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BACKGROUND: The prognostic factors, including gastric variceal bleeding itself, in patients with gastric varices (GV) after endoscopic treatment remain unclear. The aim of this study was to analyze prognostic factors in patients with GV after endoscopic treatment as well as to evaluate safety and efficacy of our endoscopic treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study enrolled 115 patients who underwent endoscopic treatment for GV between October 1988 and December 2003 using cyanoacrylate and 5% ethanolamine oleate. Successful hemostasis, recurrence rates, rebleeding rates, survival rates, complications and prognostic factors after the treatment were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Treatment sessions for GV were performed 3.4 +/- 2.5 times. All cases, including 14 emergency cases, were treated successfully. The cumulative recurrence rates at 1, 3 and 5 years after the treatment were 7.0%, 15.6% and 20.0%, respectively, and the cumulative rebleeding rates at 1, 3 and 5 years were 3.5%, 8.7% and 14.8%, respectively. The overall survival rates were 78.3%, 63.7% and 51.5% at 1, 3 and 5 years, respectively. Grade B or C in Child-Pugh classification, emergency or elective cases, and association with hepatocellular carcinoma were identified as significant negative prognostic factors after endoscopic treatment by multivariate analysis. Although several complications were observed, there was no mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Grade B or C in Child-Pugh classification, emergency or elective situation, and association with hepatocellular carcinoma are negative prognostic factors after endoscopic treatment.

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Doppler ultrasound measurements were done for the thickness of synovial effusion and synovial proliferation (pannus), and diameter of the flow signals using digital calipers as well as flow signal grades and vascular resistance in the knee joint synovitis of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated with infliximab. Forty knee joints of 20 RA patients were assessed before and after three injections of infliximab. The flow signals in the pannus were classified into the superficial and the deep signals and the joints were classified into the superficial signal pattern and the deep signal pattern. After treatment, the number of joints with superficial signal pattern reduced from 23 to 11, whereas the number of joints with deep signal pattern increased from 17 to 29 (P=0.0066), with a significant reduction of the superficial signal grades (P=0.0003). The mean cortical (posterior) pannus thickness increased significantly in the joints with superficial signal pattern (P=0.022) and in the total joints (superficial plus deep signal pattern) (P=0.031) but not in the joints with deep signal pattern. After 6 weeks of treatment with infliximab, the hyperemia in the superficial layer of the pannus developed into proliferation of the cortical pannus in the knee joints.

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Power Doppler and spectral Doppler ultrasonography were used to scan 127 knee joints of 72 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Synovial effusion thickness and synovial proliferation (pannus) thickness, as well as the flow signal diameter, were measured on ultrasonogram prints of the power Doppler using digital calipers. In addition, color-flow signal grades on power Doppler and the resistance index (RI) values on spectral Doppler were evaluated. The values of these five variables were compared among 58 joints with superficial pattern flow signals and 69 joints with deep pattern flow signals. Compared with the joints with deep pattern signals, the joints with superficial pattern signals had significantly higher mean values of effusion thickness (P < 0.0001) and flow signal grades (P < 0.0001), and significantly lower mean RI (P < 0.0001). On the other hand, the joints with deep pattern signals had a significantly higher value of signal diameter (P = 0.0125) and had a trend to higher value of pannus thickness (P = 0.079) as well. Significant correlations were observed between effusion thickness and signal grades (P < 0.0001); effusion thickness and RI (P < 0.0001); signal diameter and pannus thickness (P = 0.0102); signal diameter and RI (P < 0.0001); and signal grades and RI (P < 0.0001). The ultrasonographic measurements of synovitis in RA patients provide valuable information on synovial inflammation.

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We describe a case of polymyositis (PM) with liver injury that occurred in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A 74-year-old woman who had a 12-year history of RA was admitted to our hospital because of muscle weakness and liver dysfunction. CD8-positive T cell infiltration was found in the interstitium of both the liver and muscle. In addition to the administration of a large amount of prednisolone (PSL), high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) successfully improved myositis and hepatitis. Our case indicates the pathogenic potential of CD8-positive T cells in PM-associated liver injury.

