PURPOSE: The technique of partial liver transplantation from a living donor was developed to expand the donor pool. However such small grafts may not only be functionally inadequate for the recipient, but will also sustain injury characterized by cholestasis and histological features of ischemia after implantation. Damage to partial liver grafts after reperfusion is frequently observed but the mechanism of injury remains unclear. Injury to partial liver grafts may be related to changes in portal blood flow. In this study, we investigated the histologic changes of the reperfusion of livers after revascularization through the portal vein or hepatic artery following heterotopic partial liver transplantation in rats. METHODS: Inbred Lewis partial liver were transplanted to inbred Brown Norway rats heterotopically in three groups. The first group of transplants, Group I (Portal vein group, n=3) was reperfused firstly through the portal vein. The second group, Group II (Hepatic artery group, n=3) was firstly reperfused through the hepatic artery. The third group, Group III (Control, n=1) was sham-operated. After reperfusion, the liver grafts were procured and fixed in formalin. The reperfusion livers were studied using immunohistochemical staining and in-situ RT PCR. RESULTS: In the H&E staining of the reperfusion livers there were no differences between groups I and II. Using immunohistochemical staining of TNF,R, FAS L, caspase 8 and in-situ RT PCR (NOS mRNA, TNF,R mRNA, FAS mRNA), the hepatic artery first reperfusion liver showed more damage than the portal vein first reperfusion liver. TUNEL staing showed severe apoptosis in hepatic artery reperfusion liver. CONCLUSION: The expression of the apoptosis molecular markers was more prominent in the reperfused liver performed with initial revascularization using the hepatic artery, rather than portal vein. These findings may be due to fact that the high oxygen blood in the hepatic artery is stressful to the reperfusion liver. The routinely used portal vein first revascularization technique decrease reperfusion injury to the graft when compared to hepatic artery first revascularization.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Arteries ; Caspase 8 ; Cholestasis ; Formaldehyde ; Hepatic Artery* ; Humans ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Ischemia ; Liver Transplantation* ; Liver* ; Living Donors ; Norway ; Oxygen ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Portal Vein* ; Rats* ; Reperfusion Injury ; Reperfusion* ; RNA, Messenger ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants ; Veins

Methyl bromide is presently used as a fumigant for insects in soil, grains or fruit in storage or transport. It is a neurotoxic agent and has been responsible a number of deaths or acute poisonings among occupationally exposed persons. We report 2 patients, who had worked fumigation warehouse, presented with seizures and altered mental state. The serum concentrations of bromide were elevated 32.9 and 42.5 mg/l, respectively. Brain MRI showed bilateral symmetric high signal intensities in the splenium of corpus callosum, the globus pallidus, the quadrigeminal plate, the periaqueductal gray matter, the red nucleus, the substantia nigra, the medial lemniscus, the pontine tegmentum, the dentate nucleus, and the medulla. There was no brain lesion in the other patient. Appropriate and supervised handling of the chemical and regular education to workers are important to avoid the risk of methyl bromide poisoning.
Brain ; Edible Grain ; Cerebellar Nuclei ; Corpus Callosum ; Education ; Fruit ; Fumigation ; Globus Pallidus ; Humans ; Insects ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Occupations ; Periaqueductal Gray ; Poisoning ; Red Nucleus ; Seizures* ; Soil ; Substantia Nigra ; Tectum Mesencephali

This study was designed to clarify the mechanism of the inhibitory effect of forskolin on contraction, cytosolic Ca2+ level ([Ca2+]i), and Ca2+ sensitivity in guinea pig ileum. Forskolin (0.1 nM~10 micrometer) inhibited high K+ (25 mM and 40 mM)- or histamine (3 micrometer)-evoked contractions in a concentration-dependent manner. Histamine-evoked contractions were more sensitive to forskolin than high K+-evoked contractions. Spontaneous changes in [Ca2+]i and contractions were inhibited by forskolin (1 micrometer) without changing the resting [Ca2+]i. Forskoln (10 micrometer) inhibited muscle tension more strongly than [Ca2+]i stimulated by high K+, and thus shifted the [Ca2+]i-tension relationship to the lower-right. In histamine-stimulated contractions, forskolin (1 micrometer) inhibited both [Ca2+]i and muscle tension without changing the [Ca2+]i-tension relationship. In alpha-toxin-permeabilized tissues, forskolin (10 micrometer) inhibited the 0.3 micrometer Ca2+-evoked contractions in the presence of 0.1 mM GTP, but showed no effect on the Ca2+-tension relationship. We conclude that forskolin inhibits smooth muscle contractions by the following two mechanisms: a decrease in Ca2+ sensitivity of contractile elements in high K+-stimulated muscle and a decrease in [Ca2+]i in histamine-stimulated muscle.
Animals ; Contracts ; Cytosol ; Forskolin ; Guanosine Triphosphate ; Guinea ; Guinea Pigs ; Histamine ; Ileum ; Muscle Tonus ; Muscle, Smooth ; Muscles

