BACKGROUND:Splenectomy in patients with liver cirrhosis(LC)is expected to become more common owing to its efficacy on portal hemodynamics.In this report we describe an alarming case of group B streptococcus(GBS)infect...BACKGROUND:Splenectomy in patients with liver cirrhosis(LC)is expected to become more common owing to its efficacy on portal hemodynamics.In this report we describe an alarming case of group B streptococcus(GBS)infection after splenectomy in a patient with LC.METHODS:A 72-year-old woman with a history of LC was admitted to our emergency department because of respiratory failure.The patient had received left lateral segmentectomy of the liver and splenectomy three months before admission.Pulmonary examination revealed significant wheezing during inspiration and expiration,but no crackles and stridor.Chest radiography and CT showed no infiltrates.A presumptive diagnosis of bronchial asthma caused by upper respiratory infection was made.Four days after admission,GBS infection was confirmed by blood culture and penicillin G was administered.Antibiotics were given intravenously for a total of 12 days.RESULTS:The patient was discharged on the 12th day after admission.CONCLUSIONS:Although efficacy of splenectomy in patients with LC has been reported,immune status should be evaluated for a longer period.Patients who have undergone splenectomy are highly susceptible to bacteria;moreover,LC itself is an independent risk factor for mortality in patients with sepsis.Since prophylaxis against GBS has not been established,immediate action should be taken.Emergency physicians should be aware of invasive GBS infection in the context of the critical risk factors related to splenectomy and LC,particularly the expected increase of splenectomy performed in LC patients.展开更多
The influence of drinking conditions on alcohol metabolism and drunkenness was investigated in healthy men with ALDH2*1/*1 genotype aged from 40 to 60 who were occasional or habitual drinkers. The investigation was pe...The influence of drinking conditions on alcohol metabolism and drunkenness was investigated in healthy men with ALDH2*1/*1 genotype aged from 40 to 60 who were occasional or habitual drinkers. The investigation was performed by open intersection competitive drinking tests at an ethanol dose of 0.32 g/kg under 4 different drinking conditions: beer without a meal [B(–)], shochu (a distilled spirit) without a meal [S(–)], beer with a meal [B(+)] and shochu with a meal [S(+)]. The blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and BAC-AUC (area under the curve) were lower in the B(–) than in the S(–). The blood acetaldehyde concentration (BAcH) and the serum acetate concentration (SAce) were also lower in the B(–) than in the S(–). The meal markedly decreased BAC, BAC-AUC and BAcH-AUC for both alcoholic beverages. Subjective drunkenness was stronger in order of B(+) + in liver cells, was higher in the S(–) than in the B(–), and was decreased by the meal for both alcoholic beverages. These results suggested that glucide increase the rate of alcohol metabolism by supplying pyruvic acid to decrease the ratio of NADH/NAD+, which lowers BAC and relieves drunkenness. Thus, the intake of glucide calories while drinking is important to reduce the pharmacological and toxicological actions of alcohol.展开更多
BACKGROUND: Although non-thyroidal illness syndrome(NTIS) is considered a negative prognostic factor, the alterations in free triiodothyronine(f T3) levels in trauma patients requiring massive transfusion have not bee...BACKGROUND: Although non-thyroidal illness syndrome(NTIS) is considered a negative prognostic factor, the alterations in free triiodothyronine(f T3) levels in trauma patients requiring massive transfusion have not been reported.METHODS: A prospective observational study comparing 2 groups of trauma patients was conducted. Group M comprised trauma patients requiring massive transfusions(>10 units of packed red blood cells) within 24 hours of emergency admission. Group C comprised patients with an injury severity score >9 but not requiring massive transfusions. Levels of f T3, free thyroxine(f T4), and thyroidstimulating hormone(TSH) were evaluated on admission and on days 1, 2, and 7 after admission. The clinical backgrounds and variables measured including total transfusion amounts were compared and the inter-group prognosis was evaluated. Results are presented as mean±standard deviation.RESULTS: Nineteen patients were enrolled in each group. In both groups, 32 were men, and the mean age was 50±24 years. In group C one patient died from respiratory failure. The initial f T3 levels in group M(1.95±0.37 pg/m L) were signifi cantly lower than those in group C(2.49±0.72 pg/m L; P<0.01) and remained low until 1 week after admission. Initial inter-group f T4 and TSH levels were not significantly different. TSH levels at 1 week(1.99±1.64 μIU/m L) were higher than at admission(1.48±0.5 μIU/m L) in group C(P<0.05).CONCLUSION: Typical NTIS was observed in trauma patients requiring massive transfusions. When initial resuscitation achieved circulatory stabilization, prognosis was not strongly associated with NTIS.展开更多
Cholesterol crystals are a primary cause of cholesterol embolism if they appear in vessels. Various papers have reported the involvement of cholesterol crystal deposition in cutaneous diseases such as xanthoma. Howeve...Cholesterol crystals are a primary cause of cholesterol embolism if they appear in vessels. Various papers have reported the involvement of cholesterol crystal deposition in cutaneous diseases such as xanthoma. However, no cases of cholesterol crystal involvement in cutaneous cancer have been reported. We report four cases of basal cell carcinoma with cholesterol crystal deposition, and discuss the mechanism(s) of the condition. Disease duration, anatomical site, histopathological features, and serum lipid profiles were investigated. The median disease duration was 3.5 years, and the sites of the lesions were the scrotum (one patient) and the nose (three patients). Histopathologically, there was necrotized tissue around the clefts. In addition, we detected frequent apoptotic cells around the cholesterol clefts in two of the patients by using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling method. Serum lipid levels were slightly elevated in two of the patients. In conclusion, cholesterol crystal deposition in basal cell carcinoma was considered to relate to a long disease duration with a tumor in a region that was subject to external irritation. Histopathologically, apoptotic cells around the cholesterol clefts indicated that lipids from the tumor cell membranes were one of the causes of cholesterol crystal deposition.展开更多
