mass. Laboratory tests and needle liver biopsy indicated no evidence of liver cirrhosis.

[Long-term outcome of pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatment for ventricular arrhythmias].

Recent advances of nonpharmacological therapy such as catheter ablation and implantable cardioverter defibrillator and lessons from the Cardiac Arrhythmia Suppression Trial(CAST) have changed the strategy for ventricular arrhythmias. The safety and efficacy of radiofrequency catheter ablation of symptomatic sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia without structural heart disease has made ablation the firstline curative therapy. In idiopathic ventricular fibrillation such as Brugada syndrome, an implantable cardioverter defibrillator is the most effective treatment to prevent sudden cardiac death.