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG), an ulcerating skin condition, is rare in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). We report a case of successful treatment of PG in a patient with UC using hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). The patient had UC that was in remission following treatment with mesalazine and azathioprine therapy. After visiting an orthopedic clinic, the patient opted for treatment with antibiotics and daily dressing of the ulcerative skin lesions, while azathioprine was discontinued. However, the lesions did not improve. Two months later, the patient visited a dermatologist who diagnosed the lesions as PG, and he was admitted to our unit. Surgical debridement and HBOT were performed by a plastic surgeon in the emergency department. After 3 months of HBOT and topical treatment, the patient's PG completely resolved. His UC was still in remission with mesalazine alone. HBOT may be an effective and safe alternative treatment for PG associated with UC, particularly in patients in whom anti-tumor necrosis factor agents are unnecessary.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Azathioprine ; Bandages ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; Debridement ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Humans ; Hyperbaric Oxygenation ; Mesalamine ; Necrosis ; Orthopedics ; Plastics ; Pyoderma Gangrenosum ; Pyoderma ; Skin ; Ulcer

The Japanese Classification of Gastric Carcinoma histologically classifies endoscopically resected gastric cancer into differentiated and undifferentiated types according to the presence or absence of tubular structures on histology. The former includes papillary adenocarcinoma and tubular types, and the latter includes poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, signet ring cell carcinoma and mucinous adenocarcinoma. However, gastric cancer sometimes contains a mixture of differentiated and undifferentiated components, and the clinical outcomes of the histological mixture are unknown, especially following endoscopic resection of early gastric cancer (EGC). This case was within the guideline indications for endoscopic submucosal resection (ESD), although it contained a partly signet ring cell carcinoma component; it recurred after 19 months with multiple lymph node and liver metastases. This case shows that additional surgical resection after ESD should be performed for patients with any mixed signet ring cell component, even in mild or moderately differentiated EGC.
Adenocarcinoma ; Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; Adenocarcinoma, Papillary ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell ; Cellular Structures ; Classification ; Humans ; Liver* ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Stomach Neoplasms*

The occurrence of an adenocarcinoma arising from a rectal diverticulum that causes mechanical ileus is very rare. Recently, we diagnosed a case of a mucinous adenocarcinoma in a rectal diverticulum after an emergent abdominal perineal resection and permanent colostomy by laparotomy. Here, we present a case report and a review of the literature.
Adenocarcinoma ; Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; Colostomy ; Diverticulum ; Ileus ; Laparotomy ; Mucins

Ischemic colitis is the most common form of ischemia in the gastrointestinal tract. It results from inadequate blood flow in the colon that leads to inflammation of the colon. Though this disease frequently affects the elderly with risk factors of ischemia, younger patients may be affected too. Several conditions such as major vascular occlusion, small vessel disease, shock, some medications, colonic obstructions and hematologic disorders can predispose individuals to ischemic colitis. Ischemic colitis following colonoscopy is rare. Here we report 2 cases of ischemic colitis which developed after colonoscopic procedures in patients without risk factors of ischemia.
Aged ; Colitis, Ischemic ; Colon ; Colonoscopy ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Ischemia ; Risk Factors ; Shock

Melanosis means the accumulation of brown or black pigment in an organ. Melanosis can be observed in virtually all parts of the gastrointestinal tract. However, it most frequently affects the colon. It is said that melanosis in small intestine is very rare, and no case has been reported in which melanosis was simultaneously noted in duodenum and ileum without involving the colonic mucosa. Here we report a case of melanosis duodeni and melanosis ilei which were found simultaneously in a 56-year-old female patient with chronic renal failure and heart failure who had been taking oral ferrous sulfate for 3 years.
Colon ; Duodenum ; Female ; Ferrous Compounds ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Ileum ; Intestine, Small ; Iron ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Melanosis ; Middle Aged ; Mucous Membrane

Diverticulitis is the most common clinical complication of diverticular disease, affecting 10-25% of the patients with diverticula. The prevalences of diverticulitis and colon cancer tend to increase with age and are higher in industrialized countries. Consequently, diverticulitis and colon cancer have been reported to have similar epidemiological characteristics. However, the relationship between these diseases remains controversial, as is the performance of routine colonoscopy after an episode of diverticulitis to exclude colon cancer. Recently, we experienced three cases of colon cancer after treating acute diverticulitis, based on which we suggest the importance of follow-up colonoscopy after acute diverticulitis.
Colon ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Colonoscopy ; Developed Countries ; Diverticulitis ; Diverticulum ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Prevalence

Anorectal cancer is traditionally treated via abdominoperineal resection and/or chemoradiation. Currently, endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is widely used to treat early gastrointestinal epithelial neoplasias. However, the use of ESD to treat lesions of the anal canal raises concerns that do not arise when treating lesions of the stomach and colorectum. Therefore, particular care is needed when treating lesions in the anal area. We recently treated a 75-year-old woman who was scheduled for surgical resection to treat anorectal cancer. The lesion was successfully removed using ESD. This is the first report of the use of ESD to treat anorectal cancer in Korea. Here, we present our case report and review the relevant literature.
Aged ; Anal Canal ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Stomach