Association of CD4-positive cell infiltration with response to vedolizumab in patients with ulcerative colitis.

Not all patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) respond initially to treatment with biologic agents, and predicting their efficacy prior to treatment is difficult. Vedolizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody against alpha 4 beta 7 (α4ß7) integrin, suppresses immune cell migration by blocking the interaction between α4ß7 integrin and mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule 1. Reports about histological features that predict vedolizumab efficacy are scarce. So, we examined the association between histological features and vedolizumab efficacy. This was a multicenter, retrospective study of patients with UC treated with vedolizumab. Biopsy specimens taken from the colonic mucosa prior to vedolizumab induction were used, and the areas positively stained for CD4, CD68, and CD45 were calculated. Clinical and histological features were compared between those with and without remission at week 22, and the factors associated with clinical outcomes were identified. We enrolled 42 patients. Patients with a high CD4+ infiltration showed a better response to vedolizumab [odds ratio (OR) = 1.44, P = 0.014]. The concomitant use of corticosteroids and high Mayo scores had a negative association with the vedolizumab response (OR = 0.11, P = 0.008 and OR = 0.50, P = 0.009, respectively). Histological evaluation for CD4+ cell infiltration may be helpful in selecting patients who can benefit from vedolizumab.

A case of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma accompanied by pancreatic and bile duct metastases: Successful treatment starts with an accurate diagnosis.

ABSTRACT: Pancreatic and bile duct metastases from esophageal cancer are extremely rare. We report a case of advanced esophageal cancer successfully treated with chemotherapy, selected on the basis of an accurate pathologic diagnosis. A 69-year-old man with chronic renal dysfunction presented with persistent abdominal pain and anorexia. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed an irregular-shaped tumor in the lower esophagus. Computed tomography and ultrasonography revealed swollen para-aortic lymph nodes, a pancreatic mass, and distal bile duct stenosis. Histopathological examination showed that all of the lesions were squamous cell carcinoma with unique immunohistochemical characteristics of p40+ and cytokeratin 7+. The final diagnosis was esophageal squamous cell carcinoma accompanied by lymph node, pancreas, and bile duct metastases. Taking his renal dysfunction into consideration, modified FOLFOX was administered as the first-line chemotherapy. The patient survived for 15 months since his first presentation. The favorable outcome was attributed to the accurate diagnosis based on comprehensive tissue sampling.

Jejunal hemorrhage due to hemolymphangioma successfully detected and controlled by double-balloon enteroscopy.

Lymphangiomas are benign, often subclinical, neoplasms, which can develop in the digestive tracts. Hemorrhagic jejunal tumors are relatively rare and diagnostic challenge. We report herein a case of hemorrhagic jejunal hemolymphangioma successfully diagnosed and treated by double-balloon enteroscopy.

Optimal treatment strategies for hepatic portal venous gas: A retrospective assessment.

BACKGROUND: Hepatic portal venous gas (HPVG) generally indicates poor prognoses in patients with serious intestinal damage. Although surgical removal of the damaged portion is effective, some patients can recover with conservative treatments. AIM: To establish an optimal treatment strategy for HPVG, we attempted to generate computed tomography (CT)-based criteria for determining surgical indication, and explored reliable prognostic factors in non-surgical cases. METHODS: Thirty-four cases of HPVG (patients aged 34-99 years) were included. Necessity for surgery had been determined mainly by CT findings (i.e. free-air, embolism, lack of contrast enhancement of the intestinal wall, and intestinal pneumatosis). The clinical data, including treatment outcomes, were analyzed separately for the surgical cases and non-surgical cases. RESULTS: Laparotomy was performed in eight cases (surgical cases). Seven patients (87.5%) survived but one (12.5%) died. In each case, severe intestinal damage was confirmed during surgery, and the necrotic portion, if present, was removed. Non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia was the most common cause (n = 4). Twenty-six cases were treated conservatively (non-surgical cases). Surgical treatments had been required for twelve but were abandoned because of the patients' poor general conditions. Surprisingly, however, three (25%) of the twelve inoperable patients survived. The remaining 14 of the 26 cases were diagnosed originally as being sufficiently cured by conservative treatments, and only one patient (7%) died. Comparative analyses of the fatal (n = 10) and recovery (n = 16) cases revealed that ascites, peritoneal irritation signs, and shock were significantly more frequent in the fatal cases. The mortality was 90% if two or all of these three clinical findings were detected. CONCLUSION: HPVG related to intestinal necrosis requires surgery, and our CT-based criteria are probably useful to determine the surgical indication. In non-surgical cases, ascites, peritoneal irritation signs and shock were closely associated with poor prognoses, and are applicable as predictors of patients' prognoses.

