No abstract available.
Esophageal and Gastric Varices/*therapy ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/*therapy ; Humans

Kainic acid (KA) causes neurodegeneration, but no consensus has been reached concerning its mechanism. Nitric oxide may be a regulator of the mechanism. We identified differentially expressed genes in the hippocampus of mice treated with kainic acid, together with or without L-NAME, a nonselective nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, using a new differential display PCR method based on annealing control primers. Eight genes were identified, including clathrin light polypeptide, TATA element modulatory factor 1, neurexin III, ND4, ATPase, H+ transporting, V1 subunit E isoform 1, and N-myc downstream regulated gene 2. Although the functions of these genes and their products remain to be determined, their identification provides insight into the molecular mechanism(s) involved in KA-induced neuronal cell death in the hippocampal CA3 area.
Animals* ; Cell Death ; Clathrin ; Consensus ; Hippocampus* ; Kainic Acid ; Mice ; Models, Animal* ; Neurons ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Nitric Oxide* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Proton-Translocating ATPases

Lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia(LIP) is characterized by a massive infiltration of the interstitium of the lung by mature lymphocytes, plasma cells and reticuloendothelial cells. LIP may be associated with autoimmune diseases including Sjogrens syndrome, SLE, myasthenia gravis, pernicious anemia, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, and HIV or an EB virus infection. There is a possibility of LIP progressing to a pulmonary or systemic lymphoma. The therapeutic response to corticosteroids and/or immunosuppressive drugs varies. Here we report a case of LIP that was diagnosed by an open lung biopsy and clonality study. The patient was a 36 year-old man without antuimmune disease or HIV infection. He was admitted as a result of severe hypoxemia showing PaO2 of 48.3 mmHg. The patient was treated with corticosteroids after the diagnosis and had fully recovered without a sequalae or relapse.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune ; Anemia, Pernicious ; Anoxia ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; HIV ; HIV Infections ; Humans ; Lip ; Lung ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial* ; Lymphocytes ; Lymphoma ; Myasthenia Gravis ; Plasma Cells ; Recurrence ; Sjogren's Syndrome

An idiopathic mediastinal fibrosis is a rare disease with an unknown etiology. It is a benign condition in which a fibrosis of the soft tissue and chronic inflammation occurs within the mediastinum. This leads to a constriction and obliteration of the adjacent mediastinal structures, particularly the great veins. This can result in a variety of clinical conditions depending on the anatomic location of the disease. Here, we report a case of an idiopathic mediastinal fibrosis with vocal cord palsy, which was confirmed by a biopsy with a thoracotomy. Postoperative medical treatment using prednisolone and tranilast was performed.
Biopsy ; Constriction ; Fibrosis* ; Inflammation ; Mediastinum ; Prednisolone ; Rare Diseases ; Thoracotomy ; Veins ; Vocal Cord Paralysis* ; Vocal Cords*

A 40-year-old woman was admitted with a history of intermittent abdominal pain at the right lower quadrant area. Colonoscopy showed a 1.5 1.5 cm sized polypoid lesion that had yellowish surface, central depression, and normal mucosal covering. The tumor was removed by endoscopic tumorectomy following injection of hypertonic saline solution with epinephrine for lifting the lesion. The tumor consisted of granular tumor cells which were positive for S-100 protein, NSE, and PAS stain. We report a case of granular cell tumor of the ascending colon with a review of the literature.
Abdominal Pain ; Adult ; Colon, Ascending* ; Colonoscopy ; Depression ; Epinephrine ; Female ; Granular Cell Tumor* ; Humans ; Lifting ; S100 Proteins ; Saline Solution, Hypertonic

