Anatomical classification of the shape and topography of the stomach

The aim of the study was to present the classification of anatomical variations of the stomach, based on the radiological and historical data. In years 2006–2010, 2,034 examinations of the upper digestive tract were performed. Normal stomach anatomy or different variations of the organ shape and/or topography without any organic radiologically detectable gastric lesions were revealed in 568 and 821 cases, respectively. Five primary groups were established: abnormal position along longitudinal (I) and horizontal axis (II), as well as abnormal shape (III) and stomach connections (IV) or mixed forms (V). The first group contains abnormalities most commonly observed among examined patients such as stomach rotation and translocation to the chest cavity, including sliding, paraesophageal, mixed-form and upside-down hiatal diaphragmatic hernias, as well as short esophagus, and the other diaphragmatic hernias, that were not found in the evaluated population. The second group includes the stomach cascade. The third and fourth groups comprise developmental variations and organ malformations that were not observed in evaluated patients. The last group (V) encloses mixed forms that connect two or more previous variations

Spatial and temporal expression of glucocorticoid, retinoid, and thyroid hormone receptors is not altered in lungs of congenital diaphragmatic hernia

The degree of associated pulmonary hypoplasia and persistent pulmonary hypertension are major determination factors for survival in congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) patients. Glucocorticoids, thyroid hormone, and vitamin A have been shown to be involved in human lung development. To determine their therapeutic potential in hypoplastic lungs of CDH patients, the temporal and spatial expression of glucocorticoid receptor, thyroid hormone receptors, retinoic acid receptors, and retinoid X receptors were evaluated in lungs of CDH patients, hypoplastic lungs from other causes, and normal lungs. As a series of supportive experiments, the expressions of these receptors were analyzed in lungs of nitrofen-induced CDH rats. Immunohistochemistry (human and rat) and in situ hybridization (rat) demonstrated no overt difference between CDH, hypoplastic, and control lungs, either in the localization nor the timing of the first expression of all analyzed receptors. The mRNA expression of each receptor was detected in all human CDH lungs by quantitative PCR. Our results suggest that, as far as receptors are concerned, hypoplastic lungs of fetuses and newborns with CDH are potentially as responsive to glucocorticoids, thyroid hormone, and retinoic acid as the lungs of normal children