The effects of cloth face masks on cardiorespiratory responses and VO2 during maximal incremental running protocol among apparently healthy men.

We aimed to determine the effects of wearing a cloth face mask on cardiorespiratory response, peak oxygen uptake (Vo2), respiratory muscle effort, and exercise tolerance during incremental exercise. The study had a randomized crossover design: 11 apparently healthy young men performed the Bruce protocol treadmill test in two conditions, wearing a cloth face mask (CFM) and without CFM (CON), in random order. Minute ventilation and oxygen uptake were measured using a mass spectrometry metabolic analyzer; cardiac output (CO) was measured using an impedance CO monitor; and mouth pressure (Pm) was measured and calculated as an integral Pm to assess respiratory muscle effort. Maximal minute ventilation was 13.4 ± 10.7% lower in the CFM condition than in the CON condition (P < 0.001). The peak Vo2 (52.4 ± 5.6 and 55.0 ± 5.1 mL/kg/min in CFM and CON, respectively) and CO were not significantly different between the two conditions. However, the integral value of Pm was significantly higher (P = 0.02), and the running time to exhaustion was 2.6 ± 3.2% lower (P = 0.02) in the CFM condition than in the CON condition. Our results suggest that wearing a cloth face mask increased respiratory muscle effort and decreased ventilatory volume in healthy young men; however, Vo2 remained unchanged. Exercise tolerance also decreased slightly.

Flux Growth and Magnetic Properties of Helimagnetic Hexagonal Ferrite Ba(Fe1-x Sc x )12O19 Single Crystals.

Fabricating large, high-crystalline-quality single-crystal samples of hexagonal ferrite Ba(Fe1-x Sc x )12O19 is the first important step to elucidating its helimagnetic structure and developing it for further applications. In this study, single crystals of Ba(Fe1-x Sc x )12O19 of various Sc concentrations x were successfully grown by the spontaneous crystallization method using Na2O-Fe2O3 flux. We determined the optimal starting composition of reagents for Ba(Fe1-x Sc x )12O19 growth as a function of x. In situ monitoring of the crystal nucleus generation accelerated the success of crystal growth. The obtained crystals comprised black and lamellate structures with a size of 13 mm × 8 mm × 2 mm and a surface of {001} orientation. X-ray diffraction and elemental analysis revealed that the obtained crystals were composed of single-phase Ba(Fe1-x Sc x )12O19 of high crystalline quality. The lattice constants a and c increased linearly with increasing x, thereby following Vegard's law. The temperature dependence of magnetization and the magnetization curves at 77 K of the x = 0.128 crystal exhibited behavior characteristics of helimagnetism. Neutron diffraction measurements of the x = 0.128 crystal exhibited magnetic satellite reflection peaks below 211 K, providing evidence that Ba(Fe1-x Sc x )12O19 behaves as a helimagnetic material.

Increase in the Lipopolysaccharide Activity and Accumulation of Gram-Negative Bacteria in the Stomach With Low Acidity.

INTRODUCTION: Lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) of Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) are highly toxic and induce inflammation. Therefore, we investigated both the LPS activity and composition of GNB in the gastric fluid (GF) to assess the potential toxicity of them accumulated in the stomach. METHODS: GF and saliva samples were obtained from 158 outpatients who were undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and 36 volunteers using a nasogastric tube. The LPS activity was measured by assay kits including recombinant Factor C or Limulus amebocyte lysate. To assess the bacterial composition in the samples, a 16S ribosomal DNA-based operational taxonomic unit analysis was performed. We focused on the genera representing >0.1% of the whole microbiota. RESULTS: We found a high LPS activity in the GF samples with weak acidity (approximately > pH 4), whereas little/no activity in those with strong acidity (approximately < pH 2). Spearman test also demonstrated a close correlation between pH and LPS in those samples (r = 0.872). The relative abundance of GNB in the saliva showed no significant difference between the subject groups with weak- and strong-acidity GF. In addition, in the subjects whose GF acidity was weak, the GNB abundance in the GF was almost the same as that in the saliva. By contrast, in the subjects whose GF acidity was strong, the GNB abundance in the GF was significantly lower than that in the saliva. DISCUSSION: GNB that have recently moved from the oral cavity might account for the prominent LPS activity in a stomach with weak acidity.