Use of endoscopic balloon dilation for benign esophageal stenosis in children: our 11 year experience.

Endoscopic balloon dilation (EBD) is an established therapy for esophageal stenosis. To assess its usefulness in children, we reviewed 11 years of pediatric cases of EBD in our hospital. Over the last 11 years, EBD was performed on 14 pediatric patients (10 boys and four girls; 7 months-11 years) at our hospital. All EBD sessions were performed under general anesthesia and fluoroscopic monitoring. The sessions were repeated every week or alternate weeks until resolution of dysphagia or development of smooth endoscope passage. Stenosis was resolved in 14 of 14 patients (100%). None of the patients (0%) showed recurrence of stenosis. As for postoperative complications, mediastinitis occurred only in one patient (7.1%). The median number of session repeats for an individual patient was three (range 1-10). EBD is a safe and effective therapeutic modality for esophageal stenosis in children.

Significance of liver biopsy for the evaluation of methotrexate-induced liver damage in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

It is well recognized that long-term administration of methotrexate (MTX) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can induce liver fibrosis via a steatohepatitis-like inflammatory process. Several non-invasive tests have been investigated as alternatives to liver biopsy, which is, however, still recognized as a final diagnostic modality to detect the MTX-induced liver damage. To clarify whether there is a significant discrepancy between clinical estimations and pathologic findings of this hepatic condition, we performed a following comparative study. Four RA patients (4 women, age 67-80 yr) with MTX-induced liver damage were reviewed. The severity of hepatic damage estimated clinically was compared with histopathologic findings. Consequently, the liver biopsies showed the relatively earlier stages of and milder degrees of hepatic damages than the clinical estimations. The histopathologic findings were more reliable and useful than any other clinical examinations, to plan and modify the treatment strategies, especially in cases of liver damages with multiple etiologies besides MTX. These findings suggest that liver biopsy is an unavoidable examination to assess precisely MTX-induced liver damage. Non-invasive tests may be useful to monitor the hepatic condition of RA patients receiving MTX but do not constitute an acceptable alternative to liver biopsy.

[A case of multiple skin metastases from cancer of the descending colon responding to FOLFIRI/cetuximab therapy].

A 64-year-old woman presented to our hospital with subcutaneous tumors in the right thoracic region. After undergoing a thorough medical evaluation, she was diagnosed with multiple skin metastases arising from cancer of the descending colon. Surgical resection of the primary lesion was performed and FOLFIRI (5-fluorouracil, levofolinate calcium, irinotecan) and cetuximab chemotherapy for the metastases was initiated. The patient subsequently entered remission and did not experience any major side effects. This case report details an effective therapy for colon cancer with multiple skin metastases and presents a discussion of the expression profiles of epidermal growth factor receptor in both the primary and metastatic lesions.

Malignant endocrine tumor of the pancreas associated with von Recklinghausen's disease.

We describe a case of malignant endocrine tumor of the pancreas associated with von Recklinghausen's disease. A 66-year-old woman with familial von Recklinghausen's disease was admitted to our hospital with weight loss and lower abdominal pain. Endoscopy revealed a submucosal tumor in the second part of the duodenum. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed a heterogeneous low-density tumor, measuring 20 x 15 mm, in the head of the pancreas, and metastatic lymphadenopathy. Angiography showed faint tumor staining without encasement or apparent increase in vascularity. Pancreatoduodenectomy was performed. Macroscopically, there was a solid tumor, measuring 20 x 18 mm, in the head of the pancreas. Histologically, a malignant endocrine tumor was shown, with direct invasion to the duodenum, and lymph node metastases. This is the thirteenth case of pancreatic malignant tumor and the fourth case of pancreatic endocrine tumor associated with von Recklinghausen's disease reported in the world literature.