A 64-year-old man was found to have a nodule in his right lung. He also complained of nausea and abdominal pain during the clinical course. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed a duodenal ulcer associated with severe stenosis and a suspicion of malignancy. However, three subsequent biopsies revealed no evidence of malignancy. The fourth biopsy showed scattered large eosinophilic cells with an eccentric nucleus, leading to a diagnosis of Russell body duodenitis (RBD). RBD is an extremely rare disease, and little is known about its etiology and clinical course. The pathogenesis of RBD is discussed based on our experience with this case.
Abdominal Pain ; Biopsy ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Diagnosis ; Duodenal Ulcer ; Duodenitis* ; Endoscopy, Digestive System ; Eosinophils ; Humans ; Lung ; Middle Aged ; Nausea ; Rare Diseases

OBJECTIVETo explore adverse effects of combined treatment of interleukin-12 (IL-12) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) against cryptococcosis in a murine model.

METHODSInfected mice were treated with a combination of IL-12 and IL-18. Their body weight and intake of water and food were observed and recorded. Serum levels of leptin were detected with an enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSIn the combined treatment group, the intake volume of water and food were reduced, leading to weight loss and undetectable levels of leptin in the serum. These adverse effects were more profound in mice that had received higher doses of cytokines, which sometimes led to a fatal outcome. There was a significant difference compared with the control group. Neutralization of endogenous tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) by its specific mAb did not alter the wasting effect of this treatment.

CONCLUSIONSThe combined IL-12/IL-18 treatment may cause a number of adverse effects independent of TNF-alpha and leptin synthesis. Further investigations for resolving these adverse effects are required before clinical application of these cytokines.

Animals ; Cryptococcosis ; drug therapy ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Interleukin-12 ; adverse effects ; Interleukin-18 ; adverse effects ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred A

Since 1983, we have experienced endovascular treatment of intracranial AVMs.2)3) Superselective catheterization of feeding artery, embolization or feeding artery occlusion of the cerebral AVMs have been performed for 73 cases in 134 sessions. Endovascular treatment of intracranial AVMs such as embolization or feeding artery occlusion have been performed for 57 cases of AVMs in 95 sessions. In each time, endovascular approach was performed for two to five feeding arteries, so more than 300 feeding arteries were catheterized by microcatheters or balloon catheters. In this report, we present our experiences of endovascular treatment of intracranial AVMs and discuss embolic materials and the role of endovascular treatment of intracranial. AVMs.
Arteries ; Catheterization ; Catheters