A Case of Mesentero-axial Type of Acute Gastric Volvulus Successfully Reduced by a Balloon-assisted Endoscopy.

A 95-year-old man was admitted to the hospital due to a sudden onset of nausea and abdominal pain. Physical examination revealed abdominal distension with mild epigastric tenderness. Computed tomography showed a grossly distended stomach with displacement of the antrum above the esophago-gastric junction, and he was diagnosed with acute mesentero-axial gastric volvulus. We attempted urgent reduction using conventional endoscopy, but failed. He and his family did not want surgery because of his extreme advanced age, and a nasogastric tube was inserted to his stomach for decompression expecting a natural reduction. On the next day, however, it was not improved, so endoscopic reduction was tried again by a balloon-assisted endoscope without an overtube under X-ray fluoroscopy. When the scope reached the descending portion of the duodenum, the balloon on the scope tip was inflated, and the stomach position was reduced by pulling back the scope with twisting to the right. He was discharged from the hospital without any complication, and no recurrence has been observed for 12 months thereafter. We suggest a balloon-assisted endoscope as a useful tool for reduction of gastric volvulus especially in cases of reduction failure by a conventional one.

A Case-control Study on the Risk Factors for Ischemic Colitis.

OBJECTIVE: Ischemic colitis (IC) is a relatively common acute inflammation disorder of the intestine. It was considered to be a disorder of elderly people with risk factors for arteriosclerosis; however, a considerable number of young people with IC have been reported recently. We performed a case-control study to determine the risk factors for IC and compare the risk factors between elderly and non-elderly people. METHODS: The study included 209 consecutive patients diagnosed with IC between December 2004 and March 2017 at Tokai University Hospital. The study also included 209 randomly selected controls in the same calendar year so as to match age and sex. Possible risk factors for IC were identified and compared between age groups. RESULTS: The mean age of IC group was 64.9 with 60 males and 115 elderly patients aged 65 or more in each group. On multivariable conditional logistic regression analysis, drinking, abdominal surgery, hypertension, and malignant diseases were risk factors for IC in all ages. In non-elderly patients, only hypertension and laxative/enema use were significant factors, while in elderly, abdominal surgery, hypertension, COPD, malignant disease and antiplatelet drugs were significant. CONCLUSION: The risk factors in elderly people might be quite different from younger ones, while hypertension seemed to be a common risk in all ages.

A Case of Pedunculated Esophageal Leiomyoma Successfully Treated by Endoscopic Mucosal Resection.

Leiomyoma is one of the most commonly observed esophageal submucosal tumors, often appearing as a smooth-surfaced and semicircular protruded lesion. It sometimes grows toward the esophageal lumen and may be pedunculated in rare cases. We encountered a case of a pedunculated esophageal submucosal tumor diagnosed before treatment as a leiomyoma originating in the muscularis mucosae of a 68-year-old man. As the tumor arose in the muscularis mucosae, it could be safely resected via an endoscopic procedure. Only one case of pedunculated leiomyoma has been reported to date, and we herein report the second case, which was successfully treated by a minimally invasive endoscopic technique.

Fatal Hemorrhagic Gastrointestinal Angioectasia after Bone Marrow Transplantation for Dyskeratosis Congenita.

Dyskeratosis congenita (DC) is a rare inherited disease in which the telomere complex cannot be maintained. Shortened telomeres can cause a number of clinical conditions. We herein report a case of unrelated bone marrow transplantation due to aplastic anemia associated with DC. The patient died of uncontrollable refractory intestinal bleeding. Three cases of DC with life-threatening hemorrhaging after transplantation have been reported; however, the bleeding origin could not be determined. Our case is the only patient in which a gastrointestinal bleeding point, jejunal multiple angioectasia, was determined.

Usefulness of Acoustic Monitoring of Respiratory Rate in Patients Undergoing Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection.