文摘BACKGROUND:Splenectomy in patients with liver cirrhosis(LC)is expected to become more common owing to its efficacy on portal hemodynamics.In this report we describe an alarming case of group B streptococcus(GBS)infection after splenectomy in a patient with LC.METHODS:A 72-year-old woman with a history of LC was admitted to our emergency department because of respiratory failure.The patient had received left lateral segmentectomy of the liver and splenectomy three months before admission.Pulmonary examination revealed significant wheezing during inspiration and expiration,but no crackles and stridor.Chest radiography and CT showed no infiltrates.A presumptive diagnosis of bronchial asthma caused by upper respiratory infection was made.Four days after admission,GBS infection was confirmed by blood culture and penicillin G was administered.Antibiotics were given intravenously for a total of 12 days.RESULTS:The patient was discharged on the 12th day after admission.CONCLUSIONS:Although efficacy of splenectomy in patients with LC has been reported,immune status should be evaluated for a longer period.Patients who have undergone splenectomy are highly susceptible to bacteria;moreover,LC itself is an independent risk factor for mortality in patients with sepsis.Since prophylaxis against GBS has not been established,immediate action should be taken.Emergency physicians should be aware of invasive GBS infection in the context of the critical risk factors related to splenectomy and LC,particularly the expected increase of splenectomy performed in LC patients.
文摘The influence of drinking conditions on alcohol metabolism and drunkenness was investigated in healthy men with ALDH2*1/*1 genotype aged from 40 to 60 who were occasional or habitual drinkers. The investigation was performed by open intersection competitive drinking tests at an ethanol dose of 0.32 g/kg under 4 different drinking conditions: beer without a meal [B(–)], shochu (a distilled spirit) without a meal [S(–)], beer with a meal [B(+)] and shochu with a meal [S(+)]. The blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and BAC-AUC (area under the curve) were lower in the B(–) than in the S(–). The blood acetaldehyde concentration (BAcH) and the serum acetate concentration (SAce) were also lower in the B(–) than in the S(–). The meal markedly decreased BAC, BAC-AUC and BAcH-AUC for both alcoholic beverages. Subjective drunkenness was stronger in order of B(+) + in liver cells, was higher in the S(–) than in the B(–), and was decreased by the meal for both alcoholic beverages. These results suggested that glucide increase the rate of alcohol metabolism by supplying pyruvic acid to decrease the ratio of NADH/NAD+, which lowers BAC and relieves drunkenness. Thus, the intake of glucide calories while drinking is important to reduce the pharmacological and toxicological actions of alcohol.
文摘BACKGROUND: Although non-thyroidal illness syndrome(NTIS) is considered a negative prognostic factor, the alterations in free triiodothyronine(f T3) levels in trauma patients requiring massive transfusion have not been reported.METHODS: A prospective observational study comparing 2 groups of trauma patients was conducted. Group M comprised trauma patients requiring massive transfusions(>10 units of packed red blood cells) within 24 hours of emergency admission. Group C comprised patients with an injury severity score >9 but not requiring massive transfusions. Levels of f T3, free thyroxine(f T4), and thyroidstimulating hormone(TSH) were evaluated on admission and on days 1, 2, and 7 after admission. The clinical backgrounds and variables measured including total transfusion amounts were compared and the inter-group prognosis was evaluated. Results are presented as mean±standard deviation.RESULTS: Nineteen patients were enrolled in each group. In both groups, 32 were men, and the mean age was 50±24 years. In group C one patient died from respiratory failure. The initial f T3 levels in group M(1.95±0.37 pg/m L) were signifi cantly lower than those in group C(2.49±0.72 pg/m L; P<0.01) and remained low until 1 week after admission. Initial inter-group f T4 and TSH levels were not significantly different. TSH levels at 1 week(1.99±1.64 μIU/m L) were higher than at admission(1.48±0.5 μIU/m L) in group C(P<0.05).CONCLUSION: Typical NTIS was observed in trauma patients requiring massive transfusions. When initial resuscitation achieved circulatory stabilization, prognosis was not strongly associated with NTIS.
文摘Cholesterol crystals are a primary cause of cholesterol embolism if they appear in vessels. Various papers have reported the involvement of cholesterol crystal deposition in cutaneous diseases such as xanthoma. However, no cases of cholesterol crystal involvement in cutaneous cancer have been reported. We report four cases of basal cell carcinoma with cholesterol crystal deposition, and discuss the mechanism(s) of the condition. Disease duration, anatomical site, histopathological features, and serum lipid profiles were investigated. The median disease duration was 3.5 years, and the sites of the lesions were the scrotum (one patient) and the nose (three patients). Histopathologically, there was necrotized tissue around the clefts. In addition, we detected frequent apoptotic cells around the cholesterol clefts in two of the patients by using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling method. Serum lipid levels were slightly elevated in two of the patients. In conclusion, cholesterol crystal deposition in basal cell carcinoma was considered to relate to a long disease duration with a tumor in a region that was subject to external irritation. Histopathologically, apoptotic cells around the cholesterol clefts indicated that lipids from the tumor cell membranes were one of the causes of cholesterol crystal deposition.
