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Symptoms of achalasia in young women mistaken as indicating primary anorexia nervosa.

The case of a young women with dysphagia, regurgitation, and weight loss, who was diagnosed as having anorexia nervosa but in whom reevaluation showed that achalasia was causing the symptoms, is presented together with related observations. Misinterpretation of esophageal symptoms may occur not only as a consequence of inadequate history taking and of being biased by a patient's emaciation, age, and gender, which leads to view certain aspects of the patient's history and behavior as suggesting a pathologic attitude towards eating and body weight, but also as a consequence of a misinterpretation of the symptoms as indicative of an eating disorder by the patients themselves. In some cases a disordered attitude toward eating and body weight may develop together or coexist with achalasia. The clinical evaluation of patients with symptoms suggestive of anorexia nervosa but also of bulimia nervosa should include the taking of a thorough history regarding swallowing and vomiting in order to recognize a possible esophageal motor disorder.

Adult↗

Malignant duodenocolic fistula--a case report.

A 63 year-old woman with a malignant duodenocolic fistula of colonic origin was so diagnosed following radiological examination. She had symptoms of feculant vomitus, persistent diarrhea and emaciation. Following preoperative treatment of the nutritional and electrolyte disorders with intravenous hyperalimentation, a one-staged right hemicolectomy and pancreatoduodenectomy was performed successfully. We emphasized that an en-bloc removal of all the possibly involved structures is the most successful procedure for malignant duodenocolic fistula of colonic origin.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Laparoscopic surgery for blind pouch syndrome following Roux-en Y gastrojejunostomy: report of a case.

We report herein the case of a 59-year-old man in whom blind pouch syndrome was successfully treated by laparoscopic surgery. The patient had undergone distal gastrectomy and Roux-en Y gastrojejunostomy for a peptic ulcer 35 years previously, and had been suffering from watery diarrhea, anemia, weight loss, and pain in the left upper quadrant of his abdomen for several years. Long-term insufficient oral intake and the malabsorption of nutrients had resulted in severe emaciation. Gastrointestinal contrast study revealed a large blind pouch, 30 x 23cm in diameter, draining into the gastrojejunostomy. Laparoscopic resection of the blind pouch was performed. Despite the presence of dense intraabdominal adhesions, we identified the blind pouch with the help of tattoo marks that had been made at the neck of the pouch preoperatively. After thoroughly dissecting the adhesions around the pouch, we resected the pouch at the neck. The patient had an uneventful postoperative course. This case report demonstrates that large blind pouches such as this may be effectively treated using laparoscopic surgery.

Anastomosis, Roux-en-Y↗

Role and management of donkeys in Samburu and Turkana pastoralist societies in northern Kenya.

A survey was carried out in northern Kenya to obtain data on the role and management of donkeys in Samburu and Turkana pastoralist societies and to identify potential areas, if any, for interventions. Sixty-seven women owning or closely associated with 583 donkeys were surveyed during July/August 1994. The median donkey herd sizes in Samburu and Turkana societies were 4 and 10 respectively. Pack transport of water and domestic materials were the major reasons for keeping donkeys. Donkey milk, meat and blood were consumed widely by the Turkana but not by the Samburu. The major problems in donkey management were donkeys getting lost, being stolen, predation and being affected by diseases, in particular a disease condition involving unthriftiness, emaciation and slow growth. Traditional methods of treating donkey diseases were generally used. It was concluded that donkeys were an important component in the pastoralist societies surveyed although donkey numbers and transport capacity were not limiting factors in pastoralists activities. Potential areas for intervention were identified as disease investigation and stimulation of community based initiatives to tackle general management problems.

Animal Husbandry↗

Anorexia nervosa responding to zinc supplementation: a case report.

An emaciated 16-year-old female with anorexia nervosa was hospitalized for treatment of vomiting, epigastralgia and diarrhea. The finding of a taste disorder, low serum alkaline phosphatase activity and relatively low serum zinc level strongly suggested a zinc deficiency. Zinc was initially administered intravenously (40 mumol/day) for 7 days, then orally (15 mg elemental zinc/day) for about 60 days. Her digestive symptoms disappeared after the second day of intravenous treatment and she began to gain weight. She rapidly regained her normal weight after one month of receiving the oral zinc supplementation. Both exocrine pancreatic function and intestinal absorption were improved by the prolonged oral administration of zinc. In such cases zinc supplementation may be a therapeutic option in addition to psychologic and other approaches to management.