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Liver neoplasms, whether they are benign or malignant, are usually fed by the hepatic artery. We experienced a case of hepatic angiosarcoma supplied by both hepatic artery and portal vein. Since there are currently no specific laboratory tests to diagnose hepatic angiosarcoma, it is important to detect suspect cases from imaging features. This unique hemodynamic property was detected on computed tomography (CT) during hepatic arteriography and CT during hepatic arterioportography. If any imaging examinations indicate the liver tumor to be fed by the portal vein, hepatic angiosarcoma should be suspected.

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We used Doppler sonography to evaluate the therapeutic effects of infliximab on the knee and metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints of 10 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), based on the color flow signals (CFS) and resistance index (RI) of synovial vascularity. After three injections of infliximab, we observed significant improvement in numbers of tender joints (P < 0.01), values of C-reactive protein (CRP) (P < 0.01), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (P < 0.001), disease activity scores including tender joints, swollen joints, and ESR (DAS28-E3) (P < 0.0001), and CFS of knee (P < 0.001) and MCP (P < 0.05) joints. There was no significant improvement in RI values of knee or MCP joints after the therapy. We observed significant correlation between CFS of knee joints (knee-CFS) and values of CRP (P < 0.01), ESR (P < 0.01), and DAS28-E3 (P < 0.05), but not between CFS of MCP joints (MCP-CFS) and values of CRP, ESR, and DAS28-E3. However, no significant correlation was observed between 10 difference values (before values-after values) of CFS grades of knee or MCP joints and 10 difference values each of CRP, ESR, or DAS28-E3. The knee joints are more suitable than MCP joints for obtaining CFS in Doppler sonography, and are more useful than MCP joints for evaluation.

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We investigated the effects of isosorbide dinitrate (IDN) on gastric blood flow (GBF), portal venous pressure (PVP) and blood gas of rats with liver cirrhosis (LC) accompanied by portal hypertension. Thirty male Wistar rats (LC in 17 and normal in 13) were used. Before and after IDN administration, GBF, PVP and blood gas in the femoral artery and portal vein were measured. Portal blood oxygen concentration was estimated by calculating the ratio of PO2 in portal blood and that in arterial blood (PpvO2/PaO2) of each rat. The GBF in the LC rats was significantly lower than that in the normal rats. In the LC group, IDN administration significantly increased the GBF. The PpvO2/PaO2 value in the group with LC was significantly lower after IDN administration than that before IDN administration. In the investigation whether changes in PVP or Ppv/PaO2 contributed more to the change in GBF after IDN administration, a significant correlation was found between rates of change in GBF and PpvO2/PaO2 were significantly correlated (r= -0.733, p <0.05). The effect of IDN on changes in the stomach accompanying portal hypertension is mainly attributable to a decrease in preload, which suppresses inflow to the stomach, as reflected by a decrease in PpvO2/ PaO2, rather than to a decrease in afterload on GBF, as reflected by a decrease in PVP.

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In the present study, anti-ribosomal P antibody in sera of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus was assayed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and its association with clinical symptoms of the patients was analyzed. The presence of anti-ribosomal P antibody was associated with increased frequency of lupus nephritis in the presence of anti-DNA antibody, and was associated with increased frequency of vascular thrombosis in the presence of anti-beta2 glycoprotein I antibody and/or lupus anticoagulant. The level of anti-ribosomal P antibody correlated inversely with the peripheral lymphocyte counts.

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Synovial vascularization was analyzed by power Doppler and spectral Doppler sonography in 42 knee joints of 28 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The synovial vessels with greater intensity of color flow signals demonstrated significantly lower indicators of vascular resistance - resistive index (P < 0.01) and pulsatility index (P < 0.01) - than those with lesser intensity. Consequently, an inverse correlation was observed between intensity of color flow signals and both resistive index (P < 0.01) and pulsatility index (P < 0.01).

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Synovial vascularization in the knee joints of six patients with rheumatoid arthritis who were treated with infliximab was evaluated by Doppler sonography. Power Doppler sonography demonstrated a significant reduction of color flow signals (P < 0.05), and spectral Doppler sonography demonstrated a significant increase in vascular resistance (P < 0.05) at week 6 (after three injections) evaluation of the therapy. A significant decrease in the number of tender joints (P < 0.05) and C-reactive protein value (P < 0.05) was also observed in these patients.

