Internal hernia after laparoscopic gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y reconstruction for gastric cancer

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE

Laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) is increasingly used to treat gastric cancer. Simultaneously, internal hernia (IH) has been reported after LG with Roux-en-Y reconstruction (RY). The aim of this study was to investigate IH after LG with RY for gastric cancer.

METHODS

This study included 15 patients with IH from a database of 355 consecutive patients who underwent LG with RY for gastric cancers. We retrospectively analyzed IH incidence and clinical characteristics by operative procedures.

RESULTS

The total incidence of IH was 4.2%. The incidence of IH at Petersen's defect tended to decrease with modifications to the reconstruction methods, but not significantly so. The incidence of IH at jejunojejunostomy mesenteric defect significantly decreased with closure of this defect (p = 0.01). The incidence of IH at transverse mesocolic defect was 1.3% in patients who underwent retrocolic RY; emergent small-bowel resection was only required in two cases of herniation through this defect after laparoscopic total gastrectomy.

CONCLUSION

Retrocolic RY with appropriate closure of defects can reduce IH incidence at Petersen's defect and at jejunojejunostomy mesenteric defect. Although the IH incidence at the transverse mesocolic defect is not particularly high, the possibility of herniation through this defect should be kept in mind.

Pathogenesis of multiple lentigines in LEOPARD syndrome with PTPN11 gene mutation

LEOPARD syndrome (LS) is an autosomal dominant condition with multiple anomalies, including multiple lentigines. LS is caused by mutations in PTPN11, encoding the protein tyrosine phosphatase, SHP-2. We report here 2 unrelated Japanese cases of LS with different PTPN11 mutations (p.Y279C and p.T468P). To elucidate the pathogenesis of multiple lentigines in LS, ultrastructural and immunohistochemical analyses of lentigines and non-lesional skin were performed. Numerous mature giant melanosomes in melanocytes and keratinocytes were observed in lentigines. In addition, the levels of expression of endothelin-1 (ET-1), phosphorylated Akt, mTOR and STAT3 in the epidermis in lentigines were significantly elevated compared with non-lesional skin. In in vitro assays, melanin synthesis in human melanoma cells expressing SHP-2 with LS-associated mutations was higher than in cells expressing normal SHP-2, suggesting that LS-associated SHP-2 mutations might enhance melanin synthesis in melanocytes, and that the activation of Akt/mTOR signalling may contribute to this process.

Lichen planus complicated with thymoma: Report of three Japanese cases and review of the published work

Thymoma is recognized to be complicated with autoimmune diseases, such as myasthenia gravis, pemphigus vulgaris and bullous pemphigoid. Abnormal regulation of autoreactive lymphocytes may be involved in the pathogenesis of the autoimmune diseases. The association of thymoma and lichen planus (LP) is relatively rare. Among 50 patients with LP, we identified three patients with LP accompanied by thymoma (6%; 3/50) in our department from 2004 to 2014. This is the first report identifying the frequency of thymoma accompanied by LP among patients with LP. We herein report three cases of LP accompanied by thymoma along with clinical and histological features. In addition, we summarize 29 LP patients accompanied by thymoma previously reported in the English-language published works. Regarding the complications, hypogammaglobulinemia accompanied 58.6% (17/29) of patients diagnosed with Good's syndrome. Alopecia was present in 13.8% (4/29) of patients, and myasthenia gravis was present in 17.2% (5/29) of patients with LP and thymoma. Among the 27 patients with thymectomy, only 25.9% (7/27) experienced the improvement of LP, suggesting that thymectomy may not be effective for the lesions of LP. Treatment-resistant LP was reported in 54.2% (13/24) of patients. In all our cases, oral lesions were intractable to treatment with oral predonisone and topical steroids and/or tacrolimus. It is important for dermatologists to recognize the clinical characteristics of the patients with both LP and thymoma.