Adolescent↗

A case of intestinal T-cell lymphoma with repeated episodes of perforation.

A case of intestinal cytotoxic/suppressor T-cell lymphoma with repeated episodes of perforation was seen in a 77-year-old Japanese male who was admitted complaining of severe abdominal pain accompanied by high grade fever. Surgery revealed diffuse peritonitis due to perforation in the sigmoid colon. After a loop sigmoid colostomy the patient recovered to some degree. Seven days later, however, another perforation occurred. Several aneurysmal swellings accompanied by perforation in the small intestine, forming a mass of 5 x 5 cm, were seen. Although the patient tolerated this operation, generalized emaciation proceeded and the patient died 10 days late. Histological examination at the second operation showed diffuse medium-sized lymphoma of the Lymphoma Study Group (LSG) classification infiltrating the entire depth of the intestinal wall. Destruction of muscle cells was prominent. An immunohistochemical study using fresh frozen material was positive for CD3, and CD8. This marked destruction of the muscle layer by lymphoma cells may be associated with repeated episodes of perforation.

Aged↗

Diabetes mellitus in newborns and infants.

Diabetes mellitus is uncommon in infancy and newborn period. The two common forms seen are the transient and permanent forms of diabetes mellitus of the newborn. They have to be differentiated from the transient hyperglycemic states (Blood sugar > 125 mg/dl) seen in newborns who receive parenteral glucose infusions and in those with septicemia and CNS disorders. Transient diabetes mellitus of the newborn (TDNB) is defined as hyperglycemia occurring within the first month of life lasting at least 2 weeks and requiring insulin therapy. Most of these cases resolve spontaneously by 4 months. It has a reported incidence of 1 in 45,000 to 60,000 live births. The most likely etiology is a maturational delay of cAMP mediated insulin release. The clinical features include small for datedness, proneness for birth asphyxia, open-eye alert facies, dehydration, emaciation, polyuria and poydipsia. These children are prone to septicemia and urinary tract infections. They have hyperglycemia, glucosuria, absent or mild ketonuria, low basal insulin, C-peptide and IGF-1 levels. Treatment consists of hydration and judicious administration of insulin with close monitoring. Thirty percent of these children are likely to develop permanent neonatal diabetes. Compared to transient form, permanent diabetes mellitus is uncommon. It is usually due to pancreatic dysgenesis often associated with other malformations and rarely due to type 1 diabetes mellitus. The diagnosis is based on the demonstration of both exocrine and endocrine pancreatic dysfunction. These children are managed as type 1 diabetes mellitus. They are prone to develop the vascular complications of diabetes at an earlier date.

Diabetes Mellitus↗

Toxicity of lead-contaminated sediment to mute swans.

Most ecotoxicological risk assessments of wildlife emphasize contaminant exposure through ingestion of food and water. However, the role of incidental ingestion of sediment-bound contaminants has not been adequately appreciated in these assessments. This study evaluates the toxicological consequences of contamination of sediments with metals from hard-rock mining and smelting activities. Lead-contaminated sediments collected from the Coeur d'Alene River Basin in Idaho were combined with either a commercial avian maintenance diet or ground rice and fed to captive mute swans (Cygnus olor) for 6 weeks. Experimental treatments consisted of maintenance or rice diets containing 0, 12 (no rice group), or 24% highly contaminated (3,950 microg/g lead) sediment or 24% reference (9.7 microg/g lead) sediment. Although none of the swans died, the group fed a rice diet containing 24% lead-contaminated sediment were the most severely affected, experiencing a 24% decrease in mean body weight, including three birds that became emaciated. All birds in this treatment group had nephrosis; abnormally dark, viscous bile; and significant (p <or= 0.05) reductions in hematocrit and hemoglobin concentrations compared to their pretreatment levels. This group also had the greatest mean concentrations of lead in blood (3.2 microg/g), brain (2.2 microg/g), and liver (8.5 microg/g). These birds had significant (alpha = 0.05) increases in mean plasma alanine aminotransferase activity, cholesterol, and uric acid concentrations and decreased plasma triglyceride concentrations compared to all other treatment groups. After 14 days of exposure, mean protoporphyrin concentrations increased substantially, and mean delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity decreased by more than 95% in all groups fed diets containing highly contaminated sediments. All swans fed diets that contained 24% lead-contaminated sediment had renal acid-fast intranuclear inclusion bodies, which are diagnostic of lead poisoning in waterfowl. Body weight and hematocrit and hemoglobin concentrations in swans on control (no sediment) and reference (uncontaminated) sediment diets remained unchanged. These data provide evidence that mute swans consuming environmentally relevant concentrations of Coeur d'Alene River Basin sediment developed severe sublethal lead poisoning. Furthermore, toxic effects were more pronounced when the birds were fed lead-contaminated sediment combined with rice, which closely resembles the diet of swans in the wild.