Aim. The study assessed the usefulness of a recently developed method for respiratory rate (RR) monitoring in patients undergoing endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) under deep sedation. Methods. Study subjects comprised 182 consecutive patients with esophageal cancer or gastric cancer undergoing ESD. The usefulness of acoustic RR monitoring was assessed by retrospectively reviewing the patients' records for age, gender, height, weight, past history, serum creatinine, RR before ESD, and total dose of sedative. Results. Respiratory suppression was present in 37.9% of (69/182) patients. Continuous monitoring of RR led to detection of respiratory suppression in all these patients. RR alone was decreased in 24 patients, whereas both RR and blood oxygen saturation were decreased in 45 patients. Univariate analysis showed female gender, height, weight, and RR before treatment to be significantly associated with respiratory suppression. Multivariate analysis showed RR before treatment to be the only significant independent predictor [odds ratio (OR) 0.83, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.73-0.95, and P = 0.006] of respiratory suppression. Conclusion. In this study, the difference in RR before treatment between patients with and without respiratory suppression was subtle. Therefore, we suggest that acoustic RR monitoring should be considered in patients undergoing ESD under sedation to prevent serious respiratory complications.

Irsogladine maleate and rabeprazole in non-erosive reflux disease: A double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of adding irsogladine maleate (IM) to proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy in non-erosive reflux disease (NERD) treatment. METHODS: One hundred patients with NERD were recruited and randomized to receive rabeprazole plus IM (group I) or rabeprazole plus placebo (group P). The efficacy of the treatment was assessed using the Frequency Scale for the Symptoms of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (FSSG) and the short form (SF)-36 quality of life questionnaires after four weeks of treatment. We also assessed whether patients with NERD with minimal changes (grade M) had different responses to the therapies compared with patients who did not have minimal changes (grade N). RESULTS: Group I and group P showed significant improvements in their FSSG scores after the treatment (from 17.9 ± 7.9 to 9.0 ± 7.6, and from 17.7 ± 7.3 to 11.2 ± 7.9, respectively, P = 0.0001), but there was no statistically significant difference between the FSSG scores in group I and those in group P. Subgroup analysis showed that significant improvements in the FSSG scores occurred in the patients in group I who had NERD grade N (modified Los Angeles classification) (7.8 ± 7.4 vs 12.5 ± 9.8, P = 0.041). The SF-36 scores for patients with NERD grade N who had received IM and rabeprazole were significantly improved in relation to their vitality and mental health scores. CONCLUSION: The addition of IM to rabeprazole significantly improves gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms and the quality of the lives of patients with NERD grade N.

Correlation between the Serum Pepsinogen I Level and the Symptom Degree in Proton Pump Inhibitor-Users Administered with a Probiotic.

In patients with functional upper gastrointestinal disorders such as gastroesophageal reflux disease and functional dyspepsia, the presence of symptoms is thought to occur in the absence of any organic diseases and the mechanisms behind this remain unclear. We therefore examined the relationship between stomach-related biomarker levels and symptoms. Twenty-four outpatients who had taken proton-pump inhibitors every day were enrolled in this study. The subjects consumed yogurt containing 109 colony-forming units of Lactobacillus gasseri OLL2716 (LG21) every day for three months. They underwent four clinical examinations in total. Each examination consisted of answering a questionnaire with a frequency scale for the symptoms of GERD (FSSG), and included measurements of the serum gastrin, ghrelin, and pepsinogens I and II levels. As a result, the FSSG score and the PGI value showed a decrease and an increase, respectively, after LG21 treatment when analyzed without age adjustment. A multiple regression analysis with additional adjustments for gender and age revealed a strong association between the PGI value and the FSSG symptom scores. Therefore either the PGI level itself or the factors regulating the PGI level might be involved in the etiology of these symptoms.