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A 51-year-old woman with interstitial cystitis was referred for screening of autoimmune disease. She was positive for results of Schirmer and Saxon tests and for ss/A and ss/B antibodies. Autoantibodies to type 3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor were detected in the patient's serum by Western blotting. We diagnosed her as having interstitial cystitis accompanying Sjögren's syndrome. To enable early treatment, interstitial cystitis should be considered when patients with Sjögren's syndrome complain of urinary symptoms.

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Synovial vascularity of 12 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was examined by Doppler sonography for color flow signals and vascular resistance on knee joints and metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints, and the results were compared with each other and with C-reactive protein (CRP) levels of the patients. A significant correlation was observed between knee resistance index (RI) and MCP-RI (P = 0.0140), but not between knee color flow signals and MCP color flow signals (P = 0.1029). A significant correlation was also observed between knee color flow signals and knee RI (P = 0.0107), and knee pulsatility index (PI) (P = 0.0146). On the other hand, no correlation was observed between MCP color flow signals and MCP-RI (P = 0.828), and MCP-PI (P = 0.434). There was no significant correlation between CRP levels and grades of color flow signals, RI, and PI for both knee and MCP joints. Doppler sonographic evaluation of RI, especially knee RI, could be a useful marker for estimating synovial inflammation in RA patients.

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A 23-year-old man was admitted to our department due to hemorrhage from gastric varices. He had been diagnosed as having Wilson's disease at the age of 17. Abdominal ultrasonography and computed tomography (CT) showed portal thrombosis and a large mass occupying most of the right lobe in the liver. The tumor was diagnosed as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by image views and tumor markers. He died 3 months after the diagnosis, and an autopsy was performed. Histologic examination of the tumor showed moderately to poorly differentiated HCC. The nontumorous lesion of the liver revealed cirrhosis. HBX-DNA sequence was not detected in the liver. Hepatic cirrhosis is a well-recognized complication of Wilson's disease, but HCC is extremely rare. We describe the clinical findings of this patient and discuss the relationship of the development of HCC with a review of the relevant literature.

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A 56-year-old man suffered from muscle weakness with elevated serum creatine kinase. Under diagnosis of polymyositis, the patient was treated with corticosteroid, methotrexate and cyclosporin A. Eleven months after the first signs of muscle weakness, the patient suffered an abrupt onset of anuria and underwent hemodialysis. The patient died of respiratory insufficiency 14 months after the first signs of muscle weakness. Autopsy findings revealed associated urinary bladder cancer with histological indications of adenosquamous cell carcinoma, liver metastasis and cancerous lymphangitis of the lung.

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We report a series of five patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) accompanied by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (AIH-SLE overlap). Serologic tests showed that all patients were positive for antinuclear antibody and double-stranded DNA antibody. Histological examination of the liver showed that three of the patients had chronic hepatitis with severe activity. One of the other two had acute and severe hepatitis with submassive necrosis in both portal and lobular areas. The last patient already had liver cirrhosis. All patients had a mild form of SLE and showed a rapid response to corticosteroid. There was no serious involvement of organs other than the liver in any of the patients, and the prognoses were comparatively good in all patients.

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A series of 47 knee joints in 24 patients with rheumatoid arthritis were examined for intraarticular vascularization by power Doppler sonography. The intensity of vascularization was compared with the synovial effusion and proliferation evaluated by gray-scale sonography and the clinical findings in the patients. Vascularization was graded from 0 to 3 by counting the number of color-flow signals: grade 0, no signals; grade one, 1-4 signals; grade two, 5-8 signals; grade three, 9 or more signals. The grade of vascularization correlated with the grade of synovial effusion (P < 0.01), the grade of synovial proliferation (P < 0.05), and the serum levels of C-reactive protein (P < 0.05). It correlated inversely with disease duration (P < 0.01). Consistent with improvement of articular inflammation, a decrease in the number of color-flow signals was observed in two patients. Power Doppler sonography is suitable for evaluating the intensity of synovitis and for monitoring the clinical activity of rheumatoid patients.

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Intraarticular vascularization in 54 knee joints of 27 patients with rheumatoid arthritis was examined by power Doppler sonography. Localization of the vascularity at the suprapatellar recess was classified into two patterns: intracapsular and supra-cortical. The patients with supra-cortical vascularization showed a tendency to higher grades of synovitis and higher levels of inflammatory laboratory indices than those with intracapsular vascularization.