Protective effect of botulinum toxin A after cutaneous ischemia-reperfusion injury

Botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) blocks the release of acetylcholine vesicles into the synaptic space, and has been clinically used for aesthetic indications, neuromuscular disorders and hyperhidrosis. Several studies have demonstrated that BTX-A enhanced the blood flow and improved ischemia in animal models. Our objective was to assess the effects of BTX-A on cutaneous ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injuries, mimicking decubitus ulcers. The administration of BTX-A in I/R areas significantly inhibited the formation of decubitus-like ulcer in cutaneous I/R injury mouse model. The number of CD31(+) vessels and αSMA(+) pericytes or myofibroblasts in wounds were significantly increased in the I/R mice treated with BTX-A. The hypoxic area and the number of oxidative stress-associated DNA-damaged cells and apoptotic cells in the I/R sites were reduced by BTX-A administration. In an in vitro assay, BTX-A significantly prevented the oxidant-induced intracellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in vascular endothelial cells. Furthermore, the administration of BTX-A completely suppressed the ulcer formation in an intermittent short-time cutaneous I/R injury model. These results suggest that BTX-A might have protective effects against ulcer formation after cutaneous I/R injury by enhancing angiogenesis and inhibiting hypoxia-induced cellular damage. Exogenous application of BTX-A might have therapeutic potential for cutaneous I/R injuries.

Clinical and laboratory features of systemic sclerosis complicated with localized scleroderma

Localized scleroderma (LSc) primarily affects skin, whereas systemic sclerosis (SSc) affects skin and various internal organs. LSc and SSc are considered to be basically different diseases, and there is no transition between them. However, LSc and SSc have several common characteristics, including endothelial cell dysfunction, immune activation, and excess fibrosis of the skin, and there exist several SSc cases complicated with LSc during the course of SSc. Clinical and laboratory characteristics of SSc patients with LSc remain unclear. We investigated the clinical and laboratory features of 8 SSc patients with LSc among 220 SSc patients (3.6%). The types of LSc included plaque (5/8), guttate (2/8), and linear type (1/8). All cases were diagnosed as having SSc within 5 years before or after the appearance of LSc. In three cases of SSc with LSc (37.5%), LSc skin lesions preceded clinical symptoms of SSc. Young age, negative antinuclear antibody, and positive anti-RNA polymerase III antibody were significantly prevalent in SSc patients with LSc. The positivity of anticentromere antibody tended to be prevalent in SSc patients without LSc. No significant difference in the frequency of complications, such as interstitial lung disease, reflux esophagitis, and pulmonary artery hypertension, was observed. The awareness of these characteristic of SSc with LSc are essential to establish an early diagnosis and treatment.

Demographic and clinical features of systemic sclerosis patients with anti-RNA polymerase III antibodies

Anti-RNA polymerase III antibody (RNAP) is primarily detected in diffuse cutaneous type systemic sclerosis (dcSSc) patients and strongly associated with renal crisis. Additionally, there has been increasing evidence that cancer in SSc patients is associated with RNAP. The aim of this study was to examine the demographic and clinical features of SSc patients with RNAP. Among 246 SSc patients, 5.7% were positive for RNAP, 20.7% were positive for anti-topoisomerase I antibody (Topo I) alone and 39.4% were positive for anticentromere antibody (ACA) alone. The modified Rodnan total skin score (mRTSS) in SSc patients with RNAP (19.1 ± 2.6) was significantly higher than those in SSc patients with Topo I (11.5 ± 1.1) and patients with ACA (4.4 ± 0.4). Furthermore, among SSc patients with RNAP, the levels of RNAP were positively correlated with mRTSS. Renal crisis is also significantly more prevalent in SSc patients with RNAP than patients without RNAP. Male sex, dcSSc subtype, digital vasculopathy, including digital ulcers and acro-osteolysis, interstitial lung disease and rheumatoid arthritis complications were prevalent in SSc patients with RNAP and patients with Topo-I. Primary biliary cirrhosis and Sjögren's syndrome were more in SSc patients with RNAP and patients with ACA compared with patients with Topo 1. No significant difference in the frequency of complications, including Raynaud's phenomenon, pulmonary artery hypertension and malignancy was observed between the three groups. Thus, measurement of RNAP in SSc patients is useful for the diagnosis and risk stratification of severe manifestation, such as renal crisis and severe skin sclerosis.