Aspirin and non-aspirin NSAIDs increase risk of colonic diverticular bleeding: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Lower gastrointestinal bleeding is a frequent cause of hospitalization, particularly in the elderly, and its incidence appears to be on the rise. Colonic diverticular bleeding is the most common form of lower gastrointestinal bleeding and is responsible for 30-40 % of bleeding episodes. Risk factors associated with diverticular bleeding include obesity, hypertension, anticoagulants, diabetes mellitus, and ischemic heart disease. Recent studies have suggested a relationship between usage of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and colonic diverticular bleeding; however, most studies were small with wide confidence intervals. We identified studies by searching the PubMed and Scopus databases (from inception through 31 December 2012) and by searching bibliographies of relevant articles. Summary relative risks (RRs) with 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated with fixed-effects and random-effects models. A total of six studies (five case-control studies and one cohort study) met inclusion criteria for analysis. Non-aspirin NSAIDs (NANSAIDs) and aspirin were associated with an increased risk of colonic diverticular bleeding (summary RR = 2.48, 95 % CI 1.86-3.31), with moderate heterogeneity among these studies (P heterogeneity = 0.11, I (2) = 44.4 %). Stratification to evaluate the heterogeneity found that both NANSAIDs (summary RR = 2.24, 95 % CI 1.63-3.09; 5 studies) and aspirin (summary RR = 1.73; 95 % CI 1.31-2.30; 3 studies) were associated with the risk of diverticular bleeding. Aspirin/NANSAIDs use was strongly and consistently associated with an increased risk of colonic diverticular bleeding. Further studies are needed to stratify individuals at risk of diverticular bleeding associated with the use of these agents.

Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma presenting umbilical hernia and Sister Mary Joseph's nodule.

Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare aggressive tumor of the peritoneum. An increasing number of malignant mesothelioma cases have been reported in recent years. We report here a very rare case of malignant peritoneal mesothelioma with both umbilical hernia and umbilical metastasis which is also called Sister Mary Joseph's nodule. We performed laparoscopy which showed specific laparoscopic findings, and the pathological findings of the biopsy specimen led to the diagnosis. This case was associated with umbilical hernia which could be induced by massive ascites. A newly developed abdominal hernia should be noted as a primary symptom of malignant peritoneal mesothelioma, as shown in the present case.

Double-balloon endoscopy-diagnosed multiple small intestinal ulcers in a Churg-Strauss syndrome patient.

Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) is a systemic vascular disorder characterized by severe bronchial asthma, hypereosinophilia, and allergic rhinitis. Small intestinal ulcers associated with CSS are a relatively rare manifestation that causes gastrointestinal bleeding. Multiple deep ulcers with an irregular shape are characteristic of small intestinal involvement of CSS. Video-capsule-endoscopy (VCE), double-balloon endoscopy (DBE) and Spirus assisted enteroscopy have been developed recently and enabled observation of the small intestine. In this case report, we have described a patient with CSS who had multiple deep ulcers in the jejunum detected by oral DBE. Since severe gastrointestinal (GI) involvement has been identified as an independent factor associated with poor outcome, the careful investigation of GI tract must be needed for CSS patients with GI symptoms. We describe the usefulness of DBE for diagnosis of small intestinal ulcers in patient with CSS.

Effect of pretreatment with Lactobacillus gasseri OLL2716 on first-line Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Helicobacter pylori eradication clearly decreases peptic ulcer recurrence rates. H. pylori eradication is achieved in 70-90% of cases, but treatment failures due to poor patient compliance and resistant organisms do occur. Lactobacillus gasseri can suppress both clarithromycin-susceptible and -resistant strains of H. pylori in vitro. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of pretreatment with L. gasseri- containing yogurt on H. pylori eradication. We conducted a randomized, controlled clinical trial in patients with H. pylori infection. METHODS: A total of 229 patients were randomized into either a 1-week triple therapy of rabeprazole (10 mg bid), amoxicillin (750 mg bid), and clarithromycin (200 mg bid) or triple therapy plus L. gasseri-containing yogurt. In the yogurt-plus-triple therapy groups, yogurt containing L. gasseri OLL2716 (112 g) was given twice daily for 4 weeks (3 weeks pretreatment and also 1 week during eradication therapy). Clarithromycin resistance was determined by the detection of a mutation in 23S rRNA using nested polymerase chain reaction and the direct sequencing of DNA from pretreatment feces. H. pylori eradication was diagnosed based on the urea breath test and a stool antigen test after 8 weeks of eradication. RESULTS: The status of H. pylori susceptibility to clarithromycin was successively determined in 188 out of 229 samples. The rate of infection with clarithromycin-resistant strains of H. pylori was 27.1%. Overall eradication (intention to treat/per protocol) was 69.3/74.5% for the triple-only group, and 82.6/85.6% for the yogurt-plus-triple group (P = 0.018/P = 0.041). Eradication of primary clarithromycin-resistant strains tended to be higher for yogurt-plus-triple therapy than triple-only therapy (38.5 vs 28.0%, respectively, P = 0.458). CONCLUSION: This study confirmed that the major cause of treatment failure is resistance to clarithromycin. A 4-week treatment with L. gasseri-containing yogurt improves the efficacy of triple therapy in patients with H. pylori infection.