Animal Feed↗

Mercury concentrations in fish from Lake Mead, USA, related to fish size, condition, trophic level, location, and consumption risk.

Total mercury (Hg) concentrations were determined in the skeletal muscle of 339 fish collected during the fall of 1998 and spring of 1999 from Lake Mead, USA, the nation's largest human-made reservoir. Five species of fish representing a range of trophic levels and the lake's principal game fishes were studied. Hg generally increased with trophic level and fish size. Median Hg concentrations (ng/g wet mass) were 277 in striped bass, 168 in channel catfish, 160 in largemouth bass, 75 in bluegill, and 8 in blue tilapia. Overall, fish from Las Vegas Bay and Boulder Basin had the lowest Hg concentrations, possibly a result of biodilution in this biologically productive area. In general, fish-mercury advisories might include a warning about consuming fillet from emaciated fish, based on the finding that Hg concentrations in 59 striped bass (captured during a scarce-food season) correlated inversely ( r = -0.89, p < 0.001) with a fish nutritional-status factor. This is consistent with starvation-concentration, whereby Hg in fish muscle is lost at a slower rate than the muscle mass. The median concentration found for 139 striped bass corresponds to a recommended risk-based consumption limit of three 8-oz. (227-g) meals per month for a 70-kg adult. Finally, this paper serves as a useful archive for future research and long-term studies of Hg in Lake Mead fish.

Animals↗

A review of obturator hernia and a proposed algorithm for its diagnosis and treatment.

The aim of this article is to provide a review of six patients with the various stages of obturator hernia and a diagnostic and therapeutic strategy in suspected cases. Obturator hernia is relatively rare and is a diagnostic challenge. It is a significant cause of intestinal obstruction, especially in emaciated elderly women with chronic disease. A palpable groin mass is not common in these patients because the hernia mass is usually concealed beneath the pectineus muscle. The high mortality is directly related to the delayed recognition, with resultant ruptured gangrenous bowel, and to the high incidence of patients with concurrent medical illness. A total of six patients with obturator hernias were treated at this hospital between 1994 and 2004, and one of these patients was diagnosed and treated by elective laparoscopy. We reviewed these six cases and examined the clinical presentation, age, body weight, associated medical conditions, preoperative diagnosis, operative findings, complications, and outcome in this retrospective study. We concluded that we cannot shorten the time from onset of symptoms to admission, but what we can do is to make a rapid evaluation and surgical intervention to reduce the morbidity and mortality from obturator hernia. The approaches to different presentation of obturator hernia and diagnostic role of CT scan are also discussed.

Aged↗

Establishment of a transplantable tumor line (IP) derived from rat pulmonary carcinoma, developing humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy in IP-bearing rats.