Demographic and clinical features of autoimmune thyroid disorder in Japanese patients with systemic sclerosis

Autoimmune thyroid disorders (AITD) are characterized by the impairment of the thyroid gland as a result of systemic or organ-specific autoimmune disorders, and the presence of antithyroid autoantibodies, such as antithyroglobulin antibody (AbTg) and antithyroid peroxidase antibody (AbTPO). Several studies have reported the association of AITD with systemic sclerosis (SSc). However, none of those studies analyzed the association between AITD and skin sclerosis in SSc patients. The aim of this study was to examine the demographic and clinical features of SSc patients with AITD treated in our department. Of a total of 210 SSc patients, we identified 30 with AITD (14.3%), including 29 with Hashimoto's disease (13.8%) and one patient with Graves' disease (0.5%), indicating that hypothyroidism was more common among SSc patients with AITD. All patients with AITD were female, and anticentromere antibody positivity, the complication of Sjögren's syndrome, severe facial skin sclerosis and atrophy of the thyroid gland were significantly prevalent in SSc patients with AITD. SSc patients with such clinical features may be at high risk of AITD and require regular follow up of thyroid function including ultrasonography and the examination of serum hormone levels to start an early treatment.

First Japanese case of atypical progeroid syndrome/atypical Werner syndrome with heterozygous LMNA mutation

Atypical progeroid syndrome (APS), including atypical Werner syndrome (AWS), is a progeroid syndrome involving heterozygous mutations in the LMNA gene encoding the nuclear protein lamin A/C. We report the first Japanese case of APS/AWS with a LMNA mutation (p.D300N). A 53-year-old Japanese man had a history of recurrent severe cardiovascular diseases as well as brain infarction and hemorrhages. Although our APS/AWS patient had overlapping features with Werner syndrome (WS), such as high-pitched voice, scleroderma, lipoatrophy and atherosclerosis, several cardinal features of WS, including short stature, premature graying/alopecia, cataract, bird-like face, flat feet, hyperkeratosis on the soles and diabetes mellitus, were absent. In immunofluorescence staining and electron microscopic analyses of the patient's cultured fibroblasts, abnormal nuclear morphology, an increase in small aggregation of heterochromatin and a decrease in interchromatin granules in nuclei of fibroblasts were observed, suggesting that abnormal nuclear morphology and chromatin disorganization may be associated with the pathogenesis of APS/AWS.

Elevated plasma homocysteine level is possibly associated with skin sclerosis in a series of Japanese patients with systemic sclerosis

Homocysteine is a sulfhydryl-containing amino acid that is derived from dietary methionine, and there has been increasing evidence that elevated plasma homocysteine levels are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, including carotid, coronary and peripheral arterial disease (PAD). The association of plasma homocysteine levels with peripheral vascular involvements, such as Raynaud phenomenon (RP), digital ulcers (DU) in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients has not been well studied. The objective of this study was to examine plasma homocysteine levels and their clinical associations in patients with SSc. Plasma homocysteine levels in 151 Japanese patients with SSc and 20 healthy controls were examined. No significant differences were observed in plasma homocysteine levels between SSc patients and healthy individuals. Demographic and clinical features of the SSc patients revealed that severe skin sclerosis, anti-topoisomerase I antibody positivity, complications of DU, acro-osteolysis (AO) and interstitial lung disease (ILD) were significantly more prevalent among the patients with elevated plasma homocysteine levels. The plasma homocysteine levels were positively correlated with modified Rodnan total skin score. The plasma homocysteine levels in the SSc patients with DU, AO and ILD were significantly higher than those in the SSc without DU, AO and ILD, respectively. Plasma homocysteine levels did not correlate with either the mean or max intima-media thickness (IMT) or plaque score, suggesting that plasma homocysteine levels might not be associated with carotid artery atherosclerosis in SSc patients. The measurement of plasma homocysteine levels in SSc patients might be useful for the risk stratifications of severe skin sclerosis, DU and AO.

Further improvement of the upper limit on the direct 3α decay from the Hoyle state in 12C

The direct 3α decay branch from the 02+ state at Ex=7.65  MeV in 12C, which is known as the Hoyle state, is considered to affect the triple-α reaction rate strongly and to give crucial information on its structure. We have performed a high-precision measurement of the 3α decay from this state using the 12C(12C,3α)12C reaction at E12C=110  MeV. The branching ratio of the direct 3α decay was under the detection limit in the present experiment. By comparing with Monte Carlo simulations for three decay mechanisms as the sequential decay through the ground state of ^{8}Be, the direct decay with equal energies of three α particles, and the direct decay to the phase space uniformly, we have obtained the upper limit of 0.2% on the direct 3α decay.