Emergency upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in the Emergency Room of Tokai University Hospital.

The Tokai University Hospital is the only tertiary emergency hospital in the western region of Kanagawa prefecture and treats many patients; for example, more than 7,000 cases (including 297 helicopter-transfer cases) were transferred to the Emergency Room (ER) of the hospital in 2008. In cases where an emergency endoscopy is necessary, such as suspected upper gastrointestinal (UGI) tract bleeding, the gastroenterologists and the ER staff collaborate on patient care, diagnosis and treatment. The purpose of this study was to summarize such cases in the hospital and to elucidate the possible problems that such collaboration may cause, by means of a questionnaire completed by both the gastroenterology and the ER staff. There were 366 emergency upper GI endoscopies performed in the ER from April 2007 to October 2009, which included 163 hemostasis, 8 foreign body retrievals and 195 observation-only cases. After arrival of the patients, first the ER staff took care of them, then the gastroenterologist was called and both collaborated on the procedures to be implemented. The questionnaires revealed that, generally speaking, the collaboration worked well, but there were several problems that needed to be solved including maintenance, equipment supply and assistance of therapeutic endoscopy.

Prenatal diagnosis of spontaneous bladder rupture in a female fetus.

Spontaneous bladder rupture is a rare condition, with diagnosis more rare in the prenatal than postnatal period. To our knowledge, there have been 7 cases of prenatally diagnosed bladder ruptures and all have been males. We report the first case of prenatal diagnosis of spontaneous bladder rupture in a female fetus. After a primary Cesarean-section birth, a tear in the newborn infant bladder dome was identified and repaired in 2 layers. The cause of the bladder rupture remains unknown.

A case of submucosal hematoma of the esophagus and stomach, possibly caused by fish bone ingestion.

Submucosal hematoma of the esophagus is a rare disorder. We encountered a 70-year-old woman with an extremely large submucosal hematoma of the esophagus that extended from the cervical esophagus to the gastric angle. It was likely that her hematoma was caused by accidental ingestion of a fish bone, and her condition improved with conservative treatment alone. In this article, we summarize the reported cases of submucosal hematoma of the esophagus in Japan, and discuss the case with a review of the literature.

A patient with obstructive jaundice due to bleeding in the common bile duct after ultrasound-guided liver biopsy.

A-63-year-old man was referred to our hospital for interferon therapy to treat chronic hepatitis C. The patient complained of right upper abdominal pain 1 hour after the ultrasound-guided liver biopsy. Bleeding in the gallbladder and the common bile duct were found on emergency CT. Obstructive jaundice due to the common bile duct hematoma was diagnosed, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP) was performed, and a filling defect thought to be a hematoma was seen in the bile duct on cholangiography. The hematoma in the bile duct was extracted after endoscopic sphincteroyomy.

Endoscopic examination for duodenal ulcer bleeding during transcatheter arterial embolization: analysis of two cases.

Endoscopy is usually effective in treating duodenal ulcer bleeding, but depending on the lesion site and overall patient condition, hemostasis may be difficult to achieve with endoscopy alone. We described two patients with duodenal ulcer bleeding in whom endoscopic hemostasis was difficult. Immediately after transcatheter arterial embolization, endoscopic examination was used to confirm hemostasis and completing of the angiographic procedures.