A transplantable tumor line (IP) was established in syngeneic rats from a spontaneous pulmonary carcinoma found in a male F344 rat aged 25 months. A tissue fragment of IP grew into a nodule, 2-3 cm in diameter, 2-3 weeks after implant, and IP has been serially passed through 26 generations. Lined by cuboidal or columnar epithelial cells, the primary tumor consisted of completely alveolar architecture. However, IP tumors developed various growth patterns such as glandular, acinar, trabecular, cord, and solid, and consisting of epithelial cells showing cellular atypia. Ultrastructurally, neoplastic cells had microvilli, basement membranes, and desmosomes, and occasional cells possessed dense cytoplasmic granules. Interestingly, it was shown by the immunohistochemistry, the RT-PCR method, and immunoradiometric assay that IP tumor cells produce parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP). During a 3-week observation period after implant, IP-bearing rats showed severe emaciation, hypercalcemia, and hypophosphatemia, as well as an increase in osteoclastic areas and a decrease in shaft thickness of the femurs. These were considered to be due to a marked elevation of plasma PTHrP levels. Furthermore, IP-bearing rats developed calcification in various organs including the kidneys, lungs, and heart. These findings in IP-bearing rats were similar to those of humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy (HHM) reported in human cancer patients. PTHrP plays a central role in the development of HHM, but the mechanisms of HHM remain poorly understood. IP may become a useful model for studying the pathogenesis of HHM and the pathophysiological role of PTHrP.

Actins↗

Dietary cancer risk from conditional cancerogens (tumor promoters) in produce of livestock fed on species of spurge (Euphorbiaceae). IV. Toxicologic and pathophysiologic observations in lactating goats and their suckling kids fed on the irritant herbs Euphorbia nubica and Euphorbia helioscopia: an etiologic model for investigations on the putative risk of cancer by consumption of food p.

The feeding of lactating goats on usual green fodder, contaminated with Euphorbia helioscopia or E. nubica, results in poisoning of the dams as well as their suckling kids. General signs of toxicity were emaciation, depression, shedding of body hair, arching of back, and possible death. Post-mortem changes of dams and dead suckling kids included congestion and hemorrhage in cardiac muscle, lung, liver, and kidneys. Blood analyses of goats exposed to these contaminants showed an increased level of serum alanine amino transferase compared to control samples, indicating cellular destruction in the liver. The latter was confirmed by histopathological changes in the organ which include severe congestion, necrosis, and degenerative changes. The goats also suffered from deterioration of renal function as indicated by increased blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels. In histopathologic inspections of kidney, severe congestion, hemorrhage in the cortex and medulla, as well as necrosis of epithelial cells of kidney tubules were noticed. Considerable degenerative changes were also observed in heart and lung. The pathophysiological appearances indicate that by feeding on the Euphorbia species mentioned above, the goats are poisoned in a way similar to the case of E. peplus reported previously. Such intoxication most likely is due to irritant and hyperplasiogenic diterpene ester (DTE) toxins, usually present in the aerial parts of Euphorbia species and well known as tumor promoters in mouse skin. After ingestion of the toxic plant parts by the goats, the DTE toxins might be metabolized and thereby partially detoxified. Yet, at least in part, they may show up in the milk of the goats, as indicated by severe poisoning of their suckling kids. As discussed previously in lactating goats fed on fodder contaminated with E. peplus, tumor promoters of the DTE type may enter the human food chain via this source of milk. Such milk may be considered a valuable etiologic model for the investigation of economic, ecologic, and public health problems raised by human diet polluted with tumor promoters, i.e., conditional (non-genotoxic) cancerogens.

Alanine Transaminase↗

Esophageal carcinoma with high serum parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) level.

We report two patients with esophageal carcinoma with high levels of serum parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP). Patient 1 was a 66-year-old man in whom the serum calcium level was also high, and patient 2 was an 81-year-old woman. The serum PTHrP level was 411 pM (normal range, 13.8-55.3pM) in patient 1 and 94.5 pM in patient 2 (in whom the serum granulocyte colony-stimulating factor level was also high). We demonstrated PTHrP immunohistologically in esophageal carcinoma cells in both patients. After admission, patient 1 died of pneumonia on the 17th day of hospitalization (the 48th day after he had had an episode of frequent hiccuping) and patient 2 died of acute circulatory failure on the 12th day of hospitalization (the 25th day after she had vomited after a meal). Neither of these patients died of cancer. Pneumonia in patient 1 was believed to be due to weakened body defenses, while the acute circulatory failure in patient 2 was due to emaciation. Since esophageal carcinoma with humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy and leukocytosis is characterized by rapid progression and metastasis, early diagnosis and treatment are mandatory.