Retroperitoneal paraganglioma is a kind of uncommon tumor that occurs most commonly in the organ of Zuckerkandl located in the paraaortic area between the origin of the inferior mesenteric artery and the origin of the iliac artery. We experienced a case of retroperitoneal paraganglioma with an unusual location in a 52-year-old woman who had epigastric pain. Abdominal CT scan and ERCP showed a hypervascular mass near the distal CBD with bile duct dilatation. The surgically resected mass was diagnosed as paraganglioma. We report this unusual retroperitoneal paraganglioma, with a review of the literature.
Bile Ducts* ; Bile* ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Dilatation* ; Female ; Humans ; Iliac Artery ; Mesenteric Artery, Inferior ; Middle Aged ; Para-Aortic Bodies ; Paraganglioma* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Anisakiasis refers to a parasitic infestation by nematode larvae that belong to the subfamily Anisakinae. Colonic anisakiasis is very rare, and it is hard to diagnose compared with gastric anisakiasis. Endoscopic or radiologic findings, history of raw fish intake and ELISA test might be helpful, however, exploratory operations were needed to confirm the diagosis in the many cases of colonic anisakiasis. Colonoscopy and endoscopic ultrasonography showed a submucosal tumor in the ascending colon in a 47-year-old woman who complained of right upper quadrant abdominal pain. Right hemicolectomy was performed to diagnose and cure the lesion. Pathologic examination revealed some destructed cuticle of a parasite and dense eosinophilic abscess showing central necrosis. She had a history of raw squid intake recently. We report a case of submucosal tumor in the ascending colon probably caused by Anisakis.
Abdominal Pain ; Abscess ; Anisakiasis ; Anisakis* ; Colon ; Colon, Ascending* ; Colonoscopy ; Decapodiformes ; Endosonography ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Eosinophils ; Female ; Humans ; Larva ; Middle Aged ; Necrosis ; Parasites

Catamenial hemoptysis is syndrome characterized by bleeding from the bronchial trees and lungs that occurs synchronously with the female menstrual cycle. Etiologic mechanism of pulmonary endometriosis is still controversial, and the diagnosis is usually made on the basis of the clinical history and exclusion of other causes of recurrent hemoptysis. Serial computed tomograms of the chest during and in the interval between menstruations have been proved to be a useful confirmatory test. We experienced a 33-year-old female patient who had been previously diagnosed as pelvic endometriosis pathologically, experienced cyclic hemoptysis during menstruations. The diagnosis of pulmonary endometriosis was made based on her history and changes in the character of the lesions as documented on radiologic studies of the chest. She was treated successfully with GnRH analogue and there is no evidence of recurrence.
Female ; Humans

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a therapeutic option for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. Supraumbilical skin rash is a rare complication of TACE caused by patent hepatic falciform artery. We report herein two cases of supraumbilical skin rash developed after TACE for hepatocellular carcinoma, with discussion on the pathogenesis, prophylaxis, and treatment.
Arteries ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Exanthema* ; Humans ; Skin*

PURPOSE: The purpose of our study was to evaluate the outcome of intensified induction therapy using the Vanderbilt regimen in patients with a poor prognosis non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the results of two pilot studies, which enrolled the patients aged 60 years or less, with a previously untreated NHL of intermediate grade on the Working formulation, having 2 or 3 adverse prognostic factors on the age- adjusted International Prognostic Index. Patients received an intensified induction, with the regimen described by the Vanderbilt group. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients were analyzed. After induction, 29 patients (83%) achieved more than partial response (PR): 22 (63%) complete response (CR) and 7 (20%) PR. Three of the PRs were subsequently converted to CR following consolidation therapy. The overall CR rate, following the completion of treatment, was 71%. The 3-year overall survival (OS) rate of all patients was 53%. In the univariate analysis, age (50 years) was the only factor affecting the OS. The 3-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate of patients with CR was 68%. In the univariate analysis, age and bone marrow involvement were the factors affecting the DFS. Two patients died from the treatment-related toxicity of the induction therapy: one due to sepsis and the other due to congestive heart failure. CONCLUSION: Although the CR rate was relatively high, the OS or DFS of patients with a poor prognosis NHL, who had received the intensified induction using the Vanderbilt regimen, were no different from those that had received the conventional chemotherapy, as reported by the International Prognostic Index Project. However, the OS or DFS in the young patient groups were encouraging. To test the hypothesized benefits of our approach in the young patient groups, a larger cohort of patients aged 50 years or less should be studied.
Bone Marrow ; Cohort Studies ; Disease-Free Survival ; Drug Therapy ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin* ; Pilot Projects ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Sepsis