Aged↗

Focal nodular hyperplasia coexistent with hemangioma and multiple cysts of the liver.

We report here a case of hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) associated with hepatic hemangioma and multiple hepatic cysts in a 71-year-old man. He was admitted to our hospital because of body weight loss. Ultrasonography detected multiple cysts. and two tumors in the liver one, 3.5 cm and one, 1.6 cm. Color Doppler ultrasonography showed arterial signals within the large tumor. On dynamic computed tomography, the large tumor was a hypodense lesion which was enhanced during the arterial phase and almost isodense during the delayed phase: the small tumor was also a hypodense lesion, and was enhanced during both the arterial and delayed phases. On magnetic resonance imaging using superparamagnetic iron oxides, the large tumor had decreased signal intensity on the T2-weighted image. On hepatic arteriography, the feeding artery of the large tumor showed a spoke-wheel appearance and that of the small tumor showed a cotton-wool appearance. Ultrasonographically guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy of the large tumor revealed hepatocellular hyperplasia. Finally, we diagnosed the two hepatic tumors as FNH and hemangioma. There was no intracranial lesion. The cause of the patient's emaciation was psychogenic anorexia. To our knowledge, this is the first case report that describes the simultaneous occurrence of these three kinds of hepatic lesions. The pathogenesis of FNH still remains unclear, but this association suggests that FNH may arise because of a vascular anomaly.

Aged↗

Benefits of home parenteral nutrition before lung transplantation: report of a case.

A 54-year-old woman, who was severely malnourished and awaiting lung transplantation for chronic respiratory failure, was given nutritional support by home parenteral nutrition (HPN). The patient's emaciated state was further compromised by the fact that she had undergone a distal gastrectomy 4 years earlier. We decided that HPN was indicated because her oral intake was so poor and drinking enteral formula reduced her appetite. After 1 year of HPN, her body weight increased and her nutritional, anthropometric, and biochemical values were well maintained by the time of transplantation. Moreover, her progress after lung transplantation was remarkably good, indicating the effectiveness of nutritional support by HPN during the protracted waiting period.

Chronic Disease↗

Successful resection of advanced pancreatic tail cancer after neoadjuvant gemcitabine chemotherapy: report of a case.

Pancreatic cancer with distant metastasis is not an indication for surgery, and the median survival of these patients is less than 3 months. We report the case of a patient who has survived for 21 months without any signs of recurrence after resection of advanced pancreatic cancer following a course of chemotherapy with gemcitabine (GEM). A 75-year-old man was hospitalized for anorexia and emaciation. Examinations showed pancreatic cancer with distant peritoneal metastasis. After the main tumor and metastasis had been shrunk by GEM chemotherapy, we performed distal pancreatectomy combined with splenectomy. Microscopically, the main tumor was confirmed as moderately differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma with interstitium and fibrosis. The radicality of the surgery was R0, according to the TNM classification of the UICC. The patient recovered well and has had no clinical symptoms for 40 months since the initial chemotherapy. This case suggests that multidisciplinary treatment with GEM may prolong the survival of some patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Surgical procedures for digestive fistulae caused by radiation therapy.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the effectiveness of surgery to treat ileal fistulations associated with radiation exposure. SUBJECTS. An ileal fistula developed in eight patients, 13-102 months after 60 Gy of irradiation to the pelvic cavity, given as initial treatment or supportive therapy following resection of the primary tumor. The underlying diseases were cervical cancer in seven women and bladder cancer in one man. RESULTS: Two patients had an ileorectal fistula, two had an ileosigmoidal fistula, three had an ileovesical fistula, and one had an ileourethral fistula. We performed a partial enterectomy in one patient, a simple bypass operation without exclusion in one, and bypass operations with exclusion in the other six. Intestinal expansion in the exclusion site occurred in one patient, but there were no other complications related directly to surgery, such as sutural insufficiency. The patient who underwent a simple bypass operation died of emaciation 2 months after the surgery, but all of the other patients were discharged capable of oral ingestion. CONCLUSION: Our findings showed that surgery was beneficial for alleviating the various conditions related to digestive fistulation following radiation therapy.

Adult↗